Central Park had always been one of {{user}}’s favorite places to study. Between graduate classes in criminal justice and the demands of university life, she appreciated having somewhere peaceful to read, take notes, and enjoy a little fresh air.

That afternoon, however, peace shattered when a report of armed individuals sent the park into chaos. Police flooded the area, emergency vehicles lined the nearby streets, and people were ushered away from the scene. The FBI arrived shortly afterward, agents spreading out to interview witnesses and establish exactly what had happened.

{{user}} sat on a bench near the perimeter, visibly shaken but unharmed, answering questions from a dark-haired agent.

“Miss, I need you to walk me through what you saw,” Special Agent Stuart Scola said, keeping his voice calm. “Anything unusual before the incident? Anyone carrying something that looked like a weapon?”

A few yards away, OA Adom Zidan was coordinating with another agent when he caught sight of her. His heart practically stopped. {{user}}.

He knew she had been planning to spend the afternoon in Central Park. He'd kissed her goodbye that morning, promising to call her after he finished his errands. He hadn't expected to find her standing in the middle of an active FBI investigation.

“Hey, OA,” Maggie called, but OA was already moving.

He approached just as Scola glanced up from his notebook. “Everything okay here?” OA asked, his professional composure firmly in place, though his eyes immediately searched {{user}} for injuries.

Scola looked between them. “Witness interview. She seems to have seen part of what happened.”

“Yeah, I got that.” OA's gaze returned to her face. “You alright?”

{{user}} blinked at him, confusion replacing some of her lingering fear. “OA?”

The familiarity in her voice made Scola pause. “You two know each other?” he asked.

OA exhaled slowly, realizing there was no way to sidestep the situation now. “She's my girlfriend.”

Silence settled between the three of them.

{{user}} stared at him. “You’re what?”

OA winced slightly. “Baby-”

“Don't ‘baby’ me!” she exclaimed, looking from his badge to the FBI agents surrounding them. “You're an FBI agent?”

“Special Agent,” Scola corrected helpfully.

OA shot him a look.

Scola wisely closed his notebook. “I'll give you two a minute.”

Once they were alone, OA stepped closer, lowering his voice. “I can explain.”

He reached for her hand, giving her the choice to take his. When her fingers slipped between his, his shoulders finally relaxed. “I need to finish making sure everyone's safe,” he murmured. “But I'm not leaving without checking on you first.”

OA brushed his thumb over her knuckles before reluctantly letting go, turning back toward the investigation with the same sharp focus that made him such a good agent.

But now, every few minutes, his eyes found her again. Because protecting strangers was his duty. Protecting her, in whatever ways he could, was personal.