Title:Shadow of Death
Time: Coincidental with and after "Wrath of Khan"
Disclaimer: None of the characters are mine, all belong to the writers of CBS and "Shark".
"Casey, baby, it's Madeline. Please pick up. You're in danger honey. Tolver's just as dirty as we thought Ray was. Please let me know you're safe. I hope to hear from you soon."Madeline Poe was on pins and needles for what seemed like hours. She had tried several times to raise Casey on his cellphone, but he wasn't answering. Knowing he had left with Tolver to try and find out more about Khan's connection to a purchase of explosives, and knowing now that Tolver was behind Flora Perez' kidnapping, led Stark and his entire team to suspect that Casey's life was in danger. They grounded Khan's plane at the airport, and Stark managed to get the location where Tolver was holding Casey and Flora.
Stark, his team, and several police officers drove to the warehouse where Casey and Flora were being held. SWAT officers managed to break in, but Tolver escaped with Flora, using her as a human shield. Casey implored Tolver to use him instead of the girl, but Tolver would have none of that. SWAT officers freed Casey and led him outside. Madeline saw him and wanted to run straight to his arms, but suddenly gunshots erupted. Tolver was shot several times in the chest. Martin rushed to cover Flora, to shield her from the flying bullets. Her father Emilio was shot in the shoulder. Once the dust settled and the bullets stopped flying, Madeline ran into Casey's arms. "Thank God you're okay. I was so worried," Madeline whispered. Their reunion was interrupted by Raina screaming "I need an ambulance!" Martin had been shot while trying to protect Flora. His body lay motionless and bleeding on the ground.
Stark and his team accompanied Martin to the hospital and waited while he was in surgery. Madeline sat next to Casey, his hands folded as though he were praying for Martin. She never knew Casey to be a spiritual person. She wanted to touch him, to hold his hand, to assure him that their friend and partner would be okay. She still felt the need to let him know she was thankful he was alive, that he wasn't the one on the operating table, not that she wanted Martin there either. She wanted to touch him, but felt she couldn't with Stark there.
As they waited they joked about how small Martin was, how he said he could have been a cop if only he were bigger. As they were laughing the doctor came in. They looked to him for an answer as to how Martin had fared, but the doctor merely shook his head. Martin was gone. The heartbroken team burst into tears. Madeline tried to comfort Raina, but to no avail. She turned towards Casey, and saw that Stark was sitting next to him, his hand on Casey's shoulder.
Stark and his team went out to a nearby pub and drank a toast to their fallen friend and colleague. Afterwards, Casey walked Madeline home. They walked together silently hand in hand. When they got to her door, she opened it. He was about to turn to leave when she grabbed his hand and led him inside.
"I'm not letting you go," she said. She pulled him into her arms, kissing him passionately. They spent the night in each others arms, sheltering each other from the shadow of death that had come way too close for their comfort.