The entire group stared at him, all with the same dumbfounded looks on their faces. Janey spoke first.
"That's really not fun-"
"I'm not joking, Janey," Martin cut her off. "It's the truth; you and I have the same father, so I'm your half-brother, really."
Janey and the rest just stared at him; Martin looked over to Danny, who had the funniest look of shock on his face.
"I thought you guys knew?" Martin asked him.
Danny just stared.
"We thought she was your daughter," Sam said from his other side.
Martin turned to face her, his turn to be confused. "My daughter? What gave you that idea?"
"DNA," Jack answered from behind him, Martin turned again. "Your DNA is a 43 match to hers, and with everything else, it just made sense at the time."
"I guess it would," Martin agreed.
"Wait," Janey said from the tree, "then it's true? Your really are my brother?"
He managed a full smile then. "Yes, I am," he said sounding almost proud.
"Martin," Jack called, Martin turned to see his mother and father standing back a ways.
Martin looked from his parents to Janey, still in the tree, and then to Danny beside him. "My dad should have something for me; would you go get it, please?"
"Sure," Danny ran to the Fitzgerald's, Victor handed him a piece of paper and him hurried back and gave it to Martin.
Martin opened it and read it silently:
Dear Victor,
I'm writing to tell you that I've have a baby girl and she's yours, I know we didn't mean for this to happen, but you're still her father. I don't want to do anything to hurt you or your family, but I'm going to need help raising her, I hardly make end's meat as it is.
I'm sorry things turned out this way, you don't have to claim her, but I've given her your name.
Sincerely, Elisa Marshal
Blow was Janey's full birth name.
"Janey Elisa Marshal Fitzgerald," he smiled. "Your mother gave you that name," he folded up the letter and ticked it into his pocket.
Janey was staring at him, tears running down her face. "You mean I'm not just a 'Jane Doe' anymore?"
"Never again," he was grinning now. "You see that man over there?" he pointed to Victor.
She just nodded.
"He's your father," Martin paused. "And mine."
"He looks grumpy," she snuffled, causing the group to laugh slightly. "Is that your mother with him?"
"Yeah," Martin looked back towards his folks.
"She doesn't look too happy, either."
"Don't you worry about them, I going to take care of you," Martin assured her, "even if I have to adopt you."
Janey cried harder as she gazed at her big brother, she stood up and walk carefully towards him. She held the gun out to him, he took it and stared at it as if it was foreign to him, and then he passed to Danny and reach out for Janey.
"Will I really get to live with you?" she asked standing just beyond his reach.
"It might take a little while to get everything transferred, but I can't see why you couldn't."
"But you don't know how these people work, it could take months! And there are just so many things that they could try to do and-"
"Janey, don't worry about any of that, I'll take care of it," he reached out farther. "Come here, and we'll find a way, I promise you."
Janey stepped closer and slowly put her hand in his. "Brother?"
"Brother," Martin grinned, taking a firm but gentle hold of her hand. Danny took a hold of her other hand and the two help her down until she was standing on limb, putting the short girl at eye level with Martin. The girl stood facing him, still barefoot and in her dirty, torn and bloody pajamas, she shivered. Danny took off his overcoat and put it on to her; she was barely taller than it was.
A single tear ran down Martin's cheek, Janey put a dirty hand on his face and wiped it away. "They broke the mold when they made you, Martin," more tears streaked down her already dirty and tear stained face. She fell into him then and held him tight, crying all the while, he held her with his one good arm.
"I always wanted a big brother," she whispered in his ear, still holding him. She pulled away suddenly. "I almost forgot!" she said reaching into her pocket and pulling out Martin's ID and handing it to him. She then pulled the chain with Danny's badge off and gave it back to him as well.
Martin helped Janey down off the limb on to the ground and they started walking back towards the group of police and others where there was an ambulance waiting. Samantha and Danny falling in a step behind them, Jack bringing up the rear glad that everything turned out well for Martin and the girl.
Martin led the group up to his parents, his left arm around Janey's shoulders, his right arm still up in a sling, her arms around his middle. He stopped in front of his folks.
"Dad, Mom," he looked from one to the other and then down at Janey, who was cowering at his side. "I like you to meet, Janey Fitzgerald," he smiled at her as he spoke.
Victor just stared at the girl a stern look on his face, Martin glared at him and Mrs. Fitzgerald, understanding the importance of this girl to her son, elbowed her husband in the ribs. Martin shot her a grateful look, she smiled at him and then down at Janey. Victor offered her his hand, which Janey stared at for a moment before laying her small, dirty hand in his large, strong one and then gripping it firmly. He seemed impressed by her firm hand shake and gave her a slight smile.
"We should get Janey to the hospital," Jack said from behind them, all turned to face him. "Just in case."
"Jack's right," Martin agreed. "Come on, Janey," he led her to the ambulance and the waiting paramedics.
Jack came to stand beside Danny; Samantha was on the other side of Danny. "Go with him to the hospital and see that he gets some rest," he said looked towards them, but they weren't sure if he meant both of them. Danny hesitated a moment, then Jack nodded towards Martin in the ambulance and the junior agent hurried off and got in the ambulance.
Samantha stood watching as they closed the doors and drove away, she stared after them so intently that she forgot the Jack was still standing beside her until he cleared his throat. Sam jumped and looked at him in surprise and then turned away feeling the awkwardness of the moment.
"Maybe you should…uh," Jack began, "drive Victor and his wife to the hospital."
Samantha turned her head sharply to look at him.
"They might not be up to it," he said and walked away.
Samantha didn't hesitate she quickly walked over to the couple and offered to drive them.
"Thank you, Agent Spade," Victor said, "we'd appreciate it."
Sam drove to the hospital were Janey was taken, the Fitzgerald's waited with Martin in Janey's room while Danny and Samantha were waiting in the waiting room outside.
As they waited Martin asked his father about Janey's mother, Mrs. Fitzgerald had stepped out for some fresh air.
"I don't know what you want me to tell you, Martin," Victor relied to Martin's inquiry.
He shrugged, "Did you date her?"
"No, we only spent one night together," the older man sighed. "And it wasn't planned."
"Were you ever going to tell us?"
"I didn't see the need."
"'Didn't see the need'?" Martin fumed. "You had another child floating around and you didn't think that that was important?"
"She had her mother, I thought, and I was doing my part, I saw no need to complicate things," he sighed again. "Son, I know you're not happy with me, but I was just trying to do what I thought was best for my family. Elisa didn't want me in Janey's life, you read the note, and she only wanted me to pay the child sport, so that's what I did."
Martin leaned back in his chair rubbing his hurt shoulder, he sighed.
"Are you alright?"
"I'm fine," he said continuing to message his wound.
"Are you really going to try and get her to live with you?"
Martin looked up at his father, eyes meeting. "Yes."
"I know you want to do what's best for her, but you should think about what that's going to do to your life," his father said carefully.
"You don't think I can handle this?" Martin glared at him.
"Martin, don't get angry, all I'm saying is that being a parent isn't easy when you're there from day one, but you're coming into the middle of this girl's life after she's already made up her mind about some things," not looking at Martin he continued. "Maybe…maybe she could come stay with your mother and I."
Looking up at his father, the shock clearly written on his face, Martin was overwhelmed. He had expected his father to try to talk him out of taking Janey, but never though that he would offer to take her in himself.
After thinking about it for a moment Martin shook his head. "No, no, I told her that she'd come live with me, I can't change that now, no. Thank you, but no," he looked into his father's eyes.
"Okay, if that what you want, Son."
"But, maybe she could come visit you sometime?"
"Sure," Victor agreed.
Father and son both relaxed feeling a silent truce fall over them, the tension gone. The sat quietly until Janey was brought into the room in a wheelchair.
Janey was quite happy as she was wheeled in by the doctor; she was much cleaner now, wearing cleaner pajamas, too.
"Well, here we are, Janey," the doctor said as he help her into bed. "Well, she has a nasty cut on her side and her feet are cut up pretty bad, but I don't think it's anything serious," he said to Martin and Victor. "So we'll keep her over night, but she should be fine to go home tomorrow."
The family visited for a while after Mrs. Fitzgerald came back inside and then the Fitzgerald's said they needed to get back and Janey needed the rest anyway. After they left Martin sat with Janey for a while telling her that he was going to do everything he could to get it so that she could come live with him. He also told her that she was going to get to visit with their dad sometimes, though she didn't seem real excided about it. After a few minutes Danny poked his head in.
"Hey kids, how's it going?" he asked grinning.
"We're good," Martin answered, standing.
Danny leaned close to him, "Sam's in the other room," he whispered, Martin nodded. "How about you and I play a game?" he said to Janey as Martin slipped out of the room.
He found Sam in the waiting room down the hall; it was empty save her. "Hey," he said, getting her attention.
"Hey, how is she?" Sam asked turning to face him.
"They said she'd be fine, but she has to stay the night."
"That's great," she voice lacked the enthusiasm of the words.
"Are you all right?" he asked, concerned.
"Yeah," she leaned up against the wall, Martin moved closer to her. "It's just that…" she wouldn't look at him.
"Sam, what is it?" he was really starting to worry.
"Things are going to be harder now, for us," she said softly.
Martin nodded. "Yeah, but I'd like them to stay the same as much as possible. I not giving up on us, Sam," he rubbed her cheek with his free hand.
"It's going to be harder," she said looking up at him.
"I'm willing to work at it, if you are," he smiled.
"I am," she smiled back and then leaned in for a kiss, which he gave her, willingly and wholeheartedly. He moved around in front of her, pinned her to the wall, left arm around her, her arms wrapped around his neck, hands in his hair. Martin shifted his weight from foot to foot inching closer until his body was fully pressed up against Sam's, mouths moving, passion growing. His hand found its way under her shirt to rub her bare belly, she moaned into his mouth as a shiver ran over her body.
"Martin?" she gasped, out of breath.
"Hmm?" his moved his mouth to her neck leaving a trail of kisses as he worked his way down.
"This isn't the best place for this," she closed her eyes, tilting her head for him.
"You have a better idea?" he asked moving up to nibble at her ear.
"No," she answered hoarsely, her hunger for him growing rapidly as she pulled his mouth back to hers and kissed him mercilessly. They stayed locked together like that for sometime, mouths moving, hearts beating, hands exploring, bodies touching.
Martin finally pulled away, rested his forehead on Sam's shoulder and sighed deeply. She put her hand on the back of his head rubbing lightly, she turned to place a kiss on his neck, her other arm around his shoulders.
She felt his weight increase as he leaned on her more; suddenly his legs gave out beneath him almost causing them to fall to the floor, Sam did her best to keep from falling.
"Martin?" Sam asked, worried.
He regained his footing as she helped him over to a near by couch. "Are you alright?" she questioned running her hand through his tousled hair.
"Yeah, I…" he rubbed his head. "I'm just a little dizzy, that's all."
"When was the last time you ate?" she inquired, hands still on him.
"Um, breakfast, I guess," he answered softly.
"Breakfast? Oh, Martin, it's almost six o'clock!" she checked her watch. "I'm going to go get you something to eat, will you be okay?"
"Yeah, I'll be fine."
Sam left him sitting on the sofa and hurried out to find some food, she found a group of vending machines near by and she bought a bag of candy and a bag of beef jerky. When she got back he was sitting with his head rested on the back of the couch.
"Martin?" he sat up when she called; she sat down with him again and handed him the candy first.
"Candy?" he looked confused.
"Trust me," she held it out to him, he took it and put it in his mouth. "After you're finished eat this," she gave him the jerky. "I'm going to go talk to Danny, okay?"
"Okay," he gave her weak smile.
Samantha got up and headed into Janey's room where Danny was showing her card tricks, she stood in the doorway quietly waiting for a break in conversation.
"There see, just like that," Danny was saying as he moved the playing cards around on the small table. "Is that your card?"
"Yeah," Janey giggled and then looked up at Sam, Danny turned around to look, too.
"Hey Sam, what's up?" Danny asked cheerfully.
"Hey, I hate to interrupt, but can I talk to you?" she said to Danny.
"Sure," he stood up. "You finish eating that," he said to Janey pointing at her plate of food."
"Okay, Agent-"
"Ah," Danny held up his hand.
"Uncle Danny," she grinning, dimples deepening.
"That's better," he smiled at her and then turned to leave with Sam. "What's up?" he asked, once outside the room.
"It's Martin," she started. "He hasn't eaten since breakfast and his blood sugar has dropped. I have him eating a snack now, but he going to need more, soon."
"Okay," Danny said, looking concerned, "I could stay here with Janey and you could take him somewhere," he suggested.
"It's okay," Janey called from inside the room, they turned to look at her. "I can stay here by myself, I don't mind." Danny and Samantha exchanged glances.
"I'm sorry I didn't mean to eavesdrop, old habits die hard," Janey grinned. "I'm kinda sleepy anyways."
"Okay, Janey," Danny said, "get some rest."
The two agents walked back to the waiting room where Martin was still sitting on the couch, but looking a little better.
"What's going on?" he asked as they walk in the room.
"We're going to get some diner, that's what's going on," Danny said helping Martin to his feet.
"What about Janey?"
"She's already eaten," Danny informed him, leading him towards the exit.
"But whose going to stay with her?" he asked, trying to get free of Danny's grip, without success.
"She said she'd be fine," Sam answered, "and she needs to rest anyway."
"But-"
"Martin!" Sam and Danny said together.
"She'll be fine," Danny told him, as they dragged him into the hospital cafeteria to get diner.
It didn't take them long to eat and soon they were headed back up to Janey's room, the girl was sound asleep when they got there.
"See," Danny said quietly, "I told you she'd be fine."
Martin gave him a dirty look; Danny chuckled.
"What's going to happen now?" Sam asked speaking in low tones.
"Well," Martin began, "I've got a call into her caseworker and the group home, I guess we wait and see if I can take her."
"How long will that take, you think?" Danny questioned as they all sat down around Janey's bed.
"I have no idea," Martin answered looking at his little half-sister and sighing. "I have no idea."
Author's Note: That's the end of the case, but not the story, so I'll keep updating as long as I moved to do so. Hope you enjoyed it!