Chapter 3

"Get up slowly." Samson ordered Jamie.

She slowly got up from the floor and stared at Samson. "You don't want to do this. We'll help you, but you gotta put the gun down."

"No, no one can help me now," he said.

"Listen, we can help you. You don't have to do this. Put the gun down," Jamie said slowly. She looked over at her new partner, who had a deep cut on her forehead.

"I didn't do anything to my daughter. She's lying if she said I did."

"She wouldn't tell us who hurt her. Maybe you can help us out. But you gotta put the gun down." Jamie said.

Nicole was starting to come to and before she had a chance to move, Samson turned the gun on her.

"Wha'? What the heck?" Nicole said groggily. "Put that down."

"Why should I trust you? You women are all the same. Always telling me I'm no good and I never do anything right. Well, I've had enough and I'm stopping it right here."

"Wait," Jamie started, "We never said anything like that. All we're asking is that you put the gun down."

"NO!" he screamed. "I'm not listening to either of you."

"Listen, please, your daughter is in the hospital. Don't you want to find the person who hurt her?" Nicole asked finally getting to her feet, finding that her arm was killing her along with her head.

"Who are you to tell me what to do?" He screamed at them, the gun shaking.

Nicole and Jamie didn't like the fact that he was shaking. All it took was a sudden move and one or both of them could be seriously injured. Nicole looked at Jamie and silently told her to grab the gun when she had his attention diverted.

Nicole tried to sit up; it was one of the few things that she could do at this point to get his attention. She just prayed that she wouldn't get shot. She looked him straight in the eyes; "You want to get out of this mess right? Then listen to me, your daughter is in the hospital. And she needs you more then ever right now. A dad that cares, if you put that down, we can get through this; just listen to me," she said hoping that she had his attention.

"My daughter doesn't want anything to do with me. She's right not to want to, I'm a complete failure as a businessman, husband, father, anything I try to do in my life I screw it up." Samson said and started to cry.

Nicole was finally standing, still a little tipsy from the blow she suffered, "You're not a failure, Mr. Samson," She said picking her words carefully, "Your daughter does need you."

Samson turned toward Nicole and pointed the gun at her. Jamie took the opportunity to jump him from behind. She grabbed him around his neck. Nicole moved toward him and he swung his arm back, connecting with her face.

Nicole stumbled backwards trying to catch her balance as Jamie fought her own way with Samson. Samson was still holding his weapon. Nicole fought her balance as she launched herself at Samson.

A man walking his dog stopped outside the house. The door was still open and he could see two women fighting a man. Freaking he pulled out his cell phone and called 9-11.

As Nicole launched at Samson she knocked him back and he fell into Jamie sending them both to the ground. Nicole tried to get the gun from Samson in the process, ripping a few stitches in her arm, but he managed to lift his leg and kick her away from him.

She was flung backwards, with a slight twist. Her forehead connected with the coffee table, for the second time that day. She was out light a light.

As Nicole went down, Jamie made a move toward the gun. Unfortunately, Samson was too quick for her. He turned toward her and took aim, just as she was about to lunge at him he pulled the trigger.

The sound of the gunshot echoed through the house. Samson scared now out of his wits took off running out of the house. The same man that was walking his dog saw this, and took off running after the man. But Samson had to cover his tracks and shot at the man. Hitting him in the leg.

The man went down just as the cops arrived. The four detectives from SVU jumped out of their cars. Elliot and Olivia ran after Samson, while Fin ran into the house and Munch tended to the man on the sidewalk.

As Fin entered the house he saw Nicole unconscious by the door and Jamie bleeding just down the hall. He checked to Nicole and found a pulse so he ran down to Jamie and put pressure on the wound in the right side of her chest. "Hang on, Jamie! You're gonna be okay. Just hang in there." Fin said.

"Shit…" Jamie cursed.

The paramedics arrived and Munch handed off the man to them. Then he jumped up and ran into the house.

As he ran into the house he saw Fin tending to Jamie, making sure there was pressure on the wound. Seeing that, he went to Nicole who was still out of it, "Nicole," he started, "Nic, can you hear me?"

Nicole started to come to and opened her eyes. She looked up at Munch. "Did you get him?"

"No. Elliot and Olivia are after him now." Munch told her.

"Where's Jamie? Is she all right?" Nicole asked trying to sit up but didn't accomplish it.

"Take it easy, sweetie. Jamie was shot. Fin's with her now."

Nicole's eyes went big, now she had to get up, "She was shot?" she asked trying to sit up, but she every time she tried she felt the world spin.

"Nic, take it easy. She'll be okay, just take care of yourself right now, okay?"

"John, I'm fine," Nicole answered, taking a deep breath she looked at Munch, "I am."

"I've heard that before." Munch said and tried to help Nicole up.

Nicole took a deep breath again, "Go help, Jamie, and Fin. I'll take care of myself."

Munch hesitated for a minute and then ran to Jamie and Fin. "How is she?" Munch asked.

"She's lost a lot of blood. Where's the goddamn paramedics?" Fin screamed as they came in the door.

/Chung Chung/

During the trip to the hospital, both girls lost consciousness. Once they got to the hospital, Jamie was rushed to ER for immediate surgery. While Nicole was rushed to trauma.

Fin and Munch sat in the waiting room. Fin looked down at his hands and saw Jamie's blood. He couldn't help thinking back to when she was shot before.

Munch looked at Fin; "She'll be fine." He said trying to comfort his partner.

Fin didn't say anything. He couldn't help thinking that he should have been there to protect her. Munch had similar thoughts going through his own head, he and Fin should have went with them and then maybe this whole thing could have been avoided.

However, the surgery for Jamie was going what the surgeons thought was well. And the doctor that was tending to Nicole was getting her to the CAT scan room, since she was already stitched up. He was sure that she had a concussion, but wanted to make sure.

They wheeled Nicole into the room and placed her on the bed. The doctor started the machine and the bed made its way into the machine. It started to take the X-Ray's of her head.

The surgery for Jamie went simple. They repaired what damage that was done, and figured that there would be no complications in the future for her injury. Other then it will be sore when it rains. Once the surgery was over, the two nurses took her to her hospital room and got her comfy, considering that she was still unconscious like her partner.

Nicole's doctor came out to the waiting room first. He approached Fin and Munch. "Detective Green's in her room. She's got a minor concussion and she tore a few stitches in her arm but she's gonna be fine."

"Can we see her?" Munch asked.

"In a little while. She's still unconscious. When she wakes up I'll take you to see her."

"Thank you." Munch said.

Now it was all but time to wait – Nicole wasn't out of the woods yet, but she was close. However they were still waiting on news from Jamie's doctor. Both men were sitting in the same chairs as when they arrived. Both were still mentally kicking themselves for not going to the house with them.

Minutes later, Jamie's doctor appeared. "Excuse me? Are you here regarding Detective Roenick?" The doctor asked Fin and Munch.

Fin jumped up from his chair. "Is she okay?" Fin asked.

"We stopped the bleeding and removed the bullet. She's in recovering now, but I don't want her having visitor's until tomorrow."

Fin sighed, thank God she was okay, but her really wanted to see her, "Thanks."

"Sure thing." the doctor said and walked away.

Fin looked at Munch and sat back down. Munch had never seen his partner so distraught. Munch knew how he was feeling because in his head he was going nuts about Nicole. All he could hope for was that she'd wake up soon and he could see her.

Both Fin and Munch had similar thoughts. They never wanted either girl to leave their sight. Not after this – not after both girls have been in life threading situations. Sure Jamie was shot and sure Nicole had two bombs that; were about to blow up in their faces. But if both men had their way they would never have to face those things alone again.

TBC…