The parking lot was too quiet for a crime scene.

Even with the yellow tape snapping lightly in the wind and evidence markers scattered across cracked asphalt, something about it felt unfinished, like the story hadn’t settled yet.

Danny Reagan stood a few paces back, hands on his hips, scanning the perimeter with that instinct he trusted more than procedure. His gaze flicked toward Sergeant {{user}}, who was crouched near a cluster of markers, studying them with quiet focus.

“Kid,” Danny called, not unkindly, “you see somethin’ I’m not?”

She didn’t look up right away. “Maybe,” she said, thoughtful. “Spacing’s off. Shooter wasn’t standing where we thought.”

Danny frowned, stepping closer. “Yeah?”

She gestured slightly, explaining her angle, something subtle, something he wouldn’t have clocked on his own. That was her. Always seeing the details hiding in plain sight.

A faint smirk tugged at his mouth. “You’re gonna make me look bad one of these days.”

“Already do,” she shot back lightly.

And then, gunfire erupted. Loud. Close. Too close.

Danny’s head snapped up. “Down!”

But it was already happening. Shots rang out wildly, ricocheting off metal and concrete. Danny reached for her, but the timing, just off…

{{user}} jerked, a sharp breath tearing from her as the impact hit low, just beneath the edge of her vest.

“Kid!”

He caught her before she hit the ground, dropping with her hard onto the asphalt. His hand moved instantly, pressing against the wound as blood soaked through far too quickly.

“Stay with me, stay with me,” Danny barked, voice tight but commanding as he grabbed his radio. “Shots fired! Officer down! We need backup and an ambulance now!”

His heart was pounding, but his hands stayed steady. They had to. “Hey,” he said, shifting closer, one hand firm against her abdomen, the other bracing her shoulder. “Look at me. You’re okay. You hear me? You’re okay.”

She was pale. Breathing uneven.

Danny swallowed hard, forcing down the surge of anger and fear clawing up his chest. Whoever was out there, he’d deal with that later. Right now, it was her.

“You don’t get to do this today,” he muttered, more personal now, more raw. “You hear me? I just got you coffee this morning. You still owe me for that.”

His voice softened just slightly, but the edge never left. “Stay awake, kid. C’mon. Talk to me.”

Sirens began to wail in the distance, faint but growing. Danny adjusted his grip, applying pressure, refusing to let up. His gaze never left her face, watching every breath like it mattered, because it did. It always did.

“Stay with me,” he repeated, firmer now, like it was an order she couldn’t ignore.

Because as far as he was concerned, she wasn’t going anywhere.