A/N So far we've heard Reese's POV in this story. This chapter is told from Carter's POV. Enjoy.
There were voices. She heard voices.
Some were angry, others were sad. She even heard crying, tears. Was it a woman?
Or a man?
She couldn't tell. The sounds all bled into one in Joss' unconscious mind.
She felt as if she was floating, on a cloud somewhere in another world. Was she stuck in a dream, some fantasy? Was any of this real?
She remembered that John was there. His voice was frantic, urgent, he sounded worried.
He called her name as she lay in the alley. She looked up at him between gasping for air and puking up blood and she saw his eyes. They were wet with tears, misty, and he looked so desperate.
Why?
He'd held her hand so tightly, and she'd tried to squeeze back. She wondered if he felt the tiny bit of pressure on his hand, she struggled with her last bit of strength to hold onto him.
She thought of Taylor; her mom would take care of him. Maybe they'd be okay.
She worried.
But she looked up at John's face, and she saw something there she'd never seen before. He was so vulnerable, scared like she'd never seen him, she wanted to make him feel better.
So she tried to smile. She called his name. But the cold grabbed at her, pulled at her, dragged her under.
One, two, three. Breathe.
Over and over she heard it. Was it real?
One, two, three. Breathe.
Her eyes fluttered open, she heard his voice again. He seemed to care so much. The thought warmed her as she tried desperately to fill her lungs with air. She was scared, she felt cold. She managed to call his name again and he stayed with her. His hand on hers made her believe it would be okay.
The bright lights, the oxygen mask, there was the hurried movement of the nurses and doctors and then she remembered nothing else…except voices….
She heard conversations. She remembered situations, moments…
"You could always stop looking for me."
"Whether you like me or not, Joss…you're not alone."
"Your coffee's getting cold Detective."
"Told you I'd never let anything happen to your son."
"You're looking nicer, Carter…..he messes with you, he'll be hearing from me."
"I couldn't have gotten through this without…a friend to talk to."
Fleeting moments…..seemed to mean so much right now.
Her eyes opened and the light was almost blinding. Her vision was hazy, the room was lit by a lamp by the bed, and she could hear the beeping of monitors in her ear.
She made out the outline of someone's head resting on the bed next to her. He was holding her hand. She slowly recognized the familiar head of short black hair sprinkled with gray at the temples. He had been with her all along. He hadn't noticed that she was up. And he stood up slowly she guessed to leave.
She didn't want him to go. She needed him to stay. She needed his strength right now. She needed him right now.
She felt the tears sting her eyes, but she couldn't find her voice. She felt weak, exhausted, but she needed him to stay.
She took a deep breath and just as he was about to let her hand go, she managed to croak his name. It had taken so much of her strength and she was relieved when he turned around.
"I'm here Joss." he said and the sound of her name on his lips touched her so.
Tears started to fall from her eyes as he sat beside her again.
"I'm here."