Samantha walked into her apartment, stopping when a sudden blast of cold air hit her. She shivered and glanced around the room. The window in her living room was wide open, letting in huge gusts of cold air. Puzzled, she wondered if she had opened it this morning as she didn't remember doing so. She crossed the room dumping her purse on the chair and shutting the window.

Making her way into the kitchen she put on a pot of coffee, and turned up the heating trying to regain some of the lost heat.

She turned sharply, sure as anything that she had heard a noise from her bedroom. Picking up her gun she slowly crept towards her room, not making a sound. The door to her bedroom was slightly open, her gum aimed into the room, she went inside and quickly flicked on the light switch to see...an empty room. She sighed relieved, then grimaced paranoia was not good. Stowing her gun in it's usual hiding place, she went back into the kitchen area and poured herself a cup of coffee. Sinking into one of her comfy armchairs in the living room, she smiled, revelling in the hot liquid as it warmed her up.

She didn't know how long she sat there, but she just sat enjpying the silence and peacefulness of her apartment, not disturbed by phone calls or anything. Glancing at her watch she decided to make something to eat, do the case report, then just relax for a while. She hadn't had much time for relaxing lately, then have an earlyish night.

The next day after a peaceful night Samantha made her way into the FBI building. She cringed inwardly remember her angry words from the previous day. Sighing, and remembering to apologize, she strolled into the bullpen where the others were already seated at the conference table.

She walked over and before the others could say anything she said, "I'm sorry about yesterday. I do appreciate you looking out for me, I was just a little on edge."

Vivian and Martin both smiled forgivingly.

"It's fine, don't worry." said Danny.

"Yeah no harm done." added Jack, although he looked like he wanted to say more.

Sam smiled gratefully. "So what have we got?"

"So far. Paperwork." replied Vivian.

Hanging up her coat and putting her purse by her desk, Sam joined the others at the table. The day passed slowly, and there were no cases so Jack let them go home early, well around 4.30, after they had finished all the paperwork.

Danny and Martin had asked her to go out for a late lunch at a little Italian place, seeing as they didn't have much else to do. She accepted not really wanting to go back to an empty apartment.

"So Fitz, any plans for the holidays?" Danny asked, it was the beginning of December and Christmas was quickly approaching.

"Yeah, going home to Seattle to see the family. Should be great." he said sarcastically.

"I'm sure the famous Victor Fitzgerald isn't that bad." Martin raised an eyebrow, so Danny retracked his last sentence, "So maybe he is."

"Well you've got Jamie and your nieces there right?" added Samantha.

Martin nodded, "Yeah, the only part I'm looking forward too."

"What about the food?" Grinned Danny.

"That too. Anyway what about you guys?"

Samantha and Danny grinned at each other. "Well our usual Christmas thing." Began Danny.

Martin looked puzzled.

"We've had this tradition, for years now." Continued Sam.

"About 5 or 6." put in Danny.

"So yeah quite a while then. Anyway, we go see a Christmas show on Christmas Eve, then Christmas day we cook at one of our apartments, eat all day, open presents, watch feel-good Christmas movies."

"I said I would go see Raffie for a bit this year."

"Yeah how is he?" asked Sam.

Danny nodded. "He's doing good actually."

"I'm glad to hear that."

Martin watched Danny and Sam's interaction with interest, he had known they were close, but he hadn't realised they were that close, and he hadn't know about their Christmas thing, granted this was only the 3rd Christmas he known them for.

"What about your family Sam?" he asked.

Out of the corner of his eye he saw Danny signal a definite no, and wondered what was so wrong about asking that. He watched as Sam's face and eyes hardened, and wondered if he had made a mistake. He opened his mouth to take it back, when she started talking. "I just don't talk to my mom, haven't done for years now."

Martin raised a curious eyebrow at Danny, who just sighed. Martin glanced back at Sam, who still had a hard expression on her face. "Sam, I'm sorry. We don't have to talk about it."

She looked at him, her eyes softening. "It's okay. You weren't to know."

They sat for a while longer, exchanging casual conversation, and deciding to all do something for New Years. By the time they left the restaurant, it was around 7.

Martin had driven them from the office, as he was the only on who had his car that day. He offered the others a lift, but they declined as he lived in the opposite direction and Samantha and Danny got into their own cabs home.

As soon as Samantha stepped into her apartment, the phone rang and she felt a feeling of apprehension as she picked up the phone. "Hello?" Again she was met with silence. Her good mood immediately dissipating, she hung up, wary of the stillness around her. A quick check of all the rooms and closets assured her that there was nothing there, and she settled down to watch some TV, before going to bed, one ear listening for anything out of the ordinary. Eventually after nodding off several times in front of the TV, she decided to go to bed. Still unable to shake away the feeling of apprehension, she drifted off into an uneasy sleep.

She woke with a start, turning over to look at the clock. 4.02. She groaned. Her sleep had been disturbed by those awful dreams. She sighed and sat up, switching on her bedside light.

Once she had woken up slightly, she noticed a plain white envelope on her pillow next to her. A wave of fear came over her and she opened the envelope with trembling hands. She pulled out two polaroids, one of her living room, and another of her, fast asleep. Samantha dropped them, shaking. She felt all the blood rushing to her head, and she saw white bursts of light. Feeling like she was either going to faint or throw up, she stumbled out of bed, and went to the bathroom to splash cold water on her face. She sank down onto the cold bathroom floor. She felt tears coming to her eyes, but held them back not wanting to give in to her weakness. She wasn't going to cry, she was stronger than that.

She shakily got back on her feet, and sat back on her bed, a shudder going through her. He had been through her apartment, he had been in her room. She cursed herself for being such a heavy sleeper. She couldn't stay her.

Grabbing her phone she dialled Danny's number, praying that he would answer.

"Hello." he mumbled, sounding half asleep.

"Danny." she said, surprised at how unstable her voice sounded.

"Sam? What's wrong?" he asked, now sounding more alert.

"He...he was in my apartment, in my room. Can I stay with you?"

"Of course you can. Are you alright?" he asked concerned.

"Yeah."

"Okay, I'll come pick you up."

"Thank you." Samantha hung up the phone, grabbed some clothes and the pictures. She then sat curled up on the couch, her gun and the phone next to her, waiting for Danny.