fallen | ✓

Chapter 44: "Give Up The Cripple"

We sat at the table. "What happened?" I immediately asked. I saw him die. I know it. I pinched my side, hard. This is not a dream.

Joa shrugged. "Two heavy relvars. I stole a lot of blood bags from the med bay." He sighed, shuffling the cards. Sam trembled in his chair. He then stood, going to the door and leaving without a word. Joa stood, as did I. The only place I went was straight into his arms.

"Why'd you do it.." I whispered.

He took a shaky breath. "I needed pressure off my shoulders.." He sighed. "I have a problem with rage.." Well, I got that. "I don't even know what happened with Sam's sister. I just snapped back to reality and her head was crushed in the drawer.." He told me in a hushed tone. I cringed. He squeezed me in the hug tighter, shaking. I pulled my head back, glancing at his face. He was crying.

I frowned, brushing the tears from his face as he quietly sobbed. "We should go visit Mika.." I suggested softly, trying to get his mind off of it. He hugged me again and I hugged back. He gave me one last squeeze before turning and opening the door, going to visit the crippled blonde with me trailing behind.

~~

I was feeling so much better. Really. I was happier and already going back to my old self. I knocked on Sam's door before unlocking it with the key he gave me. I pushed it open, peeking in. Sam was sitting, his head on his table, in his wheelchair that he sometimes sat in. "Sam?" I frowned. He glanced at me. He looked scared and tired. I walked over, pulling out a chair, sitting. "What's up?" I asked, leaning my elbows on the counter.

"Not much.." He mumbled.

"Jesus, why can't you ever be happy?" I groaned. "Can I make some tea?" I asked, sitting back in my chair.

"I don't want any.." He grumbled, burying his face in his arms.

"Your loss." I sighed, standing. I started preparing the tea, giving him an occasional glance. He never moved. "You know, Sam.." I frowned, dropping a tea bag into the pot of hot water. He raised his head again. "You can't stay depressed forever."

"Watch me." He said plainly. I flinched. My hand hovered over the handle of the pot, frozen. Are you serious..?

I cleared my throat. "Please don't," I said over my shoulder. "That would suck for everyone, man." I ran my tongue over my teeth, twisting the handle out from swatting distance. "Especially you." I sighed. He shrugged.

A slam on the door startled me. I glanced over at it. Then I heard a gun being loaded and my gut tightened. A fucking raid..?! I dashed over to Sam and wheeled him and his wheelchair into the other room, out of shooting range. He grabbed one of the Mac-11's off the side of his wheelchair, it already being loaded. Then a clear gunshot sounded and I flinched, hearing the door hinge split open after.

I held my hand over Sam's mouth. From what sounded like his breathing, he seemed scared as Hell. But he and the intruder could probably hear my heartbeat right now. The intruder went slow. Just passing through the front door, and stop next to the oven with the tea I made.

Don't you fucking touch my tea.

I heard a clink and a flash bang rolled in. Alarmed, I threw my arm over my eyes and Sam pushed me into the bed just as another gunshot went off, as did an explosion.

I didn't feel it. The gunshot, I mean. I didn't feel it. I quickly pushed off the bed, trying to shoot blindly at the intruder. I heard the impact and a rip. But no scream.

Hell.

"Give up the cripple!" The intruder's voice sounded male and oddly familiar.

"You're not fucking getting him!" I screamed back.