Samantha Spade POV:
FBI Building
March 11, 2004
4:47 p.m.
I check my watch, ready to go home, but the case has yet to be solved. Jack sits across from me at the conference table, with Danny beside me, then Martin and Vivian on opposite ends.
I feel both Jack and Danny gazing at me and I shift uncomfortably under such scrutiny.
"You think the sister might know where she is?" Jack eyes Martin, catching us all up to speed.
"Take Danny with you to speak with her."
"And if nothing turns up?" Martin questions.
"We'll worry about it when we get there. In the meantime, Sam, you're free to go home; you too, Viv."
"Why do they get to leave?" Martin groans out in protest and shuts up as soon as Jack eyes him with intent to kill.
"I can stay," I offer. "I don't have anything to do at home," I point out.
"Take Jack's advice," Danny interjects. "Go home, eat some dinner, get some rest and relax."
Martin eyes Danny, Jack, and then me—curious as to what's going on. Vivian doesn't pretend to even pay attention, but I can tell she's taking in every word.
"Come on, Samantha," Vivian tells me, standing up and shutting the file. She heads towards her desk to grab her things. I retrieve my coat and walk with her down to the elevator for the parking garage.
We step inside and once the doors shut, the silence overwhelms the air around us. I know at any moment she's going to ask something, and I can feel the tension bubbling to the surface.
"Everything okay?" she smiles warmly, trying to help me relax and ease my mind as she slips her hands into her pockets and we walk together out towards our cars.
"Never better," I whisper catching her gaze at me. Her look alone tells me she doesn't buy it; however, she doesn't press the issue further.
"If you want to talk, I'm always here," she offers, heading for her car while I make my way towards mine.
"Thanks," I answer, slipping inside and closing my eyes as I catch my breath.
The pounding in my chest has finally calmed and I head back towards my apartment.
I make my way through the front door, tossing my jacket off and glancing through the mail I've brought in. There doesn't seem to be anything of importance and I glance over to see the answering machine blinking.
I hit the play button.
"Samantha, I've got something for you about your missing person. I think I may have spotted her. By the time you get this message, you've probably all ready cracked the case. Anyways, give me a call at home. It's Kellar," he reaffirms, before hanging up.
I let out a sigh and grab the phone, dialing his work number and then his home number when he doesn't answer the first time.
"Kellar?" I question, when he answers.
"Yeah, Samantha?"
"You called?" I inquire, grabbing a pad of paper and a pen from the counter. "What have you got?"
"Here's the thing," he tells me, "she was spotted at Molly's, about ten miles from her apartment."
"The bar?" I question slightly confused.
"Yeah. I went over and spoke to her. She gave me a completely different name, but unless she has a twin sister, I swear it was her."
"Did you happen to check her ID?"
"It didn't help."
"Thanks, but unless you have an address she's at now or something more substantial--"
"I tailed her car for about three miles until I lost sight of her."
"Get a license plate?"
"Didn't help," he answers, "the address led to a warehouse."
"What are you thinking?"
"Maybe she's running from something."
"Yeah, maybe," I whisper in a daze. A minute or so passes before I continue, "Can you get me the warehouse address?"
"Sure, it's 475 Lincoln Drive. It won't help."
"Thanks, I'll see what we can find."
"Samantha."
"Yeah?"
"Can I take you out sometime?"
"Drinks?" I suggest.
"That was the plan. Doesn't have to be tonight, maybe tomorrow—if you have the night off."
"We'll see," I respond before hanging up. If I decide to meet him, it's always at the same time and place, so now he'll just have to wait and see if I show up.
I grab my phone and dial Jack's cell.
"Malone."
"It's me," I respond.
"You okay?" I hear him let out a soft breath, as concern passes through his mind.
"I'll manage. Kellar left me a message. Apparently someone matching our missing person's description was seen at a bar."
"Anything else?"
"Yeah, her address from her license matches a warehouse. I was going to go look into it and thought you should know."
"Give me the address; we'll go check it out."
"I can do it, Jack."
"I'm not doubting you. What's the address."
I let out an aggravated sigh and give him the address before hanging up the phone. I open the fridge, glancing around for something edible. Nothing looks that appetizing and I grab the phone, resorting to something Jack and I normally do on overnight cases—takeout.
I relax into the sofa, waiting for the pizza to arrive as I flip through the channels. I eye the clock, slowly growing hungry and I smile softly, grateful the day is just about over.
I hear the pizza man at the door and grab some cash. Once I've brought the box of pizza inside the kitchen, I grab a paper plate, taking some to eat with me into the living room.
"Samantha?" Two bites into my meal I hear Jack at the door.
"Just a second," I answer, wiping my hands and unlocking it to let him in.
"Mind if I grab a piece?"
"Help yourself," I offer, heading back towards the sofa to finish eating. He comes in, with a piece of pizza in his hand, and sits beside me. "I thought you were looking into the case?"
"Dead end," he answers. "Actually, I'm having Danny and Martin run a few leads and we're still waiting on the results from her computer."
"You skipped out early?" I eye him with a surprised glance.
"Danny thought it would be a good idea and, well, Martin," he pauses with a laugh, "he actually offered to make sure you were all right after being sick. I told him not to bother you."
"Thanks," I eye him questionably. "Why are you here?"
"We're still friends, right?"
"I--," my eyes dart around the room with a sigh, "I don't see why not." I shrug, standing up to grab another piece of pizza.
"Grab me one while you're up."
"Get it yourself," I answer with a laugh, shaking my head as I grab myself a slice and hand Jack a smaller one. He eyes me intently and takes the smaller one anyhow. "What?" I question, after I feel him staring at me for longer than I like.
"Nothing," he shakes his head with a soft breath, before taking a bite of his dinner.
"Jack, if you're here because you're worried about me, I'm doing much better," I reassure him.
"You look like you are," he answers, "but you don't have to put on a show around me. I know you, Samantha." He eyes me intently and my gaze drops to my food as I toss the remainder of the uneaten piece on the paper plate, no longer hungry.
"I'm fine," I stress, trying to ease his mind and my own.
He eyes me with a sigh, "I don't want you to spend the weekend alone."
"All right, I'll call Danny up Saturday afternoon."
"What about tomorrow night?"
"I'll go see Kellar," I shrug. He looks taken-aback by my forwardness. "He invited me out for a drink, and I could use it."
"Sam, I know what you're planning on doing. Don't." He shakes his head, his eyes warning me not to.
"Or what?" I question. "We're already over. You'll be with your girls tomorrow night, and I'll be with him."
"Samantha," his breath is hot against my lips as he says my name. His anger is building within him and it's only a matter of time until it unleashes.
****************
Jack Malone POV:
Samantha Spade Residence
March 11, 2004
6:37 p.m.
"I can't believe you," I shake my head. "You'd sleep with him?"
"I have before," she quips. "You didn't have a problem with it when you were still married to Maria."
"That was different."
"How so?" she eyes me intently.
"I had no right to say anything; I was still married."
"And what? Since we're over now, it's okay to jump right in and shoot down my choice for dates?"
"I think you're making a big mistake."
"Would you rather see me go out with Martin?"
"Why? So you can use him too?"
"Oh, we both know Kellar's aware of the circumstances. I don't see him complaining," she retorts.
"You admit it?"
"Jack," she shakes her head, "I never used you, so don't go getting any irrational ideas." She stands up, grabs her unfinished dinner and tosses it into the trashcan. She rinses her hands and dries them before eyeing me. "I'm going to take a bath before bed. It'd be nice if you saw yourself out," she tells me, before turning her back and heading into her bedroom.
"Samantha," I let out a sigh, letting my head fall back to the couch cushions. I know she wants me gone, but I have this aching feeling in the pit of my stomach telling me otherwise.
I stand up and glance around her apartment. Everything seems all right; there's nothing strange or out of the ordinary. I feel the need to check on her, though. I just hope she won't be angry with me. Maybe I can tell her I'm leaving? It's a crummy excuse. I know she's angry with me, but I want to work things out. She's had a rough time as it is—we both have.
I quietly slip into her bedroom and see the bathroom door cracked and the lights off. There's a faint glow from candles and I quietly approach the door. I hear her muffled sobs and feel my stomach knot, "Sam," I knock softly and push open the door.
"Go away," she whispers, covering her face with her hand as she tries to hide her tears. In the candlelight, her body is bathed in darkness and the only visible glance I get of her is from the rise of her breasts up to her face. "Please leave," she begs me, her tears falling fast and her body shaking violently with pain.
"Sam." I step closer, drawing myself to the edge of the tub. I lean down, my hand capturing hers that's covering her face.
"Don't," she shakes me away, wanting to hide her face and her true feelings.
I grab a towel from the counter. "Come on," I tell her, as I help her to her feet and wrap the towel around her. She shivers from the cold, her teeth chattering. Even in the darkness I can make out her lips turning a shade of blue.
"You can go," she chatters, shivering as her hair drips onto the floor. I grab another towel and try to run it through her hair as she walks out to her bedroom. I follow behind and she grabs a pair of warm pajamas, slipping them on before sliding between the sheets.
"I'm so sorry," I tell her, not knowing what else to say. She eyes me with a tired sigh. Her tears have stopped, but she looks so broken and so lost. It hurts me to see her this way. I grab her wet towels and toss them into her laundry basket in the closet.
"Thanks," she mumbles, rolling around beneath the covers, trying to get warm.
I move towards her, take a seat on the edge of the bed and rest my hand along her back. "This isn't something that's going to disappear overnight. These feelings you're having--"
"I know," she groans. "It's just so much to deal with—all of it."
"Tell me what you want me to do," I offer, hoping she'll let me into her life again.
She rolls onto her side to face me. "I don't think there's anything you can do," she whispers. "It's something I have to deal with."
"You're not alone on this," I remind her, moving my hand to her shoulder.
"Thanks," she answers, glancing around the room.
"What?"
"I won't see Kellar tomorrow, if you really don't want me to."
I let out a soft sigh. I don't want her seeing him, but I also don't want us to be over.
"Do what makes you happy, Sam." She groans in frustration as she shifts onto her back and stares up at the ceiling. "What?" I question softly, moving my hand to her shoulder.
"I wish things were different," she answers.
"They are," I remind her. "I've divorced Maria, I'm madly in love with you- -." She cuts me off as she turns her head to face me. Her eyes hold so much pain, I don't know what to say or do.
"You have two young girls who hate me and I can't blame them," she whispers. "Right now I don't disagree with them—I lost our son."
"Sam, that was not your fault." I move my hand to beneath her chin, glancing into her eyes. Her brown orbs begin to water and she shuts her eyes, not wanting to face me any longer.
Her tears slide past her closed eyes and I lean down, kissing each drop away on her cheeks. "Jack," her voice is soft and warm as her eyes flutter open. "This can't happen," she shakes her head no. "I can't go through it again."
"You're not alone, Sam."
"I am," she nods gently. "I know you're trying to help, but you have Hannah and Kate to worry about." Her eyes meet mine.
I let out a soft sigh, remembering how Hannah has been behaving lately. "I always worry about you, Samantha." I meet her eyes before she shuts them.
"I know. Don't worry about me; I'll be fine." She shifts beneath the covers, ready for bed. I lean down and give her a soft kiss before shutting off the light.
"Goodnight," I whisper.
"Stay," her words are barely audible, but I glance back and feel my heart telling me to be with her. I tug at my work clothes, slipping them off before sliding between her sheets. I feel her body beside mine, but I make no move to touch her. As much as I want to, I don't want to upset her. "Thanks." I feel her breath on my neck as she leans into my body and I open my arms to envelope her. She nuzzles into my chest before falling into a light sleep.
FBI Building
March 11, 2004
4:47 p.m.
I check my watch, ready to go home, but the case has yet to be solved. Jack sits across from me at the conference table, with Danny beside me, then Martin and Vivian on opposite ends.
I feel both Jack and Danny gazing at me and I shift uncomfortably under such scrutiny.
"You think the sister might know where she is?" Jack eyes Martin, catching us all up to speed.
"Take Danny with you to speak with her."
"And if nothing turns up?" Martin questions.
"We'll worry about it when we get there. In the meantime, Sam, you're free to go home; you too, Viv."
"Why do they get to leave?" Martin groans out in protest and shuts up as soon as Jack eyes him with intent to kill.
"I can stay," I offer. "I don't have anything to do at home," I point out.
"Take Jack's advice," Danny interjects. "Go home, eat some dinner, get some rest and relax."
Martin eyes Danny, Jack, and then me—curious as to what's going on. Vivian doesn't pretend to even pay attention, but I can tell she's taking in every word.
"Come on, Samantha," Vivian tells me, standing up and shutting the file. She heads towards her desk to grab her things. I retrieve my coat and walk with her down to the elevator for the parking garage.
We step inside and once the doors shut, the silence overwhelms the air around us. I know at any moment she's going to ask something, and I can feel the tension bubbling to the surface.
"Everything okay?" she smiles warmly, trying to help me relax and ease my mind as she slips her hands into her pockets and we walk together out towards our cars.
"Never better," I whisper catching her gaze at me. Her look alone tells me she doesn't buy it; however, she doesn't press the issue further.
"If you want to talk, I'm always here," she offers, heading for her car while I make my way towards mine.
"Thanks," I answer, slipping inside and closing my eyes as I catch my breath.
The pounding in my chest has finally calmed and I head back towards my apartment.
I make my way through the front door, tossing my jacket off and glancing through the mail I've brought in. There doesn't seem to be anything of importance and I glance over to see the answering machine blinking.
I hit the play button.
"Samantha, I've got something for you about your missing person. I think I may have spotted her. By the time you get this message, you've probably all ready cracked the case. Anyways, give me a call at home. It's Kellar," he reaffirms, before hanging up.
I let out a sigh and grab the phone, dialing his work number and then his home number when he doesn't answer the first time.
"Kellar?" I question, when he answers.
"Yeah, Samantha?"
"You called?" I inquire, grabbing a pad of paper and a pen from the counter. "What have you got?"
"Here's the thing," he tells me, "she was spotted at Molly's, about ten miles from her apartment."
"The bar?" I question slightly confused.
"Yeah. I went over and spoke to her. She gave me a completely different name, but unless she has a twin sister, I swear it was her."
"Did you happen to check her ID?"
"It didn't help."
"Thanks, but unless you have an address she's at now or something more substantial--"
"I tailed her car for about three miles until I lost sight of her."
"Get a license plate?"
"Didn't help," he answers, "the address led to a warehouse."
"What are you thinking?"
"Maybe she's running from something."
"Yeah, maybe," I whisper in a daze. A minute or so passes before I continue, "Can you get me the warehouse address?"
"Sure, it's 475 Lincoln Drive. It won't help."
"Thanks, I'll see what we can find."
"Samantha."
"Yeah?"
"Can I take you out sometime?"
"Drinks?" I suggest.
"That was the plan. Doesn't have to be tonight, maybe tomorrow—if you have the night off."
"We'll see," I respond before hanging up. If I decide to meet him, it's always at the same time and place, so now he'll just have to wait and see if I show up.
I grab my phone and dial Jack's cell.
"Malone."
"It's me," I respond.
"You okay?" I hear him let out a soft breath, as concern passes through his mind.
"I'll manage. Kellar left me a message. Apparently someone matching our missing person's description was seen at a bar."
"Anything else?"
"Yeah, her address from her license matches a warehouse. I was going to go look into it and thought you should know."
"Give me the address; we'll go check it out."
"I can do it, Jack."
"I'm not doubting you. What's the address."
I let out an aggravated sigh and give him the address before hanging up the phone. I open the fridge, glancing around for something edible. Nothing looks that appetizing and I grab the phone, resorting to something Jack and I normally do on overnight cases—takeout.
I relax into the sofa, waiting for the pizza to arrive as I flip through the channels. I eye the clock, slowly growing hungry and I smile softly, grateful the day is just about over.
I hear the pizza man at the door and grab some cash. Once I've brought the box of pizza inside the kitchen, I grab a paper plate, taking some to eat with me into the living room.
"Samantha?" Two bites into my meal I hear Jack at the door.
"Just a second," I answer, wiping my hands and unlocking it to let him in.
"Mind if I grab a piece?"
"Help yourself," I offer, heading back towards the sofa to finish eating. He comes in, with a piece of pizza in his hand, and sits beside me. "I thought you were looking into the case?"
"Dead end," he answers. "Actually, I'm having Danny and Martin run a few leads and we're still waiting on the results from her computer."
"You skipped out early?" I eye him with a surprised glance.
"Danny thought it would be a good idea and, well, Martin," he pauses with a laugh, "he actually offered to make sure you were all right after being sick. I told him not to bother you."
"Thanks," I eye him questionably. "Why are you here?"
"We're still friends, right?"
"I--," my eyes dart around the room with a sigh, "I don't see why not." I shrug, standing up to grab another piece of pizza.
"Grab me one while you're up."
"Get it yourself," I answer with a laugh, shaking my head as I grab myself a slice and hand Jack a smaller one. He eyes me intently and takes the smaller one anyhow. "What?" I question, after I feel him staring at me for longer than I like.
"Nothing," he shakes his head with a soft breath, before taking a bite of his dinner.
"Jack, if you're here because you're worried about me, I'm doing much better," I reassure him.
"You look like you are," he answers, "but you don't have to put on a show around me. I know you, Samantha." He eyes me intently and my gaze drops to my food as I toss the remainder of the uneaten piece on the paper plate, no longer hungry.
"I'm fine," I stress, trying to ease his mind and my own.
He eyes me with a sigh, "I don't want you to spend the weekend alone."
"All right, I'll call Danny up Saturday afternoon."
"What about tomorrow night?"
"I'll go see Kellar," I shrug. He looks taken-aback by my forwardness. "He invited me out for a drink, and I could use it."
"Sam, I know what you're planning on doing. Don't." He shakes his head, his eyes warning me not to.
"Or what?" I question. "We're already over. You'll be with your girls tomorrow night, and I'll be with him."
"Samantha," his breath is hot against my lips as he says my name. His anger is building within him and it's only a matter of time until it unleashes.
****************
Jack Malone POV:
Samantha Spade Residence
March 11, 2004
6:37 p.m.
"I can't believe you," I shake my head. "You'd sleep with him?"
"I have before," she quips. "You didn't have a problem with it when you were still married to Maria."
"That was different."
"How so?" she eyes me intently.
"I had no right to say anything; I was still married."
"And what? Since we're over now, it's okay to jump right in and shoot down my choice for dates?"
"I think you're making a big mistake."
"Would you rather see me go out with Martin?"
"Why? So you can use him too?"
"Oh, we both know Kellar's aware of the circumstances. I don't see him complaining," she retorts.
"You admit it?"
"Jack," she shakes her head, "I never used you, so don't go getting any irrational ideas." She stands up, grabs her unfinished dinner and tosses it into the trashcan. She rinses her hands and dries them before eyeing me. "I'm going to take a bath before bed. It'd be nice if you saw yourself out," she tells me, before turning her back and heading into her bedroom.
"Samantha," I let out a sigh, letting my head fall back to the couch cushions. I know she wants me gone, but I have this aching feeling in the pit of my stomach telling me otherwise.
I stand up and glance around her apartment. Everything seems all right; there's nothing strange or out of the ordinary. I feel the need to check on her, though. I just hope she won't be angry with me. Maybe I can tell her I'm leaving? It's a crummy excuse. I know she's angry with me, but I want to work things out. She's had a rough time as it is—we both have.
I quietly slip into her bedroom and see the bathroom door cracked and the lights off. There's a faint glow from candles and I quietly approach the door. I hear her muffled sobs and feel my stomach knot, "Sam," I knock softly and push open the door.
"Go away," she whispers, covering her face with her hand as she tries to hide her tears. In the candlelight, her body is bathed in darkness and the only visible glance I get of her is from the rise of her breasts up to her face. "Please leave," she begs me, her tears falling fast and her body shaking violently with pain.
"Sam." I step closer, drawing myself to the edge of the tub. I lean down, my hand capturing hers that's covering her face.
"Don't," she shakes me away, wanting to hide her face and her true feelings.
I grab a towel from the counter. "Come on," I tell her, as I help her to her feet and wrap the towel around her. She shivers from the cold, her teeth chattering. Even in the darkness I can make out her lips turning a shade of blue.
"You can go," she chatters, shivering as her hair drips onto the floor. I grab another towel and try to run it through her hair as she walks out to her bedroom. I follow behind and she grabs a pair of warm pajamas, slipping them on before sliding between the sheets.
"I'm so sorry," I tell her, not knowing what else to say. She eyes me with a tired sigh. Her tears have stopped, but she looks so broken and so lost. It hurts me to see her this way. I grab her wet towels and toss them into her laundry basket in the closet.
"Thanks," she mumbles, rolling around beneath the covers, trying to get warm.
I move towards her, take a seat on the edge of the bed and rest my hand along her back. "This isn't something that's going to disappear overnight. These feelings you're having--"
"I know," she groans. "It's just so much to deal with—all of it."
"Tell me what you want me to do," I offer, hoping she'll let me into her life again.
She rolls onto her side to face me. "I don't think there's anything you can do," she whispers. "It's something I have to deal with."
"You're not alone on this," I remind her, moving my hand to her shoulder.
"Thanks," she answers, glancing around the room.
"What?"
"I won't see Kellar tomorrow, if you really don't want me to."
I let out a soft sigh. I don't want her seeing him, but I also don't want us to be over.
"Do what makes you happy, Sam." She groans in frustration as she shifts onto her back and stares up at the ceiling. "What?" I question softly, moving my hand to her shoulder.
"I wish things were different," she answers.
"They are," I remind her. "I've divorced Maria, I'm madly in love with you- -." She cuts me off as she turns her head to face me. Her eyes hold so much pain, I don't know what to say or do.
"You have two young girls who hate me and I can't blame them," she whispers. "Right now I don't disagree with them—I lost our son."
"Sam, that was not your fault." I move my hand to beneath her chin, glancing into her eyes. Her brown orbs begin to water and she shuts her eyes, not wanting to face me any longer.
Her tears slide past her closed eyes and I lean down, kissing each drop away on her cheeks. "Jack," her voice is soft and warm as her eyes flutter open. "This can't happen," she shakes her head no. "I can't go through it again."
"You're not alone, Sam."
"I am," she nods gently. "I know you're trying to help, but you have Hannah and Kate to worry about." Her eyes meet mine.
I let out a soft sigh, remembering how Hannah has been behaving lately. "I always worry about you, Samantha." I meet her eyes before she shuts them.
"I know. Don't worry about me; I'll be fine." She shifts beneath the covers, ready for bed. I lean down and give her a soft kiss before shutting off the light.
"Goodnight," I whisper.
"Stay," her words are barely audible, but I glance back and feel my heart telling me to be with her. I tug at my work clothes, slipping them off before sliding between her sheets. I feel her body beside mine, but I make no move to touch her. As much as I want to, I don't want to upset her. "Thanks." I feel her breath on my neck as she leans into my body and I open my arms to envelope her. She nuzzles into my chest before falling into a light sleep.