Disclaimer: None of this belongs to me.
A/N: I hope you like this chapter.. it's not the best but oh well.. read and review please :)
Chapter 10:
9 Days Missing
Los Angeles, CA
Samantha and Danny sat quietly around the conference table, reviewing endless amounts of paperwork. Martin had been called away earlier by Jack to get in touch with some of his contacts in D.C. All day Danny had been observing the interaction between Sam and Martin. To an outsider, they wouldn't seem any different than usual, but Danny knew better. He had to give them credit though. They were very discreet in their actions toward each other, being sure not to arouse any suspicion. Well, no more than usual.
He didn't know if they were 'a couple' or not, but they were definitely something more than friendly with one another. Subtle touches, lingering glances, both grinning like idiots.
"If you have something to ask me Danny, go ahead." Samantha broke the silence leaning back in her chair.
He tore his eyes away from her and looked at the files in front of him. "I... uh... I don't have anything to ask. I was just... going over these files." He stammered.
"Well, with all the staring you've been doing, I'd say you're either ogling me, have a crush on Martin, or something is bothering you." She gave him a pointed glare, biting her pen cap.
"You two seem... closer than normal. Is something going on?" He asked reluctantly.
Before she had a chance to respond, Martin rushed into the room tossing a new file onto the table.
"We just got a ransom demand." He added, pulling information from the folder. "Half an hour ago, a blank envelope was dropped off at the US embassy in Moscow. It had instructions for a drop tomorrow night. They want 47 million dollars in exchange for our missing people."
"That's a pretty specific amount. Does it have any significance with any of our guys?" Samantha asked thumbing through the file.
"None that I know of, but Sydney seemed pretty concerned about it. They wouldn't exactly tell me everything, but it's somehow related to her." Martin commented.
"Were there any prints on the envelope?" Danny questioned.
"Forensics has it now, but so far nothing's come up. But there was something else in the envelope to ensure they were quote 'alive'."
"Ok, what was it?" Sam prodded after several moments of silence.
"It had a bag of um.. fingers. They cut off their right index fingers." Martin paused. "Early analysis confirms that they were alive when the fingers were... removed."
Samantha felt the bile rise in her throat at that piece of information. She brought a hand to her face, forcing the nausea away.
"You ok?" Martin gently rested a hand on her forearm, which didn't go unnoticed by Danny. His hand slid slowly down her arm to the hand hanging at her side, squeezing it softly, before pulling away.
"I'm fine." She replied. "What do we do now?" Her eyes locked with his, a tingling sensation running the path he traced down her arm.
"Jack is sending agents to the drop location, the government is going to pay the money."
"Who is he sending?" Danny inquired.
"I'm not sure, some agents on assignment in Russia is all I know." Martin answered. "Until we've been told to sit tight. There isn't much for us to do until we see how the drop goes tomorrow night."
"So, we just sit around and do nothing?" Danny asked pushing his chair away from the table.
"Pretty much. There's nothing we can do. We just have to wait."
"Well, while we're waiting, I think I'll go see a certain someone I haven't seen in a while." Danny jumped up from his chair and headed towards Nadia's desk in the center of the rotunda.
"He wastes no time, huh?" Martin joked, taking Samantha's hand in his own.
"No he doesn't." She paused, running her free hand over his knuckles. "I think he knows."
"Knows what?"
"About us." She answered, looking into his eyes. "He's been watching us constantly."
"Yeah, I noticed that." He said as a smile crept onto his face.
"What?" She asked, a smile creeping onto her face, as well.
"What if we played with him a little." Martin suggested. At the confused look on her face he continued. "Confuse him. Get him to back off."
"How exactly do you plan to do that?" She leaned back in her chair, crossing her arms in front of her.
He pulled his chair closer to hers, and leaned forward, resting his hands on her thighs. "We fight, break up."
"You thought this up all by yourself?" She added.
"Yes, I did." He stated proudly.
"Let's do it." She agreed, taking his hands in her own. "This should be very interesting." She leaned forward kissing him.
"What happened to the no-kissing-in-the-office rule?" He smiled.
"I didn't think you'd mind, but clearly you do, so I'll just try to control myself next time." She quipped pulling away from him.
"I don't think that'll be necessary." He replied, kissing her hand. "I never really liked that rule in the first place."
"How are we going to convince Danny that we're fighting if we can't quit touching each other?" She asked after a few much-needed kisses.
"We?" Martin countered. "You can't keep your hands off of me, Spade. I, on the other hand, have a little self-control." He smirked.
"You do, huh?" She pushed her chair out of his reach. "We'll see about that." She added standing from her seat.
"What's that supposed to mean?" He asked, confusion sweeping across his features.
"That means, I bet I can hold out longer than you." She grinned.
"You seem pretty sure of yourself. "
"I am."
"Let's make it interesting then, shall we?" Martin added standing as well.
"What'd you have in mind?"
"We see who can... control themselves the longest. If I win, you have to lay one on me in the middle of the bullpen once we get back to New York. And I don't mean in some file room or supply closet. It has to be in the middle of the day, while everyone is there." He said with a cocky grin.
"Ok." She agreed. "If I win, I get back rubs and foot massages whenever I want." She smiled. "And, I get the salmon shirt." She added.
"Now you're just being cruel." He laughed.
She held out her hand to shake on it. "Deal?"
"Deal." He confirmed, shaking her outstretched hand.
She pulled him to her, wrapping her arms around his neck. He looked down at her with a crooked grin, his hands resting on her hips.
"Are you trying to seduce me, Agent Spade?"
"Just reminding you of what you'll be missing out on." She responded crashing her lips into his, her tongue forcing its way inside his mouth. She pulled away suddenly and walked out of the room, leaving Martin stunned and unsatisfied.
He shook himself from the trance she had put him in and followed her into the break room.
"You cheated." He said smiling as she poured herself a cup of coffee.
She turned slowly, leaning against the counter. "No I didn't. The game hadn't started yet."
"You won't last a day." He retorted watching her sip her coffee.
"We'll see, Marty. We'll see." She left the room, feeling his eyes on her retreating form.
"This is going to be more difficult than I thought." He muttered to himself, pouring himself a cup of coffee.
He left the room just as Natalie was entering. "Oh, hey Martin!" She said, running a hand through her hair.
Martin groaned before replying shortly. "Hey." He stepped around her heading for the door.
"Martin," She started. He turned back to look at her. "I was wondering if you wanted to get a drink sometime or something." She asked, her voice full of confidence. Obviously, she was used to getting her way.
"I don't think that's a good idea." He answered, reaching for the door.
"It's because of her, isn't it?" She snapped. "Samantha." Her name dripping with disdain.
"For the most part."
"What's so special about her anyway? You guys act like she's God's gift to men or something."
Martin turned around quickly, glaring at her.
"She's everything you're not." He replied storming out of the room. He stepped into the room where Samantha was seated at the conference table. Trying to quell his frustration from the encounter with Natalie, he stood silently in the doorway watching her.
He felt himself calming down at just the sight of her. The anger that had risen up inside of him was replaced by a flutter in the pit of his stomach. She was writing furiously, her hair cascading down into her face. She bit her bottom lip, deep in concentration. He stood there for what seemed like hours and at some point came to realize that he was falling hard and fast for the woman sitting before him, tapping her pen absentmindedly on a stack of papers.
He let out a breath he didn't know he'd been holding, startling her. "God, Martin. You scared me to death." She laughed.
That was it. Her laughter was his downfall. He locked his eyes on her brown ones and walked slowly towards her.
"Martin? Are you ok? Why are you looking at me like that?" She asked, one question after the other.
He came to stand in front of her, pulling her up to stand eye to eye with him.
"Because I love you." He replied softly, brushing an errant strand of hair behind her ear. He hadn't intended on saying the L word and didn't expect her to return the sentiment.
"You... you love me?" She choked out.
"Yeah, I do." He smiled, wrapping his arms around her waist. "I know it seems really sudden, but I can't help it. You don't have to say it back I just wanted you to know."
"I don't know what to say." She paused, resting her hands on his chest. "I don't think I'm quite ready for that, but I do care a lot about you."
"I understand." Martin said, feeling nervous around her all of a sudden. He pulled away from her slightly, concern etching across her face.
"Martin, please don't take that the wrong way. I just have a hard time letting people into my heart. It's been broken too many times." Samantha added, tears welling in her eyes.
"I know. I'm sorry to spring all of this on you." He admitted.
"Don't be. I'm glad you told me." She smiled.
They stood staring at one another quietly, taking in every bit of the other. Samantha snaked her arms around his neck, her hands running through his hair. She pulled him down, kissing his lips softly. She stepped back slightly, losing herself in his bright blue eyes.
A smile grew on his face as he kissed her cheek. "You know what?" He broke the silence.
"What?"
"I win." His dimples on full display.
"Nuh uh." She shook her head. "You cheated."
"How is that?"
"You told me you love me. I couldn't just stand there staring at you all night." Sam answered.
"Sorry, I still win." He laughed.
"Fine. You win this time, but I'll get you back one day." She promised.
"I don't doubt that." Martin admitted, his hands traveling up and down her back. "It's getting late. Do you want to go grab some dinner?"
"Sure. Should we ask Danny?" Sam slipped into her coat and returned the files to the proper cabinet.
"He's probably got other things in mind." He took her hand, walking out of the room. "You know people can see us, right?" He added raising their entwined hands slightly.
"Yes, I do. And I don't care. If they want to talk, let them talk."
He came to a stop outside the room frequented by assorted FBI agents. "Then, let's give them something to talk about." He chuckled.
"What'd you have in mind?" She feigned ignorance. She slowly crept closer to him until their bodies were flush against one another.
He guided her towards him, crushing his lips against hers, his hands getting lost in her hair. Her hands snuck inside his suit jacket wrapping around his torso. After several minutes passed, Natalie burst through the door.
"Could you take this somewhere else?" She asked furiously, trying to pry the two apart.
Either they didn't hear her or ignored her completely, she didn't know, but they kept on with their activities. Martin's hands scoured Samantha's body and God only knew where her hands were. Finally, they tore themselves away from one another, breathing heavily. A few more kisses lingered before either noticed Natalie glaring at them.
"Oh, hi, Natalie." Sam greeted her with a smile. "We didn't see you."
"Yeah." Natalie sneered. "We would all appreciate it if you could show a little restraint from now on." She added shooting daggers at Samantha.
"Tell everyone we're sorry. We just got a little... carried away." Martin smirked, putting an arm around Samantha's shoulders. "What can I say? She's hard to resist."
"Uh huh." Natalie added shortly before disappearing back into the room.
"I think something's got her upset." She joked as they walked out of the rotunda.
"It would seem that way." He laughed. "What are you in the mood for?" He led her down the sidewalk.
"Whatever you want." She replied, her arm looping around his waist.