"Stay there son, stay there" Patty Hanson's voice was calm and reassuring as she spoke to Sam in a tone only mother's can. "I'm coming round. I'll be there in less than half an hour." Patricia Hanson was a lean woman in her late forties. She worked hard, juggling service jobs around, cleaning, waitressing, bar work but now her kids were grown up she was able to ease back a little. Once quite striking, she had the eyes and lines of someone who worked the early and late shifts whilst bringing up kids more or less on her own. She gathered her coat and car keys and set off across town to see her little boy. She was terribly proud of Sam, he'd grown into a kind, considerate young man and she was delighted he'd become a father. She doted on Brooklyn and Louis as if they were her own children. She was concerned at the fear in Sam's voice. It was more than fear, it was confusion because Brooklyn wouldn't stay out late, Brooklyn would call. She could hear the worry in his voice. Meanwhile Sam was getting more frantic in the house. He called Ella back. "Ella, my Mom is coming over to keep an eye on Louis. I'm going to drive the route to yours then turn back. Then I'm going to look around town for her. If you see or hear anything call me. If she's upset or distressed about anything you don't need to betray a confidence but try and let me know she's safe... and that I love her" Ella hadn't gone back to bed. She too was worried. She felt guilty too, that she should have called Sam at home. Checked where she was. She should have [I]known[/I] something was wrong. Ella woke her husband Chad, who had a perturbed look on his face. "I'll help" he whispered to Ella, getting dressed. His face was ashen and cold as he imagined how distraught and frightened he would be if he was in Sam's position right now as he looked at his own scared wife. "Tell Chad thanks" said Sam as he looked out of the window to see if his mother was near. Sam and Chad weren't close friends but they got on well enough due to their wives friendship. In the years that followed Sam realised that Chad was a rock that night and true friendship grew out of total despair. When Sam's mother arrived she hugged him and held him tight, holding that closeness for a few seconds more despite Sam's impatience. She kissed him, "she'll be okay son" she said gently as Sam went to Louis's crib and kissed the sleeping boy lightly. "Daddy's gonna bring Mommy home" he whispered as he left the house into the cold night. -------------- Sam drove the relatively short route to Ella's house. They lived on the outskirts of the town, where the road cut trough a short wood, built through the valley of hills that surrounded the town. It was a beautiful place to hike in summer but now the black hills and trees were coated with snow. The wipers worked furiously trying to keep the snow off and Sam struggled to see. [I]'Shit, I hope she's not out here'[/I] he thought as the felt the temperature visibly drop. He would never drive at this time of night in these temperatures normally but this was not a normal time. At Ella's house he was told there was no sign of her and Chad had headed into town to look for Brooklyn's car and he'd call back. Sam turned around and drove into town, cruising the streets. He stopped at any businesses open, the few bars were shutting for the night. He asked around if anyone had seen Brooklyn. He got out and walked, accosting the few drunks and homeless people asking them if they had sighted his angel to no avail. Sam called in at the police station and spoke to the cop who had dismissed him earlier. His very presence in the station forced the cop to take some details, Brooklyn's description, her car and so one. "Son, it's Christmas. She may be out partying, she may be taking some time out. We see it every year. They always come back son" said the cop, feeling a little sorry for the frantic boy in front of him. "Go home, get some rest. We'll get your wife's description out to our patrols and keep an eye out for her. You go home and wait for her to come back. If she hasn't returned by first light we'll get a search party out." Sam was now past angry and past frantic. He was feeling defeated. He left the police station, but rather than go home he drove around the town for a few hours more before he felt he was almost asleep at the wheel. At four a.m. he arrived home, black rings around his eyes. His mom was feeding Louis and she 'shushed' him as he entered. 'Anything?' he mouthed to his mom although he knew the answer. -------------------- Sam didn't sleep, he didn't rest. He sat in a chair in the living room watching the hours go by. Louis had awoken and was having his breakfast feed when he saw the patrol car pull up outside. 'Oh God, oh Jesus, please God, no, no....' he thought as the stony faced patrol man walked to his door and knocked heavily.