Absolution
By Midnight Caller
Disclaimer, ratings info, etc, in Chapter 1.
Thank you x's 100 to everyone who's kept up with this so far – I really appreciate all the feedback and kind words! :)
**
Chapter 4
The receptionist stared at Vivian's gun as the agent paced near the desk, hands on her hips. A few times she checked her watch, and then went back to looking around the modest waiting room. The place could definitely use a makeover, though Vivian wasn't sure they could afford it.
After a few minutes, a tall, dark-haired man entered the room wearing a white lab coat. Flashing a small smile at Vivian, he stuck out his hand.
"Gabriel Patel."
Vivian shook his hand, her expression neutral. "Agent Johnson."
He indicated for her to follow him, as he said to the secretary, "I'll be in my office. Hold my calls, please."
Patel led Vivian to the end of the hallway, and into a small office decorated with a few diplomas and family photographs. Vivian sat in a creaky chair as the doctor took a seat at his desk.
"I'm here regarding one of your patients, Andrea Feldman."
A look of concern stiffened Patel's features. "Is she in some kind of trouble?"
"No one has seen her since last night," Vivian answered, her voice calm. Patel blinked and looked down at his desk, obviously worried. Seeing his reaction, she asked, "What kind of medication do you prescribe for her?"
Patel's eyes searched the room as he remembered. "Just Paxil. She used to be on Xanax but since it's highly addictive, I moved her onto something a little less... potent."
"Xanax... so she was depressed?"
The doctor cocked his head. "Well, anxious. Suffered from panic attacks."
Vivian jotted on her pad. "Do you think her disappearance could be related to that?"
"I don't think so..."
"Would she have stopped taking her medication for any reason?"
"Well, yes. I told her to."
Vivian furrowed her brow. "What do you mean?"
Patel hesitated for a moment before answering, running his hand over his jaw. "I thought it would be in her best interests health-wise... I mean... I didn't think I was wrong in that regard."
Frowning, Vivian leaned forward. "I'm going to need you to explain."
**
19 Hours Missing
Jack stared through the glass, watching Tommy squirm under Danny's questioning.
Martin stood against the wall, arms crossed, trying to look serious as Danny slammed his hands on the table.
"What were you doing at that house today, Tommy?" he asked, dipping his head to make eye contact with his reluctant suspect. "Makin' a score?"
"So what if I was?" Tommy spit back, crossing his arms.
Danny stepped back and looked at Martin, incredulous.
"The so what of it is that it's illegal, for one," Martin reminded him. Tommy blinked and kept his eyes forward. "You know what else is illegal?" he asked, stepping closer. Tommy remained silent. "Lying to a federal agent." Tommy swallowed. "Know what's even more illegal than that?" Martin glanced at Danny before bringing his eyes back to his suspect. "Lying to two federal agents."
Tommy finally spoke. "I didn't lie--!"
"What'd you sell to make that wad of cash today? Dope? Crank?"
Tommy smirked at Danny's slang. "I make potholders."
"Cute," Martin retorted.
"What was your fight with Andrea about, Tommy?" Danny asked.
"I told you – noth—"
"I don't believe you." Danny said, raising his eyebrows.
Tommy sat back and held up his hands, a smug look crossing his features. "I can't help that."
Martin exhaled and Danny stood, rolling his eyes.
Outside the window, Jack sighed as well, frustrated at this stalemate. He leaned against the glass and stared at the floor, his eyes restless. When he heard the sound of approaching footsteps, he looked up to see Sam coming down the hall.
Clipping her phone back onto her belt, she said, "That was Vivian – you're never going to believe this."
"What?"
"Andrea is six weeks pregnant," she answered, punctuating the end of the sentence with a raised eyebrow.
Jack just stared at her for a moment, before turning quickly toward the door of the interview room.
"Jack—" Sam called after him, but he didn't stop.
Danny was in the middle of a sentence when Jack suddenly burst through the door, heading straight for Tommy.
"Who the fuck---?"
Danny jumped back and Martin flinched when Jack grabbed the back of Tommy's neck and slammed his head into the table.
"When were you going to tell us that you'd knocked her up?" Jack yelled, bringing his head down to Tommy's level. The young man stared at him, shocked, as Martin and Danny both reacted to the news.
Jack finally released Tommy's neck, but stayed close to him. "That's what you fought about, right?" When Tommy didn't say anything, Jack slammed his hand down on the table. "Tell me, right now!"
Tommy flinched, his hands coming up instinctively to protect himself. "Okay, Jesus! Yes, we fought about it!"
Jack kept his hands on the table. "Did you want her to get rid of it?"
"Yes!" He met Jack's eyes and quickly added, "So did she! We both agreed on that."
"So why'd you fight about it?"
"Because," Tommy started, exasperated, "She wanted to go to some doctor to have it done and it was going to cost a fortune!"
Jack narrowed his eyes in disgust. "Where'd you want her to go, Tommy? To one of your cranked-out cokehead buddies?"
Tommy tisked. "No way! They have these abortion pills you can take."
Jack just stared at him. "Pills," he reiterated, almost calmly, unable to believe what he was hearing.
"Yeah... I read about them on the internet," the young man said. "You can get them real cheap – just pop a few and that's that."
Jack glared at him. "That simple, huh?"
Tommy shrugged.
"So what was that deal about today?"
Sighing, Tommy finally answered. "Since she ran off... I figured she was mad at me... so I thought maybe I'd help her get the cash. You know... for the thing."
Jack scoffed. "How noble of you."
Tommy glared at him. "Hey, fuck you, man."
Ignoring him, Jack pressed on. "So after she went to her parents' – where did she go?"
Tommy's eyes were wide as he stared Jack down. "I. Don't. Know."
Jack's cheeks were flushed, his breathing ragged as he finally straightened and walked out of the room, slamming the door behind him. Still stunned by the last few minutes, Martin and Danny kept quiet as Tommy rubbed his neck.
**
Sam stood in the hallway, trying to stay calm after what she had just witnessed. Jack barreled out of the room, headed in her direction, and just barely brushed her shoulder as he kept walking down the hallway.
"Jack," she called, starting after his stalking figure.
He disappeared around a corner and then she saw a flash of him getting into the elevator. Picking up her stride, she sprinted down the hallway and hit the button just in time to open the doors again.
As she stepped in and the doors shut, she met Jack's restless eyes, and she almost turned right back around and walked back out. But then the car shifted, and he shoved his hands in his pockets and leaned against the wall, preparing himself for a lecture.
Samantha stayed where she was, on the opposite side of the elevator, but spoke as if she were right next to him. "Jack," she began, softly, watching how uncomfortable he was.
Against her better judgment, she stepped toward him, placing a hand on his arm. "You always seem to know what to say," she said, as his eyes continued to search hers. "And I... don't." She looked down at her hand for a moment, resting on his arm. "But do you think..." she paused, taking a breath as their eyes connected once more. "…Do you think you're...ready?"
Something suddenly snapped inside of him, and he turned, grabbing her wrists. "I let that woman die," he growled.
"Spaulding killed her, Jack, not you—"
"I didn't find her in time – it was my fault!" he yelled back, his breath hot on her cheeks.
She winced, even though her fear superceded the physical pain he was causing her. "Jack, you're hurting me," she said quietly.
Just as quickly as he'd become angry, he immediately softened, letting go of her.
When she backed away rubbing her arms, he exhaled loudly, moving toward her. "Sam..."
He tried to reach for her but she shied away, whispering, "I'm sorry I upset you."
He did his best to get her to look at him, but she wouldn't, and just as his hand found her arm, the doors opened and she broke loose from him, quickly walking out into the hallway.
After a moment's hesitation, he sighed and took off after her, watching as her form disappeared around the corner into the bullpen.
"Sam!" he called, but she was too far away, or chose not to respond.
When he was outside the door to his office, he tried again. "Sam," he said, a little quieter than before but definitely loud enough for her to hear. But she didn't make a move toward him, flipping furiously through some files at her desk.
He frowned and exhaled, pursing his lips as he started to move toward her. Just then, a voice from behind him -- from inside his office – caught his attention.
"Jack..."
He turned, his expression changing rapidly from determination to surprise, and then to a sense of dread, as he didn't know whether or not she'd heard him moments before.
"Maria," he said to the woman standing next to his desk.
**
tbc…