Disclaimer I do not own New Tricks. No copyright infringement intended.

Seeing as Treasure Hunt didn't go down very well I thought I'd go for a more team centred story. Please let me know if I should keep writing New Tricks. This story starts very angsty.

Facing the Truth.

Sandra blinked as she stared in the mirror. The blonde looking back at her was hardly recognisable, she swallowed hard as she realised she was going to have to come up with one hell of a lie to convince the boys that she was alright. The black eye, bruised cheek and split lip seemed to argue against the fact.

"Come on Sandra." She muttered as she gingerly splashed cold water onto her bruised face. Even the act of bending to pick up a hand towel almost caused her to cry out as her ribs protested to the sudden movement. Before she knew it she was curled on the bathroom floor crying her heart out. When did it all go wrong? I'm a police officer. A Detective Superintendant with my own unit. How the Hell did I let this happen? She threw the towel away in anger as she realised that for the first time since she had worked with UCOS she was going to be late.

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"Morning Sandra." Jack threw his coat over the coat stand before making his way towards the kettle. "Sandra?" He shrugged. He was almost always the second one to arrive in the mornings. Sandra was more often than not a few minutes earlier than him. He smiled as he realised she was probably about to walk in the office behind him.

"Jack." Brian huffed as he walked in with his cycle helmet still in place and Scampi at his heels.

"Brian?" He checked his watch.

"I do work 'ere you know."

"Yes." Jack sighed, he glanced towards Sandra's office as he half listened to Brian. He had been sure he had arrived before her. "Have you seen Sandra this morning?"

"No." Brian unbuckled the cycle helmet. "Should I 'av?"

"No." He sighed as he watched Gerry walk in.

"Morning."

"Hello." Brian sighed. "Av you seen Sandra?"

"No." Gerry turned to face him. "Why?"

"She hasn't turned up yet."

"Jack, she'll be in a meeting with Strickland." Gerry shrugged his shoulders. "Probably some new wild goose chase to send us on."

"No, 'es on annual leave until Monday."

"Sandra is never late." Brian began to panic as Scampi curled up in his basket. "She's always here."

"I know." Jack answered. "That's what's worrying me."

"What's worrying you?" Sandra snapped as she walked past them towards her office. Gerry met Jack's eyes as they realised she hadn't headed straight for the kettle or taken her coat off. He couldn't help but worry.

"You're late."

"Didn't realise I had to answer to you." Sandra snapped as she reached her office. "I want that report on the Mullaney case by the end of today."

"Ok."

"Right." She slammed the door behind her before pulling the blinds as all three men stood dumbfounded. Brian shook his head as he began setting up the computer for the day. Jack frowned as he watched the blinds slam closed.

"I dunno about you, Jack but now she's got me worried. Sandra is definately hiding something. She didn't look at us once the entire time she was talking."

"Yeah. And since when did she wear make up that heavy?" He asked as Brian looked up. "Something has happened."

"You think it's that new bloke of hers? She did say she 'ad a date last night." Brian asked as both Jack and Gerry fell silent both hoping that Brian was wrong.

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A/N Worth going on with? Please review.