When Jack woke, for a moment he had no idea where he was. Then the lingering aroma of disinfectant and bareness of the walls reminded him exactly where he was. He turned, hoping to see Samantha but she wasn't there. His heart sank. How he had longed to wake up with her at his side again. She must have gone home, he presumed. He wondered what time it was. There was no window in his room and only artificial light filtered in from the nurse's station and corridor. He could see through the blinds that hung on the glass wall that there were people standing talking outside his room. He couldn't make out who they were. He lay there for a while, thankful that the medication was taking the daggers out of the discomfort he was feeling. Using his good arm, he decided to inspect the damage for himself. He removed the sheet that covered him and tentatively raised the hospital gown that protected his modesty. He saw the dressing and the brownish bloodstain that tarnished it. He was tempted to remove it to check out his scar but then thought better of it, maybe when he was feeling a bit better. He noted the yellow and purple of the bruising which adorned his ribs. He tried to figure out how he had come by those and presumed it was from the impact of the explosion.

He couldn't stretch his right arm across to his broken left leg without hurting his stitches, but could feel the weight of the cast on his limb. It dawned on him that he was going to be laid up for a hell of a long time. He hated being sick. He hated missing work, staying at home and trying to fill the days with nothing. His family were hundreds of miles away, most of his friendships had pretty much fizzled out when his marriage did, and his work colleagues would be busy working. He had no one. He had pushed away the one person he truly desired. She was hardly going to want him now he was practically an invalid. She was probably only sticking around out of some misguided sense of loyalty. He hoped that the fact that she was there when he first woke meant that she still had feelings for him.

He was miles away when a tiny innocent voice pulled him back to reality.

"Daddy!" she cried, as she rushed towards him.

"Kate! Hanna!" Jack said, delighted to see his beautiful girls walk through the door. He struggled to raise himself up so that he could hug them. "Hey," he said, acknowledging Maria's presence. He put his uninjured arm around his girls as best he could, grimacing at the effort. Maria was quick to intervene.

"Easy girls, Daddy is still very sore from his operation," she explained touching them both on the shoulder.

"It's okay, Maria," Jack said, not wanting to let them go, pain or no pain.

"You see, Hanna, I told you he was fine," Kate said, turning to her older sister.

"No you didn't. You cried all night because you thought he was dead," Hanna snarled back at her.

"No I didn't!" Kate barked back.

"Did too!"

"Girls, Daddy doesn't want to hear your fighting," Maria said, intervening again. Jack grinned. How he missed the squabbles and sniping of family life.

"Does it hurt, Daddy?" Kate asked, innocently looking at the cage over Jack's leg.

"A little," Jack replied, sparing the truth. "So, tell me, how was your party?" he asked, tossing her hair.

"It was fun but I wish you were there. I got a new High School Musical doll and Mom and Hanna gave me a Super Mario Nintendo game. I have it here. You can borrow it if you like," she offered sweetly.

"Thanks, Katie," Jack smiled. "You'll have to show me how to play it later."

"I will," she replied.

Jack looked over at his elder daughter. She stood back and was reluctant to get close to him. Her quietness disturbed him.

"Hey, Han, are you okay? You're very quiet," Jack commented. She didn't even look at him. "Is there something wrong?"

The child was biting her lip. She was trying her best to hide the tears that were so obviously building in her eyes. Maria and Jack exchanged glances. There was no doubt that the older sibling was hurting.

"Hanna, come here," he said, extending out his arm. Reluctantly she approached him. Jack gestured to Maria for them to be left alone. Maria understood the subtle nod of his head and suggested to Kate that they go and get a soda. Once they had left the room, Jack spoke to Hanna.

"I am okay, Hanna. It may take a few months but then I'll be back to my old self," Jack told her honestly. Her dark eyes met his and the tears began to flow down her cheeks. He patted the mattress beside him, urging her to sit up beside him. She did and he pulled her into a tight one-armed hug. She sobbed into his shoulder.

"I hate your job, Daddy," she cried, much to his surprise. He didn't know what to say. "Why can't you just get a regular job like other people?" she sobbed.

Jack felt the emotions within him build and his eyes filled with tears. He blinked them back, hoping that his little girl would not see how upset he was becoming. Her distress was breaking his heart and he knew it was all his fault.

"I'm sorry, Han," he said, resting his chin on the top of her head. "You shouldn't have to deal with this."

"So, will you stop?" she asked out of the blue. Jack was stunned. Stop, how could he stop? His job was his life. It was the only reason he got up in the morning. He made a difference, he knew that.

"I'm not sure I can," he replied truthfully. He raised his chin from her head and placed his palm gently on her face and turned her towards him. "You know how important my job is. I find missing people. They need me."

"I need you, Daddy. You could have died," Hanna replied sadly.

"I know you do kid. But some day you'll understand why I do this. What happened to me was not part of work. It was beyond my control. I don't take risks, Hanna," he explained, hearing himself saying the words and knowing that they weren't entirely true. He took risks if and when they were warranted. He had never thoroughly considered the toll those risks could have on the lives of his daughters. He tended to forget that his daughters were growing up. They were beginning to understand life and death, especially Hanna. She was a bright kid, he knew that. She would soon be in high school and, like every other kid, struggling with the pressures that came with high school life. The thought that she would be wasting her teenage angst worrying about him, instead of mundane high school matters, gutted him. He had no idea how to assuage her worries. So he just kept his arm protectively around her and held her close.

As he continued to lean towards his daughter, Jack could feel his incision stitches straining uncomfortably but was hesitant to disturb Hanna with that fact. However, after a few minutes of grinning and bearing it, he relented and shifted uncomfortably as he tried to alleviate the pain. Hanna sensed his discomfort and immediately stood up, stepped back and looked at him with a worried expression.

"Daddy, are you okay?" she asked, unsure whether or not to call for assistance.

"I'm fine, Hanna. I'm just sore. I'll be fine once I sit up straight," he told her, winking at her to try and set her mind at ease. She accepted his word and returned to sit beside him. That's the way Maria found them when she and Kate returned with sodas for everyone.

"Are you allowed to have one?" Maria asked her ex-husband.

"Not yet," Jack replied, pointing to the nil by mouth sign over his head, "but thanks."

"Girls, why don't you see if you can find the gift shop?" Maria suggested, handing the girls twenty dollars. They were delighted and as they left the room were eagerly discussing what they should buy.

"Now you can tell me how you really feel, Jack?" she asked, once they had been left alone.

"Honestly, like I've been hit by a truck," he replied candidly.

"What are you going to do, I mean once you get out of here?" Maria asked.

"I hadn't thought that far ahead," Jack replied. "There's always a convalescent home for a few weeks I guess."

"You know, I can't see you enjoying that," Maria commented with a smile, knowing Jack all too well.

"Maybe not," Jack grinned, hating the thoughts of it. "Don't exactly have many options though."

"Well, you can always stay with us in Chicago….until you get back on your feet," Maria offered much to Jack's surprise. Jack hesitated.

"I'm not sure if that would be a good idea, Maria," Jack stammered uncomfortably. "I mean, wouldn't it confuse the girls?"

"Maybe? The offer is there. All you need to do is call," Maria said, not wanting to put any pressure on him.

"Thanks. I appreciate it," Jack replied. The former couple conversed openly for a while until their daughters returned bearing a huge get well card for their father and a cuddly toy.

"His name is Kiddo. He'll be there to hug you when we're not," Kate said, handing him the sandy brown bear.

"Kiddo, eh? He's great. I love him," Jack said enthusiastically, accepting the bear and making a point of putting him under his chin and giving him a big squeeze.

"Okay, girls, time to say goodbye to Daddy," Maria said, noticing how tired Jack looked all of a sudden. "The doctors said he needs lots of rest. We can come and visit again tomorrow before we leave."

Jack's heart sank upon learning that they would be returning to Chicago so soon. Maria noticed how his expression changed all of a sudden.

"I have work," she said apologetically. He smiled feebly, understanding that his ex-wife had commitments. He was surprised that she had even brought his girls to New York but he was hugely grateful. They all gave him a kiss before bidding him farewell.

Once they had left he, rested his head back against the pillows and drew in a deep, exhausted breath. He had never felt so tired in all his life. He closed his eyes and tried to ignore the nagging ache in his gut. It didn't take long until he succumbed to his body's needs and slept.

Samantha watched from afar as Maria and the girls waited for the elevator and left the hospital. She felt glad for Jack's sake that they had come. She knew how much he loved his kids. A visit from them would be worth more to his recovery than any medicine.

She returned to Jack's room once they had left. She popped her head around the door and noticed that he was lying back, looking very relaxed. Quietly she entered the room. It was then that she realised he was sleeping. She looked at the expression on his face as he slept. Much to her relief, the drawn, pained expression that had been evident for the last few days had given way to a much more relaxed and content appearance. Obviously his visitors had done the trick.

She resumed her usual position at his bedside and sat watching him sleep. It had also crossed her mind where Jack would go once he had been released from hospital. He certainly wouldn't be able to look after himself for some time. She sat and tried to get it straight in her head what she wanted ultimately and if there was a way to achieve it. She observed Jack as he slept soundly and hoped that he too wanted what she wanted. They needed to talk.

A/N - next chapter will be lots of Jack/Sam so stick around!! As usual, would love to hear what you think.