Author's Notes: Sorry it took me so long to update. I will hopefully write the next chapter soon - and maybe find a title that fits...

Enjoy!

XXX

„Hey!"

The voice sounded a million miles away, and it was impossible for Martin's still sleepy mind to work out who it belonged to. He didn't want to move, instead he groaned and ignored it.

"Hey. Martin. Wake up."

The voice was louder this time, and reminded him of the tone his mother would use in the morning when he was a teenager and she wanted him to get up for school. She had always done that, as long as he had lived with his parents, even if Martin told her it was absolutely unnecessary. He had always made sure that none of his friends ever found that out.

"Martin! Hey!"

Well, it wasn't his mother's voice that much was sure. And it sounded a lot more aggressive than his mother had ever been. He tried to pull the pillow over his head, still not ready to give up on sleep and face the world, but the pillow was pulled away from him and he was too slow to stop it.

Martin groaned, but then a gentle kiss was placed on his cheek, and he reluctantly opened one eye.

"Hey. Good morning…" Finally he knew whose voice it was as he looked straight into Sam's eyes; she was looking back at him impatiently.

"Hey…" Martin replied sleepily and tried half-heartedly to grab his pillow back from her, but Sam moved her arm so Martin couldn't reach it without sitting up. She also started to remove his blanket.

"What time is it?" Martin asked distractedly while trying to keep his blanket where it was. He couldn't help yawning, but didn't bother covering his mouth with his hand because he needed them both to help him defend the blanket.

"Thanks", Sam said after he had yawned practically right into her face. "C'mon, you gotta get up or we'll be late for work."

Yawning again Martin let go of the blanket and rolled over to find his cell phone on the night stand. When he finally looked at it he saw that it was after seven am. How could he have slept so late?

He turned his head and his eyes met Sam's and then he remembered. They had got home late last night after the team had found the teenage girl they were looking for safe and sound with her boyfriend, and both of them had still been full of energy, and when they had finally managed to work it off, it had been really late.

Martin's stomach gave a grumble and brought him back to the present. Sam was still sitting on the edge of his bed, holding his pillow and his blanket, and Martin decided that under the circumstances, there was no point of staying in bed.

He got up, gave Sam a short kiss on her forehead, and walked towards the bathroom. Sam watched him, and he could see from her face that she was approving of what she saw. But now Martin knew that there was no chance of them going back to bed. He would be late as it was, and it was obvious, too, that Sam didn't intend being late.

"I'll take a cab home today", she said, confirming Martin's assumption.

Martin felt annoyed but he swallowed the feeling and grinned at Sam, suggesting: "Or you could join me in the shower and even if we are late…"

"Martin. We can't be both late. It will make people suspicious."

"Okay", he mumbled. "Then I'll see you in the office, I guess?" Although he tried hard to keep his tone neutral, he didn't quite manage it. But they had discussed the subject. Over and over again, and Martin didn't feel like having another go. There was no point in keeping their relationship secret, he knew that Jack knew about it and he was sure that Danny knew as well – although Danny hadn't told him directly. But he had been asking questions and kept giving him and Sam suspicious looks.

The thing Martin hated most about keeping it a secret was that it felt as if it was having an impact on the interaction between all the team members. Lately he had felt as if everybody had a secret and it was creating an unpleasant tension that hadn't been there a couple of weeks ago.

Checking the time once more Martin decided that he really needed to hurry. When he entered the bathroom he heard Sam calling good-bye, and then he heard the door being opened and shut again. Martin sighed. For a brief moment he considered being late for work so he could get some exercise; like going for a run. Maybe it would help him release all the anger he had bottled up lately. But Jack and he weren't on the best of terms and Martin didn't want to give his boss a reason to be angry with him.

So he made sure he got ready quickly, and when he finally arrived in the office is was only just after eight am. He was surprised that Sam was already there; she must have been really quick. When he looked over their eyes met and she smiled at him from her desk.

Martin would have smiled back if he hadn't been concentrating on carrying a cup of coffee without spilling it. Going through his morning routine in a rush meant he had forgotten to have breakfast. He had decided that nobody would mind if he made up for that now. There wasn't a new case, and except for Sam, nobody seemed to have noticed Martin's presence anyway; Jack was in his office talking on the phone, Vivian sat at her desk, looking lost in her own world and Danny obviously hadn't arrived yet.

Martin let his eyes rest on Vivian's back for a moment, wondering what was up with her lately. For the last couple of weeks she had seemed preoccupied with something, but she seemed reluctant to tell anybody what it was. She had always been a friendly co-worker, and Martin liked her a lot. The thought that she might be in trouble worried him, but Vivian wasn't somebody whose business you would pry into.

With a sigh Martin sat down at his desk. While sipping his coffee he began looking through a file on their most recent case. He still had to write his report on that, and just the thought made him groan inwardly. It had actually been a good case, their MP had turned up safe and alive, but Martin hated writing reports and his bad mood this morning wasn't making it any better.

Martin was just about to start when a little piece of paper caught his attention. At first he wanted to throw it into the trash, but then he noticed there were a few words written on it in pencil. It didn't take him long to recognise Sam's hand-writing.

'Meet at mine tonight. Got a little surprise for you!'

Martin grinned and when he turned around Sam was looking at him and their eyes met. For a moment they both just stared; then the contact was interrupted by a shadow passing by Martin's desk. Danny had arrived, and he obviously wasn't in a good mood, either.

Martin gave Sam one last smile, then he turned to see what was up with Danny.

"Hey, you look worse than I feel", he said, grinning at the other man.

Danny didn't answer. Martin wasn't even sure if he had heard him because there was no reaction whatsoever from his friend. He cleared his throat and tried again to gain Danny's attention. "You're late."

Now Danny turned his head and glared at him. "Oh yeah? Hadn't noticed."

Raising his arms Martin said quickly: "Okay, okay… sorry." He decided to start writing the report but couldn't concentrate, partly because he was curious, partly because Danny was now busily rummaging through the drawers of his desk, making a lot of noise. After a couple of minutes Martin had had enough. With a sigh he asked: "Is it important you make so much noise?"

No reply.

"Hey man, what's up with you?"

Instead of answering Danny let his eyes wander to Martins coffee cup. "Is there some left?"

Martin shrugged. "Don't know, but when I got mine there was enough. You need to go and look yourself."

Another glare, and Danny was off, heading towards their little break room, leaving Martin to stare after him, perplexed.

Now everybody seemed to be going crazy: Jack hadn't left his office yet, Vivian hadn't said a word all morning, and Danny… well, there was something wrong with Danny, too. Martin couldn't remember him ever arriving at the office in such a bad mood, and on top of that, Danny looked as if he had just gotten out of bed and come to the office without bothering to do so much as look in a mirror. Thinking about it, Martin was almost sure that his friend was wearing the same clothes as he had the previous day. And that wasn't like Danny at all.

Groaning to himself, Martin finally managed to get his attention back to the report he was writing. As little as he was looking forward to it, he would somehow have to get through the day. At least he had plans for the evening; he hadn't forgotten about the note from Sam and the surprise she had promised him.