A/N: Inspired by Episode 2 - 'Thou Shalt Not'. Each team member's take on the boss' return.
Jack's Back
Vivian
What do I have to do to earn some respect around this place? I come in everyday and work the long hours like everyone else, I do as I'm told, I'm not a wildcard like Martin, and I don't get involved in office romances like Samantha. Sure I have a family at home, but so does Jack. Why do they trust him to do the job over me? They didn't even give me a chance to prove myself. And it was Jack's decision today that almost got a whole building full of people killed. Although Van Doren will never know that because it was my call and I deferred to Jack. He was so sure that a detonator was going to be used so I listened to him, I followed his gut even though I was in charge. I guess it wouldn't work to have him return to the team with me as leader, too much history of him being in control, but I'm tired of waiting around for my turn.
Jack
My life appears to be falling apart around me, but I don't feel it. Sure I'm going to fight to get my girls back and I feel terrible for taking Vivian's job from her, but the day to day hasn't changed. I get up in the morning, I don't miss Maria or the kids because I was usually off at work before they rose each morning anyway. I come home at the end of the day and scrounge for dinner, but dinner has never been waiting for me and the girls were most often already in bed by the time I arrived. I don't feel more alone, because Maria and I didn't spend any time together in the evenings, we'd drifted too far apart for that. Besides, I love New York, I love my job, and my team is a great unit who I look forward to working with each day. In fact, this might be better than trying to keep my marriage together, I didn't want to start over in Chicago and now, ... I wonder what Samantha will think when I tell her about Maria. Has too much time passed?
Samantha
I heard his voice on the other end of the line and my breath caught in my throat. How could such a small thing as his voice evoke the conflicting set of emotions I'm feeling now? Why is he here? Is he going to stay? And most importantly, do I want him to stay? I've already tried to move on, fill the void that Jack still held in my heart, but was it a mistake?
Martin
God damn him, what is he doing back here? Does Samantha know? I don't want to lose her—I can't lose her—not now, not after she finally showed me that she cares about me too. He needs to let her go, why can't he just let her go?
Danny
Weird, Jack's gone and Vivian takes over, then Jack's back and Vivian is demoted. Strange the way things work out sometimes. I think it's going to be different though, everything isn't going to 'return to normal.' I hope that this doesn't look like a blemish on Vivian's record, she didn't really have a chance to show how good of a leader she is. Martin seemed perplexed by Jack's return and I'm sure that he is not happy about it, he probably thought that he could finally get somewhere with Samantha with Jack out of the picture. And Samantha, I hope that she doesn't start dating the boss again, that will not be good for her career, even if Jack ends up getting a divorce. But as for me, not much has changed, I report to Jack the same as I would to Vivian, I have great respect for both. I guess I was just hoping the drama of the office would be minimized with Jack's absence. So much for that.