Ep 19. Expectations

The episode "Expectations" of Without A Trace's fourth season begins with a young woman named Erica, who has been living in a group home for troubled teens, returning home for the first time in years. She is excited to see her mother and brothers but is disappointed when none of them show up to greet her. Erica's mother eventually shows up and takes her to lunch, where they argue over Erica's desire to see her brothers and the fact that she has not been allowed to have contact with all these years.

Meanwhile, the team at the FBI's New York field office is investigating the case of a young woman named Hayley who is missing. She disappeared from a ritzy upper east side prep school that she attended, and her father has not heard from her in days. After looking into Hayley's social media accounts, the team discovers that a boy from a rival school had been harassing her online and may have had a motive for abduction.

As the investigation continues, the team learns that Erica and Hayley had met online and planned to meet up the night Hayley went missing. This leads the agents to focus their investigation on Erica and her group home, believing that she may have kidnapped Hayley to try and start a new life somewhere else.

The search leads the team to a motel where Erica had been staying with Hayley, but they find no sign of either girl. However, Jack discovers that Erica has been keeping a journal and finds a clue about her whereabouts. It turns out that Erica had an older brother who had been killed in a gang-related shooting, and she believed that Hayley could take his place and give her the family she had been missing.

The team tracks down a lead to a boatyard where Erica and Hayley may have been hiding out. When they get there, they find Hayley but Erica has disappeared. They quickly realize that Erica had sacrificed herself and taken Hayley's place to protect her from the people she believed were after her.

Ultimately, Erica's story ends on a bittersweet note. Though she chose to help someone else, it is made clear that she has not completely given up on the idea of starting over in a different place. However, the team is left to wonder if Erica will ever truly find the love and acceptance she has been seeking all her life.

Overall, "Expectations" is a gripping episode that explores themes of family, acceptance, and the lengths one will go to find a sense of belonging. The plot is full of twists and turns, and the performances from the cast are top-notch. It is definitely a must-see for fans of the show.