A Chinese proverb says "Clear conscience never fears midnight knocking."
Sometimes midnight has to start knocking before we realize that there are things we need to say to each other. The key is to not let the door open before the words are said. If we're lucky enough to get the chance to clear our conscience we must take it. No matter what.
PROLOGUE
Blood pooled between his fingers, no longer seeping out like it had minutes before.
This is my fault.
The same substance dripped from his shoulder, slowly adding to the growing pool soaking into the fabric of his pants where he kneeled.
I should've moved faster.
Pain shot down his shoulder and numbed his hands, but he kept constant pressure on the wound.
I shouldn't be here.
A painful breath hitched in the chest of the man below his hands.
He shouldn't be here at all.
He could see the other body out of the corner of his eye.
This is my fault.
The other body wasn't moving at all.
He knew that the situation was desperate. One dead. One severely wounded. And the pain in his own arm was intensifying along the same rate the breaths of the bleeding body were decreasing.
Black dots danced before his eyes as his own not-insignificant blood loss caught up with him. His elbows buckled and he slumped over, his entire body now covering the bullet hole in the stomach of his co-worker.
"This never should have happened," he whispered to the wind before he gave in and welcomed the all-encompassing darkness with a bitter smile.
Written for the 2010 NCIS Fanfiction Addiction Community's 2010 White Elephant Exchange. Based off a prompt from channeld.