Chapter 12

"Sam?" a voice called her from behind and as she turned around, Sam noticed Bailey standing in the doorframe.

"Bailey, hey." she let John's hand go and stood up, giving Bailey a tight hug.

"How is he?" he asked, whispering.

"He just fell asleep. Let's go outside. I'll tell you everything." she said and both of them left the room. They walked to the chairs on the other side of the hallway and sat down.

"So?" Bailey asked.

Sam took a deep breath, "Well, they're working on an antidote. They gave him something to bring the temperature down and a few minutes ago he fell asleep." she looked at him, "Why, why did he do this? Why John? That's not fair." she began to sob.

"I know Sam but he'll get over with this. He always does." Bailey assured her.

"How can you be so sure? You have absolutely no idea what kind of virus he has. I can tell you, I'm not sure what I'm going to do if this Richard Manahan ever crosses my way." Sam said angrily.

"I have a question Sam and I hope you can give me a straight answer, okay?" he said, looking at her.

She lifted her head, "Sure, what?"

"Uhm… you and John… are you…" Bailey started.

"… a couple? No we're not…" Sam answered and shook her head.

"I thought so because of your reaction… this time… and a week ago." he said softly.

"No, we're not together Bailey." she said and breathed out loud, "We didn't even have a date!"

"Okay. Then I have another question." Bailey started again.

Sam looked at her hands, "And this would be?"

"Do you have feelings for him?" Bailey asked, not sure if this would be the right time to ask.

"What?" she looked up at him.

"Don't play a fool with me… and yourself, Sam. It's more than obvious that there are feelings between the two of you." Bailey said.

Sam leaned back on the chair and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, "Really? I mean, I don't know. John is a really good friend of mine. I've enjoyed the time with him in the firehouse and it's always fun to have him around… and when he's not there it feels like something is missing." she looked at Bailey with a smile, "It's weird, isn't it?"

"It sounds very natural." Bailey smiled, "You care a lot for him and so does he. Maybe the two of you should talk when everything is back to normal again." he finished as his cell phone rang. He grabbed it out from his jacket, "Hallo?"

"Bailey, I was able to trace back Richards call and I have an address." George told him.

"Great George! Wait for me. I'll be there in ten minutes." he shut his cell phone and turned to Sam, "We have the address of Richard…"

"Do you mind if I…" Sam started but Bailey finished for her.

"It's okay. Stay here with John. We can handle this. I'll take Nathan with me." Bailey told her.

Sam nodded and Bailey continued, "I'll call you." He walked along the hallway towards the elevator.

xxxxxxx

Thirty minutes later Bailey and Nathan drove along a street, looking for the right house.

"That's it. 864 Brighting Avenue." Nathan said, pointing to a little house at the end of the street.

Bailey stopped the car a few meters away, "Okay, let's go inside. I take the front door, you the backdoor. If he's inside he can't escape."

Nathan nodded and both of them got out of the car. Bailey grabbed his gun and walked to the front door while Nathan ran to the backside.

With the gun in his hand Bailey knocked, "FBI, open the door!!"

After a few moments he shouted again, "FBI! Open the door now!" But nobody opened, so he threw himself against the door a few times until he was inside. Carefully he looked around but nobody was at home. The house was completely empty. No furnitures, nothing.

Bailey examined the whole house until he met Nathan in the kitchen, "Nothing! Are you sure that's the right house?"

"That's the house were the call came from." Nathan answered.

"But where's the telephone?" Bailey said annoying but perceived a wooden door in the hallway. He waved his hand to tell Nathan that he was going to need back up. Nathan followed him and Bailey pushed the door open. Slowly they entered the small dark room.

"I would say we found something." Bailey said, walking to a small table. Turning on the little table lamp, he sat down on the chair.

"Yeah, I would say so too." Nathan looked at the telephone.

Bailey searched through the pile of folders on the table and opened one. It was full of pictures of Sam and John, of his cabin and lots of information about both of them.

"Okay, that's definitely the right man. He followed them everywhere!" Bailey said with a sigh.

"I think I found something, too." Nathan said and took a pencil.

"And what?" Bailey asked.

"Wait…" he drew with the pencil slightly over the sheet of paper beneath the telephone. When he was ready he tore of the sheet and gave it to Bailey. "Look!"

He took it and held it under the lamp, "4 am, Johnson's Pub" Bailey read and looked at his watch, "Johnson's Pub? Do you know where this Pub is?".

Nathan shook his head, "I call George to find it out for us." he grabbed his cell phone and dialed George's number at the VCTF while they hurried to their car.

xxxxxxx

Meanwhile at the hospital

Sam was back in John's room. He was still asleep, so she just stood there and watched him. His face was flushed and sweaty from the fever. She hoped it hadn't increased any further. A touch on his forehead told her that he was still very hot.

Suddenly the door opened and a nurse came in. "Mrs. Waters, you should go home now and try to get some sleep as well." she said, smiling.

"No no, I can't go home." Sam shook her head.

"But you look tired. Go home and rest, then you can come back." the nursed touched her arm.

"I promised him to stay." Sam whispered, looking back at John.

"Okay..." she looked at Sam, "...just tell me when you need anything."

"Yeah, thanks. Can you.. can you tell me anything new about his condition? What about the antidote?"

The nurse shook her head sadly, "I'm sorry, there's nothing I can tell you right now. The last time I spoke to the doctor, he told me that they haven't found the right antidote yet."

"No..." tears were welling up into Sam's eyes, "...no. I don't wanna lose him."

"You won't." the nurse gestured her to the chair to sit down. "We're trying everything."

Sam sat down and breathed in heavily. "Thanks."

The nurse took a wet cloth and put it onto John's forehead. Suddenly John stirred, "Sam?"

"Sshhh. Try to sleep now." the nurse told him quietly.

"Sam? I... where's she? Sam?" John whispered weakly.

"John..." she stood up and grabbed his hand. "Hey, I'm here. Everything's okay." She tried to give him a smile.

His eyes found hers, a weak smile formed on his lips. "You're staying with me, do you?"

"Of course."

"Good." John fought to keep his eyes open. "Thank you, Sam."

"You're welcome." she sighed, touching his cheek. "Just promise me to hold on."

"Okay." he whispered and closed his eyes again.

xxxxxxx

To be continued... Please R&R!