5.30am

"Hey Viv, it's Danny." he said in a shaky voice.

"Hey. Are you alright? You sound a little off." answered Vivian

tiredly.

"It's Sam." began Danny.

"The doctor said she was fine." interrupted Vivian confused,

"Well there was some complications and she uh flatlined." he said

"Oh God, she's not.... you know."

"Oh no. She's in a coma though and the doctor doesn't know if she will wake up."

"God. I can't believe this, he said she would be fine. I...do you want

me to come down?"

"If you want. Can you call Jack? I want to see how Martin is."

"Sure."

"Bye."

"Oh Danny? Look after yourself."

Danny walked back down the hall to where Martin was sitting.

"Hey. How are you?" asked Danny.

"Ok I guess. She will be alright won't she?" said Martin.

"Of course!" said Danny, trying to sound as convincing as he could,

"You know Sam. She's strong, she won't give up. She'll keep fighting."

"Yeah you're right. She will." said Martin, still not sounding

positive.

"I called Viv and she's gonna call Jack then come down." said Danny.

"What about Sam's family?" asked Martin

Danny frowned. "Well she doesn't talk about her dad at all, and she

rarely mentions her mom, don't think she's seen either of them in a

while. It was just the three of them, and they never really had a great relationship."

"How come I didn't know any of this?" asked Martin

"Well only I know." said Danny "She doesn't really like talking about

it. We should probably let them know though. I'll wait till we hear

some more."

They sat in silence not knowing what to say to make the other feel

better. After about 25 minutes, Vivian rushed in. "Any news?" she asked anxiously.

"We haven't heard anything else. So I guess there's no change." said Martin

"I spoke to Jack." said Vivian. "He'll be here as soon as he can. He

needs to find a babysitter."

"What about Marie?" asked Danny

"She's out of town." answered Vivian

"Ok. So I guess we wait." said Martin.

"Not for very long." said Danny looking past Vivian's shoulder. The

doctor was walking towards them. The three looked at him worriedly. The doctor looked back at them sympathy in his eyes, and they all felt a sinking feeling in their gut. Martin swallowed nervously.

"What's the news?" asked Vivian.

"Well I'm afraid to say that there is still some bleeding, not as

severe as it was but still too much. Uh, if it doesn't stop in the next

few hours then there will be a small chance that she will ever regain

consciousness. She went through a lot and as a result of the shock and damage, several bodily functions have shut down. The next few hours will be touch and go I'm afraid. I'm very sorry to give you such bad

news." he said seeing the looks on their faces. He turned to walk away, he walked a few steps before turning back and saying, "Oh Agent Johnson can I talk to you in private for a minute?"

"Sure." said Vivian looking puzzled and following the doctor down the hall.

"Um well." the doctor began after walked away from the other two. He coughed nervously.

Vivian looked at him questioningly.

"Right I thought it would be better for the others to hear this from

someone they knew."

Vivian felt an extreme feeling of dread in her stomach, and she felt

bile rising in her throat. Deep down she suspected what it could be but didn't want to believe it.

"The nurses were treating Agent Spade's bruises and cuts, when they saw some bruises on her legs and waist that were similar to others they had seen. They told me what they suspected and we carried out some tests."

Vivian cleared her throat and looked up to look the doctor straight in the eyes.

"You mean...is it?"

"I'm sorry. Agent Spade was raped."

Vivian looked away, tears filling her eyes, feeling sick. "God. How am I going to tell there others?" she said mainly to herself, imagining the others fury at hearing this news.

"Is she going to be okay?" she asked the doctor. "Was it definitely

James Riley?"

The doctor sighed. "We ran a DNA test, and it was a positive match with Riley. If she wakes up then we have a counsellor she can talk to. But this must have been very traumatic to her so I can't guarantee that it will help or if she will ever fully get over this."

"Truthfully, how bad is she?" asked Vivian.

"Well the longer she is unconscious the lower the chances are. Judging from her state at the moment, honestly I don't expect her to wake up. I'm sorry too be so blunt but that's the truth."

Vivian sighed. "Thanks for telling me. I'd better tell the others."

Gathering her nerve and hiding her tears she walked shakily down the hall.

Danny looked up when Vivian walked up to them. Seeing the look on Vivian's face, a look of shock, anger and sadness, made him shoot to his feet attracting Martin's attention who also jumped up. "What's wrong?" asked Martin instantly.

"Well uh I found out the doctor is very concerned with her condition.

He umm doesn't think that Sam will umm..." Vivian broke off unable to stop the sobs that broke through. She took several deep breaths. "Umm also when she was held hostage...Riley, he uhh raped her."

"What?!!" came the explosive reaction from both Danny and Martin.

"I'm gonna kill him!!!" yelled Martin angrily. He paced up and down

swearing and muttering to himself. Danny however, had the complete opposite reaction, he sat in a chair and held his head in his hands, his face pale and was completely silent. Vivian sat next to Danny, also silent her thoughts full of concern for Samantha.

"I need to see Sam." said Danny.

"Are you sure?" asked Vivian.

"Yeah."

Danny walked cautiously into Samantha's room. His eyes fixed on the figure lying in the bed. He looked around at all the medical equipment surrounding Sam, and the oxygen mask and various tubes attached to her pale skin. He laughed bitterly to himself as he remembered a similar situation when Sam had been shot by Barry Mashburn a little over two months ago. He had walked into her hospital room and she had been surrounded by medical equipment, but last time she had looked at him and smiled. She had managed a short (mostly one-sided) conversation.

This time she lay completely still. Danny fought back his tears as he

looked at his best friend, who may never wake up.

"You have to wake up." he whispered. "We can't go on without you. It'll tear Martin apart, he really loves you."

Danny sat in the chair next to Sam's bed lost in his own world for a

few minutes. Whispering "bye" as he left he met Vivian outside her

room.

Danny looked at her with confused yet angry eyes not directed towards her but towards James Riley and Lisa Atkins. "How could they do this to her? To anyone? How could they cause someone so much pain." he asked helplessly.

"People do crazy things for revenge." replied Vivian.

Danny let Vivian guide him to the waiting area where Martin was still sitting.

7.00am

The three were deep in thought and were very surprised when loud

footsteps stopped next to them and a loud familiar voice said, "What happened?"

Danny and Vivian looked up to see Jack standing in front of them.

Martin had stopped pacing and was sitting still and staring at the

ground, not noticing Jack.

"Well?" asked Jack impatiently.

"Ummm, Sam is in a coma, and the doctor doesn't think she will survive and Riley, uhh ra..raped her." said Danny choking on that one word, still unable to comprehend what had happened.

Jack's jaw dropped and he looked at the others in shock not wanting to believe what Danny had said, seeing the looks on the others face he knew it had to be true and a look of despair came over his face.

"Oh God. But...he said she would be ok. She will be won't she?" he

asked

The others didn't answer, none of them sure if she would be.

"I should tell the police who are holding Riley. They'll want to know."

said Jack, his entire posture slumping as he walked to find a pay

phone.

Danny sighed, and sat back down. Fresh tears welling up in his eyes. He looked over at his co-workers and saw their own tearstained faces. He sighed again, realising that even if Samantha was ok, things would still change. One day they would get back in their old routine but they would constantly be reminded of this. Especially Sam who would live with the marks, both mental and physical for a long time. Not for the first time he found himself wishing that none of this had ever

happened.

"Should we get in contact with her family?" asked Vivian. "Surely they would want to know what's happened."

"I suppose. As I told Martin earlier, she doesn't really have a good

relationship with them." said Danny.

"Well I'll call the office, her contact details will be there." said

Vivian. "You guys want anything while I'm there?"

"A coffee would be great thanks Viv." said Danny.

"Martin, how about you?" asked Vivian. There was no answer.

"Martin." she said again.

His head shot up and he focused on his surroundings. "Sorry what?"

"Do you want anything?"

"No I'm alright thanks."

"Ok, be right back." said Vivian, walking away in the same direction

Jack had.

"Martin, she will be fine." said Danny.

"Will she?" asked Martin. "You heard what the doctor said. Even if she does recover she will still have to live with all the memories."

"We will all be with her, we'll help her get through this. I know she

will be fine."

"How do you know?!" asked Martin frustrated.

"Because she has to be. She just has to." said Danny quietly.

Martin looked at Danny sympathetically and he saw what Danny was trying to do. "You have to face the possibility that she might not be Danny.

No matter how much you try and convince yourself she will be. There's a chance she won't and you have to realise that."

"But she has to be. You guys are such great friends, but Sam and I, we just.. I don't know. I just can't imagine her not being here." said

Danny.

Martin smiled, "Well we just gotta think positively. Hey, there's

Jack." he said.

"Hey guys." he said. "Where's Viv?"

"She's gone to try and get in contact with Sam's family." said Danny.

"Did you get through to the police?"

"Yeah, I told them what the doctor said and they added it to the

charges." he said simply. "Any more news?"

Martin and Danny both shook their heads.

Jack sighed and sat down next to Martin, they waited anxiously for any more news.

7.15am

Meanwhile Vivian had found another pay phone away from Jack and was in the process of calling Paula Van Doren.

"Hi, its Vivian Johnson."

"Oh, hi. Any news?" said Paula.

"Nothing more yet, she's still critical."

"What can I do for you?" asked Paula sensing Vivian's urgency.

"I need to get in contact with Samantha's family. I was wondering if

you have the numbers."

She heard a sharp intake of breath from Paula.

"What?" Vivian asked.

"Do you know anything about her family?" asked Paula.

"No, Danny said she doesn't like to talk about them. Why?"

"Well I'm only telling you this because Sam can't tell you herself. Her father is dead. He died in a hostage situation at the gas station he worked in. He was shot by one of the gang."

"Oh God, poor Sam." said Vivian, thinking about all the memories

Samantha being held hostage must have brought back.

"Well there's more, he wasn't the greatest father. He was an alcoholic, and although he wasn't abusive per say he would occasionally take out his frustration on Samantha and her mother."

Vivian stood in shock unable to believe all that Samantha had gone

through. She was amazed at how strong Samantha had been.

"And her mother?" asked Vivian almost afraid to hear the answer.

"She still lives in Wisconsin, along with her new husband. She's fine,

but from what I gather they don't talk a lot."

Vivian breathed a sigh of relief at hearing that Sam still had some

family. "Can I have her number?"

"Sure. Here." said Paula telling Vivian the number.

"Thanks." said Vivian copying the number down.

"Let me know any changes." said Paula.

"Will do." said Vivian "Bye." Then hung up the phone.

She took in a deep breath and dialled the number for Sam's mother.

"Hello." came a woman's voice.

"Mrs Spade?" asked Vivian.

"Yes, but its Mrs Harris now. Who is this?" said Sam's mother.

"This is Agent Vivian Johnson. I work with Samantha."

"Oh of course. What can I do for you?" said Mrs Harris.

"I'm afraid to tell you that Samantha is in hospital."

"Oh my God, what happened? Is she ok?"

"Uhh she's in a coma, and she's in a critical state. Would it be

possible for you to come to New York?"

"I uhh oh God." Vivian heard the sound of sniffling.

"Mrs Harris? Are you alright?"

"Yeah, I'll come to New York. She will be ok won't she?"

Vivian hesitated. "I think it would be better to talk when you get

here. You can speak to the doctor."

"Its bad isn't it?" said Mrs Harris, holding back sobs.

"Yeah its pretty bad." said Vivian gently.

"I'll come as soon as I can."

"Thanks." said Vivian. "Bye."

"Bye."

Vivian hung up the phone, and sighed sadly. Her thoughts on what

Samantha had already been through. She ran her hand through her hair

and began to walk back to the others.