Author's note: So, here comes the next chapter. I'm not that satisfied with it but that's all I could produce. I'm open to criticism. By the way, is there anybody who would like to beta-read for me? I'd be grateful for it, and I think it would do good to the story.
To answer some questions: this won't be a long story, if everything goes right one more chapter, but I plan this as a series, as I have other stories in mind.
Read and enjoy! And please review! Thank you all!
Chapter III.
Sam rushed to his partner's side immediately, however she didn't know what could be wrong. John was on his knees and he blindly groped for the velcro of his vent.
„Let me help you" she offered. He didn't resist, and she quickly opened the band. She felt something wet... „Oh, God...why didn't you tell you were shot?"
„Now I tell."
„Nice."
„I don't think it's too bad..."
„Of course, you would say this even if you were already dead... I'd rather see it for myself."
He smiled at her innocently, and struggled to the feet.
„Could you stop just for a minute?"
The wound was at the right side of his torso, at the bottom of the ribs. Sam pulled up John's shirt, there wasn't that much blood at all, but the skin around the small hole was red and already swollen.
„I think it went through" told John, so Sam examined further. „Shit..." escaped her mouth instictively. Contrary to the entrance wound, there was a lot of blood on his back, and the edges of the wound were badly torn.
„So, you don't like my back" commented John.
„Not at all. It looks terrible John, you have to be taken to hospital as soon as possible."
„I don't think it'll be that easy..."
„What do you mean?"
He just nodded at something, behind her back. For a moment she was confused, but when she turned, her heart stopped for a minute... where there had been the tunnel before, there was a massive wall of concrete and rubble now.
She felt her mouth open, wanted to telll something, but it would have been another swearing so she let it.
„We have to go in the other direction" she concluded after a short while.
„I guess you're right."
John pulled back his shirt and straightened, he looked ready to go.
„How long is it?"
„About four kilometres. But what about him?" he waved at Delany's body.
Sam shrugged. She really had no idea, they couldn't drag him with, not with John already injured.
„I suppose we have to leave him here. When we are out we can send a group back for him."
„All right."
John was already in action, walking to Delany's body. Sam followed him. John checked the murderer, then opened the handcuffs and looked around. There was an area where the walls seemed relatively intact. John stepped over and tugged one of the pipes. Then grabbed Delany's arm and pulled him to the wall not caring about being gentle. He put back the handcuffs, securing one end to the pipe.
When he was ready he wheezed a little bit. "Take his gun." He told Sam, who obeyed. „And now let's go out of here."
Sam examined him with a concerned look, but knew that they had no other choice. She picked up the torch that John dropped to the ground and turned it on, and they settled off.
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„Thank you."
„Pardon?"
They were walking for a while in silence when Sam spoke the words.
„Saving my life, I mean."
„Oh, it wasn't intentional."
„So, you didn't want to save my life, at all?" asked she playfully.
„No...yes...I mean, it was just instinct, but I'm happy you're O.K."
"What's your wound doing?"
"Hurting." He answered simply but smiled a little.
Sam had to think about what would happen if the other end of the tunnel is closed as well.
Don't be stupid, Samantha! Just be positive! She warned herself immediately. But still, she didn't know how long John will be able to stay on his feet.
"It's strange." Sam remarked, because she felt the silence nerving.
"What?"
"Before we left the hotel, I had been thinking about you."
John raised an eyebrow questioningly. They were walking slowlier now. John didn't say anything, but Sam saw how badly he limped and he was in a sweat.
"I realized that in comparison to the other members of the team I know almost nothing about you."
"There's really not much to know..."
"Somehow I doubt it. For example, you never talk about your family."
John frowned.
"I suggest we find a more interesting topic."
"You are from Boston, right?"
"Yes." His expression told that this wasn't a wanted topic, either.
"It's a beatiful city, isn't it?"
"If you say so."
"So you didn't like living there?"
John sighed, but apparently he was too tired to argue further.
"There was nothing wrong with the city. Only with the company..."
"Yes?"
"You know Sam, you aren't pushy at all!" he commented sarcastically. "But all right! My father was...is deeply involved in organized crime. He is the biggest loanshark of the east coast, and he is in the highest ranks of the Irish mob. He isn't exactly the father a son can be proud of..."
"That's why you joined the law enforcement?"
John shrugged but it must have been painful because he frowned again.
"Maybe. He would be mad about it, I'm sure, but I don't think he knows... I changed my name you know..."
"Really?"
"Not many people know about it. When I decided to join the police I thought it would be better to have a not so ill-famed name."
They walked in silence for a few minutes, then Sam asked.
"The radio?"
John looked at the gadget.
"Still nothing..."
His voice was hoarse now and only a whisper. He was breathing heavily and seemed being paler every second.
„Are you O.K?"
„Yeah" but he didn't look that way. Sam had the impression that he could hardly stand not to mention walk further.
"I think you should sit down for a moment." She suggested in a concerned tone. To her surprise John didn't really argue.
„Maybe..." and he rather collapsed than sat. There was definetely too much blood on his shirt now.
Sam sat down next to him.
„You know you don't have to play the tough guy all the time...you can tell me if you can't go on."
„Old habits don't change" he answered with a tired smile. „And what do we do then? Sit here and wait for the rescue?"
„I'm sure they had already found out that we are stuck here."
„Maybe...you're right...it's just..." then he trailed of.
„What?"
„Nothing."
Sam recognized when somebody closed the door. She was a psychologist for all means.
„It didn't sound like nothing to me."
"We are not in a session, are we? I don't see a couch anywhere..."
He leant his back against the wall and closed his eyes. Sam didn't want to panick, but she knew that John was losing too much blood. He was pale as ashes and if he passes out...
"You know Sam, Bailey...he likes you a lot..." the words startled her out of her worries.
"What?"
First she didn't understand what he meant.
"Maybe I'm not the most sensitive person...but I'm not blind...
"What are you talking about?"
"I guess you could call it love..."
"Are you serious?" Sam was stunned. Not as if she had never thought about Bailey as a... possible partner – on the contrary. But this was absurd: they were stuck underground, John was shot and then he plays the marriage bureau?
"I don't think he'll be mad at me... looking at the circumstances..." as if he hadn't even heard her question.
He trailed off again, and let Sam think about his comments alone.
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"John?"About ten minutes went by since he made John sit down. The young agent was quiet now, and Sam didn't want to bother him with questions, but it was time to consider the next step.
"Hmm.."
"Do you think you would be able to stand up?"
"'course..." but he didn't even open his eyes.
Sam waited a few moments, then asked again.
"John?"
"I lied" this time he at least he looked at her. "I think you should go alone."
"I don't think it would be a good idea to let you alone."
John seemed to collect some strength because his expression became more lively.
"The only way you can help me is, if you make sure somebody takes me out of here. I hate to admit, but I don't think I will be able to go out on my own..."
Sam thought about it for a moment. Yes, of course John was right: she couldn't do anything for him, but somehow she had a bad feeling about leaving him alone. As if she could keep him alive just staying there.
"I won't die, Sam" John told quietly as if he could read her thoughts. "My father told me once I would die alone and in the darkness. I wouldn't satisfy him this way..."
"O.K. Give me the radio. It might work when I'm closer to the surface."
"Be careful. And take the torch, as well."
Sam hesitated for a moment. "You shouldn't stay here in the darkness."
"Do you think it counts?"
"But you hold on, right?" She had to admit that she would need the light more than John.
"I promise."
She threw a last concerned look at his partner, then turned and started off into the darkness.
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