A/N: This is the real first chapter. Enjoy.

Disclaimer: Forgot to put this in the Prologue... The Master of the Horse does not own Numb3rs or any of the orginal characters. If I did then some things would likely change and I would be about a few million dollars richer. I do however own Peyton and her 'field mice' as Colby is want to call them. :)

"So are we going to go in or not?"

The blonde turned to her right and cast her friend a haughty look behind the rims of her dark designer sunglasses. However, it was highly doubtful that she could see the eye-roll and glare that completed the look from behind the lenses. This became more apparent to her as her friend didn't back down and continued to await an answer. "Eventually."

The two went back to studying the glass doors in front of them as if they were the most fascinating thing to have ever hit the world.

123456789123456789123456789123456789

Don struggled to listen to what the Director was saying. The lack of sleep and working for almost forty eight hours straight was taking its toll on the agent. His hands itched in his pockets, wanting to reach up and rub at his eyes and face. Upon hearing the new leader's name, he snapped back to reality.

"Dr. Huntzberger and her colleagues will be arriving this morning. You and your team are to meet them and show them to their places. Make sure they are comfortable with their new surroundings. They need to be acclimated as soon as possible in order to begin their work. Is that clear?"

"Yes sir."

He made to leave, hoping to find a pot of coffee somewhere.

"Oh, and Eppes?"

"Yes Sir?"

"Treat her right. Be nice and don't tread on her toes. If she tells you something, do it. This branch could really use her. We need her. You need her."

123456789123456789123456789123456789

"You're leaving us?" The man whined in perfect imitation of a five year old that had just had his favorite toy ripped away.

A hand shot out and slender fingers wrapped around the edge to block the elevator doors. "I didn't realize that you were incapable of seating yourself at a conference table without me, Titus."

"Don't be mean to Titus, Peyton. Just because you're ill this morning is no reason to take it out on the rest of us."

"Thank you, Kathryn." The man smiled and smirked at the woman holding up the elevator.

She rolled her eyes at the remarks of her colleagues. "You'll be fine. They're only FBI agents. They're just like us; they just have bigger guns to play with."

"But…"

She removed her hand and waved as their faces disappeared behind the stainless steel. "You'll be fine," She sang as the doors 'binged' shut.

123456789123456789123456789123456789

"Those the new field mice?" Colby nodded towards the glass walls of the conference room while looking sideways at David.

Megan came to stand next to the both of them. All three of them stood at a cubicle in the bull pen, staring at the man and woman pacing the room, casting glances at the clock and the other agents who scurried around the floor.

"They look friendly enough." Megan sincerely hoped that Colby did not call them 'field mice' to their faces. One of them was a doctor with two PhD's, another had been working in the forensics field for nine years, and the other was close to obtaining his PhD. They were anything but the 'field mice' that they usually found in the labs or the crime scenes.

Both men chorused with a "yeah" and then went back to lounging against the walls of the cubicle. Megan sighed inwardly. She liked her team and considered them part of her family. She trusted them with her life but sometimes it was so hard to be the only female on their team.

"Hey. They here yet?" The three turned as their team leader weaved his through the labyrinth of never ending cubicles, moving to his. Megan noted the dark circles on Don's face and the restlessness in his hands. He needed sleep. They all needed sleep.

"Two of them are. I think there's supposed to be three, but I don't know which one is missing."

"Huh," Laying his jacket over the back of his chair, Don jerked his head towards the people. Without saying a word, he strode toward them, his team falling in behind. The two 'field mice' turned as the door opened and the four of them entered. They studied each other for a moment until Don broke the awkward silence that hung between the two sides. "Uh…Hey. Don Eppes, lead agent. This is my team, Megan Reeves, David Sinclair, and Colby Granger."

In sync they both stepped forward and politely shook hands. "Nice to meet you. I'm Kathryn Nost and this is Titus Hatchett."

123456789123456789123456789123456789

Don studied the two forensic scientists, Kathryn and Titus, sitting across from him. The man was of average height; his female partner was pretty with a heart shaped face and auburn brown hair. From the corner of his eye he sneaked a look at Megan. She was watching the two as well. Gauging people came naturally to her; after all she was a profiler.

"She should be here any minute now. Peyton said she was only running downstairs to grab something for a moment." Don turned to look at Kathryn as she offered an excuse as to the missing whereabouts of the other forensic scientist. She gave him a small smile as she looked sheepishly to her right. Her partner only gave her a look that seemed to say 'what did you expect?'

"Yeah, well that's some PhD. She can't even keep track of the time." Colby muttered softly under his breath.

Don winced inwardly. Colby had a bad habit of shooting off his mouth. He was pretty sure that insulting their leader was not going to win them any bonus points. Sure enough, both forensics sat up straight at Colby's remark. The glares they shot at him could have stopped a train. 'Oh-boy'.This was not good.

"Now wait just a minute!"

"Excuse me?"

Both spoke at the same time.

"No. Don't worry about it Kathryn. This FBI agent apparently has issues with solving cases."

Don twisted in his chair and raised his eyes to the figure lounging in between the glass doorway. She was petite; she couldn't be an inch over five feet tall. He gave her a quick look over, sizing her up. Tawny blonde hair was piled high with a black claw clip. Narrowed green eyes set in an oval face glared coolly at Colby; it was apparent where the other two had learned how to glare. She looked to be the same age as his brother. If this was Dr. Peyton Huntzberger she certainly wasn't what he had expected. Dark jeans clung to her hips and were accompanied with a white low neck top underneath a burgundy leather jacket, with a pair of designer sunglasses perched on top of her head. He blinked; were those Doc Martens on her feet? She definitely was not what he had expected. Don had been waiting for an older woman who looked… well, more scientific. Certainly, Dr. Huntzberger was not this blonde woman in front of him, who looked as if she was almost straight out of grad school; she reminded him of Amita almost.

He came back to reality as her boots beat out a steady staccato against the tile. Silence washed over the conference room as she calmly made her way to the empty chair at the head of the table. Don sneaked a glance at Colby who at least had the grace to look ashamed.

Dr. Huntzberger dropped a file on the table, watching it land with a dull 'smack'. "I was downstairs getting that," A finger pointed at the file as if none of them could see the only object on the table. "Fingerprints lifted from the techs at the victim's home matched those of an ex-con by the name of Roberto Salvadoris. Semen samples also matched to his DNA. I suggest you find him and pick him up. Unless you still have a problem with catching major drug peddling murders and rapists."

Her eyebrows rose in a perfect arch as she waited for Colby to answer and then turned her cold green eyes to survey Don and the rest of his agents. When he said nothing, she sat down and smiled at his stunned look.

"Perfect. I didn't think so." Don stared at her. No, she was definitely not what he had expected. He now knew why the Director had warned him not to "tread on her toes". This woman was a viper and he could not help but wonder what exactly Don and his team had gotten themselves into.

A/N: Ahh.. the first chapter is up and running. The 'viper' has arrived and she is not too pleased about her new job. The reasons why will be revealed over the next few chapters or whenever I feel like it, seeing as how I wield the pen.. :) R&R. Once again, constructive criticism is welcome.