A/N: Hello. It's almost silly to apologize for the delay. Nevertheless, the saga continues. Sometimes, I guess, the block goes away.

Disclaimer: I own nothing.

Struck

Jack's eyes shot open with the sound of a light tapping on the door of his office, his face still pressed against the glass table where he had finally drifted off hours earlier.

"Come in," he called as he sat back in his chair and rubbed his eyes. The door crept open revealing Sam dressed in the typical white t-shirt and jeans but looking fresh from a shower, his hair still slightly wet.

"Sam. Hey," Jack started slowly. "Listen, I understand-"

"Look. It's fine Jack. I came here to apologize. I've been with Laura for the past couple of hours and she, well, she made some good points. Most notably, I shouldn't be pissed at you. Not about this anyway," Sam looked down uncomfortably. Finally, he raised his pained eyes to his father. "I'm sorry."

Jack stared at his son for a long moment. As the emotion began to overtake him again he nodded and looked down. "Me too. How're you feeling?"

"Um…fine. I really haven't thought about it so I guess that means I'm fine. The headache's still there but my temp's pretty much normal," Sam replied. Jack kept his head down nodding to himself again. Sam could tell he was starting to lose it.

Jack finally spoke in an aggravated and tearful voice, "Well, that's good. I'm glad you're okay."

Reluctantly, Sam approached his father who now leaned forward in his chair with his head in his hands. After taking a labored breath, he bent down meeting his father's eye level and placed a comforting hand on his shoulder. Jack returned the gesture, wrapping his arms around his son and pulling him close.

"I'm so sorry," Jack spoke through his tears. "I really fucked things up by you guys. I didn't mean to do that. I'm sorry Lucy."

Laura pulled back the door of Brian's tent revealing he and his family all laughing over a stack of old pictures. They quickly quieted when they realized Laura had joined them.

"Hello," she felt embarrassed. "Sorry if I'm interrupting. I just wanted to talk to Brian."

"Of course. Don't worry about it," replied Brian's father. "Have you spoken with Jack or Sam yet?"

"Yeah. I actually just came from their building. They seem okay, considering," Laura offered gently.

"Well that's good," Brian's mother noted. "Bri, you make sure to tell Sam that if they need anything to just come see us anytime."

"I will Mom. Laura, do you want to get some fresh air?"

Laura smiled at her friend and nodded, saying goodbye to Brian's family.

"So, how'd it go?" Brian asked Laura as they began to stroll away from the tents and towards the remaining city.

"Well," Laura began. "It was okay. I mean we didn't talk about her directly too much but he's pretty devastated. I was kind of worried though because I could tell he was really blaming Jack for everything-"

"That sounds about right," Brian said coldly. "Sam really seems to hate the guy."

Laura looked at him. "Yeah. Did you know that Jack and Lucy got divorced last year?"

"It was only last year? I thought that they had been separated for a long time before that," Brian sounded surprised. "I mean, I don't think it's right for Sam to be mad at him about Lucy or anything. I mean, all parents know to choose their kids over anyone, even each other, but Jack has never really been around, you know?"

"Yeah, I kind of figured. Well so I talked to Sam about his dad and told him he clearly never meant for his mother to die and after a while he started to come around. I think he was going to go talk to Jack after I left. Clear the air a bit, I guess."

"Well, that's good," Brian stopped walking and turned to Laura. "Thank you, by the way."

"For…?"

"For talking to him and trying to make things right for him and his dad," Brian explained. "You are a really good person Laura."

Laura smiled. "Brian, you are one of my best friends. I'm so glad you're here for all of this. Honestly, I'm still kind of in awe of all of this."

"Me too. I kind of think we will be for a really long time."

The two glanced around them at the thousands of makeshift homes for the American refugees, at the chaos and disorder.

Brian broke the silence. "Do you think Sam wants to hang out for a little while?"

Laura smiled and nodded. "Good idea. Follow me."

Sam sat on the edge of his bed, attempting to mentally prepare himself for what he was about to do. He had stayed with his father for quite a while before they got the call that Lucy's body was ready to be identified at the morgue. Jack had assumed that he would take care of everything, but when Frank had burst in moments later with an immediate need for his presence, Sam had volunteered to go down and sign the papers. Jack, seeing no other option, reluctantly permitted him to do so. Now Sam was regretting that choice.

Slowly he stood up and approached the door. Just as he was reaching for the handle, someone abruptly turned it and pulled the door open. Sam jumped back startled.

"Oh god!" Brian yelled. "Sorry we scared you."

"That's fine. I'm glad you guys are here. Come in," Sam said catching his breath. He looked at Laura. "Long time no see."

She smiled. "Did you talk to your dad?"

"Yeah. Everything's fine. He's in a meeting now," he looked down remembering his task. "Actually, do you guys think you could do me a favor?"

"Of course," Brian answered.

"Okay," Sam began. "Um, I need to run to the hospital next door and identify my mother's body."

"Jesus," Brian muttered.

"Why?" Laura exclaimed. "Why do you have to do it?"

"Well, I offered," Sam felt sheepish. "My dad had an emergency and I figured I sort of owed him so…? I understand if you guys don't want to, but do you think you could come with me? You don't have to look at her or anything. I just kind of don't ant to go alone."

Laura nodded. "We're coming with Sam."

Brian placed a hand on his friend's shoulder. "And I never got to say so, but I'm really sorry about all of this."

Sam smiled, thanking him. "Okay. Let's go."

Sam pulled out his driver's license and gave it to the practitioner at the morgue. He could see his mother's body through a window, lying on a gurney in the next room and covered in a white sheet.

"Okay," the mortician spoke lightly. "So all you have to do is look at her face and verify that that's Lucy, that that's your mom, okay?"

Sam nodded. He turned back to Brian and Laura who sat in chairs across the room. "You guys wait here."

He stood and nodded, trying to appear supportive as the mortician led Sam into the other room. Through the window they saw the mortician whisper something to Sam. He nodded and she pulled back the sheet, only revealing her face to Sam.

"This is awful," whispered Laura as Brian wrapped an arm around her shoulders.

Sam was still for a long moment as her stared at her face. Slowly he brought his hands up to his face covering his eyes as his body began to shake with silent sobs. The mortician covered the body with the sheet and led Sam out of the room.

Laura and Brian were silent as he reentered and sat down in the chair in front of where the document that he was to sign lay on the table with a pen. With one hand sitting on his forehead and the other rubbing the back of his neck, Sam took a deep sigh. Laura and Brian went to his side.

"It's okay," Laura gave his arm a squeeze as Brian nodded reassuringly. "Just sign it and it's over.'

Sam wiped the tears from his eyes, pulled his chair out slightly and placed his hands in his lap. He looked up with an intense alertness in his eyes.

"It's not her."