A/N: Thanks in advance to everyone who helped answer questions so I could make this chapter good. I hope you all enjoy this. This chapter is in two parts and is unbeated only because I ran out of time to get it betaed. The second part will be posted next Tuesday if everything goes according to plan.

POI – POI – POI – POI – POI

Oh fuck what she is plotting. With a heavy metallic CLUNK the black duffle bag that Sameen Shaw had been carrying was set down on the hardwood floor. The various handguns and rifles in the bag shifting around for a brief moment before settling into a metallic maze within their dark confinement.

The Persian had been out at the private firing range owned by Harold Finch with her erstwhile associate John Reese. After the disappointingly uneventful events of saving the latest irrelevant number the former assassin had been itching for an excuse for violence. She had managed to quell the urge for a week before a flippant remark by Root had left her seeing red and mentally wishing that she prevented Root from locking away much of her weaponry as opposed to continuing to store it in the fridge.

Personally she blamed the taller woman for that decision. It was the first time Root had stayed overnight at her place – due to an unexpected fierce downpour that had left water deep enough to come up to the hacker's knees – and not because she wanted the cheerful woman to actually stay longer, she had decided to try and surprise the moody sleeping woman with breakfast. Root had not been expecting to find a half empty gallon of milk, a loaf of moldy bread, 2 full bottles of water next to 3 empty ones, a disassembled sniper rifle, 2 semi-auto handguns, 1 automatic weapon, and a shoebox of full clips and a couple loose bullets to be occupying the fridge.

That discovery had led to Sameen being forced to wake up with the sun just beginning to creep up past the horizon when she had wanted nothing more than to hunker down in her nice warm bed, enjoy having the full size bed back to herself and sleep for another hour or two before getting up at her own pace. Instead her usual grumpy mood was darkened further when Root had grabbed hold of the edge of the goose down comforter, Sameen detested being cold more so than: overcooked stake, going into potentially dangerous situations unarmed, being forced to ride shotgun, and Root's insufferable always chipper disposition. That morning Root's cheerful mood was nowhere to be found.

'Seriously Sam you store your extra weapons in the fridge.'

Shaw muttered some incoherent curse while still half asleep and somehow managed to glare at the woman through a single half-open eye. Rolling over onto her other side she grabbed hold of the heavy blanket and sheet that had wound up untucked and curled around the light haired brunette's body sometime during the night. Halfhearted kicks and tugs managed to push the jumbled sweaty mess, which still smelled strongly of Root's shampoo and body soap, down over her bare feet.

The shorter woman could practically hear Root's teeth grind together. Unused to being outright ignored by anyone the now unwelcomed guest turned and stormed out of the room only to return moments later with two large plastic cups. Originally intended to hold the brushes and rags Sameen used for cleaning her weapons the cups were now empty and filled to the brim with cold water. Moving so Shaw's back was to her, all the better to avoid reactionary attacks, Root stretched her arms out letting the glasses hover above Sameen still form. Let's see you ignore this Sam.

The veritable tidal wave of icy cold water washed over the now slumbering woman. Like a dehydrated person the blanket and sheets soaked up much of the water within seconds becoming far more clammy and cold. A piercing loud shriek of shock erupted from Sameen. This quickly turned into one of anger as she threw back the covers and clambered out of bed and hit the floor as though she was under fire from an unseen assassin.

Shaw's shriek cut off as though her throat had been slashed as the now fully awake woman took in the melodious laughter that was filling the room.

Root had dropped both glasses safely onto the soaked mattress. One arm was wrapped around her midsection vainly trying to still the earthquake overtaking her abdominals from her muffled laughter. Even with her face partially covered by her left hand the woman's brown eyes sparkled with mirth. Her laughter was interspersed with what sounded suspiciously like snorting laughter every so often even muted as it was by her hand.

The light haired brunette had just gotten ahold of herself when Sameen's head poked out from behind the mattress. Her dark brown hair was plastered to her skin from the unexpected bath and her eyes were cold and as hard as chocolate diamonds. Root bit her bottom lip and smirked at the woman trying to maintain a façade of innocence, but as the silence between the two women stretched on she found it harder and harder to maintain her composure.

'Root.' Sameen growled out through gritted teeth as she stood and planted her hands firmly on the mattress. Leaning forward she was forced to look up at the taller woman whom appeared to take delight in reminding the Persian of the noticeable difference in their height.

The dry woman's smirk expanded into a smile with just a hint of artificially whitened teeth peeking through her rogue colored lips. "Yes Sam?" A hint of a Texan accent noticeable in her voice as she drawled out her nickname for the former assassin.

Shaw's pale cheeks lightened slightly. Why can't she say my name like a normal person would? Must she always say it in some way that sounds far more appropriate to be moaned aloud during the heat of pleasure? Taking a deep breath, all the while feeling the heat of Root's gaze lingering on the rise and fall of her chest, she tried to put a pleasant look on her face knowing it looked more like she was in severe intestinal distress and said "What are your favorite flowers?"

The other woman's eyes narrowed slightly and the tip of her tongue darted out to wet her lips. Is Sameen really asking that? Maybe she's finally given up on fighting her desire for me. 'Hmmm' it came out sounding more like a purr as she leaned forward invading the shorter woman's personal space until they were eye level with each other with a foot and a half between them. 'I will love whatever kinds of flowers you decide to gift me with Sameen.'

'I'll be sure to leave them on your grave after I KILL YOU!' Shaw hollered out. Her feet propelled her off the floor at the same time her hands flew up from the bed to grab hold of Root's tan neck. Seriously who the Hell even bothers to sun tan during spring?

Even if the Machine had not whispered a warning into her ear at the sight of Shaw's knees bending Root had been prepared for the hot headed woman to try something. 'Ah how utterly romantic. I always knew you loved me Sam.'

Shaw fell face first on the bed. Directly in the middle of the large wet stain of water that had rolled off of her back. A muffled growl born of frustration could be heard as her hands closed on nothing but air. I am seriously going to kill her this time. I don't care if the Finch and his precious Machine throw me off the team. I'll gladly do twenty to life. And why the fuck is she so smug and dead set on teasing me. She isn't that hot and I hate her. All those dreams that she keeps appearing in are because she irritates me, not because I want to fuck her. I can get laid anytime I want. I just haven't had that itch for the last three years, and seven months and five days.

'I'll make you breakfast in bed when I stay over next weekend Sam. Just make sure you clean out your fridge and cupboards by then otherwise I'll clean them out for you.' Root's pleasant voice made Shaw's already frantic heartbeat go that much faster as the door closed behind her.

'Fucking Root.' Shaw's low voice grumbled out as she picked herself up and maneuvered back onto her back on a dry patch of mattress. Her white tank top was damp and stuck to her chest. The already thin material turning almost translucent from the through soaking it had received. Her black yoga pants were uncomfortable and it took more effort than she wanted to exert this early in the morning to peel the wet material off of her lower body. With a groan she lay back on the pillows and tried to go back to sleep.

Mentally exhausted she failed to hear the sound of her front door opening once more.

'Oh don't worry about shopping by the way. I'll bring some stuff over for us.' Root's head was sticking between the open door and the frame and she was smirking at the sight of Sameen sitting upright in bed, unconcerned about practically being on display for the hormonal woman, and hurtled a wet pillow at her which nailed Root in the face before falling to the floor with a PLOP.

'See you later lover.' Root said cheerfully managing to avoid a second incoming pillow barrage, and covertly capturing a video of Shaw, as she ducked back outside shutting the door firmly behind her. She then hurried down the steps deciding to make haste in case the enraged woman overcame her tiredness in favor of running her down.

A week later after a few particularly nasty days that had required Sameen to spend time undercover working the complaints department at a local department store – whose managers had been gouging both prices and their employees' salaries in order to cover their gambling debts – Shaw wanted nothing more than to go home put some gory action/horror movie on the television and knock back a few beers.

The Persian had come home unable to open her door. Someone had apparently thought it funny to jam a paperclip into the keyhole and snap it in half leaving a sizeable chunk firmly lodged within the locking mechanism. To Hell with the security deposit. Finch owns the fucking building. Shaw thought as she prepared to break the door down.

Taking a step back she channeled her anger and like a battering ram threw herself at the door. Seconds before impact Root – currently inside the apartment – opened the door to let the shorter woman inside.

Collision was unavoidable. The dark haired brunette's shoulder firmly connected with the unprepared Root's chest. A rush of air escaped the light haired brunette as she was successfully flattened like a rookie football player going up against a NFL pro linebacker.

This day can't possibly get any worse. Shaw's head was currently tucked underneath Root's chin and she was enfolded tightly in the woman's arms – having landed atop the woman when she had instinctively gone to protect and comfort her wounded body.

Sameen could feel the taller woman shaking beneath her. Placing both hands firmly on the woman's shoulders she managed to escape from the warm embrace. Getting back to her feet she glared down at Root.

The hacker was still lying prone on the floor gasping for air as she rubbed at her chest where Shaw's shoulder hit her at. For once Root was not smiling or smirking. The look of shocked surprise seemed affixed and the longer it remained the more worried Sameen became.

Shaw's glare turned to a frown as her mentality shifted from irritated combatant to emotionally distant doctor. Dammit the last thing I need is for her to be injured. Kneeling down the shorter woman focused on Root's face. Strange she's not wearing makeup. Usually she always has the basics on even lipstick regardless of her assignment. Never would have guessed her skin was naturally that pale or her lips that red.

Next her attention drifted to Root's upper torso. The light haired brunette's arms were still wrapped tightly around her chest. Both hands were pressed firmly against her bosom preventing Sameen from getting a proper look at where she had hit the woman at.

A sigh of annoyance left Shaw's lips as she straddled Root's waist in order to examine her. Hopefully it is only something minor like bruised ribs. Doubtful that it is a concussion. Root's too hard headed for that.

'Root will you fucking relax.' Shaw growled. The former assassin had taken hold of her wrists and was trying to move them so she could make sure that Root was not bleeding or worse. Yet the woman was actually resisting. 'I swear if your being difficult just so you can enjoy this longer then I'm kicking you out and refusing to treat you next time you show up in the dead of night needing stitches because you got careless.' It was an idle threat. Much as Sameen would have liked to ignore Root needing help the medical training she had received and her own stubbornness would not allow her to ignore or refuse treating the woman. No matter how much of a pain in the ass she could be.

Root's grasp on her own body was almost broken. Yet still she continued to resist. Even when it was just the tips of her fingers pinching her body through the blouse she wore. Shaw did not like the look in Root's brown laughing eyes or the way the woman's lower torso continued to wriggle and buck in an effort to dislodge the more combat experienced Shaw.

Shaw's eyes narrowed to thin slits and with a grunt of effort she pulled with all her might.

That was the instant Root stopped resisting and in that heart pounding moment the smaller framed woman knew she'd been had.

A short cry of pain escaped the dark haired woman as the back of her head impacted painfully against the edge of the still open door. The cry was followed by a rush of air as Root's knee was painfully driven into Shaw's diaphragm dispelling all air from her lungs.

Now Shaw was flat on her back with Root atop her. The hacker's mischievous smirk made Shaw grind her teeth together. Because of their differences in height when Root pinned both of her shoulders against the floor with both hands this left Shaw's vision filled entirely with the woman's blouse. A tight pale reddish pink blouse that did nothing to hide the fact that she had forgone a bra that day. Great so that explains why she was pinching herself.

'Root get the Hell off me.' Shaw's voice was low and deep giving proof to just how pissed off and close to violence the woman truly was.

'Really Sameen you go and knock me to the floor the moment you get inside and pin me down. I never would have suspect you to be so forward.' Root's voice was mock serious.

With her shoulders pinned and the weight of Root's body situated on her upper thighs Shaw could do little to throw the woman off of her. Flailing her legs Shaw was barely able to get the back of her knees off the floor. 'You know damn well I hadn't intended to knock you down. Though that doesn't explain why you think it is appropriate to break into my apartment.' Shit my voice sounds way to breathless. She had better not think it is from anything other than the wind being knocked out of me. Shaw mentally groused as she tried her best to ignore the frantic beating of her heart.

Root shifted above Sameen and for a moment the former assassin thought she was getting up off of her. Instead the Texan was making herself more comfortable and settled herself atop the prone woman. The process of which allowed the twin mounds of flesh pressing against her blouse to slowly scrap and slide their way down Sameen's own body.

Even with the weight of Root's body dispersed over a greater area Sameen Shaw still was having difficulty throwing the other woman off of her. Still she struggled and shifted back and forth trying to get the necessary leverage. Her clothing was beginning to feel far to constricting now and after one particularly strong attempt – during which she managed to get her right side up off the ground – Root curled one of her legs inside of her own and pressed down gently.

Oh fucking shit! No! No, don't you dare Root! If you are going to do what I think you are going to, then I swear you'll never leave this apartment alive! Shaw was internally panicking. Sweat trickled on her forehead and her breathing was ragged and quick.

'You really should be thanking me Sameen. If I had not been here then who knows how long you would have been locked out. You owe me.' She said before sulkily getting to her feet.

Getting to her feet Shaw refused to look at Root till after she felt more in control of herself. Opening her mouth to question Root's presence in her apartment she shut it once more when she got a good whiff of deliciousness. Mouth now watering she pushed past the woman earning her a roll of the eyes.

In the kitchen the Persian found the table set for two. Glasses of red wine we set out. A good twelve pound sirloin sat cooling on a plate. A dollop of butter still slowly melting atop the rare meat. Across from it were two large bowls. One contained a Cesar salad laden down with numerous fresh cut carrots, tomatoes, zucchini, cucumbers and strawberries. Next to it was a bowl of chicken noodle soup.

Salivating profusely with eyes practically as large as dinner plates Sameen Shaw made to sit down at her usual spot, situated directly in front of the steak, before she was abruptly stopped by a hand on her shoulder.

'That's my dinner Sam.' Root said in a far too cheerful voice for the shorter woman's liking. 'You didn't clean out the fridge or cupboards like I requested. Besides you need to have a much healthier diet if you're expecting to keep me pleased at night, let alone live a long and healthy life.'

'What.' Shaw growled out turning to face the woman only to have her slip right past her and into the seat. The taller woman's remark was brushed off as simply being in character for the woman. One of these days she will push me too far. Course then she'll just act all innocent and insist she didn't do anything to provoke me. Her lips almost started curling upward at the thought but quickly returned to their usual glower as she went and sat in the chair opposite the woman.

Nothing was said as the women ate. Which Shaw found strange. Root tended to be rather chatty whenever she was alone with her. During stakeouts she'd flirt and press up against the dark haired woman with some lame excuse like 'I'm cold and need the extra warmth.' 'We could always leave this in Lurch's or Fusco's hands. There are plenty of more…enjoyable things we could be doing.'

For the most part Shaw had glumly been eating the salad and soup, it was surprising good but was peanuts compared to the delicacy that Root was enjoying. Chancing it Shaw glanced up briefly and noticed that Root seemed far too focused on the steak in front of her. The Texan had eaten only a tenth of the plate encompassing morsel. Her eyes were unfocused and her lips moved silently as though she was speaking to herself. It was not till she looked up in surprise that quickly changed to a seductive smirk that Sameen realized that she had been staring far too long at the woman's lips.

'You know I could use a refill on my wine, what about you Sam?' She did not wait for an answer before taking hers and Shaw's empty wine glasses and heading over to the countertop where the bottle sat.

The shorter woman could not resist. The moment Root's back was turned she got up out of her chair as quietly as possible. Knowing that she had little time to act she made her way over to the other side of the table and sat down where Root had been seated. It had all gone almost perfectly, the only indicator of her actions being the soft scraping of a chair leg against the tiled kitchen floor and the soft TINK of her combat knife cutting easily through the steak and scraping against the plate underneath.

The Persian kept her head down and cut off a large piece of the steak. It was dripping with juices and the tender meat inside was a near identical pale pink color of her own inner folds. Shaw always viewed eating as being similar to sex and she approached both with the same voracious appetite and passion. She got pleasure from both, and aside of when direly necessary you might as well enjoy both as much as you can and indulge as often as possible. Okay so that last one might not be entirely true. The smaller woman couldn't recall when last she'd had sex. Certainly longer than three years, but only because she couldn't find anyone who interested her that much, or triggered that little spark of desire inside her that made her want to get laid.

Turning around Root did not seem the least bit surprised to see Shaw sitting in her spot much less eating her dinner. Walking back over with two full wine glasses she set Shaw's down with a small smile before taking her own seat. 'I don't mind switching. I'm not as big of a fan of steak as you are Sam. I much prefer a good salad and soup.

I hate you so much right now. Shaw would have glared daggers at the woman for having the audacity to play her like that, but ultimately it was not worth the fight that might result. Thanks to her ravenous appetite the shorter woman managed to put away a little over half of the remaining steak, her second glass of wine and part of her third glass before she felt full.

Root meanwhile had managed to put away a good portion of her soup and salad with enough left over to serve as a decent leftover lunch for tomorrow.

'I'll clean up Sam, why don't you relax in the living room. I…rented a few movies that I think you'll enjoy. Everything is all set, you'll just need to hit play on the DVD.'

Shaw opened her mouth to reply, thought better of it and did what the woman said. If Root's wanting to do the work and all me to relax and enjoy myself then I see no reason to complain.

Minutes later Shaw was in an altogether different mood from the one she had come home with. Lying down on the couch she took a drink of her wine and let the alcohol warm her body and dull her senses. 'How did you know this was my favorite movie?' Shaw called out to Root after roughly ten minutes when curiosity finally got the best of her.

'Oh…I have my ways.' Root said simply as she walked into the room with a freshly opened bottle of wine along with a couple of small bowls of ice cream.

'In other words She told you.' Shaw said simply as she took the proffered ice cream from Root – choosing to ignore the way her hands lingered a second longer than necessary before drifting away from Root.

'She is more reliable than Netflix. Though it would not take much work to figure out you'd enjoy Die Hard. Its…well you.' Root finally said. Her own inebriation preventing her from finding a better way of expressing herself.

Grunting in response Shaw dug into her ice cream and could not help the moan of appreciation that left her from the tasty treat.

An hour passed in silence between the two women. Both with full stomachs and far too much to drink things were surprisingly relaxed and felt comfortable between them. When Sameen returned from the bathroom she noted that Root's fingers were playing with the hem of the shorts she wore. Her fingers wrapping the dark blue material around in her fingers and bunching it up into a mess of fabric that caused the already high cut material to drift that much higher revealing more of the woman's tan legs to Shaw's hungry gaze.

That was when a nagging feeling began. She's not normally this nervous around me. Wait…everything she's done, she must be planning something.

Whatever Root had been planning Shaw did not find out about that night, or the next week when the hacker again came over. It became a regular thing for them to spend Friday nights hanging out. Each week one of them would cook allowing the other to relax and enjoy themselves.

Now two months later – since that first night – Shaw felt nervous. The atmosphere in the apartment felt tense for some reason. She could easily smell something cooking which was odd given that it was her turn to cook. An action movie was already playing on the television and a glass of wine was sitting on a table near the entryway.

On edge Shaw carefully made her way into the Kitchen where she could hear Root busily making dinner. Before she entered the Kitchen she stopped. Why the fuck am I so nervous? Its only Root. I can handle anything she throws at me. Besides she's been good lately. Hasn't tried to flirt with me at all. Not that I miss it or anything. Honestly being constantly hit on by her and getting told just how attractive and sexy I am and what she wanted to do to me, who would want to put up with that daily? The words sounded false and hollow even to Sameen, though she thought it best to not dwell on why she regretted thinking them. Somewhat calmer she stepped into the room. 'Root how come you're…' The rest of what she had been going to say died on her tongue.

'Oh hey sweetie. How was the firing range?' Root turned around to face the shorter woman. Her face lit up at seeing the blush covering the woman's face, the vacant look in her eyes and the little trail of drool that was beginning to spill from the Persian's open mouth. Got ya.

'Fuck me.' Shaw felt like she had been hit by a truck. Root was standing there in her kitchen wearing an apron that went from her knees all the way up to just below her shoulders. Aside from the black stiletto heels on her feet, and a see-through thong the taller woman wore nothing else.

'Is that a request or an order?' Root set down the spoon she had been stirring the spaghetti sauce with and made her way over to the former assassin. Thanks to the heels Sameen had to tilt her head back farther than normal to see anything other than the swell of the light haired brunette's bosom.

Shaw had not realized she had spoken aloud and now knew that the slip of the tongue had revealed far too much. Crap. So much for not having anyone who made me want to get laid. Fuck but that makes her look hot.

'Sam.' Root said all too kindly as she pushed up against the pale woman, making sure to press her chest against Shaw's body. 'You've enjoying spending all this time with me right?'

'Uh…um…yeah.' Shaw said after a moment. It was taking her great pains to resist the urge to stare at the woman's chest especially with how irresistibly close it was at that moment.

'I'm glad to hear that. I've really enjoyed hanging out with you also. However…' The Texans voice trailed off and she looked away from the other woman. Okay got to make this convincing. She took a deep shuddering breath and let a hand slip down a shoulder to start tracing irregular patterns on the other woman's soft pale skin. 'I want something more from our relationship.'

'What do you mean?'

'I…' Root trailed off once more and stepped away from the woman she loved. Turning her back to the woman she looked down at the floor. Mentally she counted off the seconds. She had just reached six when she felt Shaw take hold of her arm. Turning she looked down at the shorter woman and noted the concern in her eyes. Oh this is going better than I thought.

'Root tell me what you want, I'm…willing to take you to bed if that is what you want.' Shaw hesitated only a moment during that sentence. A faint blush of arousal overtaking her face and the tops of her breasts – which thanks to the heels Root was easily able to see and was rather enjoying the view.

'I want to go on an actual date.' Root made sure there was enough hesitancy in her voice to throw off any suspicion the Persian might have that this whole charade was planned.

'A…a date.' Shaw sounded far more uncomfortable about the idea then Root had expected.

'Yes, a date.' Root restated as she took both of the woman's hands in her own. 'Please Sameen? Tomorrows my Birthday and I really want to have a special celebration with you. That is…if you're okay with doing some special things for it. I would be really happy if you did, and would certainly make it well worth your while.' Her voice dropped down to low and husky and she allowed a hand to drift down to lightly caress and squeeze the former assassin's firm ass. Oh you are definitely going to agree Sameen. Do you even know how hard you're pressing back against my hand right now?

Shaw – entirely unaware of how she was now pressing back and practically grinding against Root's hand – took only a moment to think about it before saying 'Sure. I'm willing to do whatever it takes to make your Birthday special.'

The way Root's face lit up made Shaw's heart pound. Later though when she lay awoke next to the slumber woman she would wonder just what the Hell she had been thinking to make that agreement without getting more information first. The woman's mischievous smirk and her saying 'I'm so glad to hear that. Here you'll need this.' Reaching into a pocket she took out an ear piece and handed it over to the former assassin. 'She'll give you detailed instructions tomorrow. Think of it like a scavenger hunt with our dinner date at the end being the reward.'

POI – POI – POI – POI – POI

A/N: I hope you all enjoyed this chapter. Any and all feedback is most welcome. If you see anything that needs corrected please let me know. Like last time if there are any female readers who are comfortable and willing to answer some questions letting me know what makes them feel like a woman I would really appreciate it. While I have had some suggestions and ideas, I can certainly use more. Thanks again for taking the time to read this. Enjoy the rest of your day.