Title:What if

Author: Mariedex

Spoilers:After FO, a year in the future.

Disclaimer: The characters in the story are the sole property of Hank Steinberg, Jerry Bruckheimer, and CBS. No copyright infringement is intended.

Rating: PG-13

Summary: Samantha had to make the hardest decision of her life... to leave.

Chapter 11:

Nothing much, except that she wasn't at any of the places that she said she was.

How did we miss that during the first background?

Well it actually took some pushing, apparently they all just assumed that she had been there because she always does her errands on Tuesdays, every Tuesday and they just assumed that she was there this Tuesday. But nobody actually saw her.

Which makes her story very different.

Now the only question is where she really was?

My guess is somewhere that she wasn't supposed to be.

Jack and Sam went to interview the wife.

Ms. Barns, where were you on Tuesday?

I told you all, I was running errands. She said obviously annoyed that they were having this conversation again.

Funny nobody remembers seeing you there? Sam starts.



Let's stop playing games. We know that you weren't running errands. We know that you have been abusing your daughter. We know that you have been using your daughter to threaten your husband. Now what we need to know is where you were on Tuesday? Why you didn't go to the park with your daughter? Jack decided to pound her because they didn't have anymore time for games.

I don't know what you are talking about? Mrs. Barns was obviously not going to cooperate with them.

Sam's phone rang. She got up to get the phone and Jack continued on with the questioning. She could tell from his body language that he was going in for the kill.

She answered.

Hey, it's Danny. We found her.



A body washed up on the beach last night. Forensics have identified her as the girl.

Shit. Any thoughts on her death? Sam whispered as she looked over at Jack briefly as she walked farther away.

It looks like she was knocked around a lot. Her shoulder had popped out. She didn't go easily Sam. We are going to need to have the parents come down and ID the body. Have you gotten anything from the mom?



Well, hopefully seeing the body will trigger something.

Great. We will see you at the police station.

As she hangs up the phone, she motions for Jack. He makes a quick apology and steps away to talk to Sam. They found the body. She whispers.



It washed up on the shore last night. It looks like she may have been beaten.

Well, I guess we need them to ID the body.

For the rest of the day everything started to unravel for the parents. THe mother broke down at the sight of her dead child. She started screaming at her husband and he screamed back. Through the fight she ended up confessing that it was an accident. She had wanted to run away with the girl. They fought a little and she accidentally shoved her over the edge. That was how her shoulder was out of joint. The mother had tried to pull her up but couldn't. Instead the child fell into the lake and drowned. The woman had hoped that nobody would find out. She had thought that everyone would just forget.

So another case solved. Danny teased as he sat on Sam's desk.

You know I hate it when it all goes down like this. Sam replied. I guess you two are leaving tonight, then.'

I am. But I don't think Jack is. He has been on the phone with VanBuren for an hour.



Sorry Sam. I think you are going to be stuck with him for awhile. Danny smirked.

She laughed and turned back to her reports.

I'm going to be down stairs if you need me.

What time does your flight leave?



We can take you to the airport.

That's okay. I need to pack up anyway. I'm just going to spend a little bit with Ryan and then take off.

Are you sure?

Yeah. You need to deal with some stuff on your own.

Sam got up and gave him a hug. Thanks s

Any time chica? He winked and walked towards the elevator.

Sam sat back down and shook her head. Danny was always Danny, no matter what. She heard Jack still on the phone having a semi-loud conversation. It didn't really matter who it was with she knew that he would probably tell her tonight. Now she had to concentrate on finishing up the paperwork for the case.

About an hour later, Jack came over to her desk and sat on the side. So what do you think, can you deal with me for a couple of extra days?

I think I can handle that. What about you? Sam smiled slightly.

I just thought that maybe we should spend some time and figure out what's next.



So you ready to go?

Almost, I just need to finish up a couple of things.

Okay well, why do I go back to the hotel and pick up my stuff?

Is that a subtle way of telling me that you will be staying with me over this visit?

I guess. Jack sounded a little confused. He had just assumed that he would stay with Sam.

Jack, I'm kidding. You can stay with me, that's no problem. I wouldn't have ever expected you to stay in the hotel. Here are my keys. I should be ready in thirty minutes.

Jack smiled and grabbed the keys. Sam loved it when he got cute with her. She wasn't quite sure what was going to happen between the two of them, but the fact that he wanted to stay at her place, definitely gave her hope.

He returned a little while later. He had Ryan in his arms. So you ready yet?

Yep, just about done.

What do you say we go out?

Oh you really don't want to see her in a restaurant.

How can she be bad?

Loud noises.



I'll explain later, but we can pick up something.

Jack sat down on the edge of her desk, like he always used to.

Sam hit save a couple of times and shut down her computer. Ready to go. She smiled. Ryan was in heaven in Jack's arms. She just kept smiling and giggling at him.

You know I think she's flirting with me.



She must have learned it from her mom.



They picked up some Chinese and ate it on the couch as Jack played with Ryan in between bites. Sam was allowed to simply watch the two of them. Her thoughts were interrupted by her phone. Sam picked it up assuming it was probably Danny telling her that he got in.

It's this Samantha? The woman's voice at the other end sounded familiar but Sam couldn't remember who.

Yes it is.

Is he there?

Excuse me? Sam answered back, the crypticness threw her off.

It's Marie, is Jack there? The voice on the other end sounded annoyed and tired.

Shit Sam thought, should she say no. They were getting divorced, was she still supposed to deny it.

Jack must have heard her side and picked Ryan up and followed her into the kitchen. He whispered Who is it?

Sam mouthed. back. Jack swiftly took the phone out of her hands.

Yes, for a week. No.... I don't really need to explain myself. On that Sam decided to take Ryan out of his hands. She knew the sounds of their arguments and this was definitely the beginning of one. Ryan did not need to hear this. Sam decided to feed Ryan and get her ready for bed.

She must have fallen asleep on the bed Jack came in a couple of hours later. Ryan was sleeping on Sam's bare chest. He picked her up and carried her to her crib. He then sat by Sam and watched her.

She whispered as him. The sudden cold had awoken her.



Nice conversation.

He smiled at her.

How's Katie?

She has strep, the doctor thinks she'll be out for a week. She feels pretty lousy and really wants me to come home.

We'll take you to the airport in the morning. Sam replied as she stroked his hand that rested on her stomach She could tell that he was frustrated, fights with Marie always frustrated him.

No, I'm going to stay her a little while. Although the guilt may kill me, but Katie will get better and there really is nothing I can do.

Jack, maybe you should go home. If Katie wants you to? Sam knew that Jack was torn and maybe he just needed her to tell him that it was all right.

No. Marie and I will only fight and it will just get them upset. That is all Marie and I can ever do anymore. Besides I am not leaving here until we have things figured out. My life in New York is messed up, but I am not going to mess up this life. I want this to be good.

She replied.

No. I want this Sam. I sat down there in your kitchen realizing that for the first time in a long time I was comfortable. I love the fact knowing that you were upstairs feeding our daughter. That we have a daughter. He smiled at her.

Yeah, we do. So, where do we go from here?

First you answer my questions, okay? All of them and truthfully, no Sam hedging okay.



Why doesn't Ryan like loud noises?

Oh um, her ears. She has been getting these really bad ear infections lately and the antibiotics don't seem to be working. Although I am thinking this round may be the winner. The doctor has been discussing surgery, getting tubes put in. But I am just so iffy about it. I just think she's too young for surgery.

So when you say bad you mean...

Screaming fits, crying. It's really painful Jack. The worst is when you can tell that she can't hear you due to them.

So what are we going to do about them?

I like the sound of that. Sam smiled





Oh, well I thought that I better start using it just so you don't forget I'm here.

Good idea. So we are going to have a doctor's appointment on Friday and talk with him.

Okay. Does he have any idea why she has gotten them so early?

Because she was a preemie, he thinks.

Why didn't you tell me?



About her, about her birth, about you.

I just thought that... Sam struggled for words. I just thought that I had ruined your life enough that I didn't need to add to it. I didn't want to bother you. I thought that I could handle it all and that I would let you go about your life.

Don't you think that I would have missed you? Don't you think that I would have stopped by your office one day for coffee? Or even that the FBI rumor mill would come around

I don't know. I guess, I just didn't want to think about. Jack you got to understand when I first found out, I was an emotional basket case, I was so vulnerable. All I wanted to do was run to you, but then you would come in to the office one day after a good visit with Marie and the kids and I just couldn't. You were so happy, so happy that maybe things were working out, how could I do that to you? So I ran and Danny helped. I swear Jack I don't know what I would have done without Danny. He had to fight himself every step of the way not to knock you down. But he was really good. He helped me and I can never repay him for that. He even offered to start up an office rumor about the two of us, so I could stay and play off Ryan as his.

Yeah, I got that from talking to him today.

What did you talk about?

You and Ryan. Her birth. He told me everything Sam. Do know how hard is to hear that you were lying in some hospital bed in so much pain and I wasn't there? And the kicker was that you didn't want me there.

I did want you there. I just didn't know if you should be there, if I had the right to want you there. I had decided long before the labor that under no circumstances was I going to call you. I didn't want you receive a phone call at 4 in the morning from me saying, Hey it's me. Did I wake you? That scream oh I am just in labor. Thought that you might like to know. Got to go now, your child head is coming out.' Jack that wasn't what I wanted you to hear.

But you did call me.

When I woke up and I was on drugs anyway. Not mentally capable of having that conversation.

But you did call?

I did want you to know. I just didn't know how to say it.

Next question, my name is on her birth certificate, why?

I guess I tried to say it then. I thought that if for some reason something should happen to me then there would be a record of who her father was, proof.

You knew that I would find out one day. He kissed her forehead with the notion that she really had wanted him to be there, she really had wanted to tell him but she scared. Scared that she might do more harm to him then good. Scared that she would be the reason for a downfall in his life.

Okay my turn for questions, why did you come here?

For the case.

Jack we could have handled this ourselves you know.

I missed you and it seemed like a good excuse to see you. I had always expected that we would keep in contact when you left. But when we didn't.... I don't know I just began to realize how much I really missed having you in my life. I guess I just figured that maybe I could make you remember that feeling.

Not what you expected to find.

No, that is an understatement. Sam would you have ever told me? THat was the one question that Sam knew she couldn't answer. At least she couldn't answer it truthfully, not now. So instead of answering she sat up and kissed him. There was something about that kissed that calmed her.

So what do you think we should now?

Well I was thinking that I would stay for a week. Then maybe go back, but some things in order and take some paternity time off.

VanBuren will love that. Sam smiled.

I don't really care what she thinks. I do know that I need to tell Marie and maybe the girls, we'll have to see.

Can I not come to that?

I think that would be a good idea.

She laughed. He had missed that about her, her laugh.

So you think I can play house with you and Ryan for a while and then maybe we can take it from there.

I think that I would like that. She kissed his forehead. Why don't you get ready for bed? And can you hand me that shirt over there.

He gave her a whimpering face.

Because it's cold.

I can warm you up. He mumbled.

She smirked and he threw the shirt at her. She smiled back at him. So this is what it could be like, she thought. As soon as she got her shirt back on and situated into the bed, Ryan started crying. Sam got up and picked her up, Jack poked his head out of the bathroom.

Is she okay?

She's fine. Is it okay if she sleeps with us tonight?

Fine with me, but only if you promise to take your shirt off again. Jack smirks coming out of the bathroom and getting into the bed.

At least, with her to protect me, you won't get too frisky. She joked back at him.

Don't count on it. She needs to remember that I have not seen her mother in months. He laid next to her and kissed her. He then kissed the top of his daughter's head. He put his arm around the two of them.

Hey Sam.



Thank you. He whispered.

Your welcome. Jack, thank you. Sam smiled at him and then kissed him. She had bad feeling that tonight she was not going to get a lot of sleep.

TBC- One more chapter....