The precinct was in utter chaos when Samantha arrived. The tech division, usually hidden away in their own rooms were spread throughout, grabbing at every computer or data-pad they could find; anything with an internet connection. Normally Samantha would have been curious about how exactly they planned to track down an anonymous source that was apparently able to hit the entire city, instead she was more than a little ticked off that she hadn't been called in to even help. It wasn't as though she and Briars had done anything all day.  She unclasped her helmet and made a turn for the change-rooms, only continue, making the turn a full circle before pressing her helmet into her partner's hands.

[colour=34EBEB]"Put this on my locker for me? I'll be back in a minute."[/colour]

Briars gave her a confused look before peering around the corner, taking note of the impatiently waiting Captain, then nodded and took the helmet under her own arm.  Samantha mouthed a silent thank you, then made an inconspicuous dash for the elevator.

The detective's floor was notably less chaotic than the lower bull-pen.  Undoubtedly it had more to do with the individualized offices and lack of end-of-shift processing line up.  Upstairs was too good for public urination cases it seemed. Samantha could swear even the smell was different, but her  reverence was quickly dismissed after receiving one too many confused looks at her near-fully uniformed appearance. She slid into Dan Hiegle's office without knocking.

"Captain's looking for you" Samantha's former partner didn't even look up from his desk to great her.

[colour=34EBEB]"I forgot how charming you can be."[/colour] She approached his desk just as he snatched up the data-pad he was reading, keeping its contents just out of her view. [colour=34EBEB]"Seems like quite the mess down there, could probably use some help."[/colour]

Dan placed the pad into a drawer and slammed it shut with much more force than was probably needed.  "Formality, Lorne's breathing down our necks but the hack is being shifted off to another precinct. We've got enough on our plate."

Still apparently not enough to share with her though. There wasn't anywhere to sit, Samantha surveyed the room for some hidden chair in a corner.  [colour=34EBEB]"Seriously do you just hate guests?"[/colour]

"What do you want Sam?"

She consigned to lean against the desk, Dan obviously hated it, but made no motion other than to fold his arms. [colour=34EBEB]"You know what I want.  I want my job back."[/colour]

"It's not my fault you left Sam, and just because you think you're ready to come back-"

[colour=34EBEB]"I'm not even talking about the detective job Dan. I just want to be a real cop again, I'm sick of teaching some kid how to do a road-stop."[/colour]

"I figured you'd like Briars"

He wasn't missing the point, but ignoring it entirely.  Samantha retaliated in her own manner by leaning in and batting her eyes. [colour=34EBEB]"She's no you Heigle."[/colour]

Dan scoffed, but at least gave something that could have been, in some universe, construed as a reaction. She'd hit enough buttons, and pushed the issue. [colour=34EBEB]"Come on, just one little request to put me on your team. Don't you owe me that?"[/colour]

"I don't owe you shit."

Bullshit.  She could practically feel the guilt radiating off it, buried deep under his eternal aura of smugness.  But after working together for almost a decade, she knew conceding to his pride would go further than tugging on heart strings. [colour=34EBEB]"Fine. We're even.  But I still deserve this."[/colour] 

"Fine." He was abrasive, but even that was far to easy for the Dan she knew. She stared at him for a few brief moments, trying to measure his attitude before realizing. 

[colour=34EBEB]"You already talked to the captain."[/colour]

"Yes."

[colour=34EBEB]"And?"[/colour]

"You have to take the PR job on top" Samantha stood up straight again, glanced to the open office door, and did her best to reel herself in. "Do you want to job or not?"

[colour=34EBEB]"Why does he want me so bad in the first place?"[/colour]

"People are scared, ever since the tower they're not sure who to trust.  A pretty young mom being the face of the masked police force isn't a bad move."

[colour=34EBEB]"Don't flatter me Dan.  You're coming out of this an ass in my book either way."[/colour] And with a bright gold star next to his name in someone else's for doing what the captain had failed to for weeks no doubt.

"You'll take it?"

[colour=34EBEB]"Of course I'm going to take it."[/colour] She turned back to Dan and reached out a gloved hand. [colour=34EBEB] "I expect to get some real action here Hiegel."[/colour]

Dan accept her hand, a small smirk of satisfaction threatening to break his suave facade. "See you in the morning Officer Wiles."