Hey everyone!

Thank you soooo much! I love to read long comments!

KateEals: I know exactly which episode you mean. Just flipped through Youtube...unfortunately it's not there :o(

eggylaine: Thank you very much! I'm trying not to bring too much cliffhangers even if I looooove cliffhangers ;o)

: Your are welcome and thank you for your nice comment! Sabine seems German?

Guys, hope you enjoy it and please leave a comment! I am excited to read what you think!

Chapter 4 – Awaking

Sam blinked trough heavy eyes, he felt dazed but he knew he had to wake up now. He needed to know what was going on, he needed to know that everyone made it out safe. He turned his head slightly to the side. Of course Jules was sitting on his side. He could feel her warm hand on his. "Jules.", it was barley a whisper but Jules head shot up immediately.

"Sam? Hey, you are awake.", she said with the most beautiful smile on her face.

"Is everyone okay?", Sam asked.

"Of course." Jules whispered before she kissed Sam gently. She was so glad to see his blue eyes again.

"What about you? How is the pain?" Jules asked while she watched Sam's face closely.

"I don't feel any pain...I don't feel...oh god Jules, I can't feel..."

"Shhhh..." Jules said laying a finger on his mouth to stop him from speaking. She could see that he was afraid.

"Sam I need you to stay calm now."

"Oh no."

"It's not the end! The bullet hit your back pretty badly. There are bone fragments in your spinal cord but there is a good chance they can be removed in a few weeks."

"Will I be able to walk again?", the question wasn't more than a whisper. He didn't want to hear the truth.

"There is a great chance, yes. The doctor said that it is going to be a long process and a lot of work but of course you will walk again. Together we will pull through this!"

"What about now?"

"Due to the big swelling in your back they can't do anything for now. We will have to wait until the swelling is down so they can operate you again."

"And until then I will not be able to walk?"

"Exactly."

Sam closed his eyes slowly.

"Sam look at me. It is just a few weeks and then you will have this operation and start with the physio therapy."

"Can you please leave me alone for a second?"

"No! We are in this together and we will get trough it together. You will not push me away, not any second of the process.", Jules said with a strong voice taking Sam into a hugh. It doesn't take long until she could feel hot tears on the side of her face and she was glad to feel them because Sam was not pushing her away and he was not hiding, that was more than she had hoped for.

"I love you Sam, no matter what is going to happen."

"But what will happen when I won't be able to walk again?"

"Then we are going to handle it."

"I love you too Jules."
"I know it will be a hard time now but we will manage it right?"

"There will be a lot to manage."

"I know that. First of all we have to handle the next eight to ten weeks. There is no doubt that you will have to stay in a wheelchair for this time."

"Great."

"Look who is awake again.", Natalie said walking back into Sam's room. She was just outside to get some coffee giving Jules and Sam the space they needed.

"Nat.", Sam said as he was facing his sister leaning in the door frame.

"You are not scaring me like that again, you hear me? You are not supposed to catch bullets like this." Natalie said before she walked over to the bed giving Sam a kiss on his cheek.

"Did Jules tell you everything?", Natalie asked while Sam managed a quick nod.

"Don't think about giving up for a second, you have to fight yourself back to life now, just as you did all the times before, with the little difference that it is physical this time."

"I will do my very best."

"Yeah I hope so. You know that Spike and I are moving in together now. Imagine a wedding some day, you promised me to walk me to the aisle all these years ago and you are not breaking your promise!"

"I will never walk you to the aisle when Spike is the one standing there." Sam joked a little smile on his face. In this second he was just glad that life turned out so good for Natalie and him. Now they had people around who cared and who gave them all the love they had so desperately missed in their childhood.

"I am going to inform the team. They are all still waiting outside." Jules said giving Sam a quick kiss on his forehead.

"Jules!", Spike was the first who made his way to her.

"He is awake now. I just told him what is going on."

"How is he handling it?", Greg asked.

"I think he can't get it all now, but he is doing pretty good. I think it will be hard when he has to get up for the first time but we will manage it."

"Is there anything we can do?", Ed asked his face full of pity.

"I think there is going to be a lot we will need your help with. Sam can't go back into our house, we have a lot to figure out."

"Just give us a call if you need anything."

"I will, I promise." Jules said before going back to Sam's room. Natalie was now sitting on her spot stroking Sam's hair while he seemed to be asleep again. At first she hadn't recognized how close the two of them where. They got into fights and Sam was annoyed more then once, but between the lines there was always this big bond and the great love.

"He is asleep again.", Natalie said as Jules walked back in.

"Spike is still waiting outside. I think he needs you too Nat.", Jules had seen the sorrow in Spikes eyes.

"I know." Natalie agreed giving Sam a small kiss on the forehead before she left the room to go home with Spike and make sure he was okay too.

"Hey sleeping beauty." Jules said as Sam's eyes fluttered open a few hours after he had fallen asleep again.

"Hey. You are still here."

"Of course I am. You know I'm not going anywhere."

"You need sleep too Jules."

"Nah, I will get my sleep. Natalie left with Spike a few hours ago.", Jules explained while Doctor Sherman walked into the room at the same second.

"Mister Braddock you are already awake.", he said walking over to the monitor to check all of the vitals.

"How do you feel Mister Braddock?"

"A little shocked after everything."

"There is no permanent damage to the spinal cord, as long as we are able to get all the bone fragments out. I don't know if it will take you a few month or a few years but I don't think that you will need the wheelchair for the rest of your life."

"That's great to hear, thank you Dr. Sherman."

"You are welcome. Let's have a quick look.", Dr. Sherman said before he took the blanket from Sam's still body.

Until know Jules hadn't recognized that there where pillows and a special mattress to stabilize Sam's back. She had just wondered that he was lying on his back after all.

"It all looks good.", Dr. Sherman said giving Jules the pillow so she could get it back over Sam. "Dr. Sherman can you tell me when I am going to be released?"

"I think we can talk about that in about two weeks, it depends on how soon there is space at the rehabilitation center."

"Rehabilitation center? But you said physio therapy is not starting before the operation.", Jules interrupted.

"Yes, that is right. We are just talking about a week where Mister Braddock learns to handle his life in a wheelchair. He will get to know how to move in and out of it and how to get along for the next weeks."

Jules nodded slowly. She hadn't thought about that until know.

"If you have any more questions I am not far away. Feel free to ask.", Dr. Sherman said before leaving the two of them alone again.