Author's note: Gahh! Please don't send me to purgatory/kidnap and torture me for going AWOL for so damn long. I've been caught up with life and actually the computer I had been writing on died which sadly had all my hardcopies (I'm thankful FF now has some nifty new features), but REGARDLESS… I know I needed to finish. I apologize to every faithful reader who has commented and asked me continue. I hope this will give you some justice…! I know this story could be even further continued, but to be honest I think all that has been written is well off ending here. The ever so great Braddock, will continue to live on.

Disclaimer: I do not own any of these characters.

Torturous Wait

White walls. Overbearing smell of antiseptic. The continuous beeping and coughing and sickness infiltrating the senses. Jules ran both hands roughly over her weary face.

Hospitals suck.

She wanted leave and she wanted to stay. Mostly want and needed to stay because she would be damned if she left without Sam. Sam….

He had gone dark for over an hour now. No nurse had any idea when he'd be out and no doctor could tell her his condition. The stress over everything today was killing her slowly and painfully. Damn you, Sam Braddock…

The team mostly stayed around, but they made left and returned time and time again. Jules hadn't left once. After awhile, the nurses at the station must have pitied Jules because they offered a vacant lounge room with a sofa and coffee machine.

She couldn't sleep. Her mind and body were too tense and scared to let her sleep. The times she dozed off for an hour were the worst because the image just kept repeating: Sam lying in the gravel.

She knows the image wouldn't haunt her so badly if she could only see him again.

She sighs and sinks down into the sofa. Just as she closes her dry tired eyes she feels another presence in the doorway. She reopens her eyes taking in a slightly blurry Spike.

"Heya, Jules." Spike smiles weakly and sits down on the sofa next to her.

"H-" she clears her dry throat. "Hey, Spike" She knows she looks terrible, but she can't imagine a person in her shoes not looking like shit.

"I came with Greg and he's grilling the nurses, doctors, and just about every staff member for information about…Sam,"

Jules humorlessly laughs, "Yeah, why do you think the nurses put me in here…" The two partners share a smile.

"You guys are so much a like…."

Jules looks at Spike incredulously. "Greg and me?"

Spike lets out a soft bark of laughter, "No! I was talking about you and Sam. You should have seen this guy when he was waiting for you. He was an understandable mess…just like you. He couldn't wait to see you…Jules, when you got shot he had that same look on his face and in his eyes."

Jules knows this is the truth. Sam always visited her in the hospital when she was recovering, but she never thought their actions would be so identical. So…similarly caring for each other. I need to see Sam…

Just as she thought it, the wish came true. Greg came poking his head through the door then followed with the rest of his body.

"Hey, Jules. Well, I just received some updates…"

Jules eyes sprung to life. Why did he stop?! Why isn't he finishing?!

Greg could see the concern and frustration flash on Jules' face. "Sam is…out of surgery now. But Jules…his injuries are very severe."

"You don't think I know that?!" Unintentionally, Jules snaps back at Greg. Her hand jerks to her quivering mouth. The room is deadly silent.

"Can I see him…?"

"Yeah, they've set him up in his own room a couple rooms down the hall." The second that Jules had snapped at him he had already forgiven her. This stress was pushing the team, but even more so Jules.

"Thanks…and I'm sor-"

"It's okay, Jules. There's no need for that. Let's go see Sam, all right? Greg gave Jules the most heart-warming smile she had seen in days.

"Yeah…" She smiles gently back.

When she enters the room, she can truly see the extent of Sam's injuries highlighted in the florescent glow. He is stark white compared to his natural skin tan. Just about everywhere she can see is majorly bruised. Sam's arm is wrapped and slung a certain way to assist his arm's healing process.

Somehow, Jules expected this and she isn't as shocked. She's relieved if anything. Far more horrifying images had been plaguing her for the endless hours she had been waiting. Now, seeing Sam even in this god-awful condition she's happy.

She doesn't know what his recovery will be like, but she knows she's going to be there every step of the way. If Sam needed a temporary crutch she would be there. Sam would be back in action sooner than anyone would think because he's that vibrant.

Jules smiles and pulls a chair next to the bedside of his uninjured arm. Ever so delicately, she slides her fingers into his hand, which is slightly warm. She swears she can feel him squeeze her hand.

"Sam?" she whispers. There is no response other than his heavy breathing. She inhales with a soft smile then lowers her head alongside his arm slightly leaning into his arm.

Without knowing it, Jules is falling asleep to the beautiful sound of Sam's breathing.

One again!: I just want to appreciate everyone who has read and who has reviewed. It means the world to me. And I'm sorry I couldn't be as supportive as you were all to me. Just thank you, thank you, thank you. Loving you all! (P.S. I hope the chapter's title resonates with all you patient readers!)