COMFORTING HER
AUTHOR'S NOTE/DISCLAIMER
Takes place directly after Toma's suicide in "The Thing About Heroes". Belongs to Dick Wolf and NBC.
Hearing the gunshot, Antonio's throat dropped into his stomach.
"Kim!" he shouted as he quickened his pace. Damn it! Did he shoot her? Were we wrong? he wondered. When he got to the scene, he saw the girl crying and cradling Toma's body to her. Aw, hell. He killed himself, he thought to himself. And of course she was going to take it hard. She had trained the guy after all.
"Hey, Kim. I gotcha," he told her as he reached for her. For a response, she pushed him away. He shouldn't be here! I failed! I didn't save him! she thought as she continued crying. For a few moments Antonio stared. Hate this. Not sure what to do, he mused. When she finally released the body and stood up, her partner stepped forward.
"I'm-I'm sorry. I shouldn't have-" she began to say as she swiped at her tears.
"You have every right. He killed himself right in front of you," he interjected.
"But I-"
"Hey. Look at me." Hearing the serious tone, she did so. "This is not on you. You did everything you could to save him. I know that. What he did-what he chose to do-that's on him and no one else."
"I didn't reach him. I said the wrong thing."
"No. Not your fault. You did everything you could." With a sigh, Kim nodded. Not sure I buy it, but we need to solve the case, she thought. "Hey. I'm here for you…no matter what…okay?"
"Yeah. Okay." Antonio pulled Kim close and this time, she didn't pull away, instead taking solace in the strength of his arms. They'd get to the bottom of this and clear him. She just knew it. A few moments later, she stepped out of the embrace and Antonio radioed for the others.
THE END