A/N: Thank you to Mariel for her wonderful betaing. Anything mistakes are purely mine as I couldn't resist doing some extra work to it. Yes, I should know when to stop.
Chapter Six.
Xx—
The next day, the phone rang at 5am. Not a time Jack considered a fun time to be receiving calls, but as it was a case, there was little he could complain about. He prodded Jessie awake and gave her the option of staying put or leaving with him. She yawned and said she'd go with him. "Just drop me off at Fed Plaza," she said, zombie-like. Deciding to share the pain, Jack then called Martin and Danny.
Vivian could sleep a bit longer and Samantha could also be spared, especially after the way she'd been last night
Indeed, it was a subdued Samantha who arrived at work just after 8. Jack informed her about the case and where the boys were. "Viv, if you could bring Sam up to speed," he asked before leaving to talk with the waiting, fretful family again. Samantha glanced at his retreating back, wondering why she hadn't been called in.
Having no choice but to shrug it off, she turned her attention to the notes and the timeline as Vivian quickly outlined what had happened. She was to go and help the guys.
Grabbing a very quick coffee to take with her; Samantha tried not to yawn as she waited for the elevator. After arriving home from the hotel, she'd spent the night lying next to Brian, happy to have avoided sex with him yet again, and wondering where she stood with Jack this time. She also wondered what a good opening line to ask Brian to leave might be; it wasn't that he'd done anything spectacularly wrong; it was just that the situation was growing more and more intolerable. She knew that Jack was correct; she had to do this without him, and being alone with Finn was what it would be, and what would happen.
Something needed to be done -sometime very, very soon. She was certain of it.
But she needed to talk to Jack, to tidy things up between them yet again.
It was mid-afternoon before Samantha found him alone in the bull pen.
"No luck I take it," he said, referring to the suspect she'd spent the day trying to find.
Shaking her head as she stood next to him –but not as closely as they would have in the past- she gave him the run-down from her enquiries. "We need some more leads," she said, gesturing towards the whiteboards.
He nodded at the obvious remark, staring at the information they had about the various people involved, tapping the whiteboard marker against his chin as he pondered yet another trail getting them nowhere.
She had to say something; he knew she would.
"It's funny how things get confused and twisted," he contemplated aloud, giving her an opening. "People do strange things when they think they're doing what's best." He could be referring to their case, although she knew he was referring to her.
"Jack, I… uh…" Words failed her. She'd wanted to say something and now here they were, alone, but she could feel moment slipping from her grasp.
It pained him to see her so unhappy. Looking sideways, he had to help her out again. "Sam?"
Deep breath. "I'm sorry about last night," she said, not able to look him in the eye. "If my position here has become… untenable in any way, then I will seriously consider transferring-"
Shaking his head as he put the marker down on the table behind him, he turned to face her. "Look Sam –you're not going anywhere," he said. He'd known she'd be like this from the moment he'd left the hotel room –full of doubt and worry; he'd just not had the time today to give her the attention she'd needed. "We're a great team, all of us." Jack then lowered his voice, "And what happened last night is not going to change anything between us. Like I said, I'm still your friend, I still care –all I ask is that you stop making further dramatic gestures, okay?"
She felt less small. "Well, you've always been better at this than me..."
"And you should be used to it all by now; I know you'll be fine…" This time he did lightly place his hand on her shoulder, patting it a couple of times. "Now, no more of this crazy transferring talk -do the job you're good at," he finished off, certain he'd made his point. Samantha may be having trouble about what she wanted, and he was feeling flattered over her interest in him still, but he also knew what was good for the department.
Nodding –and wishing she could have covered his hand with hers- Samantha felt both relieved and happy that it would be business as usual with the two of them. It was possible she didn't deserve it from him, but it certainly cleared the air.
Knowing there really was no man like him, she barely had time to say a whispered, "Thank you" before Danny and Martin returned with something positive regarding the case.
Xx-
Two days later while she was at her desk, Samantha got a strange phone call in the late afternoon from her landlord. After listening, she couldn't believe the situation. He was saying the rent hadn't been paid and could she do something about it as soon as possible. It was odd to Samantha in that it was paid direct from a joint bank account she and Brian had set up to handle the apartment's bills. It was simple –enough money went in from each of their own accounts, bills were automatically debited out. Admittedly she hadn't checked how the account was going for some time as there was no need. Apologizing to her landlord, she said she'd look into it as soon as possible, and went online to check the account.
There was still some money there, but not enough to cover the two weeks' rent.
Looking at the transaction history she was appalled to see some anomalies. Her contributions were going in from her own account regularly as they should, as were Brian's –although his was a day or two later than in the past. However, his amounts weren't right; they were much, much lower. Checking with a calendar, the change had started a couple of weeks after his work hours had been changed at the museum.
Confused and naturally suspicious as to what was going on, Samantha phoned Brian on his cell. It went straight to voicemail –which was odd- and rather than leave a message she phoned the museum direct, getting through to the switchboard.
"Where may I direct your call?" the operator politely asked.
"Brian Donovan in Marketing please," Samantha asked, unable to stop clicking her pen in irritation. The seconds ticked by.
The operator came back. "…I'm sorry; I'm unable to connect that for you. Is there someone else you would like to speak to in Marketing?"
"No, can you check again? He definitely works there and that's definitely his name."
Some computer keys were being struck. "Hmm… I can't see him listed… and this directory list was updated… about a month and a half ago."
"That can't be right."
"Well, I'm sorry -it is what it says… Hang on, I'll talk to someone in Marketing for you."
What the fuck is going on? wondered Samantha, becoming more annoyed.
She tried Brian's cell once more with no luck.
The operator returned again. "Marketing has told me to put you onto Human Resources, hold the line please."
Samantha nearly broke the pen in half at this not-so-good news.
Someone from HR introduced themselves and Samantha asked about Brian. She heard yet another keyboard being used.
"Okay… I've brought up his file…Hmmm… The most I can definitely say is that he is no longer employed here."
"What?"
"Brian Donovan is no longer employed here." The voice was very firm.
"But when did this happen? Why?"
"I'm afraid I cannot give you any more information."
Samantha knew this wasn't an FBI investigation; throwing her weight and badge around would not be a good idea. "Thank you," she murmured, putting the phone down, almost feeling like her world closing in around her.
Having observed Samantha with concern for the last few minutes, Vivian asked, "What's up?"
Samantha had a sudden need to leave. After logging off her PC, she grabbed her handbag. "Nothing," she said in a not very convincing tone. "I just have to get home. Just tell Jack I had to go."
And to find out what the hell's been going on.
Xx—
Dragging the buggy with Finn in it through the door, Brian certainly hadn't expected to find Samantha home. Unstrapping Finn, his face belying his tone, Brian asked, "They send you home early for good behavior?"
As much as she wanted to go on the attack she knew it would have to wait that little bit longer.
"Not really," she said quietly. Picking up Finn, she observed, "He looks pretty tired. He should have a rest," and she took him to his room. Smoothly changing his diaper, she then sat him in his crib with some toys to keep him occupied.
Coming back to the living room, she stood in front of a waiting Brian, wanting to put her hands on her hips but settling for a defensive arms folded stance instead. "So where's Maricella?"
"I got back early so I said I'd look after Finn." His voice was careful, as were his eyes.
"Right," she said, disbelief clear in her voice. "Does this happen often?"
Brian shoved his hands deep in his jeans' pockets, finally beginning to look caught out. "Uh Sam, what's up?"
Samantha took a step towards him. "What's up? What's up? I get a call from the landlord –our rent wouldn't go through, then I called your work-" Brian definitely seemed more anxious, "and they told me you no longer work at the museum, that you left some time back. I finally reached Maricella only to be told that you'd told her that we only needed her a couple of hours in the morning -which is strange as I've been leaving a full week's wages out for her each week for some time now." Maricella had also informed her she had found extra hours elsewhere. Having worked herself into a seething state, Samantha stabbed a finger towards him, "And now Brian, what I want to know is what have you done?"
Putting his hands up in a gesture of peace, he now looked the picture of assumed innocence. "I have money, I can now cover the rent, so don't freak out, it's nothing to be worried about."
"Yeah well, you got that wrong –I am worried. And either you tell me or I find other means."
"Oh I know you can do that," Brian bitingly threw back. He took a few paces away from her before speaking again. "Okay, look, I left the marketing job."
"Why?"
"It wasn't working out."
"In what way?" She could do this all night, she was trained in it.
He was definitely uneasy. "Perhaps I wasn't all that good at it, okay?"
Samantha gaped at him as the penny dropped. "Oh my God -you were fired, weren't you?" He looked away. "What did you do?"
"Nothing," he murmured.
"Brian…"
"Fine –let's just say that it wasn't quite my area of expertise."
"Then how did you even get the job?"
His blue eyes boldly challenged her. "I may have invented a few things on my resume."
"Excuse me, you did what?"
He shrugged. "Oh come on, everyone does it these days. I just exaggerated and omitted a few things and got a friend back home to pretend to be a former employer."
She should have seen it coming –it was so obvious: how did someone who had once worked for a caterer, and had so recently been a bartender, suddenly get a job in marketing for a prestigious New York museum? She'd never questioned it at the time as she'd been so pleased he'd applied and gotten the position.
Stupid, stupid.
"So they fired you because you didn't know the job," she stated.
"I faked it for a while but then… I couldn't do what they wanted me to do, not to their standards anyway." Brian was actually making it sound like it was the museum's fault, not his.
Incredible.
"So aside from taking Maricella's money, what exactly have you been doing during the day, with Finn?"
"Working; I've been earning some money –just not as much as I'd hoped."
"For Christ's sake, just tell me."
"I called in a favor from the guy who owns the bar where we met."
"That was part of a night club, you're there during the day, what have you been-"
"Cleaning," he said blatantly.
"Cleaning?"
"Bucket and mop, getting rid of bottles, cleaning the bar… Sluicing out the toilets when needed… The guys who own it have several places and that's where I've been."
No wonder he said it was best to call him on his cell. "With Finn."
"Yes, he keeps himself busy."
"Dumped in the middle of the floor while you clean around him." Oh, she wanted to slap him. "And who owns these places, exactly?" Samantha asked, knowing this was just getting worse.
"Three brothers -the Demidovs."
Oh, fuck. "The Demidovs?"
He shrugged again. "Yeah, so?"
"They're Russian mob, Brian." Dear God, she knew he wasn't the brightest bulb at times but he'd just gone head first into pretty boy idiot territory.
"Well, Feodor's been good to me-"
"Oh right, a Russian mobster is good to you –aside from a few nightclubs, next he'll be asking favors. Does he get you to clean out the strip clubs he owns, the illegal gambling places?"
"No, just clubs and bars."
Shaking her head, she knew it wouldn't last like that. "For now. My son is sitting around watching you scrub out toilets in clubs operated by Russian mobsters –unbelievable."
"He's been fine!" Brian protested loudly.
"No! You have lied to me!" Samantha yelled back.
Now.
He threw his hands in the air again. "Look, I've tried to get on top of the money thing-"
It has to be now. "I've had it, Brian! I want you to pack a bag and leave."
His mouth dropped in shock. "What? Oh come on… We're a family!"
"Not anymore! I am serious as hell. Find yourself a new job that doesn't involve the mob-"
"And then I can come back?" he cut in.
Samantha took a deep breath, wanting this to be over. "Not a chance. This is it -we're through. We can work out something with you seeing Finn but you living here is finished -we're finished."
"Oh right, this is so you can get back with fucking Jack Malone," he spat.
If only that were true. "No; I'll be doing what I originally planned, just me and Finn," she said in a new-found calm voice. "You can go find one of your goddamned friends to stay with."
His blue eyes were flinty as he stared a moment longer before storming off to their room to grab some clothes. Samantha went to check on Finn, who was now peacefully asleep, hopefully unaware of his parents' tension and problems.
Brian found her, holding a bag and anger emanating from him. "I think you're being unfair, Sam."
Looking at Finn, she shook her head. "Think what you like, but this is the way it is. You should have thought of that instead of covering things up and making things worse." Turning, she held out a hand. "Key."
Sulkily taking his keys out of his pocket, he slipped the key off the key ring, then tossed it to the floor in front of her. "There, but I'll be in touch; I still want to see my son."
"Of course, and if we can't work it out between us, we'll get lawyers."
He turned his back on her and stalked away. Samantha heard what was probably the lamp crashing to the floor, before the door slammed.
She watched as Finn stirred.
Going out, she saw the smashed lamp; he'd shoved it, rather thrown it. Looking at the broken pieces, she figured it was a small price to pay for freedom and this way, Brian had quite clearly brought it upon himself with his actions; she'd been saved from the harder conversation based on her feelings that she'd been building up to all this time.
Still, she was a bit shaken.
Returning again to Finn, she knew she needed to hold him. Resting his little cheek against hers, she smoothed down his t-shirt which had ridden up. "I'm sorry sweetheart," she whispered. "I had to do what was for the best. I hope you realize that in years to come." She lightly brushed his hair with her fingers and then kissed his forehead. "And you know, you'll always have me."
Xx—
The next morning, Danny took the call from Samantha saying she'd be late and had informed everyone. There was no sighting of her until after 10am. The team was gathered around the bull pen table, giving Jack updates on the various cold cases he'd given out weeks before, the files scattered around. Yesterday, Vivian had informed Jack about Samantha going home with some problem, but rather than interfere, he'd guessed it was best to wait for news.
Looking up after asking the team a question, Jack saw Samantha quietly walking in. He knew straight away that something had happened. "Sam, is everything okay?"
She nodded. "Ah, yes… I've got Finn and Maricella waiting by the door," she gestured over her shoulder, "I just wanted to ask if I can have the day off." She glanced at Jack briefly.
"What's wrong?" Danny asked, getting up and going to her.
"Well… I asked Brian to move out last night."
"Woah…" breathed Vivian at the surprising news. "Are you okay?"
"I am, but it's still sinking in, I suppose."
Jack found he could only watch and listen, impassively.
"Did he hurt you or try to?" asked Martin, concerned, also moving closer to her.
Samantha shook her head. "But I have to get some daycare organized for Finn, as Maricella's now less available. We're going to have a look at a few different places and some people she knows. I think it's time for him to be more around children his own age. I also have to get to the bank and work out some financial stuff."
"You got his key?" Danny inquired. Samantha nodded again. "You should change your locks anyway; do it today."
"Something else added to my list," Samantha said, managing a smile. She really felt wiped out after her sleepless night, wondering if Brian was going to come back in a fouler –or drunken- mood. She wouldn't have put it past him.
But playing with Finn that morning, she knew it was all going to work out and she would make certain it would.
"Take all the time you need, Sam," Jack gently said, finally.
She looked at him directly. "Thanks."
"And we're here if you need help, you know that," Vivian said, coming over for a hug.
"Come around tonight and talk if you want to" Danny said taking Samantha's hand and giving it a friendly squeeze.
"I'd like that... Okay then, I'll be going, and thank you, everyone." Without anything more to say, she left the bull pen.
Jack watched as she gathered up Finn and Maricella in the hallway, before returning his attention to the files in front of him. Vivian, Martin and Danny were busy chatting with surprise about the latest development in Samantha's life.
Not that Jack could concentrate on the files right then.
Huh.
Looks like she did it, after all.
Good for her.
She's better off without that shithead.
Looking at his watch, he had a lunch date later with Jessie and was looking forward to it. He let the team talk a few more moments. "Okay, let's get back to work."
Xx—
tbc