When you came to, the first thing you noticed was that you were comfortable. The second was that you  weren't alone. You  opened your heavy eyes and looked around, recognising your room from the cabin Sully'd rented in Scotland. Sam was sitting beside you, his face white and his knee jumping around as he seemed to be muttering something. After a second you realised that he was praying, and cleared your throat to get his attention.

Immediately his head snapped up and he moved to sit on the bed next to you, his hand brushing the hair from your face. "Hey! How're you feeling?" He asked quietly, his eyes red rimmed from getting little sleep.

Deciding honesty was always best, you shook your head slightly. "Like shit that's been reversed over... How long was I out?" You asked, not sure you wanted to know the answer.

Sam ran a hand down his face and sighed as he looked at you. "Three days after your little episode while Sully was patching you up. So about 4 total," he explained and you frowned, not remembering the episode. You would have asked but it could wait.

"So what's the damage?" You asked cautiously when you moved your arm the slightest amount and were rewarded with pain bouncing down your arm and into your chest.

Sam saw the wince and moved closer again, leaning over you to grab something from behind your head. "Sully says you're really lucky. It was a clean shot, missing everything important. You lost a lot of blood but you're gonna be fine. Just sore for a while..." He paused, looking like he was going to say more, but before he could, you held up a hand to stop him, unable to wait any longer.

"Sam?" You asked, blushing at the thought of what you  were about to ask him, but you knew you couldn't make it on your own. He leaned closer to hear what you were gonna say, so you just came out with it. He was your best friend at one point, if you couldn't ask him, you couldn't ask anyone. "I need you to help me to the toilet."

Sam didn't even flinch or laugh, which you was grateful for.  Clearly you'd scared him enough with almost dying that he forgot how to laugh for a moment. "Of course! It's right outside the door. Just give me a second," he said as he jumped up to open the doors, but then he was back at your side, pulling the covers back carefully and then leaning forward to scoop you up gently, trying his best not to hurt you.

You held onto him as he carried you out of the room and to the bathroom opposite it, placing your feet down on the tiled floor but not letting go of you until he was sure you weren't going to fall. Even then he hovered for a second, rubbing the back of his neck awkwardly. "You need help..." He tried to offer but you rolled your eyes at him and shook your head.

"I'll manage. Get out of here weirdo!"

He held his hands up in surrender and left you alone, closing the door so you peed and managed to wash your hands by yourself, even getting back into the hall before a dizzy spell hit and you fell into the wall, your eyes closing again.

Suddenly strong arms were around you and you were being helped back into your room, and then tucked into bed by Sam.

You thanked him quietly as you settled back down and looked at him. He looked exhausted, and you wondered how much sleep he'd got since you got back. Before you could order him to go get some sleep, he finally asked you what had been bugging him.

"Y/N, why?" He asked quietly, staring at you intently, and you knew exactly what he meant. Why did you throw yourself in front of a bullet for him? So you just met his gaze and shook your head.

"I wasn't just gonna stand there and let you get shot!"

Sam chuckled darkly and lifted the bottom of his shirt to expose the scars beneath. "I've been shot before, remember?" He laughed, but you just narrowed your eyes at him.

"It's not like you build up an immunity to gunshot wounds, Sam! Jesus..."  you paused for a moment and then decided to tell him exactly what you were thinking. "I already lost you once, Im not letting it happen again. I'd take 100 more bullets before I let that happen again..."

For a second Sam seemed speechless, and you knew exactly why. It was the same problem he'd had as long as you'd known him. He thought he didn't deserve to be loved. He didn't think he was good enough for anything,  so he'd never expect someone to say what you just had. But it was true,  and you could see the look on his face that meant he understood that now.

Instead of talking anymore about it, you pulled the covers back and moved up a little. "Come on, get comfortable. Something tells me you've been in that seat a while... If you're gonna hover, you might as well be comfy," you mumbled as he climbed into bed next to you. You'd forgotten how big he was, so had it been a single bed, it would have been a tight fit. Clearly he'd kept in shape while in prison. Still, even though you had more than enough room of your own, you still found yourself curling up in Sam's side, your injured arm resting on his stomach and using his chest as a pillow.

It was only when you moved your injured arm did you notice the bandages under Sam's shirt, and you  frowned and looked up at him in question. He'd been watching you so knew what the issue was.

"You slowed the bullet down but it still caught me on the exit. Still thankfully in one piece and it wasn't deep at all, just wedged in my skin a little. Sully says you saved my life..." He gently took your hand and moved it slightly. "This is where the bullet hit me. If you hadn't been there, it would have been in my heart."

Even if it did hurt, you were thankful you'd jumped in the way then. Sam would have been dead for real if you hadn't, and that was something you didn't want to deal with again. So you laced your fingers with Sam's and just moved even closer to him, closing your eyes as you whispered to him.

"I'd do it again. Everytime."

Sam just squeezed your hand tighter and bid you goodnight.

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Even though he was exhausted, sleep still didn't find Sam even after Y/N was resting peacefully at his side. He couldn't stop thinking of what she'd said. She'd do it again.

That did not sit well with Sam. All he wanted to do was protect his people, but Y/N had almost died for him already. She'd been so off with him since he got back, he was surprised she cared at all, and then when she'd woken up... God he'd been so relieved, though he half expected her to yell at him for almost getting her killed, but she just said she'd do it again, without hesitation. And that's what worried him.

He'd never forgive himself if something happened to her because of his mission... Especially if it was because she'd saved his life.

His arms tightened around her for a second at the thought of what Sully had said. If the bullet had landed even an inch to the side, she'd have died almost instantly.

"Christ, Sam. What have you gotten into?" He muttered to himself, running his free hand down his face and sighing. Y/N sighed too, moving a little in her sleep, and Sam couldn't help but look down and smile at her. Her usual anger and cockiness had deserted her in sleep and she looked peaceful,  despite the bullet wound. She looked more like his Y/N now, a hint of laughter in her face, or maybe he was imagining it. But either way he couldn't help but smile.

"Why don't you just tell her?"

Sam gave a slight start at the voice and looked up to see Nate leaning in the doorway, his arms crossed over his chest and a smirk on his face. Sam exhaled slowly and relaxed again. "What are you getting on about now?" He asked quietly, not wanting to wake Y/N.

Nate just gestured to the two of them on the bed. "You should just tell her that you're in love with her. What's the worst that could happen?" He said simply as he came closer.

Sam almost choked on air. "Nathan! I am not in love with Y/N. She's my best friend, that's all!"

Nate gave his brother a knowing smirk before sitting down in the chair Sam had spent the last 4 days in. "If you'd have seen the way you were looking at her when I came in, you'd know how I know you're lying. You're in love with her and have been since you were 17! It's about time you made a move. Seriously, just man up!"

Sam shot his brother a glare. "Nate..."

Nathan just stood up and shook his head. "Look, I know you're the big brother here and all that, but let's just say that I know a little something about being stupid, and I almost lost the love of my life because of it. Believe me when I say you do not want to be there. So if you love Y/N half as much as I think you do, you'd be a fool to let her slip away... Just think about that."

With that, he left the room and Sam sighed again, Nate's words bouncing around his head.

No matter how he felt about her, Sam was never gonna let Y/N slip away. Not again.

Holding her closer to him, Sam finally closed his eyes and got some sleep.

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

The next morning you woke up alone, the covers tucked around you carefully, and the door closed. Through it you could hear sounds of the others moving around the cabin, and smell something delightful. Before you could make a move to get out of bed and investigate the source, the door was slowly opening and Sam walked into the room with a tray of food in his hands. When he saw that you were awake, he smiled at you, but it quickly morphed into a stern look when you tried to get out of bed and help him.

"Don't you dare!" He warned as you pulled back the covers and made to move. Holding your good hand up in surrender, you sat back, and allowed him to come to you, laying the tray down beside you.

"Good, I'm starving!" You laughed as you looked over all the food he'd brought. There was enough food to feed two full grown men, but only one set of cutlery.

Sam laughed too and handed the knife and fork to you. "Good. You need to get your strength back... How are you feeling this morning?"

You almost shrugged but then thought better of it and answered out loud instead. "Weak. It hurts like a bitch, but I'm still alive so I guess I'm Not complaining. Food smells delightful by the way," you commented, but before Sam could answer, Sully did from the doorway.

"Well it should. The kid's been running around all of Scotland to make sure he had everything. And you should see the mess in the kitchen..."

You looked from him to Sam, seeing how Sam blushed. "It was three stores... And she took a bullet for me. The least I can do is make her her favourite meals," he explained, blushing deeper when he looked at you again.

Deciding to ignore Sully's teasing, you changed the subject. "So you patched me up. Again... Thank you, you saved my life," you managed to get out around the lump in your throat. It only just hit you how close you'd been to dying. You'd never been hurt that bad before, and it was scary. Of course you still didn't blame Sam and you'd do it again, but that didn't stop the fear of what could have been.

Sully looked confused for a second before shaking his head and gesturing to Sam. "Don't thank me, he did all the hard work. Got you back to the plane in one piece, gave you a blood transfusion while still in the air, and didn't leave your side until you were stabilised. Even then it was only because Nate dragged him away. If you're looking for a hero, he's sitting next to you."

You slowly looked over to Sam, seeing him blushing as he avoided your gaze and mumbled that it was nothing.

It wasn't though.

You leaned forward and wrapped your good arm around Sam, kissing his cheek and thanking him for saving you. He squeezed you back but said nothing, letting you go when Sully started to talk again.

"So King's bay. As soon as you're feeling well enough, we'll leave. Or you can stay here-"

"Not a chance. Rafe will already be on his way. We need to get there and find the treasure before he does..."

They nodded, so you sighed and rolled your injured arm, feeling out your injury and how much trouble it was going to give you. When you were satisfied you could handle climbing if you needed to, you nodded and started eating your pancakes, making up your mind. "We leave tomorrow."