AUTHOR'S NOTE: Sorry that this part has taken so long in coming. I have really been trying to work on the constructive criticism received to the previous parts. I hope that you enjoy this slightly longer part. Before Chapter 5 I will be re-writing bits of the first 3 chapters in an attempt to improve them! Thanks for reading!

For the record, I still don't own any of the characters from Without a Trace so please don't sue me!

'Jack will be returning within the next few hours' Vivian calculated. 'If we are going to do anything then we've got to plan it quickly and we've got to plan it now. Sam's life might depend on it…' she trailed off, her own words affecting her more than she had expected. 'Might I suggest that we carry out some surveillance first though, we don't want to be making false accusations. Any ideas?'

Vivian looked over guiltily at where Danny sat, twiddling his thumbs nervously with his eyes, still fiery, focussed on the ground. 'No', she thought, 'they wouldn't mess up like that again.'

The room fell silent, no-one from the depleted team wishing to speak up. The situation required a leader – a role that Jack himself always took with the others obedient followers – to organise a fool-proof plan while inspiring those involved to carry it out to the letter and to perform above their ability.

Martin sighed, desperate that it would not be him who plotted the downfall of his boss, his friend and his mentor but at the same time even more desperate not to lose the only lead they had in finding his lover.

'Ok, this is what we do..' Martin rose up from his seat and took massive control of the situation, writing on the white board behind him as he spoke. Within a matter of minutes a plan had been formulated, improved upon and noted by those involved. And by the time that Jack entered the room approximately an hour and a half later, all evidence that the meeting had ever taken place had been destroyed.

'Have we got any leads yet?' he asked while loosening his tie from around his neck. 'Absolutely nothing' Vivian replied, deliberately not taking her eyes away from the computer monitor on which she was working.

'Keep me posted,' Jack spoke over her shoulder, his voice distant and tone preoccupied. 'I'll be in my office if you need me.' With that, to the relief of both parties involved, he wandered to the other end of the room past Martin and Danny but with not even a word spoken.

Martin, in particular, was happy with this. His mind was skimming though memories as if searching for either a lead or a form of inspiration that could lead him to wherever Sam was. If one thing had become clear to him over the previous days it was that he never wanted to leave her side again.

FLASHBACK

'5……..4…….3……..2…….1……..Happy New Year!'

Fireworks were soon being set off all around the city amongst the annual drunken cheer. New Year - that time for new beginnings and the opportunity to finally dispel unwanted memories. New Year - that excuse for a party. New Year – that time when those who are suffering an inner turmoil and unbearable hurt have no choice but to force a smile, sing 'Auld Lang Syne' and party into the early hours with everyone else.

'BANG' – another New Year when Sam was once again surrounded by people but yet somehow alone.

'BANG' – another New Year where Sam knew that there was no point in resolutions because her life moved so quickly that even New Day resolutions couldn't be kept.

'BANG' – her first New Year which she had to share with a pain in her heart and a longing to be with a man with whom she never could be.

'Can I get you another drink?' a gentle voice asked from behind, causing her to re-surface from her thoughts and reapply her false smile.

'No thanks Martin, I'm going to head off in a minute anyway. I've got to, erm, be in the office in the morning to, erm, catch up on some paperwork,' she bluffed unconvincingly.

'They let you into the FBI with that lying ability?' he joked before his face turned to one of concern. 'At least let me walk you home so that you can tell me what's bothering you. I know something's up, maybe talking would help.'

Sam shrugged, suddenly overcome by uncertainty. Was it /that/ obvious that she wasn't enjoying the party? Should she let Martin walk her home, as a friend, of course, and at least tell him some of the things on her mind? Why was her heart suddenly beating in double-time and her cheeks glowing crimson? Was that Jack over there watching the two of them?

'Sounds as good an offer as I've had all evening,' Sam smiled, sincerely for the first time since she had arrived as Martin had helped ease her trench coat over her shoulders.

Outside the weather was typically chilly for the time of year and even such a substantial coat could not keep the cold out and shivers at bay. To begin with the two walked side by side in an awkward silence, neither prepared to make the first move and both unsure as to what words might be appropriate.

'Are you going to tell me what's up? I mean, you don't have to or anything but, well, you never know, it might help.' Martin tried, aware that the silence was giving both far too much time with their thoughts. He allowed his arm to slip gently around Sam as if to tell her that he was there for her but as much as an attempt to still her shivering body.

'Oh, you know, just New Years stuff. Stupid really, it's just that another year seems to be starting the same as every other year has ended,' Sam blushed, knowing that she hadn't quite revealed the full story but yet giving Martin at least as idea of what was going through her mind.

'Yeah, I know. It's not stupid at all,' Martin reassured his colleague and friend, aware that there was far more to it than she was letting on but knowing that it was a victory in itself that Sam had opened up at all. She had never really been the kind of person to let anyone into her innermost thoughts. Not even she knew why, just that it made her feel somewhat uncomfortable.

The journey continued in the original silence but the presence of Martin's arm around her seemed to settle any uneasiness that Sam had previously been experiencing. All too soon they were under a familiar street-light that by night would illuminate Sam's bedroom.

'My stop I guess' she spoke quietly as if it would delay the moment that they would have to part, aware that her head was now so close to Martin's that she could feel his breath against her cheeks. Soon, her lips were gently brushing against his. The lamplight highlighted his sparkling eyes and seemed to bounce off her blonde locks. To the casual observer they might well have appeared to be a drunken New Year's fling, to a nagging voice at the back of Sam's mind they might have been a couple that could never last when her thoughts were still so filled with Jack, but to everything and everyone that really mattered they were made for each other and this was clearly the start of something special.

'Martin. MARTIN.' Danny forced his friend to resurface from his lake of thoughts with a gentle tap on the arm. 'We've got to get going. Ready?'

Martin nodded, unsure in reality if he was or not but knowing that he was definitely more than ready to do anything that might at least bring him a little closer to Sam. It seemed so unfair that after so little time together that they were now once again separated but Martin knew that putting right injustices was certainly part of his job description. If ever he was going to put all his training and experience to good use, now was going to be the time. If ever the situation called for a hero, it was going to be him.

Danny glanced over at his colleague as the two left together. Sam's disappearance was affecting all of them, but no-one more so than Danny. His face was pale and visibly drained, his stride considerably shortened but his eyes reflected a grim determination. Even without Sam on the investigation Danny knew that if any case was going to be solved, it would be this one. No-one was giving up on Sam yet, he just prayed that Sam wasn't giving up on them either…