Part 14

Day 4 late morning

At the hospital

Vivian entered the hospital room to see Martin awake and gently patting
Brian's back as the little boy slept. Vivian smiled at the tenderness
Martin showed to the little boy.

"Viv, is there any way I could..." Martin couldn't finish the words as the
lump formed in his throat.

"It's difficult to say. He's not an orphan but his parents are criminals
and we're pretty sure they are out of the country. Even if they were here,
they would be in prison. He wouldn't be a candidate for adoption any time
soon so he would end up in a foster home for sure. On the other hand, he's
also in danger. In all likelihood his parents will come for him. I don't
know what to tell you, sweetie, you're not married..."

"Maybe my sister... she's married... I could ask her if she could take care
of him until... I figure something..."

"No, your family would be in danger. You can't do that. No, this boy is a
material witness in a federal investigation. He'll need to go into
protective custody."

Martin winced and sucked in air between his teeth because of the pain. The
pain in his head was terrible but it didn't begin to match the pain in his
heart. He closed his eyes against the pain as well as against the
compassion in Vivian's eyes. He knew she wanted to help him. He just
didn't know what to do.

At that moment Jack came into the room. As badly as he wanted Martin out of
the hospital he wasn't prepared for the image of his agent looking so
fragile. He began to reconsider the idea of having Martin come into the
office.

Before he could speak Martin's doctor walked into the room. "Alright, Agent
Fitzgerald, your tests came back negative which means we are ready to
release you. You need to stay quiet, rest, and I want you back here if you
have any episodes of dizziness or blackouts."

"Don't worry, Doctor." Jack found his voice and watched as Martin startled
slightly at seeing him there. "I'll make sure he follows your orders.
However, I need him at the office for a short period of time before he goes
home."

Doctor Richards locked his eyes with Jack's, and then proceeded, "The whole
situation has been very stressful for Martin. I think you have to keep him
calm and let him rest for a week at least before he goes back to his job.
He had a concussion some days ago and he still hasn't recovered from it.
He's been hit pretty hard hours ago and have some bruised ribs, and don't
forget he's still has his arm in a cast for at least a month from now. He
has to let his body heal."

"I understand, Doctor, but you need to understand that Martin is an
important witness in a massive federal investigation. I need a few hours of
his time today and then I'll make sure he gets the rest he needs." Jack
understood the doctor's concerns but he needed Martin's input, he also knew
that Martin needed to be involved, even if only a little bit.

Brian chose that moment to wake up. Vivian gathered him up and went outside
the room. Brian seemed very relaxed with her and he wasn't concerned about
leaving Martin.

The doctor left the discharge papers and Jack assisted Martin in getting
dressed. He could see the bruises and injuries, and he flinched every time
Martin flinched in pain. He knew he shouldn't feel guilt over Martin's
injuries; he hadn't done anything to get him hurt. It wasn't anyone's fault
on the team that Martin had been injured. Still, Martin was his agent. In
the end it was his responsibility. Jack knew he would carry the guilt of
Martin's injuries because that's who he was.

Easing Martin into the waiting wheelchair, which Martin wanted to protest
but didn't have the energy, they signed the forms and left the hospital.

Back at the office Sam and Danny were working as Jack appeared helping an
exhausted looking Martin with Vivian carrying Brian.

"Hey, Martin, you look awful." Despite Danny's declaration, he had a smile
on his face and was truly glad to see his partner back.

"Well believe it of not, bro, I feel better." Martin forced a smile. He
knew Danny was trying to lighten up the tension in the office and he
appreciated the effort.

Brian ran over to Sam and jumped into her arms giving her a big hug.
Martin's smile became easier, and bigger as he realized that Sam was
genuinely happy to see the little boy.

Danny didn't missed the looks and gave Martin a gentle squeeze on his
shoulder.

"Take a seat. Here is the report of our interviews. We haven't talked to
Collins yet. We're waiting for your father and I think Jack wants you to be
there too. We have some photos, a rundown of what happened at the airport
for the bust, and..."

"Breakfast." With that, Sam set a mug of tea and some toast in front of
him. She figured he was a bit rocky and that would go down easier.
Besides, she could make a toast without burning it. Martin grinned at her,
remembering that when they were together he always did the cooking. He
appreciated her gesture and his smile conveyed that.

He spread all the photos over the table and made a stack with all the ones
he knew from the Hoskins' album, after that he read the file. He had made
some space beside him for Brian so they could have breakfast together. "How
are you doing, little man? Are you bored?"

"No, Martin, I'm ok" said the kid

But Martin knew for sure he was bored and he took a piece of paper, cut
it in a square shape, and then started to work on it folding the sides with
his finger in different angles, the boy was amazed at the form that was
growing from that piece of paper, and suddenly, a frog appeared out of the paper.

"Wow! Cool! How did you... how could you...! He didn't have any words to say
what he needed to say "can you do a plane?"

"Of course!" and he did it and gave it to Brian. Then he took another piece
of paper and made a bird, and with a little more work an elephant. He placed
all the figures over the table in front of Brian and resumed his work. Brian
was now playing with the figures and a piece of paper trying to remember how
Martin did that magic.

"Hey, Danny", called Martin "I reviewed all the photos here. There were
more in that album, I'm sure."

"We don't know how many people were involved. We did get this file from the
Washington office with some other possibilities."

Martin looked through the file and then he froze. "Danny, take a look at
this."

Danny leaned over to see the photo Martin was indicating.

"He's a friend of my father from years ago. We may have a problem with
that."

"Are you sure?"

"I'm positive. He was with Fanning and Coltwell together in one of the
pictures that I saw..."

Danny went from looking at the photos strewn on the table to looking at
Martin as he stopped speaking. He grabbed Martin as he started to sway.

"Easy, buddy, maybe you should lie down for a few minutes." He saw Martin's
eyes squeezed tightly shut and could see that a faint sheen of perspiration
had appeared on his forehead.

"I'm tired, and my head hurts a lot."

"Yeah, why don't we get you into Jack's office and have you lie down on the
couch for a little while." With that Danny eased Martin up and let him lean
on him as he guided him into Jack's office.

Jack had been purposefully working at Martin's desk in case this occurred
and he exchanged worried looks with Vivian and Sam as they watched Martin's
slow progress out of the bullpen. Brian quietly slipped off his chair and
followed after his 'hero' and disappeared into Jack's office.

Danny got Martin to Jack's office with Brian following him; he eased Martin
onto the couch and then turned off the lights, and left the room, closing
the door behind him. He watched through the glass long enough to see Brian
climb onto the couch and stretch out next to Martin, the little boy's hand
holding onto Martin's cast.

When Danny returned to the bullpen he saw Jack, Vivian and Sam looking at
the photo Martin had picked out. He read over Jack's shoulder that the man
was an agent with a lot of years in the Bureau. Just then Victor Fitzgerald
came into the office.

"I would like to see my son. How is he?" Victor's normally forceful voice
was subdued and there was a slight quaver to his voice telling of his
concern.

"He's in my office resting"

"l need to see him for a minute. I'll be right back."

Deputy Director Victor Fitzgerald was not prepared for the scene that
awaited him in Jack's office. After quietly entering and letting his eyes
adjust to the darkened room he saw his son's bruised and pale face. He
knelt beside his son and gently put his hand on Martin's forehead. He felt
the slight warmth and felt a tremor of concern. Then he noticed the little
boy curled peacefully against his son's battered frame.

After a moment Victor stood up and left the office as quietly as he entered.
Inside he was enraged, not quiet. He returned to the bullpen and took
notice of the file that Jack was intently reading.

"What are you doing with Carl Mason's file?"

"Do you know him very well?" asked Jack

"Yes, he's been a very good friend of mine for years!"

"Does Martin know him?"

"Of course he knows him!" and then the realization hit him "Why? Is he
involved in some way?"

"Martin recognized him. He said he was in a photo with Fanning and
Coltwell." Danny answered.

"It can't be..." but then he thought in the last days, strange coincidences
had happened with this case, his secure line compromised, the only way that
could have happened, the only way Martin could have been found at the
hospital. Victor felt his white hot anger boil inside him. It was a stark
contrast to the coldness of his voice as he spoke.

"Who else?"

"These are all from Washington; do you know any of them?"

"This is Max Brunner; he works in my office... Carl talked to me about
getting him the job... what exactly is happening here!"

Jack gave him a folder containing a summary that he, Sam and Danny had
been working on. "Victor, read all we've got and lets prepare for the next
steps. What do you want to do?"

Victor never hesitated; his son's pale, bruised, flushed face was all he
saw. "I want them to pay. No deals, no plea bargains, they made their
choice, and they can face their fate."

"Okay. Let's get to work."

Victor Fitzgerald sat across from the now former Agent Collins while Jack
stood behind him leaning against the wall. They had let the man sit alone
for several hours while they planned their strategy. Martin and Brian had
appeared from their rest and Martin looked a little better but all knew he
wouldn't have strength for long. He was seated in a chair outside the
interrogation room with Sam, Danny, and Vivian around him. Brian played on
the floor nearby with some building blocks that Sam had somehow found time
to pick up. She couldn't help but grin enthusiastically as the little boy's
face lit up with happiness as he received his toy.

The relatively peaceful scene outside the room was only dampened by the
tense atmosphere. Inside the room there was no hint of peace, only anger
and known threats.

"Victor, have you been properly introduced to our guest here? No? Allow
me. Deputy Director Victor Fitgerald, this low-life scum is former agent
Collins. He's going to enlighten us to some details surrounding the recent
bust, kidnapping of a little boy, kidnapping and assault and battery of a
Federal Agent, drug trafficking, and any other little details that I may
have missed."

Inwardly Victor smiled, outwardly he held onto his best poker face. Despite
his frequent clashes with Malone, he knew him to be a dedicated agent, a man
of high morals, and loyal to a fault. The fault lay in that Jack would
protect his people like no one else, a trait to be admired yes, but at times
that blinded him to his ethical integrity. In times past Victor would have
rounded on Jack smartly for the name calling, petty yes, but it was only the
opening salvo. If Jack was pushing at the beginning things were likely to
get worse.

This time, however, Victor full agreed with Jack's tactics and finally
understood Malone in a way he never had before. This.scum.that was a nicest
he could come up with, was responsible.at least he was the only one Victor
had right now so he was responsible for all the trauma that Martin had
endured these last several days. By God Victor was going to deal with this
man and exact some penalty for the suffering that had been piled on Martin.
Martin who was still recovering for his near death shooting this past year,
Victor hadn't been able to prevent the shooting, hadn't been able to prevent
the kidnappings and subsequent beatings, but he could get justice for his
son.

Victor tuned back in to hear Jack ask; "So whose side were you on; Fanning's
or Coltwell's? Or, was there your own side?"

Collins knew it was over, he decided to make a deal. No honor among thieves
he thought to himself.

"Fanning called five years ago. He needed some help on the inside keeping
Coltwell's business clear in investigations. He wanted us on the inside
with him, but Coltwell was suspicious so he was the only one inside. He knew
that with time he could control the business and we could all take over. At
least that was the plan, but as time passed by and we weren't getting any
closer we..."

"Why did you take the boy, What was he to in all this?" Jack pressured as
Collins stopped.

"We felt Fanning was going solo. We wanted Hoskins on our side, so we took
the boy to force his allegiance. We had taps on his phone, in his house. We
heard him calling Coltwell telling him he suspected us. He had been
following us. Turns out he was good at more than just chemistry." Collins
shook his head at the irony of being followed by the man he was following.

"Agent Fitzgerald." Those were the first words Victor spoke in the room.
Collins looked up sharply at the coldness of the tone in the man's voice
across from him.

"What was the reason for taking him?"

Collins took a breath and looked hopefully to Jack for some help. Seeing
none he plunged ahead. "We heard Collins telling Coltwell that he had
photos. He had enough surveillance that would keep us all from trying
anything against Coltwell and the organization. By then we already had the
kid. Your agent was in the house going through everything, including photo
albums. Hoskins had been laughing to Coltwell saying the evidence was in
plain site, photo albums. Nobody would ever think to look for the evidence
there. We had to take him, he'd be certain to start connecting the dots."

"You keep saying we, who else?" Jack was back controlling the interview as
Victor processed the information.

"We didn't plan to kill him." Collins was getting desperate. The cold near
silence of Victor was unnerving and Jack's questions were relentless in
their simplicity and accuracy.

"We weren't sure what he knew, but when he was here at the office, Nichols
got crazy. He said that he knew everything about us. So he came here to
kill him. He wasn't working with us on that. He was crazy, on the edge.
After that I tried to contact Fanning. I didn't know who to trust anymore
and Fanning never told us where the final buy was going to happen."

"Is that why you took Agent Fitzgerald." Again it was Victor's hard, quiet
voice asking.

"I figured your agent had seen the photos. Figured he had to know the final
location. If he didn't know, the parents absolutely knew, so we grabbed
them both again. Fing parents, like they didn't care about the kid.
They wouldn't budge. Nothing, I mean, their own kid?"

Collins looked to Jack and Victor as if seeking their sympathy in his plight
and wonder as to why the Hoskins' didn't come forward with the information.
Seeing none he plunged forward. He knew his life was over, it just didn't
matter anymore.

"Just wanted the site for the final buy but Mason, he wanted something else.
He wanted the entire operation. He was tired of just calling the shots in
Washington and keeping Coltwell in the clear. He said we had time to make
it happen, that we could take down the whole business. He had already lined
up another connection in Venezuela. I knew Mason would let me in with him,
so I told Petersen to do whatever he had to do to get your agent to talk."

"Even if whatever he had to do meant killing the agent?" Jack ground out
the words, he could see Victor's tension and needed this interview to end
quickly.

"Yes."

"Sure, why not. You were willing to kill a little boy, what's a grown man
other than a bigger inconvenience."

"Do you want to hear that I didn't care? Well I didn't. I wanted that
information, all that time was going to waste if this didn't work, and yes,
when we got the information we needed and verified that it was accurate we
were going to kill them both."

And with those last words, everything Victor was holding inside exploded.
Before Jack could react to stop him Victor had grabbed Collins from across
the table and clamped his hands around his throat. Jack managed to wrestle
Victor away from Collins but not before Victor had truly and thoroughly
terrified Collins into complete submission.

"Who else is in there, apart from Mason!" yelled Victor.

"I don't know. Mason has all the contacts, he sets everything up. We just
get the orders. I never saw or heard of anybody above him."

"How do you know he's not the top guy?" asked Victor

"I've been with him when he takes phone calls. After he finishes, he gives
me orders. Someone above him is pulling the strings. I swear to you, I
don't know anyone higher than Mason."

Realizing they had gotten all that was critical out of Collins, Victor and
Jack exited the room. Victor stopped short as he saw the group outside in
the observation area. He realized that Martin had seen and heard
everything. He wanted to hug his son very tight, but despite all that had
happened, the stern Fitzgerald demeanor could not let go. He stopped beside
Martin and hesitated for only a moment. Then his hand reached out and
gripped Martin's shoulder.

Martin looked into his eyes and they shared a quiet but intensely emotional
moment known only to them.

Van Doren joined them looking grim. She nodded at them all and turned her
attention to Victor. "I just had a call from Washington. Agents went to
take Max Brunner into custody. They were too late. He killed himself. But
they'd got Mason just in time before he got away"

For a little while the group was silent. The only sound came from the
little blocks that Brian was patiently stacking on the floor. He looked up
at the adults as he realized that no one was talking. As his eyes took in
the tense faces he knew something was wrong. He was too little to
understand anything other than people looked angry. He got up and quietly
stood next to Martin, reaching out with his hand to grasp Martin's leg.

The silence was broken by Brian's movement. Everyone realized that while
their best link was getting whatever Mason could say, there were also many
ways to trace Mason's connections above, in case he didn't want to
cooperate. With time and perseverance they would find the head of the beast
that threatened the integrity of the FBI and the lives of those they held
dear. For now, it was time to regroup and tend to some wounds both physical
and emotional.

Jack did what Jack did best, he took control. "Danny, I want you to take
Martin home. Stay with him. Make sure he follows his doctor's orders to
the letter. We'll work out a rotating shift so that someone is with him at
all times until he is recovered."

"You got it, Jack. Come on, partner, let's get you home." Danny stood
ready should Martin need to lean on him for support.

"What about Brian? He can't stay with me, but he needs..."

"Martin, it's okay." interrupted Vivian. "I've pulled some strings and
gotten some hurdles cleared. Brian will be staying with me. Under the
circumstances DCS thought it best that he stay somewhere where he'd be
protected. I've talked it over at home, and we've all agreed."

"Vivian, I don't know what to say. Thank you is not enough."

"Don't thank me yet. Even though you're going to be recovering, you are
going to be expected at my place pretty frequently. Brian is going to need
some help with his drawing, and, I can't teach him origami. Besides, you're
enlisted as his Big Brother, and that is a job I Know you could do very
well."

Two weeks later

Somewhere in Washington DC

The phone rang "How is everything?" said the voice

"Quiet, pretty much as expected." answered another voice

"Did you get the address?"

"Yes, but it will be difficult, so many FBI agents around him."

"I want him back and I don't care what it takes or who is in the way. You
want the operation to run in high gear, get me what I want. You have two
weeks and then I'll be back in town." With that, the line was disconnected.

The End ?