Hello everyone!

So here we go again and as I promised – Sam is back in the field.

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Have fun everyone!

Chapter 10 – Sniper on light duty

"Nat! We where just about to call you."

"Really?" Nat asked getting to his brothers side.

"You are finaly up Sammy! It is so great to see you like this again." Natalie said kissing Sam to his cheek softly before stretching her hand out to greet Abby.

"I am Natalie Braddock."

"Nice to meet you Natalie. My name is Abby and I am Sam's physiotherapist for now. We where about to call you because I heard you will be the one to take care of Sam when he get's home."

"Of course I will." Natalie said watching her brother while Sam had to smile a little. This was so Natalie. Surely she had her mistakes but he knew that she would never let him down or that she would never complain about taking care of him and helping him with all these things.

"I would like to show you how you can help your brother getting dressed and undressed with the least possible amount of pain."

Natalie nodded while Abby got a sweater out of Sam's cabinet.

"You always have to remember that your brother is not able to lift his arms and that it would cause him pain if you are lifting them up." Abby said rolling up the sweater showing Natalie everything slowly.

Sam had to bite back a moan due to the pain Abby caused him.

"I will take a walk with Sam. Afterwards I will show you how to get out the sweater again."

"Great. Do you mind if I join you?"

"No get along." Abby answered while looking back at Sam.

"Any dizziness or something else I should be worried about?"

"No."

"Then get back to your feet Constable." Sam stood up with little afford and took a walk with Abby and Natalie, chatting the whole time. Back in Sam's room Abby showed Natalie how to get the sweater off of him again before it was Natalie's turn to put the T-Shirt he was wearing in bed back onto him. Even if Natalie was as soft as possible Sam had to concentrate on keeping a straight face. He knew that Natalie would blame herself if he showed her that she was causing him much more pain than Abby had before.

"Great. I will talk to your doctors but I think there is no problem that you will be released tomorrow."

"Thank you very much Abby!"

"Thank you too Sam. Keep the peace in our town but try not to get shot again, okay?"

"I will do my very best."

Sam was in great trouble getting in and out of the car without freaking out because of the pain. Natalie and Spike had picked him up at the hospital making sure that he got home safely. Nat had arranged everything with her work so she could spend 24 hours with Sam and Jules a whole week long.

"Need any help buddy?" Spike asked as he watched Sam struggle to get out of the car.

"I would tell you if I knew what help I need." Sam answered dryly getting his feet out of the car.

"I can push you up from the drivers seat."

"Not funny man."

"It wasn't a joke. I could do that."

"Spike will you just give me a minute? I got into this damn car, I will get out of it." Spike nodded while stepping back watching as Sam made his way out of the seat painfully slow.

Jules was lying on the couch as Spike, Natalie and Sam entered the house.

"You are back!", she said getting up from her comfortable position. She kissed Sam gently before smiling at Natalie and Spike.

"Take a seat. Sophie and Ed are on the way with a lot of food, that's what Ed told me on the phone." Jules said while Spike and Natalie started to put the plates on the table.

"How are you feeling?" Jules asked as she watched Sam's face closely. He was sweating a little, his face was pale. Jules could tell that he was in pain.

"Glad to be home again." Sam answered kissing Jules again.

"What about the two of you? How are you feeling?"

"Tired. I am just up to get from the bedroom to the couch or in return. It's exhausting and not funny. I am greatfull to have some company now." Sam smiled lightly still standing in the middle of the room.

"Are you up for eating or do you want to rest a bit?" Jules asked. Natalie had told her everything so she knew that Sam was still pretty weak.

"No, I am good. I just don't want to sit down on that couch right now. I don't know if I would be able to get back up."

"Sammy, take a seat at the table. You practised with Abby. It's no problem for you to get up from a chair." Sam nodded while taking a seat on the kitchen table just in time as the door opened again and Sophie, Ed, Greg, Raf and Spike entered the room. They all shared a great laughter because Ed and Greg where carrying a camping desk and chairs. Sam tried to hide the pain from laughing but could feel Natalies and Jules eyes on him. He was glad to see all of his friends again.

"I didn't know we where giving a party today.", Jules said while getting to the kitchen desk as well. "Come on. You both scared the shit out of us. Sam got the record with three times in one week so it is worse celebrating you are all back home and save." Ed explained while helping Sophie to set up the food.

Jules could tell that Sam was getting weaker and paler after spending an hour and a half chatting and laughing with his friends. She didn't want to embrace him by asking in front of the whole team so she shared a meaningful glance with the Sergeant.

"Okay. So now let us get packed. The happy couple here needs to rest.", Greg said while getting their stuff together before saying their goodbyes. As Sam closed the door behind Ed Jules could see that he was beyond exhausted. He was pale as a ghost again. The swat was visible on his face while his hands where shaking as he touched the door knob.

"Sam?", Jules asked full of concern while Sam just gave her a smile.

"I promise you that I am okay. I just…I need to rest.", he explained while Natalie was by his side in no second. She had settled into the guest bed room to stay with Sam and Jules around the clock. "Come on. We will get you comfortable and than you can take a nap.", she said smiling while Jules got up from the couch too.

"I will join you." She said following Natalie and Sam upstairs. She felt so sorry that Natalie had to do all the work now but she knew that Sam's sister was comfortable with it.

"Take a seat on the bed. We will do this nice and slowly as Abby showed us in the hospital." Natalie said while getting a Shirt out of Sam's dresser. She did the procedure slowly step by step while Jules watched closely. Today Sam knew that he had overdone himself. He started wincing as soon as Natalie lifted his arms just a bit.

"I am so sorry. Just bite your teeth. It will be over soon.", Natalie said while Jules was rubbing circles onto Sam's back. She didn't know how bad his movement was until this moment. Sam winced again and Jules could see the tears in his eyes as Natalie finished dressing him.

"Get some rest." Jules said softly helping Sam to settle down at his side of the bed. He fell asleep just seconds afterwards while Natalie came back into the bedroom.

"Is he asleep?"

"Thankfully yes."

"I think it was just to much for him.
"I know. But he isn't talking about it. He is not alright. Not physically and not psychically."
"I know." Natalie just said while watching Sam sleep. She had seen him outside the waiting room as they didn't know that Jules and the baby where alright. Sam was miserable and not only due to the pain he had been in. She had seen him like that so many years ago. Hopefully they would be able to help him through all of this again.

For weeks later...

During the whole time of recovery Sam had managed to keep up his cheerful mood and he knew that he had done a great job because he was really feeling better even if he knew that nothing in his mind had changed. He had gotten stronger every day and even if Jules was far away from happy the doctor had cleared him to go back on light duty today. Jules was also nearly back to her normal self. The baby was doing just great and Jules hadn't suffered any bleeding or other complications since her release out of the hospital.

"Do you fell up to it?", Jules asked as Sam came back from the bathroom to get dressed for work. "More than up to it."

"Sam?"

"Yeah?" Sam turned around to face Jules as she didn't continue talking.

"Hey, what's wrong?" Sam asked and set down on Jules bedside as he could see the tears in her eyes.

"You have to promise me to be careful!"

"Sweetheart you know that I am always careful and I am just on light duty. I will not leave the truck." Sam reassured her while brushing her cheek lightly.

"We could have lost you, you know? When you where laying in that house, not moving, not responsible, with five bullets in your vest and then seeing you in this hospital bed intubated and breathing with the help of the machine. I am afraid Sam." Jules said while the tears where slowly running down her cheeks.

Sam knew that she had kept it inside all this weeks. He knew that she was dealing with it. He wrapped his arms around her while Jules was leaning lightly against his still wounded chest afraid to cause him any pain.

"I know I have put you through a lot the last weeks and I am sorry for that." Sam said trying to keep his own emotions under control as he had all this weeks.

"But I promise you that I will be careful. You know the job, you know the risks but during all this years I always stayed save. It was just a bad day."

"I love you."

"I love you too. And now get back to sleep and stop worrying about me. I have the whole team keeping a close eye on me today."

"I know. I will drop by when shift ends to pick you up."

"That's a great idea. See you this evening."

Sam was glad as he entered the HQ. He knew that it was time to get back on the job, time to get his normal routine back but he was also glad to be on light duty for a while. The pressure from all the events of the last weeks was like a stone he was carrying. He was far away from being okay with everything that had happened. And he knew for sure that Ed and Serge would have a really close look on him during the first weeks back on duty.

As Sam entered the barn the whole team was in the gym. Leah, Serge, Spike and Ed all stopped in their movement as Sam rounded the corner.

"Hey hey hey! Look who is back!", Spike cheered as he saw Sam.
"Sam! You are up to keep the peace again?", Ed asked getting Sam to smile.

"More than ready. Even if I have to stay in the truck."

"Hey, don't say anything against the truck. I am thrilled to work with you inside.", Spike said rolling his eyes.

"Yeah can't wait to sit beside you for hours either."

Sam got to the locker room to get dressed. The vest was giving him a really hard time so he opened it before sitting down in the briefing room.

"Sam any trouble with the vest?", Greg asked immediately.

"Unfortunately yes. It is pressing against the ribs and the sternum but I will get through it when I have to."

"Okay so for today we..."
"Team One hot call!" Winnies voice interrupted the sergeant.

"Wow that was fast." Spike said while helping Sam fixing his vest.

"Good?" Sam just nodded while heading to the SUV with Spike.

They had a shooting in progress and Sam was glad as he could take a seat beside Spike to get all the informations his team needed. Normally it was Jules job but he got into it pretty fast after asking Spike a few questions.

They where able to clear the situation really fast but on the way back to the HQ Winnie announced another hot call. This time Sam knew after a few minutes on the scene that the light duty was over.

"Damn it! Greg I have no solution. I repeat no solution. Spike get a rifle, you have to get yourself a sierra position. The subject changed the way I can't see him from my spot and it will take to long until I will get into another god position. It is a dead end up here."

"Ed I am not a sniper!" Spike said while facing Sam.

"Spike is right. The wind is a bitch today. I am on my way." Sam said getting to his feet immediately. Every single member of the team was able to do a good shot if it was necessary but not from such a great distance and not with the crosswind.

"Sam you are on light duty.", Greg interrupted.

"There is a life at risk. Ed and I are the only snipers left. If Ed's vision is blocked it is my turn to get a sierra position." Greg exhaled deeply. He knew that Sam was completely right.

"Spike you go with him!" Serge said while rubbing his head.

Spike carried the heavy rifle while rushing up the stairs right behind Sam. He knew his brother in law better than anyone else on the team expect of Jules. He had been with Sam during the whole time of recovery and he knew that he was far away from being ready to take this shot today.

Sam closed his eyes before he got flat onto his stomach causing him to moan out loud.

"You sure you can handle this?" Spike asked while setting the rifle for Sam.

"Any better solution?", Sam asked before letting his sniper breathing kick in. As soon as he had the subject in the scope there was no other thought in his mind. He could hear his blood flooding in his ears. He could hear his strong heartbeat, he could hear the Sergeant calling scorpio, he could hear the shot and feel the back draft of his rifle against his shoulder, he could see the subject crushing to the floor. Another live he had ended. Light duty was clearly over.

….to be continued!