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 all keep me posting often, and there are a few reviews that I wanted to comment on:

Clintronic Waldrop: Again, thank you so much for the helpful tips! They mean so much to me and help me a lot!

Kelly9: lol thanks for letting me know what I'm doing well, I'll try to keep it that well, please let me know if I start to do worse lol thanks so much! (I cant tell you what's going to happen to Sam but I warn you it's going to be intense…or at least, I hope it'll come off that way…)

Maigain: Hehehe…I can't tell you if I will keep him or not…::evil laugh::

Sorry it took me so long to update, but here's your next chapter I hope you all like it!!


CHATPER 8: Will They Make It In Time?

JD

I glanced at Laura and then Brian, then finally Sam. It was so odd, seeing him so sick after getting used to him being in control and helping us out. He was extremely pale, and his lips were blue. Just by watching his breathing I could see that he didn't have much time. The three of us were sitting around him, trying to keep him as warm as possible while Mr. Hall talked to the pilot to try to figure out the quickest way to get us to Mexico.

"So, Brian, what was the worst trouble you ever got into in your lifetime?" I questioned suddenly, wanting to break the awkward silence and get everyone's mind off the fear and worry for Sam. It was very draining spending all of our time thinking about how if we didn't get him somewhere fast he would die.

Both Brian's and Laura's heads snapped up, shock in their eyes. I smiled wearily.

BRIAN/

I thought hard about JD's question, knowing his intent and silently thanking him. I had to get my mind off the possibilities that were forming in my head. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Laura glance at Sam, and start to smile, deep in memory. Instantly I knew what she was thinking of.

"The worst trouble I've ever been in was about three years ago, the end of our freshman year. We…Sam and I…were staying after school, and a bunch of bullies came over and started to hassle us. We were running from them, quite easily outwitting them. That is, until we ran right into the display statue, knocking it down and breaking it to pieces. We were suspended for two days. So the time he stuck up for Laura wasn't the only time Sam ever got in trouble at school. It was my only time. But I can tell you, my parents made certain that I didn't sit for those two days, that's for sure." When I finished, I looked down at my best friend and smiled at the memory. JD and Laura were both snickering also.


LAURA

Listening to Brian tell the story that I remembered so well yet had completely forgotten for the longest time, I couldn't help but smile. It was good to hear about the fun times, rather than worry and fret about the bad times that may still come. I watched Brian for a moment, who was looking down at Sam, lost in thought.

" Sam will make it, right?" I asked, with uncertainty threaded in each word. With a sigh, I realized that I had just ruined the happy mood that we had for a fleeting moment. It is hard to stay happy for long when your best friend is dying I thought to myself.

"Yes, he has to. He has too much to live for; too much he still has to do. I mean, what kind of world takes the ones that save so many people?" Brian voiced softly. Tears filled my eyes, not wanting to say what I was thinking.

"The kind of damned world that we live in. An unfair one," JD muttered. I looked over to him, and saw the pain and confusion in his eyes. He hadn't even known Sam for long, and he seemed to be very saddened and upset by Sam's worsening state. It seemed almost like he had known him as long as Brian and I had.

"If Sam doesn't make it, I don't think I'll know what to do anymore," I whispered. Brian put a comforting hand on my shoulder, and I felt him shaking, whether from the cold or from the frustration I wasn't sure. The gesture was enough to break down anything that I had that was stopping the tears from falling, and I fell into him a little, letting them go.

"Everything will be okay," JD comforted, moving over a little and rubbing my back. I didn't quite believe him, and it seemed like he didn't either.


JACK

The pilot of the helicopter was talking over his radio to another pilot that was on his way from Mexico, so I turned and looked out in the direction of my son and his friends. Laura and Brian were hugging, Laura's body shuddering with sobs, and JD was rubbing her back comfortingly. The two young men had sullen, defeated looks on their faces. In front of them was the still form of Sam. I dropped the bag that was over my shoulder and ran over to them, fearing the worst.

"What is it, is he okay, did something else happen?" I questioned frantically. The three of them looked up at me, slightly surprised, and one by one, shook their heads slowly.

"No…no nothing has changed Mr. Hall," Laura responded softly first.

"Well, besides the fact that he's running out of time," Brian added. "What is going on with the helicopters?"

"There is another one from Mexico on its way, it should be here within the hour. We're going to leave the other chopper here. We don't have time to refuel this one. We're all going to fly in one copter. Where are the others? They need to be ready in case the other one gets here soon."

JD looked around, and pointed out to the left of us. I looked that way, and saw about five people and a dog sitting close to each other and talking. With a final glance to the four young people before me, I headed over to them.

"Mr. Hall, what is going on?" a young woman asked. The others looked up at me also, hope in their eyes.

"The helicopter is on its way, we'll be going to Mexico shortly."

"How is Sam?" an older black man questioned, holding his dog close to keep it warm.

"Not well, he needs to get to a hospital soon," I replied.

The group looked at each other for a moment, then a woman stood and took my hand. "Your son saved our lives. All of us would be dead if it wasn't for him. Thank you so much, for your help as well. You are both amazing people."

I was a bit caught off-guard with her comment, but I smiled a little bit, comforted knowing that these people cared about my son also. Nothing else mattered to me at the moment aside from getting these people, especially my son, to safety. Laura also needed some medical attention, as her leg as well as her arm were badly injured.

"Mr. Hall! Mr. Hall!" JD called from where he and Laura and Brian were now standing, looking out towards the ocean-or where the ocean was supposed to be. "The helicopter is here!"

I looked up to the sky, and sure enough, a black helicopter was making its way down towards us. I turned and motioned for the others to follow, and we all moved over to where the helicopter was landing.

"Laura, Brian, JD, could you please carefully lift Sam into the copter? I have to go get Jason and the other pilot." The three of them nodded, so I turned and ran back to the other helicopter to get the two men.

Shortly, we were all in the air and making our way back to Mexico City, and the US Embassy. I watched Sam closely, seeing his skin turn even more milky-white. Laura was at his side, holding his hand and whispering for him to hold on.

"Will we make it back in time, Mr. Hall? For Sam, I mean?" Brian asked softly. I turned to him, trying to smile, but I couldn't. Not when my son was slipping away, and I had not gotten the chance to really get to know him, or spend some real quality time with him. I wanted to tell him how proud of him that I was, and how sorry I was for not being a good father to him.

"I honestly don't know, Brian, I hope so. But I just don't know."


(Again, I am soooo sorry for taking so long to post more!! I will try to post more often again!!)