A.N.: After my boyfriend kept on insisting for weeks that I should finally post this story I'm doing him the favour. Hope you like it as much ashe did. Please R+R

Chapter 1:

„Agent Malone? There is a call for you..."

That was how a Monday morning was supposed to start. It was six o' clock in the morning and he hadn't even entered his private office fully yet, hadn't been able to put down his things, get out of his coat and fetch himself a coffee and there was already work waiting for him. But six o' clock was really pretty early, even for this annoying Monday morning.

He gave the younger agent informimng him a miserrable look and responded without any passion or interest in his voice. It sounded more like a sigh.

"Who is it?"

"Mercy Hospital, Sir…"

Now his interest had awoken – and with it his worry and concern. Why did they call at this – still – time of the night? It wasn't a good sign when the FBI's missing persons unit was called by a hospital – at least most of the time. They probably had found one of the missing persons for them and he just hoped he or she hadn't end up in the morgue. He didn't want his day to begin with a tragedy like that.

He nodded to the younger agent and signaled him to leave.

"I'll take the call in my office."

"Okay, Sir."

The agent hurried to leave and Jack went round his desk, sat down and picked up the phone.

"Malone?"

"This is Dr, Collins from Mercy Hospital. I have a rather big and extraordinary question, Agent Malone, but I need you to come over here immediately. There is a situation I need your help with.

Jack had spoken to Dr. Patricia Collins many times before – sometimes for good, sometimes for bad reasons. They knew each other pretty well and respected the work of the other. They had always been friendly with each other and he considered her a great help and a nice co-worker. But her wish surprised and disturbed him none the less or even more because of their relation.

"What is this all about?"

He asked back curiously, but her answer wasn't what he had wanted to hear.

"I can't tell you on the phone. Just come over here – please."

He knew he wouldn't get any more information from her – even if he insisted, so he didn't. She would tell him sooner or later.

"Alright, I will be there in about 15 minutes."

As he had promised, he arrived at the hospital about a quarter of an hour later and asked the receptionist at the front desk of the hosptitals foyer for Dr. Collins. The reaction, the answer somehow surprised him.

"Agent Malone?"

He frowned but answered her question none the less.

"Yeah, exactly."

"Dr. Collins left a message for you. She's upstairs at ICU and she asks you to meet her there."

"Thanks Miss."

His concern grew more and more right now. ICU never was a good thing – it meant somebody was close to death. But what disturbed him even more, was the fact, that this wasn't the normal policy, if Dr. Collins informed him about a missing person she was taking care of.

Normally she called him, gave him the name, asked him to come over for identification and met him down at the lobby to join him. Today – this wasn't the case.

He rushed to the elevators, stepped inside and pressed the button for the fourth floor – Intensive Care Unit – ICU. The elevator seemed to creep up from floor to floor – having all the time in the world – and he was left with enough time to develop all kinds of thoughts, what Dr. Collins called him here for. He wasn't even sure he wanted to know. When the doors finally opened and the first thing he saw was Dr. Collins nervous, concerned and sad expression on her face, he was almost sure he didn't wanna know.

She stepped close to him, reached out a hand to greet him and a short smile appeared on her worried face. Although he desperately wanted to know what he had come here for, he tried to show some sympathy.

"You look tired."

Another sad smile crossed her face before she answered.

"It was a rough night…"

He took the chance to finally get some more information from her and end this uncertainty about the situation.

"Has that something to do with why you wanted me to come here?"

"Actually yes. One of my patientents is keeping me worried."

"So why couldn't you tell me on the phone - as usual?"

She sighed and looked past him to the entrance doors of ICU.

"Because it's not an ordinary situation."

"What's so special about it? Why am I here?"

"You're here to identify someone…"

"Someone we were searching for? I don't see the…"

She stopped him from going on and somehow the expression on her face seemed to be more desperate now. He just didn't get what made her feel so affected, what caused her so much trouble to tell him. He didn't understand the extraordinarity of the current situation.

"No, it's noone who was missing. It's a little more difficult, more delicate and somehow more private. I believe it's one of your agents…"