I'm not sure what i think of this story. I don't expect it to be very long. Let me know what you guys think : )

Sam never liked to admit it but he had a soft spot for his little sister. Mind you she wasn't so little any more. Maya was 28 and happily married with 3 kids. Sam was always quite protective of her, especially with boyfriends but her husband James was different.

He was smart and respectable. He seemed like the perfect one for her.

Although Sam loved being a police officer, he above all loved being an uncle. With a name like Uncle Sam, who wouldn't be?

Maya and James lived in a nice town in Toronto with their three beautiful girls. Casey was the oldest and at 5 considered herself to be the mother of the house. Unfortunately for Maya, Casey didn't like to cook or clean or change her younger sister's diaper for that matter.

Kiana was 2 and a half, and looked up to Casey. She wanted to be just like her.

The youngest, Ariel, was 4 months old.

Back at the SRU, Team One were chatting in the briefing room. Sam picked his phone up as it began to vibrate but seeing the words "unknown caller" he decided that it could wait until after his shift. However the number rang again and again.

"You gonna answer that Sam?" Ed finally asked obviously being annoyed by the noise.

"I don't trust unknown numbers" Sam said. Clearly not believing the call to be at all important.

As the phone rang once more Ed couldn't take it anymore and answered it. He quickly placed it on loudspeaker so the entire team could listen in.

The act didn't seem to bother Sam that much; he was used to Ed's little nuisances.

"Sam's phone, Ed speaking"

"Hello, I'm calling from St Lawrence Women's Hospital. Mr Braddock's sister Maya has been in a serious domestic dispute and is in a critical condition here" The woman blurted the words out quite hastily and sounded relatively nervous.

Ed regretted putting the phone on loudspeaker and promptly gave the phone to Sam. The Team had never seen Sam's face like that. Every inch of his body consumed by utter guilt and anger.

He took the phone off loudspeaker and walked over to the quiet hallway to finish the conversation.

The rest of the team sat in silence as they waited in anticipation to see what Sam would say.

He hurried back to the briefing room a few minutes later before walking straight up to Greg.

"My sister was just beaten by her alcoholic husband…"

He paused to catch his breath clearly taken back by the conversation.

"James…my sister's husband…he fled the scene but they can't find the kids either. It doesn't look like he took them though."

"Ok Sam lets go out to the house and see what we can do to help. Spike, let Kira know what we're doing. The rest of you gear up"

It wasn't really a hostage situation or a bomb threat but a team member's family is just as important.

******

The three SUV'S pulled up to the house.

The team walked into the house clearly noticing the struggle that was evident. Smashed table and chairs, pieces of glass from photo frames and mirrors all on the ground.

"He was a nice guy. She never once said anything" Sam finally spoke after what seemed like hours of silence.

The rest of the team could tell he was scared. That was quite different from the usual cocky and confidant Sam they were used to.

"We'll find them Sam, and I'm sure they'll be fine. Lets stay focused everybody" Greg was amazing at staying calm at times like this.

Sam opened the door to Casey's room. He looked under the bed, in the wardrobe and behind the curtains. He was used to playing hide-and-go-seek with her but she was never a good hider. Her feet stook out when she hid behind things and she would always giggle when Sam came close to her. However, there was no giggling and no tiny feet sticking out from under the bed.

Sam sat on the end of her bed and placed his palms to his face.

Think Sam THINK. If you were a scared little 5 year old girl, where would you go? Better yet, where would Casey go? They weren't taken were they?

He looked up at the doorway to see Jules quietly observing. She was his first girlfriend to ever meet his sister and her family. Casey adored Jules and looked up to her like she was a real auntie. It was like ripping out a piece of Casey's heart when Sam had to explain to her about why he and Jules were no longer a couple.

"But couldn't you keep it a secret from the rest of them Uncle Sam?" She would say. If only it were that easy.

After finishing searching the house, Team One stepped out into the back yard.

Spike came over the head set.

"Boss, neighbours heard the dispute at around 12:30 this afternoon and after hearing glass smashing they called the police. At 12:40 James Thornton was seen entering his car and fleeing the scene however the kids were not with him. Police arrived on scene at 12:45 and found Maya Thornton in the lounge room but after searching the house they could not find any of the children"

"Have they found James yet?" Sam asked

Spike hesitated but was forced to give the answer. "Negative, he couldn't have gone far though. Police are checking out his friends and relatives in the area"

Sam thought once again of where the kids could be before it came to him.

He remembered Casey telling him of a small space underneath the house that could only be accessed by a small door in the back yard.

"Her secret hideout" she liked to call it.

The team watched as Sam walked along the side of the house pushing away bushes before he came to the small trap door.

He went to open it before he realised.

"It's locked from the inside"

I guess i just really wanted to show the "family man"side of Sam. I'll try and get the next chapter up ASAP