Title: Gone Chapter: 13

Rating: PG-13

Author's Notes: This is unbetaed because Sweatergirl is on vacation but I still wanted you guys to see it.  Thanks to D and Maple Street for all the support and comments!  One chapter left.

The images followed in together.  A sea of faces swarming above her.  Voices that she recognized reaching her ears.  She listened unable to do much more.

"Sam!" Jack's voice almost sounding as a cry as her body hit the ground.

Kate's scream.

Addison's face, gun still pointed, leaning over her.  Glaring almost.

She could hear feet.

She saw Addison begin to squeeze the trigger.

Addison hit the ground hard before the task could be completed.

Jack so close to her, slamming Addison over and over again.

Kate's screams rising.

"Daddy, you'll kill him!"  Hanna coming from behind.

The mixed anguished etched on Jack's face.  Using his belt to tie up Addison's arms.

Jack's eyes glued to hers.  "Sam, can you hear me?"

She couldn't speak, couldn't move.  She couldn't feel anything, not the ground, not the pain.  She could just look and listen, some mute character in a Greek play.

"Sam!" His voice was more desperate, urgent.

"Daddy what's wrong with her?"  Hanna asking joining her father's side.

"She was shot."

"Shouldn't she be yelling?  That's got to hurt."

Jack's lips quaking.  "Yes."

Soon she heard Danny's voice.  "Jack!"

"Danny, thank God.  We need an ambulance or a helicopter, that would be better."

Danny's face swam into view.  "Sam…hey, you found them."  He was trying to smile at her. 

"She still has a heartbeat but Danny I think…I think she's gone."  She could hear his throat choke up.

Kate's voice, "Don't cry Daddy."

She was being moved, carried by Danny and some rangers out of the woods.  A SUV pulled up.

"The helicopter is on its way."  Vivian was speaking.  Her face hovered over Sam's.  "Dear God."

Marie's voice resounded through.  "Hanna! Kate!"  Samantha could hear her tears and sounds of excitement.  Then: "Jack, what happened to her?"

"She was shot by Addison.  He was trying to shoot Kate.  Samantha got in the way."

Marie's hand went up over her mouth.  She stared at Samantha for a minute.  "Thank you.  Thank you for protecting my baby.  I'll never forget this.  Never."  She turned towards Jack.  "Samantha and I had a nice chat."

Shock was written on Jack's face.  "You did?"

"Yes, we did.  I understand better now."

Another SUV stopped.  Martin quickly getting out.  "Samantha!  What the hell happened?"

Danny took him to one side.

She could still hear Martin's voice.  "Is she dead?  Well, she sure looks it.  How can she be okay!  He shot her in the neck!"

It was then that she realized where her injury laid.  Vivian was still holding a piece of Jack's shirt to the area but Sam had not comprehended that that was the place she was shot.

The sound of the helicopter approaching filled her ears.  It landed and she was moved again. Put into the back of it, instruments hooked up to her.

"Ma'am, can you hear me?"  a paramedic was asking.

She heard Marie's voice, "Jack, go with her. Don't leave her alone right now."

"There is nothing I can do for her…"

"Yes, you can be there for her."

"Marie is telling you to go with Sam, Jack, listen to her," Vivian's voice rose among the confusion.

Jack nestled in beside her taking her hand but she couldn't feel his touch.  "I'm here, I'm right here."

Outside Danny was saying a prayer, his voice carried in to Samantha's ears.

Soon the helicopter lifted off, heading into the sky.

"Mr. Dunne, why isn't she talking?"  Jack asked.

The paramedic answered, "With a gunshot wound in the neck, she might have lost blood flow to the brain.  She could be brain dead.  Or if it nicked her spine, she could be paralyzed.  It might have destroyed her vocal cords.  The doctors will know."

Jack wiped his eyes with his cuff.  "So she's gone then. She doesn't even know I'm here."

"She probably doesn't."

No, I'm here Jack.  I'm here.  I can see you, I can hear you.  I'm here.  I love you.  I know that.  I just can't say it right now.  But I'm here Jack, I'm here.

Jack had paced back and forth in the hospital waiting room.  He couldn't lose her.  He had caused all this by going back to Marie and heading on a family trip.  She had loved him enough to follow him there, to try to help him.  She ended up being practically dead for her troubles.  She had given so much of herself for him, and he had let her down by not giving her anything in return, by walking away. 

"Mr. Malone?"

Jack spun around.  One of Samantha's doctors had entered the waiting room.

"How is she?"

"There is still brain function.  We believe she can hear us and see what is happening around her.  She can't speak at all- the bullet caused blood to flood her voice box…"

"Will she ever be able to talk again?"

"Yes, we believe so.  We are draining the blood now.  She is unable to move."

Jack wiped at his brow. "The bullet hit her spinal cord."

"No, but it was just a fraction away from it.  We were able to remove it but there is great swelling.  Once this has subsided, we expect a full recovery."

'Oh, thank God."  Tears swan out form Jack's eyes.  "Can I see her?"

"Well only let immediate family…"

"Please."

Sam had her own private section of the ICU.  Jack pushed a cloth chair to her bed.  Her eyes were fixed upon the ceiling.

"They tell me you can hear me.  I hope you can, Sam.  Thank you for all that you did.  Thank you.  I …" He paused.  "I love you.  I'm not letting you go again.  I'm not sure what I'm going to do but…doing the right thing is turning out to be wrong…I love you."

She responded in her own mind:  I love you, too.

To be continued…