I know it's short, I know it's been a while, and I'm sorry. I also lied (albeit accidentaly) when I said you'd find out about Annabell and Gemma this chapter. I got confused. That's next chapter. Sorry!

Disclaimer: Not mine. The only payment I get for this is reviews (hint, hint)

The Only One

"When I'm losing my control, the city spins around,

you're the only one who knows, you slow it down" – Look After You


BANG! BANG! BANG!

"Mike."

BANG!

"Mike, look at me."

BANG! BANG!

She put a hand on my arm and I dropped the gun immediately. I didn't want to end up shooting her out of instinct. I glanced down the firing range and sighed upon seeing the moving targets I'd been firing at. I hadn't hit the centre once, and some of my shots had missed completely.

"Mike, what is it?"

I finally turned to look at her. She had a worried expression on her face, although she was trying to hide it.

"Nothing," I muttered gruffly.

"Mike!" Nadia snapped. In the past few months of going out with her, I had learnt that she could be extremely stubborn when she wanted to be. Unfortunately, having let her see through my strong, sarcastic façade, she was one of the only ones who could tell straight away if I was lying. My outer persona no longer worked on her.

I sighed. Checking that there was no-one else in the room, I slouched down onto a bench at the back. Nadia sat beside me.

"Is it the job?" she asked. I was surprised. I knew she could see through me, but I hadn't realised she was quite so insightful.

"More the recruits than the actual jobs. You know they finished the course today?"

She nodded. "We're employing a couple of them."

"Well, it's just… hard. Seeing them walk out, knowing that they're all going into field ops when I've got to stay. I've got to wait here for the next bunch of kids who me to teach them what I want to be doing. And not just that. Knowing that within a year at the most, some of them will be dead, or injured like I am. That's hard too. However well I train them, bad luck or human error will find them eventually.

"Do you want to resign?" she asked quietly.

"What?" The thought hadn't even crossed my mind. "No! I like my job. I just… need to get rid of my frustration every once in a while." I motioned at the firing range.

We were both silent, relaxed in the other's company.

"They respect you, Mike," Nadia said after a few minutes. "I've heard them talking. They all want to be like you."

"What – half-blind in one eye because of a stupid mistake?"

"So dedicated that you refuse to give up your own training. They've seen you, down here in your breaks; whenever you get a chance. I've seen you."

"Well why aren't I getting any better?" I scowled. It was true, I probably was spending more time practicing than was healthy. But I hadn't achieved any aspect of my former accuracy. It took a moment for me to realise that Nadia was staring at me.

"Not getting any better?" she exclaimed incredulously. "Mike, when you first picked up a gun after the operation, you could hardly hit a thing. Now you're shooting moving targets, and hitting still ones accurately. If that's not improving, then I don't know what is."

"But I can't shoot like I used to – "

"Of course you can't! What did you expect? You were nearly blinded for life! Now stop beating yourself up about it. You'll need to set up interviews for the next lot of recruits in a few days," she finished, probably with what she'd originally come down to say.

She gave me a quick peck on the cheek and left.

I got up and walked back over to the firing range, picking up the gun and reloading it as I did. I concentrated, focussing on what Nadia had said. I squeezed the trigger gently.

BANG!

It had hit the centre. I felt a wave of victory wash over me. How was it that Nadia could make me believe in myself so entirely?


So, there's the next chapter. I'm hoping to finish this in the next fortnight, before I go back to school (results tomorrow!) However, there's a few questions I'd like to ask my american reviewers (as I presume at least some of you live in the US) for another 24 story I've been writing for ages about Tony and Michelle, but haven't published yet.

Do you say:

1. movie or film?

2. university or college?

Thanks. Also, if any of you notice anything that's english, not american (but not spelling, please, just the content) please let me know. Now, for reviews!