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 motivate me so much! Thank you!!

And now, onto the next chapter!!


CHAPTER 9:Too Busy…

LAURA

As soon as we reached Mexico, about five hours later, we took Sam to the hospital. It was one of the only buildings around. It seemed as though all of the tents had been pitched around it to make a large camp.

As we headed towards the Emergency Room, where Mrs. Hall would be waiting for us as well, I looked around at the different tents, of many sizes. People were running around in frenzy, many in tears. Seeing the chaos that had become of the people of the United States made me realize just how lucky we were to all be alive. Well, almost alive, I thought grimly to myself. Many people had lost their loved ones to the bitter cold.

"Laura…" Brian called from a few feet behind me. I turned around, to see the fear and worry on his face. I stopped and walked back to him, concerned.

"What's wrong, Brian?"

"What…about…our families?" His words hit me hard. Our families had been in Washington DC, several hours from where we had been in New York. Would they have made it alive? Would they be okay?

"Oh, God…I didn't think of that. Mr. Hall! Mr. Hall!" I called, not wanting to delay his getting Sam to help but needing to know about my family. I jogged up next to him, keeping up with his fast pace and glancing every so often to Sam, and feeling a pang of worry flood through me every time.

"Yes Laura, what is it?" Mr. Hall turned to me, his eyes slightly concerned. I knew that he was trying to seem compassionate, but I also knew that it was hard for him when he was worrying that his son was going to die in his arms.

"Do you know what happened to our families, or where we can find out?"

"If they were in Washington DC, they made it out fine. Everyone was evacuated from the city long before the storms hit there, so they are probably here or on their way. Why don't you and Brian and the others go find your families, I'll contact you if anything changes."

I shook my head vigorously; not wanting to leave Sam's side now that I knew my family was fine. "No, I want to be with him, I promised him I wouldn't leave his side. I don't want to let him down when he wakes up. I'm going to tell Brian about his family, thank you so much Mr. Hall."

I turned and ran back to Brian, who had apparently started to follow us again at a distance. It seemed as though everyone else had gone off to find any loved ones that had survived the storm. He held my gaze with panic flaring in his eyes, until I smiled. Then, he pulled me into a hug and let out a shuddering breath. "They're okay, they're okay, aren't they?" His question seemed more like a statement, but I answered him anyway.

"They're fine. They are either already here or on their way." We pulled back after a moment, and I continued, smiling. "You can go find them if you want to, I'll let you know-"

"No, I'm not leaving Sam. He's my best friend and I need to know that he's okay. My family isn't dying, they can wait." We smiled at each other sadly, before taking off at a trot after Jack and Jason. By the time we reached them, the two men had carried Sam on his makeshift backboard to the admission desk.

"I need to see Dr. Lucy Hall right away," Jack insisted. The woman told him that she was not working there, but she had been sent to an empty waiting room to wait for them. They were extremely backed up with all of the people flooding in after the disaster.

"Come on, Jack, we need to get him to Lucy, see if she can do anything for him while we wait," Jason urged, pulling his friend towards the waiting room.

As soon as Jack stepped foot into the room, Mrs. Hall had run over to them, crying. "Oh, my God, Jack, what happened to him?!"

"He…he took in a lungful of the super-cold air. He needs a doctor. Now. He doesn't have much time left, Lucy. I am going to go find a doctor who will help him." Jack took his wife's hands in his, and kissed them. "I won't let Sam die." With that, he ran out of the room. Jason and, surprisingly, JD followed him, and I wondered what my friend was up to.

"Oh, Sam, please hold on, we'll be back," Lucy said, glancing at me. I could see the conflict in her eyes, and knew that she was going to follow her husband. I knew how hard it was to leave her son's side, but I could see how much she wanted to make sure that there was a doctor for him as well.

"Brian and I will watch him. Go, Mrs. Hall, he'll be safe with us I promise. If anything changes we'll find you."

Lucy came up to me and hugged me tightly, pulling back and holding my gaze. Tears glistened in her eyes. "Thank you, Laura." She turned to Brian and thanked him too, before she turned and walked off.

"God, I hope he will be okay. He doesn't look like he can make it much longer, Laura. I hate to admit it, but I can see it in your eyes that you know I'm right."

I glared at Brian for a moment, wanting to hate him for what he was saying. But I couldn't. I knew too well that he was right. Sam was dying right before our eyes, and we were helpless to do anything for him. "I know, Brian. I hate it, but I know."

We hugged for a moment, until a small sound came from in front of us. I jerked back, and stared at Sam's still body…only it was no longer completely still. His eyes fluttered, and he groaned softly again.

"Sam!" I cried, kneeling down next to him, brushing some hair out of his face comfortingly. "I'm here, baby, I'm here. Brian's here, too. Hold on, just a little while longer, okay? Please."

He looked up into my eyes, his filled with pain and struggle. He reached for my hand, shaking and weak. A tear slipped from my eyes. He looked so defeated, so close to giving up. "I…I love you…" he murmured. My eyes widened, and I shook my head. Brian's hand rested on my shoulder comfortingly.

"No…no you…you fight it…you stay with me! STAY WITH ME, DAMNIT!" I nearly yelled, tears falling freely. "I love you, I can't lose you, Sam. I need you."

"C'mon, man, stay with us just a little longer, your mom and dad are looking for help now," Brian pleaded, while I caressed Sam's clammy cheek with the backs of my fingers. He kissed them, and then closed his eyes slowly, his body growing limp once more.

"Oh, God, Brian, what if he doesn't make it? What are we going to do?!" I questioned hysterically. He pulled me close, both of us shaking with sobs. I prayed that his parents would get back quickly with help, before it was too late.