Thank you to Dr. Callian and Ardelier for reviewing. There's only one more chapter and an epilogue after this guys! Please review. :)


II.

"All I'm trying to do, Gill, is keep us afloat," he says, following her down the hallway. The sharp tack tack of her heels stops suddenly as she turns to face him.

"And I appreciate that, Cal, but I would also appreciate you telling me before you take another case! We're overloaded as it is," she replies, energy flowing off of her like a wave.

He turns around to look at the sign on the wall, which they are standing in front of.

"Whose company is this, anyway?" He asks her. She makes a noise of frustration in the back of her throat and whirls around to face Anna's desk. Grabbing a manila folder from the young secretary, she starts to go, only to be stopped by his hand on her wrist.

"Don't leave angry, darling," He says, his voice softer now. "Friends?"

She raises her eyebrow at him and takes a deep breath. Then time stops and he only has a second to comprehend the look of fear that flashes across her face before some great force has slammed him to the ground. His face meets the hard, cold floor and his palms sting from the impact. He's too dazed to understand what is happening, why the on-site police officers are suddenly shouting, or why Anna is suddenly screaming, or why Gillian Foster is sprawled across his chest protectively, her breathing shallow, her eyes wide as she looks up into his face.

"Cal…"

Her voice is too raspy, too low, to un-Gillian like, so he sits up and pulls her up with him. She moans softly and buckles over, hugging herself.

"Cal," she repeats, and the tone is more desperate now, more pleading.

"Gill," He whispers, watching her sink to the ground. His senses aren't working properly; he can't register what he's seeing (Or maybe he just doesn't want to). And Gillian's white blouse is growing darker, going from red to black as her hand clutches her side. And he stands there like a helpless idiot, watching the life drain out of his best friend.