11.30am

Martin was sitting on his couch flicking channels. Jack had given them the morning off, and he had planned to meet Samantha later. His phone rang, and he answered it smiling, thinking it was Sam, just wanting a chat.

"Hello." he answered. "Agent Fitzgerald?" said an unfamiliar female voice.

"Yes." he said cautiously.

"It's Paula Van Doren." "How can I help?" he asked. "It's about Agent Spade."

Martin looked puzzled but waited for her to continue. "Lisa Atkins got out this morning. I tried to call Agent Spade to tell her, but I can't get through to her. I was wondering if you had seen her?" "She got out? Is she after Samantha?" asked Martin worriedly.

Van Doren sighed. "I don't know, that's why it's so important that I get through to her."

"I was supposed to meet her later, but I can go see her at her place." said Martin. His mind running through what Samantha had said that Lisa said to her after the trial.

"Thank you." said Van Doren. "Bye."

Martin put the receiver back down, frowning to himself.

He dialled Samantha's number to try and relieve some of his worry. Instead of getting Samantha's voice he got a recorded message, "This number has been disconnected or is no longer in service, please try again." Of course, this didn't help his worry, and he rushed over to Sam's place.

12.00pm.

"Shit." Martin swore as he raced up the stairs, praying that he wasn't too late.

"Sam!" he yelled, struggling with the key in the lock. "Are you there?"

He finally opened the door and started in horror at the sight that met his eyes. Amongst the upturned furniture, broken glass and china, lay Sam, slumped on the floor, bleeding from a cut on her forehead. But what most horrified him was Lisa Atkins, standing above her, pointing a gun directly at Martin.

"Hello, Agent Fitzgerald isn't it?" she sneered. "Give me your gun." Martin hesitated. "Now, or I kill her." she said coldly.

Martin took out his gun and slid it across the floor to her, she bent down to pick it up, the other gun in her hand never pointing away from him.

"Now shut the door and give me your cell phone." Martin obliged, not wanting to do anything rash in case she stuck to her threat and killed Samantha. She stomped down hard on the cell phone on the floor, shattering it completely.

Martin was numb, how was he going to get both him and Samantha out of this alive.

"Well actually it's a good thing you're here. I would have had trouble getting her downstairs by myself. I decided to take the liberty of umm borrowing her car." she said waving Samantha's keys around.

"Right, this is what we are going to do. You are going to carry her down to the car, if we meet anyone say she fell and we're taking her to hospital. I will have this gun on her the whole time, and if I suspect anything, even the smallest little sign of any funny business. Anything. I swear to God I will shoot her and you will have to watch her die on your arms and you won't be able to do a thing to save her. Clear?"

Martin nodded.

"Okay, let's get moving."

They made it to the parking lot without any incidents, thankfully. Martin's mind still going through any possible ways to get out of this.

"Put her in the front passenger seat." ordered Lisa.

Martin did, Lisa standing behind him aiming the gun and Samantha, just in case he tried anything.

Once Samantha was in, before Martin had a chance to turn round, Lisa slammed the butt of the gun into his head, sending him into darkness. I

'm sorry Sam, he thought before he passed out.

1.00pm

Danny, Vivian and Jack had arrived in the office for the afternoon, and were waiting impatiently for Martin and Samantha who were late.

"That was the hospital on the phone, Martin was found unconscious in the parking lot of Samantha's building. He just regained consciousness, and the doctor said he's very insistent that we get there straight away. The doctor said Martin said to say that something happened to Sam." said Jack. Danny and Vivian paled. "We'd better get down there." said Danny.

1.20pm

"Martin! What happened?" asked Danny as he rushed into the hospital room followed by Vivian and Jack.

"She got Sam." he said agitatedly. "We have to find her. She'll kill her!"

"Martin. Calm down. Start from the beginning." said Vivian, glancing at the others worriedly.

"Van Doren called me about 11.30 this morning, and she told me that Lisa Atkins got parole and got out early this morning. Van Doren said she tried to get through to Sam, but she couldn't so I went over to Sam's place to tell her. When I got there Sam was unconscious on the floor and Atkins was standing over her with a gun. She made me give her my gun and cell, then made me carry Sam to her car and out her in. Then I guess she hit me and drove off. We have to find them." said Martin extremely quickly, and all in one breath.

"Okay we need to find if anyone's seen Sam's car. I'll call NYPD see if they can track it. Danny, Viv check the house on Oakwood and the cabin they were in last time. I know it's doubtful she'll go back there but it's worth a try." said Jack, trying to stay calm and not think the worst.

1.25pm

Samantha opened her eyes slowly, feeling dizzy for a second she paused trying to focus on where she was. She then cautiously tested her arms and legs, trying not to draw any attention to herself.

Looking through half shut eyes she could see the inside of the car. Samantha waited until the dizziness had passed then thought well this is my chance.

She sat up, startling Lisa Atkins and tried to get control of the wheel. Atkins pushed her back, trying to reach for the gun under her seat. Samantha grabbed at Atkins hands, and tried to grab the wheel, the car was swerving to and fro.

Atkins shouldered Sam away, accidentally turning the wheel. The last thing either of them saw, was a large tree directly in front of them

1.45pm

"That was NYPD, Sam's car was found crashed into tree. The two passengers were taken to hospital." said Danny shakily.

Martin, Danny, Vivian and Jack rushed anxiously through the hospital. Each lost in their own world.

"We're looking for Samantha Spade." said Jack to the woman at the main desk, seeing as he was the only one who seemed in a fit state to talk.

The woman checked something on the computer. "If you just go down the hall, the waiting room is on the left. The doctor will see you in a minute, he's still with Miss Spade at the moment." she said.

Jack smiled before leading the others down the hall. Martin sat in the waiting room, feeling a tightening in his chest, God if anything had happened he didn't know what he'd do.

He watched Danny pace around the room. Jack was standing staring out the window and Vivian was standing staring out the door. All four of them in complete silence.

"You here with Samantha Spade?" asked the doctor as he came in the room.

"Yes we are. How is she?" asked Martin getting to his feet. The doctor smiled. "She'll be fine. She's just got minor concussion and she dislocated her left shoulder on impact. The main impact hit the drivers side, so she was lucky. She will be fine, you can see her now if you want." said the doctor.

"I'll go." said Martin.

"Hey college girl." he said going into the hospital room to see Sam sitting on the bed.

"Hey." she smiled. "Back in here again."

"God Samantha. I'm so glad you're okay. I just kept thinking that I should have done something to stop her before you were in the car."

"There's nothing you could have done. Plus I'll be fine." she said. "That's not the point." said Martin. "I could have lost you. I don't want to lose you ever. I made a promise to protect you and I will."

Samantha smiled at Martin's words, and gently grabbed his hand. "I don't want to lose you either." she said. "It made me realise that I can't live without you. You complete me Sam."

Samantha felt tears building up in her eyes. "I love you so much Martin."

"I love you too. I will always love you. I know this is not the right time, and it may be too soon, but I don't want to spend another minute without you. Will you marry me?"

Samantha looked at him shocked.

"I know it's rushing but it makes sense. I didn't plan this or anything. But I know that I want to spend the rest of my life with you."

Samantha gazed at Martin for a few moments, still in shock. He stared into her eyes hopefully, trying to read her thoughts. Samantha felt herself break out in a wide grin. Martin was right, this did make sense.

"Yes." she whispered.

Martin smiled. "Really?"

"Yes." said Samantha louder. "I want to spend the rest of my life with you. I love you Martin Fitzgerald."

"I love you." said Martin overjoyed, covering Samantha's face in kisses before kissing her on the lips. "Soon to be Mrs Fitzgerald." Samantha giggled. "When do we tell the others?" she asked, "Later." said Martin.

Samantha smiled and pulled Martin in for another kiss.