AN: Alright, here we go! The first three chapters so far are all written from OA's point of view. This may change, but it's been fun considering most of my other FBI works have been based primarily on Maggie.

This story is going to get a little crazy, but don't give up after chapter two. Also, there is definitely romance between our dynamic duo. It's different from what I've done before, focusing mostly on the characters with just the necessary amount of info about the case to carry the storyline.

I hope you enjoy!

-OA-

The sound of gun shots is never louder than when you truly fear for your or your partner's life. Of course, all situations involving guns or other weapons make you wonder for the slightest moment if you will survive, but all too soon you must push those thoughts from your mind and focus or you really will fail to make it home. But that true fear, the in the moment, caught by surprise weapon fire, is always the worst, always runs the deepest.

This call is no different. We are assisting on a domestic violence hostage call where a man pulled a gun on his wife, four children and nanny. The man didn't know the nanny was just down the hall packing up to leave when he walked in the door and started waving his .45 pistol. The nanny, who called 911 when she discovered what was happening, was overheard by the furious man. He shot her twice and the phone connection was lost.

So, here we stand. No immediate threat to us, but a large threat to the people inside the house. I flash back to the last time we were a part of a similar situation as Maggie stood outside the Kernick residence trying to negotiate. As soon as she saw there were kids in danger, all thoughts of herself and her own life were pushed aside as she charged to the door risking her life for those children. I wonder if we can resolve this quickly and quietly.

I hear the negotiator trying to connect with the man, trying to remind him the people in front of him are counting on him to keep them safe. I think it might be working.

"Look at your children," he says. "Look at how scared they are. Take their fear away. You have the power to do that. You are in charge."

There is a long pause. We are waiting to hear what will happen next. Maggie tenses beside me as suddenly, without warning, another gunshot rings out.

"Go now!" we are commanded through our earpieces. We stand and follow the SWAT in front of us as they break down the door and enter. I wonder if Maggie is also counting the shots as they ring out. One, two, three more shots are fired making six in all. Six bullets. Six lives in the balance.

Time slows to a crawl as we enter the house. From the kitchen I have a clear line of sight to the man who stands in the living room. Cries are ringing out from his children as they sit staring at their mother who is now laying in a pool of her own blood on the floor.

For a moment I wonder how the man is still standing when there are at least seven guns on him, but my brain finally catches up and I see a teenage girl, maybe fifteen being held in front of him like a human shield. It makes me want to vomit seeing the man hold his own daughter that way and it's then I realize this man is too far gone to talk sense into. I think Maggie sees it too as we briefly make eye contact and she steps toward the man.

"Ben, put the gun down," she says to him, her voice cool and collected.

He narrows his eyes at her and the pure hate reflected in my eyes makes me want to grab Maggie and the kids and get them out of there immediately. Of course, that will never work in time. We can't risk any more deaths. Unless it's his.

Maggie shows no reaction to his death glare and stays focused. I'm behind her now, not too close, but my gun is trained on his forehead. Between the two of us, if he shoots one more bullet, he's dead. We all know it. Even him.

For one moment, his eyes flicker between us as if measuring the threat level. His forehead is gleaming with small beads of sweat. He knows he's done. But then in a moment, everything changes.

He pushes the girl in front of him as hard as he can right into Maggie who stumbles as she tries to catch the girl. At the same time his gun shifts to me and he pulls the trigger twice. In the next moments, the world explodes in gunfire and could-have-beens.

The first bullet hits me in the vest. The second time I'm not so lucky. The bullet tears through the side of my forehead. All I feel is pain as it takes me down and warm blood starts to pour from the wound.

Maggie screams my name as she recovers from the weight of the girl. She shoots at Ben as three other guns fire at him in tandem. I see Ben go down. Other armed FBI agents begin grabbing the kids including one who grabs the girl thrown at Maggie to get them out of harms way. Maggie then falls to the ground beside me. My eyes drift to Ben, his eyes open. An agent begins to approach him, but doesn't see his hand as it grasps around his gun. My eyes widen in panic, but I am unable to make a noise. Thankfully, Maggie sees my concern and turns to look. Her gun flies to the Ben, though it's too late. Two more shots rings out as he pulls the trigger. Maggie falls, her blood splattering my shirt and cheek as she hits the ground beside me. Her hands are already clutching her neck where a bullet tore through her skin. And thirty seconds after that first bullet hit my vest, my eyes drift shut and the world fades away.

AN: Please, please review! I'll appreciate it forever!