(continued from Raina's B-Day Party, Part III: Special Delivery)

Sam felt Leila grab hold of his ice-covered arm only to let go and fall back. There was so much happing he didn’t notice Leila on the ground with an arrow in her arm. Sam looked to Leila with a worried face. Some of the ice that covered Sam dropped to the ground so he could get her out of the bad situation she was in. Sam moved as quickly as he could to Leila only to lean over her covering her body from anything else that was flying.

Thud, thud, thud… came from Sam’s back as he felt a sharp pain in his back. The ice wasn’t thick enough he felt three things in his back not death shots but defiantly enough to kill if unattended after awhile. Sam didn’t scream he only let out a large grunt after each one of the arrows hit. His eyes screamed out in pain but he had to be tough Leila was hurt badly. Sam un-iced his face to reveal his face full of worry and concern, “Leila! Leila! Look at me!” Sam yelled to her as he put his hands on he cheeks trying to get her attention. Sam looked into her eyes and said, “Leila, this is gonna hurt but I have to get the arrow out…”

Sam put his hand on her arm and activated his powers making the area where the arrow was colder, this would not only numb the pain a bit but also stop the bleeding. Sam smiled a sad but reassuring smile, “It’s gonna be…OKAY” yelled Sam as he yanked the arrow from her arm then began to ice over the wound so she wouldn’t pass out due to blood loss.

Leila felt cold hands on her skin as she laid there, her eyes still closed and hardly daring to take a breath. She had heard a set of noises, Sam had been hit too, but he seemed calm. Finally, hearing his voice did it. She opened her eyes and bit on her lip to restrain an other cry. "I'm--I'm fine!" she breathed, though obviously she wasn't. "Sam, just do it!" she added, looking at his worried face in deep concentration. 'This was only going to hurt a bit, only a bit' she kept reminding herself as Sam's hands left her face.

She counted the seconds it took for him to reach her arm, inhaling, exhaling deeply. She listened to everything that was going on, many people seemed to be in the fight now, this was going to be a real mess. Leila wondered if Sam would be alright, if her being injured would distract him too much to allow his concentration to be focused on his life. She listened, listened hard. Although the stabbing pain was making her dizzy, she could hear clearly.

“It’s gonna be…OKAY”

Leila's heart was beating quickly, her face was white, sweat wasrunning down her face as the stabbing pain felt stronger. She also started feeling colder, especially at the place where she had been injured. Sam must of frozen it or something. Still, the pain seemed overwelming. Leila remained calm, she didn't move, afraid to cause him more pain by yelling or crying. He had probably saved her life, she should at least pay him back by pretending it didn't hurt so badly.

Panting now, Leila tried to move into a sitting position. "S-Sam I'm so sorry...I'm so, so sorry." but finally she broke down, tears mixing with the sweat as she looked at him better. "I-I didn't....." but she trailed off, sobs replacing the unsaid words.

"S-Sam I'm so sorry...I'm so, so sorry." "I-I didn't....."

Sam just smiled trying to block out the sharp pangs in his back. ‘three, mid back to the left, lower back to the left and higher back to the right…’ thought Sam as he iced over those areas trying to block the blood form seeping free. Sam bent down and hugged Leila and sad, “it’s okay you did fine…” Sam clenched his theeth slightly as he extended his back, ‘these things gotta come out but first…’ Sam stood up and said, “Come on need to get you somewhere safe…”

Sam looked around and frowned it was getting more and more dangerous. Fights were breaking out all over the mansion he had to get Leila to the doors asap. Crouching down Sam grabbed Leila and said, “Hold on okay?” he gently lifted her as one hand went under her legs and one over her back. Sam started to skate as fast as he could to the door. He had to get her out of their so he could concentrate on helping his friends in the fight.

Leila didn't answer as he told her everything was fine. She didn't want to argue right now, but obviously things weren't fine. Not at all, she could see that Sam was hurt, his face was strained and his teeth were clentched together. She didn't speak though, she didn't really know how anymore, her head was flooded with dizziness. She simply concentrated on breathing evenly, not even listening anymore.

If the two of them pulled through tonight, they'd be having a long discussion in the morning. Leila had so much to tell him, she just didn't have the energy yet He was being such an idiot was one, why was he saving her and not watching his own back? He should let her die! She wasn't worth dying for... She had put the one man she cared for these days in trouble, it was all her fault. She hated herself, she didn't mind dying, not if it was worth Sam's life.

She couldn't help but twitch her lips slightly as she was picked up from the ground, the body she was being crushed against now was cold, way too cold. She clung to his neck anyway, feeling slightly at ease. "You're going to be hearing an earful from me when I gather my Strenghs." she said weakily, her teasing and humorous personality still showed, even in the midst of crazed fighting.

Then the wind picked up and the sounds were all muffled. Obviously, Sam had started running quickly -- or skating to be more specific -- and Leila enjoyed herself a little, she loved going fast, she was a fast runner, and when in her Dolphin Form, a fast swimmer too. She closed her eyes, feeling dizziness again.

“You're going to be hearing an earful from me when I gather my Strenghs."

Sam smiled as he felt the sharp pain in his back when he tried to keep his back straight. Sam compensated with this and hunched over slightly as he said back to Leila, “That’ll just mean you’re alive…if I have to sit through a earful so be it.” Sam saw the door rapidly approaching as he slowed down he learched slightly and hopped of the ice into a stumble where he tried his best to keep Leila in his arms.

Sam opened the door and walked in still carrying Leila only to set her down on a couch by the front door. Sam yelled out, “SOMEBODY GET DOC PROF!!!” Sam hoped someone could here him as he checked Leila’s arm to see how deep the wound was. Sam smiled noticing that it would be just fine once the Doc took a look at her; he was going to have to thank him later.

Sam looked to Leila and said, “I have to go back out there, if the Doc doesn't come go to the infirmary, I am sure he will be there soon.” Sam turned his back to here and started heading for the doors. The arrow shafts swayed slightly as he turned.

Pain shot through Sam’s back as he straitened up and reached one of his arms around to his back and pulled out an arrow. Sam gasped for air as pain filled his lungs, ‘Damn it’ thought Sam as he yanked out the last lower one. The other would have to stay for now; he would get it when he could yell.

Ice covered the holes on Sam’s body, as he started to breath better. ‘Right off to kick some ass’ thought Sam as he started his walk for the door only after tossing the two arrows to the ground.

Leila smiled slightly, though it didn't reach her eyes completely. She felt slightly normal too, apart from the pain in her left arm, she wasn't really dizzy or sick anymore. Maybe it was because the overwelming feeling of being in Sam's arms -- and the cold -- that did this, but she sort of liked it. Knowing that her life was going to end soon, that it was going to end near Sam.

Leila nodded, she was standing up now, watching Sam carefully. He seemed in terrible pain, she could see the three arrows in his back, they were a lot deeper then what she had gotten on her arm. Leila's tear stained face got hot as new tears started filling her eyes so that she could hardly see. She heard Sam's breathing get heavier, so he was probably taking out the stupid arrows. Leila would kill whoever did this to him.

But before she could do anything, Sam had started off again, Leila ran after him, grabbing him by the arm, being careful not to touch his back. "Don't go!" she said, holding him as tightly as she could with hert right hand, "I don't want you to get anymore hurt then you already are, I don't want you to leave." she kept saying to him, "At least not without me. I'm not going to leave you..." she broke off, knowing this was hopeless. Sam was supposed to help out, it was his job.

Ignoring the pain this caused her, Leila shifted her body so she could face Sam completely. She wrapped her arms around his neck, hoping this wouldn't be their final goodbye. "Don't go, please..." she whispered, kissing him as if the world was about to end She cringed as her arm begun throbbing again, the intense heat of her body right now was probably not good. She had a huge fever and her head was throbbing, dizziness coming back to her.

"Don't go!"

Sam felt Leila’s hand grab his; a sudden feeling of longing filled him. Part of Sam wanted to stay a big part but the rest of him was already out there fighting with his friends, he had to be there. He was their friend, a teammate and in his mind their shield, sure they didn’t need it but Sam wanted to be there to take the hits so none of his friends had to.

"I don't want you to get anymore hurt then you already are, I don't want you to leave." At least not without me. I'm not going to leave you..."

A large sigh could be heard from Sam as he looked at Leila and looked to Leila with a straight face, “This pain is nothing…and I’m sorry but I have to go, it’s my job” said Sam. But then Sam thought about it and shook his head, “To be honest this is more than a job to me those people out there, they are my family and friends…they are protecting our home! I belong out there with them.”

"Don't go, please..."

Leila was now kissing him in attempt to keep him with her in the mansion. Sam kissed her for a second thinking how wet the kiss was, the taste of salt was on her lips, and either it was sweat or tears. Either way Sam had to go. Pulling away from the kiss Sam looked at her and said, “Don’t make me choose between you and the team…” Sam noticed she was becoming disoriented again looking slightly dizzy.

It was due to the blood loss most likely all she needed was Doc Prof and she would be fine in hours. Sam picked her up and walked her to the couch and set her down gently. Sam held her hand and gave it a squeeze and leaned to her ear and said, “I’ll be back before you know it.” With that Sam let go of her hand and ran back outside, now icing his body up to it’s former strength.

Leila nodded, "Fine, but be careful." she had finally given in. Sam was going off to help out the rest of the X-Men, leaving her to hope he'd be okay. But if he wasn't? If he wasn't, she'd blame herself for not trying harder at keeping him here. She'd be dying inside; if not already dead because of this. What a great first night at the Mansion huh?

As she watched Sam go off, the pain stabbed in her arm again and she couild feel the ice melting quicker then ever. Her head was also splitting in half, but the thing that heart the most, was not physical pain. It wasn't anything that had to do with her injury tonight, it was simply the fact that Sam may never come back, and that she had a chance, a chance to make it through this chaos. Did he have one too?

Leila didn't really know weather she had past out or fallen asleep, but when she opened her eyes, she was in a darkened room with a man touching her arm. It wasn't hurting anymore though, neither was her head, she felt perfectly fine. Maybe it was going to come back when she felt more awake, but right now she felt perfectly fine. "What happened?" she muttered, looking at who was healing her. It was then that she realized the darkened room was the Infermary.

"SAM! Is he alright? How are everyone? Are there any injuries?" she asked desprately. "Calm down dear, everything's going to be fine. They are still fighting outside, but don't worry. There's not too much I can't heal." the DocProf Sam had yelled for earlier said, Leila gulped, "So what happened to me exactly?" she asked.

The DocProf explained how the Arrow had cut through her skin nearly one inch through. He had said that no major damage had been done, and that now she was fine. However, when she had fallen unconcious, she had broken her right wrist, which, now Leila realized, was wrapped up in a goze. "Okay, and no one else from the Battle is here?" she demanded. "Not yet," he answered, smiling slightly in the darkness. "Now, sleep, I'll let you off tomorrow morning." he ordered.