Chapter Five

*******************

"Fear stops you in your tracks. Self-confidence propels you forward."

- Unknown

*******************

Sam's POV

I walked into the office today and there was this high tension in the are. Something happened or was going to happen. Making my way to my desk, and switching on my computer, I saw VanDoren sitting in Jack's office with him. It could be nothing, she could be filling him in on the latest case. But then like a bucket of ice water was poured over my head, this wave of coldness flooded my thoughts, and immediately our conversation from yesterday flooded my mind. All of a sudden I felt as though I couldn't breath, and I sat down before someone said something about the draining color of my face.

Looking at the computer screen I tried to train my eyes on something other then Jack's office door. I logged on to the web to check my e-mail, and I was able to distract my eyes for a while, but not long enough because as soon as VanDoren left Jack's office I was up and making my way to him.

*******************

Before I can get through the door Jack is there and is ushering me back to the Bullpen with his hand lingering on my lower back. Maybe a little lower then would normally be operate, but nothing ever was between Jack and I.

As I sat down, and everyone joined us, I shot Jack a look telling him that we needed to talk and he just nodded in understanding.

*******************

"Sam, your with me," said Jack breaking me from my thoughts. "We are going to go and talk to Jacob's friend, Andrew," he says checking the file. "See is he knows anything. Martin you'll start the paper trail. Credit cards, ATM, checking. You know the drill. Vivian the parents. It's been a while since they have talked, but still. Follow it all. Danny. I need you to go to his business. Who knows this could all have to do with a business deal gone wrong."

Everyone having their assignments, left to go find out what they could.

*******************

Driving to Andrew's house I tried to get Jack to talk to me. But as soon as I opened my mouth his cell phone rand. From how he was talking, my guess was that it was Marie. The phone call lasted all the way to Andrew's apartment building.

Walking up the path to the buildings entrance, Jack's hand lingered low on by back. Just as it had before in the office. We were buzzed in by the landlord and after explaining why we were here he told us that we could find Andrew's apartment on the seventh floor. Being one of the older buildings there were no stairs and he told us that we were going to have to walk.

Now walking normally didn't usually affect me, but by the forth flight of stairs I had to stop on the nearest landing because my leg was killing me. When Jack noticed that I was no longer beside him and that I had stopped, he walked back down the last few steps and stopped where I was.

"Your leg?" he questioned.

"Yea, it still acts up time to tome. I guess it's not used to climbing a lot of stairs anymore."

He just gave me a look of concern and placed his hand on the lower part of my back again. This is the third time today that he has done this. He hasn't touched me this much since he took me out of the bookstore. This time he allowed his hand to slip under the hem of my shirt and touched the skin of my lower back, sending heat through my body. But this time I couldn't help it. This time I had to say something.

"Jack?" I said, trying not to allow my voice to sound to affected.

"Yes?" he asked looking at me.

"What are you doing?" and as if his hand had been burned he pulled it away, and shoved in it to his pocket, and just like that the warmth was gone.

"Sorry," he said.

*******************

As we approached the door I looked at Jack. And the look upon his face was one of inner-turmoil. Knocking at the door I couldn't help but ask.

"You okay?"

"Yup," he said not taking his eyes off the door, knowing that the second that he did, I would be able to read him like an open book.

"Okay," I said as the door opened and left it at that.

*******************

"Yea, what do you want?" questioned Andrew.

"FBI. We are here to talk to you about the disappearance of Jacob Meyers. May we come in?" Jack questions.

"Yea, sure. Most defiantly. Do you guys know anything yet?" he asks showing us into his apartment and in to his living room. He sits on the ottoman that is placed in front of a small love seat and tell us to take a seat. Jack and I look at each other and sit down in the small space provided for us.

"No, we don't have very much right now. Which is why we are here." I say. "Has Jacob been acting differently lately? Has he been distant? Seem distracted?"

"No. He is usually quite. Goes to a few parties now and then. Never did drugs in school, as far as I know. We hang out with the same group of people, but that's about it. He is usually off focus, or in his own type of world so I can't really help you there."

"Now Jacob lived here for a while right." questions Jack, looking around.

"Well we used to live together, way back when. But not in this apartment. We lived all the way across town on Furnace Dock. But that was about four or five years ago."

"Well thank you for you time." I say. "And if you think of anything don't hesitate to call." I hand my business card and stand up ready to leave. Jack does the same.

*******************

Driving back to the office we sit in an unbelievable tension filled silence. Not being able to stand it anymore I chose to break the silence.

"Jack, wha–," I start, but I am soon being cut off.

"Samantha," he starts. That's cold. He barley ever calls me Samantha. Only when he wants to keep it strictly professional. "I told Marie," he starts. "I told Marie that I would be going with her to Chicago."

And just like that my whole world was thrown out of control by Jack Malone.

"You did," I said, not being able to control the shakiness of my voice.

"Yes, but Sam." there the nickname again. "I need to do this. I need to keep my family together. If not for me, then for my girls they need to know I love them. They need me."

"It's okay Jack." I start. "There your family. Of corse you should go with them. Why wouldn't you, I mean?" I say trying to shrug it off like it wasn't a big deal, as if my heart wasn't just thrown to the ground and being shattered into a million pieces, and that this wasn't tarring me in two. "I am glad that you are doing this, honestly." I try to ensure him. "When do you leave?" I ask as we are stopped in a line at the toll booth.

"The end of next week," he says trying to catch my eye. "That is what I was talking to Paula about this morning. I handed in my transfer slip last night."

"Next week," I repeat.

"Yea, next week," he says again.

"So who's taking over the unit, or do they not know yet?" I say trying to steer the conversation on to safer ground.

"Sam, d–," he tried, but this time I am the one cutting him off.

"No Jack, don't," I say, unable to keep the emotion out of my voice. "I am the last person that you need to explain this to," I say trying to keep the tears out of my eyes.

"Okay," he says and leaves it at that.

As I reached out for the radio to switch it on, to chase away this loud silence. Jack grabs for my hand and places it in his lap. Just that but of contact and I know that it will all be right.