A/N: This chapter is more filler than action but even filler helps to move along the story. I hope you guys can see where I'm going with this.

Jack left the restaurant and made his way to the meeting place where Agent Johnson and his colleagues were organized. Though CIA operatives were not supposed to operate on United States soil, procedures for the organization had become muddied ever since the Patriot Act had come into existence. Now due to the Department of Homeland Security acting as an umbrella for sharing information between the CIA and FBI, the different agencies were sharing more than just information but on occasion were working together.

It hadn't just been a desire to spend time in the states again that had gotten Jack on a plane back to New York; it was the fact that his sister had unknowingly busted a human trafficking ring without even trying.

Lucy sat straight up and pointed her gun at the intruder when the light flicked on and blinded her in her barely-more-than-half-awake state.

"Jeez, McClane. What are you going to do; shoot me?" Whit hobbled over to sink to pour herself a glass of water.

Lucy put down the gun and rubbed her eyes. "Sorry. Thought you were an intruder. What are you doing up?"

"Just wanted a cup of water. Didn't know it was a hanging offense," Whit joked.

"I would have brought it to you. You shouldn't be on that leg."

"It's a flesh wound. I've had one before and I'll probably have one again," Whit responded. "You don't have to go 'Mom' on me. I can do for myself."

"I know that," Lucy said begrudgingly. "But you're my partner and my best friend. If you get shot while you're with me than I'm gonna take care of you. Get over it."

"Fine," Whit griped, "but I'm issuing a reciprocity clause to your policy."

"So you'll take care of me if I get shot while I'm with you," Lucy laughed.

"God, no. The clause will just say not to expect any reciprocity. What do I look like, a nurse," Whit threw her lines out in dripping sarcasm.

"With friends like you who needs enemies," Lucy responded. "Nice to know you have my back."

"Yeah, yeah, yeah," Whitney said sipping her water. "Go back to bed and don't shoot any house guests," the brunette limped her way back to her room and Lucy fell back on the couch, hoping for sleep.

"So," John said as he walked his ex-wife to her apartment complex, "tonight was nice. It's good to know that we can get together with the kids without it getting heated."

"Heated," Holly asked. "That's a nice way of saying we avoided going off like the H bomb, right?"

"Well," John played with his collar, "we've been known to go a couple rounds before."

"Yeah," Holly laughed. "Well, in the spirit of being good natured," she said, "would you like to come up for a cup of coffee?"

John looked surprised for a second and nodded. "Sure. One cup can't hurt, right?