Chapter Two

Samantha left Martin's apartment in a state of shock. He had just given her the way out she'd needed by ending their relationship, but somehow she felt wounded and upset.

Were her feelings for Jack that transparent? Maybe she just wore her heart on her sleeve. After all, Jack had guessed that she was seeing Martin, and almost everyone knew when she was having her 'secret' affair with Jack. Perhaps it would be better if she dated someone outside of the bureau, or even better, turned completely celibate! No, forget that last idea. She was a red-blooded woman after all and needed a man. Correction, needed Jack Malone. Nobody did more for her than Jack, in fact, no-one had even come close. In her mind, they were true soul-mates, destined to be together, and she knew without a doubt that Jack felt the same. But why was life so bloody difficult? It seemed that everything and everyone was conspiring against them.

Samantha got into her car, closed her eyes and threw her head back against the head-rest. If only the world would disappear leaving just her and Jack alone, life would be perfect, she decided. These thoughts were interrupted by the discreet vibration of her phone. She pulled it out of her pocket and glanced at the display. It was Jack. He knew where she was going that night, and was ringing to check up on her, no doubt. They'd agreed that she would let Martin down gently some time soon. Just wait until he heard what had happened tonight!

"Hey Sam, can you talk?" whispered Jack.

"Sure," replied Sam. "In fact, can I come over? Something's happened that I need to speak to you about."

"Of course you can," said Jack in a worried voice. "Is everything OK?"

"Yeah, fine, don't worry. I'll see you in about 20 minutes."

Jack's Apartment

One look at Samantha's face told Jack that everything wasn't in fact OK. He pulled her into his arms, and held her tightly.

"Oh God Jack, it was awful!"

"What was awful sweetheart, what's he done?" Jack replied, in a concerned tone.

"Martin dumped me. He came out with all this crap about how we shouldn't be having a relationship because we work together, how he prefers me as a friend…………."

"But Sam, this is good news, isn't it? questioned Jack. "I mean, isn't this what we both wanted?"

"Yes. No. Oh I don't know. I think he knows that you and I still have feelings for each other, and I feel terrible for him that he had to find out."

Jack released her from his arms, took hold of her hand, and led her over to the sofa. Privately he was cheering that Martin had made it so easy for them. Despite the fact that he himself had never had any real claim on Sam, he was still pissed that Martin had moved in on Sam when he'd thought the coast was clear. Jack had actually found it mildly amusing that Martin had had such a crush on Sam, but thought that she'd been irritated by his 'puppy dog' devotion. In fact, they'd laughed about it sometimes. When the 'puppy dog' looks seemed to start having an effect, however, he hadn't felt quite so amused. Now all he felt was grateful.

Samantha snuggled onto Jack's lap and buried her face in his neck. He held her close and stroked her back, trying to soothe her.

"Look Sam, try not to worry so much. He might think he knows, but he has no proof that we are anything more than just friends and colleagues. In fact, that's all we really are at the moment."

Sam lifted her head and stared at him.

"What do you mean by that?" she said.

Jack stared right back at her, then lifted his hand and tenderly stroked her face.

"We haven't become lovers again," he whispered softly, holding her gaze.

Sam's heart beat faster, and she could feel herself blushing.

"Perhaps we should do something about that then," she whispered back.

They moved towards each other, lips meeting softly at first, then increasing in intensity. It had been too long. There was a desperation about their love-making. Clothes were ripped off their bodies, and hands were stroking, touching, feeling, grabbing. For both of them, it was like coming home. Afterwards, they lay on the floor, exhausted yet exhilarated.

"Wow," said Sam, with a sated, dreamy smile on her face.

Jack smiled sleepily at her. "Come on, let's go to bed."

Sam sat up with a start. " Jack I can't. I haven't got a change of clothes. If I go into the office tomorrow like this, Martin will know that I haven't been home. It won't take him long to put two and two together and…………………"

"Calm down. I'll set the clock so you can get home early and change. C'mon, I want you with me tonight," Jack pleaded.

Sam relented. She wanted nothing more than to be curled up next to Jack, holding him close. It was amazing just how right and perfect this all felt. What had she been doing with Martin all this time? It was almost as if she had just been going through the motions with him, because he was 'nice and fun, perfect boyfriend material.' She certainly hadn't loved him with the passion and intensity that she loved Jack.

"OK then, lead the way lover boy!"

Jack smirked. Although their love-making had left him sleepy, he had an overwhelming feeling of well- being. It had been an incredible release for him, and he was on a high. He and Maria had slept together a few times when he had been trying to make a go of it, but it had been awkward, perfunctory sex, with little emotion. In fact, all they'd been doing was going through the motions, doing what was expected of a married couple.

They got into bed and lay spooned together. Samantha felt protected and loved. Jack loved the feel of her back in his arms again, where she should be. With these thoughts, they both drifted off into a peaceful sleep.

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Next morning

Jack awoke to the sound of the alarm. He looked over at Samantha, who was still deeply asleep. Smiling to himself as he swung his legs out of the bed, he remembered how hard she was to wake in the morning. He ambled into the kitchen and made them both a cup of coffee, which he placed on the bedside table.

"Sam," he said as he gently roused her. "Come on, wake up, it's 6.30."

Samantha slowly stirred and rolled her head on the pillow so she was facing Jack.

"Hey," she said sleepily, "come back to bed."

Jack smiled as he slid under the covers, pulling Samantha into his arms. He didn't need asking twice.

"You know we're going to have to be careful now," he said. "We can't afford for the team to find out, let alone OPR again."

Sam let out a long sigh.

"Well that's easier said than done Jack. Martin will be watching us like a hawk, Viv always seems to know, and Danny…….. well Danny will know if Martin confides in him."

"I'll just have to try not to partner us together so often," said Jack with a sinking heart.

The idea filled him with dismay. Out of all his team, he felt that he and Sam worked best together. They bounced ideas and theories off each other well. It was almost like they knew what the other was thinking. He'd felt this connection with her even before they began sleeping together.

They lay quietly, trying to absorb the implications of this, each of them equally appalled by the idea, but not knowing what else to do.

"Hell, look at the time Sam. I'll grab a quick shower and head off. I'll tell the others that you've rung me because you have a flat tire, and you're going to be late in. You'll never make it in time otherwise."

"OK boss," replied Sam, stretching out lazily.

He leaned over and they shared a lingering kiss. "See you later sweetheart."

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FBI Office

After a hasty change of clothes, Samantha rushed across the main foyer of the building.

"Hold the elevator please," she shouted, as she saw the doors closing. One of the elevators was out of action, and she didn't have the energy to take the stairs this morning. The doors opened, and she stepped gratefully in.

"Thanks." Sam suddenly fell silent. It was Martin who had held the doors open, and he was alone in the lift.

"Hello Sam, how are you this morning?" Martin shifted uneasily, unable to look her in the eye.

"I, um, I'm OK thanks Martin. How are you?"

"Yes, I'm……." Martin replied, finally looking at her, but he was staring at her neck.

Noticing his stare, she glanced at herself in the mirrored walls of the elevator. What she saw made her heart sink. A lovely, deep purple hicky stood out like a beacon against her otherwise creamy skin. Damn, she thought, and quickly raised her hand to try and cover it. Fortunately, they arrived at their floor and Martin stormed out without waiting for her.

Sam hurried towards the restroomand pulled out a concealer. Shit, how come she hadn't noticed it this morning? She knew of course, that she had been in too much of a hurry to notice anything much. Satisfied with the cover up job, she did up another couple of buttons on her shirt. That'll have to do, she thought as she strolled into the bullpen.

"Hey, how's your car, did you get the tire fixed?" Danny called over.

"Er, yes. Eventually." Sam replied, shuffling some papers on her desk so that she wouldn't have to look him in the eye.

"Couldn't you fix it yourself?" asked Martin snidely. He looked at Danny's surprised expression, and hastily back-tracked.

"Just saying, that in these days of equality and all that……"

The situation was saved by Jack and Viv walking into the office.

"Everything OK now Sam?" asked Jack.

"Yes, fine thanks." replied Sam, reddening. God, this was going to be hell, she thought. I can't blush every time Jack talks to me.

Jack and Viv outlined their latest case. A thirteen -year- old boy had disappeared on his way back from a music lesson the previous evening.

"Danny, Viv. I want you to visit the parents. Martin and Sam, you two go see the music teacher."

He passed them a file. "I'll be here making some calls." With that, Jack turned and headed towards his office.

Oh great, thought Sam. Now I'm stuck with Martin. This is going to be fun.

"Are you ready?"

Sam looked up to see Martin standing by her desk.

"Yeah, lets go," she replied.

They walked out of the building without saying a word to each other, and got into his car. Finally Sam could bear the silence no longer.

"Martin," she implored, but he kept his eyes firmly fixed on the road ahead. "Look, we've got to talk sometime. How's it going to look if you keep ignoring me?"

Martin suddenly steered the car over to the side of the road, making Sam grip the seat in panic. He turned and glared at her, his normally placid face contorted in anger.

"I just don't believe you Sam. We spent six months together, which I thought had been happy. But then I realised that you had never got over Jack, and I wasn't prepared to hang around while you decided what to do. I thought I'd done the decent thing ending our relationship. I believed that you needed time on your own to heal, but I was wrong."

"Martin…."

"No, let me finish Sam. How do you think I felt when I saw you in the elevator this morning with that hicky on your neck? You obviously couldn't wait to leap straight back into Jack's bed, could you? Did our time together really mean nothing to you?" Martin turned to look out of the window.

Sam was stunned, but not surprised at his outburst. It was true, she did seem to jump straight from one relationship to another, but she always had done. It hadn't been her intention to sleep with Jack last night, but he was the one man she could never resist.

She tentatively laid her hand on his arm. " Look Martin, I'm sorry. I never set out to hurt you. I had a fantastic time with you, you're sweet and caring and fun to be with, but Jack and I…well, what we have is special in a way that I can't explain. No one else makes me feel like he does, and no one ever will." Samantha's eyes filled with tears.

Martin eventually turned to face her. His face had lost the anger, and he looked resigned.

"I just want you to be happy Sam. I'd hate to see you hurt again like last time."

"Jack's not going to hurt me," Sam whispered, "we love each other."

"Well, just make sure you're both more careful this time," replied Martin with a sad smile, "I don't want you losing your job."

Samantha smiled gratefully. "Friends?"

Martin leant over and kissed her on the cheek. "Friends."

As Martin started the car and pulled back into the flow of traffic, Samantha sat back in her seat. Martin wouldn't tell anyone, and she was relieved that he could be so forgiving, in spite of all that had happened. Closing her eyes, her thoughts then turned to Jack, and she smiled.

The End