A/N: A little something for Inken in this chapter.

I hope I don't disappoint those of you who were eagerly waiting for Jack and Samantha alone in the office. I really appreciate the wonderful reviews and grin everytime I see a new one in the box!

Chapter 5 – Slow Dance

Big X sat by the window in the Tastee Freeze finishing up a super-sized burger and fries. He was contemplating ordering a chocolate sundae when a late model sedan pulled up across the street and caught his eye. The car looked familiar, but he couldn't place the connection. He was several blocks away from his normal territory and didn't know everything like he did around the record store.

The driver of the vehicle finally turned where he could see his face. Big X was surprised to see Willie in the driver's seat. Straining to read the license plate, he contemplated calling Agent Malone when his anger rose. Grinder got out of the back seat and jovially waved as the car drove off. Checking his surroundings, Grinder headed up the street in the direction of the record store.

"What dat little fool got his self messed up in now?" Flipping open his cell phone, he called JJ and told him not to say too much around Grinder and to pass the word to the other guys. Big X had built a good living providing "protection" for the neighborhood. But he smelled a rat and wasn't about to let Grinder bring the Feds down on his territory.

Big X walked into his "office" in the back of the record store. Several of his guys were gathered around a pool table. Making sure Grinder was in the room, he said "Yo. Remember dat fed suit dat was askin' questions the other day? Well, we need to do some sniffin' round and help him out. We got a good thing goin' on here and I don't want nobody messin' it up."

He watched Grinder start to nervously shuffle his feet. Just what I thought.

"So here's what we gotta do. Start askin' around. Find out what dis Willie got goin' on. Anybody messin' with him don't need to be messin' round here…else, we take him out. Got it?" Most of the boys mumbled their concurrence with Big X, except for Grinder.

"Whoa man! You askin' for all kinda heat. Willie got a big score comin' up any day now. You fuck it up, and you won't be here no more. Hell, that girl he got ain't worth gettin' your assed fried by Willie."

Big X stepped in his face, "How you know he got a big score comin' up and he got da girl?"

The room fell silent. Grinder nervously looked around and licked his lips.

Big X cocked his head to one side and continued, "You been playin' both sides of da street boy? Spill it."

Grinder puffed up, "No way man! I ain't rattin' out Willie. Hell. If he's crazy enough to go murder one on that suit, I ain't got no chance."

The group of boys gathered in a tight circle around Grinder and Big X. "How'd he find out 'bout the fed?"

Grinder swallowed hard as sweat beads formed quickly on his forehead. His eyes darted from side to side. Seeing no way out, he relented, "Okay. Okay! But you gotta keep me low 'till all this goes down!"

Big X simply nodded his head.

Grinder blurted out, "He got a big shipment of pieces over in a warehouse back a Trees Lounge. But I'm tellin' you man. He aims to kill that G-man."

-xxxxx-

Samantha studied the white board as Jack approached. "See anything we missed?"

Shaking her head, she turned slowly to face him. Her brows were wrinkled in deep thought. "It doesn't add up, you know? Look at this girl and how she lived her life. Absolutely nothing says she should be anywhere near a person like Ralph Wilkinson. Even Charlie doesn't seem to fit, and yet there is no doubt in my mind their paths crossed and now they are both in trouble like they would have never imagined."

As they stood alone in the bullpen, Jack listened as she shared her private insights on the case. He cherished these stolen moments and longed for the days when they had worked late together and shared secret thoughts.

He saw a twisted correlation between Wilkinson and Novak and Samantha and himself. Two bright-eyed attractive women somehow got entangled with older men carrying undeniable baggage.

Lost in his thought, he didn't realize he had her fixed in a penetrating gaze until she snapped her fingers and said, "Hello! You in there Jack?"

Hoping his face didn't give away his thoughts, he shoved his hands in his pockets and gave a timid smile. "Well you know, life must be understood backward, but it must be lived forward."

Smiling, she leaned back against the table and lightly clasped her hands. "Whoa! Give me a minute to analyze that! How long has that little philosophical gem been hidden in the dark recesses of your brilliant, profiling mind?"

Jack drank in her smile and returned it in kind. He was loving every minute of this.

"I'll be honest and admit I can't take credit for that one. When I was stationed in Germany, I stumbled onto this quaint little pub in a small medieval town. I ended up having a few draughts with a really cool priest who imparted that bit of wisdom on me. She was something else."

She watched his facial animations as he told his tale. He drew her in hook, line and sinker. She realized these past few hours alone with him in the office had been wonderful.

On impulse, she took a small step in his direction and quietly said, "Oh yes, back in the day when you were Jack The Lion."

Her eyes leveled on his.

His grin sobered and the corner of his mouth revealed a slight, but nervous twitch.

He took a small step in her direction. "Yeah. Back in the day."

His eyes met hers. He was close enough to smell her perfume.

Their world became a small tunnel safely enclosing them. Sparks flew and their thoughts raced to keep pace with their hearts.

He opened his mouth to ask her to dinner.

The phone rang, causing them both to jump and step back.

The spell was broken. She hurried to her desk.

"Spade" she croaked in a horse voice. Samantha listened and motioned for Jack to come over. "Yes. He's right here. Just a moment please." Covering the mouthpiece, she handed the phone over, "Big X wants to speak to you."

He was careful not to touch her fingers as he took the phone. Not that he didn't want to...he just didn't trust his body to behave properly.

"Malone."

"Yo G-man. Dis Big X. Listen. I got myself a situation here. Got some 411, but I don't need the street thinkin' I'm pimpin' info if ya know what I mean."

"Okay. I understand perfectly what your predicament is and I assure you no one has to know where I find out what I know. What do you have for me?"

"Cool. Okay. Here's da deal. Found me a rat hidin' out in my boys. Go take a look-see in a old warehouse back a da Trees Lounge. Rumor has it, you just might find somethin' really interestin'. Oh yeah. Dat crazy fool Willie got da girl."

Jack listened attentively as he took notes. When he heard that last little bit, he straightened immediately…his eyes burned with intensity. Samantha saw his reaction and knew the informant just gave them a break. She was putting on her jacket before Jack hung up.

tbc