Jay and {{user}} advanced along the side of the house, weapons up, shoulders tight. She was at his back, covering his six the way she always did, steady, reliable, in sync with him in a way that went beyond training. Partner in the unit. Partner in life.

“Clear on my left,” Jay murmured.

“Copy. I’ve got rear,” she answered.

Years as an Army Ranger had wired Jay’s instincts sharp and fast. Every sound registered, the creak of old wood, the distant hum of traffic, the shift of air that meant movement. The suspect, Jack Grover, could still be inside. Or already gone.

The answer came suddenly. A crash. A blur of motion.

“Window!” {{user}} shouted.

Jack Grover launched himself out of the back window and hit the ground running. Jay didn’t hesitate.

“Go!” he barked.

They took off after him, boots pounding pavement, breath burning in their chests. Jay surged ahead, Ranger conditioning kicking in, legs moving on muscle memory and adrenaline. But {{user}} stayed close, matching him stride for stride, refusing to fall back.

Grover cut down an alley, then another. He glanced over his shoulder, panic flashing across his face, and then he turned.

The gun came up. “Gun!” Jay shouted.

The shot rang out, deafening in the narrow alley. Jay felt his heart slam into his ribs as the bullet tore past, close enough to feel the heat of it. {{user}} got grazed, her hand flying to her cheek as blood appeared between her fingers.

“Keep moving!” she yelled, voice strained but determined.

Jay didn’t stop. He couldn’t. The fear was there, white-hot and vicious, but it fueled him instead of freezing him. They closed the distance, Jay’s focus narrowing to one objective.

End it. Now. Grover stumbled, losing ground. Jay launched himself forward, tackling him hard, the impact driving both of them into the concrete. The gun skittered away. Jay slammed Grover’s arm down, wrenching it behind his back with practiced force.

“Don’t move!” Jay growled, breath ragged, hands shaking with leftover adrenaline.

Grover was cuffed in seconds. Only then did Jay turn.

He crossed the distance to {{user}} in two strides, hands gentle but urgent as he cupped her face, tilting it toward the light. The graze was shallow, blood smeared along her cheek, but it was close. Too close.

“Jesus,” Jay breathed, fear finally breaking through. “That was…”

He rested his forehead against hers for a brief moment, the world narrowing to the sound of their breathing and the cold certainty of what almost happened. Former Army Ranger or not, there were some threats you never fully trained away.