I'm not going to lie. I don't know how this has turned out as bad things have happened this weekend and life is going pretty crazy. However, this was mostly written before then so the base ideas I had are down- but it may be tweaked in the future.

I hope it hasn't suffered for non- tweaking.

As normal I don't own it... can we please not remind me.

Enjoy.


Sam was sticky, wet and covered in flour. The Techies, it seemed, had been determined to make her look and feel as terrible and sticky as possible. Sam had been half tempted to EMD the one Techie she had caught sight of while they tried to run, but with honey dribbling down into her eyes she decided it was best not to shot in a room filled with electronic equipment, especially as it was still in the month of the Field Agents paying for things that break.

Slipping her way through the main control room Sam tried to make a beeline for the showers. "You better not have had anything to do with this, Jessica!" She yelled waving her EMD around threateningly. Jess spun in her chair to see the problem and quickly slapped her hand over her mouth to stop herself laughing at the sight and annoying the girl any more than she already was.

"Umm… So, that's honey, flour and… water?"

"Orange juice." Sam glared at her. "I'm sticky."

Jess snorted slightly, still trying to hold back laughter. "I honestly, honestly didn't know what we'd been planning anything. But, I take it we're going to win this week." The co-ordinator put on her best smug face as she turned back to her ADD.

"Just you wait, Jessica." Sam growled. "We're going to get you."


Becker found Sam five minutes after she'd finished in the showers, with a couple of mugs of tea.

"What happened to you? Jess just told me to find you with a drink."

Sam eyed up the mug nervously. "Is that tea?"

"I didn't make it, I got Wade to."

"Awesome." Sam grabbed the mug. The sad thing about Becker was that he could drink tea, he was cranky without his tea, Jess actually believed he could tell the difference between PG tips and a basic brand of tea (Sam was planning on putting it to the test), but he couldn't actually make a cup of tea.

"So, what happened?"

"Techies. We need to think of something good. And fast."

Becker cracked a smile.

"You've let the side down. Connor warned me they were up to something earlier."

"You never thought of warning me?"

Sam sat down and started to dry her hair. "I can't believe it! If we lose this week because of me you're going to pay! You and Connor both! I'm not being forced into anything degrading because you didn't share useful information!"

"It's not my fault you weren't paying enough attention, Samantha."

"Stop calling me that!" Sam snapped at him.

"I didn't mean to hit a nerve."

"No. It's fine. Sorry, I'm fine." The oldest lie in the world. Well, oldest after 'I have read and agreed to the terms and conditions'.

"Sam, come on. The first time I met you, you were upset. I know what it looks like." Becker raised an eyebrow.

Sam ignored him as she continued to rub at her hair with her towel. After a few seconds she lowered her arms and there was a long pause as Becker watched her.

"You thinking about yesterday? That ass isn't worth your thoughts."

"No, Becker. It's fine. I'm just thinking."

"Sammy, I know when something's wrong with you. We've worked together long enough. Remember when I first joined? You were the first person I met after Lester."

"Yeah and I was as much of a mess then as I am now."

"Exactly. That's why I know something's wrong."

"Gee thanks. You know how to make me feel better!" Sam sat still, staring at the lockers with her arms wrapped around herself. "Abby." Sam's words started off calm. "Earlier she was annoying me. And then I fell into the Techies trap and it's all that on top of everything last night. I'm just sick of it all. With having to go out and them being so… I mean they've been complaining at me because you broke his nose … It's like they don't care that he deserved it… And they don't even know that we were nearly blown up. And they… It's… All so one sided. I have to play by their rules." Sam tensed up, her shoulders closing in on herself, as she tried to work out her words. "Just like… putting so much pressure on me. I don't want to have to go out with people I don't know. I want to have an evening off from work and relax. Just one night a week. One. But I know if I suggest it they're just going to break off the deal and go on and on and on at me twenty-four-seven about how they're married and having kids and with good normal jobs and all happy and don't get smacked around the face by asses and… ARGH! I'm just sick of it! I mean I love my job. I really do. But they can't see it because they don't know what I do. They think… Oh I don't know what they think. But they don't think what I do is good enough because I can't tell them. And yeah they're going to spend their entire time judging me because I don't have what they have and what they think I should have and they just… It's too much. There's just too much pressure. I'm at least five years younger than them. I'm allowed to be at a different point in my life. Aren't I?"

Becker leant against the lockers opposite her.

"You are." Becker paused as if still absorbing everything she'd said. "Go out with me next Thursday instead. I know you'll enjoy it more than meeting with a total stranger and you know you'll at least get a good evening out of it."

Sam was flattered at the idea. It really was sweet of him to give up his evening off so that she didn't have to go out with someone she really didn't want to.

"I… that's really nice of you, Becker. But you know I can't lie and I couldn't to save my life. The nearest I can do is twist the truth and I made an agreement with my friends to go out on a date once a week and while they uphold their end of the bargain, I will mine."

She half smiled up at him.

"Umm… That wasn't what I meant." Becker looked really nervous, a sight which Sam really didn't want to see again. A nervous Becker?

"Wipe that nervous look of your face." He changed to confused. "You're Mister Shoot First- ask questions later. It's not good to see you doubting yoruself."

Becker smiled and continued his line of thought from before. "Then… Why don't you go on a date with me?"

Sam thought about what she'd said with Abby earlier then made up her mind and smiled apologetically. "I can't get out of this week. They've already chosen a guy and I'm not allowed to cancel on them."

"Next week it is then. Don't forget that paperwork." Becker smiled at her, turned and left the room.

"Uh…" There was nothing but an empty room to hear the half noise. "But? … What?…"

Then the walls reflected a series of surprised giggles.

"JESS IS GOING TO KILL ME!"


Umm. Okay! A couple of things I've been thinking of.

1. Is my next project following off from here. Keep on the lookout.

2. Is a side thing I've been writing. Are there any questions you've ever wanted to ask the group but will never have a chance to? Well I'm offering it to you now! Inbox me or leave a comment with your question and I'll try and get you an answer! (No asking for Becker's number... he wont share it!)

Let me know your thoughts.

Reviews will make me happy and I need happy things at the moment so do your good deed for the day... hit that button... you know you want to.