Disclaimer: I do not own the characters... :'(
Chapter 1
Everything was stained red. His hands. His shirt. His pants. Everywhere he looked, all he saw were crimson waves crashing over and over – growing bigger by the second. Every second more important, more devastating than the last. Desperately he tried to stem the growing crimson tide, but not matter how hard he tried, Don Eppes couldn't stop the blood from flowing.
Megan closed her eyes at the gruesome scene before her. The place was crawling with a gaggle of police, fire, rescue, and FBI personnel. Witnesses were being interviewed, victims were being evaluated and taken to various hospitals, and others were huddled into groups consoling friends.. Merrick had already informed Megan that they were off the case because it now involved two members of their team; a point that they were all ready to argue, but they first wanted to see their partners...their friends.
Scanning the crowd, Megan's heart sank at not being able to find the familiar faces. Finally, just when she was ready to head to the trauma center, she spotted an EMT bent over the slumped form of Agent Don Eppes. Sucking in a breath at the bloody sight of her partner, she squared her shoulders and prepared her mind for the possibilities to come.
"Sir, can you tell me where you are hurt?" Luke, a young EMT kneeled next to Don. "Sir?" Again, he tried to get a response, but he didn't even get a head movement. Gently, he started to checked the patient over, trying to find the source of blood. Don's clothes bore heavy spots, and his hands and arms were stained red, as well.
"Let me try, Luke," Megan kneeled on the other side of her partner. "Don? Can you hear me?" Megan moved in front of Don, who was sitting on his knees. "Agent Eppes. Respond!" Megan inwardly cringed at the loudness of her voice, but it seemed to work. Don looked up at her with a distant expression on his face. "Hey, Don. Can you tell us where you are hurt?"
"Not...Me..." Don whispered before collapsing into Megan's arms. She and Luke lowered Don to the ground, where the technician assessed him.
"Aside from a large knot on his head, I can't find any other injuries." Another EMT joined them at that moment, and the two worked to get Don ready for transport. "He is definitely suffering from shock, but we will know more once we get him to the ER." Luke tried to sound reassuring.
When they lifted Don up, his eyes fluttered, and he moved his lips. Megan moved closer to hear what he was trying to say.
"Tell ... I'm sorry...I...I c. save 'im..."
"Who, Don, couldn't save who?" Megan already had a sinking feeling as to who Don was going to say, but she would need to know for sure.
"Ch...Charlie." Don whispered before succumbing to unconsciousness