For disclaimers, warnings and etc., you must see the prologue/chapter one.

Essence of Colby – NaNo 2009 – Day Two

Ian's case was surprisingly easy to wrap up and everything was pretty much completed shortly after the end of 'regular' working hours, so Don told everyone to go home. Then, of course, he promptly invited all of them out to one of their favorite hangouts before the team separated for their first weekend off in a few weeks.

Within the hour, not only were the agents, plus Ian, settled at a large table waiting to order but they'd been joined by Alan, Charlie, Amita and Larry.

Except for Alan, most of the group was familiar with Ian, at least with how he worked cases, his professionalism and his cool demeanor. None of them had actually spent any off duty time with him and were surprised at how warm he could be. There was the feeling of long term friendship between he and Colby and it was obvious they were used to interacting with each other.

As the conversation moved through cases either Ian or the team had worked on, Megan asked how Colby and Ian knew each other.

The sniper had been semi-prepared for the question. Although they met while each was in the military and in the Middle East, Ian and Colby hadn't shared any missions or spent much time together within the military structure itself. What they knew of each other was from their times spent as friends, as lovers. While a lot of it was in bed, there was a larger portion of just hanging out. They had kept in touch via email, instant/text messaging as well as long phone calls. There were long weekends during their military time, spent in seclusion as far from soldiers and the Brass as possible and mini-vacations in Idaho that included long hikes, backpacking and horseback riding in the mountains of Idaho.

However, that wasn't anyone's business.

So, before Colby could even take a breath to answer, Ian gave a very 'Ianish" answer. "About three years ago, over in the Mid East."

As everyone waited for him to continue, Colby allowed Ian's comment to stand, giving the impression that it was a war time memory and neither of them wanted to remember it. Instead he voiced his own question, changing the subject. "How did you get involved with the team here?"

Ian inwardly smiled and filled the former soldier in on the case termed 'sniper zero.' Before anyone could steer the conversation back to getting more information about Ian and Colby's meeting, they were on to other things.

Conversation flowed around them, either individually or group involved while food and beverages were consumed. Soon, Megan and Larry were bidding them all good night followed not too long after by Alan saying it was getting late. Charlie and Amita excused themselves as they were Alan's transportation home and then it was only David, Don, Colby and Ian.

As David pardoned himself to use the restroom, Don decided to get one last round of drinks for them.

Alone for the first time, Colby gripped one of Ian's thighs tightly under the table. "Damn, it's good to see you!"

Ian smiled unreservedly and returned the gesture. Both aware that they really couldn't do anything to satisfy themselves of the other's presence, they shared an understanding look and smiled.

Colby's smile faltered however. The blonde really needed contact with the strong, solid and understanding presence beside him and, quickly looking around, Colby leaned forward, grabbing the sniper's shirt front and pulled them together in a bruising crash of lips for just a few seconds before letting Ian go and then drinking the last of the beer in front of him.

Ian's eyes widened with shock, his pupils having dilated slightly with a variety of emotions and, as he saw the other two making their way back to the table, finished his drink as well.

As the conversation continued, Don and David obviously ignorant of what had happened, Ian made stealthy considering glances to his friend. He had noticed a few things during the day that he put down to Colby being relatively new to the agency and guarding himself against doing something that would be frowned upon by the Bureau with regards to himself. However, that kiss had been taking a huge risk. And the … desperation… with which it was done, worried the sniper.

Soon David was bidding them good night as well and Don suggested they leave also, considering the establishment was only filled with the staff cleaning up for the night and themselves.

****

Having paid the bill, the three walked out of the restaurant amidst soft laughter and idle conversation, heading to Don's SUV. While the other two lagged behind, the lead agent was almost to the driver's side door.

Ian grasped Colby's nearest arm as they approached the back of the vehicle. "Colby?"

The man turned his head towards the sniper as they rounded the back of the vehicle, giving him a faint smile as they approached the back passenger door. Before either of them could say anything, another car running parallel to the restaurant, pulled in front of the passenger side.

Colby was almost even with the front passenger door when the first gunshot sounded. His instinctive movement towards the bulky SUV was probably what saved him from being killed instantly with a center mass shot; however, the bullet tore into the right side of his chest, throwing him against the vehicle and then, unconscious, he slid down towards the asphalt.

Ian dove to the ground, having moved to the left, away from the SUV, getting clipped in the left shoulder. Laying flat on the pavement, Ian grabbed his gun, aware of Colby falling into the side of the car and then crumpling towards the ground as he fired at their unknown assailants.

Don had thumbed the doors unlocked and reached in under the driver's seat, pulling out his own weapon while simultaneously grabbing the spare radio he kept inside. Coming around the door to the hood of the vehicle, he began firing at the unknown car while calling for backup and an ambulance.

A moment later, the gunman's vehicle left the scene with a squeal of tires and roar of engine.

Ian reached Colby as Don came around the vehicle, seeing the agent slumped against the bottom of the vehicle, a large circle of red spreading out on the right side of his shirt. As he helped with Colby, Don realized that the sniper had been shot as well just as a couple of the staff members of the restaurant reached them. Using the heavy half apron like material from one, they were able to bandage Colby's wound as best they could.

As Ian and one of the staff kept the pressure on Colby's chest, Don used the apron from the other staff member to create a bandage for Ian's own wound, tying it in place with its ties and Don's own belt while the distinctive sounds of sirens could be heard in the distance

****

The only way Ian was keeping his emotions in check at all was by being one of the people with his hands involved in trying to keep Colby from bleeding out. He didn't have time to think of how the breath had left his body, feeling like he'd been punched in the stomach, when Colby had been slammed against the car by the force of the bullet; how his heart had stuttered as he'd seen Colby slide down the SUV, leaving a trail of blood behind, and ending up slumped against the bottom of the vehicle, unconscious.

Colby was on the ground.

And he wasn't moving.

Without a thought, Ian had yelled at Don as he'd bolted to his oft times lover.

The sniper was concentrating so hard keeping himself calm as well as maintaining pressure on Colby's wound that he didn't realize the paramedics had arrived. Don and one of them were trying to pull him away and he'd been unconsciously been fighting their hold on him without letting go of Colby.

Once he realized what was happening, he allowed himself to be pulled away and, while one paramedic worked on him, the other started on Colby. The man attending to Ian started an IV and then went to help his partner with Colby, after giving Don a blanket for the dark haired man, who was clearly in shock. As another emergency vehicle pulled up, Ian felt himself losing consciousness, his body starting to collapse towards the pavement and with a shout from Don that sounded like it was coming from a long way off, he fell into darkness.

Word Statistics

Pages – 3
Paragraphs – 32
Lines – 121
Words – 1436
Characters – 6684
Characters w/spaces – 8121
NaNo Day Total – 1436
NaNo Total – 1436
Actual story – 6145