Huge thanks to anmodo as always for betaing this chapter for me – without her this fic wouldn't be possible. Also thanks to everyone that as reviewed, I am glad you're enjoying it.
Chapter 3
"So when was the first time you flew?" Danny asked, as they huddled in the wreckage as the icy wind whipped around them.
"I dunno, I guess I was a few months old," Martin replied, slightly shivering. "My parents travelled a lot when I was a kid. To begin with, I travelled with them, but soon they left me at home with a nanny."
"What was that like?" Danny asked, trying to keep the judgmental tone out of his voice.
"Which one? The travelling or the nanny?" Martin asked quietly. He waited for Danny's smart ass comments about the nanny, the comments about him being a poor little rich kid.
"I don't know. About the travelling, I guess."
"It was interesting – I was just too young to remember or appreciate it. As for the nannies, it depends on who was the nanny. Some were really cool and nice – but most weren't," Martin said in a lost, distant tone. "Some were more interested in the pay check than anything else. But the majority of them were the strict English school mistress type."
"Oh," Danny said quietly, suddenly feeling guilty for judging Martin. "So your parents weren't around much?"
"Not really. My mom was and still is a socialite. My purpose was her 'access' to a whole new level of society – you know 'society' children parties – the kind that all the great and good kids go to. My father, well he, I-I guess he was preparing me for politics from the day I was born," Martin finished quietly.
Danny looked down – not knowing what to say, but interest drove him. "U-mm, so what was your father like?" Danny asked as he tried to build a mental image of Deputy Director Fitzgerald as a father.
"He was," Martin started, but stopped. He closed his eyes as he thought back to his childhood.
Flashback
"And where do you think you are going?" Victor Fitzgerald growled at his son.
"I- I was going out to see James at his house," a thirteen year old Martin Fitzgerald stammered as he turned around to face his father.
"After this!" Victor exclaimed holding up a test paper. He looked away; he couldn't stand it when his son stared at him with his big blue eyes. But he had to do this – Martin would thank him later when he was sitting in the White House.
"Dad," Martin whined, as he stared at his French test paper. It was only an A-, most parents would be over the moon but not his. His father pushed him and his mother didn't really care as long as he didn't embarrass her. "I was really tired after football practice."
"Well then you should train harder, and then you wouldn't be so tired!" Victor replied coldly.
"Dad, I really try, I promise, but the guys are like twice the size of me. I really do try, but 'cos I am small they always target me!" Martin exclaimed. He looked down and nervously played with his hands. After some of tackles, he could barely stand, but he knew he had keep playing.
"I hardly believe that, Martin! You should take responsibly for your actions. Have you been drinking those protein drinks I got you?" Victor asked
"I tried them, but they made me sick," Martin said quietly.
"Why didn't you tell me?" Victor asked gently. "We could have tried a different brand. Martin, I know you think I am tough on you, but I am only doing this for you."
"Yeah right!" Martin yelled.
"Do not take that tone with me!" Victor yelled back. "You will thank me later in life – when you are campaigning for election."
"Politics!" Martin exclaimed. "Did you even think about consulting me about this? Mom! Do something!" He stared at her, eyes burning with rage.
"You should do want your father says," Sarah Fitzgerald said in a disinterested tone. "Darling, I think we should go to the gala that Governor Wallace is holding."
"Of course, darling," Victor said as he kissed his wife. "I am not done with you yet!" Victor added as he glared at Martin.
"And what are you going to do? Ground me!" Martin exclaimed. "Are you going to get a team of FBI agents to watch me?"
"Don't be ridiculous, Martin, I just want the best for you – that's all" Victor explained.
"As if you care – you just don't want me to embarrass you," Martin yelled. He turned and stormed out – slamming the door behind him.
End Flashback
"He was kind of strict, but he just wanted the best for me," Martin said in a quiet, lost tone. He looked out of the wreckage in the blizzard that surrounded them. Were they ever going to get out of this alive? Would he ever see his father again? He let his head fall into his hands. He couldn't believe that he just told Danny of all people about his childhood.
"Martin-Martin," Danny said frowning with concern as he watched Martin let his head fall into his hands. "Hey man, are you all right?"
"U-mm what?" Martin stammered as Danny pulled him out of his deepest, darkest thoughts. "U-mm yeah, sure, I-I mean I'm fine!"
"Are you sure?" Danny asked, his voice full with emotions and concern. He looked at Martin's pale face and shaking form. He found himself panicking again – was this because of what Martin had just told him or was it the head injury?
"I'm sure," Martin replied quietly and gave Danny a small smile. "I'm fine, Danny. I promise you – but I can't wait until that helicopter picks us up."
"Tell me about it," Danny sighed as he leaned back.
Meanwhile, helicopters circled the area of the planes last 'known location'. There was nothing but snow and ice. There was no sign of the plane, no sign of the wreckage. Just how bad was the crash, the pilot thought. He looked down and sadly shook his head; in his opinion, even if they had survived the crash, the survivors probably wouldn't survive the incoming storm.
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
FBI NY HQ
Jack dug his fingernails into his scalp – what the hell had happened to Danny and Martin? He didn't understand. Someone would have seen something if some had happened to his agents. He closed his eyes tightly and massaged his temples, as he could feel a headache coming on. He rubbed his tired eyes and sighed – just waiting for the phone call or appearance of Deputy Director Fitzgerald.
"Jack, what the hell happened? Where is Martin?" Victor Fitzgerald yelled as he stormed into Jack's office.
"Victor, I-I don't know," Jack stammered, not knowing what else to say.
"What! Why the hell not? My son has been on your team for a few weeks and you let something like this happen?" Victor exclaimed as he slammed his fist down on Jack's desk for added affect.
"I would never put Martin in danger!" Jack yelled back. "He and Danny Taylor were flying back from San Diego after a case. We know they made it to the airport, but they cancelled the tickets," Jack started.
"You sent my son across the country with Agent Taylor?" Victor yelled.
"Danny Taylor is a good agent and he is on my team as is your son," Jack said as calmly as he could.
"I don't care – Martin is my son and I know that Agent Taylor has no family so all decisions will be going through me!" Victor said coldly.
"Danny may have no family but I am his emergency contact, so every decision that involves the both of them - well I hate to break to you Victor but I will be making those decisions as well!" Jack yelled back. He stood up and started to pace his office. "They are my agents and I know they are alive!"
"For God's sake Jack, you don't even know what happened to them or where they are," Victor yelled.
"I am following every single lead and I will not sleep until I have found them. If I knew where they were, do you really think I would be sitting here?" Jack exclaimed.
"You're obviously not trying hard enough!" Victor yelled. "I am going to get Martin's disappearance some press coverage."
"Good, I think that will help," Jack sighed. "So are we going to a joint interview or individual ones?"
"What!"
"Danny is missing as well. I want his case to get press coverage as well," Jack explained calmly but he could feel his blood begin to boil.
"Right now, my main concern is Martin, and anyway, Agent Taylor's image will not sell – my son's will," Victor sneered.
"Danny is great agent and good kid. He's a success, he is living the American dream and if you don't think that image will sell, well I will sell it," Jack spat as he stormed out his office, unable to stay in the room with Victor Fitzgerald for a moment longer.
Viv frowned as she listened to Van Doran speaking with a couple of agents. She, like the rest of the team, had been avoiding Van Doran like the plague. She knew that she wouldn't rest until the boys had been returned safe and well. She sighed and poured herself a large mug of coffee knowing that she would be needing it. She frowned as heard the last part of Van Doran's conversation.
"I am sorry, ma'am,but I overheard you talking about one of the FBI planes that has crashed," Viv said, as she followed a hunch.
Van Doran frowned slightly. "We don't know much, apart from, we lost contact with the plane when it was flying over the Rookies and it was flying to New York."
Viv inhaled sharply, she some how knew the answer to her next question, but asked it all the same. "Where did the flight originate from?"
"San Diego," Van Doran replied.
Closing her eyes, she somehow knew that the boys were on that flight. The boys had probably been in the plane crash, they were still missing but at least now they knew where to look. But all she could think of was that they were probably hurt and cold – she didn't want to think of the other scenario that was playing out in her head.
"Agent Johnson?" Van Doran asked as she read Viv's tense body language. "Look if you didn't think I didn't notice what case you and Jack have been working on."
Viv looked up, knowing her game was up. "Do you have the passenger manifest?" she asked quietly.
"Agents Fitzgerald and Taylor were not on it, if that's what you were going to ask," Van Doran replied.
"I-I think that they are," Viv stammered. "They may not be on the passenger manifest, but I still think that they were on the flight."
"Why do you think that?" Van Doran asked curiously
"Because," Viv started. She turned around to the group of young male agents who stood around the coffee. "Can I ask you a theoretical question?" she asked them.
"Yes ma-am," one of the agents replied nervously.
"If you were flying back across the country from a case, and you had to stopover as well. What would you do if you saw one of the FBI planes' and found out it was taking the same route as you?" Viv asked
"I would see if I could get a seat on the FBI plane and I would cancel my ticket," the young agent replied.
Viv smiled softly. "Thank you," she said to the young agent. Turning her attention back to Van Doran, she added. "That's why I think Danny and Martin were on that plane."
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Somewhere on the Rocky Mountains
"Where the hell are they?" Danny exclaimed, as he paced around the wreckage. "It's been two days Martin – why the hell aren't they here?"
"I don't know Danny, but I am sure they will be here soon!" Martin replied as he rested his head against his knees.
"Didn't you hear me Martin? It's been two days! I think we should start walking while we still have a chance," Danny said as he started to storm off down the mountain.
"Danny!" Martin yelled, as he started to chase after him and tackled him. "Danny, listen to me," Martin yelled as he shook the struggling Danny. "Listen to me, man – we need to stay with the plane. When and if we do try to walk out of here, we are going to go prepared!"
"Fuck!" Danny swore. He sat up and scanned the bleak landscape – he didn't understand why people found it so beautiful. He didn't understand why people would come out to areas like this out of choice. "All I am saying is that if they don't arrive in, let's say two days, then I think we should walk out."
"I think that's a good plan, but we need to get the food, water, GPS units and the right clothing sorted," Martin explained. He looked at the wreckage and then to the mountains and wondered how they were going to walk out. He was an experienced rock climber and hiker but he doubted Danny was. "Did you ever go the mountains when you were a kid?"
"No," Danny said looking down; he really didn't want to talk about his childhood. "I went to the Everglades a couple of times though. – but they're nothing like this."
"That sounds cool. Who did you go with?" Martin asked, trying to divert Danny from continuing to panic.
"My brother, and it was cool. He use to let me drive once we got up there," Danny said in a distant lost tone.
"It must have been great to have an older brother," Martin said quietly as he tried to get Danny to open up more.
"Yeah it was – especially after our parents died. He always use make time for me," Danny said with a small smile. He closed his eyes and thought back to his childhood.
Flashback
An 11 year old Danny Alvarez stood by the door with his head down. "Raffi," he whined. "Why do I have to go to school?"
"Because you have to, Danny and if you don't they will separate us – you know the rules," Raffi replied as he moved around their tiny apartment.
"But Raffi I hate it and it's so boring – what's the point?" Danny exclaimed as he started to play with the frayed strap on his school bag.
Raffi bent down in front of his little brother and held his shoulders. "Bro, you have something that I don't have and nor did Papi. You have a chance to have a far better life than I do!"
"What do I have?" Danny said in a slightly confused tone.
"You have a damn good brain, Danny. You work hard at school, get a good job and make Mom and me proud," Raffi said as he gave his baby brother a gentle hug. "One of us has to have the Merc or bemmer!"
Danny grinned, he returned his brother's hug and ran out the door to catch the bus – little did he know that was the last time he would see his brother alive. Several hours later, Danny ran into the apartment clutching his math test paper. He was grinning from ear to ear.
"Raffi," he called out. "Raffi, I got an A+ on my math test!"
Danny looked around the empty, silent apartment. Something was wrong – he knew it. Raffi was always home when he got home from school and if he wasn't he would have left a note. He slowly started to walk to this brother's room, but stopped. Something told him that something terrible lay within those walls. But he had to go in there – what if Raffi needed his help? He nervously pushed open the door and gasped. He closed his eyes, maybe when he opened them this would all be a dream. Very slowly and hesistantly he opened them again, only to be met with the same image.
"Raffi," he cried out and dropped down next his brother's body. He pulled the syringe out his brother's arm and threw it across the room. "No, Raffi please don't leave me. What I am going to do without you. I love you Raffi please wake, don't go," he sobbed. He cradled Raff's head in his arm and fell asleep – tears still streaming down his face.
End of flashback
"They found me two days later," Danny continued in a very quiet, lost tone. "I don't know. I guess I made an impression on the teachers because they noticed I was missing – at my school, that didn't usually happen."
Martin sat in stunned silence – not knowing what to say. "U-mm," he stammered. He wanted to say something lighted hearted but not insensitive, to break the silence. "U-mm, Doctor Harris would have a field day with us." He smirked hoping that Danny wouldn't see it as a dig at him.
"A field day?" Danny joked. "Man, she would have an annual conference and five book deal!"
The sat and joked on the mountainside, but what they didn't know was that two weather fronts were about collide above them. The extreme heat from the recent heat wave in Utah was about to collide with the icy mountain – causing one of the worse storms on record for the region.
