Author's note: Sorry for the delay but my computer was practically killed by a virus. I was scared that all my stories were lost, but fortunately they weren't! Now, about this chapter: I'm not really satisfied with it - somehow I had a problem how to finish it - it was hard, and maybe I could have work on it a little more to make it better, but tomorrow I leave the town for a week and I wanted to upload it before that. So enjoy it, and please, if possible leave some reviews for tomorrow, to make my next (not so easy) week better!

Chapter 4.

Sam was staring into the trauma-room through the closed glass-door. Her sight was blurry because of the tears in her eyes but she still could see the scene clearly. Two doctors and two nurses were working hard in there. Sam was left outside when they arrived, and now she was compelled to just stand here and watch.

Frank had said her that everything would be alright but soon after his encouraging words John crashed. The paramedic shocked his heart twice in ambulance and the doctors three times here in the hospital. Now he was back, but Sam still could see the tensed movements and the grim concentration on the doctors' face.

One of the nurses looked up and their eyes met. The nurse told something to the male doctor and then came out.

"I'll see you to the waiting room…" she suggested.

"I'd rather stay here."

"There's no use" she said with a symphatethic smile. "It will take a while until they can take him up to the operation room and the surgery will surely take another few hours."

Sam looked at the door of the trauma room, then at the nurse again and nodded hesitantly.

"Are you his wife?" the nurse asked. She was about Sam's age, but had dark hair, dark eyes and a complexion that sold his Spanish ancestors away.

"No, we work together… he's a good friend…"

"I see. Let's go, you can have a coffee there, as well!"

Sam didn't feel like having a coffee right now, her adrenaline level was up in the skies, but she accepted the hot drink, the nurse bought her all the same. However her trembling hands could barely hold the plastic glass.

"How is he?" she asked when the other woman led her to the plastic chairs.

"It's a doctor's duty to inform the relatives" she answered and Sam could tell that it was an automatic response that she clearly used quite often.

"I'm not a relative…" the nurse smiled apologetically and despite herself Sam smiled back. "I'm sure you have seen many things here… will he survive?" she wasn't sure that she wanted to hear the answer, but she had to ask.

"I won't lie… he doesn't look good, but we have the best doctors, and he's young…"

"Yes, he is…" Too young to die… "and he's strong…" She whispered rather to herself.

xxxxxxxxxx

About one and a half hours later, Sam was in another waiting room, two stairs above, joined by Grace and George. Bailey was still in the office doing the necessary protocol to take Jack into custody. They were sitting in silence. The emergency doctor didn't tell much, only that they took John to surgery and then he vanished to try to save somebody else and a nurse escorted her to the surgery's waiting room. Her two workmates joined her there.

All three of them were nervous like hell, because in one way or another they all knew how severe the situation was. Sam was there, she saw John. Grace talked to him and was a doctor. And George… well, George could see the two women and it was enough to give him the chills.

"He will get through this…" George said when he couldn't stand the silence any longer.

Sam looked up from her hands and the handkerchief she was screwing.

"I'm not so sure about it…" she admitted loudly what was choking her in the last hours.

"He's strong…" Grace repeated the words Sam had said before to the nurse. "And he's too stubborn to die. Actually he's the most obstinate man I've ever met. Did you hear about the time when he joined the team?"

Sam shook her head. They've been talking about a lot of things lately, but rarely about work.

"It was a little bit more than four years ago, just a few months after Bailey had got the task to establish a VCTF team in Atlanta. We worked on a case here in the city together with the Atlanta PD and the captain gave John to our help."

"First I thought 'Oh, my god! Not another arrogant macho-cop!' But I recognized how wrong I was. He was very perceptive and helped us a lot, and he didn't have that this-is-my-town-and-hate-the-FBI-attitude. When we finished Bailey asked him whether he has ever thought about trying the FBI training. He just smiled, but a few months later Bailey found out that he followed his advice, indeed. John didn't know it, but Bailey inquired about his progress at Quantico. And after the graduation he asked him to the team. However after he had joined us, Bailey was very hard to him…"

"Grace means that he let John work like a dog" put in George. "He was always first in, and left as last. Sometimes I was wondering if had been sleeping at all! In the end I already thought he would give it up and quit…"

"Oh, I knew he wouldn't" cut in Grace. "He never complained, not once."

Sam smiled sadly. This was so much like John… And it was good that she heard Grace and George talk about him like this. Actually, she found that it felt good to be distracted a little bit from her grave thoughts.

"Then, after about six months, there was this case… Bailey and John travelled to Montana, just the two of them, to some far-away village. By the time they came back, something changed."

"What happened?"

This time George answered.

"They never talked about it, but Grace is right. They both changed somehow… they got closer during that two weeks. However they've been arguing a lot since then, as well."

"That, you don't have to tell me!"

They shared a rather sad smile. Sam looked at the clock and saw that almost five hours went by since they arrived with the ambulance. She was tired and as it stood they won't leave soon.

"I'll call Chloe… and bring some more coffee…

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Nine hours and forty-two minutes… Bailey arrived about half an hour ago and informed the others that Jack was closed in safe and secure and that somebody from the district attorney's office was already working on the accusation. He didn't even ask how John was, it was enough too look at his people. He just sat down next to Sam and held her hand tightly.

Another hour later at last a doctor appeared in the waiting room.

"Are you here for Mr. Grant?" he asked as soon as he stepped inside and they jumped as one.

"Yes" it was somehow natural that Bailey took the lead. "How is he?"

"He is out of surgery and is being taken to the ICU." Before anybody could ask any questions, he continued. "However, I have to tell you that he isn't out of the woods yet. Nurse Valdez told me that he has no family members here, is this correct?"

Bailey nodded.

"I suggest you to inform his family..."

"I don't think this is possible" intervened Sam, what earned her a slightly surprised look from the doctor, but he went on.

"In this case… Well, Mr. Grant suffered quite severe injuries. His state is still critical. He lost too much blood, his blood pressure fell to almost fatal stages and we had to intubate, because the spontaneous respiration was far from satisfying. He suffered multiple fracture on the right leg that was left without treatment too long, through which there are already signs of infection. He developed a massive fever and these factures caused the shock he is in at the moment. These are the most serious problems. Above these he has two broken ribs, a concussion, lot of bruises and articulation-injury in his right shoulder."

"But will he live?" Bailey asked the question, they all wanted to hear the answer for.

"To be honest: I don't know. It's obvious that his body is fighting, but the next 24 hours will be critical. And there's one more thing you should know, especially if he has no family. If things turn worse with the infection, we have to take more radical interventions into account. He probably won't be in the state to decide, so one of you will have to sign the admission."

"You are talking about amputation." Grace said quietly.

"Yes, I'm sorry, but the probability stands. Now, you can see him, but only one of you at a time and only for a few minutes."

"Could I go first?" Sam asked immediately, and she felt compelled to explain. "I have to see that he's still alive. Damn… seeing him in the ambulance… I really thought, that…"

"It's okay" said Grace, as the two men seemed too shaken to tell a word. "Just go, we'll wait here…"

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

So, Sam followed the doctor to the ICU that was quiet and peaceful but in a way still a sinister place. In the room there were three beds and a nurse was sitting next to the door at a desk writing something. But Sam didn't really recognized anything, she couldn't take off her eyes of John, lying in the bed and surrounded by all kinds of machines.

The doctor went to the bedside and checked on his patient.

"You can come closer, if you want."

Sam stepped closer indeed and she took John's hand. It was warm and however she knew it must have been caused by the fever, somehow she still was relieved, because it meant that he was alive.

"Hey, John" she whispered. "We are all here, and waiting for you to wake up. We love you, so you have to strain yourself and heal…"

There was not much to say, and Sam guessed that most people whose loved ones were here in the ICU told the same words. Please, be okay! We need you… And it was very true: he loved John and wanted him to live the life he deserved. And she will help him, even if he doesn't want it!

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

It was late night when Bailey and Sam arrived at the fire-house.

"Do you stay?" asked Sam when they got out of the car.

"Do you want me to? Aren't you tired?"

"I am. But I don't want to be alone…" Her eyes were still red and puffy but she could barely keep them open. They have some exhausting days after them.

They went up and were welcomed by one of the agents who guarded the house and today they played the role of the babysitter as well.

"Was everything all right?" asked Bailey and the agent nodded.

"Chloe is sleeping. She wanted to wait for you but about two hours ago she wasn't able to stay awake anymore."

"I'll go to see her." Told Sam and dropped her bag and bloody jacket on the coat-rack and rushed to the children's room.

Chloe was sleeping indeed, but as soon as Sam bent over her and put the blanket back in place she startled awake and asked sleepily.

"Mum…?"

"Yes, dear. It's me, I'm home."

"What happened?" she asked more awake.

"We found John…"

Chloe sat up immediately and switched on the lamp next to her bed. When she saw her mother's tear-stained eyes her face sank straight away.

"Is he…?"

"No, he isn't dead" assured Sam quickly. "He's in the hospital, but … he was injured badly."

"Can I visit him?" asked Chloe enthusiastically.

"Not yet. He's to sick to have many visitors, maybe in a few days…"

"It was the bad man, wasn't it? That who killed dad…"

Sam's heart wrenched with pain looking at her little daughter. No child deserved to know about such things in such a young age, but she couldn't change what had already happened.

"Yes. But we caught him this time. We don't have to be scared of him anymore."

"Really?" her girl asked incredulously.

"Yes, but now please go back to sleep…"

"Okay, mum…"

Sam switched off the lamp kissed Chloe on her forehead and covered her gently then quietly slipped out of the room.

The agents were never to see, only Bailey was sitting on the couch in the living-room. He helped himself to scotch and put out another glass for Sam as well.

"Can I pour you one?" he asked when he glimpsed Sam.

"I think I could bear one."

They sat in silence for a few minute sipping at their drinks.

"I hate this" revealed Sam after a while.

"I know…"

"No, I mean Jack… he always wanted me. Not you, or other FBI people, just me. It was because of me, that he went after you as well."

"But you know that it isn't your fault?"

"No… yes… I mean I know it's not my fault in the average sense of the word, but it still happened because of me…"

"It was because of me as well… Jack talked a lot during the way the central… He became interested in John, because John saved me the last time. He damaged that bastard's sick game…"

"We are a good couple, aren't we?" Sam smiled sadly, and he leant against Bailey's chest.

"Oh, you can bet on it" He whispered caressing her hair gently.

"I just hope that he will be able to get over this…"

"He will. I know."

"I'm still scared. And the doctor… he talked about amputation… I don't think he could bear it…"

"It won't happen Sam! We have to think positively!"

"It's just, we might have to decide and want to make the best decision for him, if it comes to that part."

"Don't analyze, just follow your instincts." Bailey told and Sam smiled again.

"It's hard to get rid of old habits…"

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

In the next few days they took turns at John's bedside, but there was not much change in his condition. However, the doctors said that his improvement was promising. Grace strengthened their words and said that in cases like this doctors usually see it as improvement when the patient's condition doesn't go worse. However his fever started to sink and Doctor Conroy dropped the amputation-issue. He told that John had a good chance at full recovery, but they still waited on him to wake up.

Then, on the fifth day late in the afternoon, Bailey was sitting in the uncomfortable plastic chair. He rushed here after work to let Grace go home to her family. He was reading loud from the newspaper, as the doctor told them that it can use if John hears them talking to him. The article was interesting indeed, as it was about the capture of Jack – and it mentioned John as well. Bailey had no idea how the journalist found out about the circumstances – he hadn't told a word to the media about the case that was for sure! – and Bailey wasn't sure whether John would be happy to see his name on the front page.

Bailey just finished the article and put down the paper when John suddenly stirred on the bed. It was hard to see is face properly thanks to the tube in his mouth as he was still on vent, but Bailey bent closer and saw that his eyelids fluttered, then opened halfway. Bailey was already moving and calling for a nurse or doctor. Dr. Conroy, who operated on John, was fortunately in today and was there in two minutes. By that time, John was making more frequent movements and was making some choking sounds as he tried to breathe on his own through the vent.

"You were right. He's waking up, indeed" commented the doctor after he had examined John. "It's okay…" he was talking to his patient now, who became a little bit more egitated by the second. "John, open your eyes. Yes, good so…"

Bailey was close enough to see everything, and the next moment he could see the confused and little bit dizzy blue eyes looking at them. Then John tried to look around but with all the machines and in his weakened state he barely managed. He obviously didn't know what happened and where he was, that was shown by the increasing heart-rate on the monitors, as well.

"Calm down" Doctor Conroy intervened immediately. "You are in a hospital. You were injured but now it's everything all right… And don't try to talk! There's a tube in your throat that helps you breathing."

John's eyes became clearer and they turned to Bailey who was standing just behind the doctor. There were a lot of questions in his eyes and a lot of understanding.

"We found you…and Jack. He's in custody. You managed it, John."

His young workmate seemed to be relieved. During this 'conversation' a nurse joined them as well, and Doctor Conroy checked the different monitors.

"I guess we can take you from the vent now" he concluded and with the help of the nurse, so he did. When the tube was out, John coughed dryly and painfully. Bailey had his own experiences with broken ribs and knew that coughing isn't very pleasant with them.

"I'll have to check you properly" the doctor told John, then turned to Bailey, who understood it and was already on his way out.

"I'd better make some phone-calls then."

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Only half an hour later the whole team gathered in front of the ICU room.

"Is he really awake?" Sam asked for what seemed to be the hundredth time, but she clearly didn't dare to believe it so easily.

"Yes, he is. Doctor Conroy makes an examination right now, I don't think it will take long…"

As if he had wanted to confirm his words, Doctor Conroy came out.

"He is fully awake and clear-headed. As far as I can establish, he remembers what happened to him and he doesn't seem to be traumatized. You can see him now, but he's still tired and weak so please don't impose him too much." And with that he opened the door for them.

John's bed was lifted a little bit, so he at least could see them when they came in. He was pale and looked exhausted, there were dark circles under his eyes, not to mention the bruises on his face, but Sam still felt relieved.

"Hey, nobody is working?" he asked in a hoarse and quiet voice that was of course caused by the tube.

"I'm glad you haven't lost your humour" said Bailey. "Actually we don't work because of you. We were all worried to death… obviously without a reason."

"Don't scare us like this anymore" added Grace more seriously.

"And don't climb stairs with a broken leg" George warned him.

"Please, I've only regained consciousness" John exclaimed and smiled slightly.

"How are you?" asked Grace and squeezed his hand.

"Dizzy… I think I could sleep through a week…"

"It's because of the medication, it's natural. So we better get going…" said Grace.

"I'm not so tired…" but he already was blinking drowsily.

"Yeah, I see. Just rest."

They all said good-bye, but Sam remained back for a moment.

"You know what you did?"

"No." He could hardly keep his eyes open, but Sam wanted to tell him this.

"You caught Jack… I just wanted to thank you."

"I should thank you…" he whispered already half asleep.

"Why?" There was no answer, so Sam leant over him and stroked his forehead.

Sam thought that John had already fallen asleep so she was surprised when after a moment he answered her earlier question.

"Because you care for me…" he mumbled, clearly enough for Sam to understand.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Sam found John sitting in his bed and reading some magazine absent-mindedly. Four more days went by and Sam visited him every day. The improvement he made was almost incredible for her. He was still pale and weak and as Sam guessed quite in pain but he looked much better now and Doctor Conroy promised him to begin with physicotherapy in a few days, considering that his fever wouldn't go up again.

"I didn't know you are interested in make-up…" she commented which made John look up and smile.

"I'm not, but I read everything. There's nothing more boring than lying in hospital."

"You should take more care about yourself… maybe should avoid being injured so often…"

"That I would gladly promise, only this usually isn't my choice."

"But seriously John, last time I couldn't finish what I wanted to tell you…"

"Because I slept in…" he smiled sheepishly.

"Yes, but never mind…" her eyes went absolutely serious. "I wanted to thank you…"

"You don't have to."

"Yes, I have. You saved us from him, and you almost died."

"But I didn't."

"Fortunately. So, thank you."

"Well… you're welcome" he clearly felt uncomfortable, so Sam quickly changed the subject. She didn't want to put John in an awkward situation, but she wanted him to know how thankful she was.

"Chloe sends you her best wishes" John smiled again. "She wanted to come in, but I thought you are not up to that yet."

"You might be right…"

"But she sent you something" she pulled out a book from her bag. "Alice in Wonderland… interesting choice!"

John laughed and then winced with pain.

"She was gushing about it the whole time when I was looking after her and she didn't want to believe that I've never read it… I guess now I can make up this deficiency."

"Yes, sure. And how are you?"

He shrugged, only with his left shoulder as the right one was in a swing.

"Fine."

"Grace told me that you still have a temperature."

"It's nothing."

"And she also told that you didn't want painkillers anymore…"

"Did you decide to mother me together?" he asked but Sam could tell that he wasn't really irritated.

"Actually, yes! You can't play with this, John… did the doctor tell you how close you were to lose your leg…?"

"If you want to know, he reminds me of that every day. Not to mention Nurse Valdez…As if I did it on purpose…" he grumbled under his nose, which made Sam smile.

"You are a terrible patient, you know."

"They will let me out sooner this way!"

"So, that's your plan?"

"Definitely."

"But you don't want to rush things, do you?" Sam asked more seriously. "You won't come back to work, just because you are bored?"

John sighed theatrical.

"No, I won't" he answered then after short hesitation. "Look Sam, I'm not some kind of crazy masochist, I don't enjoy being injured, especially not this." He waved at his leg.

"I didn't say you do. But you are…impatient. And this wasn't just a physical trauma… I know that you probably need some more time, but you will have to talk about it sooner or later. At latest during the process."

This time his sigh was more honest. Because they were back at the same topic again, and he knew that Sam wouldn't let it be. However he thought that talking didn't change matters at all. And during the process they won't ask him about his emotions and thoughts, only about facts, not like Sam.

"He couldn't manipulate me… or my emotions. You don't have to worry." And it wasn't a lie, at least not fully. "He talked a lot of crap, I only remember half of it…"

"Honestly?"

"Yes."

Somehow he had the feeling that Sam didn't really believe him. But the truth was that he rather wanted to forget this whole thing, especially the things Jack told him… He wanted to start PT, get out of this hospital as soon as possible, and go back to work. And he will do it soon. He simply wanted his normal life back… which maybe wasn't so normal as he liked to pretend, but was still his own.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx