A/N: Thanks to DianeM aka"The Best Beta In The West". Also thanks to SpyMaster and Mariel for invaluable advice and assistance
Disclaimer: Not mine...oh how I wish!
Warnings: A bit of language now and then
Chapter 1 – Taking Chances and Making Choices
Jack felt like he was on top of the world this bright Tuesday morning. He just signed the divorce papers. And, for whatever reason, Maria had actually taken a turn for the better recently and backed off her restrictive limits on his visitation schedule. He could now have the girls two weekends each month along with every other major holiday. He could go to Chicago to be with them or could fly them to New York. As he walked briskly out the front door of the law firm, his wedding band clinked on the glass door handle. Stopping at the sound, he looked at the file in his right hand then looked at the gold band on his left. Smiling with a little resignation and nodding to himself, he slipped the ring off his finger, stuffed it in his shirt pocket and headed to the parking garage. He had a lot to do today and one of those things was to see if a particular blonde headed beauty still harbored any feelings for him. His heart skipped a little bit at that thought, knowing that she could very well shoot him down, but he had to know.
After meetings, interviews and chasing down leads, the day was finally ending. He had a plan and had even practiced a little speech in his head for approaching Samantha. He knew Danny and Vivian had already left for the day and was pretty sure Martin was gone too. But Martin had a bad habit of forgetting to check in at the end of the day, so he couldn't be positive about him. He ventured out to the quiet bullpen and saw her typing furiously on the computer. Feeling like he was in high school, he wiped the sweat off his palms and leaned over the top of her cubicle making sure his now bare left ring finger dangled in plain sight. "Hey" he said casually. Breaking her concentration, she looked up with a slight but confused smile and said, "Hey back at ya." He watched her expression as her eyes fell on his left hand and then quickly shot back to his face. Pleased with what he saw, he got ready to roll the dice and said, "I…umm…I was wondering if you would…um…would…um…what I mean to say is I was wondering if I could take you to dinner." Great he thought to himself….that was soooo smooth Jack. How could she possibly turn that invite down!
Nervously he watched her eyes and thought for a moment they shot past his shoulder and showed something that looked a bit like fear. But they quickly came back to his, as she shook her head no, saying in a hushed tone, "Listen Jack, I'm not sure that is a good idea. He couldn't give up that easily. "Yeah, come on. I'll take you to Luigi's. We can have some wine, great meal, and just talk…it would mean a lot to me, Sam. There is a lot I want to…. no….that I NEED to tell you. Please?"
About that time from behind Jack came the angry voice of Martin saying, " She said 'NO,' Jack. Can't you take a hint? She doesn't want to be with you. You dumped on her one too many times. She is with ME now, so back off." Jack turned and took a step towards Martin. Martin took a step towards Jack. And Samantha hurried to come between them.
Jack's mind was reeling…..Martin! You've got to be kidding me! He looked at Martin then to Samantha then back to Martin who was breathing heavily with a clenched jaw and balled up fists as he glared at Jack. Samantha glanced nervously between the two men squaring off in front of her. Her mouth moved, but nothing came out. Meeting his glare, Jack said smoothly, "No, Martin. I won't back off. I asked Samantha out because we are friends. If you have a problem with that, you need to get over it." Martin was now getting very red as he spat back, " Friends my ass, Jack. You think just because you aren't wearing a wedding ring anymore you can worm your way back into her life? You think you are the right guy for her? That is bullshit, Jack, and you know it."
Jack was incredibly calm and he smirked as he said, "Yeah, I do think I'm the right guy for her. You want to know why, Martin? Because I know her. I know things about her you will never even come close to understanding or finding out. I know why her favorite color is yellow. I know what her mother's middle name is. I know what her favorite movie is and how many times she saw it. I know what commercials make her cry. I know why she hates to fly. I know which toe she broke at Quantico. I know where she learned to swim. I know her Martin and she knows me."
Martin was taken back by his confession-laden speech, but so was Samantha. She couldn't believe this was happening, but it made her angry that Jack did seem to have this attitude that he could waltz right back in and pick up where he left off. On the other hand, she was amazed at his bold announcement, especially to Victor Fitzgerald's son. She felt bad for Martin, who was trying so hard to come to her defense, but she was also mad at him for making the decision of what he thought she do. She realized they were acting like she wasn't even in the damned room!
Suddenly extremely angry, she hissed at Martin, "Do not ever make a decision for me ever again. I'm not your property and I'm not your child." With that, Martin threw up his hands and said, "You know what? Fuck it! You two screwed-up people deserve each other," and he stormed down the stairwell. Turning her attention to Jack, she saw the smug look on his face and she snapped. "You son of a bitch. You think you can throw a fit and get your way every time? Apparently you don't know me as well as you think you do. Just to make sure you clearly understand, you don't own me either. So, what are you going to do next, Jack? Throw a chair through a window to get your way?"
As soon as those words left her lips she was immediately sorry but it was too late. His face went from confident to shocked to crushed in a flash. He was blinking his eyes rapidly and looking around the room at nothing in particular as his body physically trembled. She spun around with her hand to her head and said, "Oh, Jack, I'm so sorry." But she didn't see him duck his head, nod and walk quickly down the hall. When he didn't answer, she turned around in time to see him stepping into the elevator and she ran shouting, "Jack! Wait!" She got to the elevator just as the doors started to slide shut and what she saw ripped her heart out. Jack was crouched in the corner with his head in his hands. She found her voice in time to cry out, "Please……no." He looked up to reveal a face soaked in tears and complete devastation in his eyes. The doors slid closed and she sank to her knees pounding the wall with her fists and crying.