Deimos has just defected and wants to prove himself. Sanford has just lost his long term partner in combat and isn't looking for another. The two are forced to work together, their superiors watching every step of their progress, until they gradually learn to cooperate and even start to like each other. Set some years before the main events of the series - eventual Sanmos ship

REWRITING. SEE CHAPTER 4 FOR DETAILS. Sanford's partner of 10 years has died during a mission so the Agency must assign him a new one. He has an idea of who he'd pick. Deimos is not that person. Set 7 years before Madness plot. Sanford/Deimos eventual slash.