Islands in the Stream (A Choices Fanfic)

Pairing: Dave x Sam

Category: Friendship/Fluff? (Like there’s barely any plot in this, really. It was just really fun to play out in my head.)

Summary: The Major Crimes Unit enjoy Karaoke Night

Author’s Note: I believe it’s Most Wanted Appreciation Week right now?? Happy Most Wanted Week, guys! 🎉

“To my favorite Texan girl, Sam Massey!” Reza cheered, raising his beer to the rest of the team.

Everyone raised their bottles to clink with his.

Sam shook her head, an incredulous smile on her lips. When Reza had suggested that the entire team go out for drinks to formally re-welcome Sam to L.A., she had almost said no. She was still only here on business, she told herself. She stayed behind to catch Hayley Rose’s killer, not to sit around drinking beers and making friends. But Dave had convinced her otherwise.

“C’mon, Sam. There’s nothing we can do until Forensics finishes up their report.” He had leaned into her ever so slightly, a challenging tone to his voice. “What do you say? Have a few rounds with us? I’ll even take you back to your hotel after.”

To her great surprise, she was actually enjoying it.

They had taken her to a quaint little bar a few blocks from the precinct, not one bit of L.A. snobbery in sight. The music was fun but relaxed, and most of the people inside seemed like regulars who already knew each other. The bartender had even greeted Dave and the gang when they got in, bringing them a round of beers and some hot wings almost immediately. The mood was so warm and inviting, Sam almost felt like she was back home.

“Thanks, Reza,” Sam said as she took a pull from her beer. “This place is great! I think my friend Evan would even like it here.”

Sam didn’t see the flash of jealousy on a certain detective’s face as she mentioned her dear partner back in Texas.

“I haven’t even told you the best part yet,” Reza exclaimed excitedly, pulling out a flyer from his pocket. “It’s karaoke night!”

She was pretty sure her face froze in shock. Mirasol was the first to speak.

“What? Why do you always do this, Reza? We’ve told you before, we don’t do karaoke.”

Reza wasn’t fazed by her pessimism. “But Mirasol! It’s country night! It’s perfect for Sam!”

Mirasol simply rolled eyes and took another sip of her beer.

“Nikhil!” Reza called. “You’ll sing with me, right?”

The dark-haired man appeared to be thinking about it. “Hmm, maybe some Patsy Cline. Or Dolly Parton. Definitely Dolly Parton.”

Reza clapped his back generously. “That’s the spirit!”

His gaze turned to the two detectives who had yet to make a sound. “Dave? Sam?”

Dave shook his head. “Uh, no. I don’t sing.”

Sam tried her best to hide her amusement. “Is this stage fright I hear?”

“I don’t get stage fright,” he argued, “I just don’t make a habit of making a fool of myself.”

The corners of her lips twitched into a smirk. “Could’ve fooled me.”

Dave rolled his eyes good-naturedly and brought his bottle to his lips.

As soon as the bar manager had opened the stage for performers, Reza and Nikhil had volunteered immediately. Reza was up first, one of his reluctant teammates in tow.

“Hi, everybody! We’re starting tonight with a little Taylor Swift because my colleague here secretly knows all the words to her songs.”

Mirasol’s hand landed on Reza’s arm with a loud thwack.

“Think he’ll survive through the song?” Sam asked, clearly enjoying the scene in front of her.

“Sure,” Dave grinned. “You haven’t seen Mirasol after a few drinks yet.”

Soon enough, Mirasol was singing her heart out, moving on stage enthusiastically with Reza.

“My God. Miracles do happen,” was all Sam was able to mutter afterwards.

Dave just laughed and took another swig of his beer.

Nikhil went on next, his stride confident as he took command over the stage.

As he began singing the opening lines to Dolly Parton’s classic, I Will Always Love You, Dave’s eyes inadvertently landed on a certain blonde marshall.

She had been such a good sport about the entire night, indulging in Reza’s wish to do Team Karaoke Night. If only she knew how big of a deal this was to him.

Dave smiled as the three cheered on when Nikhil began hitting the high notes of his song.

Sam’s eyes suddenly met his as she turned to grab her beer.

Dave froze as her eyes held his for the longest second of his life.

Then her lips curved into a smile, and she raised her drink at him.

He returned the gesture and they both drank generously from their bottles, breaking eye contact.

Dave was pretty sure the alcohol was messing with his mind.

He should have been cheering on Nikhil like the rest of the team, but instead, his thoughts were on Sam. He still couldn’t believe she was actually here with them. That he got to keep her longer, even if only for a few more weeks.

Hayley Rose’s death was tragic and unnecessary, but in that moment, he almost wished the case would take longer to solve so that he got more time with her.

Dave gave himself a mental smack on the head. What are you thinking, Reyes? Obviously, you aren’t. Stop thinking!

Nikhil finished his song and gave a dramatic bow. The whole bar cheered and applauded.

“Nice work, Nikhil!” Mirasol raised her hand at him, and Nikhil happily clapped back.

“But of course, darling,” he replied with a posh accent, but Reza cut him off before he could say any more.

“Shh! They’re gonna announce the next performers!”

Dave should’ve seen what was coming.

The manager held a piece of paper in his hands as he spoke into the microphone.

“David Reyes and Samantha Massey!”

Dave didn’t miss how Sam tried to pretend like she wasn’t freaking out.

“Is there a David Reyes and Samantha Massey in the house?” the manager called once more.

Reza’s hand shot up in the air. “Over here!”

“No, no, no,” Dave said, shaking his hands at the crowd, “I can’t sing.”

Turning to Reza, he added, “I’m gonna kill you for this.”

Reza was grinning from ear to ear. Sam took one last pull from her drink and stood from her seat.

There was determination in her eyes as she met his gaze.

“What do you say, Reyes?” She nodded towards the stage. “Let’s dance.”

Reza pushed him off his seat. He didn’t really have a choice anymore.

They made their way to the front of the stage and Sam proceeded to tell the manager what song to put on.

“This okay?” Sam asked him, her voice slightly shaking.

Dave tried to shrug off his nerves and put on his charm. “Sure, I’ll just follow the lyrics on screen.”

She let out a deep sigh. “Here goes nothing.”

The familiar tune started playing, and Dave cleared his throat before he began.

His voice was shaking, but Sam was smiling at him encouragingly, so that was good, right? He shifted his weight awkwardly, turning to his left to face her. 

Her voice joined his in the second verse.

Dave was so in awe of how good she sounded that he almost missed his cue. Sam tried her best not to burst into laughter.

Butterflies were forming in his stomach as they got to the chorus, but he told himself to just focus on Sam.

Her eyes were locked on his, and in that moment, he let himself get lost in them, the rest of the bar fading away.

The crowd’s cheering broke him from his trance, and suddenly they were back in the bar, two people singing semi-awkwardly on stage.

But Sam was still looking at him with those smiling eyes of hers, and right then, he didn’t care if he looked ridiculous. He would be a fool any day with her.

—

Later that evening, after everyone had said their goodbyes, the two of them were walking back to his car, Dave making good on his promise to take her to her hotel.

“That was fun,” Sam said, a satisfied grin on her face. She was feeling buzzed, alcohol and adrenaline running in her system.

“Yeah. We should do this again. Preferably, without the karaoke,” he said, chuckling.

She nudged his arm playfully. “You weren’t that bad!”

“Next to you, I sounded horrible. You didn’t tell me you could sing!”

She laughed, her voice echoing lightly against the quiet night. “Didn’t think I’d ever have to.”

He realized then how much he still didn’t know about her. How much he still wanted to know about her.

But even so, he didn’t feel the need to know everything immediately. He already knew enough.

“I’m glad you’re here, Sam.”

He knew he didn’t need to elaborate any further when she smiled.

She knew what he meant. “Me too.”

Nikhil: I bet they’re gonna get married! Marisol: Possibly gonna have 3 kids. Rezza: No, obviously 5 kids! Dave: One more word and I’ll cuff the three of you to the desk over there!!

Anon ask

-Jasmine

Sam: Though I suspect it’s only a matter of time until those clowns from Birchport need our help. 

(There you go, Anon! <3 ) 

~romaniandollar

Search for the truth in Veil of Secrets, launching June 1st!

Missing: Most Wanted Book 2

Last seen ending on a cliffhanger and then put on hiatus.

Beloved Book to many and a need to know of what happened to Hayley Rose!

Reward!! for the safe return of Sam and Dave!