Sam didn't know where she was heading. All she knew was that she needed to be as far away from Jack and Bailey and the FBI as possible. She glanced at Chloe, hiding her sigh. The child hadn't said a word in the three days since they'd left Jack's mother's house. The irony was not lost on Sam; leaving was supposed to be for Chloe's benefit.

Sam rolled down the window of the rental car, letting fresh, cool air wash into the car. This was going to be a long journey. She only hoped that she and Chloe would come out unscathed at the end.

"What do you think of Florida, sweetheart? Do you want to go to the beach?"

Chloe shrugged, apparently indifferent.

Frustrated, Sam pulled over to the side of the road. "Look, Chlo', I'm sorry. Okay? I wish I could undo the last few days – hell, I wish I could undo the last few years – but what's done is done. I know you hated living with all the cameras and having to be scared all the time, and if we go back to Atlanta we have to go back to all of that."

Chloe finally made eye contact with her mother. "I miss Angel. I miss my friends."

"Me too. And I wish we hadn't had to leave them all behind, but this is a new start. If no one can find us, no one can hurt us."

Chloe looked doubtful. "What about Jack?"

"You're the most important person in my life, Chlo'. He's in the past now. It's just you and me from here on in."

"Really?"

"Really."

Chloe leaned across and hugged Sam, bursting into tears. "I missed you so much!"

Those five words convinced Sam she was doing the right thing. She told herself the ache in her heart would fade with time.

Maybe one of these days she would actually start to believe that.

Bailey turned the postcard over and read the message, though he'd already committed it to memory. Each word broke his heart a little more: Bailey, I'm sorry. Please let me go. Sam.

He couldn't, of course, and the moment he'd received the postcard, the team had traveled to Jacksonville, Florida. They found no trace of Sam or Chloe. When they returned home, Angel called and said she'd received an identical postcard. She'd cried when Bailey told her the trail had gone cold.

Jacksonville. He couldn't help but wonder if there was any significance in the name. Were Sam and Chloe alone? Was Jack with them?

He dismissed the idea almost immediately. If Jack had Sam, he would have let them know by now. He wouldn't pass up the opportunity to gloat.

Angel sealed the last of the boxes and stood, stretching out the kinks in her spine. She walked through the firehouse slowly, remembering the good times they'd had, despite it being almost a prison. She thought further back, to life at the farm, before the VCTF, and further still, to life before Jack. She'd been a different person then, and so had Sam. Angel was older now, less naïve, a sadder version of the girl she'd been so many years before.

She wasn't sure how easy it would be to go back to the life she'd used to have.

Denzel pushed his muzzle into her hand, drawing her thoughts back to the present. Angel absently rubbed his head, then picked up his leash and attached it to his collar. She didn't look back as they waited for the elevator.

If Sam ever decided to return, she wouldn't come here. There was nothing to keep Angel here anymore. She stepped into the elevator and closed her eyes as it descended, saying another silent prayer for Sam and Chloe.

One month later

Angel stepped out onto the porch and cupped her hands around her mouth. "Denzel! Denzel, where are you?"

She waited, her eyes searching the farm for her pet. When he didn't come, she called again. "Denzel!"

Shaking her head, she returned into the house. The evening was too chilly to stay out on the porch all night, and she knew Denzel would come back when he was hungry.

From his hiding place in the bushes, Jack lowered his binoculars and looked down at the still form at his feet. Denzel's body had long since grown cold. Jack smiled and turned his attention back to the house; if anyone knew where his Samantha was, it would be Angel.

He waited for the sun to set completely before he dared to approach. He circled the house once, glancing in each window. Angel was curled up on a couch in the living room, reading a book. Jack broke in through the kitchen, slipping into the house as quietly as if he were a phantom. He was amused that Angel hadn't enabled the security system; she'd obviously thought she was safe here.

The floor creaked under his feet and he froze.

"Denzel!" Angel called. "Is that you?"

Jack heard Angel's approach and quickly stepped out of sight. When she had her back to him, he stepped out of the shadows and slid an arm around her waist, holding a knife to her throat with his other.

"Hello, Angel."

"Oh, God."

Jack chuckled. "Not quite."

"What do you want?"

He was impressed at how calm she seemed to be. Then he felt her shivering against him and he tightened his hold on her. "I want Samantha."

"I don't know where she is."

He spun her around and pressed her against the wall. He wanted to see her face when she spoke to him. "Don't lie to me."

"I'm not lying."

"You're her best friend."

A tear trickled down Angel's cheek. "She didn't tell me everything."

Another tear. Jack smiled. He liked seeing her cry. He bent his head to her ear and said, softly, "She ran away with me, you know."

Angel whimpered.

"She let me fuck her. Begged me not to stop."

"Liar."

Jack removed his glove with his teeth, then touched his hand to Angel's cheek. Her tears moistened his fingertips. Angel closed her eyes. Jack brought his fingers to his lips, wanting to taste her tears.

"I want her back, Angel. Where did she go?"

"I don't know."

Jack grabbed a handful of her hair and twisted it, trying not to take too much pleasure in her grimace. The night was only beginning. "What have I told you about lying to me?"

"I'm. Not. Lying."

She was telling the truth. Few people lied to him, especially at knifepoint. He sighed.

"You're not going to find her if she doesn't want to be found."

Jack smiled indulgently, as if she were a child who had said something amusing. "I found her before. She can't hide from me."

"You're not as smart as you think you are."

"So why has nobody caught me yet?" Jack was bored now. Angel had nothing useful to tell him. He pulled her head back and forced her to look at him. "I'm impressed. You haven't begged me not to kill you."

Angel pressed her lips together but she couldn't hide the fear in her eyes.

"I like you, Angel." Was that relief he saw? How sweet, he thought. "I'll make it quick."

He saw brief confusion flit across her face, then understanding as he raised the knife. In a smooth, practiced motion, he drew the blade across her throat, severing both her jugular and carotid. She blinked a few times and gasped uselessly. Jack stepped away from her and wiped the spray of blood from his face. He turned his back on her as she slid to the floor and cleaned himself at the sink.

He dropped a rose next to Angel's body before beginning his search of the house. If there was anything that could help him find Samantha, he would find it.

A/N: Yeah, I killed Angel. Don't hate me. ::ducks flying objects:: TBC, soon, I promise. Thanks to everyone who has read and reviewed so far. I hope this chapter was worth the wait.