Don ran hard, seeing Danny in the corner of his eye, breathlessly calling in for backup, as they pursued the bastard who killed his own infant girls. He saw the landscape pass, felt the burn of the air leaving and returning to his lungs. His heart heart pounding, desperate to catch him, to make him pay, thinking of his own baby girl at home, and his wife.
Tell me how I'm supposed to breathe with no air
She heard the call go out "Officers in pursuit! All officers respond, code 4!!"
Saw everyone mobilizing around her, knowing this was the call Don and Danny went out on. She felt herself freeze, no air flowing in or out.
I'm here alone, didn't wanna leave
My heart won't move, it's incomplete
Stella jolted out of her frozen state, grabbing her gun, and her badge from off her desk, and running to catch up with Mac, who was at the elevator.
"Mac!! Wait for me!!"
He turned, and his eyes, heavy with worry, looked at her and he nodded.
"Lets go!"
'Cause my world revolves around you
It's so hard for me to breathe
Danny pushed hard to get ahead of Don, to catch the guy & take him down. His last push was pre-empted as the man stopped, turned and pulled out a handgun.
"STOP!! I will kill you both before your backup can arrive!!"
They both skidded to a stop, thinking of their loved ones.
Don, picturing the sight of his wife cradling their newborn daughter, her eyes full of tears, and her love for him and her.
Danny, picturing Lindsay, knowing he may never make it up to her, never hold her in his arms as he once did.
Got me out here in the water so deep
Tell me how you gonna be without me
If you ain't here, I just can't breathe
It's no air, no air
Sirens blaring, Mac sped as fast as he could, praying they would get there and all would be well. Terrified they'd lose not just Don and Danny but also Lindsay & Stella. He knew Lindsay was with Hawkes who was right behind him. He spared a glance over to Stella who was dry eyed, but had the look of a Queen in the midst of a War, tired, fearful, but composed. He saw the fear betrayed in how tight her hand was on the arm of the seat. Knuckles white, and nails dug in. He took a hand, put it over hers, and squeezed for a moment.
You took my breath, but I survived
I don't know how, but I don't even care
Don and Danny exchanged glances, and Don put his hands up, placatingly.
"Ok, we're not moving, lets just be calm, ok?"
The man, wild-eyed and panting " Calm?! You will kill me, and I will never be free if i even survive the shooting!"
"Hey, no one said anything about shooting, ok, man?" Danny licked his lips, praying back-up arrived quickly.
So how do you expect me
To live alone with just me
Scenes flashed through Stella's mind, picturing having to explain to their daughter, why her daddy was dead. Explain that he did it to Serve & Protect, and that, its possible that someday it could happen to her only living parent. She shuddered, a small whimper crossing her tightly sealed lips. Stella looked straight ahead, praying to every Saint, & to God, to keep her husband & Danny safe. Her mind in a loop of terrifying scenarios, she could barely draw a full breath.
Tell me how I'm supposed to breathe with no air
Can't live, can't breathe with no air
It's how I feel whenever you ain't there
Don saw the cops arriving, behind the man, where he couldn't see them, and he prayed for safety as he goaded the man, to keep his attention on him.
"What? Is it harder to kill your own infant children than two fully grown men? Don't have the guts?"
Danny sucked in a breath, praying this did not push the man over the edge, and get them killed, not with back-up feet away.
Tell me how I'm supposed to breathe with no air
Can't live, can't breathe with no air
Mac skidded to a stop around the corner and was out before Stella, grabbing her, to keep her from rushing to the scene.
"Officers are on scene already, wait a minute!"
Stella struggled, then stopped, knowing he is right, waiting to hear anything over the radio.
6 shots rang out in succession, tearing a scream from Stella's throat as she tore herself from Mac's grip and pushed him away. She darted around the corner, saw Don & Danny. But not on the ground, bleeding. They were standing, holding their guns, & the suspect was lying down, still. She pushed through the crowd of cops, yelling Don's name.
"DON!"
Don's head snapped up, and he saw the blur of his wife and he holstered his gun, barely in time. She threw herself into his arms, sobbing and yelling at him in Greek.
Tell me how I'm supposed to breathe with no air
Can't live, can't breathe with no air
Don wraps his arms around her, finally able to breathe, feeling her heart beat against his chest, he soothes her.
"Stella, I am ok, we had to shoot him"
Looking up at him, her eyes full of tears, she whispers "Without you, I can't breathe."
No air...