Rating: PG, some swearing, nothing to bad.

Disclaimer: Same ol� stuff

Jake poked the silver bracelet on his wrist. A metal strain appeared and wrapped around his finger. Panic filled him and he yanked his finger free. Jake did not feel comfortable with the witchblade on his wrist and wanted it off, the sooner the better. He attempted to remove in but it would not budge.

"Knock it off." Jake whined as he watched the witchblade slowly move up his arm. Wildly he shook his arm, hoping the movement would prevent the strange armor from encasing his body again.

"McCarthy." Dante muttered, entering the hospital room. Jake thrust his arm behind his back, praying that Dante didn�t see anything. "Are you all right?"

"Yea, fine caption." He forced a smile onto his face as Dante moved towards Sara�s unconscious body. The young woman�s eyes were swollen shut and her nose was tapped up along with her ribs. Numerous tubs and machines were attached to her. Jake watched as Dante glanced over his fallen officer. Dante didn�t care about Sara and Jake was well aware of it. However, Dante had to visit Sara at lease once to give the illusion that he cared.

"Have ya been with her since they brought her in?" Jake nodded as Dante walked towards the door. "I�ll see ya later." Dante hadn�t asked about her condition, he simply walked in, looked her over, no doubt hoping she would die, and then left.

Jake looked at his arm and saw the witchblade was in its bracelet form. He walked over to Sara glanced down at the witchblade then held out his hand. "Come on heal her. You healed me, do the same for her." Jake closed his eyes, expecting some miracle event to unfold before him. After a moment or two he opened his eyes and saw nothing had occurred. "Come on, please heal her. Go back to her. She�s your master not me." Jake pulled on the bracelet attempting to remove it, but spikes dug down into his wrist. "OK, OK, I get the picture." Jake released the bracelet and the spikes removed themselves from his flesh and went back into the bracelet. "Oh man, this sucks."

Jake pushed back Sara�s brown hair that had fallen into her face. He then dragged a chair next to her bed and sat down. "I don�t know what to do Sara. Please wake up. I need you. I can�t deal with this thing on my own." Much to Jake�s dismay she did not answer him. He gently took her hand in his and held it.

"Det. McCarthy," a nurse said, as she stuck her head in the room. "Visiting hours are over. You may come back at nine tomorrow."

"Oh." With great hesitation Jake stood up. "But I thought I would stay and make sure the guys that did this wouldn�t come back."

The nurse shook her head. "I understand you would like to be with her, but I assure you, she is in good hands." The nurse tried to be sympathetic to his needs as she escorted him out of the room. Jake said nothing, but took his cue and walked down the sterile hallway, which was lined with empty beds and equipment. As he moved through the maze of halls, Jake hoped he could find his way out.

"Coming through!" A doctor yelled, as he ran in front of Jake�s path. The doctor was holding onto his stethoscope, which was draped around his neck. For a moment Jake wondered if the doctor was really rushing to a patient, or attempting to leave his job before he was called onto another case.

Mindlessly he pressed the elevator button and began to tap his foot impatiently. He did not like hospitals; they made him uncomfortable, for death was all around him. Beside him was a man with a young child who continually asked about the state of his mother. Jake could hear the somberness in the man�s voice, which told Jake the young child�s mother was in critical condition.

As they all shuffled into the already occupied elevator everyone moved into different corners, attempting to place as much space between them. An uncomfortable silence, which normally accompanied elevator rides, hung in the air. No one looked at each other and Jake�s eyes became focused upon the witchblade. The red stone was dormant and he was thankful. However, as he uttered his prayer of thanksgiving he saw the bracelet begin to expand and twist. Quickly, he shoved his hand in his jacket pocket, then looked around. No one had noticed.

The doors opened and everyone filed out in a semi orderly fashion. As he glanced down at the bracelet Jake felt uneasy and unsure of himself. He had heard stories from Sara about what the witchblade could do to men. It was bad enough she had forced the blade to heal him, but now he was wearing it. Jake wondered if the witchblade would blow his hand off or take his life. Either way, the young officer was not comfortable with decapitation or death.

(danger)

"What?" Jake asked out loud causing a few people to look at him oddly. He smiled, trying to play off his outburst.

(danger)

The voice in his head repeated. Jake glanced down at the witchblade and saw the stone was glowing. He grabbed his gun, causing people to gasp around him. "Police officer, move!" Jake pushed his way through a crowd of people and decided it was better to take the steps then to up into the elevator again. He ran up three flights of stairs with amazing speed.

"You can�t be here," a nurse cried, as he burst into the hallway, but he disregarded her statement and went into Sara�s room. "I�m calling security!"

"Ah, Det. McCarthy, what a pleasant surprise," Kenneth Irons said, as he stood beside Sara. "And I see you are wearing the witchblade still."

"Get the hell away from her." Jake pointed his gun at Irons who simply smiled.

"Now, now, there is no need for violence."

"Bullshit. You did that to her!"

"A misunderstanding, I assure you." Irons addressed Jake with a condescending tone. "Please holster your weapon Det. McCarthy."

"I don�t think so." Jake�s eyes were focused upon Irons. "I�m arresting you."

Irons sighed as if he were bored with the conversation. "I�m afraid you won�t be able to do

that. In fact," Irons stepped forward. "You won�t be doing a lot of things when I get finished with you." Jake was not swayed by his speech. Irons extended his arm and Jake watched as the witchblade encased his arm. Alarmed, he dropped his gun, which caused Irons to laugh. "You see Det. McCarthy, the witchblade is connected to me also. When I was young, rash and foolish I attempted to wear the blade. I was one of the lucky ones; it did not take my arm. But I am connected to it, much like you are." Irons made a fist and Jake could feel the witchblade constricting around his hand. "We can never unlock its power as Sara or a true wielder can. However, I was left with powers. You are witnessing my power over the blade now." His smile became large as he saw Jake writhe in pain.

"Having your entire body crushed will not be a pleasant demise." Jake watched in horror as the witchblade�s armor moved across his body.

"Stop."

"And destroy my fun?" Irons asked, believing Jake was addressing him.

"I said STOP!" Jake growled through his clenched teeth. The young man was not taking to Irons he was speaking to the witchblade. Jake focused his mind on the witchblade and demanded that it listen to him.

"What the hell?" Iron cursed as he watched the armor slowly disappear.

"The witchblade wanted to heal me," Jake snapped. "It didn�t want anything to do with your sorry ass." Jake forced Irons� hands behind his back and placed the handcuffs on him. Irons was dumbfounded. He could not believe the blade had not listened to him. "I don�t want this damn thing. I wish Sara had it; but I�ve got it now and I�ll be damned if I let you get your grubby hands on the witchblade." Jake forced Irons to walk out of Sara�s room and down the hall. All eyes were on him as he led Kenneth Irons through the hospital in handcuffs. " I�d sooner die then give you its power."

"Didn�t your mother tell you to be careful what you wish for Det. McCarthy?" Jake did not speak as they walked in silence. When he reached his car Jake opened the door for his prisoner.

"Watch your head." Jake muttered, as he slammed Irons head onto the car�s roof. "I told you to be careful." He threw Irons in the back seat with a smile.

"What the fuck were you thinking?" Dante snapped, as Jake stood on the opposite side of his desk locked in his superior�s office. "Were you thinking?" He opened his mouth to speak but Dante began to yell again. "You can�t arrest one of the richest men in the damn city for no fuckin� reason! Use your god damn head, McCarthy!" Dante fell down into his chair. Jake swore he could see a blood vessel popping out from his captain�s forehead. "Do you have anything you would like to add?"

"Well, sir, I.."

"You better fuckin pray to God he doesn�t sue our asses for this little 'incident'."

"He was one of the men who put Sara in the hospital," Jake snapped, finally able to get a word in.

"What the fuck would he want with that slut? You�re pullin shit out of your ass, McCarthy; and to think I thought you were gonna be a damn good cop too. Jesus Christ get out of my face. You make me sick." Jake wasn�t about to protest, in fact he made a hasty retreat. As Jake emerged from Dante�s office he saw Irons was waiting outside the door. The younger man attempted to pass the millionaire but Irons stepped in his way and whispered:

"You will lose this fight, I assure you."

"Fuck you!" Jake spat as he moved away from Irons. Jake could hear Irons laughing, which made him angrier.

"Jake!" Lloyd called, as he passed his old office.

"Fuck," he grumbled. Jake decided to keep walking, giving the illusion he didn�t hear Lloyd. However, Lloyd ran after him, leaving Jake no other option but to stop and listen to his dull chatter.

"Hey Jake, how is Sara?"

"She�s your partner why don�t you stop by the damn hospital and see her?" Jake snapped, annoyed that he had to waste his time speaking to Lloyd.

"Yeah, well," Lloyd looked down at the ground. "I�ve been meaning to get there but.."

"But what? She�s your fuckin� partner. Show Sara that you care for her." He did not wait for Lloyd�s response and left him standing in the hallway. Jake had to get away from the station before Dante, Lloyd and Irons drove him over the edge.

***

"He can arrest me anytime he wants," muttered the youngest nurse with red hair. "But then again I always liked a man in uniform," she continued, as she searched for a pen among the piles of papers, which littered their station.

"He�s hot." The eldest agreed. "But he doesn�t wear a uniform."

"I�m sure he has one in his closet. Don�t they all get one, or something?" Asked a middle-aged woman, as she hastily ate her Twinkie, which was her lunch. "Anyway, I am sure he has handcuffs." A devilish smile crossed her face and her colleagues looked at her and laughed. "Like you all weren�t thinkin it."

"Hello ladies." Jake leaned against their counter and they all smiled. "How is she?"

"I�m afraid there hasn�t been any change," the redheaded nurse said. "She hasn�t had any visitors today either. I�ve been watching for you. Oh and our superior is off today so she won�t be able to chase you out of the hospital."

"Thanks." Jake walked towards Sara�s room and all the nurses� eyes were focused on him.

The eldest woman sighed. "I need some of that."

"It�ll never happen," whined the redhead. "He�s got it bad for his partner. It�s the story of my life. No one loves me nor wants me." The others gathered around their fallen colleague and attempted to help her self esteem.

"Hey Sara," Jake muttered, walking into her room. As she lay in her bed, Jake�s heart ached for her, yet her condition was improving. Her bruises were no longer purple they had faded into dull shades of yellow. But her nose and ribs were still broken and she needed a machine to help her to breathe.

He walked over to the window, pulled up the shade and threw out the wilting flowers he had bought for her. Jake replaced them with another arrangement of mixed matched flowers. He was unfamiliar with the names, but the bouquet looked nice. Jake didn't know if Sara was the type of woman who would appreciate the flowers, but they helped with the appearance of her room and made it seem less gloomy.

"Dante yelled at me for arresting Irons. I think I�m on his shit list now." Jake pulled up a chair and sat next to her bed. "I don�t give a damn. Work isn�t the same without you. I�m thinking about going to another station. I can�t do deskwork for eight hours. Lloyd is still suckin down tic tacs like there is no tomorrow. There is something wrong with that man. I do have good news. The witchblade hasn�t blown off my hand�yet. It�s been pretty dormant for the past week. I�ve had a couple of freaky dreams but nothing too bad." Jake paused for a moment, and gently took her hand. "I�m trying to go on with life. I know they say time marches on, but it�s hard. I miss ya Sara." Jake kissed her hand and looked at her peaceful expression.

The door flew open and two uniformed officers were standing before him. "Jake McCarthy." One of the fat cops said.

"You know it�s me, Bill."

"Yeah, well, we don�t want to do this but you�re under arrest."

"For what?" Jake snapped, standing up. "What the hell did I do?"

"The captain said it had something to do with Kenneth Irons." He reached for his handcuffs. "We don�t know the details, he just told us to bring you in."

"I�m not going." The other officer spoke. "Don�t make this harder on us then it already is."

"Sorry boys but there is no way in hell you are arresting me." Jake placed his hand behind his back and summoned the witchblade. "Tell Dante if he wants me he has to come and get me." He stepped forward, and punched the two officers before they had a chance to react to Jake�s threat. One cried out, the other staggered backwards but Jake did not wait around to see what had happened and he ran out of Sara�s room, then down the hall.

"Call security!" snapped one officer, as he held his nose, blood streaming down his face. In the background Jake could hear the nurses scrambling around but he dared not look back.

"Wonderful," Jake thought to himself as he ran. "If life wasn�t bad enough, it just got worse."