Hitch and Troy stood to their feet as the doctor neared, "You must be Mark Hitchcock and Sam Troy," he said holding out his hand, "My name's Paul Keyser."

"Truthfully doc, how is he?" Troy asked.

Doc. Keyser sighed and then took a deep breath in, "Mr. Pettigrew came through the surgery surprisingly well, considering all that he's been through. An infection settled in the wound but we administered antibiotics, but he slipped into a coma probably from the loss of so much blood and the blow to his head. I'm afraid that his chance is very slim. Does he have any family?"

They shook their heads.

"Does he have any other close friends?"

"Moffitt," Hitch answered.

"I'd suggest calling him and see if he can make it down here. You may see him as much as you like, the nurse will take you there. I'm...very sorry."

"Thank you, doc," Troy said.

Doc. Keyser nodded and then walked back the way he'd come.

"Hitch, you go on, I'll be there in a minute." Hitch nodded and Troy made his way over to a payphone. After placing a coin in the slot, he hurriedly dialed a number and then checked his watch.

~RP~

Moffitt leaned back in his leather swivel chair, sighing as stretched his stiff muscles. After working out a few kinks in his neck, he stared down at the paperwork in front of him. "Paperwork, it never ends," he muttered, "Oh well," he reached for a pen when the phone on his desk rang; He answered, happy to have any distraction, "Hello?" A wide grin spread across his face at the voice at the other end of the line. "Troy!" He exclaimed, "What a pleasant surprise, how are you doing old man?" He frowned suddenly noticing the heavy sound to Troy's voice, "Are Katie and the baby alright?"

"Katie and the baby are fine. It's Tully. Last night two robbers broke into his house and he was shot by them. He's in a coma right now and the doctor said he might not make it past the week..."

Moffitt slumped back into his chair stunned, not Tully. He'd always been prepared for it when they were fighting, it was expected, but not in his own home; Not where a person should be his safest.

"Moffitt? Moffitt, are you still there?"

Troy's voice cut through the fog and Moffitt jumped into action, "I'll be there as soon as possible." He hung up and then rang a bell.

A maid entered, "Yes sir?"

"Pack as many bags as you need to fit a month's worth of clothes."

The maid's eyebrows raised slightly but she exited hurriedly with a yes sir. Moffitt then turned back to his paperwork, it would have to wait. A little voice in the back of his head whispered that it might already be too late. "No." He said firmly. Tully was strong, stronger than almost any other men he knew.

When his maid entered once more with several bags he explained the situation and instructed her to phone where he was teaching and explain it to them. He then grabbed his coat and hat and ran to where his car was waiting for him.

The hum of the engine seemed to have a mouth of its own as he drove to the airport. It almost sounded like it was saying Tul...ly's Dead...Tul...ly's Dead. "No, he's not. He's... "Moffitt's voice stopped as he thought about all the things that Tully was. He was brave and strong, he would pull through this.

~RP~

Troy walked into Tully's room and sat down beside Hitch. The bit of light filtering through the blinds only made them realize how pale he was; the weathered tan from working out in the sun seemed practically nonexistent and an oxygen mask strapped to his face only added to the surrealness. Why? Why'd this happen?" Murmured Hitch. "He didn't deserve this."

"No one does," Troy silently sighed. Even though he was no longer a sergeant, and his men had moved on, he still felt the need to be their leader and protect them; Now he felt like he'd failed.

"That doctor doesn't know Tully like we do," Hitch muttered, "He practically signed his death certificate,"

Troy grinned grimly at Hitch's comment, it wasn't the first time a doctor had said that about Tully.

Someone knocked on the open door, and they both looked up. Two police officers stood in the doorway. "I'm sorry to disturb you," the first one said, "But I need to talk with Mark Hitchcock."

Hitch stood up and walked out into the hallway, with the officer closing the door behind them. When the door closed Troy moved closer to Tully, "Hitch is right, the doctor doesn't know you."

He remembered when they'd brought Tully back from a mission, bloody, bandaged, and with bruises covering what seemed like every inch of his body.

They pulled up to a field hospital coming dangerously close to the front of the operating tent.

"Are you crazy!" A doctor exclaimed stalking out of the tent, "You could have-"

"Sorry doc, but this is an emergency." Troy said as Moffitt and Hitch came from one of the jeeps carrying Tully in between them.

The doctor took one look and then hurriedly ushered them in, "Lie him on the table," he instructed. A nurse came over with the tools and laid them out on a tray, "I'm sorry, but you're going to have to wait outside." He said. "There's a spare tent on the left side, you can rest there."

"Thanks, doc," Troy said as they exited.

There were cots in the tent and even though they were exhausted, sleep was impossible when one of their teammate's life hung in the balance. After what seemed like an eternity of waiting the doctor entered the tent wiping off his hands.

"He came through surgery fine but the loss of blood and wounds, I don't know if he'll even make it through the night."

Troy grinned slightly remembering how surprised the doctor had been when Tully not only lasted through the night but was attempting to try to sneak out after a week. He was broken out of his thoughts as the door opened again, "What'd they want Hitch?" He asked as the blonde sat back down beside him.

"The two guys that tried to rob Tully's house we're actually wanted for the murders of a couple of people down in Tennessee. They rob single people and then kill them after they've taken everything of value."

Troy shook his head, "I wish this had never happened to Tully, but at least they can't do anymore harm to anyone again."

They looked up as a nurse opened the door, "I'm sorry gentlemen, visiting hours are over."

They looked up in surprise at the window and saw that it was indeed nighttime and then back at Tully's still form which had yet to move, "We'll see you tomorrow." Troy murmured.

They waited a moment and then walked out of his room. As they walked down the hall a figure stepped out from the adjacent room and silently slipped into Tully's room.