But it wasn't the man that fired. The man dropped to the ground, and I looked in the direction the noise came from. Sam and the others were running towards us.

I tried to get up, but it felt like my ribs were ripped to pieces, and my lungs were refusing to take in even breathes. All the pain that I had just ignored, came back tenfold. Then Sam was there, pushing me down, "Andy, hey, lay back down. You're okay Andy, just deep breathes." I tried but my lungs just weren't cooperating.

Sam started ripping the Velcro on of my vest. He stuck his hand underneath, and hit where, the mind-blowing pain was. I had been shot before, but this fear didn't exist then, because it was all focused on Sam and whether or not he was dead. Now, all I feel is pain, and panic as to why I couldn't catch my breath.

My eyes focused on the girl. Gail was with her, pressing gauges up against her head Sam called my name, and I looked at him with frightened eyes. "Andy, don't panic. You're okay. The vest absorbed the bullet. I need you to try and take deep breaths. Stay down, don't try to sit up."

Sam turned around. "Traci, how is Oliver?"

Shaw spoke instead of Trace, and he sounded as bad as I felt, "How….do you…think I am….Sammy. I have a damn bullet….pressing into my vest. I'm just dandy…How's McNally?"

Sam turned back to me, and saw that I was sitting up, well, as much as I could with the pain. He quickly pushed me down. My breath was slowly getting back to normal. "She will be if she just stops fighting everything. She took a bullet to the vest, and got the wind knocked out of her."

If I wasn't in so much pain still, I would have rolled my eyes. "I'm fine Sam."

He stared into my eyes. I could see the pain in his eyes from seeing me hurt again.

I stayed quiet after that. I knew Oliver was fine, so I rolled toward the girl who's name I found out was Kate. Gail was still pressing gauges to her head, but I could tell that the girl wouldn't survive this. I grabbed her hand.

EMS arrived, and went to the girl first. They loaded her on a stretcher and then into the ambulance. By this time, I was breathing without as much resistance. I guess Oliver was doing better too because we were both sitting up now. Dov and Chris had found our guns and returned them to us.

Best had arrived a few minutes after the ambulance with Kate in it left. Another one pulled up, and Best ordered Oliver and me to go in it to the hospital. Sam glared at us, me in particular, when we protested. Much to protests, Best ordered us to go anyway.

Before getting in the ambulance, Sam pulled me to the side of the ambulance, and kissed me. After we broke the kiss, he pulled me into a gentle but eager hug, which I melted into. Minutes later, Oliver and I were in the ambulance. Sam was going to follow after he went back to the barn and changed. I knew he wanted to come, but it was impossible since they were already down two cops.

We sat in silence until Oliver broke the silence, "How you doing Andy?"

I shook my head, everything that happened ran through my eyes, and tears came to my eyes. I tried to hold them back but the fell anyway. He whipped them away. I spoke, "I was talking to her, and then she was….." I bent forward, despite the pain. Nausea threatened my stomach. He rubbed my back in support, disregarding his own pain.

I finally sat up, "It my fault, that she was shot, and that you were shot."

Oliver quickly shook his head, "No it wasn't. I don't know why Kate was shot, but it wasn't your fault, and as for me, well I don't know how you can blame yourself. The person who shot us is to blame."

It was my turn to shake my head adamantly, "No, if I hadn't let her cut the line she wouldn't have a bullet in her head. If you didn't need to snap me out of my trance, you wouldn't have gotten shot too."

"Andy, stop blaming yourself. We are both going to be fine. As for Kate, it wasn't your fault so don't blame yourself."

I nod my head in acceptance. What he said makes sense; it just didn't get rid of the guilt I was feeling. Shaw being Shaw tried to cheer me up, "Just think of all the love you'll be getting from Sam now. He has a soft spot for Damsels in distress."

I smiled at that, "Can't wait to tell Sam about that one. I'm sure he would love to hear it."

Oliver scowled, "That's the thanks I get for trying to cheer you up?"

I look at him and give him a serious smile, "Your right, I'll keep that one to myself. Though since you mentioned it, I really don't think there will be much loving going on once he sees that I'm okay. I really wasn't nice to him this morning."

He questioned, "Oh, yeah. Why was that?"

I looked down at my stomach which was currently throbbing with pain, and then I answered, "I don't want him to go to Guns N' Gangs, and he said that he hadn't given them an answer yet, so he must be thinking about it. I don't want to hold him back from something he has wanted since I busted him my first day. I also don't want him to go. I love him, and the fact that he hasn't turned it down yet makes me feel like Sam doesn't want to be with me anymore."

Sam looked wide eyed for a second, and then he looked understanding, "Andy, he didn't give them an answer yet, because Boyd wouldn't let him. They want him to 'sleep on it.' And he was going to tell you about it after shift. He should have realized that with the way gossip is spread at the barn that you would find out way before that.

I looked at him quizzically, "So he's going to turn it down?" Oliver nodded his head, and I asked, "Why? He has been waiting for that the position to open for over a year now."

Oliver looked at me with a 'Are you crazy' look. "Andy, he's in love with you. He wanted that job before, because he didn't have anyone to stick around for. Now he does."

I sighed in relief, then smiled. "Thanks Oliver."

He smiled, then said, "Just don't let me being nice, get around the barn. The last thing I need is Epstein getting all mushy on me, and start talking to me about his feeling."

I laughed and swatted his arm, both of which hurt to do, but I didn't care. Thing were good. Well, they were going to be good. I know I'm in for a long road once my adrenaline stops pumping and my mind start racing faster than it is now. At least, for now, I didn't have to worry about Sam leaving me.