The three marshals stared in shock at the young man beside Sam, not believing what they were seeing for a long moment before Bobby's knees started to buckle and within seconds, the entire group had hit the floor like a row of dominos.
"I hope that was just shock and not the meatloaf," Noah said quietly ,attempting to make light of the situation, as he gave Catherine's hand a reassuring pat before he and Sam hurried to the side of their teammates. "I recognize that meatloaf. Killed a substitute science teacher last month." He looked down at the plate of meatloaf critically for a moment before helping Sam to haul the swaying marshals to their feet. "I think some of that might be the same meatloaf."
"Who the hell are you?" Cosmo shrugged off Noah's helping hand, glaring at Noah with a look that would have done the poor boy in if looks could kill.
"You look like... Noah." 'Vannah whispered as she stared in wide-eyed shock. "Why do you look like Noah?" She wanted to rush over, to hug him, to pray that some sort of miracle had occured but she couldn't move, couldn't let herself believe what she was seeing. "You can't be Noah...can you?"
"Impersonating a US Marshal," Bobby muttered angrily as he fumbled for his cuffs. How could someone be so cruel, especially at a time like this?
Noah shook his head, wondering if he was going to go through this with every last person that he knew. Maybe he could get Sam to write him a note or something, an excuse note for being misplaced? Or maybe Colleen if she managed to figure out how he had ended up lost to begin with. "Guys, I'm not dead. I don't know how everyone ended up being told that I was but...."
Cosmo's sharp glare didn't waver as he stared at Noah. "The hell you say. We buried Noah Newman three years ago. I don't care what you say. That boy's dead and if you don't get out of here now...." He looked over towards the bed at Catherine, so frail and broken. How could someone do something like this, pretending to be Noah? Loosing him had nearly destroyed the team and now for someone to show up claiming to be him when they were on the verge of loosing someone else.... He was surprised that Sam hadn't gone off on the man already. Sammy had to be in seriously bad shape to have not reacted to something so cruel. Cosmo stormed over to Noah, reaching out and catching the collar of his shirt. "I told you to get the hell out of here! NOW!"
Noah started to jerk away from Cosmo but stopped when he caught sight of Catherine, the machine monitoring her heartbeat starting to beep ominously fast. They couldn't do this, not here. Not with every angry word putting Catherine's life in danger. "Oh, God. Just stop it, Cosmo, okay?" Noah said quietly. "We'll settle this later. Catherine needs to stay calm right now." He glanced over at the machine again. Heartbeat way, way too fast. He pulled himself free of Cosmo and turned to Sam. He didn't want to leave him alone right now but if it would get things to settle down. "Sam, I'll go out in the waiting room." He looked over at 'Vannah and Bobby out of the corner of his eye. Bobby still looked about as mad as Cosmo but 'Vannah looked torn, like she might believe him.
"Just go back where you came from before we get the cops in here," Cosmo muttered as he glared at the man. "We don't need you, whoever the hell you are. We've got enough problems. You got a helluva nerve, coming in here, impersonating our dead colleague! I oughta deck you right here, right now! And if you don't GET OUTTA HERE --!" Cosmo moved threateningly toward Noah, raising his right fist, not noticing the beeping of the heart monitor becoming faster, more erratic.
"He isn't going anywhere." Sam had moved silently to Noah's side during the argument, unnoticed by the other marshals. His tone brooked no discussion. "Boy's who he says he is and if you have any issues with it, you can leave. Or take it up with me. Personally." Sam's face was set in a grim expression. He thought of the members of his team as his kids but if it came down to it, if they expected him to let them drive Noah away.... They'd find out how tough Samuel Gerard could really be.