Title: Gone Chapter: 5 Author: Evidence

Rating: PG-13

Author's Notes: Thanks to Sweatergirl for betaing, the Preview Master for the support, and the gang at Maple Street.  Chapter 6 will be up very soon.

Dusk was descending on the valley below.  Sam clicked on the lights still checking the rearview mirror to see if the police had reached her.  She was in Wyoming now, in Yellowstone, closer to Jack.  By her calculations she would reach the water slide zone by midnight.  The darkness would hinder her search, but she knew that she wouldn't be able to sleep.  Not while Jack could be lying hurt somewhere.  By morning the area would be thick with cops, cops not looking for Jack, but cops there to arrest her.  She had thrown her career away, set herself up for jail by her actions with Richie.  In many ways it seemed so trivial compared to what Jack must be going through.  She prayed that his girls were all right and even hoped nothing had happened to Marie.

She drove deeper and deeper into the park; into the vast darkness swallowing the small white van whole.  Sam stopped to pop two more pills.  The driving was taking a toll on her leg even though she was not accelerating with it.  But she would not give up, at any risk, until she got Jack back.  Back home to New York and somehow back into her arms.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

The campfire glistened as sparks licked at the side of the cliff.  The heat from it was doing nothing to warm the coldness that had invaded Jack Malone's body.  He felt frozen and glued to his spot on the ground. 

The two men sat at the campfire blackening marshmallows as if this were some Boy Scout party.  They never looked at him, and he sensed their fear ever since they discovered his badge on him.  They knew that others would be there soon, looking for him.  He knew that justice would be done.  Jack just prayed that his daughters were all right and that nothing had happened to Marie; they needed their mother.  He was sure that the FBI would find them, they had to.

A shadow appeared on the yellow brightness of the flames.  Jack moved his bound body to get a better look.  His heart leaped.  A park ranger stood in front of he two men who had now become silent. 

Jack found this voice.  "Sir, these two men…"

"Quiet," he ordered Jack.  To the men, "Why is he here?"

The man with black hair shook his head, "We, we wanted to know what you wanted to do with him."

The park ranger's eyes narrowed.  "What do you think?  Seeing the two of you screwed up!"

"It's just he's an FBI agent…"

"His name's Jack Malone," the other man finished. 

Jack stared hard at the ranger trying to comprehend how this could all be happening.  His stomach twisted at the thought that Samantha was in New York thinking he didn't care about her anymore.  You are so wrong, Sam, he thought.

"I don't care who he is, the plan is the same." The ranger stopped and turned so that his nametag was evident, Addison.  "Just kill him in the morning."

"Okay," the black haired man nodded.

"Then we'll deal with those brats and that woman."

Jack felt his chest tighten.  "Please leave them alone."

"Sorry, Mr. Malone but they know too much." Addison grinned.

Addison began departing the way he came.

"Hey, where are you going?" The other man asked.

"Back to their camping zone, I'll get rid of the evidence, and wait to see if anyone shows up looking for them."

"What if someone does?"

Addison's eyes glimmered through the lighted fire.  "Oh, then I'm going to have some fun."

To be continued…