Chapter 15:

Sangre

Nicoletta felt weak as she watched Sands fall to the ground. Her breathing was coming in harsh gasps and her vision blurred. She couldn't believe it. Sands was dead. It just wasn't possible, it was unthinkable. Sure, everyone had to die eventually but this was Sands. He seemed practically immortal. He couldn't just leave her. What would she do? Who would help her fight the cartel? She wouldn't last ten seconds without him. She couldn't even seem to think without him. It was as though half of her was missing. She felt like someone had ripped her heart. She felt…heartbroken. She realised, too late, that she really didn't want to lose Sands. She felt moisture run down her cheek and she knew she was crying.

Looking up she found herself staring at the four men left. Hatred ran through her, coursing her veins making her burn white-hot with anger. It was there fault! Without pausing for a single coherent thought, she changed. Now she was no longer a human with a shattered heart. She was an animal intent on revenge for the loss of Sands. She would make this bloody.

Diving she fastened her jaws around the throat of the man who was holding the smoking gun. She landed on him. A medium sized strong Black Panther against a normal-sized, now rather weak human. He had no chance. He would bleed for the pain he caused her. He had killed Sands. Suddenly, something occurred to her. Sands might not be dead. The shot had been in his stomach, not his heart and people survived hits in the stomach. If she slaughtered and butchered these men like the bastards they are then she wouldn't be able to save Sands.

Drawing back a huge paw Nicoletta slammed it hard into each of their heads. She effectively knocked them out. Then she dived back across the room, changing instantly when she reached Sands side.

Leaning over him she grabbed his wrist and felt for a pulse.

"Madre de Dios, help him." She whispered, not being a religious person but still having a few beliefs, "Don't let Sands die. I need him."

As though her prayer had been answered she found it, a pulse, weak but there.

"Gracias a dios!" she gasped as she jumped to her feet and grabbed Sands jacket that was slung around the chair arm. She couldn't take him to the hospital as the men would find them straight away. She had to help him herself. She just hoped she knew enough from her time in the gang about bullet wounds.

Kneeling she managed to move Sands into a sitting position, up against the chair. Removing his ruined shirt and trying not to look at his very nice chest, she wrapped the jacket tightly around the wound, putting pressure on it to try and stop the bleeding.

Now she had to find someone to pack there luggage and help her get Sands out of here. Standing up, and casting a worried look at sands, she ran to the entrance hall. She was hoping against hope that someone was there.

Nicoletta leaned over Sands' body in the motel room. She had managed to get two bell-boys to help her and she had tipped them handsomely for getting the luggage and Sands out to the car, directing her and helping her get him into the room. But now they were gone and she had to deal with the unpleasant task of sorting out his wound. She had removed the makeshift bandage and left the sheets on the other bed soaking in the bath with some soap. She hoped they would be clean enough. Now she would sterilise some scissors, remove the bullet and bandage the wound. She was in a motel, with no medical equipment whatsoever. This would be quite a challenge.

Sands was floating in a sea of darkness. It was peaceful not to think or be, just to lie there in the perfect darkness and silence. Well, almost perfect silence. A second ago he was sure he had heard someone crying. Straining to hear in the pitch-black, Sands was sure he could hear someone sobbing, and it was getting louder. He was shocked when he heard his name called.

"Sheldon? Sheldon please wake up. I can't do it without you. Don't leave me here alone! What will I do? Sheldon! Oh please, Sheldon!"

It was Nickie's voice. She was crying for him. Sands couldn't stand it. For stupid reason he couldn't bear the thought of her there, alone and frightened.

With an effort Sands dragged himself back to reality.

Nicoletta knew she was being childish, she had managed to keep the tears back before. She had had something to do and she had been able to keep the idea of him dying out of her head. But, sat on the bed next to him, she couldn't take it. She couldn't stand the idea of losing him. She began to sob.

Sands slowly opened his eyes. His stomach felt like someone was twisting a knife in it, his bandage looked like it was made from bed sheets, he had probably not even had a doctor see him and he was lying in a motel room, he decided as his eyes began to clear. But, he was alive. So where was Nickie?

Turning to face where the sobs were coming from, he found her. She had her head buried in her hands and she was trembling all over. For someone reason Sands felt his heart ache with sadness for her and…delight? She was crying for him. She actually cared enough to be upset to lose him. He couldn't help but feel happy about that, even if the only reason she liked was because he was helping her. Which he wasn't really, he was betraying her. The happy feeling vanished and he felt guilty. Trying to push the feeling he reached out to Nickie and placed a hand on her arm.

"Nickie?" he called hesitantly.

Nicoletta span to face him, her hands removed from her tear-streaked face, her bloodshot eyes wide in hope. She stared at him in disbelief for a split second. Then, with a small scream of delight, she threw her arms tight around him and buried her face in his chest.

Sands gasped in pain at this and Nicoletta heard it. Instantly she tugged away, flushing.

"Sorry." She told him, looking embarrassed.

"Oh." She breathed a sigh of relief. "Thank God you're awake, I was so worried!"

Sands grinned, "Worried about me sugar butt? Sure you're not ill."

Nicoletta smiled at him, "No need to rub it in Sands, I admitted it. I was worried about you."

Sands returned the smile, "Heard you calling my name. Didn't think you'd ever call me Sheldon. I had to be awake for that special moment."

Nicoletta flushed again, "I was scared. I didn't think you'd wake up if I called you Sands."

Sands gazed at her for a second, then he asked, "Sugar butt, why were you crying?"

Nicoletta looked up at him, "Because I was scared." She said simply, "I didn't want to be on my own. I didn't want to have to do this on my own."

She sighed and dropped her gaze, "I couldn't do it without you. Anyway," her voice shook slightly and tears gathered in her eyes once more, "It was my fault you were shot. If you'd died it would have been my fault."

Sands stared at her for a second, she blamed herself? Without thinking he reached out and wrapped his arms around her. Carefully, so as not to put pressure on his wounded stomach.

Nickie buried her face in his chest. She couldn't help but feel safe wrapped in his arms. She felt as though nothing could hurt her as long as she had him. He was warm and gentle, something she never thought she would say about Agent Sands. She wasn't afraid when he held her. He could, and would she now knew, protect her. She breathed in his musky smell. He smelt like pistol shot, tequila with lime and something else unique and strange, but at the same time comforting. She relaxed, curling her legs up she snuggled up to him, pressing her soft lips against his chest. It had been a long day. It was only about one in the afternoon, but she was tired and she felt so comfortable. So she closed her eyes and drifted off to sleep.

The lady of the Shadows: Thanks for reviewing hunny! I'm definitely happy you liked my last chapter; I was just waiting for you to yell at me for hurting Sands and for such a cliffie! I hope this update came soon enough for you, I also hope you think it's good and nice. I thought it was sweet and romantic, but that could just be me! I also, think it's a bit too gooey and sentimental. But I like gooey and sentimental! I can't help it! It's not my fault! Don't hurt me! Lol. Glad you only want to kill the men and not me, aren't you glad that Sandsy is ok? How could I kill him? How did your economy and history stuff go? I feel sorry for you, that's totally unfair! Yes your update must come so, so, so soon! But I'll be sad when it's over! I'll be sad when this fic is over as well. I've nearly finished writing it but there's still a lot to update so it won't be ending very soon. But I'll finish writing it soon and then what will I do? Anyway, thanks for the review and get posting your next chapter or I'll be cross! (and a cross Alice doesn't like posting chapters!) lol. RandR!

Abberlines-Opium: Hope this update came fast enough! Thanks for reviewing, I know its terrible, poor Sands! How could this terrible author do such a thing! Oh…wait…I'm the author…ok…stupid…Men from Bartulo! How could they? But, I didn't let them kill him so I'm not that bad really! Of course the chapter was perfect! What do you take me for! Lol. No, not really. Thank you so much, you're really nice to me! Hope you like this! Thank you! RandR!

Joselyn-Greenleaf: Poor Mort! You stole his glasses! (They make you look smart? Oooooo I need some, I might someday pass for human intelligence in them, do you think hes got another pair?) I would like Jack's "sword" too! Lol…dirty mind.WOAH! Sands fan girl! Scary! I'm sorry! I didn't kil Sands see! South Park is a good obsession, don't worry! Thank you for saying you like the chapter! Hope this came fast enough! Please keep RandRing!

Come on people, RandR for me!