I've been writing this story on and off for a while; its not a case file although there will be case work running through it, instead it's more about the team (Jack, Danny, Sam and Martin) and what happens when a new agent is temporarily assigned to work with them. I am a bit of a Danny fan so you can bet he'll be front and centre for most of the story and Viv will appear as well but I haven't included Elena, it just wouldn't work with her in it!

Warning: lets get this out of the way – some spoilers for mid to end of season 4 because Jack is with Anne in this story (ducks as the Jammers start throwing things – I'm sorry, honestly, but I did put Jack and Sam together in my last story and the Smarties were OK with it!). You have been warned, although their pairing is more in the background and Anne doesn't really play a part in the story.

Character pairings………if you read it you'll find out (and you should be able to guess within a couple of chapters although I'm not promising that first impressions are necessarily the right ones) but I am keeping a promise I made to specialfrog……!

Disclaimer: The WaT characters don't belong to me, I've just borrowed them

Reviews: I love it when I get reviews, even if it's because you don't like something, so, if you like the story (and even if you don't), post a review and let me know!

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'…..so, Elena has been released from the hospital and she is going to recuperate with some of her family upstate. Viv is badly bruised and her arm will be in a cast for at least four weeks but other than that she seems OK. Obviously they want to monitor her for a while to be sure, but…'

Jack shrugged his shoulders, paused and looked at the remainder of his team. Everyone was still stunned after the events that had taken place last week when Viv and Elena's car had crashed on the interstate. Viv had walked away with cuts and bruises and a broken arm but Elena had had to be cut out of the car. A broken leg, a broken arm, two broken ribs, cuts and bruises and a severe concussion had kept her in the hospital for a week.

'When will they be back at work' Sam leant forward and propped her elbows on the table.

'It will be at least 6 weeks, maybe longer in Elena's case, as for Viv, hopefully she will be able to come back to desk duty in a couple of weeks time but we'll have to wait and see' Jacks face showed the strain they were all under.

A silence fell; Jack saw Martin and Danny exchange looks with each other and then with Sam. He waited for the question that he knew was coming, but none of them spoke. Eventually Danny shifted slightly in his seat.

'You know, we were stretched when there were six of us Jack, we've been lucky that nothing big has come in during the last week but as soon as something major happens we are going to be seriously under pressure with a team of only four'.

Jack nodded 'Yeh, I know, I've spoken to Van Doren and she is trying to source an agent from another unit who can be temporarily placed with us ….BUT,' Jack held his hand up to stop any interruptions 'we all know that it can be difficult to get an agent at such short notice for a short placement. Hopefully we'll get some news in the next 24 hours, in the meantime let's just be grateful that we don't have an active case and that we can all leave at a sensible time tonight.'

As Jack headed back to his office, Sam, Danny and Martin all moved back to their desks and began to pack up ready to go home;

'You know, I for one do not feel like another night sat at home thinking about what's happened, do either of you fancy going for a drink and a Chinese?' Sam swung her chair round to see the reaction from Danny and Martin

Danny nodded his head, a grin on his face 'that sounds like a plan, Marty, you up for a drink and a Chinese?

'Sounds good to me,' Martin was grinning too, 'do you think Jack will come?'

'Only one way to find out' Sam stood up, grabbed her bag and they all headed for Jacks office. He was on the phone listening intently; he looked up to see them stood at his door and held a hand up to indicate that they wait.

'Thanks Paula I appreciate this.' He listened again and then, 'OK, well I'll expect her tomorrow.'

Jack put the phone down and looked up at his team, 'Well the good news is that we have a new team member starting tomorrow. She's currently working Missing Persons out of the Miami office and she arrives tomorrow on the 06:43am flight from….;' he paused as he glanced at his notes, 'Atlanta….not sure why she's in Atlanta but……' he shrugged his shoulders and looked up at his team. 'Anyway her plane lands at 08:45 am at Newark and I need someone to meet her and bring her to the office; who fancies a run out to the airport?'

Danny, Sam and Martin all looked at each other; the run out to the airport at that time in the morning was a distinctly unappealing thought.

Jack waited for one of them to break the silence, 'Come on, someone has to go' he chided.

Sam raised an eyebrow 'Are you included in 'someone'?'

'No' I'm not 'someone' I have a meeting at 8:00am with Van Doren' Jack couldn't quite keep the smugness from his voice.

'Yeh?' Danny didn't sound convinced and Jack noticed that Martin had a politely disbelieving look on his face.

'Yeh!' Jack placed a great deal of emphasis on his reply.

Danny, Sam and Martin looked at each other,

'Rock paper, scissors?' Martin suggested

Sam shrugged her shoulders and Danny grimaced in reluctant agreement. They faced each other and clenched their fists;

'One, two, three…….' Martin counted and they all revealed their choice;

Sam had chosen paper; Danny and Martin had both gone for rock. Sam couldn't stop herself from sniggering slightly and earned herself a dirty look from Danny; she stepped back and Danny and Martin faced each other again with fists clenched.

'One, two, three….'

Danny counted this time. His counting turned to a groan when he saw his 'scissors' were trumped by Martin's 'rock'.

'Finished?' Jack was struggling not to laugh at Danny's reaction

Danny scowled, 'Yeh'.

'This is who you need to collect, Special Agent Eleanor Shaughnessy' Jack reached over to the printer and produced a photo which he handed to Danny

Danny took the photo and gave it a passing, disinterested glance…………………………..

'Wow'

The disinterested manner had gone and a wide smile was spreading across Danny's face. Sam and Martin looked at each other and then both moved so they could see the picture of Agent Shaughnessy.

Danny was looking a lot more enthusiastic about an early morning run out to the airport; Sam glanced at Martin and winked, then she turned to Danny, 'You know, thinking about it, I am the closest to the airport so I suppose I don't mind going to get her…' she put a long suffering 'I'm doing this for you because I'm a good friend' look on her face

Danny looked distinctly unimpressed but before he could speak Martin joined in the teasing; 'that's a very unselfish offer Sam; very …er…sympathetic to your co-worker's needs'

Sam turned and smiled sweetly at Martin 'Why thank you Martin, I do try to think of my co-workers needs'

Danny shot them both a filthy look; 'Undoubtedly the Comedy Club is the poorer for not having the two of you perform your double act on a nightly basis,' his tone was sarcastic, then he pasted a look of martyrdom on his face as he continued, 'but I don't expect anyone to do my, er, 'dirty work' for me,' he couldn't keep the martyred air up and his face split into a wide grin, 'anyway, she's not your type….'

'Er, this isn't a date' Jack raised his voice slightly

Danny raised an eyebrow and smirked 'Well there has to be some compensation for driving out to the airport in the morning rush and she's easy enough on the eye to make up for a hell of a lot of traffic hold ups'

'She's going to be a member of this team and you will treat her as such, not as a potential one night stand you pick up in one of those disreputable clubs you frequent' Jack warned, but he couldn't keep a smile from tugging at the corners of his mouth at Danny's clowning.

'You know I'm deeply offended by that statement….' Danny pretended to look hurt; everyone was laughing now.

Martin decided to help Danny out and turned to Jack; 'We thought we could all do with a drink and maybe a Chinese …fancy joining us?'

Jack looked thoughtful. 'Hmm, don't know……tell you what, let me give Anne a call and see what she's doing.'

'OK, how about we head down to Howie's and you can join us if you can' suggested Danny.

They arrived in Howie's Bar, grabbed a booth and ordered drinks. By unspoken agreement they decided not to talk about work although privately Sam thought that there was still some mileage in teasing Danny about his reaction to the photo of the new agent. A conversation about sports quickly started up; they were in the middle of a spirited debate about the Knicks chances in the coming basketball season when Jack arrived.

Danny sat back and grinned at him; 'Got a pass then?' They all laughed at the slightly embarrassed look that crossed Jack's face

'Yeh, Anne's going to be working a while yet and then she fancies an early night.' he paused, 'you know, first trimester….she still feels tired a lot…told me to go and enjoy myself while I can.'

'Yeh, you want to do that, I mean with all the sleepless nights and dirty diapers only a few months away' said Danny cheerfully

Jack pulled a face 'Your turn will come Taylor and when it does I am going to enjoy every moment…….'

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After a couple of hours drinking in Howie's Bar they headed for the local Chinese restaurant. It was a happy relaxed evening and Sam couldn't remember the last time she had laughed so much; but eventually Danny called a halt to proceedings,

'Guys, it's been a good evening but I really need some sack time'

He turned and caught the attention of a waiter 'Can we get the bill please?'

Martin stretched, a smirk appearing on his face 'Yeh….well you want to make sure you look good when you pick up Special Agent Shaughnessy don't you?'

Danny looked offended, 'lay off will you, I'm just doing what the boss ordered and extending a helping hand to our new colleague'

He saw the exchange of glances and the smirk on Jack's face; 'As long as that's all you 'extend' to her', Jack made no effort to disguise the double meaning behind his words and the three of them were all laughing openly now.

Danny was tempted to say something….something about people in glass houses not throwing stones, after all, he was the only one sat at the table not to get involved with someone he worked with. He caught Martin's eye and saw the rueful grin on his face and decided to rise above it…..this time……..if it carried on then Danny figured he would be entitled to take the gloves off…….

Outside Danny said his goodbyes quickly and headed off to get the subway. Martin, Sam and Jack stood on the sidewalk looking for available cabs.

'This is hopeless' Martin was laughing after yet another off duty cab passed them, I think I'm going to head to the subway you guys, is that OK?' He directed the final part of the question toward Sam;

'That's fine; Jack and I can share….when we eventually get one to stop'

As soon as the words left her mouth Sam could have bitten her tongue out. Memories came rushing in; Martin finding her crying when she found out that Jack was going to Chicago……her offer to Martin to share a cab……their first night together in her apartment…… their lovemaking being interrupted the following morning……him wanting to tell everyone about them…….her refusal……

She looked at Martin, her mouth opening to find some words to take back what she had just said but she stopped when she saw the expression on his face; rather than hurt or anger she saw amusement.

Sam stared in amazement. How could he find this funny? She glanced over toward Jack but he was concentrating on trying to find an available cab and didn't appear to have heard. She looked back at Martin, he was still grinning. She opened her mouth again but before she could say anything Jack called

'We have a cab…'

'Well you two take that one; I'll see you both in the morning.'

With a wave Martin headed off toward the subway. Sam walked to the cab and slid inside next to Jack.

They sat in silence for a while and Sam replayed what had just happened with Martin. He had found it funny….her sharing a cab with Jack. Surely he must have been reminded about when they had shared a cab…… and what had happened when they had……and he found being reminded of that funny?

She tried to make sense of it……she couldn't make sense of it….unless……..unless he was over what had happened between them, unless he only thought of her as a friend……unless he didn't care about her that way any more?

'You OK?'

She was startled of her reverie by Jack.

'Hum, er yes,… I'm fine thanks'.

Jack looked at her curiously, 'you sure Sam?'

She turned her head and met his eyes. She smiled 'Yes, really.'

An awkward silence fell between them and Sam desperately searched for something to say……. 'Soooo, are you looking forward to being a father again?'

Jack was surprised. Since the announcement of Anne's pregnancy Sam hadn't raised the matter at all, in fact, she had kept their conversations brief and focused solely on work. He answered cautiously; 'Yeah, well it was a surprise, obviously' he pulled a wry face ' but now we have had time to get used to it we are both pretty excited about it……well, Anne's excited when she isn't throwing up.'

Sam smiled 'I'm pleased for you Jack'

She saw the look that flashed across his face 'really, I am pleased for you, if this is what you want……' her voice trailed away.

A silence fell between them again. Sam heard Jack sigh slightly, 'Sam, you will always be special to me'

She turned back and opened her mouth to speak but he raised his hand and stopped her 'but it would never have worked out'.

Sam caught her breath and stared at him 'What do you mean?'

Jack took her hand and their eyes met 'I mean that we were great together but I don't think either of us could have a long term secret relationship….its not healthy and lets face it, we weren't in a position to make it public'

Silence fell again, then Jack squeezed her hand and dropped it 'You know, with Anne I have the relationship I think I always wanted….it's not as exciting as ours was but it is more satisfying'.

Sam turned to face him again confusion on her face. 'I…I don't understand'

Jack met her eyes 'Sam, you are beautiful, funny, intelligent……and a lot younger than me. You don't think I was flattered that you found me attractive?'

He paused but she remained silent

'Well I was, in fact I still am. I still care about you, I still find you attractive but I want a relationship of equals, were we are both committed and we both want the same things. I can have that with Anne, I can't have that with you.'

Silence descended again and Sam noticed they were turning into Jacks street. As the cab stopped she spoke; 'I think I understand….maybe it's just that we finished before I was ready to call it a day and…..' She tailed off again but before he could speak she continued; 'I know I had something really good with Martin but……maybe it was still too soon after us, maybe I was still thinking that……..'

Jack took hold of Sam's hand and gently squeezed it before dropping it again; he spoke softly; 'Well, maybe it's not too late for the two of you to work it out…….if that's what you both want'

Sam looked at him in surprise 'I think Martin has moved on…I mean we are friends, good friends, again but……I don't think he would be interested in dealing with my neurosis, I mean, he always knew what he wanted from me, it was me that messed it up.'

Jack pulled out his wallet and paid the cab driver. He opened the door as he looked back at Sam, 'You know if you want to try again you should tell him, the worst that could happen is that he say's no…'

He stepped out of the cab, closed the door and raised a hand to wave goodbye before turning toward his apartment block and going inside.