"Oh my god, Sam!" Jessica cries as she runs to his bedside. His eyes were swollen shut, his whole face was purple, and his hand was wrapped up.

"I'm okay..." he struggles to say

She cries uncontrollably and holds his other hand. "Who did this to you, baby? Tell me!" She cries

He doesn't say. He didn't know why he was protecting Danny, he just was.

"I don't know."

Jessica sighs and runs her fingers through his hair. "The doctors said they are going to do surgery on your hand in the morning." She struggles to say

"It's okay... I'll be fine."

"I don't know who would do this to you. How could someone do such a thing!" She cries

"They just wanted my wallet." He lies

Jessica kisses his cheek and wipes away his tears.

"How do you feel?" She asks

"Drugs are my saving grace." He mumbles. A small smirk appears on his face. Jessica smiles with him.

"Why don't you rest... I'll call home and let Olivia know I'm staying here."

He nods slowly. "I love you, Jess. Don't worry, okay?"

Jessica wipes her tears and nods. "How can I not worry?"

//-//

After calling Olivia Jessica went back to the room and Sam was fast asleep. He had left room for her on the bed, but she wanted to give him all the space he needed for a good nights rest.

She couldn't sleep... her head was spinning. She had so much fear for Sam. This was a scary thing. Someone had beat him up, badly. Luckily there was nothing internal. She just hoped she could find out who hurt him. She wanted them to hurt just as badly as he does.

//-//

The next morning-

After a sleepless night, Sam's surgery came up sooner than later. It was all happening so fast. He tried not to act scared for Jessica's sake, but he was dying with fear.

Before they wheeled him away Jessica and Sam talked.

"I'll be okay, Jess. It's just a little dinky hand surgery." He says

"It's a big deal. Any kind of surgery is a big deal!" She whines

Sam sighs "Jess, you're scaring me." He says

Jessica immediately realizes that her fear was reflecting back on him. She needed to stay strong for him. It shouldn't have to be the other way around.

"You're right, I'm sorry... I know you're a tough guy. It will all be okay after this." She says

"I'm scared I'll never be able to use it tHe same again. Jessica you haven't seen it yet."

She closes her eyes and nods. "I know."

He could see Jessica getting more and more scared. He was worried for her when he was in surgery.

"Jess, get your mind off this. While I'm under the knife why don't you just go to Giant to get my truck. Please?"

Jessica nods "But I'll be right back. So I can be here when you're out."

"Okay my love."

//-//

"How's Sam?" Olivia asks as her and Jessica drive to the store to get Sam'a car.

"He's a little scared... but the doctors are sure this surgery will help his hand. It has to be done."

As they pull in Olivia spots his white pick up truck.

"There!"

Jessica pulls up beside it and Olivia's jaw drops when she sees all the blood on the ground and the car. Especially on the door where his hand was closed shut.

Jessica began to cry suddenly. She felt so sick to her stomach seeing that this is what happened.

They both get out of the car and scan the scene.

"I hope the guy who did this rots in hell." Olivia says

"Me too. But there aren't any cameras out here to identify the person. And it was so late that there weren't witnesses. We may never find out." She sighs

"Was it just some guy trying to mug him?"

"Yeah, took his wallet and everything...." Jessica then unlocks the truck and turns it on.

"There is our pizza and water." Olivia says

"Yep... why don't you take my car home and I'll take this to the hospital."

"Alright, let me know when I can see him."

"Okay, honey." She smiles

Jessica gets into the car and turns to the passengers side. Then, she sees Sam's leather wallet sitting right on top of the pizza box. Jessica was stunned to see it. Sam specifically told her multiple times that the person took his wallet and that it was a mug. But here lies his lather wallet, with all of his cash and cards, right in the palm of Jessica's hands.

//-//

When she arrived at the hospital she was in a way out of it... she didn't really know how to feel. She kept making excuses for Sam that maybe he was out of it or thought they took it. But no.... every time they spoke of it he insisted his wallet was stolen with everything in it. And that's the reason why he was mugged. She felt lied to. But she needed to wait to bring anything up.

....

"Hey baby, how do you feel?" Jessica asks as he slowly begins to wake up.

"I can't explain it." He says looking around

Obviously he was a bit drugged, and he knew it. He was trying to get Jessica to laugh. It amazed her how he always made light of even the worst situations.

"Well as long as you don't have any pain." She asks

Then the doctor walks in. "Great job in there Sam. We were able to have a successful surgery. It was much longer than expected, but still, great." She says

"I'll be able to use it again just like before, right?"

The doctor sighs. "It's hard to tell, your hand was severely injured. You had 4 broken bones in just one spot. It will be a long healing process. Lots of PT and just working with it at home. But we will have to wait a while and let it heal first."

"Of course... you just have to take it day by day, hun." Jessica says giving him a kiss

"I guess so. And my sight?." He sighs

Since his face was beaten so badly his vision was the worst it had ever been. But his face was still swollen, so they just had to wait.

"I'm sorry, but it all just seems to be a waiting game, sir. We will know once the swelling goes down what we should do next."

//-//

Before the day was over the police came back to the hospital to get a statement from Sam. Before they arrived Jessica had to talk with him.

"So Sam, you said this person for sure took everything. Your credit cards, money, everything."

He nods slowly "Yes, everything. I felt him take it out of my hand."

"Him? So you know it was a man?"

Sam needed to watch what he said. To this moment he wasn't going to speak of Danny.

"Yes, Jessica. Why do I feel like you're interviewing me too? This is tiring." He says

"You're right, I'm sorry. This is all just- blah."

"I know, relax. If they can't find the guy, it's not the end of the world either."

"How could you say that? Look what they did to you. Your face, it has no natural color, you're bruised from head to toe. And your hand..."

"Don't you think I know what I look like? I'd rather just move on then deal with the sorry bastard that did this." He snaps

Jessica turns around and tries not to cry. Of course she wanted them to pay, but Sam had no desire to press charges with Infuriated her.

"Fine, I'm not pushing you to do anything, but just think if this was me, how you'd feel and what you would do."

"Jess-"

"What, is it only because I'm female that you'd want to press charges? But since you're a guy and you think you're all big and tough you don't want to. Well if that's the case, it's bullshit!"

"No, Jessica! This is just me... I don't want to deal with it! It was bad and scary enough that I want to move forward. Yes I'd want someone that did this to you to go down, but if you didn't I'd respect that too. Now please, let me tell them I'm not pressing charges so we can put this shit behind us!"

//-//

In New York-

Sean was walking through campus to the library. He had been with some friends. His mind was a bit scattered after hearing what had happened to Sam. How he had been mugged and beaten badly. He worried for him. Of course during times like this is wanted to be home for his family. Jessica never took things like this well and of course Sam would be in a difficult state of mind. But he had to push through the school year.

As he was walking he stepped aside to answer a call from him dad.

"Hey dad!"

"Hey, Sean, how's it going?"

"Eh, it's going. Lots going on right now, how about you?"

"Same here. What's going on? You seem-"

"Tense?" He finishes for him

"Yeah, tense."

"Well something happened back home, so I guess I've just been worried."

"Everything okay? Is Olivia okay?" He asks

"Liv is fine. It's Sam, but I doubt you want to hear."

"If something's bothering you, you can tell me anything. We are adults Sean, I don't mind."

"Someone followed him to his truck late at night in Giant. They mugged him, the guy beat the shit out of him so badly that he still can't see right. And before it all happened they slammed his hand into the truck door. He had surgery today. But Sam can't ID the person. I've been back and forth on the phone with mom. Sam isn't pressing charges. I wish I could press them for him. Whoever does this to a great guy like him should burn! All for some cash and his sight and hand may never work the same again."

Danny didn't say a word. He stood on the phone in shock. He thought for sure this would be the end of it all for him. Sam would take him down and his life would be ruined. He'd lose his license, the kids, spend some jail time. But no, Sam was keeping quite. He knew also that Sam was lying to them. Why he was doing this all ate Danny alive. He was so confused.

//-//