Thank you for your continued support! I love each and every review. There's one more chapter left, so make sure to tell me what you think. (Sorry about the few day wait!)

By the time Wordy got to his home, it was close to six. He should have known before he pulled into the driveway that Shelley would be awake. The phone call had woken them both, and as Wordy grabbed his coat and got out of the car he questioned whether or not she had gone back to bed. The lights on the first floor of the house indicated she had been up for more than just a few minutes.

"Shell, you up?" he still whispered when he entered through the front door to get an indication of where she was, but not wanting to wake the girls.

She appeared in the doorway to the kitchen. Her hair was ruffled and the dark circles under her eyes, probably mirroring his own, was the answer to his previous question. "Are they alright?"

Wordy did not answer right away. He pulled Shelley into a hug and breathed the scent of her hair. She would have demanded to go to the hospital as well if not for the kids. She had known Ed for almost as long as he had.

He took a step back before speaking. "Ed's doing as well as could be. I just dropped him off at his place. Sam was shot, but he woke up before we left."

Shelley both relaxed and tensed at his words. She closed the distance between them and wrapped her arms around him. Her words were muffled by his chest. "How are you?"

Wordy shrugged. Although Shelley could not see this, he knew she felt the movement. "It's been a long night." He repeated Ed's words from earlier.

"The girls are still asleep. I was about to have some coffee." Her statement was a question as she held his hand, moving back to the kitchen. Her steady hands gripped two ceramic mugs. Even as she shifted to pour the coffee, Wordy kept in close proximity. Shelley always had a cloud of serenity around her, or at least to him. Just being home made the situation better.

It had been a challenging night. When Spike had called him, the information he offered was close to nothing. Spike was a charged person, and his monotone voice described more of the severity of the call than the actual words. He had relayed what he knew to Shelley before getting dressed in a haste and moving to the door.

He had known Ed for twenty years. He was their team leader. He was a friend. He didn't think too much of it on the drive to the hospital, but that was a difficult task. It had gotten easier in some ways when he saw Ed with his own eyes.

He had seen worse than the bruising that colored his jaw. That's not what had him concerned. It was the way Ed responded, the look in his eyes. He knew Ed. He had an idea of what was running through his head after the Boss had filled him in of what had happened. Ed was team leader and he felt responsible for his team on and off the clock.

He seemed marginally better when Wordy watched him enter his house, but things would improve when he was with his family. Family always made things better. Just like Shelley was doing now, just sitting across from the counter from him, two cups of coffee in hand.

It felt like the first time of the night that he managed a genuine smile taking the cup from her.

"Ms. Walker from next door said she'd watch the girls if we wanted to go back up to see Sam," Shelley offered.

And with those words, she struck the one thing that concerned him just as much as Ed's guilt. He might have escaped mostly unscathed, but Sam had not. He needed to bring Ed home, but he was torn as he left the hospital without seeing his teammate.

He had made the choice to leave with Ed because that was where he could make a difference. But just as seeing Ed helped him calm, there was a part of him that would not relax until he saw Sam so he could be reassured that he was alright, or going to be.

Sam was tough. He had been through more than Wordy could imagine some days. He had killed his best friend, been to war, lived a life very different from his own. Wordy had no doubt that Sam would get through this before his body even healed. He knew that Ed would get through it as well, but he was going to have to put more effort into it. He would have to admit that there was nothing he could have done, which was a challenge for Ed.

Before he had chosen to drive Ed home because that was something he could do to make a difference. Now he was doing the same thing by visiting Sam. If he was awake, he needed his team. If he wasn't, then at least Wordy could relax knowing that he was in good hands.

"She said as soon as she finished her walk she'd be over," Shelley continued. Robin Walker, the neighbor Shelley had been referring to walked three miles every morning at five. She finished sometime after six, before seven. Shelley must have caught her before she left today, anticipating the moment.

Wordy gave his wife a smile. "You're the best."

He stood up and hugged her once more before moving upstairs to change out of the rumpled and disorganized clothes he had thrown on in the morning, replacing it with something to make him appear a little more put together in case he did see Sam. Shelley did the same, covering the dark circles with make-up and looking no worse for wear when she finished. Wordy didn't like to think about how she acquired her skills at covering things up with the make-up.

Ms. Walker knocked on the door at half-past six. Her wispy, white hair was pulled back in a headband and she still wore her exercise outfit, indicating how quickly she had come over. Shelley did her best to make nice with the neighbors, and Wordy tried as well when he was at home.

The girls were used to Ms. Walker. She babysat them from time to time with no kids of her own around. Wordy started the car while Shelley spoke to her for just a moment before getting into the car herself. It finally looked like morning outside with the sun, still not visible, illuminating the sky.

Maybe it was because of this light that the drive to the hospital for a second time that night was a hundred times easier. It could have been his wife in the car or the fact that he knew what he was getting into this time. Whereas last time he had been in the dark, there was little new information waiting for him at the hospital, or so he thought.

Wordy was calmer as he parked the car and entered with Shelley at his side. He had left before the hospital set Sam up into a room and he was not sure where his teammate was. He approached the desk and the nurse there directed him to room 305.

It was a bit of a trek on the third floor of the hospital. He signed the two of them into the visitor log. Above his name was Greg Parker, who hadn't signed out yet. Any regrets about coming up here were dismissed with the idea that Sarge had been waiting for someone to take his place.

When the two of them turned the corner, the Boss was standing to the side of a door looking worse than Wordy had seen him in a while. "Hey Sarge," he said, patting his boss on the shoulder when he was within an arm's reach.

"How are you doing, Greg?" Shelley asked giving him a hug. "Is everything alright?"

The Boss gave a weary smile. "Sam's with a nurse right now. He's awake."

"And you?" Wordy said.

"I'm a lot better knowing my team is safe."

The door to Sam's room opened and a pretty nurse stepped out, jumping when she saw the three of them. She looked at Sarge when she spoke. "I would ask that he had no visitors. But instead I'm going to ask you to make sure he gets some rest, and I'll let you stay." She looked warily at the other two.

"I promise we won't bother him too long," Wordy said.

The nurse looked appeased at this, leaving to go check on other patients. As soon as she was down the hall, Sarge looked to him. "Go talk to him. We'll stay out here for a bit."

Wordy appreciated the privacy. He wasn't trying to limit Shelley and the Boss's time with Sam, but he appreciated the moment to gage how to prepare his wife to see Sam and to prepare himself.

He pulled the heavy door open and entered the room. It was a double room two beds placed perpendicular to the door. One of the beds was empty. Sam was on the other.

"How are you feelin'?" Wordy asked upon seeing Sam's eyes were open.

Sam tried a grin, even though it fell short. "Like I've been shot." He wheezed.

He looked like he had been more than shot. He looked like he had been hit by a bus. His face was ashen. He hadn't lifted his head in greeting, showing how exhausted he was. There was an oxygen cannula running under his nose and before Sam could awkwardly pull the blanket up further with an IV in his hand, Wordy saw the chest tube and heavy bandages. Wordy stepped closer and helped Sam move the blanket into position. The move was hauntingly similar to tucking one of his daughters into bed.

Sam sank back further into the pillows after he finished the simple task looking like he had just chased down a subject. His breathing was as if he had. "Have you seen Ed?" he asked after a moment to collect his breath.

Wordy cocked his head. "I drove him home last night."

He left it there for Sam to elaborate on why he asked the question. When he didn't at first, Wordy opened his mouth to prompt him. Sam spoke before he could get a word out.

"I need to talk to him."

This didn't answer many questions that ran through his head. Once again, before he could ask them Sam began to speak. The pain killers he was on made him more verbose than usual.

"About last night. I need to talk to him."

The way Sam allowed his head to listless fall to the side on his pillow made Wordy uncomfortable. He had expected seeing Sam would lift his mood. He knew that his teammate would recover, but it looked like a long road from where he was standing. Wordy took pity on him. "I'm sure he'll come visit as soon as he gets up."

Wordy didn't believe his own words. He knew Ed like a brother. He knew that there was no possible way he had slept after that night. And if he had, there was no way he hadn't woken up when it was nearing eight o'clock. Even if he had slept in, Sophie would be up by now and she would have seen the bruising. He was up, but his phone had not indicated him trying to get in contact with Wordy.

Wordy looked from his phone back to Sam when he hadn't responded. His closed eyes and slightly more even breathing told the story. He must have been on some pretty serious medication. Wordy had been shot with a vest on and he knew how much that hurt, he was glad Sam had something to take the edge off.

He stayed standing for only minute longer before heading back out into the hall. Shelley and the Boss had moved into a neighboring bench and were speaking in whispered tones. They looked up when he approached. "Have you talked to Ed today yet?"

Sarge frowned. "I'm sure he just needs some time to unwind."

While Wordy might have agreed about any other person, he couldn't see Ed to be the type of person to stay home and hide from his problems, particularly ones that involved his team. He had half been expecting him to be present when he showed up at the hospital today.

But even though he did not agree, Wordy gave a nod. "I'm sure," he said under his breath.

He could feel Shelley's penetrating eyes before he even looked up. "Why don't you give him a call?"

Wordy was growing apprehensive about his friend. It was unlike him to stay home. He must have read his mindset wrong last night. He knew that Ed was feeling guilty, but too guilty to come back to the hospital? He didn't ask for permission before he headed to a more private area of the building to give Ed a call without disturbing any patients, even if he only had one patient in mind at the moment.

He passed the elevators and walked down a hall before he entered an empty room with vending machines and tables. There he dialed Ed's number and held the phone to his ear, listening to the ring as the call went through.

Ed picked up on the forth ring. "Is Sam aright?"

Wordy herd an underlying panic, one that was disguised by the gruffness of his voice. It was natural to assume that was there was something wrong for him to be calling. "He's doing fine. What are you doing right now?"

There was a pause before Ed responded. "I told you yesterday, I'm alright."

He had interpreted the call as Wordy trying to check up on him, which was partially true. "Sam's been asking for you. It was the only thing he said to me before he fell asleep."

"I'll be up there soon."

Phone conversations were difficult for this reason. Wordy tried to hear the quality of Ed's voice when he responded, but the sound wasn't clear enough to hear the subtle changes in pitch that would show the thought behind Ed's words.

"Do you need a ride?" In the chaos of yesterday, Ed's car remained in front of the store assuming it hadn't been towed.

"I'll manage."

Wordy rolled his eyes. "I'll be there in fifteen."

He hung up the phone before Ed could argue. Most of the time Ed's stubborn tendencies worked in their favor. It was a trait that worked for him a team leader. In times like today, Wordy wished he'd just ask for help when he needed it. Then again, that was like asking the sun not to set. It wouldn't happen.

He strode back to the bench, but the Boss and Shelley were no longer there. He slowly pushed open the door to Sam's room open knowing there was a chance he was still asleep.

He was. Shelley sat on one side of him with his hand in hers with Sarge standing behind her, leaning against the wall. Sometimes he forgot how integrated his wife was with the team. Between the barbeques and dinners they offered to host, she had grown to know his team well. Seeing her looking fondly at Sam, he was reminded of this fact.

He approached them before speaking, not wanting to wake Sam up.

"I need to go pick up Ed. Will you be okay here for a bit?" he asked his wife. He knew before she nodded that she would be, but he had found out a while ago that this was no excuse to not ask.

Sarge gave a similar nod when he made eye contact with him. He exited the room after he made his goodbyes. He had insisted on the ride for Ed not only for his sake, but for Sam's as well. Wordy had no doubt that Ed would have been able to find a way to the hospital on his own. This, however, insured that he arrived.

He had spent way too much time driving back and forth from the hospital, way too much driving in general these last 12 hours or so. He had been familiar with the route from when Jules had been shot, but he didn't remember the back and forth trips from last time.

He drove with much more focus than the last couple times. Seeing Sam really had help, even if he hardly looked okay. He was alive, and Ed needed to see that. He was unsure what had happened when Ed had visited Sam in recovery. From the look on Ed's face when he left and the way he clenched his jaw even though it was injured, Wordy could guarantee that it had not been a pleasant visit.

He got out of the car and started to the door. Ed came out before he got there. He had swapped out the clothing from last night that had been stained with blood into something much cleaner. Wordy could still see the way Ed looked when he first stepped into the room covered in blood and bruises. Comparing him to this image, Ed looked much better.

Comparing him to any other version of Ed recently, he looked exhausted and worn out, more so than the Boss or Shelley or even himself. Wordy was tempted to ask how he was the moment he saw him. Knowing Ed's answer already, he refrained.

"Sophie would have let me use her car." Ed used as a greeting.

"Then she wouldn't have had a car," Wordy parried. That wasn't his reasoning, but it had Ed contemplating for a moment.

Wordy got back into the car and Ed into the passenger seat. As Wordy pulled out of the driveway and turned onto the major road, Ed said nothing. He sat straight in his seat, a stoic expression on his face. Something was really bothering him. Much more than Wordy had realized last night. He'd assumed it was just because Sam had been the one injured. Now he questioned if something else happened in the store that made Ed like this.

Ed wouldn't talk about it until he wanted to though, and then only maybe would it be to him.

"How are Sophie and Clark?" Wordy asked to pull Ed away from his thoughts.

"A little shaken up. Soph was worried is all when she woke up."

"Did you get any sleep?"

"Some," Ed said. Wordy appreciated that Ed had told the truth, or so he assumed, rather than saying he slept fine. He could only nod in response.

At this point he turned on the radio and allowed for the soft tunes to fill the gaps in conversation until he pulled into a spot close to where he had been before.

"He's doing better," Wordy said as he locked the car and they walked toward the building. "A few months of work and he'll be back. If Jules can do it, Sam can do it."

Jules had looked pretty bad right after being shot as well. Now she was just as fit, if not more so, than she was before her injury. He didn't mean to belittle her recovery and personal strength to get back into shape, but he had no doubt that Sam could do the same if his body allowed him. For Sam, the SRU was his saving grace. Wordy knew how important it was to him to work with them.

"Every time I closed my eyes last night I saw his blood spreading out on his shirt. I saw his lips turning blue and him staring at me with no idea what was going on, but begging for help. He was totally out of it, but he kept asking for my help."

Wordy stopped walking, but Ed continued forward. "He's going to be alright," he said again for lack of better words.

"Only because of the forced entry that set his lungs back even further. It's luck that he's still alive."

"You did the best you could. The subjects weren't listening."

"Three people died. Sam almost died. My best wasn't enough."

When they made it in front of Sam's door, Ed didn't enter. He had his head bowed, but his stance remained tensed. Wordy stood next to him debating his next words.

"Sam doesn't blame you. Sam's alive because of you. If you hadn't been there, you don't know what would have happened."

Ed laughed. "If I hadn't been there, Sam wouldn't have been there either."

The door opened and Shelley stuck her head out. "I thought I heard voices. You guys can come in," she was looking at Ed as she spoke. Ed almost looked like he was going to turn around, but Shelley grabbed his arm and pulled him into the room.

Wordy stood for a moment, shocked at Ed's words. He took a breath and followed the two in, not knowing what was going to happen.

Wordy has always been a difficult character for me to write. Him and Ed. Figures they're friends =) So what do you think? Sam pov next.