Summary: Martin is a member of the FBI's Missing Persons Unit in New York. After a particularly explosive episode with his father, he has distanced himself from his family in an effort to avoid any further altercations. However, when the invitation for his cousin's wedding arrives, Martin must produce the 'girlfriend' his family believes has been taking up so much of his time.

At the beginning of this story, Samantha is the one who has been working White Collar in NYC (instead of Martin working it in Seattle). We'll learn more about Sam and her history as the story progresses. Elena has always been a part of the MPU.

A/N: I don't own anything - I'm just using the characters and episodes for my own entertainment. Events from episodes are not in chronological order from the show; I have and will continue to use episodes when and if they serve a purpose for this story.

Chapter 2: The Plan

The team had been brought in on a case where the missing woman had worked with Martin while he was stationed in Seattle. Katie Duncan had been the mail girl in the Seattle office, but she had also been mentally unstable. The entire time they had been looking for her, Martin had been unable to remember anything about the young woman. There he was in a picture with her, but he couldn't even recall what the office party had been about, let alone who had delivered his mail. She committed suicide before they had been able to fine her.

Finding people when it was too late was never easy. The result of this case was made worse because of the guilt Martin couldn't help feeling due to his inability to remember the girl. It disturbed him that he could be so unobservant merely because he had felt comfortable in his office. This realization made him wonder where else he was letting things slip. Now was not a good time to be getting lazy, not with the ruse he needed to orchestrate and pull off.

Without warning Danny sat down on the edge of his desk, "Come on, Martin," he wheedled, "What's going on with you? It's not just this case, man; you've been off all week."

Martin shrugged as he looked over at his friend and colleague. "Nothing, amigo. Just family stuff, you know."

"Don't I ever," was the Latino's emphatic reply.

"Tell you what, buy me a drink and I'll tell you."

A half hour later a club soda and a sidecar were sitting in front of the two agents as Martin unloaded about the situation with his family. "I've been avoiding them ever since that night. When the work excuse stopped working and my aunt kept pushing me for the real reason I wasn't coming by for dinner on Fridays, I came up with an excuse that would satisfy her."

Danny nodded in understanding. "You told her you had started a relationship."

"And now she expects me to bring my nonexistent girlfriend to Allison's wedding." Martin sighed as he rested his head in his hands above the bar. He just couldn't see a way out of this situation.

"So, why don't you bring her?" As Martin's head shot up, Danny placed a hand on his arm and hurried to explain, "We find someone to act as your girlfriend for this thing and later you can regret to inform your family that she broke up with you for some reason or another." His friend didn't respond. "What?" Danny asked, "It's a great plan!"

Martin let out a sardonic laugh before inquiring, "Where exactly am I going to find a girl able to stand up against my family? Huh? Danny, you've met them, you know how critical they can be. I don't know anyone who would be able to maintain a ruse like this." Martin looked at him in question and demanded, "Do you?"

Danny just smiled back at him. "As a matter of fact, I do."

A/N: Please let me know what you think! I want to know what you like and what you think I can improve on. If you're interested in more, REVIEW!

Katie Duncan – Without a Trace Season 5, Episode 7: "All the Sinners Saints"