Jamie saw the flash of the gun and a blur of movement, despite himself he couldn't help shutting his eyes, opening them with surprise to find himself unharmed. That's when he heard the animal like cry that came from the man in front of him.

"NOOOOOOOOoooooooooo"

Looking down Jamie could see Sarah, she had thrown herself in front of Jamie and taken the gun shot. Jamie leapt up from the chair, cursing his hands still being behind his back

"Sarah, sarah can you hear me" He called kneeling down beside her. The bullet had ripped through her chest right through her heart. The blood pulsed out of the wound, the floor was slowly starting to swim in the crimson tide as the life pumped its way out of her.

"UNTIE MY HANDS" Jamie yelled towards Gary and Anthony but they both just stood there staring at the scene unfolding before them.

Sarah turned glassy eyes to Jamie and their gaze met "Sorry" she mouthed before the light left her eyes and the final breath left her body

"POLICE, NOBODY MOVE" came the cry as the sound of a wooden door being splintered peppered the silence of the tragedy unfolding.

"JAMIE? JAMIE ARE YOU HERE?" came the call

"DANNY, BACK HERE" Jamie yelled.

Danny and several other officers came running into the room. Quickly surveying the scene Danny rushed over to his brother, and grabbing his pocket knife cut the ropes binding Jamie whilst the other officers took Gary and his son into their custody.

"Get a bus!" Jamie yelled not even acknowledging his brothers questions about what had just happened. He scooped Sarah up into his arms and sat there holding her, her blood staining his already filthy NYPD issue trousers and t-shirt. "I've got you Sarah, I've got you. Hold on, I've got you"

Jamie stood staring out the window of his hospital room, the sun was rising and the autumn leaves on the trees were being bathed in its glow. Compared to the city this suburban hospital was quiet, its streets peppered with the few early communters. The events of the last two days seemed a life time away and if it wasn't for his bandaged chest and brusied face the whole thing could have been a dream.

Jamie didn't hear the door open behind him

"You should be in bed son" came the gruff voice of his Father. Turning slowly towards him Jamie smiled and walked back over to his hospital bed. It didn't escape Franks attention that the smile given to him hadn't reached Jamies eyes, nor had it escaped him that Jamie moved with the carefulness of a man who was in pain.

Jamie slowly climbed on to the bed and sat back against the pillows, Frank came over and pulled the covers back over his youngest sons legs. He used to tuck Jamie in when he was little, every night when he returned from a late tour he would creep in to Jamies room knowing that his son was a terrible fidget in bed and had usually kicked the covers off.

"How are you feeling ?" Frank asked, sitting in the chair next to Jamies bed. The birds were singing loudly outside the window, the world had no idea that his son was sat here in pain and not totally of the physical kind.

"I'm fine"

Frank nodded, he knew Jamie well enough to know that his quietness was a sign that he was in fact not fine.

"Gary Payne and his son Anthony have both been charged with kidnapping, assult of a police officer and murder"

Jamie stayed quiet

"Sarah had left a note at the warehouse telling Danny where to find you. She was a very brave young lady" Frank watched as Jamie turned his head away, blinking rapidly. He could tell that Jamie was trying very hard not to cry.

"Yes she was" He finally answered.

"So the Doc said you need to spend 24 hours here for observation and then we can take you home"

Jamie nodded "Ok"

"It wasn't your fault son"

"I know that"

"As long as you do…Danny is waiting outside to see you"

Taking Jamies silence as acceptance that his big brother wouldn't take no for an answer Frank rose from the chair and walked across the room. Opening the door he saw Danny waiting, pacing the hallway like a caged animal.

Upon seeing his Dad leave the room Danny rushed up to him "How is he?"

"He's hurting" Danny knew that his Dad didn't just mean his cuts, bruises and broken ribs

Danny walked past Frank and pushed open the door. Peering into the room that the sunlight was starting to brighten he saw his brother on the bed. His head was leaning back against the pillows, his hands laying across his bandadged ribs.

"Hey kid" Danny walked towards Jamie, he was working damn hard to not show the concern and anger he felt at seeing his brothers condition. "you look like you could do with a weeks worth of Linda's cooking to fatten you up"

Jamie tried to smile, he knew his brother was just trying to cheer him up but he didn't feel like it.

"Those guys are going away for a long time Jamie, and detectives are busy trying to get the names of anyone who worked with them and whoever attended those fights"

"That's good Danny, thanks"

Danny's head creased in concern "You ok?"

"Yeah fine " Jamies voice raised in an anger he no longer felt like he could control "I've spent the last two days fighting for my life literally, I cant move without the pain shooting through me as a lovely reminder of what happened and I couldn't save a terrified girl from her murderous mental case family"

"None of that was your fault Jamie"

"Yeah…..I bet you wouldn't have let them kidnap you so easily"

"Hey hey hey, don't go there kid ok. Jamie they drugged you, there wasn't anything you could have done and judging by those bruises you gave up a pretty good fight yourself"

"Didn't help though did it"

Danny sat down on the edge of the bed and rested his hand over his brothers, he could feel the tension like Jamie wanted to pull away and he grasped him lightly "You couldn't do anything to help Sarah, but you did keep yourself alive and we are all pretty damned grateful for that. Give it time Jamie. "

Danny stood up to leave as a nurse entered the room ready to give Jamie his next dose of painkillers

"And hey, Janko is back at the 12th biting at the bit to see you" Danny winked and walked out.

THE END