"Please, don't touch me, Jack. Just...don't."

*****

She hadn't meant to cry out the way she did.

But she had, and now the look on Jack's face is enough to shatter her.

"Why did you lie to me about this?"

"Because, I-it's what I tell everyone," she replies, staring intently at her hands.

"I wish you'd told me before."

"Before what? Before we started sleeping together? Not a chance." Samantha looks up then, and finds that Jack is staring at her like he's never seen her before.

"Why not?" He should have known; he should have seen this earlier. Some profiler he was. Didn't even know his own team.

So many times, he'd watched as she pulled her gun faster than everyone else. All the times she'd tackled suspects before he'd even gotten out of the car. The way she reacted on certain cases. He should have realized something wasn't right. He should have seen this that first day she walked in to his office, acting as though nothing could touch her.

She should have told him.

"Would it have made a difference, Jack? Really, would knowing that I got the shit kicked out of me nearly every day until I turned 17- would it have changed anything?"

"For me, no. But it might have changed you," he states quietly.

Samantha doesn't say anything, only picking up her boot from where it dropped and zipping it back on.

"You can try as hard as you want, you can lie to whoever you want, but you're still the same scared girl you were then. You haven't changed; you've just gotten better at hiding it."

Samantha still doesn't look at him, but gives a rueful little laugh.

"Congratulations, Jack, you figured it out. Are you proud of yourself?"

"No. I'm proud of you."

This hushed statement causes her to finally look at him. The conflict in her eyes is unmistakable. She isn't sure whether to lie to him again, or tell him the entire truth.

"I- you know what? I'm not sure we should be having this conversation now-- not here." She sounds fine, but she looks worried. Luckily, the only security cameras on this floor are next to the elevators and stairwells.

They both stand. Samantha moves for the door, and Jack puts a hand lightly on her shoulder to stop her. She doesn't flinch.

Leaning towards her, he speaks quietly into her ear. "Just go down to A/V, and get the tape. There aren't time-codes, so as long as you switch a new tape in, it will be fine."

Nodding, she steps back from him, turning towards the closed door. "If you're up for it, you can stop by later. I'll tell you everything else you need to know."

With her hand on the doorknob, she pauses, tilting her head to one side as if listening for something. Then, without warning, she turns back and allows herself to be pulled into the unexpected hug.

In those seconds, Samantha lets her guard down completely, and they both know it.

Safely within his arms, she turns to whisper two words that the security tape will never pick up. After he releases her, somewhat reluctantly, she turns to leave again. This time, the relief in her eyes speaks volumes.

Thank you.

~fin~