Chapter Three

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"A little but added to what you've already got gives you a little bit more."

- P.G. Wodehouse

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::The next day at work::

I know that today was going to be different it was going to be harder. Last night when I did ho home I just came in and crawled into bed, and said, "good nigh," to Marie. She didn't even ask me where I had gone, she didn't as much look up from the book that she was reading. I guess that it is better this way.

Today when I walked into the office I was Sam sitting on her desk talking to Martin, who was perched on the side of her desk, looking like he was ready to jump at her first command. And knowing Sam she probably didn't even notice, it was just the way that she was. Next was Vivian sitting at her desk, holding what looked to be her second cup of coffee. Danny had court so he wouldn't be in till later this afternoon.

I made my way to my desk and sat down, in the same place where I spent most of my night. It was then that I heard a knock on my door and in walked Sam.

"Hey," she said. "You okay? You look like you go no sleep."

"No, I got sleep. Just not a lot. I had something on my mind," I replied and Sam just looked at me oddly. I gave her a lot more information then I normally would and she knew it, but she just let it go.

"Okay then. I am here if you wanna talk though... alright."

"Thanks," I said look her in the eyes. Mission accomplished. I got one of her special smiles that I have been able to convince were just for me, and just like that she was gone from my doorway.

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The morning was pretty clam, but then around three in the afternoon we got word that a high paid executive banker had just up and vanished after a scheduled business breakfast earlier that morning. No signs of a kidnaping but she wasn't one to just to pick up and leave during the day. Everyone had tried calling her. She wasn't at home and she wasn't answering her cell. We didn't have much to go on so I sent Samantha and Danny to talk to her friends, and co-workers, while Vivian and Martin went to go to talk to the family.

As I dismissed everyone Vivian stayed back to ask me something. She waited till everyone left and then.

"You alright?" she asked. Her voice showing more concern then her trained facial expression.

"Yea, why wouldn't I be?" I wanted to know. It came out more harsh then I expected.

"Well you look like hell a–"

"Thanks"

"And you didn't assign yourself out in the filed. You only stay in the office when something is bothering you. And..." she stopped and looked like she was considering or not to continue. "You came in here this morning looking all dazed. Come one Jack. This is me that you are talking to. What's wrong."

"Nothing. I just didn't think that I was needed. I am going to start our paper trail," she gave me her mother look. "Honestly now go talk to the family. I am sure Danny is wondering where you are."

"Okay," she said after a minute. "But Jack," she waited till I caught her eye. "I am here if you ever need to have that talk."

"Thanks Viv."

"Anytime," she said turning to leave.

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A few hours later we were all sitting around the conference table. It turns out that our missing person just decided to get away for a while. She got out of her business breakfast and headed to JFK and hopped on to the first plane out of New York. We traced her by her credit card charges. Sometimes those who try to get away are really just waiting to be found.

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Sighing as I walked into my office and sitting down at my desk, I saw everyone begin to pack up to go home but Sam. As Martin passed her desk he stopped to ask her something and she looked up to him and said something back and as he looked around he caught my eye, and as Martin walked away looking like a lost puppy Sam got up and made her way into my office.

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"Knock, Knock," she said as she let herself in and took a seat in one of the chairs in front of my desk. She crossed her legs showing that she wasn't moving until they talked.

"Sure, come in, take a seat," I said with a smirk. She didn't return it. "What's on your mind Sam," I said realizing that she wasn't in the mood.

"What's wrong? Come on Jack. This is me your talking to. You may be able to keep Vivian away with an "I'm fine." But I know you better. Come on what's going on?"

I decided that it would be better to tell her the truth. The way that she wouldn't be as mad as when she finds out later. "Marie." I stopped seeing the look on her face. "Sam.. Marie had been transferred." I paused to see her reaction.

"Oh," she said before I could finish. "Um... where?" She asked in a small voice. I could tell that she was trying to keep the emotions at bay.

"To Chicago," I said quietly. Half hoping that she wouldn't hear me.

"Are you going to go?" Her voice growing smaller each time she spoke. This time I could tell that she was close to losing it. Trying to look everywhere but at me.

"I don't know," I said trying to catch her eye. "She told me that I have until Friday, and then either way she, and the girls were going to Chicago."

"I see. Well you should go," she said giving me a straight face and controlled voice. But when I looked into her eyes all I could see was sadness and inner turmoil.

"I know that it is the right thing to go," I said looking down at my hands, and then back up again before continuing. "But I don't want to leave. I have so much history here. My job, my life, my father, friends... you. There are so many things that I don't want to leave behind. But at the same time I know that I should keep my family together."

"Jack, when you came to visit me in the hospital after I had been shot, coming to tell me that you were trying to fix things with Marie, make your family whole. I was mad. I was mad because you risked your life for mine, because I had messed up and ruined everything, but most of all knowing that after you left that you would be going home. To your wife, to your kids, and that meant that we were officially over. But you gave it a chance. You tried to fix your marriage, and as much as it kills me to say it. You need your girls just as much as they need you. Be with them. Don't let them know what it is like to grow up without a father. And you don't have to worry about me," she said standing to leave. "I can take care of myself. Go to Chicago, and be with your family Jack. They need you more then you'll ever know."

And with that she left.