Written while putting off writing an essay. Lost track of time and now... well, let's just say I'll be awake for a few more hours. Inspiration came from "For You" by Keith Urban.
Disclaimer: Don't own anything you recognize.
When Esposito sees the grenade roll across the linoleum floor towards him, he does what he was trained to do, what he was forced to do, what was drilled into his brain.
"Bomb!" He shouts, the sound erupting from his chest is rough and primal. Adrenaline shoots through him as he turns to the direction they came from, fanning his arm out in the direction his team should go in.
He can hear those milliseconds ticking away in his brain. Any second now, any second.
Esposito's warning shoots through Kate's heart. Panic floods her. She can't breathe, she can't move. She has to get her team out.
Her team. The ones she has vowed to protect. Her brothers in arms. She turns towards the door, waving her arm madly to gesture for them to move. They just stare.
"Go! Go!" She screams, her voice reflecting her panic. Castle moves towards the door with Esposito and Ryan following shortly behind.
There's still so far to go.
When Castle realizes that Kate follows behind, he stops, planting his feet stubbornly. He waits for her, catches a glimpse of her manic eyes as she rushes forward, knowing that if they make it through this, she's going to kill him.
He braces himself for the blast. He's not ready to go. That ring is still sitting in his desk drawer…
When she reaches his side, they move forward, together. Just like always.
Ryan watches as his team races towards the doors of the room, to safety. They still have so far to go. His conclusion is like ice in his veins, creeps into his heart, and stops all time. Life freezes around him, and he feels like he has all the time in the world.
Except he doesn't He's not going to make it to that door. None of them are. The numbers shoot through his mind. Four to none, three to one.
He doesn't want to go. Jenny still has nine more weeks and they don't even know if it's a boy or girl…
He looks back at the grenade, still sitting on the floor. He runs to it.
There's no way any of them are going to reach the doors in time. Esposito knows that, but he's going to die trying. He throws one last look over his shoulder and his heart stops.
That's Ryan throwing himself onto the ground. .
When the blast comes, they all flinch. He looks to Castle and Beckett, who are frozen, looks of horror and comprehension on their faces.
Esposito doesn't move.
There's barely a body left to save.