A/N I know this isn't a great chapter, it's more of a filler between chapters but the next will develop the plot more I promise. Please r&r I love reading your comments.

Chapter 8

The following couple of days went by without major incident. They had a tough case so didn't have much time for anything personal so left it that way. Sam and Martin for the most part were avoiding each other as much as possible. Whilst Danny and Rick, and Danny and Em at home, were keeping a close eye on Sam.

Things between Martin and Danny were not going so well, hadn't been since the incident on Martins first day back. Nothing had really happened but there was defiantly tension between them and it was growing.

"Good morning all" Sam muttered trying, and failing, to hide a yawn as she and Danny walked in to the bullpen. Rick was already sat at his desk working on paperwork. Martins coat and bag weren't at his desk so he wasn't in yet. Neither was Elena.

"Where's Elena?" Sam asked.

"Sick." Rick said without moving. He didn't appear to be in a good mood.

"Do we have a case yet?" Danny asked putting his bag down and coat over his chair.

"Not yet, but here comes Viv so we're about to find out" Rick replied glancing in the direction of Vivian's office to see her walking over.

"Good morning, where's Martin?" Vivian started glancing around and realising the other agent wasn't around.

"Don't know. Haven't seen him" Rick replied without looking up from the paperwork he was working on.

"I'm here" Martin said breathlessly "Sorry my gear box gave up half way here and I had to wait for the tow truck."

"Isn't your car pretty new?" Rick asked frowning slightly.

"Yeh, it looks like a ball bearing exploded and pieces of it got caught in the gear box effectively rendering it useless." Martin replied clearly not happy about it.

"Okay well lets not waste any more time." Vivian started walking towards the board "Missing is Katie Reid. 23 years old didn't show up for work today so her boss called her fiancé at home and she hasn't been heard from or seen since about 10pm last night." Vivian put her picture up on the board.

"Danny, Sam head over to her office and see what you can find there. Rick and I will head over to her house, talk to her fiancé and friends. Martin you're on phone and credit card records. Let's get to it" Vivian finished as the team grabbed their coats and headed out leaving Martin looking even more annoyed and frustrated.

– o – o – o – o –

By lunch time NYPD had found their missing person in the river, so the case was handed over to the NYPD homicide team.

The team were sat around the table eating lunch and finishing up their paperwork for the case when Danny's cell phone rang.

"Taylor" He answered in his usual professional manner "Oh hey Em" a smirk crossing his face as he realised who it was "I'll be back" He said to the rest of the team getting up from the table and heading towards the balcony for some privacy.

Sam smiled and rolled her eyes at him as he walked away.

"Right, I've got a meeting upstairs to get to. I'll be back in about an hour." Vivian stated "If he's not back in 15 minuets Sam, drag him back here" She added with a smile before heading upstairs.

"No problem!" Sam laughed.

The three agents left at the table continued in silence for about a minuet before they were again interrupted by the ringing of a cell phone. This time it was Ricks.

"O'Hara" He answered "Yes it is…Yes I do…oh my God! Is he okay?" He suddenly sat up very straight and alert, panic clear on his face "You're sure there's nothing worse? Thank God! Okay thank you. I'll be there in 10 minuets."

Rick hurriedly grabbed his coat and keys from his desk as Sam looked at him worriedly "What happened?"

"Uh…Matt was in a car crash. It wasn't serious apparently he just has a concussion, some glass cuts and a broken arm" he added seeing Sam rapidly pale "He'll be okay but I gotta go. Let Viv know where I am. I'll call you later and let you know how he's doing"

Sam was still looking very pale and nervous. Although Rick was still really worried about Matt his protectiveness of Sam took over. He smiled at her reassuringly placing a hand on her shoulder and brushing his lips across her forehead. "He'll be fine" he said again looking straight in to her eyes.

"You promise?" She asked quietly.

"I promise." He again smiled at her and kissed her forehead. "I have to go now. I'll talk to you soon Sammie."

"Okay." Sam managed a weak smile. Since Sam's accident she had been particularly nervous if a car crash took place. The fear had been reinforced when Rick had almost been in an accident about a year ago.

Rick knew she'd be okay once Danny was back so he left, striding quickly out of the office.

"Who's Matt? Is he a friend?" Martin questioned leaning over the table slightly, concern on his features. He wasn't used to seeing Sam look so…vulnerable, it worried him.

"Uh yeh, he is" Sam said quietly "He's Rick's boyfriend, that's how I know him."

Martin was shocked to say the least to hear that. "Boyfriend? Rick's gay?" He asked in astonishment, momentarily forgetting his concern for Sam.

"Yes. Matt's a sweetie, once you get to know him anyway" She added with a slight smile.

Martin was going to question Sam further about Rick and Matt but Danny chose that moment to return.

Danny took one look at Sam and knew something was wrong. Instantly he turned on Martin "What did you say to her?" He grabbed the back of Martins chair and swung it around so he was facing him.

Martin looked slightly shocked but instantly went on the defensive. "Nothing! I get that your protective of her Danny but you can't accuse me of doing something every time she's upset!" Martin said, angry standing up facing off with Danny. To which Danny drew himself up to his full height and stepping closer to Martin.

"Why not? You're the only one with her at the moment and you've done a hell of a lot to hurt her what with leaving the way you did and saying what you did on your first day back!" Danny said his voice raised only slightly but full of anger that couldn't be missed by anyone.

Martin was not as good at keeping his anger under control. "You son of a bitch! That was three years ago! What's it got to do with anything now?" His voice was rising and people were beginning to glance in their direction.

Danny was furious and only just kept his anger in check, all he wanted to do right now was tell Martin what he thought of him for what he did to Sam. However he knew this wasn't the time or place.

"You don't know half of it Martin. This isn't over but for Sam's sake I'm going to drop it for now." His voice quiet but the threat and rage clear to Martin.

Danny walked around the table to Sam who had sat silently watching the exchange between her former lover and her brother; the man who had ripped her heart to pieces and the man who had done his best to repair it, the man who had caused her to spend more nights than she could remember crying her self to sleep and the man who had always been there to hold her as she cried and comfort her.

Danny squatted down and placed a hand on her knee "What happened sweetie?" He asked gently all trace of anger gone only concern present.

"Matt was in a car crash. That's why Ricks not here." She replied quietly, still looking a little pale and scared.

"How bad?" Danny questioned gently placing his other hand on her hand rubbing his thumb across the back of her hand.

"He has a concussion, lacerations and a broken arm. The person who called Rick said he would be okay, it wasn't a serious accident." Her voice beginning to return to normal level, her colour returning now that Danny was there to reassure her and look after her. "He said he'd call to let us know how he's doing." She added.

"That's good. I'm sure he'll be fine. Do you want me to take you home? Em had a cancellation so she's at home now."

"No. I'll be okay. I need to stay." She said determinedly sounding surer than she felt inside.

"Okay. If you change your mind just let me know." Danny said giving her a smile and brief hug before standing and retaking his place at the table and continuing with his work without looking at Martin.

"I…I'm gonna go work on this in the tech room" Martin said quietly feeling awkward picking up his work and leaving.