10 Fanfic: chase scenes in hospitals are fun, erections in pools however, are not.

Sam and Hoffman walked calmly through the halls of the hospital, as were the other 12 policemen. As far as the woman knew she was incognito, and it was best to keep it that way to avoid any risk to the patients. Each officer had been given a description of her, and had been given the order that they should get her as quickly and silently as possible. That is, thought Sam if she isn't already gone. As they walked past Kate's room, Sam couldn't help but peek through the window. She was sitting up, pressing her hand against her forehead as if trying to keep all of her thoughts in. Sam looked up at Hoffman hopefully, but he shook his head.
"Nobody can see her until we have the woman."

Sam continued to walk, keeping his head down. He had broken his promise. But if it was for a better cause, wasn't it worth it? He sighed heavily. Thoughts were clogging up his head like a drain, the only relief would be to find this woman and straighten things out. But in a 5 floor hospital with over 150 doctors and nurses it seemed almost impossible. Flicking a glance up at Hoffman Sam wondered what was going through his head. Was he as concerned? Did he care as much?
"You look depressed." said Hoffman as they passed the cafeteria. Sam snorted.

"I recently began a relationship with an amazing girl, I've spent next to no time with her, she's just had major surgery and I'm not there to see her like I promised, oh and here's the clincher, people keep trying to kill her. I'm not depressed, god just hates me."
Hoffman chuckled, his hair flipping around. Sam felt slightly irritated. Mere hours ago Sam hated this man's guts and now they were talking like old friends. It was fun, but VERY annoying.

Hoffman tutted
"I feel bad for depressed people. Stuck in a rut, unable to escape the pain. Another reason life should have instructions"
"Actually, all we need is a manual for depression because it would probably tell you how to deal with it too." Sam corrected. He had absolutely NO idea how they got onto this subject but it was interesting.
"Depression for dummies?" asked Hoffman
"I don't think calling them dummies is going to help."
They laughed and turned a corner, heading towards the maternity ward...

XXX
Katelyn had no idea where Sam was. Nor did she know what was happening just outside her door, or why her stomach was so numb. It'd taken her over an hour to recover from the anaesthetics, and she'd spent half that time trying to sit up. However, Kate had at least one thing to comfort her.

The box that Hoffman had left sat across Kate's lap, pushing her deeper into the mattress. It was very long, almost taking up the whole room. Katelyn's fingers tingled with eagerness. Kate slipped her finger lightly under the red bow on the Box, anticipation building up inside of her like a soda can. The tag said it was for her, but something about the sheer volume of it made Kate want to savour the moment. But the excitement was too much, and soon Kate found herself tearing away the ribbon like it was nothing. Gently, she lifted the lid of the box.

Kate's throat seemed to shrink as tears filled her eyes. Any other time she would have blamed it on anaesthetics, or panic over her unexplained loss of consciousness but right now, she couldn't care less.
A guitar. Electric. The body was a bright power blue and shone under the florescent lights. The fret board was a rich brown, and had Katelyn engraved in white on the 7th fret and again on the body. Silver volume dials and whammy bar made Kate's fingers itch to play. Hoffman had even taken detail with the spiral of strings, tying a dark blue choker around them. Kate delicately untied it to get a better look.

There was a silver K embroidered on the fabric, and as Kate gently fastened it, she felt how soft it was. She smiled, despite the confusion, and set about attaching the strings.

XXX

"Any sign?" asked Sam, undoing his top button. The maternity ward was hot and uncomfortable, and the stench of tomato soup on his jeans was making him queasy, Sam was fast beginning to hate this search. Hoffman sighed, removing his jacket. He looked just as uncomfortable, pit stains yellowing his White top. Sam stared at Hoffman for a long moment, biting his lip. Was this a mistake? He had always hated officers, ever since his parents died. Now he felt like he was having double standards...

"SAM" Hoffman whispered, pointing to the end of the corridor. Sam stiffened.
It was her.
She was pulling along her backpack, which was big and bulky. She looked intense as heaved it onto her back, grunting with effort. Slowly Sam and Hoffman approached her.
"Miss?" asked Hoffman, placing a hand on her back. She looked up, confused. Swinging the bag from her back she stood straight to look Hoffman in the eyes.

"Is there a problem?" she grunted, scowling at Sam. He scowled back, glaring into her hateful eyes. He didn't get how someone that cruel could pass for a nurse.
"You will have to come with me. We have some questions" continued Hoffman, standing over her. He looked so powerful, so alert. It was odd how much his expression had altered. Hoffman was now fierce, angry, determined. The woman seemed to shrink underneath him.

She was frozen, one hand tightly gripping her bag, the other clenched in a fist. Her eyes darted to Sam's, holding his gaze for a split second, analysing his face. He hated her for it. For her NERVE. All he could think was give up.

Give up NOW.

But she didn't. One second. That's how long it took a small black device to drop from her sleeve. A tazer.
Hoffman screamed in pain as she shoved it into his crotch, doubling over in agony. Flashing a smile, she darted down the hall, leaving them in the corridor.

Sam looked at Hoffman. Then at the pink blob moving out of sight. And darted down the hall after her.

She was light on her feet, bouncing in and out of the crowds of doctors and nurses. At first they fell away like frightened deer, but when people began to notice Sam's pursuit they cleared their path completely, hiding in the patient's rooms or nursing stations until the bedlam was over. Sam was sweating, his shirt damp and his hair no longer needing the gel. He was pushing to keep up with the nimble imposter, who seemed to be immune to fatigue. She tore ahead, hopping over gurneys and counters like a horse leaving Sam to stumble and fall.

But he was persistent, making sure to stay within sight of her. He would NOT Loose this time, he wasn't going to let her hurt anyone else...
Sam's thought was interrupted as a dead weight was thrown against him. Flying backwards he caught a glimpse of the woman's sneer, and heard her laugh rip through his ears. As Sam hit the ground pain exploded through his head, and he found his vision momentarily blurred. He looked up and found that the woman had thrown a stray gurney in his direction. Throwing the metal object off him, Sam stood to face her.

Sam was dizzy though, and stumbled against the wall. She laughed, and Sam felt himself cringing against the shrill sound. The woman was standing casually; hand on her hip chest pushed forward. Sam could see why. Even in the blurred daze Sam could tell the halls were deserted. All the doctors and nurses barricaded in the rooms, either protecting the patients or themselves. No police to be found either, probably trying to bring Hoffman round.

"Looks like it's just you and me" Sam slurred. He wanted to sound tough but simply sounded sad. The woman laughed again, cackling hard.
"I don't need to outrun YOU...but still"
She tore off again, rounding a corner out of sight, and in moments Sam was following. It was on again. Only now the woman had an advantage; her head wasn't bleeding. Sam pushed hard, but still tripped more often than not. All the woman had to do was upturn a table or two to slow him down. And as they turned towards the physiotherapy department Sam was giving up. The woman was barely running anymore, she was jogging along enjoying Sam's humiliation.

"You know." said the woman, stopping.
Sam slumped against the wall again, gripping his head. He glared at her angrily.
"WHAT?"
She grinned and stepped forward.
"You have no means to hold me even if you do get me."
Sam growled "I don't intend to hold you, I intend to kill you."
She raised her eyebrows, and looked Sam up and down. She sighed; the first human thing Sam had seen her do.

"Look kid. It's nothing personal. But I have an obligation to my family. And even though Harry isn't alive, that doesn't mean the humiliation he caused my family is gone. Your little girlfriend is going to die because that will be the final insult. She has to die to avenge my sisters. Like I said nothing personal."
As the blood drained from his face, Sam's vision steadied, and he saw clearly. Sam stood up straight and stared into the eyes of the woman.
"Taking revenge against a kid who didn't even know what was happening. Do you really think that's right?"

She froze, staring for a long time. For a split second Sam saw fear in her eyes. A scared little kid in a lot of trouble...
And then she was gone, once again up the hallway. And once again, Sam followed. But with a second wind. He'd had a rest, his head seemed to have stopped bleeding and he had found a weakness in the woman he was hunting. She was just as weak as him. He streaked after her, now equal in speed. He was hot on her heels, and she was panicking. Desperately the woman turned a corner through a pair of double doors marked 'therapy pool'.

The air in the room stank of chlorine and steam. The water sparkled in the middle, reflecting onto the ceiling. Through the windows Sam could see how dark it had become. The woman backed away, stopping on the edge of the pool. Sam approached her slowly.
"Come on. You'll be caught anyway."
Water splashed everywhere as the woman entered the pool. Slowly she began splashing through the water. Sam growled and dove in after her...
And then realised what a mistake he had made.

Sam gripped the edge of the pool desperately, his heart pounding. Staring across the water he saw the woman reaching the other side. He WISHED he could follow her, catch her and put her away. But he just COULDN'T. He cringed as millions of horrible memories filled his head. Sirens. Screaming. His parent's emotionless faces as their car sank lower into the water...
Sam couldn't swim.
It wasn't because he'd never been taught, or even because that's how his parents died.

He was afraid of the water, and it was the most pathetic thing about him. He hated how the water got in his ears, how it splashed against his skin and his hair. Why, why didn't he just go around? The woman was reaching the end, she was getting away. Sam gave a pitiful whimper as the water lapped at his neck. It was humiliating.
He could've walked across, but what good would it have done? She'd have been long gone by the time he reached the other side. It was awful. All that chasing and yet the second he was in the water he was useless...

But as the woman left the pool, the horror of the water wasn't the problem anymore. She was dripping wet, her shirt see through, and...
Colour filled Sam's cheeks. And under the dreaded water his knees buckled. Lately the only thing on Sam's mind when THIS happened was Kate. And it was usually voluntary. It was almost as embarrassing as the water. Sam had no attraction to her, she was repulsive but well... It was... happening. The woman turned, confused by Sam's total standstill. She dropped her eyes to the water...

A cruel smiled curled across her lips. Sam knew the scared girl he'd seen earlier was gone.
"Bless" she laughed, turning to leave. She bent over to get her damp bag, taking way more time than necessary. Sam's legs buckled harder, his cheeks burning.
And with that, the woman disappeared.
Just as the entire police force came bursting in.

XXX
"its midnight" said Hoffman absentmindedly. Sam had refused to exit the water, and after hours of doctors pleads (and some jeering from the officers) Hoffman (who was also embarrassed) was the only one left, sitting cross legged at the edge of the pool holding an ice pack to his crotch.
"You know" he continued "they say if it continues for over 4 hours you should consult a physician"
Sam sighed.
"actually, that disappeared around 10"
"really?" asked Hoffman
"yep, you're aware this pool is totally freezing right?"
"Ah. So why don't you get out?"

Sam cringed against the water.
"I can't"
Such an understatement. After the shameful erection had passed, the fear of the water had taken hold, and without the distraction of a chase, Sam was more terrified than ever.
"Sam" whispered Hoffman, craning down "you can't swim can you?"
Sam managed to shake his head, shivering as the water swished against him.
"It freaks you out?"
Sam nodded. Then yelled. Hoffman was standing, gripping the soaking teen under the arms. Gently he plonked him on the floor.
"HEY!" he cried, shivering. Hoffman didn't respond but instead grabbed a towel from the rack and wrapped it around Sam's frozen shoulders and sat down again in front of him.
Comforted by the warm towel and escape from the water, Sam stared into Hoffman's face.
"Your parents." Whispered Hoffman "you haven't touched the water since."
Sam looked away, angry with Hoffman for bringing up the past. Hoffman continued.
"They crashed the car into a river with you inside. They drowned, and you were trapped underwater. You were dragged out crying and were traumatised."
"Shut up"
"and, now that I come to remember it, I was actually on that case... In fact I think I was the one who interviewed you... Yes. Yes you were. Hm, so that's why things have been so frosty..."
"SHUT UP HOFFMAN."
Sam was shaking violently, gripping the towel. Hoffman landed his giant bear like hand on his shoulder.

"It's ok. I remember how shaken you were. I can understand how that would have affected you."
Sam nodded. And a huge smile spread across Hoffman's face.
"Well, it's time we make it un-affect you"
"what?"
"I am going to teach you to swim."
Sam's eyes widened.
"NO"
"yes." said Hoffman calmly "I'm off duty next Saturday, provided Kate doesn't have plans so have your trunks ready."
"But-"
"no buts. Now, I recon Kate's still up so I'd go explain this whole mess if I were you"

And with that he was up and out, leaving Sam alone in the pool room.
Sam looked at the water and bit his lip. Standing, Sam left to see Kate. He had missed her, and he hoped she would take his mind off Hoffman and the water. But in the back of his mind, he knew he couldn't escape Hoffman's plans...