Chapter 10

Same time – crime scene

Bailey and Sam examined the whole crime scene again but couldn 't find anything to track down the suspect. So they walked back to Bailey's car.

"I'm really sorry, Bailey."

"For what?" Bailey asked her, curiously.

"You should've asked Nathan to come with you. I'm not a great help here."

"Hey, what the hell are you talking about? It's not your fault that we're totally groping in the dark here." he told her, placing a hand on her shoulder.

"Are you sure? Because we don't even have a profile. And I'm the one who makes them usually. But this time? I don't know. I'm can't see it. I can't see anything at all. So I'm right when I'm saying that I'm not a great help here."

"Don't blame yourself for this, Sam. Please, don't do that."

"But I do. I should stay focused but I can't."

"You shouldn't even work on this case because you're too close. It affects you. And John. So is it any wonder that you're feeling this way? No, it's not. And we're all here to help you. Both of you."

"I know." Sam sighed

"And we're going to solve this case. Sooner or later." he assured her.

"Sooner would be great." Sam said, a slow smile covered her face.

"I know. The thing with John."

"What is with him?"

"You and John in the firehouse. How are things going with him?" Bailey asked.

"Good."

"Really?"

"Yeah, why?" Sam looked at him.

"I don't know. I wonder how long you can handle this. You and John in the same house." Bailey explained.

Sam laughed, "Don't worry. I like to have him around."

"Really?" Bailey asked.

"Is that so unbelievable?"

"No, it's just I know he can be grumpy when he isn't feeling well."

"Yeah, maybe." Sam chuckled.

"See." Bailey nodded laughing when they arrived at their car.

Sam watched him climbing into the driver seat and shook her head with a smile.

xxxxxxx

VCTF – One hour later

George sat at his computer when Sam and Bailey came back to the Headquarters. He looked up at Bailey, "And? Anything new?"

Bailey shook his head, "Nope, nothing. Did you find something?"

"Not yet but I'm working on it." George answered, continued typing.

"Fine." Bailey turned round to Sam, "Go and get John, please. Ask him if he found something out. I know he took the folder about the case with him."

"Yeah, sure." she made her way to his office while Bailey headed to one of the restrooms.

Opening the door, he saw someone lying on the floor. And it didn't take long to realize it was John. He rushed towards him and knelt down.

"Hey John? Wake up!" he patted his cheek when he noticed that his forehead was really hot. "Jesus John…you're having a fever."

He stood up and opened the door, "George? I need your help… hurry!"

George looked up from his monitor and frowned. He walked to the restroom and looked down at John. "Oh my god, what happened?" he asked, concerning.

"I think he collapsed. Help me to get him out of here…" Bailey said.

xxxxxxx

"What's that supposed to mean?" Bailey asked, holding the white card from John's desk in his hand.

"Looks like it's from Richard, but why is he after John? I was the one who caught him. So I'm responsible for what happened to him years ago." Sam cast Bailey a puzzled look.

"Grace, I need you to check this for fingerprints." he gave her the card.

"Sure." Grace took it and hurried into her lab.

"Maybe he thinks you're too close. You went to John after what happened in your house. Then you drove with him to my cabin and now he's living with you in the firehouse. You're never alone, Sam. So he needs to get rid of John..." Bailey explained in a whisper.

"…to get me…" Sam continued with a sigh.

"Yeah." Bailey admitted.

"…that's nothing new, isn't it?"

"We'll get him okay?"

"It seems like I'm a kind of magnet for all those sick bastards outside…" she paced through John's office.

"Sam."

"But it's true. I mean, how long do I have Jack on my heels? Five, six or maybe seven years? We've tried everything possible to catch him Bailey, with no succeed."

"We all know it's hard for you."

"Hard? I'm tired. I'm tired of being careful, tired of all this hiding and tired of being afraid he might get Chloe some day and hurt her… or... or any other person I'm close to." she said, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear.

"It will be over one day. "

"Yeah, one day. That's great. I want it to be over now."

"We try..." but Bailey stopped when he noticed John stir on the couch and turned round.

Sam sat on the down next to him and ran her fingers through his hair. The touch on his forehead told her that John's temperature was approximately 102°. "John?"

John mumbled something in reply Sam couldn't understand. Suddenly his eyes flattered open and he looked at her, "Sam?" He looked around in confusion when he noticed where he was.

"It's okay. You collapsed." she said, touching his face.

A second later, Grace came back into the office and looked at John, "How's my patient?"

"I'm… I'm fine…" John answered weakly.

Sam got up and let Grace sit beside John on the sofa. She touched his forehead and sighed, "Fine? You're having a fever that's for sure." she put a thermometer into his ear and waited for the peeping sound, "102,4°. Okay that's not good.

"I didn't notice that he's getting a cold." Sam said, concerning.

Grace looked at Sam and then back to John, who had his eyes closed. "John, do you have any other symptoms?"

John shook his head 'no' and rubbed his temples unconsciously.

"Headache?"

"A little bit."

"Uh-huh. Well, that's weird, where is that fever coming from?" Grace said.

Sam shrugged, "I didn't notice something this morning. He looked fine to me, otherwise I wouldn't let him go to work today."

Bailey looked at his watch, "You know what? We're finished for today. He really needs a bed right now. I help you bringing him home. " he suggested and Sam nodded.

xxxxxx

Firehouse – 30 minutes later

Bailey had a hand around John's waist and led him into the guestroom, "Just a few more steps." He opened the door, "Sooo, here we are…" John stumbled into his room.

Sam followed them and led John to his bed, "Come on John, lay down."

He nodded, sat down and began to unbutton his shirt.

"John, what are you doing?" Sam asked.

"I'm… I'm hot" he whispered and put off his shirt.

"But that's because of the fever." she took the shirt and threw it over a chair, "You really shouldn't…" but suddenly he got rid of his pants too and laid down.

Sam sighed, threw a blanket over him and sat down on the edge of his bed, "I'm going to make you a chicken soup. Try to sleep a little bit, okay?" she touched his cheek and noticed that he was still very hot.

"Mhh-hmm."

With a sigh she got up and walked with Bailey into the kitchen.

"Maybe we should call a doctor." Sam said, looking back into John's room.

"Try the pills Grace gave you. If the fever will not go down call a doctor. I'm sure it's nothing serious. You know he's a tough guy! " Bailey smiled. Suddenly his cell phone rang and he took the call.

"Malone?" he answered.

"Bailey, it's me. Can you come to the headquarters? Now?" George asked.

"Yeah okay, I'll be there in ten minutes." he closed his cell phone and turned round to Sam. "It was George. There's something important I thinkI have to go back. Is that okay? "

Sam nodded, "Sure."

"You're okay with this? Taking care of him?"

"Of course."

"But it's John…" Bailey said with a grin.

Sam rolled her eyes, "Please, a sick John. That's something I can handle." she smiled, "

"Okay okay. Just asking." Bailey smiled.

"And now go! And call me."

"Sure!" Bailey replied and walked into the elevator.

Sam gave him a smile and headed back into the kitchen, taking a clance at John's door. What's wrong with him? She thought sighing.

xxxxxxx

to be continued... Please R&R!