A/N - here's another chapter because the last was so short. Thanks for all your comments!

Chapter 5

Hanna Malone arrived breathless into the ER, fretfully asking the receptionist to direct her to her father. She followed the receptionist's instructions and hurried to the third floor and room 315. She recognised Agent Delgado on her cell phone outside the room and acknowledged her with a nod and brief wave. When she entered the room, she wasn't surprised to see Samantha Spade sitting beside her dad, looking anxious and shaken. Samantha stood up as soon as she saw Hanna and walked over to the young woman, putting her two arms around her and hugging her affectionately. Hanna's eyes, however, were quickly transfixed on the pale replica of her father, lying motionless in the bed.

"Oh, God! He looks terrible. How did this happen?" Hanna asked, unable to hide her shock. She released herself from the hug and approached her father's bedside.

"We're not exactly sure. I found him like this in my apartment," Sam told her truthfully.

"Did he fall or something? I don't understand…..," Hanna said in confusion.

"He was looking after Finn," Sam began, sensing the building surge of emotions. "Finn is missing. I think someone took him," she managed to say before the dam collapsed and her tears fell freely.

"What? Oh my God?" was all Hanna could say.

Sam sank back onto the seat and her shoulders shook as she sobbed in despair. Hanna couldn't believe what was happening. Despite her concern for her father, she reached out and tried to console Sam as best she could, but she could only imagine what she was going through.

As the two women cried and consoled each other, they were surprised to hear an unexpected groan and noticed slightest of movement from the bed beside them. They both turned towards Jack expectantly.

"Jack?"

"Daddy!"

Jack's forehead creased in obvious discomfort as he struggled to open his eyes. The glare of the lights scuppered his first attempt and he couldn't help but squeeze them closed them again. He felt a soft hand slip into his and give it a gentle, reassuring squeeze, which encouraged him to make a second attempt. This time he managed to open his eyes and keep them open. However, focusing was another challenge. Everything was a blur. He could only make out the silhouette of a figure or possibly two figures standing over him, he couldn't be sure.

Despite the comforting hand in his, a deep sense of foreboding descended upon him as he greeted consciousness. He slowly began to realise that he was in the hospital again. He knew the sounds and smells of hospitals all too well, having spent several days in the ICU following his shooting almost two years ago. The looming figures were speaking to him, but so far his brain couldn't process what was being said, so he made no attempt to reply. He put all his energy into focusing his eyesight. Slowly, his vision cleared and he found himself looking into the tear-filled eyes of his eldest daughter.

"Daddy!" she said, smiling through her tears.

"Han?" Jack croaked weakly.

"You're okay, Daddy. You're in the hospital," Hanna said, knowing how confused he must be.

"Wha'….happened?" Jack asked, his voice noticeably slurred.

Samantha and Hanna exchanged concerned glances. Sam tried to remind herself that he had a head injury and slurred speech and confusion were hopefully temporary side effects.

"You were knocked unconscious," Hanna told him, not really knowing much of the details herself. "Do you remember anything?"

Jack's brow creased once more as he tried to summon the memories forth. He shook his head, barely. There was nothing. It was all a blank. Sam and Hanna could see his concern at not being able to remember.

"It's okay. It will come back to you," Hanna told him, offering comfort and hoping she was right.

Samantha eventually spoke up. She was still counting on Jack to remember what had happened. It was important. She needed to know for sure who had her son.

"Hey, Jack," she said gently stroking his forehead, all the while trying not to seem too eager for answers.

Jack smiled groggily and tried to focus on her.

"You were at my apartment," Sam told him, hoping to jog his memory. There was an empty silence until Jack broke it.

"Sorry," he mumbled.

"Sorry? Sorry for what?" Sam asked, hoping he had remembered something after all.

"Eh…not sure. Seemed like the right thing to say," Jack said, his confusion causing him to question his sanity.

Nothing was making sense to him. Strange, jumbled thoughts and images were darting through his mind. Nothing seemed to relate to the other. His gut told him there was something important, something he had to do but he couldn't remember what. He just sensed it was important.

"I have to go," he said, attempting to sit up and instantly regretting raising his head from the pillow.

The sudden movement sent daggers through his brain, which caused him to cry out in agony. Stars danced before his eyes. His stomach flipped and he was sure he was going to throw up. Sam recognised what was coming and reached for a bowl that was on a table close by. She placed it under his chin just in time as he vacated the contents of his stomach. Hanna couldn't help but flinch and turn away as he threw up. She wasn't used to seeing her father under such trying circumstances. Sam leaned in to support Jack, placing her hand behind his back and once he had recovered, she gently lowered his head back to the pillow.

"Well, that wasn't very clever," she said, wiping his mouth with a tissue.

Jack agreed with a nod, swallowing down deliberately and trying to cope with the unappealing taste in his mouth.

"Sudden movement and concussion don't usually mix," she reminded him. "You actually have a skull fracture, Jack, so you won't be going anywhere in a hurry. You probably have one hell of a headache."

That he did. Jack lay back and closed his eyes briefly, breathing deeply to fight off the lingering effects of the nausea. Samantha poured a cup of water and offered it to him, which he sipped gratefully.

"Skull fracture?" he said once he had regained his train of thought. "How did I…?

"Someone hit you over the head," Sam told him. "Do you remember anything?"

"Was I at your place?" Jack wondered.

"Yes, yes you were," Sam replied, feeling a little excited that he remembered that much but then realising that she had mentioned it only moments earlier.

"I had Finn?" he asked, seeking reassurance that it was the case.

"Yes, I went to lunch with Rachel and you were looking after him," Sam reminded him, stifling a sob as she did so. Jack noticed this and began to worry.

"Where is he? Is he okay?" Jack asked with a look of panic, realising that if he had been looking after Finn when he was injured, then the child could have been hurt too.

No one replied. Hanna and Sam looked at one another, wondering whether or not they should tell him. Jack saw their exchange and could only think the worst.

"No," Jack said softly. He began taking deeper, quicker breaths again as panic set in. "No," he repeated. "What happened to him? Where is he?"

Eventually, Hanna spoke up, realising that it would be too difficult for Samantha to go through it all again.

"Daddy, Finn is missing," she told him, holding his hand once more.

The tightness in his chest convinced Jack that his heart was slowly being crushed as the enormity of her words hit him. He laid his head right back on the pillow and looked up towards the heavens and tried to breathe. Please God, no.

"This isn't your fault, Jack," Samantha told him sympathetically, knowing Jack better than most and realising that he would blame himself.

Jack didn't respond. He continued to stare at the ceiling, hoping his visitors couldn't see the tears forming in his eyes. How could Samantha forgive him? Her son was missing and it was his fault. He didn't deserve her forgiveness. The child was in his care which, in his mind, meant he was responsible. Still nothing made sense. His head ached as he concentrated on remembering what happened.

No matter how you look at it, I screwed up and now Lord knows where the little guy is.

His daughter studied his expression as the news of the little boy's disappearance sank in. She knew that the pain in his face was not only physical pain. He was hurting, deep inside. She couldn't stand seeing him like this. She had only even known her dad as this strong, confident man who made her feel safe when he was around. Yet lying in front of her, she could only see him as human, a man who hurts, a man who gets scared, a regular guy. She realised that it was her turn to be the strong one because she had no doubt that he was going need her, however this all turned out.

If only I hadn't answered the door. If only I…the door. Brian! Brian was at the door!

It was coming back. He opened the door to Brian. At least he thought he did. It was all a bit hazy, yet it seemed right. Brian was there. After that, it all goes fuzzy.

"Brian came by," Jack said, his gaze disengaging from the ceiling and meeting Sam's. "He was looking for you. I told him you were out and he said he'd wait."

"I knew it!" Sam announced. "It had to be him. Oh, Jack, I'm so sorry you got caught up in the middle of this. I should never have put you in that position," Sam said apologetically. She kissed him on the cheek. "I have to go. I need to get to the office," Sam told him.

"Sure," Jack said drowsily, the effort of remembering taking its toll on his energy level. "Find him."

"I will. Look after him, Hanna," Sam said, as she gave her a quick hug and hurried out the door. Hanna wished her luck before settling down beside her father.

"Do you want me to call Mom?" Hanna asked, noticing how Jack was struggling to keep his eyes open.

"Huh?" Jack mumbled.

"Mom, should I call her?" she repeated.

"No need….'m fine," Jack said, obviously losing the battle against his exhaustion.

"Sure you are, Dad," Hanna smiled, rubbing his forearm affectionately. "Sure you are."

Jack slipped easily into what would be a restless sleep. As he dozed, his dreams were haunted by desperately disturbing images of small children, some dead, some horrifically injured, each pleading for him to find them. They were all held captive by this shadowy figure in a cabin in a forest. Jack searched the woods, desperately trying to find the cabin, but he was lost. He was spun around as the crying voices pleaded for help. Then through the trees he spied a little toddler rambling aimlessly through the trees. Jack called out to the boy, but the child was scared and started to run. Jack followed him calling to him not to be afraid, but the little boy disappeared. Then Jack heard the sound of flowing water. He followed the sound and found it easily. He was horrified to see the little boy he chased, lying face down in the brook. Devastated, he picked the child from the water and laid him down on the bank, tears tracing down his face. It was then that he recognised the child. Finn!

With that shocking image scorching his mind, Jack woke with a start, sitting up suddenly and panting for breath. Eyes wide and staring straight ahead, it took him a few moments to realise where he was and that he was dreaming.

"Daddy?" Hanna said, jumping to her feet and reaching out to him. It broke her heart to see him this way. "It's okay. I'm here. It's only a dream."

She put her arm around him and gently pulled his head close to her chest, stroking his hair, doing her best to comfort him as the parent and child roles were reversed. She held him until his breathing regularised and he relaxed.

"Have you heard anything about Finn?" Jack asked as soon as his breathing relaxed. He felt a little embarrassed to have his teenage daughter see him in such a state.

"No. Nothing yet," she replied.

"What time is it?" Jack wondered.

"A little after midnight," Hanna replied. "You should relax, try and get back to sleep."

"So should you," Jack said, looking at her proudly. She really had matured into an intelligent, beautiful young woman. "Go home. I'll be fine. Anyway, I could do with you bringing me a few things from home in the morning. They kinda ruined my clothes."

Hanna looked at him, reluctant to leave him. Jack could see her aversion to the notion of leaving him and knew she needed convincing.

"Seriously, Hanna, I'm fine. I'm really tired and I'll sleep better knowing you're at home getting some rest too," he insisted.

"Okay then. I'll take a cab but I'll be back first thing in the morning," she told him. "So, what do you need?"

With that, Jack listed out some basics including a change of clothes and some toiletries. Soon Hanna was gone and he was left alone. His memory was still patchy, but one thing he was sure of - this was his fault. He should never have let Brian into the apartment. Now he had to think of a way to make things right.

TBC