Chapter:4

Jason wasn't paying close attention to the details Bernie was laying out for him through the phone. His thoughts were still back in the office. The thoughts were interrupted by Bernie saying his name again.

"Huh? Okay, handle it."

"Mr. Morgan…"

Jason stopped listening. The sound of the door behind him opening was the only thing he heard. Turning to see Sam sprinting in the opposite direction, he was instantly alert. Concerned he watched her as she ran down the hall and out the door.

"I said 'Handle it."

Jason clicked the phone off without any further words. Bernie would understand and know what to do. Right now Jason was more concerned with what caused Sam to go running out of her office, keys, gun, and shoes in hand. He took off running after her. Reaching the parking lot, he saw Sam pulling out of the lot and into traffic. By the time, he would get to his car, he figured she would be gone. He had no hope of catching up to her.

Pulling out his cell again, he dialed the number from memory. He waited rather impatiently an answer. He waited in vain. Damn…Voicemail, he thought. It was not his style to leave messages, so he just hung up. There was nothing he could do, but wait and see.

Deciding he would investigate more, Jason walked to the office. The door was still open where Sam had left it in her hurry. He walked over to her desk and sat in her chair. He was unsure where to start. So he pulled out the draws looking for a clue, as to where she might have been going.

Coming up empty, he leaned back in the chair and tried to think if she had said anything that might lead him to answers. Normally he would let Sam handle it, but the circumstances didn't seem normal. Hell, she hadn't even put her shoes on, he thought.

Sighing, he saw the pad next to the phone. Tilting his head he read a few names. None seemed important. Slamming the draws back jostled the mouse, and the computer screen lit up. Jason briefly scanned the notes typed there.

As he read, Jason's mind raced. The case was about a couple. The wife thought the husband had fathered a child by a family friend. She thought that her husband knew about the child and was sneaking around to see the baby. She wanted proof, and she wanted Sam to get it.

Jason sank back in his seat again. He couldn't imagine why Sam would take a case like this. Just from reading what she had typed, he knew this would only bring up bad memories for her. She couldn't possible want to go through all that again.

Jason realized as he thought about it that he didn't want her to go through that again. He didn't want her to have to face those memories again either. Those were memories he caused. He had hurt her. He thought back to earlier when he felt he had forgiven her but not forgotten. It was true he hadn't forgotten her part in it all, but he seemed to forgotten his.

He had been the one who had lied for months on end to the woman he had supposedly loved. He did love her. Jason knew without a shadow of a doubt, he had loved Sam. He had loved her more deeply than anyone he had before. That's why her poor choices and betrayals had hurt so badly. However, he was the one who had cast the first stone that had made ripples in their relationship.

Jason knew it had all started when he broke Sam's heart, and his own if he was honest, in the hospital when she woke up from being shot. Had he just believed in them, Jason knew nothing would be as it is. We would probably still be happy, he thought.

Jason smiled as he thought of the one good thing out of the whole mess, Jake. He would not change anything if it meant Jake not being in this world. Jake was more precious than oxygen to him. He would die to keep anything from harming even a single hair on his head. He would also kill anyone attempting to harm him.

With that thought, Jason remembered the night in Sam's loft when he had threatened to do exactly that. He hadn't thought about that in so long. It hurt him to think about that. Not just because of the fear he had felt at the thought of Jake in danger, but because he knew that was Sam at her lowest. Her lowest because of him. That thought took his breath away.

He never should have threatened her. He knew now that he would never have followed through with it. Her actions after he said it should have proven that fact to him Her challenge to do it had caught him off guard. The kisses shared in the heat of anger still had the power to bring heat to his veins.

Trying not to think about that, Jason stood and again paced around looking for anything to let him know where Sam went. So intent of finding something and battling his thoughts that kept returning to the feel of Sam against him that day in her loft, he didn't hear someone closing the door to the office.

"Stone Cold?"

The voice caused Jason to spin around gun drawn. He wasn't used to be surprised, but he was always prepared when he was. The gun felt heavy in his hand, but it was also a familiar feel. As recognition set in, he lowered the gun.

"Spinelli."

With his hands in the air, the computer geek peered at him curiously as he walked over to his desk and dropped his bag onto its hard surface. The clatter filled the silence along with Jason's sigh. Spinelli started to speak, and then paused. His curiosity got the better of him.

"Stone Cold, may I ask why you are here?"

Running his hand over his face, Jason sighed again. He put his gun back in the back of his pants under his shirt. Spinelli looked on enviously. His master had a way with guns and women. He only hoped to aspire to his greatness.

Jason didn't want to know what Spinelli was thinking. He again sat in Sam's chair, rolling it over near Spinelli's desk.

"Well, I was here to check on you, see how things are doing. Sam was here. She told me you were out on a case, so I left. I got a call and was out in the hall. Sam came running out. I was hoping to find something to tell me where she went."

"Why?"

The question was simple. However, the answer wasn't. He wasn't really sure of his motives, but he knew something wasn't right. He had enough on his plate; he shouldn't even worry. Sadly, he did though.

"She might be in trouble."

"You think so?"

Spinelli jumped up from where he had seated himself, rushing over to the computer. Before Jason could even think to say anything, he had read over the notes on the computer. The excited yet concerned computer genius calmed instantly.

"Wow. I never thought she would take a case like this. It's got to hurt."

"I know."

Spinelli looked up and at Jason. Jason had turned his head and stared off. He was thinking, trying to figure out the next step. Walking calmly back over to his chair, he sat.

"You think she is in trouble?"

The concern was evident in Spinelli's voice.

"I don't know."

"Don't worry. I am on it. MIA PI is my specialty. Well not really, but I will just locate her car."

Spinelli spun his chair to face the computer on his desk and began rapidly typing away. He was on a mission to find his partner. If she was in danger, he would save her.

Jason's phone rang interrupting the silence. He shifted and pulled it out of his pocket. Glancing at the caller ID, he stood and strolled to the other side of the office.

"Morgan."

"Sorry to interrupt you, but there is an issue. One of delicate matters."

Bernie's voice droned into Jason's ear.

"Call Sonny let him know."

Jason was about to hang up when Bernie continued.

"I have. He told me to call you. It's urgent."

"I am busy. It will have to wait."

Spinelli, only hearing Jason's side of the conversation, turned his chair to face him. A smile was on his face. Ruffling his own hair, he sighed.

"Go on. I got this. I will find Sam, and call you if I need backup."

Jason stared at him for a second. A frown was slightly forming. Putting the phone back to his ear, he barked to Bernie that he would be there soon. Walking to the door, he realized that Spinelli was planning on rescuing Sam by himself. He pivoted and walked back to the desk.

"You call me when you find her. Not if you need backup. BEFORE you do anything, you call me? Got it?"

Spinelli looked up at him disappointed. He nodded his assent, despite how much he wanted to be the hero of the day. Jason was definitely better at this man of action stuff.

Content with Spinelli's agreement, Jason turned and left the office. As he left, Spin turned back to the computer and began to search for Sam.