Title: Touchstone

Chapter: 6

Author: Evidence

Rating: PG-13

Author's Notes:  Thanks to D and Maple Street and all of you for reading.

There was a moment when she felt that maybe it was better off to be out cold- to not know, not be aware of where you are.  Being aware meant smelling the muggy dirtiness, touching it, feeling the cold floor sweep into your once warm body.  Being aware meant knowing you and your baby could die at the whim of some mad man.  Being aware meant the fear was present in your mind; you had nowhere to put your thoughts, nothing else to concentrate on.  Shauna McClaine had wished now that he had taken the butt end of the gun to her head so she wouldn't have to have that awareness.  But that hadn't occurred so she was stuck dwelling on her situation.  She tried to recite Emily Dickinson poetry but that only served to depress her more.  So she turned her thoughts to Shel Silverstein and one particular poem "Our L was home with the flu, Lizzy our O had some homework to do, Mitchell, E, probably got lost on the way, so I'm all the love that could make it today."  In some small way it brought comfort.  For that V, that love was inside her, she just had to live through it.  Tommy would save her, she had to believe that.

*******

Thomas Spade was a man on a mission that was sure.  Martin Fitzgerald had a hard time keeping up with him as he followed him down one New York Street after another.  Martin successfully weaved in and out of the crowd of people keeping his eyes trained on Samantha's cousin.

Thomas didn't know where in the hell he was going but he couldn't sit in the office like some child.  He had to do something.  His thoughts felt tangled again like they did before Shauna entered his life.  He saw people look at him as he walked and believed fully that they were aliens.  He wanted to cry, scream, shout but he didn't dare with their beady eyes around.  He was glad he had ditched Martin for he didn't quite care for him.  Martin, to him, was nice but not anyone he felt he wanted to get to know.  It may be had nothing to do with Martin himself but probably more with the fact that Samantha had briefly dated him before getting back together with Jack.  Thomas was a huge Jack and Sam supporter so his loyalties lied with them. 

Thomas rounded a corner when he heard it.  The blast came from behind him and he turned to see a yellow bright fire dancing on the sidewalk where he had stood just a few minutes before.

Martin had sensed a rumbling under his feet before the blast occurred.  Realizing that earthquakes were not common in NYC but knowing if one happened it would be devastating, he quickly sprung into action.  He pushed the people in front of him, probably scaring them in the process for they began to run.  He had turned back to warm more people when it went off lifting him up from the ground and throwing him into a brick building.

His eyes opened briefly.  He wasn't on fire for which he was grateful but his body ached like never before.  He heard screams and saw that people needed his help but against his will his eyes closed.  Martin was out cold.

*****

The man tried to push Samantha off of him but to no avail. 

"Who are you?"  She yelled into his ear.

He grunted and left it at that.  He hoped the other part of the master's plan had gone off without a hitch.  He had failed at his role to kill Samantha Spade.  Now he was the one with handcuffs around his wrists and a gun pointed to the back of his head.

"Did you hear me?"  She yelled again.

"Special Agent Spade?"  A voice called out.

"Over here," she responded and two uniform police officers entered the alleyway.

"Who is this?"  Officer Milkin asked.

"That's what I want to know," Samantha replied and handed over the gun she found of him.  It was then she noticed the safety was off.  She gulped.  If she hadn't realized he was up to no good she would be in a body bag instead of bringing in a suspicious guy.  She knew too that this wasn't some random act of violence but that it was all connected.  And all roads led to Podena.

*****

Jack found himself back at the hospital that held both his daughter and Franklin Podena.  He showed his badge and begin heading down to the wing that housed Podena.  Maria stopped him in his tracks.

"Jack!" 

"Not now, I'm here on federal business."

"That's nice your job comes before your daughter," she spat back at him.

He had never wanted to lay a hand on his wife but at that moment if he was another man he could've slapped her.  "I was here with Hanna until all hell broke loose."

"And you have to save the world." The sarcasm was evident.

"No, it's my job to find missing people.  Thomas Spade's girlfriend is missing so that's where I was."

"Sure anything for your blonde," she eyed him with some inner anger brewing.

"It wouldn't matter if it's wasn't Sam's cousin.  How dare you insult my professionalism."

"Was it professional when you were fucking your agent," red rose to Maria's cheeks.

"I'm not going over this with you here, or now.  I have to go talk with someone.  A murderer.  But you know what I will never set foot in our old house again."  Jack moved closer as he said the final statement.

"Fine then.  But if something happens to Hanna it will be on your head!"  Some tears mingled with the angry words.

"All I can do to help her is to let her know how much I love her and I have to hope that she never tries killing herself again."

"That's all you're going to do!"

"I cannot control her every action she isn't a newborn.  I can only be there for her and I will always be.  I'm not leaving my children, Maria, I'm just leaving you."  His heart panged slightly as he said the last thought.  At one time he had cared for her.  But his feelings he once had for Maria didn't compare to what he felt for Sam: she was like the breath he needed to live.

Maria turned and abruptly left and Jack continued his journey down to Podena.

He arrived at the room with two guards standing outside.  "I'm here to see Podena," he said showing his badge.  One tall guard nodded and opened the door.  Podena was still hooked up but a smile danced on his lips.

"Jack!  I've been waiting for your visit."  The smile gleamed.

"I'm sure you have.  Let's cut the shit, what's you're little plan here Frankie?"

The smile faded.  "Don't call me that name!"

"Frankie?  Oh I'm sorry does that upset you?"  Now Jack was the one that smiled.

"He would call me that." Podena was lost in his own thoughts, his lip quivering.

"Oh yeah your daddy, right?  Right before he beat you."

"Shut up!" Podena pulled at his restraints.

"Okay here's the deal I'll shut up when you tell me what you have planned."  Jack leaned over him.

"You'll see for yourself.  It's going to be an awful day here."  The smile returned.  "You'll have a funeral to attend."

Jack clenched his fist.  "Where is Shauna, Frankie?"

"Oh not Shauna's funeral- but you can attend that one too I suppose.  I meant the funeral of your beloved, Samantha Spade."

Jack launched himself on top of him grabbing him by the throat.  "What did you plan?  Answer me!"

Podena chocked spitting up felm.  The guards entered grabbing Jack and pulling him away.

"Tell me!"  Jack yelled fighting back the guards.

"She's already dead Jack," Podena coughed.  "My friend should have taken care of her by now."

"I'll make you pay," tears streamed down Jack's face and with a whisper he repeated, "I'll make you pay."

"I can't wait...Jackie," Podena snorted.

****

Danny answered his cell promptly.  "Yeah, Taylor."

"Danny, it's Thomas."

"Thomas, is there any new information?"  Danny asked pausing against his car for a minute.

"I don't know...look I have to go find Shauna but..."

"Whoa wait a minute.  Aren't you with Martin?  You can't go looking for her on your own.  It could be dangerous to your life and Shauna's."

Thomas sighed on the other end of the pay phone.  "Danny, a bomb or something went off near headquarters.  Martin is hurt."

"What!  Oh God.... I'm on way.  Where exactly?  Thomas.... Thomas?  Thomas!"

But Thomas Spade was already gone on a mission to find Shauna who at the moment was getting the shock of her life.

****

The door swung open.  Light dancing in.  A figure approached.  Shauna looked into his eyes.  "Oh my God..."

To be continued...