To avoid possible confusion, this chapter is from Andy's point of view during her time when she was 'returned' back to Earth and to when Sam falls asleep next to her from the last chapter. Hope that clears any questions up! And sorry for the shorter nature of this chapter, but I wanted to throw it in there. More on the way soon. Happy readings.

Andy was puzzled, extremely so.

Her encounter with Jerry was particularly shocking, but once she had gotten over the fact that she was supposed to be dead, she felt a vacuum like pull, sucking her down back to the world she was familiar with.

At first, she didn't feel anything at all. She couldn't think; she couldn't hear for God's sake. She was blissfully unaware of everything and anything.

But it wasn't long before she started coming to; not under the anesthesia from surgery anymore she reasoned. Only there was a slight problem…

She couldn't move. It was like she didn't have control of her own body. She couldn't even open her eyelids. Everything was still and black, like a thick black blanket was thrown over her and she couldn't sling it off.

Before she started to fully panic, she realized that her ears had started to work again and she could actually hear what was going on all around her. Listening intently, Andy tried to pick up on anything that could be of use to her.

Judging by the constant beeping and whirring of machines, she was still in the hospital. She wondered briefly if that was a good thing. She evidently wasn't dead anymore, but there was obviously something really wrong.

It was then that she heard the squeak of wheels sliding on linoleum floor. On a gurney perhaps? With joy, she started to feel the sway of the gurney as it moved along on its journey. With feeling the gentle swaying, Andy was aware of so much pain scattered all over her body, which, if she could have screamed at this point, she certainly would have. It was unbearable and she wasn't sure how she would survive if it didn't stop this second…

And just as quickly as the feeling had returned to her, it was gone. She could only hear again once more.

Andy wasn't sure which she would prefer. If she could feel, it probably meant she was recovering or at least making progress. But the pain was just far too much; she couldn't handle that, especially if she couldn't alert anyone in the hospital that she was in pain.

Fighting the panic she could feel setting in, Andy tried to concentrate. She thought she heard something…Yes! Voices, sounding like they were coming from above and to the side of her.

"They say she may never wake up," a nurse said in a low voice.

"Such a shame. I know her, too. Andy McNally. She is a cop. Or…was."

The second voice sounded so familiar to Andy and she wondered how this woman knew so much about her. Finally, she was able to place the voice. It was Sam's ex girlfriend. The petite blonde she had ran into not too long ago at the hospital when she and Gail had brought in a young teenager.

Then Andy realized the enormity of what these two women were saying. They claimed that Andy was never going to wake up again. How is that possible when her brain at the very least was functioning enough to have conscious and rational thought?

I'm right here! She tried yelling, but it was as if the hardwire from her brain to her mouth was malfunctioning.

It was a long trip before they finally wheeled to a stop. Andy was experiencing bouts of feeling all over her body which once again engulfed her body in pain. She tried to reach past the pain, to see what else she was feeling whenever this happened.

Andy could feel when she was transported from the gurney to a bed with scratchy, rough sheets, presumably in a room to herself. One of the nurses fiddled with something by her left side and then she was alone, or so she assumed because all noise stopped besides the constant beeping of the machines by her bedside. She lost feeling again. Suddenly, she felt unbelievably tired.

Briefly, as she was slipping into a further unconscious state, she realized the nurse must have shot her IV with pain meds. Whatever it was, it was great because she couldn't feel a thing. She could barely think. Within minutes, she was out, delving farther into the depths of the dark…

Andy was awake again. Only it was still the semi-conscious state that she was in before. She could hear and luckily, she could feel and it wasn't all pain.

Groggy, she started becoming more aware of her surroundings again.

Hello? Is anyone there?

Suddenly, she heard footsteps. They were hesitant at best, but still, they crept closer. It was a few moments before she felt someone take her hand and she instantly calmed, figuring this wasn't someone who wanted to hurt her.

"Andy."

It was soft, more like a breath of air being forced out of someone's body, but she heard her name. And she could tell that it was Sam. Her beloved Sam.

Sam, thank God you're here! It's been a crazy day. Understatement of the year.

When Sam didn't reply, Andy sadly realized that she was still unable to be heard. If she could have cried or screamed in frustration, she would have. She tried with all her might to squeeze Sam's hand.

She felt his hand tighten and for a fleeting moment, she thought he might have responded to her, but then she felt a cold drop of water slide down her hand and she realized he was crying. He was overcome with emotion, but she had not been able to squeeze his hand. She felt him come closer and press his lips to the back of her hand. His lips were so soft.

"I love you so much. I'm sorry I wasn't there when you needed me most."

Please Sam. Don't blame yourself. There is no way that any of this is your fault. I'm just glad youweren't in the building when it happened.

Andy kept trying to talk, feeling like one of these times, it would work. Plus, talking to Sam, even if it was more one-sided than not, made her feel better. Helped her to think more clearly.

"You need to wake up now, my love…"

Andy heard his voice break at the end, nearly causing her heart to do the same thing.

Wow, you never call me that. Things must be serious. She always tried humor when she was uncomfortable and didn't know what to do.

"So, the police and firefighters don't think the explosion was an accident."

Andy liked how he kept talking to her, even though she couldn't answer. He was talking to her instead of at her, which she appreciated as well.

Not an accident? What else could it be…?

"I promise Andy, I will find out who did this and I will make them pay."

No Sam! Don't you dare put yourself in harm's way! I will find a way back to you, I promise. Just…don't do anything stupid. That's usually my job.

In the back of her mind though, Andy knew that Sam would stop at nothing to find out the bastard who did this.

All of a sudden, she heard the metal bed frame squeak and bend under Sam's weight and then he was by her side, curling around her body like they did back at home. He was her protector and she wouldn't have it any other way.

She sighed as he brushed her hair back from her face. Her scalp felt colder than usual on one side, but in Sam's arms, she didn't think about anything else.

Andy knew this would be the perfect time to try and let Sam know that she could hear and process thought.

But the warmth of his body permeated even through the thin sheets that covered her body. It was comforting; the most comfort she had received all day.

Once again, she succumbed to sleep, hoping that tomorrow she would wake up and this would all just be a scary dream.