CHAPTER 2

Viv looked over for the first time at the unconscious teenager lying close to them. She decided that it would be prudent to secure him in case he woke up, so she left Jack's side momentarily. She rolled the boy onto his stomach and put his hands behind his back. Then she removed her handcuffs from her belt and cuffed him. She ran and picked up his weapon, which had slid further down the hall, before returning to Jack and re-applying the pressure to his wound. She looked helplessly around, praying for a miracle. Slowly and cautiously, people began to filter by them, passing the downed agent, turning away from the sight of his blood. Students and teachers alike were dazed and scared as they made their escape.

Against the flow of people, a lone police officer climbed the stairs towards them, his weapon drawn. He ordered all those he met to remain calm and to get outside. He stopped at the top of the stairs when he saw the blood-soaked agents and the unconscious teenager. Viv reached for her ID.

"FBI," she shouted as he approached. "That's the shooter," she told him, pointing to Pearson.

The officer looked down at Jack, who had since lost consciousness.

"How bad?" he asked, half knowing the answer from what he could see.

"I can't stop the bleeding," she replied, shaking her head. "Where are the paramedics?"

"They won't send them in until the area is secured," he told her.

"The area is secure! He secured it and he's paying the price. Tell them to get in here now!" Viv shouted, looking down desperately at Jack.

"They'll want to do a sweep of the area to be sure he was acting alone, you know the drill. I'll help you take him out," the officer offered.

"What about the kid?" Viv asked, reminding him of the perpetrator.

"Oh, yeah. Hey, you! Come here!" the officer yelled at a burly looking teacher who was skulking by. "Give us a hand over here."

The teacher, Mr. Jenkins, reluctantly turned around and joined the group.

"Okay, Let's get him up," he said, helping Viv and the teacher lift Jack. They each took one arm around their necks and carried him, his feet dragging behind him. The officer remained with Pearson, calling his superiors and informing them that the suspect was down and that he needed backup on the second floor. He also advised them to have paramedics on standby, that there was an FBI agent seriously wounded and on his way out to them.

As Viv and Jenkins reached the main entrance, they could see the flashing red and blue lights and hear the commotion outside. As they emerged, two paramedics ran to them, one pushing a gurney. Viv and Jenkins gratefully lay Jack on the gurney and allowed the paramedics to take over. They quickly wheeled him away from the school building back to their ambulance. As the paramedics examined Jack, Viv thanked Mr. Jenkins and then shakily sat down on the curb. She looked down at her hands, which were covered in Jack's blood. It was then that the shock of the events hit her and she hung her head and started to cry. She wondered how everything had gone so horribly wrong, so quickly.

She raised her head and watched helplessly as the paramedics worked feverishly on Jack. One of them had started an IV and was pushing fluids into him. The other was using pressure pads to try and stem the blood flow. As she looked on, a shadow descended over her as another paramedic approached her.

"Are you hurt, M'am?" he asked, noticing the blood on her hands and her clothes.

Viv never took her eyes off Jack. She shook her head,

"I'm okay," she said, eventually getting to her feet as the paramedics started to load Jack into the back of the ambulance. "I'm going to ride with him," Viv said with determination.

The paramedics didn't argue and she climbed in, quickly followed by one of the paramedics. The door was slammed shut and with several blasts of the siren, they were underway. As they sped towards the hospital, Jack's cell phone started to ring. Viv reached and took it out of his pocket. Looking at the display, she could see it was Samantha. She wasn't sure whether to answer it or not. She didn't know how to tell Samantha but she knew she had to.

"Jack?" Samantha said as soon as she answered.

"Sam, it's Viv," Viv answered.

"Oh, Viv, I just saw the news. Where's Jack" Sam asked.

"Sam, Jack's been shot," Viv said seriously.

"What? Oh my God! How bad?" Sam asked.

"It's serious, Sam. We're on our way to St. Luke's as I speak," Viv told her.

"St. Luke's. I'll meet you there," Sam said, hanging up the phone.

Martin couldn't help but notice Samantha pale as they sat in the car on the way back to the office. On hearing her conversation, he knew something was wrong.

"What is it, Sam?" he asked as soon as she hung up.

Sam sat there, shaking her head. This couldn't be happening again. She flashed back to 6 months ago. She wasn't sure if she could go through it again. She couldn't help but start to cry. Martin looked on, his anxiety growing.

"Sam, talk to me. What's happened?" he demanded.

She turned to him with tear-filled eyes and told him that Jack had been shot. She asked him to take her to St. Luke's Hospital. He turned the car and headed in that direction.

"I can't believe this is happening," she said forlornly. "I've just got him back, Martin. I can't lose him now."

"I didn't realise that you two were…." Martin started. "That would explain why you've been walking around on cloud nine lately."

Sam smiled a heartbroken smile, but tears glistened in her eyes.

"Don't worry, Sam. Jack's as tough as they come. He'll be okay," Martin said, trying to console her.

His words, however, offered little in the way of comfort. Sam knew how much Jack's previous injury had taken out of him. She had been there for the pain, the rehab, the nightmares and the counselling. He was only beginning to get over what had happened to him. How much more can he take, she wondered.

Thirty minutes later they pulled up outside the hospital. Police tried to keep the scrum of media from entering the overwhelmed ER. Martin and Sam pulled their badges as they passed the police cordon. The Emergency Room was thronged with people. It had been receiving casualties from Jefferson High for the last half hour and medical staff were scurrying around trying to look after everyone. Martin scanned the area and was relieved to see Vivian pacing along one hallway. When she turned, Sam balked at the amount of blood staining her clothing. She knew it had to be Jack's blood. Vivian stopped dead when she saw Sam and Martin. Sam looked her in the eye.

"Is he dead?" she asked outright, fearing that it was the case. Viv shook her head.

"They're still working on him," she said calmly.

"Where is he? I need to see him," Sam demanded.

"In there," Viv said, indicating a Trauma Room further down the hall.

Samantha took off towards the Trauma Room. With that, Vivian broke down, the stress of the last few hours catching up with her. Martin grabbed her and hugged her tightly. Viv thanked him and composed herself quickly.

"Go with her," Viv said to Martin. "I think she'll need you."

Martin agreed and followed Samantha. As Viv stood alone in the hallway once more, she saw a familiar figure approaching her. It was her husband, Marcus. She was never so glad to see anyone.

At the Trauma Room, a nurse stopped Samantha from entering, much to her frustration. She pleaded and shouted, calling to Jack.

"An OR has opened up, so they're getting ready to move him," the nurse told her.

As Sam stood listening to the nurse, the door of the Trauma Room suddenly burst open and a gurney surrounded by medical personnel was whisked past her towards the elevator. She hurried after it, straining to see Jack. From what she could see, he looked desperately ill as he lay there, his chest bare except for the blood-soaked bandages covering his wounds. She managed to grab a hold of his hand as she caught up with them and she squeezed through the doctors trotting alongside the gurney. She leaned towards him and spoke to him.

"Please come back to me, Jack," she pleaded. "I love you."

Martin followed the group. When they reached the elevator, a doctor told Samantha that she couldn't come any further. She still clung to Jack's hand, afraid to let go, fearing it might be the last time she got to hold him. Martin interceded and coaxed her to let go and let the doctors do their job. As soon as she released Jack's hand and the elevator doors closed, she turned towards Martin and burst out crying as it all became too much for her. Martin tried his best to comfort her and managed to get her to a seat. Sam soon composed herself, realising that she had to pull herself together. She tried to convince herself to remain positive, but it was hard. She had seen the extent of Jack's injuries and wondered how he had survived at all.

Marcus had insisted that Vivian go home with him, at least for a while. As Martin and Sam sat waiting for news, Danny and Elena arrived. They were anxious to know how Jack was. Martin told him all that he knew. Needless to say, Danny and Elena were extremely concerned. They sat for hours, watching as one gurney after another of injured students or teachers was taken by elevator to the surgical floor. Sadly, several other gurneys passed them with white sheets covering the dead, on their way to the medical examiner. Samantha only then fully realised the horror of what had happened in the school. She grew thankful that at least Jack was alive. At least he had a chance.

After a few hours, Sam looked at her watch. She realised that it was almost time for her to pick Finn up from the babysitter's. She wanted to stay and be with Jack. She knew if she called Thelma, her sitter, that she would take Finn under the circumstances. She walked to a quieter area of the waiting area and made the call. Then she returned to wait with the others.

TBC