Medley:

Chapter 7

Lithium:

Lithium, don't wanna lock me up inside

Lithium, don't wanna forget how it feels without

Lithium, I wanna stay in love with my sorrow

Oh, but God, I wanna let it go

Come to bed, don't make me sleep alone

Couldn't hide the emptiness you let it show

Never wanted it to be so cold

Just didn't drink enough to say you love me

I can't hold on to me

Wonder what's wrong with me

Evanescence: The Open Door, 2006

Elena and Jack arrived at the hospital and were quickly given access to the room where David Braxton was being examined. The doctor reviewed his condition which was pretty much what the police lieutenant had told them, dehydrated, exposure, some scrapes, a minor concussion and—well, hungry. They were given ten minutes with him and then he was to be transported to his room.

Parting the curtain Jack and Elena saw their missing person, the man they'd gotten to know from everyone and everything but him, in front of them. He was holding his brand new baby girl in his arms while his wife sat near him both her hands holding tight to her husband's arm.

Both looked up and Caitlin smiled in greeting as Jack and Elena approached.

"David Braxton, my name is Jack Malone and this is Elena Delgado, we're with the FBI; we've been looking for you."

"So my wife tells me, thank you, guess being found helped you guys out." David started to shift the baby to stretch out a hand but Jack stopped him.

"Not necessary, hang on to your baby girl."

"Thank you."

"Mr. Braxton, can you tell us what happened?" Elena flipped open her notepad as she asked the question.

"I sure can, it was four days ago, I was going to catch a cab to the airport later that day to head back out to Utah. So, when it was time to go, I called a cab and when it came I said good bye to Caitlin and headed outside. I was just about to get in the cab when I heard my name called. I looked up and Jeff Pierce was jogging across the street towards me."

"Who is Jeff Pierce?" Jack asked while Elena jotted the name down.

He's a colleague of mine. We've worked a bunch of surveys together. He said he was hoping he'd catch me and would I let him drive me to the airport as he wanted to discuss some strange patterns he'd noted in some fires over the past few years. As I respected him, or did, I agreed. I let the cab go and grabbed my bag and got in the car with Jeff."

"I take it this Jeff Pierce didn't want to just exchange information with you about these fires." Jack noted.

"Oh, he was willing to exchange information all right; he wanted me to know that since I hadn't taken the hints and the threats, that now he was going to get serious and that meant eliminate me." Braxton stopped and gave his wife a quick kiss as her hands tightened on his arm.

"That's when he showed me he had a gun; shocked the hell out of me that's for sure. I've been fighting fires since I was 18 and I have a healthy respect for the beast, as I call a wildfire, and while I know what it can do when out of control I don't fear it; I respect the hell out of it knowing that I can never fully predict it, but when I saw that gun, I was scared." David stopped and Elena and Jack noticed his expression; he was reliving that moment.

"Is that when he drove you to the warehouse?" Elena asked trying to get him to continue.

"Yes, ma'am. I didn't say a word after he showed me that gun, I had no idea what he would or wouldn't do with it as I'd never seen Jeff that way. All of a sudden the serious yet funny man I considered a colleague and friend turned into a killer before my eyes, some of those fires I was suspicious of killed people and all of them killed land, animals, as well as people's dreams.

Anyway, we got to that warehouse and he got me inside, tied me up and dropped me into the elevator shaft, said he didn't want to shoot me 'cause he didn't want the body found with a bullet in it, the ropes would burn up in the fire. I asked him what fire and he said the one that would happen when the charges went off around me to demolish this building, said I'd only have to wait a day; building was set to be demolished the next day." David shuddered and held his baby girl a little tighter although the slumbering infant didn't notice.

"Before he left me there I asked him why he was doing this. He said he was just following orders and then he left me there."

"Do you have any idea what that means, "Just following orders"? Jack asked.

"I spent all the time I was down in that shaft trying to figure it out, whose orders and why, I have no idea. When you pick him up you can ask him."

"Any idea where he's headed?" Elena asked.

"Yeah, I expect he's out in Utah right now. Caitlin told me how that fire is out of control, damn fool, no reason for it either so I know for sure he's out there."

"Was he supposed to be there with you on this particular fire?" Elena followed up her question.

"He's with me on all the fires I do that's what really irks me; I've been trying to figure out who and why and all the while the very man I share all my suspicions to and all my information was taking it and using it against not only me but against the very thing we're hired to prevent."

"Any reason his name isn't on the current manpower manifest for the NSGS team?"

"Yeah, Jeff's freelance, I hire him on my own docket so he wouldn't show up on a manifest."

"Thank you, Mr. Braxton, we'll let you get some rest. We'll be back again tomorrow after you've gotten some rest to interview you again, in the meantime if you think of anything, here's my card, give me a call." Jack handed over his card and left the happily reunited family.

Stepping out into the corridor Jack and Elena saw a tall police lieutenant striding towards them.

"Agent Malone?"

"Lieutenant Krupp?"

"One and only, thought I'd have a chance to meet you here."

"We just finished interviewing him for now. Lieutenant, he said when he was left in that shaft he was told the building was to be demolished the next day, when you called me earlier, you said it was slated for demolition today, which is it?"

"It was scheduled for demolition earlier this week unfortunately the foreman who oversees the final inspection got in a car accident and broke his arm. They postponed it until today to allow him to get a permanent cast put on and be allowed to do the walk through, don't know if that's a gift or not as it appears Mr. Braxton was ready and able to call for help anytime he needed, guess we'll never know why things happen that way."

"I guess so." Jack commented.

"So do you guys keep following this up or what do you do?"

"Well, it appears this guy was abducted by someone on his survey team but since it's no longer a missing person, we'll turn it over to the local office in Utah to follow up. I've got two agents out there right now that can help bring them up to speed and maybe apprehend the kidnapper."

"Glad to have one end well." Lieutenant Krupp shook hands with Jack and Elena and then headed into the cubicle to complete some paperwork with David Braxton.

Vivian had finished boxing up the files for the Braxton case and alerted the agents actively working on the file by the time Jack and Elena returned. Once Jack brought her up to speed he headed into his office to call Danny and Martin and give them the update, as well as contact the Utah office involved.

Elena noted that Sam's desk was straight and that her coat was gone.

"Sam head home for the day?" Elena asked Vivian as she stood by the other agent's desk.

"Yeah, hopefully to think about some of what you and I apparently have talked to her about."

"Ah, so she bent your ear as well on some male issues?" Elena perched lightly at the edge of Vivian's desk.

"Yeah, seems you and I have similar opinions on Martin being a nice guy." Vivian leaned back in her chair and rubbed the back of her neck to relieve some tension.

"He is a nice guy; I actually have a friend that I think would be perfect for him and I mentioned something to Danny about it a couple of weeks ago and he told me to let it alone that he was pretty sure Martin's heart was somewhere else. I'll admit, I never thought of Samantha though, not sure why, just thought Danny and I were the first couple on the team."

Vivian smiled knowingly, "No, you and Danny weren't the first couple on the team, but you are a good couple, still Martin and Sam really had something. It was fun watching the two of them learn about each other and come to be friends and trust each other and then finally that trust, friendship and respect turned to flirting and then---well, when it ended, it ended quick and then just seemed to fade as if it never was."

Elena was quiet listening to Viv's memories. "You liked them together, didn't you?"

"I did and still do; Martin was and is good for Sam, strong, steady and protective without getting in the way of who she is as a person. Sam is equally strong and protective but too protective of herself to allow someone else within that protective fold. She's also someone who drew Martin out; she challenges his thoughts and perceptions and together they changed each other."

"Well, hopefully she'll think about what I said ,and I have a feeling you spoke your feelings quite clearly, didn't you, Viv?"

Vivian smiled but didn't comment. Elena patted her on the arm as she headed to her desk.

Just then Vivian's phone rang, grabbing the line she answered, "Agent Johnson."

"Viv." It was Jack's voice.

Turning in her chair Vivian looked across the area into Jack's office where he was waving for her to come and join him. Looking at him and then back at her phone she hung up and headed to Jack's office, upon reaching it she entered, when he motioned for her to close the door she complied.

"What's up, Jack, did you reach Danny and Martin?"

"Yeah, I hung up with them a moment ago. I was coming out to gather the files so I could update the Utah office and I overheard you and Elena talking."

"I see." Vivian stood her ground neutrally.

Jack looked at her and then sighed. "Viv, would you sit for a moment."

Vivian stared at him unflinchingly and then, after considering him for a moment, she took a seat.

After close to two minutes they were still sitting there silently. Vivian wasn't uncomfortable but she could tell that Jack was, she watched him wrestle with his thoughts and emotions and finally saw his expression change as she watched him sort them out.

"Sam asked me to be her Lamaze coach."

"Really."

"Judging by your dispassionate response, you already know."

"Is that a question?"

"Viv—" When Vivian just stared at him Jack cleared his throat and tried again.

"I told her it wasn't appropriate."

"And how did that go?"

"Not well."

"Hmm, I'll bet."

"Well, what happened afterwards was even worse." Jack paused as his thoughts drifted back to that night.

Sam had fled his office in near tears, feeling badly Jack followed her to the ladies room where he stood for a minute wrestling with whether he should or shouldn't go inside, finally the chicken in him won out and he grabbed his briefcase from his office, turned out the light and headed out.

Upon reaching the lobby he realized in his haste to leave he'd forgotten his coat which held his keys. Sighing and thinking of all the times to be this stupid he resignedly turned around, punched the elevator button and when it arrived headed back up to the 12th floor.

Exiting the elevator he was halfway down the corridor when he heard their voices.

"I signed up for Lamaze class."

"Okay."

"Well, I don't know if you know much about Lamaze, well, there's the mommy and the father that attend Lamaze, of course the baby is there but, you know, that's 'cause mommy goes. Well, anyway, I know I haven't told you who the father is and even if I did it wouldn't matter because first of all you don't know him and second of all he's made it completely clear he wants nothing to do with me or the baby so, I need a coach; I'd like that person to be you."

"You'd like me to be your Lamaze coach?"

"Yes, silly, I'd—I'd like it to be you."

"When did you decide you wanted me to be your Lamaze coach?"

"What does it matter, I asked you."

"Yes, yes you did ask me. Did you ask me because Jack said no?"

"Why would you ask me that?"

"I saw you go into Jack's office. I saw you hold out that same piece of paper to him and I saw him shake his head no and I saw you stand there in disbelief."

"You were spying on me?"

"You're something, Samantha Spade. I didn't have to 'spy' on you. I was standing right at this table, facing the corridor and Jack's office. You knew that as you'd just walked past me on your way to his office."

"Did you enjoy the show?"

"Yeah, Samantha, the show was great. It was so good I walked to the file room and archived the papers I had been gathering up. I had no idea what you were in there talking to Jack about nor did I care as what you do is none of my business anymore, if it ever was. But then I come back from the file room and am getting ready to head home after a long day and just grab a quick dinner, maybe some of the game and head to sleep and here you are sitting at my desk waiting for me.

What do you expect me to think when I see you with the same paper and standing there in the same posture and same hand twisting gestures as you just did in Jack's office?

You know what the real irony is, Samantha, if you'd asked me, if you'd come up to me and said, Martin, I'd like you, as my friend, to be my Lamaze coach, I'd have said yes. But you didn't, you asked Jack and when he turned you down, you didn't even think or wait or anything—not like that would have made it better—but you came right to me, your second choice.

I know I'll never be good enough for you to consider as someone to love or to think of as anyone other than—I don't know anymore, Samantha, I thought we'd have a chance again at our friendship, but you've made it clear that I don't even rate that high for you. I'll never be anything other than your fallback plan and I can't do that anymore."

"I didn't mean to eavesdrop on the two of them, Viv, and it was over so quick. I ducked into the stairwell and hid there until Martin left and then I stayed in there until Sam left. I felt so foolish hiding in the stairwell peering through the little glass but I didn't want either of them to know I heard."

Vivian sat quietly stunned. She'd seen the bittersweet emotions in Martin's eyes when Sam announced that she was pregnant. She knew he loved children and wanted his own and she knew he'd hoped he'd have them with Sam. As the weeks passed after Sam's announcement she watched Martin try to reach out to Sam as a friend and while the attempts weren't dismissed outright they were met with an indifferent acceptance

Something had changed right before Martin and Danny were sent to Utah though, Vivian had left one night leaving Martin and Sam working in the bullpen and while he'd given her a big smile and a goodnight she'd seen the sorrow in his eyes and decided she was going to talk to him the next day about Sam. When she came in the next day though something had dramatically changed, Sam was the one looking hurt along with defiant and Martin, Martin just looked devastated and he'd avoided Sam at all costs and she him.

Vivian had had no idea what had happened at the time but now, in the context of Jack's revelation it was all clear. Vivian loved them both; she loved Samantha's unrealistic emotions and Martin's true romanticism. She knew now that in that instant Martin's heart had shattered and he'd lashed out which was why Sam looked not only hurt but defiant as well. When Sam was hurt she hardened her shell and became angry, when Martin was hurt he would lash out in defense and then withdraw into himself.

"So that's what's going on between the two of them." Vivian breathed.

"Yeah, I doubt either of them know that I know but I tried to help a bit by keeping the two of them busy and doing separate tasks and when the need came up to send a couple of agents to Utah, it was a relief as I figured it would give the two of them some much needed space."

"Well, it may help in the short-term but the boys will be back soon and then what are you going to do about it, Jack?" Vivian focused again on the immediate problem.

"I don't know."

"Well, you better figure it out before it tears this team apart. Are we done?" Vivian stood sending the clear message to Jack that she was.

"Yeah, thanks." Jack's voice was low and Vivian could tell he was well aware of the ramifications of his past actions she only hoped that this time he would do something permanent about it and if that meant transferring either himself or Sam or Martin off the team, well that might be for the best in the long run even if it hurt in the short run.

After Vivian left the office Jack sat for a long time, long after Elena and Vivian bade him good night, long after he'd updated the Utah office, long into the night thinking about seven years ago when he'd first taken that foolish step with Sam. By the time his clock finally clicked to midnight he'd made his decision. Come tomorrow he'd act on it. Straightening his desk and grabbing his briefcase, coat and keys he shut off the light, locked the door and headed home.

Lithium:

Oh! Don't wanna let it lay me down this time

Drown my will to fly

Here in the darkness I know myself

Can't break free until I let it go

Let me go

Darling, I forgive you after all

Anything is better than to be alone

And in the end I guess I had to fall

Always find my place among the ashes

I can't hold on to me

Wonder what's wrong with me

Lithium, don't wanna lock me up inside

Lithium, don't wanna forget how it feels without

Lithium, I wanna stay in love with you

Oh, I'm gonna let it go

Evanescence: The Open Door, 2006