Everything was off, the sound, the sights, the smells. It was like looking through a bottle at the world, blurry around the edges. He heard screams, but the sounds were off.
"Danny?" He heard from above, looking up he saw his friend Don standing over him, reaching down he felt his hands on his neck. Danny's body shook violently, he could taste the salty taste of his blood on his lips.
"Danny, stay with me man. Stay with me." He heard, above him things were beginning to focus.
"I... can't breath." Danny said, in barely a whisper.
"I know, help is on the way buddy, just stay awake." Don said, pulling his friend into his lap. "Mac! I need some help over here!" He yelled out, as Danny's body became weaker by the second.
"What happened?" Danny asked, gasping for air.
"You've been shot, it's gunna be OK, just breath." Don said, placing a hand on the wound on his chest. Danny began to cough, blood was pooling in his throat, choking him. Don reacted by putting him on his side, letting him spit out the blood.
"I can't..." Danny said as tears stung his eyes. "Don!" He cried out, panic was taking over.
"God!" He heard from above, his bosses face came into view. The look of pure terror across his face, sent goosebumps rippling through Danny's skin. "Danny, stay with us, help is on the way." He said placing his hands on the bloody wounds of his body.
"Linds?" Danny cried, his eyes were blurry, he could barely keep them open. His mouth barely moved when he spoke her name. "Where-" He was getting weaker, blood was soaking his lungs. He felt like he was at the bottom of a pool looking up at the people above the surface.
"She's alright, we got her out of here." Don explained, as he ran his hands through his hair to comfort his friend. "She's OK Danny, you saved her." He repeated.
"Where the hell is that ambulance?" Mac said looking up and around for any signs of help.
"I love her." Danny said, as he gurgled on blood. He could no longer focus on anything, Don noticed his struggle and picked up his hand and held it tightly, as he brushed his hair with his other.
"She knows Dan. Shhh, save the air. You're going to make it." Don said, trying to put on a brave voice.
"No..." He said barely audible. "Tell her... Don, you have to tell her." His eyes began to close, the blood leaked slowly out of his mouth and nose.
"Mac." Don said, getting his co-worker's attention. They exchanged a look of dread, as they realized their friend would not survive. Mac looked down at Danny, his eyes barely open, his chest barely moved as small amounts of air made its way in.
"We've got you Danny, it's OK." Mac said, offering the only words of encouragement he could.
"No, no!" Danny said as he sucked in air. "I... I don't wanna die... Mac!" He began to panic, tears fell freely out of his eyes. "Mac!" Danny said again. Tears fell from their eyes, it wasn't long now.
"We're here Danny. We've got you." Mac said, holding his hands tightly against his skin. Mac looked up at Don only to find him crying as well, Don held his friend close as he felt the life leaving his body.
"Tell... her... please?" Danny said between gasps. "Please..." He said again as his eyes began to close.
"We will Dan, we'll tell her." Don said, as he brushed his short hair back, the same way his mother did when he was kid. "We'll tell her." He said again.
"It's OK, it... it doesn't even hurt any more." Danny said softly as his eyes closed. His body stopped shaking, his chest still rose and fell softly, and suddenly it stopped. Danny's grasp on Don's hand went soft, as his fingers fell to the floor below him.
Don looked down at the blood that coated the floor, Danny was gone. His best friend had died in his arms, he wasn't ready to let go.
"God." Mac said letting go of his chest and sitting back on his heals. Dropping his blood soaked hands to the ground beside his knees he sat staring at Danny's lifeless body. "I'm sorry Danny." He said as tears fell from his eyes.