The halon began filling the room. Amanda tried the door handle, knowing it was futile, but she had to try. It quickly became difficult to breathe as the halon replaced the oxygen in the room. Thoughts trickled through her mind, like fat drops from a leaky faucet. The boys... she had accomplished the mission, the computer file was safely sent to the Agency... Mother would be so upset... Lee... she had never really kissed Lee... She didn't think it would end like this... she wasn't ready.
Lee tried the door handle briefly, then without hesitation, stepped back, pulled his gun and shot the lock out. Through the narrow glass window he could see the misty white halon rising toward the ceiling. He pushed at the door, it refused to open. He pulled back and slammed it with his shoulder, putting all his weight into it. "Amanda!" He coughed, almost choking as he took a breath to call her name.
For a few bad seconds he could not find her. Then he saw her, skin unnaturally pale, eyes closed. He crouched and scooped her into his arms. She seemed to weigh nothing in his arms as he rushed out of the room, around the corner. He lowered her onto the carpeted floor of the corridor. "Amanda..." His voice broke. He had to calm his own breathing to find her pulse. It was there, barely. But she was not breathing.
He tilted her chin back, pinching her nose, and lowered his mouth to hers. He breathed for her, watching out of the corner of his eye to see her chest rise.
One breath... Come on, come on... you're too bright and full of laughter and life you can't just go...
Two breaths... fight, Amanda King, you're stubborn and smart and you got the file out...
A third... Don't leave me...
One more... I need you.
She coughed, gasped... "Amanda... " He lowered his forehead to hers, his hand finding hers.
Suddenly the hallway was flooded with people. The tactical paramedics were pushing him aside, putting an oxygen mask over her face. A few minutes later they wanted him to move away. He went to move, but her grip tightened on his hand. He wasn't going anywhere.