So this came to me as an idea while I was on vacation. Don't ask why, I really can't say why. It just did. I'm not sure if this can work out to be a long-term fic, so review it and tell me what you think! (:

Rating: T for language, and future mild sexual references.

Disclaimer: As if I own anything mentioned.

Four years earlier – location: Chicago, Illinois

Bulletproof vests had never been one of Nancy Drew's favorite clothing items. Thankfully, her private investigator career didn't usually require her to wear one unless she was working with the police or potentially dangerous suspects. Fortunately those types of suspects weren't common around the River Heights area. At times like these though, she found herself in need to travel to other places to crack her cases. What had started off as a small River Height burglary had turned into a national theft ring, one that led Nancy to Chicago.

There she got into contact with the FBI, who reluctantly agreed to have her help out on the case. They had originally refused to take her with them, considering she was but a nineteen year old amateur detective from a small town.

What had convinced them to change their minds had been the appearance of her long-time friends and fellow detectives Frank and Joe Hardy. Similar events had occurred around the Bayport area, and they too had been led to Chicago on the case. Running into them was a surprising turn of events, but a welcome one nonetheless for Nancy.

That was how Nancy found herself to be standing on the John Hancock Center building in a bulletproof vest and a headset on her head. They had tracked down the leaders of the theft ring to their hideout, only to find that they had hidden and were now trying to take down the FBI themselves. Apparently being a good sniper was a requirement to be a top boss in the theft business, since the FBI agents found themselves having to duck every few seconds from incoming bullets.

With some SWAT team members, Nancy had made her way to the top of the building in hopes to pick up the sniper's location and pass the knowledge along to the FBI agents waiting on the street for their destination. Joe was among them, whereas Frank was with Nancy on the roof.

'Two good pairs of eyes are always better than just one Nan. Plus I'm sure Ned would be happier knowing you've got someone watching your back out here with that sniper running around,'

Were the words he had employed to convince her to take him along. She had wanted to have the least amount of people with her to go up on the roof. More people meant more attention would be drawn to them. Already the FBI had forced some SWAT guys to go with her with shields in the case of bullets, and they would only slow her down. When Frank and Joe offered to go with her she had easily convinced Joe to help out the FBI agents on the streets, but Frank was a different story.

Although he claimed that what Ned would prefer was of importance to him, Nancy could clearly tell his real purpose through his tone.

'I wouldn't be able to live with myself if I let anything happen to you and not do anything about it.'

It almost made Nancy believe that he really and truly cared greatly about her in a special way. She knew all too well though that he meant it out of years of friendship. At least she was trying to convince herself of that. Even if he did mean it as more than a friend, he had Callie he had to get home to, and she had Ned. They both knew that.

Nancy sighed softly as they reached the roof door. In front of her were approximately four SWAT members, with about two more in the rear. Frank was a mere foot to her left, dressed similarly to her with a look of concern on his face.

"Nance maybe you should stay by the door…"

"No Frank. This was my idea and I'm in charge of this operation, so I will go out and look around for this guy."

Nancy replied, casting him a strange look. He knew how she had a tendency to throw herself in dangerous situations all the time and whenever he had been with her he had usually gone along with her without much of a fight. Sure he cared for her safety, but he was well aware of how she took care of herself. Why was he trying to get her to step down this time? As a response he simply shrugged and turned his head to face forward.

Nancy let her eyes linger on him a few moments more, curiosity filling her blue eyes and thoughts running at one hundred miles an hour in her head. The sound of the door creaking open snapped her out of her head to the present situation. The group moved as one onto the open room, shields up towards the edge. Once there they separated slightly, every armed guard posting themselves at small intervals with Nancy and Frank behind them, crouched on the ground.

It took only seconds for the first shot to hit. It hit the shield protecting Frank and ricocheted off with a short but loud sound. Nancy cringed slightly. So maybe the shields had been a good idea, since the shooters seemed to be well aware of their location. How had they been spotted so quickly? Well, it didn't matter now. Nancy had to find their position, and fast.

She peeked from the side of the shield and waited for the next shot. She was rewarded two seconds later when a bullet hit the shield in front of her about an inch from her peeking face.

"Shoot."

She mumbled as she got herself back behind the shield. Although she was almost hit right in the face, she had been able to pinpoint the general location of the shot. The bullet had ricocheted off to the left, meaning the shot had come from a slight right angle from their position.

Nancy peeked again slightly from behind the shield. There were two possible buildings from this distance, but she wasn't sure which. A sudden movement caught her eye on the left building. It had to be them.

"I think I've got them. Tall gray building off the main street. Looks like two shooters."

She said into the headset. She heard a mumbled reply and shrugged. She had to be positive of her shot though. The FBI team would only get one chance at a surprise entry. The roof's edge was much too low to see on top of the other building properly. She had to back up to see clearly.

Her feet backed up slowly, keeping her eyes on the building. She ignored the words around her to get back behind the shield, even Frank's. Mistakes weren't permitted with the FBI, and she wasn't about to get herself on their bad side. She only needed another two or three steps, she could almost see figures on the roof.

That was when the bullet hit her.

Either her bulletproof vest was terrible or they were using military bullets. Either way Nancy found herself thrown backwards with arms spread eagle-like, her entire body falling back on her heels. She could feel the place where the bullet had penetrated her skin, somewhere right below her chest.

All she saw were black dots dancing around her vision, which was also getting blurrier with every passing second. She didn't feel the impact of the ground beneath her back. All she heard was a voice. A voice she recognized. Frank's voice.

"NANCY! NANCY ANSWER ME!"

She tried opening her mouth to answer him, but she found herself to be short of breath. She started sucking in as much air as she could to try and breathe right, but it wasn't working. She was hyperventilating with no solution in sight. Everything was turning black and she could hardly stay conscious. Only Frank's voice seemed to penetrate her mind.

"NANCY! Why didn't I just go after you….DAMMIT!"

It was then that she completely blanked out.