Chapter 28

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"Hey boss man," Dawson greeted Martin as he strolled into the office with Raina in tow. "We have a hit on the boyfriend's ATM card. It was used at a Quick Stop in Auburn twenty minutes ago. According to the clerk, our guy purchased a tank of gas, two large sodas, and a few other munchies." He sat down in one of the chairs and slumped down. "Sounds like road trip food to me."

Martin dropped his pen on the desk and looked at his agents. "So she is running away from home."

"Yup," Raina chimed in, handing him a folder. "Check out the photos from the security camera. It definitely looks like she wants to be with him."

He opened up the folder and looked at grainy black and white pictures of 16-year old Penelope Garner casually strolling through the convenience store shopping aisles with her 18-year old boyfriend, Matt Garcia. Her parents reported her missing, claiming that she was kidnapped by an obsessive boyfriend. After several interviews with her friends, they learned that wasn't the case – the parents just highly disproved of Matt which in turn, made him that much more appealing to their daughter.

"It sure looks like she wants to be there," he agreed. He closed the folder and looked at them. "Nick and Jessica are on their way to Syracuse to talk to Matt's cousin. My guess is that's where Romeo and Juliet are headed. I'll tell them to hang back until the happy couple arrives." He reached for his phone to call them and said, "Good work guys. It looks like we may get to start out weekend at five o'clock."

They smiled at him before exiting to get back to their desks as Martin called up his other two agents. One he coordinated the next step with his team he started catching up on the paperwork when his phone rang.

"Fitzgerald," he answered, leaning back in his chair.

"Hey, it's me," Sam replied in her gravely feminine voice.

"Hi, what's up?"

"I need you to go pick up some yellow tights for Grace. I'm still out in the Bronx conducting interviews so I can't go."

He groaned internally at the thought of having to go to a department store. So he tried to weasel out of it by asking, "I thought you already bought her a pair."

"I did," she replied, sounding frustrated. "But Frances just called me and said that Grace was playing with them and tore a big hole in the right leg. So can you go?"

"Sam, you know I would love to go but I don't even know her size or what shade of yellow," he said, trying to deflect the responsibility by feigning ignorance.

"Oh, don't worry. I already called Saks and they will have a pair waiting for you at the sales counter," she replied with cheer. "So now you have no excuse."

He titled his head back, conceding defeat. "Okay, I'll go."

"Way to take one for the team," she said before saying goodbye and hanging up.

He glanced at his watch and decided that if he ran out now he would make it back before everyone met up in Syracuse. He stopped at Dawson's desk to let him know he was running out for a little bit and when he would be back before heading out.

Forty-five minutes later he walked out of the store, bag in hand when his cell phone rang. "Fitzgerald."

"Hey Marty, it's Kelly."

Gulp.

"Hi, Kelly," he said as he gripped the bag firmly with his other hand. "What's going on?"

"The studio has rescheduled the premiere of Pandamonium so they remade all of the passes," she replied, her tone sounding friendly but professional. "I am out running errands so I was wondering if I could drop them by your office."

He glanced around the crowded sidewalk and moved out of the way of two old ladies who were arguing about their grandchildren. "I'm not in the office right now but if you leave them with security that would be fine."

"Where are you? Maybe we could meet up halfway."

"Saks," he replied with trepidation.

"Oh, that's great!" she exclaimed. "I'm just around the corner on my way to Barney's. How about meeting me up at au bon pain on 50th and Madison?"

He weighed the options. He knew that Grace and Nate were really excited about getting to see an advanced screening of the movie. He could insist that she send them to the office but if he did say no then it would most likely offend Kelly who in his mind had done nothing wrong. Besides, he knew he wouldn't cheat on Sam. So he turned and started towards 50th street and replied, "Sure, I'll see you there."

A few minutes later he walked into the brightly lit café and spotted Kelly sitting at a table near the back. She waved him over and he sat down, setting the bag down on the floor near his feet. "Hello."

She smiled at him and said, "Hi."

A waitress walked over and handed them menus. Kelly opened hers up and started reading while he said that he wouldn't be ordering food, just a coffee to go.

"Come on, Marty, you at least stay long enough to drink your coffee here," Kelly urged.

He sighed and looked at the waitress. "I'll have one cup."

The waitress walked off and Kelly smiled at him as she lowered her menu, setting it on the table. "You okay? You seem…distracted."

He visibly stiffened and shook his head. "No, I'm fine."

"This is about your wife isn't it?" she asked. "She was not happy to see me at your house the other night."

"She just has this idea in her head," he said carefully. "It's really silly when you think about it."

"She thinks I'm after you," Kelly said, knowingly. He didn't reply but simply shrugged. She leaned forward, sliding her hands across the table so they were near him. "She's right, you know."

He went wide-eyed and looked back at her. "Excuse me?"

"She's right," Kelly replied with a coy smile. "I do want something from you but not necessarily in the way she thinks."

Resisting the sudden urge to flee, he simply shifted in his seat and asked, "Kelly, what are you saying?"

She leaned back up and straightened her posture. "I want to know if you would be willing to father my child."

"You want to have my baby?" he asked, stunned. The waitress reappeared, placing two cups of coffee in front of them. Kelly asked if she could have some skim milk instead of cream and the waitress walked off to retrieve it. She started stirring raw sugar into her cup while his sat untouched as he asked again, "My baby?"

"No, not your baby. It would be mine," she replied, slowly stirring the sugar into her coffee. "I've been thinking of having a baby for a long time and I'm not getting any younger. I was considering going through a sperm bank but there is just so much unknown by doing it that way. But when I saw you again, it just clicked in my mind that I should ask you. I know you, I know your personality and I know you have great genes. I mean, just look at those gorgeous kids of yours."

"I don't know where to begin…" he said, unconsciously spinning the cup around on top of the saucer.

"Martin, I wouldn't expect you to be a part of the child's life or have any obligation to me or the baby." She reached out to still his hand by placing hers on top. "This would be my baby. All I want is your sperm. That's it. Your wife doesn't even have to know."

"That's not it, Kelly," he paused, trying to think how to articulate what he needed to say and for her to hear. "As the father of your baby," he began when the waitress appeared and set the creamer of skim milk down in front of them. He waited until she was gone before beginning again, "As the father of your baby I couldn't make a donation in a cup and then walk away. I love my kids, they're a part of me and I can't imagine not being there for them every single day."

"Well, if you agreed I'm sure we could…" she began.

He shook his head, stopping her. "Kelly, I'm flattered that you would even ask me but I can't. There's just no way. I have Sam and Grace and Nate. They are my family. I'm sorry but it's just not a possibility." He picked up his bag and started to stand before stopping himself. He looked at Kelly and said, "And as far as Sam is concerned, I could never lie to her about something this important. Besides, my gorgeous kids aren't just a result from my genes but hers, too."

Kelly nodded her head in understanding as he stood up and walked out of the restaurant.