A/N: I changed Alexx's father's name to Joe and the previous chapter has been edited to reflect this change. The reason is that I can abbreviate his name and not confuse anyone. I figured calling him Al, short for Alvin, would be too confusing, even for me. Happy reading!

TBITC Chp. 38

A part of Alexx didn't know why she was moved to tears. After all it wasn't like Jack was her husband or lover. But she could no longer deny that she loved him. The strange thing was, she didn't know when it had started. She'd known within his first month at MDPD that Jack was attracted to her, but she couldn't she herself with him. He was her co-worker's son and that was just…too weird. But then everything with Sam happened and they'd both been thrown together.

True, Alexx had seen sides of Jack she wished she hadn't, but she'd also seen sides to him that allowed her believe there was a genuine human being under his tough 'kill 'em all and let God sort it out' façade. She'd understood why he was the way he was when he told her about his wife and child. It broke her heart, and she could understand why he was so dedicated to his career. The military had, in a way, saved him from a decent into madness, she believed. But this case had opened old wounds, for both of them.

She believed that Jack could change, if he truly wanted to. But she also believed that she couldn't totally remove the warrior part of him, and when she thought about, wasn't sure that she wanted to. She liked feeling protected, liked knowing that she was in love with someone who could take on anything that was thrown at him and survive.

"Alexx,"

Her head snatched up at hearing her name and she saw Dr. Long in front of her. Quickly wiping her eyes, she turned to look at him.

"We moved Jack to a private room. You can see him anytime you like." Long said.

She nodded, unable to speak. Jack was alive. Sam's father, the man she loved, was alive. She stood, with Sam still in her arms, and made her way to the elevator. Kenny, Mike, Meghan, Eric and Horatio, formed a defensive perimeter around Alexx, Sam, Calleigh, Gabriella, Natalia, Anya and Madsion. Frank and Ryan offered to wait in the emergency room in case Duke showed up. He'd been called away on a pressing legal matter and they deemed it safe for him to leave.

The only sound in the elevator was the loud shick sound of mental on mental as the two former Seals chambered their weapons. "Anything you wanna tell me, Ken?" Mike asked. He'd noticed his friend checking his weapon and followed his lead, thinking they were going to have company upstairs. "Every hospital in the states I've ever been to doesn't allow kids in the ICU, and the nurses can be pretty bitchy about it." Ken said, raising his eye brows in a 'you catch my drift' sort of way. Mike nodded and shrugged. He didn't relish the thought of shooting a civilian but he wasn't about to let them tell Sam he could see Jack.

When the elevator stopped, Ken took the lead and marched purposefully to the nurse's station. "Are you here for Jackson Caine?" the nurse behind the desk asked as they approached.

Ken nodded and smiled, trying for southern charm. "Yes, Ma'am. How'd you know?"

"Dr. Long called. You can go in one at a time, Mr. Caine's in room 840."

Ken smiled again. "Thanks, Ma'am."

When they reached Jack's room, Ken and Mike took up station on either side of the door, allowing everyone else to see Jack first, but remain protected at the same time. For them, this was like any other mission where a teammate had been wounded. Yes, their life was important but so was the mission, and right now that mission was protecting everyone close to them.

Horatio was the first to go in, followed closely by Meghan and Madison. He saw Jack laying there, tubes running out of him to machines that kept him alive and his mind flashed back to Amber, to Marisol. But then he stopped himself.

No, that's not this. Jack will survive. He walked over to the bed and leaned down next to his son's head, being careful to avoid disconnecting any wires. Taking Jack's hand, he began to speak. "Jack, I have a confession to make. I was afraid of what you did. Your career choice frightened me, mostly because I didn't want to think that your mother and I brought a killer into this world." Horatio felt his throat tightened and stopped. After a minute, he regained control and continued. "But your more than that, I've seen it. You've spent your entire adult life hunting the sadists and general all around bastards that fill our world, and I guess what I'm trying to say is that you're a good person, I'm proud of you and…we need you." Horatio finished and turned to his niece and girlfriend.

Madison stepped forward and stood on tiptoe next to Jack's head. "You better wake up soon. We miss you, but Dr. Alexx and Sam miss you the mostest." She said, with all the seriousness a six-year-old could muster. Then she turned and smiled at her uncle.

"Do you think he heard me, uncle H?"

Horatio smiled through tears. "I know he did, honey."

Meghan stepped forward next and leaned in close. "The kid's right, Captain."

The trio stepped out, and Alexx stepped forward, holding Sam. Sam buried his face in Alexx's neck and she rubbed his back and murmured soothing words. What she saw didn't seem real, it didn't make sense…

Here was a man that she had seen do things that most other men would touch with a ten foot poll, a man she now knew that she loved, lying in a hospital bed clinging to life…

All because of a child molesting bastard.

Finally finding her voice, Alexx said. "Jack, baby, we love you and we're here for you. You just…" Alexx stopped, her voice catching in her throat. She forced herself not to break down and continued. "…Just get better and come back to us."

Lean turned to Jack and through tears, said, "I'm sowwy you got hurted, daddy. Please don't be mad at me."

"Oh, baby." Alexx said, rocking him in her arms as they grieved for the man they both loved. The only other sound in the room was that of the monitors and machines keeping Jack alive.