Chapter Two

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"...from the sky, from the earth, from a scrap of paper, from a passing shape, from a spiders web... we must pick out what's good for us and where we can find it..."

- Pablo Picasso

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Marie asked me to come home early tonight. She told me that we needed to "talk." I don't remember the last time that my wife and I were able to have a honest conversation about anything. Every time that we have tried to talk since I've move back in, all that we have done is fight. Our conversations start off civil, but then she will accuse me of something, she'll tell me that I work to late or she'll accuse me of having an affair, or still being in one. I want to try to fix everything, I want to be a normal family, but I tink that this marriage is beyond repairs. Right not I don't think that there is anything I wouldn't do to make this marriage work.

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When I came home the usual sounds of laughter of the television blaring with some kids television show on, were missing. As I entered the kitchen I smelled something really good. Something I've missed. It was the smell of a home cooked meal. When I didn't see anyone in the kitchen I went to the dinning room. Marie was in there setting the table. A table for two.

"Hey," I said, "where are the girls?" I question as I come into her view.

"Hannah is spending the night at Maddies, and Katie is with Rachel for her birthday," she replied without even looking up.

"What's the occasion?" I asked, pointing to the table.

"Oh..." she started. "I have something to tell you, and can't a wife do something nice for her husband?" she said, but the last part sounded forced.

"Okay. I am just going to run upstair and change before we eat," I said beginning to take off my tie, and go upstairs.

"Sure. It's going to be a few minutes anyway. Take your time," she said moving into the kitchen.

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Woah. I don't know what that was. But that must have been our single most civil, longest conversation since I have been back. Marie is acting weird. Something has to be up. I don't remember the last time Marie cooked a meal, and here she is pulling out all stops. I remember the first time that she did this and that was when she told me she was pregnant for the first time, and then again for Katie. She always cooks when she has something important and life changing to tell me. I wonder what it is this time...

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As I walked downstairs and into our dinning room I saw Marie placing our dishes at the ends of the table.

"This looks great," I said, making myself known and sitting down.

"Yea, well we need to talk," said Marie sitting down. "Jack, there's something that I need to tell you. But before you freak out. I don't need your answer right now. But I do need it by next Friday."

"Sure Marie," I said lifting a bite of food into my mouth.

"Jack. I'm being transferred to Chicago," she said so quickly that I almost didn't hear her.

"What," I said. "What do you mean you've been transferred to Chicago? What about me and the girls? You just can't expect for us to pick up everything and just leave. What about my father! My job!"

"Yes, Jack," she said starting to get angry. "I know all about your father, and I know all about your job. It's the reason why your never home!"

"I'm never home! Yea, that's rich Marie. What about you? You are trying to up root our family to move to another state! Yes, I may work a lot. Yes, my job keeps me from being home a lot, but it's my job!"

"So what? Is my job just not as important as yours? Or is it just that you don't want to leave that little office whore? Is that it? Come on Jack. You still sleeping with that little tramp?" she yelled standing up.

I also stand up. "Leave Samantha out of this. This has nothing to do with her and you know that. This is between you and me so don't bring Sam into this."

"Samantha. Huh. So that's her name? Come on, Jack. Your slipping up. I need you answer by next Friday. I need to know if your coming with Hannah, Katie, and me to Chicago. O are you going to ruin our family again. Like you did the first time with... Sam."

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Out of all the things that I was expecting her to say that was the last thing. Chicago. That is so far away. I am sure that the FBI offices are nice over there, but would I really be able to pick up my life and leave like that? I really need to get out of here...

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Walking around the city has always had that calming effect on me. There are just so many places, different people that you can see walking down the street. So much mystery, so much magic, but also so much evil. Over the years I have seen my fair share of cruel evil human beings. People who can ruin an entire family with the flick of a switch, the pull of a trigger. Just like that one person can become God. Holding someone's life in their hands. That is the ultimate power. What I've tried to do is lessen that evil. Give those that have no hope some. Trying as hard as I do has it's effects on me. Which is why I am the way that I am.

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Usually when I go on these walks I end up at the park, and I walk aimlessly around for hours. But today is different and I find myself walking that familiar path to the office. My other home. Someday's it feels more like a home, then my actually apartment. Sad how that happens isn't it? Spending more time/ wanting to spend more time at my job, at my desk then at home.

Finally I reach my floor and as the door dings open and I look out across the Bullpen I can't help but let the memories overflow. From my first day as a rookie, all those years ago, to this morning. So many times spent looking for the people of the city that I don't know. Looking for clues, looking for something to help us find that missing person.

Walking into my office I stop and look around, really trying to take everything in at once and how this office has changed so much over the last few years. All the changes and it still feels the same. I still get that same adrenaline rush each time that we find the case breaker and get our missing person home.

I go to my office and sit down at my desk. Past my computer screen sits two pictures. One of Katie and one of Hannah. I don't remember when those pictures were taken, but it doesn't matter when I am able to look at those pictures and see their glowing smiles. I turn around to look at the desk behind me. Now usually it is cluttered with papers. But now that our old case is finished you can see the pictures I have there. There is some of Samantha, Vivian, Danny, Martin, and myself. Sitting at the conference table talking out our leads on a new case, and Paula came over and took our pictures. It was totally random and unexpected that none of us really knew what was going on. A few days later when I came in I noticed a box on my desk and inside was the picture in a wooden frame. We all looked so deeply at work, but frozen in motion were Sam and myself giving each other that knowing look and inside was a note saying. "They need you as much as you need them. Remember that." At first I was confused but I got the gist of it. Next were all my degrees. So much time I spent learning everything I could about people. Look at me now. Deciding the fate of my family and marriage.

How did his all happen?