Monday morning rolled around and Samantha was not looking forward to her day at all. She was headed back into work, but wasn't sure how she was going to handle it. Could she really work in the same place as he had? Could she work with the people, well mainly Danny, despised her? For the moment she would have too.
Even if she was feeling really awful. She had spent the weekend crouched over the toilet. This morning hadn't been much better, but hoped that the power of make-up covered the paleness of her skin and the dark rings under her eyes.
She made sure she arrived early, before everyone else was normally in. Then at least they couldn't complain that she was late. The bullpen was in silence when she entered. It was eerie. What made it even worse, she glanced over to Martin's desk, and it was empty. Someone had cleared it out. 'I hope he hadn't left anything in it about us.' She thought to herself. She shook her head and walked to her own desk, not five feet away. Working in such close proximity was what brought them together in the first place.
Slowly everyone began to arrive. Danny gave her the cold shoulder, while Jack and Viv both gave her a small smile. Viv could tell just by looking at her just how bad she felt. She looked worse than Viv had seen her the week before. Maybe being back at work would help the young agent out. But then Viv thought about it and knew that it probably wouldn't. Martin and Samantha had managed to keep their relationship a secret and as far as Samantha knew it still was. How would she cope working back in the unit?
Around nine o'clock Jack gathered them all at the conference table. He knew this was going to be hard but it had to be done. "Everyone I'd like to introduce the newest member of our team. This is Melissa Friedman. She comes to us from Washington DC." As Jack spoke he watched Samantha from the corner of his eye. He watched as her face paled and tears sprung into her eyes. "I hope you'll all make her feel welcome."
Danny and Viv stood to greet the newest member of the team. Samantha held back for a moment before painting a smile on her face. "Welcome." She simply said.
Jack showed Melissa over to what used to be Martin's desk. "You'll be working from here. Make yourself comfortable and don't forget to ask if you need a hand with anything." Jack walked back to his office, not before casting another glance at Samantha.
Melissa sat down in the chair and turned to where her new colleagues sat. She knew that they had lost her predecessor through the job, but wasn't sure what the young man had been like. She turned to where Samantha sat. "Can I ask you what Martin was like?"
Samantha took a deep breath but before she could answer Danny butted in. "Don't ask her." He spat out. "She didn't care for him. Martin was the nicest guy you could ever have met. Cared for everyone, even if everyone didn't care for him." He carried on not seeing the hurt in Samantha's face.
She knew why Danny was upset but he had no right to take it out on her. Then again, maybe he did. Maybe this was his way of dealing with it all.
Later in the afternoon they finally got a case. This was what Samantha had been waiting for. To get back into work. "Mark King, 35, disappeared while out for his morning jog. Wife thought he had gone straight to the office but when they called to say he hadn't arrived she got worried. Danny take Melissa and go to his work place. Viv and I are going to talk to the wife. Samantha can you get started on his credit report and phone records."
She sighed before nodding. She forgot all about desk duty. As much as she wanted to be pregnant she hated just sitting about.
When everyone appeared back in the office a few hours later after a relatively quick find Jack asked if everyone wanted to go for drinks. "To welcome Melissa to the team."
Samantha piped up. "Think I'll leave it Jack."
"That's right you don't care for us any more." Danny spat at her.
"No Danny that's not the case but if that's what you want to think then go ahead. See if I care." She spat back before disappearing from the bullpen.