Thanks for your reviews. I'm so glad you like my story! :)

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Chapter 5

Meanwhile in the house

Sam sat on the couch and wrapped herself in a big cozy blanket. While she waited for John to come back, she laid her head back and closed her eyes, totally lost in thoughts, so that she didn't notice the news on CNN.

A man escaped from the psychiatry of Atlanta 2 days ago. His name was Richard Manahan and he was the prime suspect in 4 cases Sam and the team worked on 2 years ago. Unfortunately he had a very smart lawyer who pleaded for his mental incapacity and the judge rather decided to send him in a psychiatric than into jail.

Suddenly Sam jumped as she heard a shot, coming from outside the house. "John" she whispered, with a shocked expression on her face. Immediately she got up and opened the front door, "John?" she looked around, but there was no sign of him. "Where are you?" she shouted, with fear in her eyes. Oh goodness, what happened to him, she thought and walked towards the nearby forest, "John, please… if that's a joke… it's not very funny, okay. Come out now"! she shouted, when she suddenly saw someone lying on the ground. She ran towards the body and noticed it was John, being shot in the stomach. "Oh my god, John…" she knelt down beside him and felt for his pulse. Thank goodness, he was alive! "John, come on… wake up!" she pulled his head on her lap and patted his cheeks slightly.

His eyes fluttered open and looked at her weakly, "Sam?"

"Yeah, I'm here… everything's gonna be okay." she tried to smile, even if she'd rather cry as she saw the wound on his stomach, bleeding a lot.

"Sam, I… I… there was…" he tried to tell her what happened, but she cut him off.

"Ssssh, don't speak…" she put her hand on his cheek, "… come on, you need to get up… we have to go back to the house!" she told him and helped him to get up. Sam supported him with her arm around his waist as they slowly walked back to the house.

Once inside, Sam closed the door conscientious. Though there was someone outside who was apparently after them scared her. "Come on John, you need to lay down." She led him to the sofa where he laid down, a painful expression on his face.

"Sam… I… I didn't make… a fireplace yet and…. you're still cold… I'm sorry!" he whispered.

"John…" she tried to smile, but still worrying, "I think that's our last problem right now, isn't it?" she took his hand, "Where is your cell phone? I'm going to call the emergency."

"I… I don't know…" he closed his eyes, appareantly passing out again.

"John… no… no… stay awake… please" she cried.

No, that could not be true. Damn it, she need to find the cell phone. After a deep breathe, she looked around but then she remembered that John was talking to Bailey when they were outside. So she shoved a hand in his jacket, but there was nothing. "No… it has to be there…" she looked at John and then on his wound.

Great Sam, really great. It's all your fault, you dragged him into this and if he's going to… . No, stop that. That wouldn't happen. She ran her fingers through her hair und sighed. "Okay, there's only one thing. I have to drive him to the hospital. But he needs to wake up, 'cause I don't know how I'll get him into the car in his situation." she told herself and leant over John, patting his cheeks again. "John, come on buddy… wake up… wake up please!! We have to go to the hospital… come on!"

John opened his eyes and looked at her, "I... I can't, Sam!" he told her, breathing heavily.

"What are you talking about? I told you, everything's gonna be okay, but now I need your help to get you into the car." she said, with tears in her eyes, "I can't stand here and watch you die!"

John looked at her. She was so beautiful, but he could see the fear and pain in her eyes. He didn't want to make her unhappy, so he took all his strength and sat up, "I guess there is no chance you can bring the car in the bedroom, can't you?"

"No, I guess not… sorry" she smiled, and grabbed his arm, "come on, let's get up now."

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On the way to the hospital

Right after John sat down on the front passenger seat, he passed out again. Sam tried everything to wake him up, but her efforts were to no avail. To make sure he was still alive, she felt his pulse. With a sigh of relief she noticed, that his heart was still beating, but very slow. 'No, she couldn't lose him. No!' she said to herself and stepped on the gas. If she didn't drive fast, maybe it would be too late for him.

As they arrived at the hospital, Sam ran inside and cried for help. Immediately four male nurses came with a stretcher and brought John inside, straight into the operating room. Sam ran after him, but the doctor told her she had to wait outside. The big metal door closed in front of her, and all she could see were the letters 'No Entrance'. Tears were streaming down her cheeks. All she could think about was that this whole mess was her fault. And if he's going to die, she would never forgive herself.

She walked towards the waiting room as she saw a telephone. Immediately she dialed the number of the department.

"Grace Alvarez" Grace answered, but when she didn't get a response she asked again, "Hallo? Who's there?"

"Grace… it's me… Sam!" she said, still crying.

"Sam… hey, what happened? Are you crying?" she asked with concern.

"I'm in the hospital" Sam told her.

"What? Why? Are you okay?"

"Yeah… but… but John he…" she began to sob.

"Sam, calm down… what happened to John?"

"He's been hit by… by a bullet… and… and they operate on him now!" Sam told her.

"Oh my god! Sam, I'll be there in 15 minutes" she said and cut off.

A nurse came out from the operating room and Sam ran to her.

"Excuse me… John Grant, how's he doing?" she asked, with red eyes.

"Sorry, I can't tell ya… the doctor will talk to you later", the young blonde nurse told her and hurried along the hallway.

Sam sighed and sat down on one of the chairs in the waiting room. She closed her eyes and held her head in her hand.

"Sam?" she heard a familiar voice and looked up.

"Grace" she stood up and gave her friend a hug.

They pulled apart and Grace looked at her, "Tell me what happened… who shot at him?" she asked, as both sat down on the couch. After a huge breath Sam started to tell Grace what happened a few hours ago.

"Sam, don't blame your self for this. It wasn't you fault, okay?" Grace tried to calm her down after she knew what happened.

"Of course it was Grace. I should never involve him into this. This man is after me… and now he is injured because of me and…" Grace cut her off.

"Hey, stop here Sam. You know John and his stubbornness. It was his decision to be with you and to protect you. And we all know he would do it again."

At the same moment the doctor came out from the operating room with an unreadable expression on his face.

"I'm Doctor Barton." he shook their hands. "Are you relatives of John Grant?" he asked.

"Uhm… not exactly. We're from FBI… he's our partner" Grace explained.

"Is his family informed? I would talk to them first."

"John doesn't have a family… well, not one he wants anything to do with." Sam said and looked at Grace.

"Well, okay… John Grant lost a lot of blood and the operation wasn't that easy, but he is stable now." he told them, looking at John's file.

"That's good news" Sam sighed in relieve and smiled.

"The next 24 hours will be very important… we have to wait" Dr. Barton said.

"Why? You said he is stable." Sam asked, confusing.

"The next few hours are important, because then we'll know if he gets any infections." Grace told her friend with a soft voice.

"Oh, are you a doctor too?" Dr. Barton asked.

"Yeah… long time ago!" she explained, "Can we see him now?"

"He's still asleep… but okay. You'll find his room at the end of the hallway on the left side. Room number 3" the doctor said and walked away.

"Come on Sam… let's go and see how John's doing", Grace said.

"Yeah, okay" Sam answered and walked with Grace along the hallway until they saw the room number 3. Grace opened the door cautiously and they entered the room. Sam closed the door silently and leant against it, while Grace walked towards John's bed and checked the monitors of the machines. "Everything looks fine", she smiled and turned round to see Sam still standing at the door. "Sam, I have to go back to the department. Call me if there are any changes to his condition".

"Of course" Sam answered and Grace opened the door, "wait… maybe you can call Bailey and tell him what happened and that he doesn't have to worry" Sam whispered.

Grace nodded and left the room. After a short hesitation, Sam walked to John's bed and took a chair to sit down beside him. She watched him for a moment and the machines behind him. "John… I'm so sorry" she whispered, her eyes still focused on him. Softly, she took his hand in hers and caressed it with her thumbs. "I need you!" she added, whispering.

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to be continued... Please, R&R!!