Disclaimer: Besides Jess and her friends, characters belong to Jerry Bruckheimer!

Jess Campbell sighed as she sat in her booth at the diner. She looked around at the people eating, wondering what those people were thinking about at that moment. She wondered what their lives were like and if any of them had a story like hers. She sighed again as she sipped her coffee and looked out the window.

She didn't know what happened. One minute everything was fine, the next men wearing hooded sweatshirts and baseball caps came bustling in. Screaming was heard followed by gunshots and Jess flung herself to the ground instinctively. She curled herself into a ball against the wall next to the bench and heard more screaming and gunshots. Jess closed her eyes and wrapped her legs tighter to her praying it would all be over soon.

She wasn't sure how long she was sitting there when she heard a voice. Not daring to open her eyes, she wrapped her legs instinctively tighter when she felt someone touch her arm.

"Miss!" She heard.

Jess opened her eyes slowly and saw a man with dark hair and blue eyes looking at her. He wasn't wearing a sweatshirt, instead a dress shirt and slacks.

"My name is Don Flack; I'm a detective with the New York Police Department. Are you alright?"

Jess nodded slowly. "Yeah, yeah I think so."

"Can you come on out of there?"

Jess nodded slowly again and carefully climbed out from underneath the table. She looked around, dazed. She saw a bunch of men in police uniforms and blinked.

"Are you sure you're okay?" The detective asked. Jess turned her head back to him and nodded slowly. "Can you get up?"

Don got up slowly and extended his hand to help her up. He pulled her up quicker than she anticipated and she ended up crushed against his chest. She gasped softly as they stared into each other's eyes. He let go of her arm and looked down. He gasped and looked at her.

"You're bleeding."

Jess looked down and sure enough, there was blood stained on her shirt. She looked back at Don before her eyes rolled back in her head and she fell. Luckily, Don caught her before she could hit the ground.

"I need help!" Don yelled.

**

Jess blinked open her eyes, the first thing she noticed was a machine beeping. She looked around, soon realizing she was in a hospital. She looked to her right and saw a man sitting by her bed.

"Miss? Can you hear me?"

Jess nodded. "Yeah." She said, clearing her throat. Her voice was hoarse and raspy. "What happened?"

The man frowned. "You don't remember?"

"I," She started and frowned, trying to think. "I remember sitting in a diner." She shook her head and looked at him for help.

"There was a shooting in the diner." Jess closed her eyes, suddenly flashing back to the men wearing hooded sweatshirts and gunshots. People screaming. "You were shot once in the stomach, but the doctors say it wasn't fatal and you'll be okay."

Jess sighed. She couldn't believe what had gone on. She shook her head again and sighed. "Why, why did they do this?"

"That's what we're trying to figure out."

"You're Don, right?" Jess asked, suddenly remembering she had met this man before.

"Yes I am. If you're up to it, I'd like to ask you a few questions."

Jess nodded. "Okay."

"What is your name?"

"Jess. Jess Campbell."

He nodded and wrote it down. "What were you doing in the diner?"

"I was just trying to get something to eat."

"Did you get a good look at any of the men?"

"No." She shook her head.

"How man where there?"

Jess closed her eyes before opening them and looking at the detective. "Four I think. It was like three or four."

Don nodded and wrote it down. "Do you remember anything about them? Tattoos, scars, anything distinctive? Height or weight. We could use anything."

"They were like maybe six feet tall. Around there. But they were wearing hoods and baseball caps, I couldn't see their faces or anything." Don nodded again. "I'm sorry."

Don looked up. "For what?"

"I feel like I'm not helping anything."

"You are."

Jess sighed and leaned her head back against the pillow. "I don't feel like I am."

"You are." He said with a small smile.

Jess smiled back as best as she could.

"Do you have anyone I can call? Family, friends?"

Jess shook her head. "No." She sighed. "No family, no friends."

Don frowned. "No one I can call?"

She shook her head and looked down at her lap. "No."

Don nodded. "Okay well the doctor will probably be in to check on you soon. Thank you for your help."

Jess snorted. Some help she had been. Don got up and headed for the door when Jess stopped him.

"Do you think you can stay? I just, I don't have anybody and I would really like some company."

Don thought about it for a second before nodding. "I can do that."

"If you have to go to work or something, I don't want to keep you from your job."

Don smiled. "I just have to make a call and then I'll be right back, okay?"

Jess nodded and watched as he walked out of the room. God, what a day. She ran her hand over her hair and moved the stupid tube attached to her nose out of her way. What was she doing asking a complete stranger to stay with her? She was independent, always had been, but here she was acting like a child. Don came back a minute later and sat back in the chair.

"Okay."

"Is everyone else in the diner, are they okay?" Jess asked hesitantly.

Don shifted in his chair. "Two dead. Two are in critical condition. Three are okay."

Jess sighed and looked up at the ceiling before turning her head to look at him. "Two dead?" She said softly. He nodded. Jess closed her eyes and shook her head. Those poor people. They didn't deserve this, to die at some sick people's hands.

"You okay?" Don asked softly.

"I just can't believe this happened. Why would someone do this?"

"That's what we're trying to figure out. We'll catch these people, don't you worry."

Jess sniffled and nodded. She didn't know why she was getting emotional over people she didn't know, she figured it was just the day catching up with her. She sniffled again and wiped at her eyes, seeing Don looking at her sympathetically.

"Sorry."

"Don't be sorry. It's perfectly normal for someone after they've been in a traumatic experience."

Traumatic. Right. "Yeah." She said softly.

"Maybe you should get some sleep, you've had a hell of a day."

Jess nodded. She was tired, she just hated to sleep. Especially since she had asked him to stay. She looked at him and smiled slightly.

"Thank you for staying with me. You didn't have to."

"It's okay." Don said with a smile. "Get some sleep, that's an order."

Jess chuckled. "Okay."

**

Jess was being woken up by Don shaking her awake. She was breathing heavy and sweating as she looked up at him.

"You were having a nightmare." He said.

Jess sighed and sat up in the bed. She ran her hand over her hair, again pushing aside the stupid tube in her nose.

"Do you remember what it was about? I hear it helps to talk about it." Don offered.

Jess took a deep breath before looking at him. "The shooting. The guys, they, they came out of nowhere and just started shooting for no reason. Everyone was screaming." She closed her eyes, a lone tear slipping down her face.

"Here, drink some water." He said, handing her a cup.

Jess took it with a shaking hand. "Thank you." She said after she took a sip.

"No problem." He said softly. He watched her for a minute. "Do you want to go back to sleep?"

Jess shook her head. "Not yet."

"Okay." He replied.

"You don't have to stay and watch me sleep. I shouldn't of asked you to stay in the first place, I'm sorry."

"Don't apologize. You should have someone here with you right now."

"But you don't even know me."

"It doesn't matter."

Jess smiled at him. "Thank you."

"Quit thanking me, I'm happy to do it." He replied with a smile.

Jess smiled back. Man he was cute. How did she not notice that before? She quickly shook her head at herself. This guy probably felt sorry for her, she shouldn't even be thinking about that.

"So where are you from?" He asked. "If you don't mind me asking."

"Not at all. I'm from Florida."

He nodded. "What brings you to New York?"

"I moved up here for a change. My parents weren't happy with my decision, and I haven't talked to them in a while."

He frowned. "How old are you?"

"21."

"Any siblings?"

"I have a little sister and brother."

"You're the oldest?"

"I am." He nodded. "What about you?"

"I have a younger sister. She's very different from me though, more rambunctious, always getting into trouble."

Jess nodded. "That's probably how my family would describe me."

"I don't see it."

Jess chuckled. "Yeah well you don't know me very well."

"From what I've seen, you seem like a very nice girl."

"Thank you." Jess said shyly.

Don smiled at her. The moment was broken when Don's cell phone rang. He answered it and talked for a few minutes before shutting the phone and looking at Jess apologetically.

"I have to go."

"Oh." Jess said disappointedly. "Okay."

"I'm sorry."

"It's not your fault. It's your job. You didn't have to stay in the first place and I really appreciate it."

Don smiled and stood up. "I'm glad to see you made it through okay. I'll come check on you again, okay?"

Jess smiled. "Okay."

"Alright. I'll see you later, Jess."

"Bye."

Jess watched him leave before looking up at the ceiling again, fighting sleep. She wondered how long she could do it.

**

Three days later, Jess was released from the hospital. She had been pleasantly surprised when Don had shown up to take her home. He had been true to his word and stopped by every day she had been there.

"Ready to go?" Don asked with a smile.

Jess looked up and smiled back before nodding. "Yeah."

"Let's get out of here. I'm sure you're anxious to go home."

"Definitely." Jess said with a sigh as she sat in the wheelchair. She thought it was pretty ridiculous she had to sit in this stupid thing, but Don pushed her to the main entrance.

"So where is home?" Don asked.

"I live over on East 73rd street."

Don nodded. "I know where that is."

Jess nodded. "I took all the money I had saved up to get an affordable place here." She sighed. "It's the best I could do."

"It's a good area. At least you aren't in a drug area or anything."

"I tried to avoid that." She said as she saw the police cruiser sitting outside the door. "Um."

"You don't mind riding in the cruiser, do you? I have to go to work after I drop you off."

"Oh. No that's fine." Jess replied as she stood up slowly. She followed Don to the car and was surprised when he opened the door for her. "Thank you."

"You're welcome." He replied with a smile.

He walked over to the other side of the car and got in. "What do you think, sirens or no sirens?"

Jess laughed and then grimaced. That hurt.

"Sorry." Don said as he started the car.

"Don't be. I think no sirens are best, I'm already nervous being in one of these things."

Don chuckled as he pulled out of the hospital. "Been in one before?"

"No thankfully. I don't plan on ever being in that backseat either."

"I hope not. I would hate to have to pick you up somewhere."

"Hopefully it'll never happen." She said as she looked out of the window.

"So how long ago did you move up here?"

"A week."

"Wow. Welcome to New York." He said with a chuckle.

"Yeah what a welcoming present for me."

"The true fashion of The City. But I promise, it's really not all that bad here. I've lived here all my life."

Jess nodded. "I hope not. I don't know if I can handle being shot every week."

Don chuckled. "I don't think anyone could. I hope it won't happen again."

"Me too."

The rest of the car ride was pretty silent until they reached the apartment complex. Don parked the car along the curb and turned to Jess.

"You alright from here?"

"Yeah. Thank you again."

"Don't worry about it." Don said, waving it off with a smile. "Take care of yourself."

"I will. I hope not to see you soon." Jess paused when she realized how rude that sounded. "I mean, under those circumstances."

Don chuckled. "I hope not either. I'll see you around, Jess."

"Bye Don. Be safe." She said seriously as she got out of his car. Don smiled and waved before he was off. Jess sighed before heading into her apartment building. What a week.