Yes, this fic is finally finished and edited a few times! As ever, all feedback is very gratefully recieved. Happy Reading!

DISCLAIMER: I don't own any of the characters or for that matter anything that belongs to 'Without a Trace'.

72 Hours Missing

Wearily, Jack, Vivian, Martin and Danny sat round the table, tapping pens and staring at the board. On it was stuck Sam's picture and not so much as a lead except for the fact that she had disappeared three evenings ago now. No-one spoke as no words seemed suitable to the situation and nothing helpful could be said.

The team had, of course, taken it personally. They were like a family from which one member had been suddenly taken away so unexpectedly. And it was ripping them apart that they of all people, trained to find the missing and usually so successful at it, had found nothing, not a scrap. Of course, they tried to keep any negative thoughts to the very back of their minds, but there was always that lingering doubt that they didn't even know whether Sam was alive or not.

'Let's call it a day' Jack spoke with a combination of resignation and frustration, but with all the authority of a great leader. 'I want you to at least try to get some sleep. You never know, something might come up in the morning and I want everyone alert and ready for it if it does. There is nothing more we can do at the moment.'

Jack ran his hand through his hair as he watched his team get up, stretching and yawning and make their way towards the exit. They had tried their best, but at the moment their best simply wasn't good enough. He knew that they would all struggle to sleep that night, experience had taught him that it was nigh on impossible to stop the mind from replaying events and going through every detail time and time again, especially when the missing person one was one who you cared about and the case so close to your heart.

Martin went home immediately. He felt a deep and desperate need to simply be alone with his thoughts so that he could at least attempt to order them in some way. His mind was swimming with the complicated web of thoughts holding him under the water, leaving him gasping for air. No-one understood how Sam made him feel and how his heart was wrenched from his chest once he heard that she was the subject of their latest investigation. No-one shared the glances that they gave each other, the look that communicated so many feelings in an instant, and the same one that he now longed to be able to share with her just one more time.

Jack was proved right as Martin lay alone in bed that night. Thoughts of Sam filled his mind; the memories that they had shared together and the shared fear of the situation now. Somehow, just somehow, Martin knew that Sam was still alive, hanging on in there, fighting to the last. While he was in a warm bed and had the comfort of familiar surroundings he was scared for her, leaving him dreading the thought of how terrified Sam would be – even if he knew that she wouldn't admit it. His only comfort was that it was Sam in trouble and if anyone was able to get out of it, it would be her. She was a fighter, always had been, and he could almost sense every fibre in her body fighting harder than ever before at that very moment.

Vivian crept down her dimly lit landing. She had just spent the last hour just watching her son sleep and his chest rhythmically rise and fall. It was somewhat satisfying, reassuring and calming all in one, just what she needed. Vivian was never one to take cases home with her, but this was different. Not only was a close friend of hers in trouble but something simply was not right. She had never been a believer in the perfect crime; a criminal always left some clues and it was just a matter of finding them. Having found nothing after three whole days was simply unheard of. Unlikely as it was, Vivian knew that this was one case that was far deeper than it seemed and that Sam's life could well rest on them swimming to new depths….and fast.

Meanwhile, Sam was equally wide awake. Undiluted fear and adrenaline made sleep an impossibility, compounded with the pain and discomfort of her predicament. She prayed to every deity imaginable that her friends and colleagues were close to finding her, but knew deep down that this was unlikely – one key factor was always going to be against them….

To be continued………