Sam, could you come into my office please, I need to talk to you." Samantha sighed.

All morning she'd been aware of Jack watching her. She didn't mind that, because she

herself was guilty of watching him, especially since the outcome of his bitter custody

battle with Maria. She was worried about Jack's state of mind and also worried that he

somehow knew about her and Martin, although they had been very careful. He'd thrown

a couple of cryptic comments her way, which she had managed to casually deflect.

"Sam…………."

Samantha arose quickly from her chair and walked into Jack's office.

"What's up Jack, are you OK?"

Jack looked uncomfortable. " I think we need to talk, Samantha, but not here. Will you meet me later for a drink?"

"I er, OK then, where and when?" said Sam, relieved that tonight was not a 'Martin' night.

"7 o'clock at Harry's Bar all right for you?" He named a small, quiet bar a couple of blocks from the office that they'd been to a few times before.

"That's fine" she said gently, aware that Jack looked uneasy. "See you then."

The afternoon flew by, taken up with paperwork on a case they had just finished. The whole team was quiet, lost in their own thoughts. They'd found the missing teenager alive, but her injuries were life threatening, and doctors were not sure if she'd make it.

"Hey Sam." Samantha looked up to see Martin standing beside her desk. "I'm off now" he murmured, "I'll call you tonight, will you be home?"

"Um, yeah, but I have to go somewhere first. Make it later, OK?" Sam crossed her fingers under the desk and hoped that Martin wouldn't ask her where she was going. Fortunately for her, he didn't, and she smiled as she watched him rushing off, eager to get to his uncles house for dinner.

Jack watched the two of them from his office with a heavy heart. Every time he saw them together it seemed to confirm his worst fears. Martin and Sam were a couple. He wondered what he hoped to achieve by meeting with her tonight. How could he try and spoil her apparent happiness with a man who could give her everything?. He got up from his desk , grabbed his case and his coat and switched the light off. Sam and Danny were the only two left in the bullpen. Making sure that Danny couldn't see, he mouthed see you later to Sam, and she nodded quickly before bending back over her papers.

After a quick freshen up, Sam said her farewells to Danny and walked to the elevator deep in thought. Since Jack had announced that he was not going to Chicago with his wife and daughters, Sam had been in a state of turmoil. In a moment of weakness, after a few drinks, she'd rashly invited Martin home with her and the inevitable had happened. Martin was sweet, kind and uncomplicated, and they'd kind of fallen into a relationship since that drunken night, but Sam was already regretting it, realising that she should have taken time to get over Jack before starting something new. However, working with Martin was making it difficult to tell him, and she was reluctant to hurt him. With these thoughts swirling round her head, Samantha was already at the bar where she was meeting Jack, and she looked around, before seeing him in a booth near the window. He glanced up and waved her over. He'd loosened his tie, and his hair was sticking up from his habit of running his fingers through it when he was nervous. Sam's heart missed a beat at the sight of him sitting there looking apprehensive and shy and desirable all at once.

"I got you a drink, hope that's OK." He'd ordered a bottle of their favorite red wine.

"That's fine" she said, remembering all the previous times they'd drunk that wine, and what it had led to…….

They sat quietly for a moment or two before Jack broke through the silence.

"So how long have you and Martin been an item" he blurted out. Shit, he hadn't meant to be that direct he thought as he looked at Sam's startled expression.

Shocked that he would be so forward and then turning angry that he'd even ask, she decided to answer him just as bluntly.

"Not that it's got anything to do with you, but the night you left and we all went to the bar, we kinda ended up going back to my place and……" Sam stopped after looking at Jack's distraught face.

"It didn't take you long did it? Were you just waiting to see the back of me before you jumped his bones?" Jack's dark eyes were blazing now, but all Sam could feel was anger.

"Hang on a moment Jack, we've been 'over' for two years now and you're acting like we've only just split. What is it with you? You chose Maria over me and I had to accept that, although it broke my heart. What gives you the right to dictate who I see anyway?" Her eyes filled with tears and Jack softened.

"Look Sam, I'm sorry," he said tenderly, "but I always hoped that you and I would get back together eventually, however long it took. I know you've dated other guys, but as I've not had to witness it, I could pretend it wasn't happening. But with Martin, it's right under my nose, and no matter how much you try and hide it, it's tearing me apart. I've never stopped loving you, ever." Jack slumped forward with his head in his hands. Samantha was stunned. She shifted closer to him so that their bodies were touching, and reached out a hand and gently stroked his hair.

"Jack" she whispered, "I've never stopped loving you either, but everything is so complicated now."

He lifted his head up and looked at Sam, relief flooding his features. He knew that she still cared for him, heck, you couldn't have a relationship as deep as theirs was without lingering feelings, but she still loved him?

"What are we going to do Sam, what are we going to do?" He reached out and lightly stroked her face. Samantha closed her eyes at the oh- so- familiar sensation and leaned closer to him.

"I don't know Jack. I can't just dump Martin, besides which we have other issues. You may be divorced, but you're still my boss, and we all know how close we came to being found out before. We'll just have to take it slow and figure out what to do." Jack looked at her intently, grateful for the lifeline she had thrown him. He downed his drink."Come on, I'll walk you to the subway."

Samantha smiled as she slipped on her coat and followed Jack out of the bar.

Samantha got home just in time to hear her phone ringing. Dropping her bag, she sprinted to pick it up, knowing it would be Martin. "Hey, did you have a good time with your uncle?" she asked.

"It was great, but I missed you. You'll have to come with me next time, He'd love to see you."

"Mmmm………………" Samantha was lost in thought.

"Sam, are you OK? You sound sort of distracted. How was your evening?"

Samantha quickly pulled herself together. "Oh it was fine. What are you doing now?"

"I was just about to watch a movie, do you want to come over?"

Sam looked at her watch. Although it was only a little after 9.30 pm, she was tired, besides which, her brain was buzzing with thoughts of Jack.

"No I won't, but thanks Martin. I've got some things to finish up."

They said their goodnights and Samantha hung up.

FBI Offices the next day

The team was gathered round the table idly chatting while waiting for Jack. Only Samantha was not joining in with the conversation. She was fiddling with a pen and staring dreamily ahead. Martin tried and failed to catch her eye, and vowed to corner her later and see what was wrong. Just then, Jack approached the group with the day's work.

"We've got a new case. Bob Wright a 67- year- old man with a serious heart condition has gone missing. The ambulance arrived at his place to take him to hospital for an urgent operation and there was no sign of him. Danny and Martin, can you check out his apartment? Viv, go over his phone records." His gaze lingered on Sam and she could feel herself blushing. "Sam, you're with me. We're going to the hospital to speak to his consultant."

Martin watched them uneasily. Sam never looked at him in quite the same way she looked at Jack. He had been watching the two of them carefully since Jack had re-appeared with his plans to go to Chicago cancelled. If the truth be told, Martin was a worried man. It was obvious to him that they had had a very intense affair. He recalled Jack risking everything to rescue her from the bookshop, and Samantha's tears when Jack had announced his departure. Although Sam had reassured him that Jack was in the past, Martin was not so sure. He stared at them leaving the office, noting how close together they walked, Jack's hand resting lightly on the small of her back for a moment. He was snapped out of his reverie by Danny.

"Hey man, let's get going. We can grab a coffee and a pastry on the way if you like." Martin smiled weakly, grabbed his coat and followed his partner.

Jack and Sam finished talking to the consultant and walked out into the crisp spring air. It was a welcome relief from the stuffy, over-heated hospital.

"Lets grab a coffee and go for a walk in that park over there," said Jack.

"Sounds like a good idea," replied Sam smiling.

They strolled along the path, chatting easily: gossip from the 12th floor, Jack's plans for Hanna and Kate when they came to stay on their next school holiday. It was like old times, except this time they didn't have the burden of his marriage hanging over their heads. They came to a stop by the lake and turned to face each other.

"I'm glad we talked last night," said Jack. "It's made me realise that my life isn't all a pile of crap. I thought I'd lost it all. My girls, my job, you….."

"Oh Jack, come here." Samantha held out her arms and Jack slid gratefully into her embrace. They clung together, each drawing comfort from the other, until they broke reluctantly apart.

"Come on, we'd better get back to the office." Jack offered his hand and Sam took hold of it as they walked back to the car.

FBI offices

"Hey guys, how did you get on?" Martin called out as he saw Jack and Sam enter the office laughing and looking relaxed. Jack hadn't looked this happy in a long time, and Martin felt a stab of fear. He thought he saw a shadow of guilt pass over Samantha's face, but she quickly regained her composure.

"Nothing much from the hospital, how did you and Danny get on?"

As Martin and Danny filled them in, Sam looked at Martin. How could she break it off with him without hurting him? And what would it look like if she got back with Jack straight after. Although their relationship would have to be a secret at work, Viv, Van Doren and heaven knows who else, had known before. They worked for the FBI and were trained to be observant. What chance did she and Jack have?

Sam was jolted out of her thoughts by Jack's voice. Viv had found a useful lead from the phone records and was off with Danny to follow it up. Sam and Martin were to stay in the office making calls and sorting through paper work.

"I'm getting a coffee Sam, want me to fetch you one?" asked Martin. "Sam……..Sam!"

"Oh God, sorry Martin. Yes, I'd love a cup." Sam gave Martin a small smile. As he went to the coffee machine, he turned back to look at Sam. She was resting her chin on her hand and gazing in the direction of Jack's office .

Martin's apartment later that night

Martin stood at the stove stirring the sauce he was making. Sam was coming over and he was cooking a special meal as a surprise to celebrate their six months together. Well, it was supposed to be a celebration, but Martin had been doing a lot of thinking. He wasn't sure that Sam was as invested in this relationship as he was. Jack's coming back was obviously a major factor in this, and Martin knew deep down that he couldn't compete. Sure their relationship had been fun, the sex was great and having known each other for a long time before, the conversation was easy and relaxed. But it wasn't enough and Martin was not happy to play second fiddle to Jack. He was shrewd enough to realise that Jack and Sam had something special, and he was man enough to do something about it.

The doorbell rang and Martin opened it to find Sam standing there looking as beautiful as ever. This was going to be the hardest thing he'd ever done in his life. "Hey Sam, come in. We need to talk…."

The End.