Author's Note: References to season 5 episodes High Exposure and The Decoy Effect. I don't own Numb3rs.

"Someone's been assigned," David told Kailey and Colby, holding up a file as he walked into the bullpen.

"Already?" Colby asked. "It's been, what? A week and a half?"

"Megan told the director her leaving date way before she informed any of us," Kailey reminded them. "He was probably looking for a while. So what are we looking at? Fresh blood or a transfer?"

"Fresh blood," David said. "A Nikki Betancourt."

"Really?" Kailey smiled.

"You know her?" Colby asked.

"Oh yeah, LAPD. Wow," she said.

"What?" David asked.

"It's going to get interesting."

"Yeah?"

"Nikki is a very good cop. I don't know what went down but after her first assignment she got to choose whatever division she wanted. Pretty high arrest rate, not afraid of anything."

"Well, that's good, but I don't see how that's 'interesting'," Colby said.

"Ha, well, Nikki was known for one other thing around LAPD: attitude towards authority," Kailey said.

"What do you think? There's going to be a clash?"

"Hey, Don's a good boss, no doubt. In other circumstances I'd say it'd be fine. But Nikki is a huge risk-taker and she can be impulsive. And even though Don does that himself…"

"Yeah, this should be interesting," Colby agreed.

N3N3N3N3N3

Kailey sighed as she waited for the elevator doors to close. She wasn't a rock climber, but she had her own outdoor hobbies and the case had made her want to get out again. However, all of her free time was being spent helping her uncle. She didn't resent it, he was getting better, but the case had made her realize how much of her precious vacation time had been spent in the last several months. And, on top of everything else, there were side comments made about Nikki during the case, mostly by Don. Kailey was not only upset that Don didn't seem to be giving the new agent a chance, but also that Don seemed to think that because Kailey knew Nikki from LAPD, she was suddenly an expert on the woman.

The elevators doors closed in front of her, but she looked up from the floor as they stopped, opened again, and Ian Edgerton joined her.

"Hey, thanks for sticking around," she said.

"It's always fun," he smiled. "We didn't get a chance to chat, Danvers, how are you holding up?"

"Some days are better than others. Actually, I can't help but be slightly envious of whatever wilderness your next manhunt takes you to."

Ian laughed.

"It's not too late for you to switch departments."

"Nah, not sure I could do it all the time," she grinned.

"Everyone has their calling," he agreed. "So you knew Betancourt before?"

"Yeah, LAPD. Good cop, glad she's here."

"Don doesn't seem sure."

"You really surprised?" Kailey asked him. "Given everything that's happened, Don's not in the mood for a rookie."

Ian laughed again.

"Yeah, the Eppes boys need to get their act together; I don't understand why Charlie doesn't have his clearance back already."

"We're all wondering," Kailey said, shaking her head. "And obviously you heard Megan up and quit."

"Yeah, another thing Eppes still needs to learn. It's not his fault, some people just aren't meant to be lifers."

Kailey nodded and sighed.

"I just hope he gets that soon; I've already heard him complain too much about Nikki."

"He'll get over it," Ian reassured her as the elevator doors opened and they walked out into the lobby. "And I agree with you, I'm glad Betancourt's here too."

Kailey couldn't quite read the look on the sniper's face, but before she had a chance to ask him, he walked around the corner and disappeared. Shaking her head, Kailey made her way to her car. She half-wished that he would stick around; at least there would be someone else who didn't mind the new agent.