Chapter 22

XXXXXXX

Jack sat at his desk looking through old case files hoping to maybe link some information that was missed the first time around. It wasn't so much that he was looking for a new lead as much as he would do anything to avoid going home to his empty apartment. Even his father wasn't a viable distraction because he spent the entire day with him before his dad fell asleep on the sofa around 6:30 p.m.

He hated this time of year. It's so easy to feel sorry for yourself when you see families and friends laughing and sharing on what is supposed to be the most magical time of the year. He wanted to call his daughters but he knew that they were at their Christmas Pageant right about now. He had wanted to go see them but he didn't want to leave his father alone either. So they agreed that Maria would record it and they'd watch it when the girls arrived the day after Christmas.

Things were still tense with Hanna but at least she was talking to him so he considered that progress. He was sure she had more questions for him so he tried to formulate possible responses in advance. Unfortunately, every reason he came up with sounded lame even to him. But he decided that by telling Hanna these things he might also give her advice on things to avoid in her own relationships in the future. To let her know that when you are married to someone you have to make time for them, it is easy to drift apart when you work long hours and seldom see one another. Being there for the little stuff does matter – it helps keep you connected.

Of course, he preferred to think that those relationships his daughters would have were still far, far away in the future.

XXXX

Sam stood against the back wall of the elevator as 'Deck the Halls' filtered out of the static speaker. She decided she hated this song because everywhere she went for the last month was playing it. The elevator dinged and she rushed out to escape the hypnotic chorus, 'Fa-la-la-la-la, La-la-la-la.'

She decided to come by the Federal Building to pick up some work to do at home. She'd spent about an hour or so at her neighbors before she got bored out of her mind. The only people she knew were her neighbors and they were busy trying to keep everyone entertained. To make matters worse everyone who was already there knew each other and shared stories and gossip about people she hadn't even met. So since she was the odd ball out she snuck away and decided to pick up some work, Chinese food and just stay home.

As she walked down the hall she spotted Jack sitting at his desk reading through a file. She gently tapped on his door and he looked up and smiled, "Hey, what are you doing here?"

"I was going to ask you the same thing." She smiled in return as she walked over and sat down at a chair in front of his desk. "I ducked out of my friend's party and thought I'd get caught up on my case reports. You?"

"I went to see my dad but he drifted off to sleep right in the middle of our conversation so I thought I'd get some work done." He leaned back and smiled at her. "For the first time I was actually hoping to get called in on a case. I feel a little guilty about that."

"Don't, I was hoping for the same thing." She met Jack's eyes and for a split second she felt that connection she used to have with him. "Well, I better go get those files."

"Okay." Jack nodded as she stood up and headed to the door. "Hey, Sam!"

"Yeah?" She stopped at the door and turned around to look at him.

"I was planning on going over to Hop Lee to get some dinner; do you want to join me?"

Sam hesitated a moment, something told her that this was dangerous territory but she was planning on stopping for dinner so before she knew it she replied, "Yeah, let me just go grab those files and then we can head out."

Jack nodded his head and Sam walked to her desk telling herself it was only dinner between two friends with nothing else to do on Christmas Eve. But even she didn't really buy it.