Author: SoThatHappened

"Let it go?" Root asked incredulously and then shook her head. "It had barely been 48 hours Sameen, I know this isn't exclusive but I thought you'd have a little more respect for me than that."

Shaw just looked at her, teeth grinding together at her own frustration with herself. How could she have been so stupid. She had done exactly what she was trying to avoid doing, she hurt Root. Why? Because she was still trying to prove to herself that Root didn't fucking matter. But this, the girl that was standing in front of her right now with red eyes and balled up fists clearly wasn't just nothing.

"Are you just not going to say anything?" Root asked looking at her and Shaw just looked away. She didn't know what she could say. This was a catastrophic fuck up, one which she knew wouldn't be solved with a simple apology.

"I don't know what you want me to say, Root" Shaw said quietly and Root just sighed, loosely crossing her arms.

"Well maybe you should think about that" Root said and turned to keep walking. "I'm going home."

Shaw stared after her. "Bye, Sameen."

Shaw frowned. Why did that feel so final. She watched Root walk off, she watched until she was a tiny figure in the distance, and then she turned the corner and disappeared. Fuck she thought and rammed her fist into the concrete wall. Her knuckles stung. That was so much worse than she had expected. Root's silence hadn't meant that she didn't care, it meant that she did, and a lot. To the point where she was furious.

Shaw wasn't usually reckless in that respect, she did a lot of shit, but never to hurt anyone. Unless they deserved it. And Root sure as hell did not deserve that. No, they weren't together, the idea of them being in a relationship was enough to make Shaw want to run. But Root did matter. They worked together, they saved each other. They had an unspoken agreement to look out for each other.

Shaw thought about Tomas as she walked home. She started analysing every thought she had that led her to make that stupid mistake. He had her, with his words, and his eyes, and his charisma, but that wasn't a good enough reason. She knew she couldn't blame it on her attraction for him, because it wasn't about him. It was about Root, and despite their agreement she had still been hesitant. Freaked out more than anything, about feeling like she was getting trapped. She was a lone wolf, always on the outskirts and she liked it that way. Then there was Root who was suddenly just around, making her breakfast, asking her to stay, making her feel entirely less alone. Shaw didn't know if she was ready for that. Maybe it was a rebelling thing, no one could tell Sameen Shaw what to do. Or maybe she was just too stubborn to admit she was scared. Root scared her. Not because she was mildly psychotic, but because she cared, so much and so deeply.

Shaw got home and threw herself onto her bed, staring at the peeling ceiling. She thought about how quickly she had turned down Tomas when he had asked her to come away with him.

"I have a job" she had said, he had barely finished his sentence. But it wasn't the job that was rooting her here.

*

When Shaw walked into Finch's the next morning her stomach was still in knots. She had considered her options over and over again that night, barely getting any sleep until she had reluctantly dragged her ass out of her slump and gone to the gym before the sun had even come up. Her muscles were aching as she walked in. Finch looked up from his usual place behind the computer screen.

"Oh good you're here" he said and Shaw raised an eyebrow, she heard a gentle thump come from behind a bookcase and turned towards it.

Immediately Shaw saw Root getting changed behind a bookcase. Root wasn't paying any attention to Shaw, she hadn't even realised Shaw was there.

Shaw stared at her, she was changing covers, standing there in her bra and undies as she sorted out her clothes and started pulling a dress up. Shaw couldn't seem to take her eyes off her, that slim figure, those long legs, her dark hair falling over her shoulders in perfect waves.

"I need you and Root to do a little job together" Finch said and Shaw's attention quickly snapped back to him.

"Sorry, what?" she asked having very clearly heard what he had said.

"Ms Groves is just changing now" Finch said and Shaw glanced back at Root. At that moment Root looked over and saw Shaw, and without so much as a blink of hesitation looked away again. As if Shaw weren't even there. Shaw frowned and turned back to Finch.

"Can't Reese do it?" she heard herself say quietly and Finch looked at her curiously.

"Is there a problem Ms Shaw?" Finch asked a little too loudly and Shaw just quickly shook her head.

"What's the cover?" Shaw asked.

"You won't like it" Finch said and Shaw just rolled her eyes.

"Just tell me"

"You have to go to a charity lunch" Finch said and Shaw almost kicked the chair in front of her in frustration. From criminal to fucking charity goer. Not the greatest switch she'd made.

"Aren't I meant to be some badass criminal?" Shaw asked and Finch just looked at her.

"The Machine needs you to do this" Finch said "You have another identity, just be very careful."

"Great" Shaw frowned. "The Machine is to blame here." she said and wondered whether The Machine was just playing with her and Root.

"Why can't Root just go?" Shaw asked.

"Yeah Harry," Root said from behind her suddenly. Shaw spun around at the sound of her voice and was face to face with Root, in a white dress, with dark lipstick and an even darker look in her eyes.

"I can handle this one by myself." Root said and Finch looked between them.

"Unfortunately you're both needed for this one," Finch paused "It's a plus one event."

"What are you trying to say Harold?" Shaw asked and he just winced. A further explanation was not needed. Shaw heard a gun get loaded behind her and turned around to see Root armed with a hand gun, silencer attached. She felt a brief rush of anxiety rush through her body at the sight of Root with that gun, looking straight at her. Then it faded. She looked away.

"Ms Shaw there's something you can wear over there" Finch said and Shaw just rolled her eyes.

"Oh good" she said sarcastically and marched over to the clothing bag, unzipping it and seeing a black dress inside. She growled under her breath and immediately starting stripping her clothes off right there in front of Root. She knew Finch would have looked away already. But she hoped Root wouldn't have. Although as she pulled the zip up the side of the dress, sealing herself in she glanced over at Root and saw her facing the complete opposite direction.

*

Root's air of disinterest stayed with her for the entire ride there. The cold shoulder was prominent. Her anger, just as much. She had barely said a word to Shaw since they had left Finch's.

"You ready?" Shaw had asked as she collected her gun and glanced over at Root, who looked at Shaw and then started walking towards the door.

The taxi had been just as painful, Root stared out the window without a word, her lips pressed together, her hands neatly folded in her lap. It was more than obvious she didn't want to talk to Shaw, and she didn't want Shaw to talk to her either.

As they arrived Root produced a ticket printed on heavy paper stock out of her purse and handed it to the doorman of the hotel where the charity event was being held.

Shaw wondered how this was going to work, they were meant to be at this event together but Root hadn't said a fucking word to her, nor had she even glanced in Shaw's direction since they had gotten out of the car.

She wanted to confront Root about her behaviour, but she couldn't seem to bring the words out of her mouth. They walked into a room full of other women and men, chatter filled the air around them, everyone was holding glasses of champagne and smiling.

Root walked straight over to the drinks table, flashing a smile at a couple as she brushed past them. Shaw followed her, swiping up a glass and taking a sip from it before glancing at Root.

"Convincing." Shaw said and felt Root's eyes on her immediately from the criticism.

"People have arguments sometimes, Sameen" Root said. "It's perfectly normal."

"You've barely looked at me" Shaw pointed out and Root observed the crowd as if she couldn't care less.

"Oh, is that bothering you?" Root asked and Shaw just stared at her with a frown.

"Yes, actually" Shaw said but Root still didn't look at her. "You really can't be that upset with me," Shaw said knowing as the words left her mouth that it was the wrong thing to say. "We're not even in an actual relationship."

"Good fucking thing too" Root answered cooly before wandering off back towards the mingling guests. Shaw stared at her in shock before immediately going after her.

"Root" she said sharply.

"Samantha Jenkins!" a woman cooed and Root immediately spun around with a warm smile.

"I thought that was you" the woman said "You're looking so good these days"

Shaw had almost entirely forgotten the identities they had taken to come under cover. These women who all pretended they knew and liked each other. Shaw wanted to punch them all and just go home.

"How's the family?" Root asked with her perfected tone of interest in her voice, her eyes focused on Lucy as they spoke. Their small talk continued for a few minutes before Lucy noticed Shaw hovering by her.

"Oh I'm being so rude" Lucy said looking at Shaw.

"This is Jen" Root said introducing Shaw under her cover name. Shaw was almost shocked that Root's cover and her shared a birth name. It was always strange to hear Root being called Samantha. It just didn't fit.

"Jen" the woman grinned and pulled Shaw into a hug. "So good to meet you."

Lucy looked between the both of them expectantly and suddenly Shaw felt a hand touching her lower back, curling around her waist. It was Root's hand. The single touch sent a shiver down Shaw's back. The hairs on her arm standing up at Root's warm touch.

"Good for you, Sam" Lucy said with a wink looking at Root.

"It is good when we're not arguing" Root said and Lucy just laughed.

"I know the feeling" she replied and Shaw just stared at Root.

"Not on the same page, more like not even in the same section of the book" Root said with a light laugh, but her words were clear, sharp, aimed right at Shaw. Lucy just laughed with Root and stroked her arm looking at Shaw.

"I'm sure you two will work it out," she paused "You look so great together."

After Lucy disappeared Shaw immediately turned back to Root.

"What the fuck?" Shaw asked and Root just rolled her eyes taking a sip of champagne.

"Not that I don't appreciate your constant shadowing, Sameen" Root said cooly "but I can handle this by myself if you want to go."

Shaw just stared at Root with a scowl printed deeply onto her forehead.

"I'm not leaving." Shaw said firmly, the two separate meanings of that sentence loudly apparent to both of them. Root glanced at her.

"Whatever." Root muttered and turned her attention back to the small stage where a woman was standing on.

"Welcome everyone" she said with a wide gorgeous smile. Shaw was still staring at Root, she couldn't believe how easily Root was just brushing her off. Shaw knew she made a mistake, but she didn't realise it would cost her this. Their entire...well relationship.

Root was staring fixedly ahead with her head tilted slightly to the side, a finger running around the rim of the champagne glass as she gazed at the woman on the stage. Shaw glanced at the stage and looked t the woman who was thanking everyone for coming. She was tall and willowy, blonde hair, a nice smile, all glowing and happy. Shaw rolled her eyes and looked back at Root.

"Why are you looking at her like that?" Shaw hissed and Root didn't look away.

"That's our fucking number Sameen" Root said under her breath and Shaw immediately felt like an idiot.

"Didn't know that required your heart eyes" Shaw said quickly and Root just shot her an icy look.

"I want you to leave" Root said as they stared daggers at each other.

"I'm not going to" Shaw said adamantly and Root just huffed turning back to the stage, where the woman was still talking. Shaw tried to turn her attention to the blonde as well, but the exact second she did she caught the woman noticing Root, the corners of her mouth immediately turning up into a smile. Shaw clenched the champagne glass tightly in her hand. For fuck sake.

"Can I talk to you?" Shaw said suddenly grabbing Root by the arm and towing her away from the crowds of brunching women. Root yanked her arm away from Shaw with an irritated look, but reluctantly followed her into the ladies room regardless.

"Do you finally have something to say?" Root asked as Shaw shooed all the other women out of the bathroom and closed the door behind them.

"Yeah I do" Shaw said and folded her arms. "Stop being such a bitch."

Root raised both eyebrows. "Fuck you."

Shaw let out an angry huff. "Look I get it, you're fucked off." Root rolled her eyes and leaned against one of the pillars impatiently.

"You of all people should know that I am the least perfect person you'll meet" Shaw said and Root just stared at her, barely moving a muscle on her face.

"So you think that means I should just excuse your behaviour?" Root asked. "Because you're not perfect?" she paused. "Welcome to the human race, Sameen. That doesn't change anything."

"Then what would?" Shaw asked, but at that exact moment the bathroom door flew open and the blonde speech woman walked in, freezing as soon as she saw Root and Shaw glaring at one another.

"Am I interrupting?" she asked politely and Root immediately spun around and smiled at her.

"No, no, sorry" she said warmly and Shaw just stared at her in disbelief that Root's mood was purely directed at Shaw, that it wasn't affecting anything else but the way she was around Shaw.

"I just wanted to touch up" the blonde said brushing past Shaw towards the mirrors. "I hate speeches." she continued and Root kept smiling at her.

"Public speaking always makes me nervous too" Root said and the blonde turned around as if that was rare and ground breaking news.

"Really?" she asked then stuck her hand out. "I'm Adina."

"Samantha" Root said and and shook her hand "It's so nice to meet you."

Adina nodded in agreement and Shaw just cleared her throat. Adina glanced over at Shaw and raised an eyebrow.

"Sorry and you are?" she said and Shaw just stared into those deep blue eyes.

"Leaving" Shaw said and glanced over at Root bitterly.