Jack Malone POV:
Jack & Samantha Residence
March 6, 2004
9:45 a.m.
"Hello?" I answer my cell phone, figuring it's Samantha.
"Is this Jack Malone?"
"Yes, who is this?"
"I'm Agent Reyes. We met a little over a month ago."
"Ahhh, what can I do for you, Agent Reyes?" I pour the girls some cereal and myself a glass of orange juice.
"It's about Samantha."
"What?" I drop the carton, letting out a sigh, as I pick it up and toss it into the sink. "What happened to her?"
"She came to see me last night. She didn't tell you?"
"No. I didn't realize you two were friends."
"We're not," she answers. "I can't tell you why she's run off, but she's afraid of keeping you from your children."
"She's run off? What can't you tell me?" I question.
"I'm sorry," she answers and hangs up the phone. I toss the cell phone into the living room and slam my fist into the refrigerator.
"Daddy?" Kate questions, her voice slightly alarmed and afraid. I grab a towel and mop up the floor.
I close my eyes, trying to understand why she would have left. What good does she believe could come of this?
I grab my phone from the floor, thankful it didn't break, and dial Danny.
"It's Jack."
"It's the weekend; don't you have a life," he groans.
"Sam might have run off."
"What do you mean?" Danny's voice shows alarm, so obviously she hasn't contacted him.
"I got a call that she went to D.C. last night. I have a bad feeling about her going."
"Don't worry. She probably needed to get away for the weekend," Danny yawns. "I'm sure she'll be in on Monday. Relax, enjoy your weekend, Jack." Danny hangs up the phone and I let out a frustrated sigh.
"Finish your cereal, girls. We're going to stop at Samantha's apartment."
"I don't want to go there," Hannah pouts.
"You don't have a choice," I tell her sternly. The girls finish eating and I try Sam's house and cell phone again, but there's no answer.
I gather the girls into the car and head off for Sam's apartment.
In no time, we step through her front door, thanks to a spare key, and I glance around. I notice the note and feel my heart ripped from my chest.
"She's gone," I whisper. Hannah hears my words and comes over to see the note.
"Good," she grins, eyeing the scribbled letter.
"I'm sorry, Daddy." Kate takes my hand, squeezing it as I glance over to see Hannah searching the apartment. Kate slips from my grasp and follows behind Hannah.
My hands rest against the table, trying to understand why she left. Is it because we've been having some time apart for the sake of the girls? I thought she was okay with that. I thought she was the one who suggested it when they kept making her life hell. Maybe I shouldn't have brought her along so soon, but I love her and I love my children. I wanted us all to be a family.
"Oh, Sam," I whisper, heading into her bedroom. I search her drawers, noticing some clothes, but a lot are missing. I head into her closet, noticing her suitcase gone and I shake my head. She really left? I can't believe it. Why would she do that to me—why?
"Daddy, can I use the bathroom?" Kate tugs on my hand.
"Yeah," I nod, watching as she goes inside and shuts the door. A few minutes later they both head into the living room and I do the same. I sit on her couch, trying to understand why she would leave. "Hannah, can you hit the play button on her answering machine."
"Fine," she rolls her eyes and does as I've asked.
I hear only my message and I feel my heart wrench at her being gone. I stand up. "Come on girls."
"Where are we going?"
"You two are going back to visit Mom."
"But Dad," Hannah whines.
"I have work to do."
"You always have work," Kate groans.
"Sam's gone," I state, opening the front door and escorting the girls to the car.
"Maybe she doesn't want to be found," Hannah quips. I eye her to keep quiet. I try desperately to understand yesterday's events and what might have happened to her. Agent Reyes didn't make it sound like she was kidnapped or in trouble. She sounded like Sam ran off. Maybe I'll have to pay her a visit and find out exactly what's going on.
**************
Samantha Spade POV:
Holiday Inn
March 6, 2004
12:35 p.m.
I roll around in the bed, glancing at the clock and know it's only a matter of hours until Jack finds me. He's going to know I'm here, since I had to use my credit card to get a room.
I suppose it doesn't matter if he finds me because I can't go home. "This is my home," I reaffirm, sitting up and grabbing a fresh change of clothes. I head into the shower, cleaning myself off, and then grab the phone and use the Bureau calling card to try Danny.
"Hello?" he answers his cell phone, and I let out a soft breath.
"It's Samantha."
"Where are you?"
"I can't go back, Danny."
"What happened?" he questions.
"I'm pregnant."
"What's the problem?"
"It's not Jack's," I lie, hoping that if Jack interrogates Danny, he won't come chasing after me.
"Are you sure?"
"Trust me," I respond.
"When he finds out why you left, he's going to be pissed."
"Not when he hears I've been doing what he's been doing to Maria," I quip.
"I don't believe you, Samantha."
"Believe it," I fight back, trying to sound plausible. "Either way you have to promise me you'll tell him I'm fine, but I had to leave."
"Am I telling him about the baby too?"
"I don't know," I chew on my lip nervously.
"Jack dragged me into the office to look into your whereabouts," Danny says. "Since you're okay, why don't you talk to him?" He hands over the phone to Jack.
"Hello?" I hear Jack's voice. "Sam, are you there?"
I hang up the phone, not able to take the pressure. Seconds later it rings, but I refuse to answer it. The phone seems to ring endlessly, and I feel my stomach grow nauseous. I run to the bathroom and vomit the contents of my stomach. I flush the toilet, grab a rag, rinse it in cool water and place it against my forehead.
I move to the bed, lie down and close my eyes once again, as I feel sick and overwhelmed. A few minutes pass and the phone begins to ring again.
"What?" I groan, my stomach still queasy.
"Samantha, what do you want me to do?" I hear Danny's voice.
"Is Jack there?"
"No, he's in his office, pissed as hell."
"Did you tell him?"
"About the baby, no. He got in touch with an FBI Agent in D.C. She claims she met with you last night. He's on the phone with her now."
"Oh, no," I shake my head, "she'll tell him everything."
"I see the way you two look at each other. What are you hoping to accomplish?"
"I don't know," I whisper between silent tears. "I don't know."
"I hope you figure it out because he's coming back over here and he looks like he could kill someone."
"Great," I mumble, hanging up the phone with a sigh.
I feel my stomach tense again and my skin grow sweaty and pale. I groan as I run into the bathroom, vomiting a second time today.
"This sucks," I moan as I flush the toilet and run the cold tap water.
I hear the phone jarring again and let out a resigned sigh.
"What now?" I whisper, slightly dazed and still under the weather.
"Sam?" I hear Jack's voice and close my eyes as I lie down in bed.
"I don't feel good."
"What's wrong?"
I don't care what happens because right now I feel like hell. I give in and tell him, "Morning sickness." I lay down the phone as I feel myself growing sick again. I sit up and reach for the trashcan; in seconds, my stomach brings everything up. I wipe my mouth and reach for the phone that's resting on the bed.
"Sam, you're in Richmond, right?"
"Jack, don't."
"I'm coming to take you home."
"Please," I plead with him, "it's better off this way."
"For whom?"
"You, me, your daughters." I close my eyes, trying to find some peace of mind.
"Sam, I love you," he tells me soundly.
"I know; that's why I had to get away." I hang up the phone and leave him with that thought as I try to sit up in bed. I consider my options. I could go someplace else but he'll find me—that's his job. I could also let him come to me, and tell him this baby isn't his. If he believes the lie, maybe then it would make things better. I don't see how, though.
I groan, clutching my stomach as I collapse onto the bed in a heap. I feel tears in my eyes and wonder how other pregnant women can go through this. I've been lucky, as this is the first day with morning sickness. Maybe it's not morning sickness, so much as me being homesick.
Jack & Samantha Residence
March 6, 2004
9:45 a.m.
"Hello?" I answer my cell phone, figuring it's Samantha.
"Is this Jack Malone?"
"Yes, who is this?"
"I'm Agent Reyes. We met a little over a month ago."
"Ahhh, what can I do for you, Agent Reyes?" I pour the girls some cereal and myself a glass of orange juice.
"It's about Samantha."
"What?" I drop the carton, letting out a sigh, as I pick it up and toss it into the sink. "What happened to her?"
"She came to see me last night. She didn't tell you?"
"No. I didn't realize you two were friends."
"We're not," she answers. "I can't tell you why she's run off, but she's afraid of keeping you from your children."
"She's run off? What can't you tell me?" I question.
"I'm sorry," she answers and hangs up the phone. I toss the cell phone into the living room and slam my fist into the refrigerator.
"Daddy?" Kate questions, her voice slightly alarmed and afraid. I grab a towel and mop up the floor.
I close my eyes, trying to understand why she would have left. What good does she believe could come of this?
I grab my phone from the floor, thankful it didn't break, and dial Danny.
"It's Jack."
"It's the weekend; don't you have a life," he groans.
"Sam might have run off."
"What do you mean?" Danny's voice shows alarm, so obviously she hasn't contacted him.
"I got a call that she went to D.C. last night. I have a bad feeling about her going."
"Don't worry. She probably needed to get away for the weekend," Danny yawns. "I'm sure she'll be in on Monday. Relax, enjoy your weekend, Jack." Danny hangs up the phone and I let out a frustrated sigh.
"Finish your cereal, girls. We're going to stop at Samantha's apartment."
"I don't want to go there," Hannah pouts.
"You don't have a choice," I tell her sternly. The girls finish eating and I try Sam's house and cell phone again, but there's no answer.
I gather the girls into the car and head off for Sam's apartment.
In no time, we step through her front door, thanks to a spare key, and I glance around. I notice the note and feel my heart ripped from my chest.
"She's gone," I whisper. Hannah hears my words and comes over to see the note.
"Good," she grins, eyeing the scribbled letter.
"I'm sorry, Daddy." Kate takes my hand, squeezing it as I glance over to see Hannah searching the apartment. Kate slips from my grasp and follows behind Hannah.
My hands rest against the table, trying to understand why she left. Is it because we've been having some time apart for the sake of the girls? I thought she was okay with that. I thought she was the one who suggested it when they kept making her life hell. Maybe I shouldn't have brought her along so soon, but I love her and I love my children. I wanted us all to be a family.
"Oh, Sam," I whisper, heading into her bedroom. I search her drawers, noticing some clothes, but a lot are missing. I head into her closet, noticing her suitcase gone and I shake my head. She really left? I can't believe it. Why would she do that to me—why?
"Daddy, can I use the bathroom?" Kate tugs on my hand.
"Yeah," I nod, watching as she goes inside and shuts the door. A few minutes later they both head into the living room and I do the same. I sit on her couch, trying to understand why she would leave. "Hannah, can you hit the play button on her answering machine."
"Fine," she rolls her eyes and does as I've asked.
I hear only my message and I feel my heart wrench at her being gone. I stand up. "Come on girls."
"Where are we going?"
"You two are going back to visit Mom."
"But Dad," Hannah whines.
"I have work to do."
"You always have work," Kate groans.
"Sam's gone," I state, opening the front door and escorting the girls to the car.
"Maybe she doesn't want to be found," Hannah quips. I eye her to keep quiet. I try desperately to understand yesterday's events and what might have happened to her. Agent Reyes didn't make it sound like she was kidnapped or in trouble. She sounded like Sam ran off. Maybe I'll have to pay her a visit and find out exactly what's going on.
**************
Samantha Spade POV:
Holiday Inn
March 6, 2004
12:35 p.m.
I roll around in the bed, glancing at the clock and know it's only a matter of hours until Jack finds me. He's going to know I'm here, since I had to use my credit card to get a room.
I suppose it doesn't matter if he finds me because I can't go home. "This is my home," I reaffirm, sitting up and grabbing a fresh change of clothes. I head into the shower, cleaning myself off, and then grab the phone and use the Bureau calling card to try Danny.
"Hello?" he answers his cell phone, and I let out a soft breath.
"It's Samantha."
"Where are you?"
"I can't go back, Danny."
"What happened?" he questions.
"I'm pregnant."
"What's the problem?"
"It's not Jack's," I lie, hoping that if Jack interrogates Danny, he won't come chasing after me.
"Are you sure?"
"Trust me," I respond.
"When he finds out why you left, he's going to be pissed."
"Not when he hears I've been doing what he's been doing to Maria," I quip.
"I don't believe you, Samantha."
"Believe it," I fight back, trying to sound plausible. "Either way you have to promise me you'll tell him I'm fine, but I had to leave."
"Am I telling him about the baby too?"
"I don't know," I chew on my lip nervously.
"Jack dragged me into the office to look into your whereabouts," Danny says. "Since you're okay, why don't you talk to him?" He hands over the phone to Jack.
"Hello?" I hear Jack's voice. "Sam, are you there?"
I hang up the phone, not able to take the pressure. Seconds later it rings, but I refuse to answer it. The phone seems to ring endlessly, and I feel my stomach grow nauseous. I run to the bathroom and vomit the contents of my stomach. I flush the toilet, grab a rag, rinse it in cool water and place it against my forehead.
I move to the bed, lie down and close my eyes once again, as I feel sick and overwhelmed. A few minutes pass and the phone begins to ring again.
"What?" I groan, my stomach still queasy.
"Samantha, what do you want me to do?" I hear Danny's voice.
"Is Jack there?"
"No, he's in his office, pissed as hell."
"Did you tell him?"
"About the baby, no. He got in touch with an FBI Agent in D.C. She claims she met with you last night. He's on the phone with her now."
"Oh, no," I shake my head, "she'll tell him everything."
"I see the way you two look at each other. What are you hoping to accomplish?"
"I don't know," I whisper between silent tears. "I don't know."
"I hope you figure it out because he's coming back over here and he looks like he could kill someone."
"Great," I mumble, hanging up the phone with a sigh.
I feel my stomach tense again and my skin grow sweaty and pale. I groan as I run into the bathroom, vomiting a second time today.
"This sucks," I moan as I flush the toilet and run the cold tap water.
I hear the phone jarring again and let out a resigned sigh.
"What now?" I whisper, slightly dazed and still under the weather.
"Sam?" I hear Jack's voice and close my eyes as I lie down in bed.
"I don't feel good."
"What's wrong?"
I don't care what happens because right now I feel like hell. I give in and tell him, "Morning sickness." I lay down the phone as I feel myself growing sick again. I sit up and reach for the trashcan; in seconds, my stomach brings everything up. I wipe my mouth and reach for the phone that's resting on the bed.
"Sam, you're in Richmond, right?"
"Jack, don't."
"I'm coming to take you home."
"Please," I plead with him, "it's better off this way."
"For whom?"
"You, me, your daughters." I close my eyes, trying to find some peace of mind.
"Sam, I love you," he tells me soundly.
"I know; that's why I had to get away." I hang up the phone and leave him with that thought as I try to sit up in bed. I consider my options. I could go someplace else but he'll find me—that's his job. I could also let him come to me, and tell him this baby isn't his. If he believes the lie, maybe then it would make things better. I don't see how, though.
I groan, clutching my stomach as I collapse onto the bed in a heap. I feel tears in my eyes and wonder how other pregnant women can go through this. I've been lucky, as this is the first day with morning sickness. Maybe it's not morning sickness, so much as me being homesick.