##### Jules's apartment, Saturday 0930 hrs #####

"Come on Callaghan, get the lead out!" Ed yelled into Jules' house from the front door and immediately felt bad. She's still sore you idiot, he thought. He'd really only meant it as a joke.

"Yeah, yeah, yeah." Jules stepped out of the downstairs bathroom and mumbled as she headed for the door. She didn't hurry, she knew that would just make her out of breath sooner. She gave Ed a piercing look as she walked past him.

"Sorry Jules." Ed said regretfully.

Jules gave him a semi-smile. "Remember that next time. You say that to Sophie."

Ed rolled his eyes and walked beside Jules down the front walk. He kept himself ready in case she needed help, but walked with ease.

They reached his car and he opened the door for her.

Jules gave him an impressed look.

"What? A gentleman always opens a door for a lady." He said as he climbed in the driver seat.

"Well, I guess chivalry. Isn't dead." Jules smiled. "So was anyone else in the. Gym this morning?"

Ed smiled as he pulled away from her house.. "Wordy, Lew and Spike. We missed you, but it's understandable."

"As soon as I'm better. I'm going for a run. Or something. I feel like a bump. On a log."

"Yeah just don't push it too much and start up too soon." Ed cautioned.

"I won't." Jules said although she was thinking, ha! Fat chance! I'd go for a jog today if I thought I could. At least I didn't have to take a break on the walk. That's some improvement.

They made easy conversation until they pulled up to Greg's apartment building. Luckily there was an elevator so Jules didn't have to attempt the three flights of stairs to Greg's apartment.

Greg jumped up from the couch when he heard the knocking. He looked at the closed door to Sam's room, then proceeded to the door. "Hey guys." He whispered.

Ed frowned. "Hey." He whispered back. He and Jules walked in and he looked around the apartment. No Sam.

"He's still sleeping." Greg explained.

It was Jules' turn to frown. "Wow. I figured he'd be up and itching for a run." She whispered. They moved to the living room and sat on the couch. "He told me he's up at four every morning on the dot even on the weekend."

"Yeah I think the concussion has taken a lot out of him." Greg nodded. "He's been really sleepy. He slept for four hours after we got back from the courthouse, ate and then an hour later fell asleep on the couch."

"Wow." Ed frowned deeper. "Does he seem depressed or anything?"

"No. We had a great talk after he ate. He did say he had a headache, but it wasn't bad. He took some ibuprofen." Greg leaned forward a little and looked at Ed at the other end of the couch.

Sam could hear the familiar voices through the door, but he couldn't get to them. His head was literally pounding on the pillow. He could feel every heartbeat bumping his brain. He'd been awake since 0700, woken by his pounding head and had been drifting in and out since then. Unable to do anything else, he drifted back to sleep, hoping that would help the headache.

Ed did what he could to wait until just after ten to go check on Sam. Greg had said he went to sleep around 2130. He was pushing twelve hours. It worried him, especially when Greg mentioned the headache. He finally stood and went to Sam's door. He knocked softly and stuck his head in. "Sam?" He whispered. Sam had his arm over his eyes and was laying very still. When Sam didn't move, he walked to him and knelt down. He was surprised to see tears running down Sam's cheek.

"Sam?" Ed repeated a little louder. When he saw Sam cringe he went back to a whisper. "Headache?"

"Yeah."

"How bad?"

"Hospital. Need meds." It was all Sam could manage to say. Anything else hurt his head too much.

"Ok. Can you stand?" Ed asked, his heart kicked into gear.

"No. Hurts." Sam laid still.

"Ok. I'll be right back." Ed turned and left the room. He walked quickly to the phone and picked it up. He dialed 911 and waited for the operator to answer. "Hi. This is Ed Lane from the SRU, I need an ambulance to this location. I have a male, mid-twenties with a severe headache and we are unable to move him."

Jules heard him, gasped and ran into Sam's bedroom. She knelt next to the bed and said, "Sam, it's Jules. Hold on, they're coming ok?"

Greg was right behind Jules and moved to the other side of the bed. He took Sam's free hand and squeezed. "We got ya buddy."

Ed walked back to the room and stood in the doorway. This is bad, he thought, especially with a concussion. Five minutes later the EMTs knocked on the door. Ed answered and showed them to Sam's room. "Jules. Greg. Come on." He motioned to them.

Greg stood and walked out of the room, but Jules refused. She shook her head vehemently. "I'm staying." She moved around to the other side of the bed and took his free hand.

"Have you ever had a headache like this before?" The dark haired medic asked.

"No." Sam whispered.

The blonde medic used a pen light and tried to look in Sam's eyes but he pulled away. "That hurt your eyes?" The blonde asked.

"Yeah." Sam squeezed Jules' hand. It felt so good to have her hand in his. Comforting and it felt like it was made to fit.

"Ok. I'm going to start an IV while my partner talks to your friend." The blonde said.

"K,"

Jules let go of his hand but whispered, "I'll be right back." She followed the brunette medic to just outside the door. Before the medic could ask anything, Jules said, "he got a concussion Thirsday. I don't think we should waste. Any time getting him to. The hospital." When the EMT gave her a funny look at her speech she said, "bruised ribs. Fell off a roof."

The EMT noddedin understanding. "Ok. Yes. That's what I was going to ask. Did he stay in the hospital?"

"Overnight for observation." Greg answered. "Can you give him anything?" He asked worriedly.

"Yes. Once Joe gets the IV in we can give him some morphine." The brunette turned and went back in the room and Jules followed. She went back to her position at the side of his bed and took his hand. "I'm here." Her heart broke for him, hIs face was etched with pain.

"Thanks." He whispered. He had to take his arm off of his head for the damned IV, but he kept his eyes closed. He could smell her perfume when she entered the room.

"Ok Sam. We're going to roll you on your side so we can get the backboard." Joe, the blonde EMT said. "I gave you a little morphine, so it should be kicking in shortly.

"K."

They called Ed in and everyone got in position. Joe nodded to them. He held Sam's head while they log rolled him. Jules and the brunette held Sam's body up while Ed slid the backboard under him.

"Ugh." Sam winced when they lifted him up and put him back down.

They got Sam loaded onto the stretcher and wheeled him to the elevator. It was lucky that it was wide enough to fit the stretcher in, otherwise it would've been a horribly bumpy ride down the stairs for Sam. They were able to fit one of the medics and Jules had insisted she ride down with Sam. She was going to ride with him to the hospital and Ed and Greg would follow. Joe followed Greg and Ed down the stairs,

Once they had Sam loaded in the ambulance, Jules climbed in and they closed the doors. She took Sam's hand and again wondered at the warm fuzzies she got from that small gesture. No, she told herself. Stop it. She looked at Sam and focused on his current situation. I hope he's ok, please let him be ok, she pleaded the cosmos.