Gunshots and Secrets

By: Alyson Tierney

Disclaimer: I do not own the characters from Without a Trace or Gilmore Girls. The characters of Lorelai and Rory are property of Amy Sherman-Palladino and the WB network. The characters of Samantha, Martin, Danny, and Jack are property of Hank Steinberg and the CBS network. I do however own Sheena and Dr. Gabrielle Phelps, so please do not steal. Thank you! This story is for entertainment purposes only and is not for profit. Please no suing! Thanks!

Author's Note: While Sam's daughter has the same name in this story, it's not the same universe as the story "Sheena." The story "Sheena" was a one-shot fiction, while this story is the beginning of a series. I hope you enjoy this idea, and I hope to be able to continue it when I can, but I make no promises. Please read and review!

Chapter Three

Jack, Martin, and Danny hurried down the hospital hallway. Jack flashed his badge at the nurse's desk, and asked where Samantha Spade's room was. The three men traded relieved glances when the nurse told them Samantha had recovered from her surgery and was in a room down the hall.

"Tell me again why you won't go home and rest. Danny and I can visit Sam ourselves." Martin inquired of his boss.

"Because, I need to see for myself that she's okay. Besides, I don't want her alone. She's probably all alone in the hospital room." Jack said, as he reached the door to Samantha's room. He knocked quietly and poked his head in.

Samantha was lying in the bed, asleep and a little pale. Two teenage girls were sitting on a couch. One had brown hair and looked to be 16 or 17 years old. She was tracing a book with her highlighter. A blonde girl, who looked maybe three or four years younger, was reading to a young brunette woman. The woman looked up, confused, "May I help you?" she asked. The sound of her voice caused the two teenagers to look up also.

"Yeah, I'm Jack Malone. I'm…" Jack began to introduce himself.

"Samantha's boss! Yes, hello. I'm Lorelai Gilmore, I'm Sam's cousin." Lorelai shook Jack's hand.

"Nice to meet you. This is Danny Taylor, Martin Fitzgerald. They're co-workers." Jack introduced them.

"Mar-tin!" Sheena whispered to Rory in a singsong voice. Rory grinned. Samantha had told Rory, Sheena, and Lorelai about her co-worker Martin, and how cute she thought he was. And he was cute.

"Nice to meet you two." Lorelai smiled, and turned to her daughter and niece, "This is my daughter, Rory, and this is Sam's daughter, Sheena."

Rory and Sheena smiled and Sheena giggled a little as she saw the men start a little at the mention that she was Samantha's daughter. "It's nice to meet you." Rory said in a clear voice.

"Hi!" Sheena said, smiling shyly.

"Nice to meet you young ladies." Danny said, smiling.

"Yes, very nice." Jack said, shortly. He wanted to make sure Samantha was all right, and then find out how she could have not told him she had a daughter and people in her life that clearly cared deeply for her.

"Hi. How old are you two?" Martin said, smiling, also.

"I'm 13 ½ and Rory's 18." Sheena supplied. Rory and Sheena grinned again at the shocked looks on the three men's faces.

"So, how's Samantha?" Jack asked.

Lorelai smiled, "Sam's fine. She's coming home tomorrow. Doctor says she was really lucky."

Jack sighed with relief, "That's good." He still couldn't hide the shocked look on his face. They'd worked together for a few years now, and he'd never heard of close family members, even though the three young women had clearly heard of him, Martin, and Danny.

"Everyone okay at the store?" Lorelai asked, concern showing on her face. She looked tired, like she hadn't slept since they had been taken hostage at the bookstore.

"Yeah, everyone's fine. Samantha was the only one hurt. We got Barry—the guy who shot her, to the hospital for a psych evaluation." Jack explained.

Lorelai turned quickly to Rory and Sheena, who were listening closely, and pulled Sheena closer to her, "Well, they got him. You hear that sweetie? You don't have to worry about him."

Sheena smiled, "Good."

"Can I…can I talk to her?" Jack asked.

Lorelai studied Sam's face, she looked so tired, so she didn't want to disturb her, "I don't know, she really needs rest. Can I have her call you tomorrow?"

Jack smiled, "Sure thing. She has my number."

"Okay, thanks for stopping by, I'm sure she'll be glad you did." Lorelai smiled back, and shook each man's hand.

"Thanks, Ms. Gilmore." Jack said courteously.

"Bye, Ms. Gilmore, bye Rory, bye Sheena!" Martin said, smiling broadly.

"Bye." Danny echoed, and they left the room.

Rory smiled, "Martin's nice." She decided.

"Yeah." Sheena agreed, "Jack seems a little odd, but I liked Martin and Danny."

"And Martin and Danny are really cute." Lorelai grinned, "I wonder how old Danny is?"

"Mom!" Rory exclaimed. Lorelai laughed, and the girls sat down on the couch again, keeping watch over Samantha, and relieved that she was going to be okay.