CHAIN REACTION
"You
see, there is only one constant. One universal. It is the only real
truth. Causality. Action, reaction. Cause and effect."
-Merovingian,
The Matrix
Kate's heart was hammering at the inside of her chest as she stopped and stared into the terrorist's eyes. There was but a split second's time to evaluate the situation, to decide whether the tiny spark of kindness, the flash of humanity that she saw there was worth not stabbing him.
And in that split second, three inexplicable images flashed through her mind. Herself, a bullet hole in the center of her forehead. Tony, blood spattered over his face. And Gibbs, looking madder than she had ever seen him before. Madder than he was all the times that any of them had screwed up, or Fornell had butted in, or JAG and the SecNav made unreasonable demands.
The terrorist was unresisting, even smiling, because he was sure she wouldn't do it. He saw her hesitation. Time's up, Kate, she thought to herself. What's it gonna be?
She hefted the scalpel up and rammed it between the terrorist's ribs.