Disclaimer: I do not own The Day After Tomorrow or any of the characters.

Author's Note: This is my first The Day After Tomorrow story, and I hope you like it. Please review and let me know how you felt about it. I have several other stories written, and I need to know if I should post them or not! Thanks and enjoy!

Summary: Sam, Brian and JD had been running from the freezing cold of the eye of the super cell. But, instead of them all making it back just fine, Sam breathes in the incredibly cold air, and gets very sick. Laura wakes up to see him dying, but awake, and they share their feelings while the others rest. Will Jack make it to them in time to save his son? PG-13 for mild language and tense scenes

Review Responses: Thank you sooo much to those of you who reviewed…I've never had any reviews right after I posted the story! You are all so nice and I will keep posting for you, especially the ones who review for almost every chapter! You are the ones that always end up helping me make my story better, thanks for all the advice! (Clintronic Waldrop, Maigain, Kelly9, Sarah)

Now onto my next chapter!


CHAPTER7: The Wait

LAURA

As soon as I heard those words leave Brian's mouth, I pulled away from him, holding my arm close to my body to stop the jolting that sent knives up my body. The Helicopter was completely still now, and the others were climbing out carefully. Jack was talking to his son quietly, only allowing him to speak a little.

"Mr. Hall?" I questioned softly, coming up on the opposite side of Sam. He looked up at me, and I saw the tears in his eyes that were fighting to fall. Looking down to Sam, I saw the shadow if pain in his eyes, and my heart leapt to my throat. It hurt to see him in that much pain. "Oh, Sam." I fell to my knees next to him.

He smiled softly at me, and took my hand. My good arm wrapped around his shoulders in a loose hug, not wanting to hurt him more. "Laura…you're…you're hurt," he murmured, his voice gravelly and rough. My lips brushed the back of his hand before I spoke again.

"It doesn't matter. All that matters is that you are still with us, and you can still fight to stay that way until we can get you to a hospital and get you better."

He caressed my check with his free hand, and I held it there, closing my eyes. I tried to will some of my strength to him, so that he could make it to a hospital, but I didn't know if it worked or not. My heart told me that he wasn't going to be able to make it much longer at all.

"Jack?" the man named Jason called from a few feet away. His eyes were grim. "The helicopter needs to refuel, and can't do that without another one coming with it."

Mr. Hall cursed under his breath, and I knew that things were going to start going downhill very quickly from there.

"How long?" Jack questioned sharply.

Jason shook his head unknowingly. "A few hours, or maybe a few days. It all depends on the weather. You know better than anyone how unpredictable she can be right now. We'll just have to pitch out tent and wait it out."

Jack jumped to his feet, startling both Sam and me. I turned to the younger Hall and stroked his hair softly, trying to calm him a little, as Jack spoke with Jason. "Sam doesn't have any time! He can't wait it out! If this damn helicopter doesn't come in the next couple of hours, he will die!"

I stared at Jack for a minute. What was he going on like that for, right in front of Sam?! "Mr. Hall! Relax, please. Don't talk like that, at least not in front of your son. He's sick, and he doesn't need to hear you saying that he will die!"

"Oh, God, you're right. Look, can you stay with him? I need to go talk to this pilot."

I nodded, watching him as he walked away with Jason, talking heatedly to each other. I turned my attention back to Sam, and felt tears fill my eyes. Jack was right; Sam didn't have much more time.

"Laura…he's…right, you know. I…won't be…able...to make it…much longer."

The tears that were fighting to fall finally did, at his words. "No, no. Don't say that. You can fight it; you can stay with us until the other chopper gets here. Sam, you're too young and too special to die. You have done too much for the world to die, it's just not fair." I looked away from him for a moment, unable to get control of my emotions.

"I know, Laura, I know. But…I love you…and that's all…that matters. If I die…I won't feel…like I missed anything…because I know…that I love you…and you know…how I feel."

"But you will miss something, Sam! You would miss us being together, finally. You can't let go. Please, promise me you'll fight to stay with me," I pleaded, crying hysterically. His words terrified me, knowing that he was content and that he wouldn't regret anything if he died. How could he say that, how could he leave me?

"I promise you, Laura, that I will be with you forever and always. I love you too much to leave you. I will try to stay alive as long as I can, but I don't know how much longer that will be." His face was growing dangerously pale, and I knew the talking was sapping him of his strength.

I leaned down and kissed him on his forehead, and then leaned towards his ear. "Get some rest. I'll be right here," I whispered, much like I had done a few nights before.

We held each other's gazes for a moment, before he nodded, and let his eyes drift shut.

"How is he?" a voice asked from behind me. I turned to see Brian and JD standing a few feet away. With a sigh, I stood and faced them. "He's getting a little worse every day that he doesn't get treatment. But he just might make it to see his mother again."

The two guys glanced at Sam with concern in their eyes, and the three of us hugged. "Well, I hope the helicopter gets here soon, I don't see how Sam could wait very long," Brian whispered without letting go of the hug. We stood there, in a small group hug, for a few minutes, before we all watched Sam sleep.


(Sorry this is a little bit shorter than my usual, but I had to stop there lol)