Saint Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle.
The moment she knew what course of action she was going to take, Kate's mind went completely and utterly blank. There was no self-questioning, no doubt, no fear, nothing but absolute certainty and an utter calm that settled around her like a blanket, insulating her from any outside thoughts.
She was going to die. There was no doubt about that in her mind, and yet there was no worry, either. If she died, she died.
Be our protection against the wickedness and snares of the devil.
"What's it gonna be?" the suspect yelled. She heard the soft sound of Gibbs's grunt as the man – a petty officer who had murdered several young women – did something that made him hurt. Kate felt the silence surrounding her become icy cold.
"I'm coming out," she called out.
"Kate, no!" Gibbs shouted. Then he grunted again.
"Toss your gun first!" the petty officer yelled.
Kate tossed her Sig out onto the floor in full view and stood slowly, her hands visible. She took in the scene before her. Gibbs was lying on the floor, the muzzle of a snub-nosed .45 pressing hard against the pulse point in his neck. Tony lay unconscious on the other side of the car she'd taken cover behind. He wasn't bleeding, but Gibbs was.
May God rebuke him, we humbly pray;
She took a deep breath. "Let him go," she said calmly.
"Why should I?" the petty officer sneered. "You're unarmed and he's right where I want him. What's to stop me from killing all three of you right now and heading straight to Mexico?"
"You'll never make it," she said, her voice flat. "There's BOLOs out on you from here to California. You don't have a chance. Let him go, come with us quietly, and we can talk about leniency."
He scoffed. "Don't be ridiculous. You people's idea of leniency would be the rest of my life in Leavenworth."
She raised an eyebrow at him. "Better than the electric chair, don't you think?"
In the corner of her eye, she saw Tony's eyelids flutter. Deep inside her calm, she felt a glimmer of hope. She moved slowly, one step at a time, out from behind the car, stepping forward, keeping the petty officer's attention on her and not on her partner.
He raised the .45. "Stop moving!"
She froze in place. "All right," she said, keeping her voice steady and quiet. "I'm not moving."
and do Thou, O Prince of the Heavenly Host - by the Divine Power of God –
He stood up then, walking toward her, the gun outstretched in his hand. "I think I'm gonna kill you first," he said when he stood right in front of her. "I wonder how he'd feel, watching you die and knowing there's not a damn thing he can do to stop it?"
"So do I," Kate said, and smiled slightly as Tony raised his hand from his prone position on the floor.
The movement caught the petty officer's eye and he turned slightly. Kate flinched backward the instant the .45 wavered, and a shot rang out from Tony's gun.
cast into hell Satan and all the evil spirits who roam throughout the world seeking the ruin of souls.
Later, in the squadroom, after Gibbs had been patched up and Tony diagnosed with a mild concussion, Gibbs stood in front of Kate's desk and stared down into her eyes. "You ever pull a stupid stunt like that again," he said quietly, "and I'll shoot you myself." Without waiting for a reply, he turned and went back behind his own desk.
Kate stood, pulling on her jacket, and smiled in his direction. "You're welcome," she said softly as she headed for the elevator.
-end—
Author's note: I do not ordinarily post my stories to this site, as a great deal of my work is rated MA/NC17. If you would like to read more of my work, please feel free to visit me at xdawnfirex-fic (dot) livejournal (dot) com.
I appreciate any and all feedback.