Sam laughed up at Temple, "Don't make me laugh, it hurts. Thanks for finding us, James. I owe you."

"They're starting to add up. So does this mean that we're partners now?"

"Let's just take it one step at a time." Sam turned her head back to Jack and the smile fell from her face, "Oh my god, you have blood on your pants, are you hurt?"

Jack looked down and brushed at his pants, "No, it's Gibson's."

"Gibson. What happened?"

"I'll explain later, the paramedics are here." He pointed at her shirt, where the bandages had soaked through with blood, "Looks like you opened your wound."

Sam lay back and put her hands over her eyes, "That guard came into my room. I stabbed him and pulled him in the closet. He was heavy, I must have torn it then." Her hands started shaking as her actions over the past hour rushed back to her, "I've shot perps before, but I've never killed someone so close, so personally." Jack took her hand in his. "I had to do it, he would have raped me."

"I know honey. It's ok." He let go of her hand and let the paramedics attend to her. At least her life wasn't in danger this time. He turned to Temple, "I'm going to the hospital with her. Can you mop up here? Oh, and don't forget about the guy in the closet."

Temple smiled at him, "Yeah, sure. I'll have your car dropped off there later."

Jack put out his hand, "Thanks again. I hope we can work again together sometime. You're a good agent, Temple."

Temple grinned back at him, "Thanks, Jack." He turned his head, not looking Jack in the eyes, "So, what's going to happen with you and Murphy?"

Jack teased, "What do you want, like a play by play?"

"No, I just don't want to see her get hurt." He pointed his finger in Jack's face and took a serious tone, "You better not hurt her Bauer, or I'll have to kick your ass."

Jack grabbed his finger and pulled it back just before inflicting pain, and smiled at Temple. "Is that right?"

Temple bent his knees to take some of the pressure off his finger, and stuttered, "Y—yeah."

Jack let go and laughed, "I have no intention of hurting her, ok?"

Temple straightened his jacket, "That's what I thought." Neither he nor Jack could keep a straight face.

A paramedic approached Jack, "Sir, we're transferring Agent Murphy now."

Jack nodded at him, "Yeah, thanks." He turned to Temple, "See you later Junior." Temple laughed as Jack joined the paramedics in the back of the ambulance. He caressed her cheek, "Hey sweetheart, how are you feeling?"

"I'm ok. I don't need to go to the hospital."

She tried to sit up, but winced in pain when Jack pushed her back down. "No way, Samantha. You're going to go the hospital and get checked out if I have to carry you there myself. Just be a good patient and lay down, and then we'll go home. Ok?"

Sam nodded obediently. She smiled as Jack grabbed her hand and squeezed it. "Jack, we need to talk about—"

"Not now. I promise we'll talk later." He leaned over and kissed her lightly.

While Sam was being examined at the hospital, Jack went to get a cup of coffee and stood outside of her room, watching. He turned around when he heard his name, "Agent Bauer?"

It was Terri, the nurse who had stayed with him when Sam fought for her life. "Hi. How are you?"

She looked him up and down, "I should ask you that. You have blood on you, are you ok?"

He turned back to the window. "Yeah, it's not mine." He pointed to the door. "Sam's wound opened, she's just getting it sewn up now."

Terri smiled at Jack, "I'm glad it's nothing too serious, this time." She paused for a minute and examined his face. Finally, she spoke in a soft voice, "You must really love her."

Jack looked at her with surprise, "Excuse me?"

The nurse pointed at the window towards Sam, "Agent Murphy. Does she know how you feel?"

Jack lowered his head and studied the white industrial linoleum floor. "I don't know."

"Well, if I've learned anything from working here for the past ten years," she gently laid her hand on his shoulder, "I know that we only have so long on this earth. I've seen the way you look at her. If you love her, let her know. You should grab onto whatever love you can find in this world and don't let go."

Jack lifted his head and connected his eyes with hers. He offered her a small smile, "Thanks."

"Sure, I'll check in on you guys in a little while."