It was an unusually quiet day in SVU's squad room. The detectives currently sat at their desk finishing up paperwork.

"It's too quiet in here. Can you two fight or something so we have some entertainment," Carisi spoke up as he pointed to partners Nick Amaro and Samantha Scott whose desk were merely feet from his.

"You're an ass Carisi," smiled Sam.

He grinned, "You must be missing DC. I'm sure there was always something going on."

The smile quickly left her face at the mention of her former home, which did not go unnoticed by her partner, "Yea never a dull moment." Her voice flat and uninterested.

"You never talk about DC. There's gotta be some interesting cases."

"Not much," she replied, same flat tone in her voice; absent mindedly touching the silver chain she wore around her neck.

"You've been wearing that a lot lately. Any special meaning?" Nick questioned. She usually wore it tucked in but he recently noticed a silver ring hanging on the end. She didn't wear a ring and had never discussed a husband, though the two had rarely discussed anything personal.

"Just back off," she spat out before angrily storming off, leaving the other detectives confused as to what had just happened.

"What the hell just happened?" Carisi exclaimed.

"No idea," retorted Nick but I'm going to find out.


Nick knew Sam was hiding something; something angered her other than her usual attitude. It was like the day in the gym when she began hitting him; like a switch went off and she exploded in anger. The rest of team had gone out to lunch but Nick opted to stay behind to finishing off some paperwork. Once that was completed he knew this was the time to see what his partner was hiding.

He opened the search engine on his laptop and typed in her name. First thing that popped up was a Facebook page; clicking on the link, the page was private but what was shown was a picture of Sam and another female. The basic information provided said she lived in New York City and that she's single.

Exiting the page he scrolled through more results but found nothing. He decided to try a more specific search and typed in Washington DC next to her name. A few stories down was an article entitled FBI Agent Fighting For Life After Ambush. Agent Ryan West was shot outside his home yesterday morning in what the agency is calling an 'ambush'. Details are sparse at this time but according to a source his injuries are life threatening. DC Metropolitan Police are assisting the FBI in the investigation. West is married to MPD Detective Samantha Scott.

"Brought you back a sandwich," Sam said entering the prescient "Don't say I never do anything nice for you."

He was startled by her voice, "What? Looking at something you're not supposed to?" she smirked as she placed the food on his desk.

Before he could shut his laptop Sam walked behind and saw what was on the screen, "Sam."

"You son of a bitch."

"Sam," he stood up, trying to calm her down. By now Fin, Carisi and Amanda gathered around the two.

Her voice grew more furious, "No, you wanna know about my life so bad I'll tell you. You want to know what happened in DC. Why I don't talk about it? You want to know what it's like to watch your husband cling to life for a week only for doctors to tell you there's no hope. You want to know what it's like to watch the life slowly come out of someone?" the tears she tried to hold at bay spilled out, she didn't bother to wipe them away, not caring that her team saw her cry, "You want to know what it's like to hold someone's hand as they take their last breath? Is that what you wanted to know Detective Amaro?"

Everyone stood in a stunned silence. It felt like minutes until someone spoke up, "I'm" Nick tried to speak but at the moment words escaped him.

"Sorry?" and angry Sam spat, "Don't. I don't need your pity."

Amanda walked over to her friend and gently grabbed her by the arm, "Sam why don't we take a walk?"

Olivia walked out of her office, having been on the phone and thus hadn't heard the commotion going on outside her office. She noted that Sam wiped away the tears on her face. "You alright Scott?"

"I'm fine Liv. Stubbed my toe," she lied.

Olivia didn't buy the blatant lie but she couldn't worry about it at the moment. We got a case. Sixteen year old attacked last night, found her in an alley. I need you and Amaro to get to Mercy to interview the victim. Fin and Rollins head to the crime scene."

"I'll be in the car," Sam said briskly and quickly left the room; everyone still in shock over what had just occurred.


Sam wiped away the last remaining tears when she heard the passenger side door to her car open. Once he was seat belted in, Nick opened his mouth to speak.

"Unless what you are about to say has to with work I don't want to hear it."

"It's only been six months, I get that the feelings are raw."

She shot her partner glare, "What did I just say?"

"I can't imagine what you're going through."

"No you can't so shut up."

He ignored her statement and continued, "You're trying to block out the pain, that's why you act this way. You can't run from it."

A sarcastic laugh left her mouth, "Thank you Dr. Amaro."

"I'm just trying to understand you," he replied.

"Do me a favor. Don't"

They arrived at Hudson University, Sam shut the car off, "I ran. I ran back to New York because I couldn't handle being there anymore." It was the first words she had spoken in the near twenty minute car ride to the crime scene.

Nick; surprised that she spoke and simply kept quiet; truly surprised she had somewhat opened up to him.


After interviewing the victim the detectives returned to the prescient.

"Sam I need to see you in my office," Olivia opened the door to her office and called out once the two returned.

Sam sighed but followed into her bosses' office and closed the door, "I know about what happened before."

"I'm not apologizing to Amaro."

Olivia let out an amused laugh, "I'm not asking you to," there was a pause, "Why don't you take the rest of the day off."

"I'm fine."

"It's not a request," a stern Olivia told her.

An angered Sam knew nothing she could say would change her mind so she turned to leave.

"Sam," Olivia began, "if you need anything you know where to find me."

She simply nodded her head and her office to hear her name being called by a youthful voice.

"Sam," she looked up to see Zara running to her and give her a big hug.

She smiled her first genuine smile of the day, "Hey Zara."

"I made you this," the young girl pulled away and showed the brunette a colorful beaded bracelet. "Mommy and I have the same one."

Another smile appeared, "Thank you Zara. This means a lot." Sam slipped the bracelet on her wrist.

A slender brunette walked over to the two. "You must be Sam, Zara talked about you," the woman extended her hand, "I'm Maria, Nick's wife." They had never met but she knew who the other woman was due to the picture on Nick's desk.

Sam shook her hand, "Nice to meet you. You've got a great kid here."

Maria smiled in return.

"Do you and Daddy have a case?" Zara questioned.

"Actually Zara, I'm not feeling too well so I'm going home right now."

Nick knew the sick excuse was a lie but chose not to say anything. Sam walked to her desk and grabbed her black leather jacket off the back of her chair, "Zara be good for you mom. Maria it was nice to meet you." With that she was out of the building.


Sam was on her fifth glass of scotch when the man approached. He wasn't unattractive but she wasn't in the mood tonight and he just couldn't seem to take no for an answer.

"Take the hint man and walk away," spoke Nick.

"Why don't you mind your business. The lady and I were talking" the man replied.

"The lady doesn't seem too interested," he responded.

"What are you her boyfriend?"

Nick went toe to toe with the drunken stranger with a threatening glare. The man threw his hands up in mock surrender, "You're not that hot anyway," he yelled and walked away.

"How did you even know I was here?"

"Rollins."

"Damnit Amanda," she took another sip.

"She was worried about you."

She raised an eyebrow, "I'm fine."

"You're drinking by yourself on a Wednesday," retorted Nick.

"Why are you here?" she questioned, not hiding her annoyance.

"I told you Amanda was worried."

She let out a bitter laugh, "And you just had to come to the rescue. "Saint Nick at it again. I hear you got a thing for damaged women." She finished off her drink, "Bartender I'll have another."

"I think you've had enough," Nick told her.

"Good thing nobody asked you."

"Your friends' right ma'am you've had enough," the bartender told her.

Sam shook her head, "Fine I'll go somewhere else."

Nick spoke up, "I'm taking you home."

"Seriously Amaro just leave me alone."

He grabbed her by the arm, knowing she wouldn't willingly leave with him. She struggled against his grasp, trying to remove her arm. "You're embarrassing yourself Scott, just stop."

She gave up at that moment, beginning to feel the effects of all the alcohol she had consumed. Nick put her in the front seat of his car and buckled her in.

Neither said anything as he entered the driver's side and turned the car on.

Sam let her body fall back against the seat and turned her head so to not look at Nick. Somewhere during the drive she saw him glance over at her.

"Got something to say?"

He shook his head, "Just making sure you're still alive."

"You should have just left me at the bar."

"And how were you going to get home Sam? Because you could barely stand up straight."

"I'd run Nick. That's what I do. I run," she spoke angrily.

Nick sighed, "I'm sorry about this morning."

"No you're not, your just sorry I found out," she replied. "You wanted to know why such a bitch right? Now you know." There was more to her story but she be damned if she was going to share that with anybody especially her partner.