"I need you, I need you.

Babe I want to drink you in

Like oxygen, like oxygen. . ." - Sia, House on Fire

"Hello Harry," I said as I entered the library. I'd made some noise on the stairs and at the gate so I wouldn't startle him. He really was like a little, baby bird, so easily startled.

"Samantha," he said without looking up at me. He was intent on whatever was before him.

"I saw your grim savior I my way up," I said.

"His name is John. Or Mr. Reese. He is your colleague. And he was on his way to meet with Detective Carter. He's hard at work, which is more than I can say for some people. He'll be back shortly."

"So he said."

"And what pray tell brings you here?"

"I thought maybe we could play that game where I'm your prisoner again. Only this time, for my torture, I have to watch you and your mysterious man give each other hand jobs, or whatever it is you two do for one another. What is it between you anyway? Is it like a friends with benefits sort of thing? Does he do it for money? Or is he like your naughty student?" Harold looked up at me with an expression of pure shock. I couldn't help but laugh. "Relax, Harry. Of course I know. And I really couldn't care less, to be honest. I'm even kind of happy for you. He isn't my flavor of the month, but I think you may have actually found some good code there. Of course, if he is in fact good code, it is only because of his dedicated benefactor."

His mouth opened and closed a few times as though he were simultaneously gasping for air and uncertain of what to say. "I never tortured you," was all he managed, his face still warped with confusion and surprise.

"No," I said. "Of course you didn't. I'm teasing you, Harry. After three years of marital bliss, I thought you would have understood my sense of humor." Something about the bewildered pain in his voice sobered me.

"Does anyone ever truly understand another person?" He looked back at his computer screen and it was difficult to know how he was feeling. His question was rhetorical, and meant to distract me, but it brought me back to my mission at hand.

"I need a few days off. And my allowance. And some passports."

He pushed away from his desk and looked up at me, really looked up at me for the first time since I'd entered the library. "Oh?" he asked.

"Yes. There is a number on which I need to follow up."

"Number one, you get paid a salary not an allowance. You are not a wayward child, much as you sometimes act like one. And second, you need passports- plural, meaning more than one passport- why exactly?"

"Well, the individual happens to be out of the country. And I'd like to take Sameen with me for back up."

"When have you ever needed back up?"

"Oh, Harold, your confidence in me is truly inspiring. You're right, though, I usually do just fine fending for myself. But I thought it would be good for Sameen and I to get to know each other a bit more. Think of it sort of as a team building exercise."

"Team building?"

"Sure! Work. Team building. Week in Mexico. What difference does it make really?" I smiled as brightly as I could, although I knew it didn't matter. Harold would give me what I wanted, and if he didn't, I would use the Machine to find alternate means.

"Samantha," he started. "I think you should really be wary of Miss Shaw. She isn't what I would call relationship material."

"Oh, and John Reese is relationship material?" I countered. "Besides, who said anything about a relationship?" He held my gaze. He really was quite good at eye contact, even though he seemed perpetually frightened of me. His fear wasn't completely unwarranted, given the beginning of our relationship, however I had no real intention of harming him any more than he wanted to hurt me. He didn't realize it, but I was actually rather protective of him in a big sisterly sort of way.

"Miss Shaw shot Mr. Reese the first time they met. I don't think you're aware of the entire back story," he said.

"Well, he probably deserved it."

"Samantha!"

"I'm just joking. Gosh."

"We are still working on training her to not leave a body count behind her every time she walks into a room."

"I read her file," I said. "She's impressive, that's for sure. I will admit I'm rather a fan of her work. I think perhaps I could help her with the body count thing, if you allow me to bring her under my wing, and I feel confident I can handle myself just fine with her. But it's sweet of you to worry about me."

"How did you-" he started. I rolled my eyes back in the direction of my right ear where She had been implanted.

"Membership has its privileges," I sighed. "Now I'm going to go make you some tea while you rustle up those passports." I left him and walked to the kitchen. I put water in the kettle and set it on the stove, then took a couple mugs from a cupboard and put sencha green tea bags into them.

It had been three days since I'd run into Sameen at the Stadium. Well, 'run into' wasn't entirely accurate. I'd located her and watched her for a bit before surprising her with her favorite protein juice. She had been grumpy and skeptical of me and it was adorable. I'd had to rush off to help John out of a bit of a pickle with some Russian thugs, but I'd finished in time to go peek at my dark beauty as she crammed twice her body weight of eggs and waffles into that tiny figure. As I waited for the water to boil, I thought of her pretty mouth opening to bite down fiercely on a hunk of steak. "Oh, Sameen," I sighed. Steam started to puff out of the kettle. I'd never been much of a cook, but I was going to learn so I could hand feed her like the wild, little animal she was.

I poured the water over the tea bags, stuck a spoon in each mug and was about to bring them back out to Harold when my right ear received a warning buzz. "Behind you," She said, but there was something warm in her tone, and I didn't feel the need to reach for my gun. I turned around to find Sameen Shaw standing in the doorway of the kitchen.

"Speak of the Devil and the Devil shall appear," I said, unable to contain my excitement. She didn't say anything, just kind of stared at me with a dubious expression. "I'm happy to see you, Sameen."

"I don't think I can say the same," she grumbled.

"No worries. You will. Someday." I smiled. "Would you like some tea, Sweetie? I was just about to bring some out to Harold."

"I'm good. Thanks. What's this I hear about an assignment?"

"Oh did Harold spoil the surprise?" I said, feeling momentarily disappointed, then brushed it off, realizing he was going to allow her to accompany me. "Yes. I'm requiring your assistance with a number in Mexico. I heard you love enchiladas and margaritas, and thought you would be the perfect companion for this little tryst."

"Companion for a tryst?" Sameen repeated, her eyebrow doing that cute thing where it pokes up at her messy bangs.

"Absolutely. In addition to the delicious Mexican food there will also be shooting. Lots and lots of shooting," I bragged. I had planned quite the weekend for her.

For a second she looked like she was going to argue, then she shrugged and said, "Cool."

"Great," I said. "Let's get packed, Sweetie. We are going to have such a wonderful time."