Chapter 8- The Blame Game

Hello again! I'm here with another update for all of you loyal readers. You know who you are! I will be doing review responses in this chapter, because I don't see any harm in telling you guys how much I appreciate reviews! So like usual they will be at the end of the chapter! Hope you guys enjoy this chappie, I know I did.

Author's Note: REREAD CHAPTER 7 IF YOU HAVEN'T DONE SO ALREADY! You don't want to get confused, so refresh your brain on what the last chapter involved! AND ENJOY!

ANOTHER NOTE: IS THAT I AM GOING TO START CALLING ADAM… AARON. IT GET'S TOO CONFUSING FOR NEW READERS AND ME. HOPE THAT DOESN'T BOTHER ALL OF YOU TOO MUCH! SORRY!

The double doors of the emergency room forced to burst open by a stretcher containing Charlie, with paramedics pushing it alongside. Claire was a frazzled mess as she tried to follow the stretcher into the closest room to the right.

"You can't come in Miss." A woman said stepping out of the room followed by a man. The man and woman were both dressed in all blue and both blocking Claire's view into the room, which just angered Claire more.

"That's my husband!" She spat angrily. She did her best to compose herself, but as she listened to herself speak she feared she failed miserably. "I have to be with him." Again her words like venom.

"Claire?" A man asked walking out of the room next to the one that was being blocked by a human barricade. "What are you doing here?"

"I could ask you the same thing, but I'm a bit distracted right now." She said giving a glare toward the man and woman in front of her.

"What happened?" He asked immediately breaking into his concerned doctor mode. "Is it Aaron, Faith?" She shook her head at the ground as tears streamed furiously down her cheeks. Jack's eyes glazed over in fear, he knew who it was, the question was… can he be saved?

"What happened to Charlie?" Her bottom lip trembled; she couldn't say the words, if she did then it would be real. Jack took her in his arms, holding her as tight as he listened to her muffled sobs.

Liam came bursting through the doors like a one man wrecking ball. He spotted a familiar man holding Claire and rushed over fearing the worst.

"Claire?" He asked desperately afraid to touch her, afraid she might break.

She pulled away from Jack and gave him the faintest hint of a smile, she was too afraid to comfort anyone else right now. Jack excused himself from the two of them to check on Charlie's condition, but Claire quickly grabbed his sleeve and looked desperately into his eyes.

"He was shot in the arm, please, please… help him." She was pleading with red eyes and a tear stained face that made her look like she would pass out from exhaustion anytime.

"Claire, he'll be fine… I… I promise." Jack stammered, he couldn't believe he had just made his friend a promise like that. What if Charlie was dying, what if he was already dead?

He entered the room to see a doctor with three people assisting. The doctor looked calm, which was always a good sign. He looked up. "Dr. Shephard nice of you to join us, but I'm afraid you missed the action. This man is ready to be stitched up. I hope no one called you over and wasted your time."

"No, that man is a friend of mine." Jack said with relief running through his body.

"Oh good, he's going to be fine. Would you like to tell the woman?" He said pointing at Claire in Liam's arms in front of the door still being blocked by the two people.

"Claire? Yeah, thank you…" He said giving the doctor a nod and beginning to walk out the door only to be stopped by the doctor's voice.

"This Claire, any chance she's this guy's sister?" He asked giving a gesture to a still sleeping Charlie. Jack smiled and shook his head.

"Wife." He answered walking out of the room.

The doctor shook his head in defeat and whispered to himself, "lucky guy."

"Claire, Liam…" Jack said as they pulled away from each other to look upon Jack. "The doctor and his staff did a wonderful job; Charlie is going to be fine."

Jack was expecting Claire to jump for joy, but was surprised when she was quick to ask, "Can I see him?"

"Well, he's sleeping, but everyone knows love is the best medicine." Jack said with a smirk as Claire sprinted through the doors of the room to Charlie's side.

"Thanks Jack." Liam said taking him into a hug.

"I didn't do anything; it was all the doctor's doing." Jack replied giving Liam a few pats on the back, before pulling away and giving Liam an odd look.

"What?" Liam asked with a laugh.

"I think the doc had a crush on Claire."

"Don't tell Charlie." Liam said laughing. "That guy won't live to see tomorrow."

"He is quite protective isn't he?" Jack asked with a thoughtful look.

"Big time." Liam said nodding. Jack laughed.

Claire brushed her thumb across Charlie's cheek, moving her fingertips down his neck, to his shoulder, down his arm, to clasp Charlie's hand in hers. "Charlie." She whispered a tear rolling down her pale cheeks to fall to the floor. "Charlie, can you hear me?" He gave no response at first but as soon as she leaned in to forehead his cheek she was surprised by his hands taking her face within their grasp and pulling her lips to his. When he pulled away she smiled down at him and he opened his eyes showing them full grey in color.

"I hope you were aiming for my lips, luv."

"Forehead I'm afraid, but I always enjoy your lips so much more." She said grinning at him before leaning down for another kiss. "How are you feeling?"

"As cliché as it sounds… so much better now that you're here." He said smiling, but the smile faded as he noticed her tear stained cheeks and tired eyes. "I'm sorry this happened, Claire."

"Don't… please, don't apologize. It's not your fault; it could never be your fault." She said closing her eyes allowing tears to threaten her eyes again.

"Claire, he was mad at me." Charlie said regretfully.

"And me." Liam said walking into the room. "But it's not our fault that he felt the best way to get what he wanted was to threaten the three of us with a gun."

"Than whose fault is it?" Charlie asked furrowing his eyebrows, making it clear to Claire and Liam that he was letting the blame rest on his shoulders.

"His… no one else's… just his. Yes, we could have handled him better, but we didn't ask for him to come after us like he did." Liam said using his hands to make motions to further his point. "Please tell me you won't take the blame for this, it's no one's fault except Lenny's."

"Charlie, Liam is right, you have to see this situation for what it is… an act of revenge taken too far." She took his hand in hers and gave it a kiss.

"Alright, but that doesn't make me feel much better. He could have killed both of you…" Charlie said desperately.

"Us? He shot you, little brother." Liam said laughing at Charlie's misguided worry.

"Trust me; you don't have to remind me." He said rubbing his stitched and bandaged arm. "Was Jack in here earlier?"

"Yes, he works here now." Claire explained looking at the door as if she cued him to enter. And she did, he walked in the doors with his kind doctor smile.

"Charlie, I'm glad to see you're awake."

"It's good to be awake, so I can see such a lovely face." Charlie said with a grin up at Claire.

"Why thank you baby brother, that's so sweet of you…" Liam said sarcastically.

"I meant Claire." He said laughing.

"All he ever talks about…" Liam said acting as if he were jealous. They all laughed.

"So Jack, do I owe you thanks for the healed arm or was that a doctor buddy of yours?" Charlie asked cocking his head to the side a bit.

"Doctor friend, I'm afraid I missed you by a few minutes." Jack said shaking his head.

"Oh that's alright, next time I get shot… I'll have Claire page you." Charlie said laughing as Claire swatted him on his good arm. "Hey, easy there, luv. What was that for?"

"Never joke about something like this, Charlie. I was really scared!" She said standing up. Looking down upon him, she could tell he felt terrible for making her so upset.

"Claire…" He said grabbing her hand and pulling her to sit down, she sat. "I'm sorry… really." She gave a weak smile and kissed him.

"It's ok, but if you ever worry me like that again… I might have to take your life myself." She was smiling a bit more and kissed Charlie once again.

"Deal." He whispered deepening the kiss. Jack and Liam exited the room to give them their privacy. "I love you."

A fresh tear streamed down her cheek. "I love you too." She whispered nodding her head then leaning down to rest her head upon his chest.

Well, there was some nice fluff at the end, hope you enjoyed! Please review and tell me what you liked and didn't like. I heart reviews!

Thanks to these people for reviewing chapters six and seven:

Ron Lover6789

HAHA! It's Jack's new hospital! Thanks for all the recent reviews!

LostChickenGothicWednesday723

I'm glad you liked it! Thanks for both reviews!

imageek06

Thanks for finding me; I'm glad you enjoy my story! Thanks for reviewing, it means a lot!

Lost Hobbit

All is well that ends well. Everything is happy again!

domaholic17

Thanks for the review, trust me… I'm not cruel enough to let Claire die.

Missing Whisper

I love it when people read my mind. You and I are totally on the same page. What is a hospital without Jack? Thanks for reviewing chapters six and seven, I always look forward to them!

CharlieandClaire

Sorry about the long wait AGAIN! I hope you liked this chapter! Thanks for reviewing chapters six and seven!

onesugarplumfairy

Aw… I love new readers! Welcome! I'm glad you are enjoying my lovely little roller coaster ride (a.k.a. my fanfic)! Thanks for the review!

IluvLost9393

Thanks for the review! I heart them!

bluejolteon

Yeah, I totally don't care what they say anymore. Hopefully they won't care enough to yank my stories! That would really suck! Thanks you for both reviews!

Alabelle

Thanks for the review, I love them very much!