. . .

When Mac entered the coffee shop, which now was a crime scene, the first thing he registered was unusual silence. The only sound was the broken glass cracking underfoot with his every step. He cast his eyes around the room. Four chairs were knocked over and there were shattered cups on the floor. First victim, a middle-aged man, was behind the counter. Slightly to his left was another victim. A girl, not much older than twenty. Next to her, on the floor was a tray with two more cups, teaspoons and one small plate with a cake.

Mac instantly played the possible course of events in his head. The girl was probably coming from the back with the order, holding the tray with both her hands. He briefly wondered if she had dropped it to the floor before she got shot, in a dread of what she had walked into, or just right after, before she fell to the floor herself. The corner of his mouth twitched barely visibly. He had no idea how many times he had seen it already. Wrong place, wrong time. Possible witness had became a random victim. It was hard to keep his mind from playing the 'if only' game. If only she had heard the gunshots and stayed at the back, if only she had came from the back two minutes later. If only she had excused herself and left work early. If only she had gotten another job... He could go on and on, till the infinity. Or that what it seemed, as a matter of fact it had only one, very obvious end – the dead body on the floor.

He shook his head and turned his eyes from the girl to Jo. She had squatted down on her heels, her hands still pressed to girl's chest, her eyes fixed on her face. She was as motionless, as the dead body next to her.

''What ha...'' Mac wanted to ask Danny, but his voice failed him. He cleared his throat and tried again, ''what happened?''

''Robbery went wrong.'' Danny told him, although he got the feeling that Mac had already figured that out that and he wasn't really asking about the crime. ''The owner got shot into the head. He died instantly. But the girl... She was still alive when we got here and...''

''...Jo tried to save her.'' Mac finished for him.

''Yea.''

''How long has she been like this?'' Mac asked, not taking his eyes off Jo. She clearly had to hear his voice, yet she didn't move ever so slightly. She was like frozen.

''Over half an hour now.'' Danny sighed. ''Mac, we tried to talk to her... to reason with her that she has to let them take the body. She's not reacting. I didn't know what to do...'' He added helplessly.

''It's OK. You did a right thing calling me.'' Mac simply told him. He slowly walked towards Jo, as if he was afraid to pull her out from her trance too abruptly.

Part of him had been wishing for something like this to happen. For some kind of earthquake that would crash her shell and leave her with no choice, but to come out of it. It was an awful thing to wish for, he was more than aware of it. He had only one justification for doing it – he was ready to be at her side then. To catch her before she fell, to shield her before she got hit. To take the impact of the blow and protect her from getting broken.

But now... Now he regretted that such a thought had even crossed his mind. Seeing her like this was simply too much to bear. Only now he realized how true was the saying: be careful what you wish for, because you might just get it.

With a slight hesitation he gently touched Jo's shoulder, desperately wanting to get her attention.

''Jo... please... stand up.''

But there was no answer. With a deep sigh he crouched down next to her. She didn't even seem to notice his presence. He spotted girl's name-tag on the floor and absent-mindedly reached for it. He turned it over and read the name. Then he glanced at the girl and swallowed hard. It didn't require a great mind to put two and two together. Jo was going through her own personal drama again right now, under his very eyes. And all he knew was that he had to stop her from doing it.

He placed the name-tag down on the floor and held out his hand towards Jo again. He tightly gripped her arm, wanting to turn her to face him, but much to his surprise she jerked away.

''Jo, you have to step back. They had to take... her.''

''No.'' She answered and he was able to catch an odd vibration in her voice.

''Jo, please.'' He tried again, this time standing up and pulling her up with himself.

''No... no... No!''

He wasn't quite sure against what she was really protesting. He had a gut feeling that it wasn't actually against being pulled away itself, but rather against what had happened. But then, she was trying to break free from his grip, not wanting to leave the girl's body. Her cry of protest was echoing in his ears when he lifted her up off the ground without much difficulties, despite the fact she was struggling against him. But she was light and much weaker than he was. The only thing that was strong about her in this moment was her screaming.

He knew that everyone's eyes were on them and it made him furious. He didn't want anyone to see her so upset and so broken. He wished he could hide her in his arms, keep her away from the curious glances.

As quickly as he could he carried her outside the coffee shop and put her down on the ground. Only then his grip on her lightened. Once it did, she tried to push him to the side and get back inside, but he blocked the entrance with his body, keeping her from doing it.

Her protest was now not louder than a whisper, uttered in between the quiet sobs. He was able to catch the name she told him only once, that night. It proved correct his conjectures – she was completely cut off from reality, plunged into the sorrowful illusion.

''Jo... it's not her. It's not Leanne...'' He tried to explain. ''Jo... Jo, please, look at me!'' He begged, cupping her face in both his hands, forcing her to stop struggling and look him in the eye. Her face was wet with tears, her mascara smudged. She bore no resemblance to the calm, composed woman he had known. She was completely beside herself and it was making his heart ache. He wanted nothing more than her being like she used to be. He needed to bring her back, even if it would take to go to hell and back.

Finally Jo's unseeing eyes seemed to focus on his. ''It's not her.'' He repeated loud and clear, like he was speaking to her in some foreign language.

Jo took a sharp intake of breath, the freezing cold air burned her lungs. Her head was pounding in the frantic rhythm her heart set. It felt like heavy banging against her temples, but at least it was slowly bringing her back to her senses. She suddenly became aware how sticky her hands were. The blood on them had already caked. Once again the smell of it hit her with a sickening strength.

''Let go of me.'' Jo whispered. But there was no reaction. His arms remained locked around her as he kept her close. ''Mac, let go of me.'' She repeated more firmly. ''I'm fine.''

Even though it didn't sound at all convincing, Mac moved his arms away and she stepped back a little. She held her hands in front of her and looked down at them. He followed her gaze and noticed that they were shaking visibly. Then she glanced inside the coffee shop.

''You're not going back inside.'' Mac told her, as he was reading her mind.

''I need to clean up.'' Jo said weakly, in a slightly complaining tone.

''I'm driving you home.'' He made a quick decision, trying not to think what had happened the last time he had spoken those exact words to her.

''No.'' She protested instantly. He couldn't say it surprised him. It didn't. It was almost natural to resist something that could lead straight to making the same painful mistake again. It was nothing more than a self-preservation instinct. But that was his mind coldly reasoning. And it had nothing to do with his heart.

She seemed to noticed a brief flicker of pain that crossed his features. She took a deep breath and added quickly, ''I can't come back home like this. Ellie's having a couple of friends staying over night. A slumber party. They'll all freak out when they see me.'' She explained quickly and he nodded lightly. ''Can you take me to the lab instead?''

. . .

A/N Thank you very much for all reviews to the first chapter. I have to admit I got really surprised by the amount of it and how positive they were. I hope it doesn't seem like the story is on the skids...