"What's wrong?" Sarah sat down next to Jack on the bed, arms crossed over her chest, he knew she wasn't going to leave until she got an answer. Still, he tried to weasel out of it.

"What do you mean," he said, placing a fake smile on his face.

"Don't try that crap with me!" She scolded, and Jack was suddenly annoyed.

"Nothings wrong," he stated, gently swinging his legs too and fro through the air, continuing the warm up even though Sarah now other plans.

"You are starting to irritate me," she said playfully, searching Jacks face for any hint of a smile.

"You're not paid to like me," he snapped, almost bitterly.

Getting up she crossed over to the window and stared out of it, twisting a strand of her dark hair around a finger as she thought about Jacks response. This wasn't like his ordinary mood swings, this had been developing for the past five days, slowly growing in strength like a storm getting stronger and there way to stop it.

Turning back around to face him she decided to be blunt. "What is it? Have I upset you? Heller? Kim, Chase or Angie?"

"No," he snapped, clenching a fist, "and its none of your God damned business anyway," he added, staring at her coldly, his face growing redder as he watched Sarah's reactions. She didn't flinch, she wasn't intimidated by him. It worsened his mood.

"Can we please just get to work?" He asked, softening a little, but not much.

It was no atmosphere to work in.

"Not until you tell me what's on your mind," she dared, taking another step towards him.

"Why are you so nosey," Jack said, raising his voice again, his words clipped.

"Fine. If you want to throw a tantrum like a toddler, we'll leave it for today."

"What?"

"I'm not working in these conditions. I'll be back tomorrow and we will try again. See if you can change you're attitude."

As she started towards the door Jack started to panic. "But you said we can't waste time with my foot, this is the best time to work on it with is still being fresh from the cast!"

"So?" She said, keeping her game face on. She knew he would see through her façade in better health but his mood was foul and his desperation for his foot clouding his vision. "That's not my problem, I can walk out of here just fine. You on the other hand," she said, almost cruelly, her insides twisting at her words, "may struggle."

She turned and continued on to the door. "Wait? Sarah!"

She stopped in the doorframe, she could see the need in his eyes and hear the plead in his voice. "I'm sorry for being bad tempered with you," he said softly, "can we please just start over for today?"

She paused a moment, trying to look as though she was considering her options.

"That depends," she said seriously.

"On what?" He spat back, his temper quickly rising once more; he wouldn't allow her to play around with him.

"If you will look past your innate stubbornness and talk to me."

He glanced down at the floor, he knew where she was going with this. It was time to play dumb again. "What do you wanna talk about?" He asked casually, but Sarah wasn't playing, she was quickly getting fed up.

"If we're gonna talk in circles all day, I really should leave Jack, because its going to get us nowhere."

He looked up at her and then quickly away as she sat besides him once more, her hand tentatively resting on his.

"Kim's been talking to me. She said you've suddenly withdrew from her, barely muttered a word to Chase, and been hiding from his daughter."

"I have not been hiding," he said defensively. He paused and felt a small smile grow on his face as he saw the amusement in Sarah's eyes. "Okay maybe I've been avoiding her a little…"

"Why, don't you like her?"

His head shot up, surprised. "No, is that what they think? Why wouldn't I like her, she's a child for God's sake, how could I not like her?"

"Well the avoidance is a little suspicious," she probed, humour in her voice.

"I've been avoiding Kim and Chase too, only its harder to keep away from them, that's all."

"Oh, that's all," Sarah mimicked, still amused with his explanation. "So you've gone to all of this trouble to stay out of their way, is there a reason for this anti-sociable behaviour," she asked, sarcasm in her voice.

"Maybe," he muttered.

"That's not really a concrete answer," she said prodding him in the side again, playfully.

Looking up at her mischievously Jack suddenly smirked. "Well I'm afraid a 'maybe' is all you're going to get until the session is over. Then I'll tell you more…"

Sarah laughed, they were trading here, only Jack was the winner in both events, so how could she refuse? Jack laughed too, knowing the ball was in his court. Sarah held her hand out and Jack shook it, it felt soft and smooth in his but he quickly shoved the thought out of mind. As though sensing his discomfort Sarah grinned, "you got yourself a deal Bauer!"

Thanks to the reviewers, I really appreciateyou taking the time to let me know you are reading:)