Thanks loads to all you faithful friends from Maple Street who are hanging with me on this one. Special shout out to the "new reviewers" too! Always a blast to see a new name pop up on a review.

At last count, Jack was clinging to life. General concensus really wanted him to make it. Let's see what happens next.

Chapter 9 – Touch And Go

Danny sat stone-faced, staring at the tile floor at St. Luke's Hospital. Samantha paced non-stop around the small waiting room, constantly wringing her hands and rubbing the back of her neck. She swore she still smelled the coppery odor of Jack's blood on her hands.

Martin leaned against the windowsill, seemingly concentrating on the pedestrians below. Vivian sat apart from them all and watched each one for a while before turning her thoughts inward and concentrating on her hands.

The doctor finally came out from the trauma room. His smock was smattered with blood and his surgical cap was stained with sweat. Looking quickly at each person, he said, "I'm assuming you are all here for Mr. Malone?"

Samantha spoke first. "Yes, we are. How is he, doctor? Is he going to be all right? When can I…..we can we see him?"

Looking past her to Danny and Martin, the doctor asked, "Are one of you by chance named Dan, or something close?

Confused, Danny answered, "My name is Daniel, but everyone calls me Danny. Why do you ask?"

The doctor pressed, "Would Mr. Malone call you Dan?"

Shaking his head no, Danny answered, "No. Everyone calls me Danny. Doctor, who is Dan?"

Pressing further the doctor asked, "How about his family? Does anyone have a name that sounds close?"

Danny started to answer, but Samantha's anxiety and anger took over as stepped up and said, "He doesn't have any relatives here, okay? We're his team and the closest thing to family he has in New York. Now who the hell is Dan and why do you keep asking?"

The doctor sighed, "It was just a guess. Mr. Malone is very agitated and keeps fighting the nurses and me. His jaw is broken, so we can't be sure what he is saying. But, it sounds like he is asking for someone named Dan. We thought if it was one of you and hoped you could help calm him down. I guess we're wrong. It was worth a shot. I will keep you posted on his progress," he said, turning back toward the emergency room.

Samantha slumped into a chair and held her forehead in her hands while Martin turned his attention back out the window. Danny said, "Thanks. Someone will be right here."

Suddenly, Vivian stood and walked quickly to the doctor. "Wait! Sam? Could he be saying Sam?"

The doctor paused for a brief moment then answered hopefully, "Well, yes. I guess it could be Sam. Again, it is not very clear." Looking directly at Martin he asked, "Are you Sam? If so, we could really use your help."

At first, Martin was confused by the question and just stood there shaking his head no. But then the true meaning of what was unfolding became clear. From the moment Samantha had entered the warehouse and seen Jack was injured, her concern had been only for him.

Even though she had looked directly into his eyes and had seen his injuries, Martin had never gotten a second glance from her. And now, in his battered state clinging to life, the only person Jack wanted was Samantha.

Martin's heart constricted as he watched his admittedly one-sided relationship with Samantha grind to a complete halt in this hospital waiting room. He felt so exposed he glanced quickly to Vivian and Danny, expecting to see the same recognition in their eyes.

Finally turning his attention to Samantha, he met her eyes and tried valiantly to smile as he pointed and said, "She's the one you want. She's the one Jack is calling for. If anyone can help him, she's the one." Then quietly he added, "Go to him. He needs you. You need to be with him."

Samantha stood in awe at Martin's poise, kind heart, and extreme grace under fire. The room was exceedingly still as she moved to him and placed a kiss on his cheek saying, "You are an incredible man, Martin Fitzgerald. You deserve the best. You deserve to be the center of someone's world."

Clearing his throat, the doctor asked, "You're Sam? Umm, okay. Well, please come with me."

Samantha looked him over as she answered, "Yes, my name is Samantha. I'm Sam. What do you want me to do?"

He explained quickly, "Mr. Malone has suffered a tremendous beating. He has serious injuries, but we have not been able to make a full assessment and stabilize him because he keeps fighting us. We have him in restraints. We know his jaw is broken, he has a gunshot wound in his left shoulder, probably some broken ribs, along with numerous lacerations, bruises, and swelling.

What we don't know is the condition of his skull, brain, facial bones, hearing, vision, and the like. We don't want him sedated because we need to see what kind of responses he can give us. The neurologist and reconstructive surgeon are waiting. But, time is of the essence. If he has swelling on the brain, we need to get in there immediately to relieve the pressure. Do you understand?"

Samantha stood motionless as the sea of words bombarded her ears. She felt her head nodding that she understood, but she only heard a few words. Beating. Serious. Restraints. Broken. Gunshot. Brain. Neurologist. Surgeon.

Her mind flashed a series of memorable pictures of Jack before her eyes. She saw him sitting behind his desk late at night, hunched over a pile of reports - face of concentration.

She saw him pouring a glass of wine for her at their favorite Italian restaurant - face of contentment.

She saw him with his pistol drawn chasing a perp down an alley - face of determination.

She saw him after the grueling deposition - face of sad defeat.

She saw him making love to her - face that will never leave her memory.

Fighting the urge to run, she shuffled her trembling legs and asked, "What do you want me to do?"

The doctor hurriedly reached into a supply cabinet and offered her some scrubs. He explained, "We need you to talk to him and try and calm him down. We need him to quit fighting us and respond to our questions as best he can. But I need to warn you; I've never seen anyone beaten so badly. His face is extremely swollen and there is a lot of blood spatter. Are you sure you are up to this?"

Samantha donned the gown and tried to prepare herself for the worse. She thought back to the cadaver exposure training from Quantico thinking that would help de-sensitize her, but realized that was foolish. Those were "just cadavers". This was Jack. The man who had broken her heart, but never left it. The man that in some form or fashion, would probably always be part of her life.

As the doctor opened the door that led to the trauma room, she was suddenly consumed with the fear of losing Jack and froze in place. The doctor tried to urge her forward, but her body refused to move. She started shaking her head saying, "I don't think I can do this." Her voice was small and scared and her vision blurred.

She heard the doctor pleading, "If he could just hear a familiar voice." I can't live without Jack. "Please, it is very important that we hurry." I can't see him vulnerable. "Come on Samantha. You can do this." I love him. "I will be right there with you. Don't be scared." He is my world.

"SAMANTHA!" Danny's voice broke through the haze. "Look at me!" Danny grabbed her by the shoulders and bore into her eyes. "Look at me, girlfriend, and listen to me. Jack needs you right now. He is hurt, alone and confused. You are the only person he is going to trust right now. Now put your fears aside and go be the strong woman and friend that he needs. Go help him Sam. You can do this. We will be waiting right here for you. Okay?"

tbc