"Gotcha, Johannsen. What's Sam's status?" Baird was eerily still as he listened to Johannsen. "I need you to get Baird here ASAP." Baird's face went white as a ghost, and he bent forward as if he were going to pass out on Savannah's floor. "Stay with me, Baird." she said as she stood up.
She crossed the room to the table and picked up her Lancer, attaching it to its notch on her back. She turned around and saw Baird staring straight ahead. She walked over and touched him on the shoulder. "Baird?" He ignored her, but she said his name louder. His head snapped in her direction. The fear and pain in his eyes was raw. He reached out and grabbed Savannah around the waist, burying his head in her stomach. He began to sob uncontrollably. Savannah stroked his hair with one hand and hugged him with the other.
"She's dead isn't she?" he said through his tears. "That's why he wants me there right now. She's gone." Savannah put her hands on his cheeks and turned his face up to hers, making him look at her. "We don't know that. Now get up, and let's go." She wiped the tears from his face and he wiped his cheeks with the back of his hand. When he stood up, he was unsteady, so Savannah took him by the elbow and led him to the door.
Baird started jogging toward the hospital, but Savannah stopped him. "Slow down, Damon. You have to prepare yourself for what you might hear." He turned to her and said, "We're wasting time! Let's go!" Savannah put her hand out for him to take it. He waved her off and began jogging toward the hospital again. Savannah jogged up beside him and opened the door. As Baird stepped inside, Marcus came out from the main corridor, followed by JD, Kait, Del, Jace, Cole, Carmine and most surprisingly-Alex Brand.
Baird stopped in his tracks and looked around at all of his friends. He went pale again, and took Savannah's hand to steady himself. "You're all here because she's dead isn't she? You're here for support, aren't you?" Marcus stepped forward and said, "No, we're here because we all care about Sam, and we care about you." Johannsen stepped into the hall and said to Baird, "Come with me." Baird looked at Savannah. She squeezed his hand in reassurance.
As Baird and Johannsen made their way down the hall, Johannsen turned to Baird, cleared his throat and said quietly, "I would like to apologize for my behavior earlier, Baird. It was terribly unprofessional. I'm sorry." Baird shrugged his shoulders and said, "No worries, Doc." They stopped at the door to Sam's room. Johannsen looked at Baird and said, "I'll be honest. She doesn't look good. You need to prepare yourself." Baird looked from Johannsen to the door, reached out and turned the knob.
When Baird stepped through the door, he saw Sam lying under a white blanket, tubes and wires attached to her hand and chest. He could hear beeping, but it sounded muffled. Johannsen touched Baird on the back and said, "Talk to her. She can hear you. She's going to be weak for a while and she'll probably be unconscious for a few days, but I think she'll make a full recovery. She lost a lot of blood and she has one hell of a wound, but we've repaired what we can. There is still a small chance we could lose her. Blood loss is nothing to underestimate."
Baird whirled around and grabbed Johannsen in a tight hug. "Thank you, Doc! I owe you one." Johannsen cleared his throat and turned to the door. "Don't stay too long, Sergeant Baird. She needs lots of rest. She's not out of the woods yet." Baird turned back to Sam. He walked over to the bed and gently took her hand in his. Her fingers were cold.
He bent down to her ear and said, for the first time in his life, "I love you. Please wake up." He tenderly rubbed the back of her hand. She didn't move for the fifteen minutes Baird sat next to her bed. He kissed the back of her hand before walking out of the room and down the hall.
Savannah was the first person he saw when he got to the waiting room. She looked up at him and smiled. He looked around at everyone sitting there and said, "Thanks for being here, everybody. Go home. She's okay right now." Marcus stared at Baird for a few seconds, put his hands on his hips and walked over to him. When Baird turned to Marcus, he gave him a big grin. Marcus put his hand on Baird's shoulder and said, "I'm glad she's okay, Baird. Why don't you go with Savannah tonight. You don't need to be alone."
As Marcus walked out of the hospital, Savannah stood up and said, "It's up to you, Baird. The couch is comfier than it looks." She turned and walked out of the door without looking at or talking to anyone else. Jace looked around at his fellow Gears and quipped, "I think Marcus is in big trouble." Cole laughed and said, "Yeah, the L.T. didn't look too happy about that." Baird frowned at Cole and walked around him to leave the hospital.
When Baird got outside, he saw Marcus and Savannah standing on the sidewalk having a heated discussion. "What is with you, Fenix?" he heard Savannah snap. Marcus closed his eyes and hung his head. He looked up at Savannah and whispered through gritted teeth, "He doesn't need to be alone. You're his friend. Keep him company." Savannah's eyes flashed with anger and something Baird couldn't quite understand.
Savannah turned on Marcus and said, "He's fine without me fussing all over him, Marcus. He doesn't need me." Marcus tilted his head and asked her, "What is wrong with you. Why wouldn't you want to be there for him? Why are you arguing with me about this?" Savannah turned away from Marcus, clenched her fists, and let out an exasperated sigh. Marcus walked over and turned her around by her shoulder. "What is with you, Savannah?" She pushed Marcus away and shouted, "I don't want to end up fucking him, okay?" She took off jogging toward her house. Baird walked up beside Marcus and said, "I think you better go talk to her. I don't know why she would say something like that." Marcus partially turned to Baird, did his slow blink and said, "I know why."