(Disclaimers go to Prologue, please.)

CHAPTER 9:

"No, no way."

"Jack – "

"Martin, no. This guy has been calling all the shots thus far, and he's successfully made every move he's wanted to. There's no way we're just going to hand you to him."

"But that's the part of the plan that works in our favor, Jack. This time we know exactly where he's going to be. This time we can be ready."

Jack rubbed at his eyes while he collected his thoughts. His team was spread out at the safe house having come there after Danny's call telling them that he and Martin had figured out Sayers' next move. Opening his eyes he looked first to Vivian, the calmest and steadiest member of his team. She stared straight back into his eyes. He'd seen that expression of resignation and resolve in her eyes before. He knew without having to ask her for her opinion that she agreed with Martin and Danny on what needed to be done even though she didn't like the plan.

Sighing he looked again at Martin who met his gaze unflinchingly.

"All right, Martin, so we go to DC and attend the meeting in honor of your father. Do you actually think I'm going to put you up on the podium to speak? You'd be a perfect target for him, and don't even try to tell me that you'll be okay with a vest on. Oh, yes, you'll be wearing a vest, but Sayers will expect that. He knew last time you were wearing a vest and took the chest shot simply because he wanted to. He'll take the head shot this time for certain, and we don't have anything to protect you against that."

"I'm not saying there isn't risk, Jack, and yes, he'll be prepared for the vest, and he's good enough to take the kill shot, what I'm saying is that we'll own the territory because this time we know he'll be there. Also, the attendees at this meeting are already prearranged by the Director, so it will be easy to know who is who and where they are.

I'll have Danny with me at all times, and you can keep me in a room to the side, I don't even have to sit out in the main hall." This was something Martin was secretly only too happy to concede. While he wanted his father's work to be honored, he had no wish to be spotlighted as the grieving lone survivor after the murder of his parents. He would be only too happy to sit quietly in another room and watch the proceedings via closed circuit television.

"I know you're right, but that doesn't mean I have to like it. All right. We leave first thing in the morning, we drive down as a team without notifying anyone and I'll book us at the hotel quietly."

"I have a better idea." Martin spoke quietly. "We should stay at my parents' house. That way we don't announce our presence by using any credit card or risk being seen anywhere. Also, it's got security cameras, gates and it's an easy drive from there to headquarters. There's plenty of room and…no one is there."

Jack nodded and watched Sam as she gently squeezed Martin's arm in comfort.

"All right. Everyone except Danny, Martin and I go home tonight, clear your calendars quietly for the next couple of days. I'll let Van Doren know what's going on and tomorrow we leave for DC. We can set up at Martin's parents' place and head to the FBI headquarters the day after. Van Doren will coordinate so that we have all the protection we need while there and route all information on Sayers that comes in to the Fitzgerald house."

The Fitzgerald Residence:

Martin finished putting the rest of the plates and silverware in the dishwasher. The rest of the team were scattered around the expansive residence. Jack had made himself a pseudo office in the den area that also housed an extensive collection of books on everything from history to biographies to poems and various works of literature. Danny and Sam were talking quietly in the living room while Elena sat near them on her phone talking to Sophie. Vivian sat in the kitchen area nursing a cup of tea and quietly watching Martin move about the kitchen tidying up from the evening's dinner.

The team had left New York around 11:00 that morning and made the relatively quick trip to DC. Not wanting to alert too many people to their arrival, they drove directly to Martin's parents' home stopping only long enough to pick up some things for breakfast the next day and pick up something quick for dinner that evening. Fortunately the grocery store they stopped at had precooked chickens and a variety of side dishes to choose from so a simple dinner of chicken, fresh salad, hot Italian bread was selected.

Upon arriving at the house, Martin keyed in the access code to the gate at the entrance, and they drove through locking the gate behind them. Entering the house they all noted the slightly musty smell of stale air. Martin had been down there several days earlier sorting through some personal papers along with his uncle and cousins but no one had been there since. Vivian and Elena opened a couple of window to allow some fresh air in but not long enough to chill the house. Late February in DC was certainly warmer than NYC but the furnace still activated periodically to heat the interior.

The team spread out and selected rooms for sleeping. Martin told everyone to take whatever room they wanted and tried to encourage Jack to sleep in the master bedroom. Jack couldn't bring himself to do it and in the end he and Danny made themselves comfortable in the den with its pullout bed and additional couch for sleeping while Elena and Sam shared a guest room that had twin beds. Vivian chose another guest room and Martin took his old room.

If Martin seemed uncomfortable at letting his teammates see so intimately into his personal life he didn't show it. Instead he remained quiet preferring to show them where they could find towels, glasses for water, thermostats, encourage them to browse a book or turn on a TV or radio and then would withdraw to his father's office to look through some papers on his father's estate.

His colleagues for their part – once they got past the luxuriant setting they were in – puttered around the house peeking at a picture on the wall or skimming through some pages in a book. They had spent the better part of the car ride down discussing their plan for the next day and all seemed to sense in the other a need to take a break from the stress of the next 24 hours and try to relax in unfamiliar surroundings.

Vivian just sat quietly watching Martin wipe down the sink, clean up the counter, start the dishwasher, set up coffee for the morning. While he kept himself occupied with busywork she thought through her conversation earlier that day with Danny and Sam...

"You know, Viv, I can see why Martin is a bit proper all the time, or at least usually," Danny amended as Vivian cocked an eyebrow at him. "You know what I mean, He keeps himself closed off. Well, no wonder, I mean look at this place."

Danny looked around the formal living room he and Vivian were standing in.

"I know what you mean, there's a lot of nice stuff in here."

"Yeah, there is, and Martin doesn't show any interest in any of it. He doesn't even want any of it, and who can blame him. The stuff is nice, but the house is cold. And don't say turn up the thermostat, Viv, you know what I'm talking about."

"Yeah, his parents liked nice things, but you're right. It's cold."

"He once told me that his parents saw things in a very specific way."

Vivian and Danny turned as Sam spoke up as she walked into the room.

"I never asked him to elaborate on that but…I think being here, seeing where he grew up I understand. He isn't comfortable here, and I don't think it's because he thinks we'll judge him. I don't think he was ever comfortable here."

"And that's a shame. Home should be comfortable, safe and happy."

Danny looked at Sam who quickly looked away. Neither of them had had safe and happy homes. Jack hadn't either. Vivian and Elena did everything in their power to make sure their children had safe, loving homes filled with as much love and joy as possible.

None of them thought Martin felt sorry for himself or thought he was the only one with a less than ideal childhood, however, none of them had the rest of the team seeing all the details of his growing up.

"I'm going to talk to him. Martin is so good at covering his feelings that he's not going to say anything about it to any of us. So I'm going to talk to him. And don't think I don't see the relieved expressions on both of your faces either." Vivian scowled at Danny and Sam as they both guiltily turned and looked at each other, then she smiled and just shook her head in resignation. "Why I always have to be the grown up I'll never know."

Vivian stopped her reflections on the earlier conversation and decided it was time to speak up as she watched Martin begin to clean the counter for the third time. "Martin, sit down before you wear a hole in the countertop." She watched as he turned and grinned at her slowly. He knew she had been patiently waiting for him to run out of idle work. He didn't know why it was but Vivian was the one of all of them, even Sam, that he could share his hardest and most painful thoughts.

"You know, Viv, it's strange being here with all of you. I thought…I could have kicked myself yesterday for mentioning that we stay here out of view from everyone. I mean, the words were out of my mouth before I knew it and then…there was Jack agreeing."

Vivian smiled as Martin stopped speaking. He looked at her, caught her smiling at him knowingly and chuckled softly.

"The whole car ride down here I kept thinking, what a mistake, everyone is going to be so uncomfortable. Yet, there's Sam and Danny fighting over the remote and the sports channel, Elena's settled in talking to Sophie, Jack's found some books to read and…"

"And you and I are here talking."

They sat in companionable silence for a few moments until Vivian spoke up again.

"Have you decided what you're going to do with the house and everything in here?"

Martin smiled a small smile before he spoke, "Uncle Roger and my cousins were down here with me the weekend prior. We went through and selected some things – well they did. I told them to put a little note on anything they wanted in particular. It's going to take some time before the estate is settled, especially now that…well, you know, now that it's a murder investigation."

Vivian gently squeezed Martin's forearm in comfort.

"To be honest, Viv, there isn't anything here that I want. Actually, this house feels the warmest and most comfortable with all of you here then it ever did when I lived here. You know, I look at Jack, whose mom killed herself and Danny with his parents dying when he was so young and living in foster home after foster home, Sam doesn't share much but it's not that big of a secret that she's not close to her mom and she never talks about her dad.

Sometimes I feel ashamed that…here I had two parents who never hurt me physically, sure they traveled a lot and left me behind but what a great place they left me at and such wonderful people. Aunt Bonnie was more like a mother to me than my own mom, and I was so fortunate to have her in my life and my cousins…we're close and easy with each other. I didn't have to worry about where I would live next week or next month. I didn't have to worry if the people taking care of me did it because they wanted to or were assigned to do it and got paid.

I had a roof…more than a roof. I had lots of clothes, good school, no debt from that education and what a gift that was and is…sometimes I'm ashamed but the truth is I didn't have a happy childhood. I know my parents loved me but it was cold. This house was cold. Everything always had a proper place. Friends could come over for dinner as long as it was known ahead of time, and I mean days ahead of time. Do you know how often friends wanted to come over to my house for dinner?"

Vivian shook her head silently.

"Never. No one ever wanted to come over here. I was welcome at their house but no one ever wanted to come over here. I don't think I realized how stifling it was until I left. Each time I got sent to my aunt and uncle's to stay I looked forward to it so much. It got to the point where I didn't want to come home.

I'm not making a lot of sense."

"No, Martin, I think I do understand. I love it when Reggie has friends over whether it's for dinner or just to study. Some people are good at making a house a home, making it comfy and welcoming. Some people aren't."

"I know. And I feel bad for thinking that my mom failed somehow. She didn't, you know, she was who she was. She was smart and ambitious in her own way. She was tough in a fight if the fight was something she believed in. I guess she just didn't know how to show she cared. She decorated this house, made sure everything was in its rightful place, but it was always cold."

"And you feel that somehow you're dishonoring your mother because you think these thoughts?"

Martin nodded afraid his voice would give away the depth of his emotions.

"Martin, I'll tell you this much, as a mother I wonder every day if I'm doing right by Reggie. I work long hours; I'm exhausted when I come home. I manage to find the energy to spend some time with him whether it's on homework or just listening to him talk about his day, but I never make it to sports practice, I rarely see any of his home games much less away. He gets teased by his friends that his girlfriends won't have to pass the "dad" test, they'll have to pass the "mom" test and not just any "mom" test but the "mom as FBI agent who carries a gun test".

I lay awake some nights wondering if what I do is right and as much as I love him and can't imagine my life without him, I wonder if I did the right thing by being a mother when I wasn't willing to make that first and foremost in my life.

I guess what I'm trying to say is don't be too hard on your mother because she wasn't what you needed or perhaps wanted and don't be too hard on yourself because you wish that there could have been more warmth when you were younger. We're all just human. We all do the best we can do at any given moment in time.

Be thankful that your mom knew enough – because I don't think it's an accident that your Aunt Bonnie and Uncle Roger were the people chosen to care for you when your parents were away – she knew enough to put warm, down to earth, emotionally giving people in your life and allow you the time you needed to form strong bonds with them. Be thankful also that your mom gave you an example of a strong, driven, intelligent woman but also balanced that with a strong, intelligent, nurturing woman."

Martin smiled at Vivian. Trust her to always find the heart of the matter and give him a gentle lesson at the same time as she comforted him.

"And let yourself feel the pain and the loss. It's okay to grieve. I know you've tried very hard to keep the emotions in check. It's part of the job, hide your emotions, be strong for those we're trying to help. But there's going to come a time when you need to grieve. Let yourself do it."

With that Vivian squeezed his arm again and then got up, rinsed her tea mug and, glancing mischievously at Martin, left it in the sink.

Morning: FBI Headquarters, Washington DC:

Martin sat nervously fiddling with his tie and shirt collar in a small room off of the main conference hall. He and the rest of the team had arrived at the FBI headquarters early that morning and were quickly and quietly escorted in through a special entrance keeping them away from the main corridors, inquiring eyes and potentially loose lips.

The team had drunk coffee and eaten bagels on the ride over that morning. All looked tired but their bodies and minds were alive, sharp and aware of everything and everyone around them.

Jack had been assured by the Director of the FBI himself that every agent who would be present was accounted for and that there would be no way anyone would get inside that building. On the remote chance that someone did bypass every security protocol, picture ID mechanism and security camera, they would never get past the agents who had worked closely with Victor Fitzgerald and who had vowed that they would give their own lives before allowing Victor's one and only son's life to be taken by the very deviant who had killed the father.

No, the director assured Jack, every measure had been taken and everyone was aware of the stakes. Martin was safest in the concrete fortress of the FBI Headquarters. Despite the assurances Jack couldn't shake the chill that swept through him without warning every so often, nothing was absolute, nothing. Well, he mused darkly, death was absolute.

"Jack, relax. Obsessing over it isn't going to change it."

"Yeah, well, just because reality is as reality is doesn't mean I have to like it."

Sam just shook her head and turned to pacing around the conference hall stopping periodically as she saw a familiar face. Across the room Elena and Vivian could be seen mingling amongst the agents and invited guests.

Jack looked at his watch again and, seeing that it was less than 15 minutes before the start of the gathering he cracked the door behind him and poked his head inside. Danny and Martin looked up from where they sat as they waited for the meeting to begin.

"Danny, got a moment?"

"Sure, Jack." Danny got up, rested his hand lightly on Martin's shoulder and gave him a little shove of brotherly affection as he exited the room. Martin watched him go momentarily relieved to be by himself.

Jack closed the door after Danny joined him outside in the main conference room.

"The director sent word that everyone has checked out so far and the only agents allowed weapons in this room are our team and a team handpicked by him. No one else in the room is carrying. Elena went and got some special FBI pins for the agents who have weapons so we can all identify each other, here's yours."

Danny looked at the pin that Jack placed in his hand. It was the typical FBI souvenir pin usually handed out on tours to kids or special groups, the only difference he could see was that a small black ribbon was attached to it, because the pin was gold and the ribbon black, the contrast stood out well against the various suits and jackets worn by the armed agents. Danny scanned the room and easily identified the 6 additional agents to his team who were armed.

"Do you have one for Martin?"

"Of course, here, you can explain it to him when you go back in. How's he doing?"

"You know Martin. Calm, cool and clammy," Danny grinned briefly at Jack and then his tone took on a more serious note, "So far there's been nothing. Martin's cell phone is on, it works fine and yet, there's been no message or anything from this guy. Martin said he'd called a couple times and left taunting messages but for the last couple of days it's been nothing, zilch, pure silence."

"Yeah, I think I liked it better when the creep was sending messages, except for the part that those messages usually came on the heels of an attack or the death of someone."

Danny nodded silently in agreement, for the next several minutes the two men stood side by side quietly scanning the room and trying to anticipate Sayers' next move. When Jack saw the director and his entourage enter the room he turned to Danny.

"Why don't you head back in, give Martin his pin and wait with him until it's time."

"You got it."

Danny turned, opened the door a crack and slipped inside closing it behind him. Jack went back to scanning the crowd and watching the director's slow progress to the podium as he greeted agents and guests alike. Hardly ten seconds had passed by when the door behind Jack was opened quickly. Turning around Jack took in the wide eyes and intense look Danny gave him. Quickly Jack turned from the conference room and entered the small side room looking for Martin. The room was empty.

"What the hell? Where is he!"

"I don't know, Jack, I came in and the room was empty. I went to the hall door and asked the agent on the other side where Martin was. He indicated that Martin had gone to the men's room right across from him. We looked inside. All we found was this."

Danny placed Martin's cell phone in Jack's palm. It was open and the text message was frighteningly clear.

"Come to men's room or I'll detonate the bomb in the main conference room. Sayers"

"Dammit!"

TBC…