Author's Notes:

Ok, couple of things,

1. I've gone way off track canon-wise already, but wanted to let you know that Maybourne is stateside, in hiding...and the King thing never happened.

2. Don't get too upset, there's another rating change here. The good news is, isn't doesn't go any higher lol. I know this is a small chapter but that's only because I want to offer people that started this thing thinking there wouldn't be any sex in it, an opportunity to skip it. So if you don't like the sexy stuff...skip the next chapter, Chapter 11. I promise you won't miss anything important story-wise if you do.

For those that don't mind, full steam ahead.

Sam felt a bit better when they were on the road to his place, but mostly because she could feel her handgun in the small of her back, and that always gave her an added sense of security. She glanced over at Jack who had reverted back into his protective Colonel mode, his hands firmly gripping the steering wheel while he took frequent glances into the rearview mirror.

"NID?" She watched the corner of his eye twitch at the mere mention of the rogue group.

He didn't answer right away, looking at her with concern in his eyes before turning back, "Not their style. They wouldn't have left any trace they were even there." He made a frustrated noise, "But only one way to find out for sure."

She groaned, "Oh God, not Maybourne."

He smirked, glancing sideways at her, "I'm right there with you. He's a rat bastard. But a rat bastard that likes you enough to look into it."

"Me?" Her mouth opened in shock, and she shook her head, "Oh no, not me. Last time I saw him, I almost killed him."

"Yeah, I know, he's weird like that," Jack grinned.

.

When they got to his place, Jack called Daniel and braced himself for the inevitable barrage of questions. He wasn't disappointed.

"Hey Jack, I tried calling Sam but she didn't answer. Janet said she was in an accident this morning?"

Jack tucked the phone into his shoulder and grabbed a beer out of the fridge while Sam went to unpack. "Yeah, she's a bit banged up but she's okay."

"Well, what happened?"

He twisted the top off and shot the lid into the sink, "Just some idiot not watching where he was going. Listen, her house was broken into and…"

"Wait a minute what!? Her house was broken into? Why? Who would do that?"

"Calm down Danny, she's at my place."

"At your place? What about Pete?"

He smiled and took a swig, "She broke up with him."

"What?! She broke up with him? Why, what happened?"

"Jesus," Jack muttered as he rubbed his face, "Daniel I need you to drop the parrot act for a second and pull it together…it's important."

There was silence, "Maybe I should come over."

"No!" Jack blurted before catching himself, "Come on Daniel, just do this thing and then we'll do a team night or something and catch up okay?"

Daniel huffed, "Fine. What do you need me to do?"

Jack reminded him about the site they used last time to contact Harry and told him to post, "Hutch, phone home, Starsky." After listening to Daniel rant and ask more questions about why they were contacting Maybourne, Jack had to promise a team night the next day to get Daniel to shut up.

Sam walked in as he was hanging up, "Daniel is beside himself with worry," he said with a smirk.

"Aww, he's sweet," she smiled as she took the beer out of his hand, and took a swig before handing it back. She put her hands on his chest, and leaned into him. "I'm going to hop in the shower."

"Okay, I can order some Chinese or something…I don't know about you, but I'm starving."

She smirked and put her hands under his shirt, gliding her palms up his chest, "I'm hungry too."

His eyebrows rose and she could feel his heartbeat quicken under her touch, "Come to think of it, I could probably use a shower too."

She wagged her eyebrows and he laughed, reaching back to put his bottle on the counter as she tugged him toward the bathroom.

Once inside, Jack went to the stall and reached over, using the nobs to set the temperature. When he turned back around, Sam had her shirt off but was still wearing her bra and jeans. Her arms were wrapped around herself, looking uneasy all of the sudden.

He frowned and stepped close to her, putting a hand on the side of her neck. When she met his eyes, she saw his concern, "You know we don't have to do this if you're not ready right?"

She managed a small smile but it wavered, "No, it's not that. I just…" She looked at the bathroom mirror and he followed her gaze, seeing the deep purple bruising on her right side in the reflection, "I forgot about the bruises…"

"Carter," he was giving her that look like she was crazy again, "you are unbelievably hot, you know that right?"

She smirked and tilted her head, like she didn't quite believe him.

"Seriously, it doesn't matter how many bruises you have, it doesn't change the fact that you're drop dead gorgeous." He leaned his head and kissed her, his voice low and soft, "Here, let me prove it to you."