Title: What the heart wants
author: Cindy Ryan
spoilers: all, especially 1x7
summary: a pregnancy answers one question but will it bring Sam and Eddie closer or drive them apart?
It'd been six weeks since Sam and Eddie had woken up in his bed completely naked and no memory. Sam thought it'd be awkward for awhile but they'd fallen back into a routine. Sam had been grateful for that. She enjoyed working at the PI office. Most importantly she liked helping people.
However, during the last few days Sam had felt really tired and food wasn't settling well. She thought she'd picked up a stomach flu or a bit of food poisoning. Then Sam realized with a start she'd missed her period. She'd always been regular as clockwork and to miss it...Sam had tried to chalk it up to stress, but as more days went by and it didn't come Sam started to face facts.
So Sam had put on a disguise went down to a local drug store and bought a top of the line pregnancy test. She'd paid cash so no clerk could leak it to the media. It'd taken another two days for Sam to gather enough courage to take the test. Now on a tuesday morning before seven she paced her bathroom waiting for the alloted time to pass. Over the past two days Sam had realized with a shock that she hadn't been with anyone in three months. Living at rehab kinda killed the social life and besides was basically a lock down clinic. So her symptoms had answered the question that Sam and Eddie hadn't been able to remember about that night. They had done more than sleep together.
Sam's cell phone timer beeped and with shaking hands she picked up the small plastic stick that would change her life. She read the computer readout twice before backstepping and hastily sitting down on the edge of the tub before her legs gave out. Pregnant; she was pregnant.
By nine Sam was packing a suitcase. She'd called her sister to see if anyone was using the family seaside getaway near Santa Barbara. Thankfully no one was. Sam glanced down at her phone as Monica called once more. Eddie had called once and she'd let it go to voicemail. Sam had missed a client meeting. Her head was spinning so badly with so many emotions and thoughts that she just couldn't face anyone right now. Zipping the suitcase closed Sam lifted it. She glanced once more at her cell phone. Sam picked it up a tech on her show had shown her how to deactivate GPS tracking. Once that was successfully done Sam turned it off and slid it into her bag. Sam needed space and time to think.
It'd been two days since private investigator Eddie Valetik had heard from his partner. He'd become concerned when she'd missed the first client meeting. Upped to worried when voicemails weren't returned. Fear started to inch in when client meeting number two came and went without Sam and no calls or texts to say why. Fear was threatening to be full blown when even Monica wasn't getting calls returned and said Sam wasn't at any of her favorite spots. Syd had said there had been no surprise acting jobs that came up and she hadn't heard from her client. Sam had told him where the spare key was so he'd checked her house twenty-four hours in. Sam's bed hadn't been slept in. With all of Sam's clothes, and variety of suitcases there wasn't enough missing to justify a spur of the moment trip. He'd interviewed the neighbors and no one had noticed anything out of the ordinary.
Eddie's instinct's were screaming at him that something was wrong. If she'd wanted time off Sam would've told him. Now late afternoon on a Friday Eddie was waiting for Chris Rollins to arrive. He'd kept her updated since tuesday and now Eddie could tell the detective was as concerned as he was. Finally Eddie heard the elevator and he went to the door of his office to wait. A few minutes later Christine Rollins was rolling up the gate and stepping out. She flashed him an apologetic smile.
"Sorry, traffic."The dark haired woman explained as she and Eddie stepped into his office and closed the door. "I brought Deacon's updated visitor and call log as requested."
"Thanks."Eddie said as he took the file from the detective and began to read.
"You really think Deacon would..."Chris began but Eddie interrupted.
"I don't know, Chris. Last time I saw him the judge said all men deserve to pay for their sins."Eddie said worriedly as he pushed away from his desk. "I haven't heard from Sam in two days. She missed two client meetings; new clients. She never misses those. No one has heard from her not Syd, not Monica. Berto tried tracking her phone but the GPS is off."
"If I put a BOLO out..."Chris began.
"Every media source in the country would have it."Eddie finished as he ran a hand through his short dark hair.
"What do you want to do?"Chris asked quietly.
"Put out the BOLO."Eddie replied gravely. "I need to know she's safe."
Chris nodded and pulled out her cell phone and placed a call. Eddie paced the area behind his desk. It was amazing how a person could become important in such a short span of time. Zeus was right he had let his guard down around Sam. If Deacon had arranged for something to happen to his partner Eddie would find a way to make the crooked judge pay. A knock on the door drew Eddie's attention and he waved Monica in. The young Asian looked tense and worried.
"There's been nothing new of Sam on social media."Sam's assistant stated.
"Damn."Eddie swore.
"They've been retweeting the pic of you and Sam kissing and the picture of her at the charity dinner a week ago has been posted but nothing since then."Monica reported grimly.
Eddie nodded his thanks and Monica stepped back out closing the door. Chris finished her call then and glanced at the PI.
"BOLO's gone out."Rollins said as she put her phone back in her jacket pocket.
"Thank you."Eddie replied as he sank back down in his chair.
"We'll hear something soon."Chris said gently
Eddie glanced out the glass wall to the main area and towards Sam's empty office. His gaze fixed on her name on the door.
"For as much as I fought this partnership..."Eddie began but words failed him. "I just want her to walk back into this office."
"With the careers we've chosen."Chris responded quietly. "We see bad every day. I know this looks like a missing person's case and it may be. But it could also be as simple..."
"She would've called me, Chris."Eddie said anxiously. "She knows how close to jail time she came. Sam wouldn't have ditched me to lay on a beach somewhere. She knows how much of her probation terms are tied up in this partnership."
Chris nodded placed a brief supportive hand on Eddie's left shoulder then stepped away from the desk.
"I need to get back."Rollins said quietly as she reached the door.
"I'll check with her neighbors again."Eddie responded as he stood. "There were a couple that were gone yesterday. I'll walk you out."
Sam had just returned from a walk on the beach. She was surprised to find her nearest neighbor waiting on the small front porch. Mrs. Elaine Keaton was a heavy set woman in her early sixties. Her blonde hair had already started to turn gray and she wore wire rimmed glasses. Sam smiled as she approached her family had known Elaine for years. They looked after each other's property.
"Elaine, how are you?"Sam asked as she came within earshot.
"Better than you."The older woman said grimly. "Do you know you're missing?"
Sam stopped dead staring at her neighbor in shock.
"Missing?"Sam repeated.
"Well not officially yet but there's a police alert out for you."Elaine said with concern. "It was just on the news. Are you alright?"
Eddie, Sam thought with a pang of guilt. She should've come up with some excuse instead of going off the grid for two days.
"Sam, are you in some kind of trouble?"Elaine asked worriedly.
Sam walked towards her and enveloped the older woman in a hug.
"No, just a miscommunication."Sam lied. "Thank you for letting me know; I'll get it straightened out."
"If you're sure you don't need anything."Keaton continued. "You look pale."
"I'm alright."Sam said with another forced smile. "But I think the walk took more out of me than I thought. Think I'll lie down."
Sam walked past her neighbor, unlocked the door and stepped inside. As she closed the door behind her Sam knew she'd have to face Eddie sooner or later. She just wished she'd had more time. But in the forty-eight hours she'd been here Sam was no closer to figuring things out. Eddie was a part of this too and as hard as it would be Sam had to tell him what was going on. With a sigh Sam pulled her phone out of her purse which was on a table in the living room. She turned it back on and after it booted; dialed a familiar number.