Disclaimer: Check the other chapters.

"I still can't believe you let him hit you," Sam chuckled as they strode into the station house, Brian's nose still bleeding spectacularly.

"Thanks oh so much for you support," Brian grumbled, not looking too happy.

As Sam went off to get an ice pack for him, Brian sat down at his desk. Within a matter of seconds, he was surrounded by the rest of the unit, including the Captain.

"Ouch, that looks painful," commented Kyle helpfully. Brian shot him a glare that would have made Hitler proud.

"Was it Sam's driving?" Scott asked. "Did she finally crash?"

"No, that would be from the guy who decided to use Cassidy's face as a punching bag." Sam had arrived back in the room at that moment, none to pleased with the accusation. She handed the bag of ice to Brian, who removed the shirt from his face and switched items.

"Someone decided to use your face as a punching bag?" Tim asked, a look of mock horror plastered on his features. "What the hell did you say to make them do that?"

"Oh, just how I thought his sister was hot and I wanted to do her," Brian retorted snarkily. "I didn't do anything!"

"Except exist, right, Sam?" Scott grinned.

"Precisely." Sam said, grinning back. "No, but really, we went to go interview that Tara chick that the friend of the dead junkie told us about and found a guy in her apartment that decided that Cassidy here was just too damn pretty for his own good and socked 'im for it."

"Don't tell me," Tim said, groaning, "You let them get away."

Sam suddenly was very interested in a stain on the ceiling.

"Well, what was I supposed to do? Shoot them both for doing nothing that we have any proof for? Last time I checked, that was still against the rules."

"Let me guess," Tim continued, "You didn't get a name on the guy, either."

"Well..." - Tim shot her a glare - "No, sir, we didn't. Once he found out we were cops, he just took off."

"Slugging the rookie here in the process." Kyle added.

"Right. But if he was that spooked, he probably knows something."

"Or has a list of priors. Cassidy, could you identify him from a lineup?"

"If you're asking me if I saw anything before the little birdies began circling my head, the answer would be yes." Brian winced as the ice pack began to fully numb the inflicted area.

"Good. Carson, set him up with a picture array. Actually, no, Masters, I want you to do it. Sam was there, she would probably try to taint Brian's decision."

"Hey!" Sam stopped short, realizing that he had a point. "Never mind."

Tim surveyed the group.

"Now, if they're aren't any more objections, let's get this guy, shall we?"

Nods of agreement frequented the circle. Kyle led Brian away, and Sam announced she was going to go change, then head out to check on a victim from another case. As the former walked, he inquired about the visit his partner was going to make.

"Oh, that?" Kyle said once Brian asked, "There was this little kid whose father was a drug addict - Special K, mostly. Sam and Keiran bagged him, but not before the little boy was beaten almost to death during one of his high times. Sam says he reminds her a lot of a kid she used to know, and since then has been making regular visits to check up on him with his new adoptive family. It's pretty cute, actually. Seeing her with that kid, you would think they've known each other all their lives."

"I see." Brian thought for a moment. "Was Keiran her old partner?"

Kyle looked sad for a moment.

"Yeah. She and Sam got along great. Then... well, you should have Sam tell you. It's not really something I feel comfortable discussing." With that, the two detectives sat down and began to work on the identity of Brian's assailant.

Somewhere around the middle of the list of possibilities, they struck gold.

"There," Brian said, pointing to a picture at the bottom left-hand corner of the sheet, "That's him."

"You sure?" Kyle asked, pulling the picture out from the plastic covering.

"Am I sure that that's the guy who used my face as a punching bag? Yeah, I'm sure."

"Tyrone Akim," Kyle read, "Prior convictions for drug trafficking and possession. Somehow made bail and did no time because of it. That's interesting..."

"What?" Brian walked over to the other side of the table and read over Kyle's shoulder.

"Bail was paid by a Tara Peterson. I think we have our guys."

At that moment, Sam walked by, looking considerably less formal and more preoccupied. Both men picked up on that fact, and headed out of the room to follow her.

"Sam? Everything all right?" Kyle asked, laying a hand on her shoulder.

Sam jumped, clearly not expecting the contact.

"What? Yeah, everything's fine. I'll be back in a while, okay?" Without waiting for a response, she continued walking.

"Well that was strange..." Kyle murmured. Brian secretly agreed. He hadn't spend much time with the girl, but already he could tell that something was a bit off with her. Not that it took a rocket scientist to figure that one out, judging by her demeanor.

"What was that about?" Scott asked when they joined him. "Sam just walked right by without saying a word. That's not something that you see happen everyday."

"No, it isn't," Tim agreed. "I'll have a talk with her later. In the meantime, I want Masters and Porter doing checks on that dead junkie's friends."

"We already got something," Kyle said as he handed a piece of paper to the Captain, "The girlfriend of the dead kid, turns out she's in cahoots with the guy who socked Brian. Payed his bail last time he was caught."

"Good. Go find out everything you can about what was going on there. Call when you've got something."

Kyle and Scott immediately grabbed jackets and headed for the door, leaving Brian and Tim standing there.

"What do you want me to do?" asked the former, being unaccustomed to having to do things on his own.

"Get that nose checked out and go home. It's not every day that you get assaulted on your first day on the job."

"But-"

"Go. We can handle things here. I expect to see you here bright and early tomorrow morning."

Brian reluctantly agreed.

Ack! Crappy ending! I think I've been reading too much of Kerri's stuff... Just kidding, hun. /mutters/ I'm so not getting my presents because of that... On a happier note, the next two chapters are already written, so expect them to be up within the next week. Ya know, like, all two of you.