A/N: Hey, I'm back... finally. I won't even try to apologize, because I said I would post the end of the story before school started again, so saying school was pure stress won't count as an excuse. Well, here is the next chapter. It's second last, as I said before, there's only the epilogue to come. I wanted to post this before the season four premiere aired in the U.S. tonight, so I had my beta-readers working overtime (thanks again you two). Okay, enjoy (especially to you who will get to know what really happened tonight).

Dedicated to: missusmesser (I hate victor either, believe me, but this chapter is... well, you'll see), higherbeingfriendsfan (okay, I just can't stop thanking you for helping me so much with the story hun), awesomepossum (next thanks to you ;) you're just amazing. And I still mean it, love your profile honey :) ), wItHouT a tRacE fReAk, whatever90, Zonya (Danny and Heather? Mmh, never thought about it... ;) ), jtsideout389 ( I really had some problems writing Victor, also can't wait to see him in season four), clarkson04, outrageous band geek (you don't scare me, don't worry, and I love all the reviews. Especially yours, you manage to make me laugh every single time), Mrs. Fitzgerald, thebondgirl, lapmal, Annika (hey thanks a lot for your review, it was my first one from someone from Germany (at least I think so). Oh ja, ich freu mich wirklich sehr auf Freitag, das ist mein einziger lichtblick während der woche ;) Danke dass du die geschichte so sehr magst und findest ich bringe es gut rüber. Ich schreibe wirklich gern, und wenn ich damit leute um ihre nachtruhe bringe ist es mir das wirklich wert.), sorry about that, I know most of you couldn't read it., Dennise Taylor and kitty kitty

Special thanks to: Debz, Kate, Briana and Celeste

Chapter 19

After Danny had left, Martin and Sam just looked at each other for several long moments.

"I was so scared," Sam finally whispered, breaking the silence that had lasted in the room. The tears she had been holding back fel down her cheeks freely as she spoke again. "I was so scared I would lose you. I don't know what I would have done if... I don't know if I would have made it through..."

"Hey, hey..." Martin brought his hand up to her face and cupped her cheek. He wiped the tears away with his thumb. "It's okay. I'm okay." He lifted his head and kissed her forehead softly, then pulled back and looked ate her intently. "I wouldn't leave you... again. You're the best thing that ever happened to me in my entire life and I don't plan on going anywhere anytime soon. So don't cry."

A soft smile spread across her face as she blinked back the tears. "Thank you," She whispered and leaned down to kiss him.

They were interrupted by a knock on the door. Samantha looked at Martin who returned her questioning glance. "I thought you said Jack would only visit when I'm being transferred to another station?" Martin asked.

"That's what he said," Sam replied as she quickly wiped away the tears that still clung to her cheeks. They both turned towrads the door as it began to open, and a smiling Heather Fitzgerald was revealed.

"Hey sweetheart," She said with a loving glance towards her son as she stepped into the room.

"Mom," Martin said. His voice wavered between surprise and joy. "I thought you were on Hawaii?"

"We got on the next plane as soon as we heard what happened," Heather explained as she sat down on the edge of Martin's bed and took his hand into hers.

"I'm sorry I ruined your vacation," Martin said with an apologetic look towards his mother.

"Oh, honey, don't apologize. I couldn't care less about Hawaii at the moment."

Samantha had watched the encounter between mother and son silently. Now she got up and turned to leave, but Martin grabbed her wrist and pulled her back towards the bed. "Where are you going?" He asked and Samantha couldn't quite place the look in his eyes: Was he scared?

"I was just heading outside to give you some time to talk," She explained and watched him intently.

"Oh, that's nonsense." Samantha looked up. Martin's mother looked directly at her for the first time since she entered the room. "You don't have to leave just because I'm here. And it doesn't look like Martin wants you to leave at all," She added, with a smile towards her son.

Martin looked up at his mom, glad to see her smiling, then turned towards Samantha. "Samantha, this is my mom."

Samantha smiled at her shyly, something Martin had never seen her do before. He turned towards his mom and was surprised to see the smile gone from her face, replaced by a serious expression.

"Samantha? You're the one who stayed with Martin the whole day and night?" Heather asked.

Samantha just nodded, obviously too afraid to speak. But her expression quickly changed to one of surprise when Heather got up and went around the bed in one fluid motion. "Thank you so much," She whispered as she enveloped Samantha in her arms. Martin saw her close her eyes as one single tear rolled down her cheek. Surprised by the warm gesture, Sam didn't know what to do at first. Then she slowly lifted her arms to rest them on the older woman's back and returned the hug.

As Heather finally pulled away, she looked at Samantha with thankful eyes. "I'm so glad you were with him all the time. There was no plane available to get us back to New York right away and the whole time I was worried sick that Martin would be alone. Thank you so much for being here."

Samantha smiled at her genuinly. "I wouldn't have gone anywhere else."

Heather's smile grew even wider as she glanced at her son quickly, then turned towards Samantha. "So, I take it you are..." She didn't finish her sentence, but there was no need. Martin took Samantha's hand into his and she looked at him shortly before he turned towards his mother.

"Yeah, we are. Mom, Samantha is my girlfriend." Samantha glnaced at Martin quickly, then looked back at his mother, waiting for her reaction anxiously.

Just as Heather opened her mouth to speak, there was another knock on the door. She turned towards the door and Samantha saw the smile fading off her face as Victor Fitzgerald stepped into the room.

Samantha felt a shiver run down her spine as the piercing blue eyes of the Deputy Director scanned her shortly and then came to a rest on the form of his son. The same change of expression Samantha had just seen on Heather Fitzgerald's face now seemed to take over Martin: his smile quickly turned into a cold and stony expression. Althought she had known Martin's relationship towards his father wasn't the best, it still surprised her to see the look in his eyes: she could only describe it as hatred.

Victor Fitzgerald seemed to be oblivious to the fact that the atmosphere in the room had changed dramatically since his entrance mere seconds ago. Samantha wondered silently if he was really that oblivious to other people feelings or if he just didn't care, though she was not quite sure which choice she would like better.

"Dad," Martin stated with a grim expression.

"Martin," Victor replied.

Martin just couldn't believe it. He hadn't exspected his father would react very emotionally or concerned; he knew better than that. But the fact that his father showed not the slightest piece of emotion was just too much.

"So, how was your flight?" Martin asked dryly.

He wasn't quite sure, but it seemed like the cold expression on his father's face seemed to soften slightly. "Martin, listen..." Victor paused and looked at Samantha shortly, then turned back towards his son. "I know you're angry we didn't get here earlier, but there was no plane-"

"- no plane available. Yeah, I know, Mom already said it," Martin replied. He didn't even try to hide the anger he was feeling boiling up inside. "And I'm not angry you didn't get here earlier." Victor opened his mouth to reply, but Martin interrupted him. "I'm angry you don't seem to be concerned at all. I didn't exspect you to be here as soon as you heard about what happened. I know that's not possible. But I exspect you to at least care or worry about me. As far as I can see, you don't seem to give a fuck about how I am. I'm your son, god damn it Not some stranger or someone from work you barely know. Though you would probably care about people from work more than you obviously do about me," He finished bitterly.

Victor seemed to be stunned momentarily, totally taken aback and surprised by Martin's reaction. Then he glanced at Samantha again, obviously not wanting to discuss the topic in front of her.

Martin noticed the look his father was giving Samantha.

"Dad, this is Samantha. I guess you still remember her from the office." He didn't say anything about her being his girlfriend; that fight yould have to wait for another time. But his tone made it very clear that he was not going to send her away.

Victor, getting the message Martin was giving him, seemed to resign. "Martin, listen.

I know you're angry with me, but the things you just said... they're not true." He paused, and a look of sadness spread across his face as he added, "I thought you knew me better than that."

Martin was surprised to see the look on his father's face, but he was not giving up yet. As he replied, his tone was still cold and distant.

"Yeah? And how exactly did you exspect me to get to know you when you were never at home?"

"If I might remind you, it was you who decided to move to Seattle and then New York." The coldness was back in Victor's voice.

"And why do you think I decided to move as far away from home as possible? But I'm not even talking about this right now. Where were you when I was a kid? You were never there when I got home from school, you didn't watch any of my football games and even if we were on a vacation you alyways had work to do or some important people to meet. You were never there for me, especially when I needed you. Your career always was more important to you than your own family." By the time he was finished, Martin was breathing heavily. His mother stepped closer to his bed and put a hand onto his arm to calm him down a bit.

The look on his father's face was one Martin had never seen before: regret and guilt.

"I know I made a lot of mistakes in the past, but I can't change it anymore. And I also don't know what to do now. I guess I'm not good at these things. So, what do you want me to do, Martin?" Victor asked with his voice full of sadness again.

Martin's expression finally started to soften as he saw the honesty on his father's face.

"You could maybe start by not making the same mistakes again."

Victor stepped next to Martin's bed, slowly reached down and grabbed his hand. "I'll try,"

He said softly.