Disclaimer: I am in no way affiliated with Passions or NBC. I am not making money off this story.

Beloved Father And Husband Part 2

Luis and Sheridan were walking back to Luis's house and had just come near it when they too saw Gwen standing and aiming a gun at Ethan. There was no way they could reach her in time to stop her from pulling the trigger. Just as Luis took off running to try and stop her anyway, she pulled the trigger and Sam pushed Ethan out of the way and got hit. Luis got to her then and arrested her so she couldn't fire anymore bullets. She had a look of shock on her face at how she had been caught and how she had missed her target.

Theresa and Ethan, of course, were by Sam and they rolled him over on his side. The bullet didn't exit his chest. "Call an ambulance!" Theresa yelled. Sheridan dialed 911 on Luis's cell phone. Ethan was too shocked to say or do anything, partially because Gwen had tried to kill him (and Theresa) and partially because Sam Bennett just risked his life for him.

Sam looked up at Ethan. "You...are...my son," he struggled to say, barely breathing and in too much pain.

"Just hang on," Ethan said, finally managing to say something.

"Chief Bennett!" Theresa almost yelled. "Chief Bennett, don't pass out! The ambulance is on its way and Sheridan's calling your wife and kids so they can meet us at the hospital."

The ambulance finally got there and Luis and Sheridan rode in it, while Ethan and Theresa drove behind them to the hospital.

Grace and Kay were at the hospital waiting for them. Charity, Jessica, and Miguel were at Reese's house and Grace called them to let them know what happened and to come to the hospital. But they must have gone out for a walk or something because when she called, no one was home so she left a message. Kay wasn't with them because when Charity escaped hell she confessed to everything so her parents grounded her until further notice. (Plus the rest of the gang didn't feel like hanging around her anyway because of what she did.) At least she got her soul back.

The ambulance finally got there and the paramedics rushed Sam in with Luis and Sheridan behind them.

"Oh my God," Kay said when she saw her father.

Grace followed them into the trauma room. She still didn't forgive Sam and she didn't know if she still loved him, but she knew that she cared about him though.

Sam looked up at her. "I love you Grace," he said faintly.

"What about Ivy?" she replied, still in doubt of his real feelings to her.

"I love you, Grace. Only you..." and then he passed out.

And that's when Grace finally knew. Sam loved her and only her, with all of his heart. She showed it on her face, but Sam was already out.

"Grace, I have to ask you to stay outside," Eve said, pushing her a little.

"Eve, don't let him die. Don't let him die," she begged as Eve closed the curtain.

Jessica, Charity, Reese, and Miguel arrived a few minutes later. "Is he okay?" Jessica asked, panic showing on her face.

"I don't know," was all Grace could reply.

"Who shot him?" asked Miguel.

Eve came out then. Behind her they could see the other doctors and nurses take Sam away.

"How is he, Eve?"

Eve just sighed. "The bullet collapsed his lung and damaged a major artery." Jessica started crying and Reese pulled her closer. Everyone else (including Luis, Sheridan, Ethan, and Theresa) looked just crushed. "We have to operate on him immediately."

"Is he going to be okay?"

"I don't know," Eve said, shaking her head. "The surgery's likely to take between 12-14 hours..."

"Oh my gosh!" Jessica exclaimed, crying harder.

"...And there's not much I can do to make you comfortable here, so if you wanna go home I'll call you and keep you updated on his condition."

"I have to stay," Grace said firmly. "I need to be here when he wakes up."

"I'm staying too," Ethan said. "I owe him my life." He and Grace just looked at each other. He didn't know how she would react to him being there with her too.

"So am I," Theresa suddenly said. "Where you go, I go."

"I'm staying too." Kay said. Pretty soon, almost everyone else said that they would stay also.

"Now wait, now wait," Grace said. "There's too many people here and I think your father would love it if you all went home and fell asleep in your own beds. They all groaned but eventually agreed with her. "I call you every time I hear something." She tried to look calm but inside she was a nervous wreck as Jessica was.

"Call us too," Luis said, referring to both him and Sheridan.

"Of course."

They all went home except for Ethan and Theresa.

About two hours later, Ethan went up to the OR and watched his father being operated on through the glass window. He was remembering what he had last said about him "I hate him. I have no respect for him." Had he really said those words? Had he really ever felt that way about Sam Bennett? He had been thinking back to all of the things that he accused Sam of making "careless mistakes" on, like the prom boat, or not protecting Sheridan, and realized that Sam had made no careless mistakes, it was just himself who was overreacting. He hated himself for ever hating his father.

He looked through the window and didn't know what to say. "Father..." he started. It felt weird calling Sam Bennett "father". Then he remembered what his father last said to him "You...are...my son." That was enough. "Father, I can't believe I ever hated you. I don't hate you anymore. You are probably the person I respect the most in this world." He paused, not knowing what to say after that. "I owe you my life. I'll never forget that. I want us to have a relationship. And in order to do that, you have to live. Don't die." He paused again. "No matter what happens, I'm taking your name. I'll be Ethan Bennett. I couldn't ask for a better father than you." He paused again. "I promise, I'll make Gwen pay for what she did to you." He sighed. "Just live, okay?"

He turned around and saw Grace standing a few feet away from him. "Oh," he said startled. "Hi."

"Hi," she said. (She just came back from cursing Gwen). "Any word on his condition?"

Ethan shook his head. "No, nothing yet." He looked back at his father.

"I heard everything you said."

"Oh. I figured, cause you were standing right behind..." he didn't feel like finishing his sentence. They was an awkward moment of silence between them. The only sound was the beeping of Sam's heart monitor. "Mrs. Bennett, I know I can't replace the child you lost. I don't even want to try. But I do want to be a part of your family." Another moment of silence.

"Sure," Grace finally said, walking up to him. They shook hands.

"Thanks, Mrs. Bennett."

"Hey, if you're going to be my stepson, call me by my first name."

Ethan gave a short little laugh. "Alright. Grace."

"I know Sam would love it if he saw us beginning a relationship." And then the mood changed. They both didn't say anything for a minute as they watched the doctors operating on Sam. "Can I just have a moment alone with my husband?" Grace asked.

"Sure," he started walking away. "I'll be down in the waiting room."

"Okay."

She walked up to the glass and remembered the last thing she and Sam said to each other. "'I love you, Grace.' 'What about Ivy?' 'I love you, Grace. Only you...'" "Oh God, please don't let that be the last thing I ever say to my husband." She fought to control tears. "I love you, Sam. Please don't die..." and then she finally let the tears fall down.