author's notes: please read this before reading chapter 7, thank you.

I'm going to make some slight changes to Elizabeth Hadley's past that I mentioned in chapter one and I'm gonna remind you them.

1. She and Shaw both completed med school and started their residency but Hadley is 5 years younger than Shaw.

2. Shaw was fired from her residency and left for the US Marines while Hadley continued her career as a surgeon.

3.A few months ago, there was a shooting that killed 15 people at her hospital, including Hadley's boyfriend who had died in her arms.

4. She quit her job at the hospital.

5. There will be a fictional unsub in this chapter.

Anyways, PLEASE review and happy reading!

Sincerely,

kellyh000


chapter 7

When Dr. Hadley's picture popped from his search result, Harold was shocked.

At first, he did think if she could be a perpetrator. Then he thought about John. Although John has demonstrated his ability to strangle her, Harold was still highly uncomfortable of having a possible threat hanging around his friend.

But Shaw obviously read his mind and shoved reason down his throat.

"Aside from any possibility that she is a perpetrator, if she was going to kill John, the Machine would've given us his number, too. She's got to be the victim. And besides," Shaw glared at Harold while packing up too many weapons for Harold's liking. "if I hadn't call her in the first place, she would never be able to be in the same room with Reese in her entire life. She has no motive, at all. "

Harold calmed down a bit and stuck the doctor's photo on the board. He silently cursed his paranoia. They have lost a friend recently, and his anxiety has already clouded his judgement.

"Call Hadley and tell her not to leave the safe house for whatever reason. I'm be there in 10." Shaw stormed off and barked an order at her boss.

Just when Harold was about to call the doctor, Root's voice echoed through the PA system. "I can help you save the doctor, Harold. I think I've proven myself useful."

The machine had hacked the PA system for her, allowing her to communicate with him.

Harold was reluctant. He kept her imprisoned for a reason. But the situation could be very bad and he wouldn't let another good person die. It's just not an option.

After opening the door for Root, they cooperated and Root started to dig through the doctor's life while Harold called to warn the doctor.

But to his horror, it was John who picked up the phone.

He trusts that John wouldn't attack the doctor again, but he wanted to keep John out of this. Harold worries that John would do anything regardless of his condition to protect the doctor, especially after he failed to save Detective Carter and is in a desperate need of atonement.

Yet John knew him well enough and figured out something is wrong, he had no choice but to fill him in on the situation.

"John, she's in our safe house already. She won't be in any immediate danger and Ms. Shaw will be there in 15. DON'T GET OUT OF BED."

"You don't know that, Harold."

"JOHN!Stay exactly where you are, just ask Dr. Hadley to stay with you-"

Harold looked as his phone in dread when he realized John hung up on him.

Root stared up to him "Let me guess. Big lug hung up and went AWOL."

"I suppose,"Harold said between his teeth and closed his eyes " the Machine didn't kindly tell you why our number's being targeted. "

"Relax, Harold. "Root said half-heartedly while doing some serious hacking "If Dr. Elizabeth Hadley is half as smart as Shaw says she is, she'll be alright. Perhaps she can even keep John under control."

As if the universe heard Harold's prayer, Hadley called back.

"Harold? What's happening? John just freaked out and pulled his IV out, again. And tried to get out of bed and fell on the floor. He's fine, though. "

After Hadley heard the loud 'thump' coming from his room, she rushed in and saw her patient on the floor, trying to get up but to no avail as he was too weak to stand. She hurried over to help him, and as soon as she got enough close to him, John had grasped her wrist and keep telling her that she is in danger. Confused, she reached for her phone and and called back.

John was obviously frustrated that the doctor didn't take him seriously, and tried to grab her phone to get her attention.

"Doctor, please listen to me carefully, please just stay exactly where you are and don't leave. We did receive credible intel that your life is in danger. "

"Uh...I guess that could explain why Sameen just barged in with a machine gun?"

Hadley looked baffled as Shaw showed up out of nowhere and casually threw a duffel bag and her gun on the floor.

They exchanged a look.

WHAT THE HELL?

I'LL EXPLAIN LATER. HELP ME GET HIM UP FIRST.

After they helped John settle back in bed, Hadley put Harold on speaker.

"Doctor,your life is in danger. But we need your help to identify the threat. Can you think of anyone who would want you dead?"

"Other than the shooting a few months ago, my life has been pretty violent-free. Are you sure your sources are right?"

"Well, start with the shooting. Who was the shooter? "

Hadley frowned. She really didn't want to relive the worst day of her life and she tried to keep her voice as calm as possible "I don't remember his name, but his brother Sebastian was a patient at my hospital. He didn't make it on the table, and the brother took it very hard. A day later, he was high on drugs and shot up the emergency room all the way to the O.R. When the police arrived, they killed him. The end."

"Sounds like the shooting was a single incident. A crime committed in the heat of the moment." Harold said softly.

"If the shooting was a single incident, I doubt that it would be the reason you're being targeted." Shaw asked.

"Then what for? Who would want to kill me anyway?"

"Peter Miller." Root suddenly chimed in.

"The creepy janitor?" Shaw recognized the name.

"You have a stalker of your own, Elizabeth. He has detailed description of your daily life and countless love letters to you posted on his blog. Would you like to hear them?" Root said enthusiastically, as she scrolled through the guy's digital footprints.

"No, I don't !"

"Apparently he thinks you are meant to be with him, especially after the death of your boyfriend. He was mad when you didn't come running into his arms." Root went on with a very happy attitude that made Hadley wanted to slap her.

Harold cut in and stopped Root's inappropriate behavior. "He regarded your resignation from the hospital as a betrayal to him. In his mind, you left him. His delusions and anger lead to him purchasing a gun online. In his most recent posts, he has written down his fury and plans of what to do to you when he gets his hands on you. "

"He can damn well try." Shaw said with a determination that comforted Hadley a little. She trusts Shaw's ability to keep her safe.

"Hadley," John said suddenly. "are you ok?"

She remained silent for a while . She honestly did not know what to say. "I'm...fine. I'm too confused at the moment. I believe what you're saying, it just doesn't make any sense to me."

"It doesn't have to make sense," John said. "that guy is a narcissist psycho. He can do whatever he wants, but listen to me, I won't let anything happen to you. "

Hadley smiled a little. Her assumptions were right. John is the man-in-the-suit. But he was her patient, and it's her responsibility to take care of him, not the other way around.

"No, John, you listen to me."Hadley bent down to match his eye level and whispered to him, almost fondly " All you can do is rest. If you so much as try to get up, I WILL SEDATE YOU and tie you to the bed."

Everyone went silent. Shaw looked highly amused. John himself was shocked. On the other end of the call, Harold's brain stopped working for a second and Root cast him a look that says 'told you she could handle John' .

TBC

Again, please review and have a nice day!