Maria Malone POV:
Samantha Spade Residence
February 5, 2004
8:30 a.m.
I finish breakfast and answer the door, surprised to see 'her' here all ready.
"Samantha," I greet her politely, without a smile or any indication of approval.
She steps in through the door, making herself at home. I can't blame her; after all, this is her place. She glances through the fridge, grabs a soda and comes over to sit on the sofa. She reaches for the remote, not wanting to make conversation, and I don't blame her. If she hadn't grabbed for the remote first, I'd have likely turned on the radio or done something else to distract us.
A few minutes later, Agents Doggett and Reyes join us in the living room.
"Samantha." John comes over to embrace me with a hug. "I haven't seen you in ages."
"Yeah," I nod my head with weary eyes. I notice Agent Reyes looking angered by his sudden display of affection towards me, and I wonder if he too had an affair with 'Samantha'.
"Actually, John," Samantha approaches him, "I'm Samantha." He eyes her and shakes his head in confusion.
"What are you talking about?"
"Something's happened to us and I can't explain it."
"You fucked my husband. I think that's enough explaining!" I interrupt with anger.
"Calm down," Monica rests a hand on my shoulder. "Why don't I speak with you in the other room? Maybe we can get to the bottom of this."
Monica and I head into the bedroom and take a seat on the bed. "Let's start from the beginning," she tells me. "Your name."
"Maria Malone," I answer her. "I have two children and am married to Jack Malone, who works with the FBI."
"And you know Samantha, how?"
"She's having an affair with my husband!"
"Okay." Monica scribbles a few notes down and eyes me warily. "Tell me the last thing you remember as 'you'." She looks as though she's about to laugh, and my angry eyes tell her to shut up if she wants to see the light of day.
"Jack and I got into another disagreement about 'her'." I glance towards the closed door. "We were talking about ending the marriage because he couldn't keep his pants on at work."
"What else?"
"I called him a few names and shut the door on his sorry ass. I went to sleep as usual and woke up, strangely enough, in Samantha's bed, as her."
"Interesting," she muses. "Has your marriage always been on the rocks?"
"I don't see how this is relevant," I eye her skeptically.
"The more we know about the situation, the greater chance we have at solving it."
"It's been quite a few years since we were truly happy," I tell her.
"How come?"
"He works for the FBI; you must know how it is."
She nods with a sad smile. "Yes, I do," Monica answers. "Is there anything else you can tell me?"
"Samantha might be one of your own, but I'm sure she's the cause of this."
"What makes you say that?"
"She loves him and wants me out of his life," I answer.
"Maria," Monica pauses, "have you ever thought that this might give you a second chance at getting to know your husband? Perhaps a new start or even finding out why he's been seeing her on the side."
"You're joking?"
"No," she shakes her head and her dark brown hair outlines her face. "I think this could be a good thing for both of you."
"Are you insane? I can't see my children? I don't have a job that I can go to any longer and the woman my husband's having an affair with has suddenly become my children's mother!"
"Calm down," she tells me. "I'm sure whatever's happened is reversible."
"How?"
"I'll have to talk with John, he might have some ideas," she tells me. "Can you wait here?"
"Yes."
She stands up, glancing back towards me as she exits the bedroom.
***************
Monica Reyes POV:
Samantha Spade Residence
February 5, 2004
9:04 a.m.
"John." I close the bedroom door and eye the two of them sitting on the sofa.
"She's got one hell of a story, Monica. If it's true like you're saying," he turns towards her, "there's nothing we can do to help you."
"I'm not so certain," I interrupt.
"Please." she begs me. "I love Jack but I can't betray him like this."
"He's married," John reminds her.
"I know," she rolls her eyes with a sigh. "It doesn't matter. I can't have him believing I'm someone else. He's already thinking I'm," she gestures towards Maria in the bedroom, "insane."
"Can you tell me what you were doing when this transformation occurred?"
"Sleeping, I guess." I let out a sigh, "I woke up, alone in Maria's bed."
"You fell asleep with Jack, though, in your bed---correct?" I question.
"Yes," she nods. "He told me something too." Her eyes are distant and her features are soft as she remembers his words. "He told me he loved me. That was the first time he ever said the words. I was in a haze of sleep and didn't respond."
"What was he doing when he told you that?" I question.
"It was after we made love," she pauses blushing. "He had his hand in my hair and whispered it into my ear as his hand went down my neck."
"Did you feel anything?" I question.
"Like I was in heaven."
I head towards the bedroom and open the door. "Come and join us in the living room," I tell Maria. "Did either of you tell Jack about this transformation?"
"No," both women shake their head simultaneously.
I nod my head. "We're going to have to look into a few avenues and see what we can do."
"That's it?" Maria stands up agitated. "You can't reverse it?"
"We haven't said that. Honestly, though, this isn't something we see everyday," John tells them. "I wouldn't have believed you, except I know Samantha," he pauses and eyes the real Maria, "and you're not her."
"Shouldn't Jack be able to tell?" Samantha points out.
"It's only a matter of time until he figures it out," John answers. "We're going to have to pay him a visit this afternoon. We won't say anything, if you're concerned."
He eyes both women to see their reaction.
"No," Maria shakes her head, not wanting Jack to know the truth.
Samantha shrugs in response. "He probably won't believe it, but make it a last resort," she answers.
We head out into the hallway. "We'll give you a call as soon as we find anything substantial. If you can think of anything you might have come in contact with---an article, an object, something strange and unusual---let us know," I tell them.
John and I make our way to his car, as I let out a soft breath.
"It's too bad we can't help them."
"They can only help themselves," John answers, as I glance into his eyes with a sad smile.
***********
Jack Malone POV:
Jack's Office
February 5, 2004
9:34 a.m.
"Agent Malone, we're Agents John Doggett and Monica Reyes from the D.C. field office."
"How can I help you?" I close my file and gesture for them to come inside.
"It's regarding one of your female agents, Samantha Spade."
I nod my head, not sure what they're getting at. "If you're looking to speak with her, she's not here," I tell them.
"We know; in fact, she was the one who contacted us."
"She was?" I question, slightly surprised.
"We work in the X-Files Division. I'm not sure if you're familiar with it."
I shake my head no, "Doesn't ring a bell."
"We deal in the Department of Unexplained Phenomenon."
"Okay, what does this have to do with Samantha?"
"We want to know if she's been acting peculiarly."
I pause, considering whether I should be honest with these two FBI agents. "Whatever you tell us, will be kept in the strictest of confidence," the female agent adds.
"She hasn't been acting like herself at all," I tell them. "I'm sure it's stress induced, but I guess I don't understand why she called you."
"Have you been affected in any way?"
"What do you mean?"
"Any of the symptoms she's experienced: forgetfulness, fatigue, even any behavioral differences."
"I haven't experienced any, but my wife hasn't exactly been herself either," I shrug. "Is there anything else?"
Both agents exchange a quick glance. "You should speak with your wife," Agent Doggett suggests.
"But you said Samantha called you."
They nod their heads, exchanging glances again. "Samantha did call us, Jack. Keep an open mind, Agent Malone," Agent Reyes tells me before they exit my office together.
"I don't understand!" I watch as they head towards the elevator. I make my way after them. "What are you trying to say?"
They step inside the elevator. "Please," I practically beg them for a response.
"Speak with your wife," Agent Doggett tells me. "She'll be able to explain this better than we can." The elevator doors shut and I slam my fist against the metal.
"Jack," I hear Vivian's voice and her footsteps approaching.
"I'm fine!" I respond.
"You don't sound fine," she answers.
I let out a frustrated sigh and go to my office for my jacket before entering the elevators and heading towards the parking garage.
"Where are you going?" Vivian questions as I hit the elevator's 'down' button.
"Home," I answer, stepping inside and letting the doors shut behind me.
Samantha Spade Residence
February 5, 2004
8:30 a.m.
I finish breakfast and answer the door, surprised to see 'her' here all ready.
"Samantha," I greet her politely, without a smile or any indication of approval.
She steps in through the door, making herself at home. I can't blame her; after all, this is her place. She glances through the fridge, grabs a soda and comes over to sit on the sofa. She reaches for the remote, not wanting to make conversation, and I don't blame her. If she hadn't grabbed for the remote first, I'd have likely turned on the radio or done something else to distract us.
A few minutes later, Agents Doggett and Reyes join us in the living room.
"Samantha." John comes over to embrace me with a hug. "I haven't seen you in ages."
"Yeah," I nod my head with weary eyes. I notice Agent Reyes looking angered by his sudden display of affection towards me, and I wonder if he too had an affair with 'Samantha'.
"Actually, John," Samantha approaches him, "I'm Samantha." He eyes her and shakes his head in confusion.
"What are you talking about?"
"Something's happened to us and I can't explain it."
"You fucked my husband. I think that's enough explaining!" I interrupt with anger.
"Calm down," Monica rests a hand on my shoulder. "Why don't I speak with you in the other room? Maybe we can get to the bottom of this."
Monica and I head into the bedroom and take a seat on the bed. "Let's start from the beginning," she tells me. "Your name."
"Maria Malone," I answer her. "I have two children and am married to Jack Malone, who works with the FBI."
"And you know Samantha, how?"
"She's having an affair with my husband!"
"Okay." Monica scribbles a few notes down and eyes me warily. "Tell me the last thing you remember as 'you'." She looks as though she's about to laugh, and my angry eyes tell her to shut up if she wants to see the light of day.
"Jack and I got into another disagreement about 'her'." I glance towards the closed door. "We were talking about ending the marriage because he couldn't keep his pants on at work."
"What else?"
"I called him a few names and shut the door on his sorry ass. I went to sleep as usual and woke up, strangely enough, in Samantha's bed, as her."
"Interesting," she muses. "Has your marriage always been on the rocks?"
"I don't see how this is relevant," I eye her skeptically.
"The more we know about the situation, the greater chance we have at solving it."
"It's been quite a few years since we were truly happy," I tell her.
"How come?"
"He works for the FBI; you must know how it is."
She nods with a sad smile. "Yes, I do," Monica answers. "Is there anything else you can tell me?"
"Samantha might be one of your own, but I'm sure she's the cause of this."
"What makes you say that?"
"She loves him and wants me out of his life," I answer.
"Maria," Monica pauses, "have you ever thought that this might give you a second chance at getting to know your husband? Perhaps a new start or even finding out why he's been seeing her on the side."
"You're joking?"
"No," she shakes her head and her dark brown hair outlines her face. "I think this could be a good thing for both of you."
"Are you insane? I can't see my children? I don't have a job that I can go to any longer and the woman my husband's having an affair with has suddenly become my children's mother!"
"Calm down," she tells me. "I'm sure whatever's happened is reversible."
"How?"
"I'll have to talk with John, he might have some ideas," she tells me. "Can you wait here?"
"Yes."
She stands up, glancing back towards me as she exits the bedroom.
***************
Monica Reyes POV:
Samantha Spade Residence
February 5, 2004
9:04 a.m.
"John." I close the bedroom door and eye the two of them sitting on the sofa.
"She's got one hell of a story, Monica. If it's true like you're saying," he turns towards her, "there's nothing we can do to help you."
"I'm not so certain," I interrupt.
"Please." she begs me. "I love Jack but I can't betray him like this."
"He's married," John reminds her.
"I know," she rolls her eyes with a sigh. "It doesn't matter. I can't have him believing I'm someone else. He's already thinking I'm," she gestures towards Maria in the bedroom, "insane."
"Can you tell me what you were doing when this transformation occurred?"
"Sleeping, I guess." I let out a sigh, "I woke up, alone in Maria's bed."
"You fell asleep with Jack, though, in your bed---correct?" I question.
"Yes," she nods. "He told me something too." Her eyes are distant and her features are soft as she remembers his words. "He told me he loved me. That was the first time he ever said the words. I was in a haze of sleep and didn't respond."
"What was he doing when he told you that?" I question.
"It was after we made love," she pauses blushing. "He had his hand in my hair and whispered it into my ear as his hand went down my neck."
"Did you feel anything?" I question.
"Like I was in heaven."
I head towards the bedroom and open the door. "Come and join us in the living room," I tell Maria. "Did either of you tell Jack about this transformation?"
"No," both women shake their head simultaneously.
I nod my head. "We're going to have to look into a few avenues and see what we can do."
"That's it?" Maria stands up agitated. "You can't reverse it?"
"We haven't said that. Honestly, though, this isn't something we see everyday," John tells them. "I wouldn't have believed you, except I know Samantha," he pauses and eyes the real Maria, "and you're not her."
"Shouldn't Jack be able to tell?" Samantha points out.
"It's only a matter of time until he figures it out," John answers. "We're going to have to pay him a visit this afternoon. We won't say anything, if you're concerned."
He eyes both women to see their reaction.
"No," Maria shakes her head, not wanting Jack to know the truth.
Samantha shrugs in response. "He probably won't believe it, but make it a last resort," she answers.
We head out into the hallway. "We'll give you a call as soon as we find anything substantial. If you can think of anything you might have come in contact with---an article, an object, something strange and unusual---let us know," I tell them.
John and I make our way to his car, as I let out a soft breath.
"It's too bad we can't help them."
"They can only help themselves," John answers, as I glance into his eyes with a sad smile.
***********
Jack Malone POV:
Jack's Office
February 5, 2004
9:34 a.m.
"Agent Malone, we're Agents John Doggett and Monica Reyes from the D.C. field office."
"How can I help you?" I close my file and gesture for them to come inside.
"It's regarding one of your female agents, Samantha Spade."
I nod my head, not sure what they're getting at. "If you're looking to speak with her, she's not here," I tell them.
"We know; in fact, she was the one who contacted us."
"She was?" I question, slightly surprised.
"We work in the X-Files Division. I'm not sure if you're familiar with it."
I shake my head no, "Doesn't ring a bell."
"We deal in the Department of Unexplained Phenomenon."
"Okay, what does this have to do with Samantha?"
"We want to know if she's been acting peculiarly."
I pause, considering whether I should be honest with these two FBI agents. "Whatever you tell us, will be kept in the strictest of confidence," the female agent adds.
"She hasn't been acting like herself at all," I tell them. "I'm sure it's stress induced, but I guess I don't understand why she called you."
"Have you been affected in any way?"
"What do you mean?"
"Any of the symptoms she's experienced: forgetfulness, fatigue, even any behavioral differences."
"I haven't experienced any, but my wife hasn't exactly been herself either," I shrug. "Is there anything else?"
Both agents exchange a quick glance. "You should speak with your wife," Agent Doggett suggests.
"But you said Samantha called you."
They nod their heads, exchanging glances again. "Samantha did call us, Jack. Keep an open mind, Agent Malone," Agent Reyes tells me before they exit my office together.
"I don't understand!" I watch as they head towards the elevator. I make my way after them. "What are you trying to say?"
They step inside the elevator. "Please," I practically beg them for a response.
"Speak with your wife," Agent Doggett tells me. "She'll be able to explain this better than we can." The elevator doors shut and I slam my fist against the metal.
"Jack," I hear Vivian's voice and her footsteps approaching.
"I'm fine!" I respond.
"You don't sound fine," she answers.
I let out a frustrated sigh and go to my office for my jacket before entering the elevators and heading towards the parking garage.
"Where are you going?" Vivian questions as I hit the elevator's 'down' button.
"Home," I answer, stepping inside and letting the doors shut behind me.
