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Abby clutched Joe closer to her chest; she could feel his tiny heart fluttering against his ribs. He was scared, she was terrified. One of the men rolled over on the floor and scrambled to his feet. His face was wrought with fear as his eyes darted around the admit area. They latched onto the gun but before he could move Abby had hurried forward and kicked the weapon away where it was swiftly picked up by a fire-fighter.

Phil tried making a break through the ranks of fire fighters that were beginning to surround him but he was quickly grabbed and thrown to the floor with two firemen holding him down.

The other man on the floor also turned over, wincing slightly and clambered to his feet. Shards of glass smattered the back of his lab coat leaving scarlet stains and there was an ugly open wound on the back of his head matting his dark hair with blood. But Luka was ok. He was alive. Abby sagged in relief; her husband was still alive even through all this. Where had the bullet gone though?

Suddenly she heard a small whimper and she whipped around on the spot to see the limp form of Landon crumpled on the floor. Crimson liquid pooled around his neck from the gunshot wound. Abby gasped and quickly placed Joe in the hands of a nearby fire fighter before diving to Landon's side.

Even as she skidded to her knees she knew the prospects for the young man looked bleak. He was gasping desperately for air and gurgling as the blood got into his throat.

"Oh god, no," Abby muttered to herself as Luka jumped in to help her. Landon's eyes were wide and scared, full of pain.

"Please…help," he rasped but it seemed even he knew he didn't have much chance of survival.

"Abby…" Luka started quietly after inspecting the wound. The kid wouldn't make it past the double doors if they moved him but if they didn't he would die here anyway.

"I know," Abby said, looking sadly at the man.

"I'm gonna die aren't I?" Landon wheezed, his body heaving with the effort.

"Landon isn't it?" She directed the question at the fire fighter, "I just wanna say thank you…for saving my baby. You stopped that guy walking out with him. Thank you so much."

Silent tears fell down the young man's face. He could tell from the doctors' faces he didn't have a chance. This had been his first fire and now his last. He didn't want to die. He didn't believe in god or heaven; all he thought was there after death was darkness. And he didn't like the sound of that.

"Shall we try and move him?" Abby whispered to Luka.

"We could but I don't know if it'll make much difference," Luka replied.

"Let's give it a go."

The two of them moved in to lift Landon up but just as they did his eyes rolled into the back of his head and he stopped breathing.

"Start CPR," Luka said to Abby. She began compressions on his chest whilst Luka did mouth to mouth but neither had any effect. Landon died.

Alex was sitting on a hospital bed in Mercy Hospital, swinging his legs and wondering whether any of the nurses would notice if he went to the cafeteria for a snack. He was starving and his burns had already been wrapped up. It wouldn't matter if he went, would it?

He stood up slowly and headed off, keeping his head low as he tried to sneak past the nurses. He succeeded. None of them noticed his departure. That was until he walked past a private room and someone screamed.

"ALEX!" Suddenly someone tumbled through the door of the room and grabbed him in a one armed bear hug, "Oh my god, my baby! You're ok."

"Mom," Alex couldn't believe his eyes. His mom was ok, she was alive. "I'm so sorry Mom."

"Why are you sorry?" Sam frowned, clutching her son to her.

"For being horrible and rebellious all these years. I…I love you, you know," Alex whispered.

"Oh, Alex," Sam smiled, tears in her eyes as she hugged her only son even tighter, "I love you so much."

As the body of Landon was removed, the last of the survivors left the building. Most of the fire was out now but the area was still very unstable. Abby wondered whether County would ever be up and running again. Would she have a job here again?

Luka placed an arm around her as she cradled baby Joe in her hands and took one last look around the smouldering remains of her…home she guessed was the best word to describe it. She had spent many years of her life there through thick and thin and everyone here was her family. But she'd already lost one of that family in this blast – Greg. She could wait awhile before she told Luka that though. He had enough on his mind.

It was then she remembered the last two members of the ER family that hadn't been recovered. Ray and Neela. She almost cried at this. They had probably been buried under all this rubble or been burnt alive. She shuddered to think the fate that had befallen them.

Carter found his luggage and headed out of the airport. He was just about to walk out the doors when he spotted something on the nearby tv. It was a news flash of a blazing building. The headline read 'Chicago County Hospital Explosion'.

"Christ," the man murmured, hardly believing his eyes. He had to get back to the hospital or what was left of it.

Rushing out of the airport he hailed a cab and leapt into the backseat. "Where to, man?" the guy asked.

"County Hospital," Carter replied hurriedly.

"Why'd ya wanna go there? It's destroyed."

"I don't care. Just get me there!" Carter yelled.

Dun dun duuuun! Whoo! Yep it was Carter. Kinda obvious. Please review to find out what finally happens to Ray and Neela. Sorry to keep you hanging.