Burning Bright – Chapter 3

By: Paints-the-Sky

Authors Note: Thank you to everyone who reviews, any suggestions or comments are always excellent. I am a big Martin/Sam fan; I wish they would hook up already (on the show, I mean) Oh yes, the mathematics in this chapter might not be quite right, as I am usually writing during math class.

Disclaimer: I don't own WAT or anything affiliated with it.

Danny tapped his pen against the polished oak table. If Martin didn't show up in exactly four and half seconds, he would be late. Danny could see Jack coming out of his office with several files in hand; ready to start their case. Sam had come in only moments before, and Vivian had probably been here hours before anyone else.

Jack opened the glass door, moving swiftly to the head of the table, passing out the files as he walked.

"Okay people, Fiona Ballou, age fourteen, went missing from the Century 21 and--"

Jack was staring at Martin's empty chair.

"Where's Martin?"

Everyone just shrugged. This was probably the first time in history that Martin Fitzgerald had ever been late.

"Danny?" Jack asked.

They all looked expectantly at Danny, who was trying to hide behind his case file.

"Danny, where's Martin?" Jack asked again.

"Uh...I dunno. He seemed kinda down when he I saw him last night," muttered Danny.

Down was an understatement. Martin was fuckin' suicidal.

"Sam?"

Sam shook her head

"Vivian?"

"Jack, I'm sure he'll be here in a minute," said Vivian calmly.

"Well if you hear from him, tell him to call me,"

Twenty minuets later the team was walking out the building, ready to spread out and cover their bases.

Jack had just reached the doors when Martin burst through them, panting hard.

"Sorry...Jack...traffic...no cabs...sorry,"

"Martin, did you run here all the way from you apartment?"

Martin nodded.

Jack tried hard not to smile.

It was fifteen blocks from the Bureau to Martin's apartment, well over a mile.

Over-achiever was another big understatement for Martin.

"Its okay, just don't let it happen again. We got a big case, Fiona Ballou, age fourteen, last seen at Century 21..."

"Fuck," Martin muttered under his breath. It was the third time he had been cut off by a taxi in the last ten minutes. He gripped the steering wheel with white knuckles, gritting his teeth to keep from screaming. He needed to get down the victim's house to question the parents; they were losing time, if only those damn taxis would—

"Martin, you okay?" Sam put a hand on his shoulder.

Martin was relieved that had had not been partnered with Danny this time. What a pleasant car ride that would have been.

"Yeah, I'm fine,"

Sam nodded, looking back out the window. That was what Martin liked about Sam, she knew when to leave it alone.

And that was what he needed, to be left alone.

Jack had seen Danny's expression when Martin walked in, a look of extreme relief. Like Danny hadn't expected to see Martin ever again. It made Jack very suspicious.

Why would Danny be so worried?

Sure it was the first time Martin had ever been late, but it wasn't that big of a deal. There was some problem between them, and if it was enough to make Danny worry, it was big.

And that made Jack worry.

"Two double caramel mochas, another two straight black with cream, and a sugar-free hazelnut latte," said the perky cashier, handing Jack the cardboard tray of steaming coffees.

"Thanks," he muttered. His team was pulling an all-nighter; they would need all the caffeine they could get. Fiona Ballou was still missing, there were a few leads, but the crucial twenty-four hours they needed were running out.

He was about to round the corner into the office when he paused. He could hear shouting coming from the men's bathroom. Very familiar shouting.

"I don't need any help,"

"Yes you do-"

"Don't tell me what I need! It wasn't what it looked like, okay? Just leave it alone,"

"If I 'leave it alone,' something worse will happen,"

"Nothing happened, I'm fine. Just...just promise you won't tell anyone, okay? OKAY?"

"Okay man, whatever..."

Out through the bathroom door burst Martin, face hard with anger.

"Jack," he murmured as he brushed past Jack back to the office.

A defeated Danny pushed open the door a second later, but froze when he spotted Jack.

"Hey, got the coffee?" Danny said casually, trying to play it cool.

"Yeah," said Jack, handing Danny his cup. "What was that all about?"

"You heard?"

"Kinda hard not to,"

Danny took a long drink of coffee before answering.

"It's nothing, just a disagreement,"

"It didn't sound like nothing,"

Just then Sam chose to peak around the corner.

"Jack, does that smell like my sugar-free hazelnut latte?"

"Yeah it is," piped Danny, "I need to go check on trace, see if they found anything on that jacket," he said, using the distraction to slip away.

"C'mon Jack," Sam said, motioning around the corner, "we've got a long night ahead of us,"

"You have no idea,"

"What was that?"

"Nothing, Sam. It's Nothing..."

Authors Note II: Another big thanks to my reviewers; you have all helped me out a ton! Hopefully this chapter is up to par with the first two, and even more I hope you'll give me some feedback! Love you all! P-t-S