Her reunion with Tara had been a tearful one and although she hadn't gone into any detail about her sudden departure, the woman had accepted that she'd done what she had to do. Sue walked along the hospital corridor towards I.C.U and stood in the doorway trying to regain her composure. She hadn't quite been prepared for the sight that had greeted her.

D was hooked up to many different monitors, a life-support mask covering part of his face as he lay perfectly still. She tapped on the glass to get Donna's attention.

"Mind if I come in?"

"Of course not..." Donna managed a weak smile of greeting.

"How is he?" she asked, moisture prickling the backs of her eyes.

"No change."

Sue hadn't a clue if that was a good or bad thing but she didn't want to push. "And how are you holding up?"

The older woman looked at her with tears in her eyes. "I'm not. He was doing so well and then all his vital signs just plummeted and they had to rush him back into the OR. Now I daren't leave his side in case it happens again. What will I do if I lose him?"

Impulsively, Sue crossed the room to her distressed friend and pulled her into a hug holding her as she cried, but almost immediately Donna pulled away again.

"I'm sorry, I thought I was stronger than that," she apologised.

"It's okay."

"No, it's…" She stopped speaking as she noticed a figure at the entrance watching them. "Sue…" She indicated the doorway with a nod of her head.

Sue turned and found herself looking into haunted brown eyes. "Jack…"

"I'll come back later." He held her gaze for a few seconds longer before turning and heading back the way he'd come.

"You hurt him when you left." Donna stated after regaining her attention.

"I know." Sue replied tremulously.

"Maybe, but I don't think you realise how much. He hasn't been the same since."

"I..." Her voice choked with emotion.

"Go after him Sue… Talk to him. You owe him that much."

She nodded and stole one more glance at the man lying on the bed knowing that it could just as easily have been Jack. Almost running along the corridor she traced his path and found him staring out of the window in the reception area.

"Jack…" She touched him on the arm and then took a step back as he spun to face her. His eyes glittered with an anger that she'd only witnessed very rarely and then not directed at her. Mustering her courage she tried again. "Jack, can we talk?"

"About what...?"

"Why I did what I did."

"I think you made that perfectly clear last night." She was about to try to explain that it wasn't what he thought but he started to walk away, looking back over his shoulder to add, "I hope you'll both be very happy."

"Jack, wait please…"

She followed him as closely as she could but lost him in the foyer, spotting him again as he walked out of the exit. Reckoning that she would never catch him she stopped to catch her breath and felt someone grab her arm.

"Excuse me ma'am, was that Special Agent Hudson?" She didn't recognise the man but saw the glint of his shield on his belt.

"Yes."

"Damn! We have to stop him he's not wearing his vest."

The implication hit her full-force and she accompanied the Agent to the door, watching as he turned to the right but just as she was about to follow an ambulance pulled out and she spotted him walking in the opposite direction. "Jack… Stop!"

He heard her call but had no intention of waiting so that she could make him feel any more miserable than he already did.

Sue rapidly scanned the area and called out again this time more urgently.

For Jack the next few seconds seemed to go in slow motion as three things happened almost simultaneously… The panic in her voice brought him to a grinding halt and he started to turn just as something slammed into his back, knocking him to the ground while his brain registered the sound of a gunshot.

The force of the blow had knocked the wind out of him and he was having trouble moving. The added weight on his back wasn't helping either. With a supreme effort he managed to raise himself from the pavement slightly, turning to find himself looking directly into her face. Her eyes were wild and scared.

"Sue… I'm okay." When she didn't move he searched her face frantically, "Sue..?" He slid a hand round her back withdrawing it immediately when he felt something damp and sticky trickling through his fingers. "Oh God, no… Sue…"

Both sets of eyes gazed in shock at his bloody palm and from somewhere far away he heard Myles' voice. "We need help fast… We have an Agent down just outside the hospital. Gunshot wound."

Sue and Jack continued to stare at one another, tears forming in their eyes. "Jack…" her expression was almost pleading with him.

Carefully he pulled her into his arms, resting her head against his shoulder but making sure she could still see his face. Myles crouched down in front of them.

"Help's on the way."

Jack barely acknowledged him, concentrating on Sue's beautiful face. "It's going to be okay, I promise."

"It hurts," She whispered quietly.

"I know, Sweetheart… I know." Her eyes locked with his, tears starting to brim over and he lowered his head, kissing her with an almost desperate passion before pulling slowly away.

She gave him a tremulous smile, reaching up to caress his cheek. "I'm so sorry. This is all my fault."

"No, it's mine." He watched in horror as her eyes slowly closed and she slumped into his chest.

"Sue..!" Jack pulled her to him, holding her tightly as he tried to use his strength to keep her alive, rocking her gently. He wasn't aware of the trauma team's arrival until a hand firmly gripped his shoulder.

"We'll take over now, Sir."

o-xxx-o