They'd been arguing on the stairs when they'd heard the first shot. They froze, and for them too time seemed to stop for the instant between the two shots. On the second shot their paralysis broke and they ran, weapons drawn. They burst through the door to the third floor to see McGee, lying in the hallway covered in blood. Another body lay at his feet.
They flew forward and Kate fell to her knees by his body. One glance had shown her their witness was past all help. Tony was at her shoulder. "I've got this, go!" She motioned to the apartment. He needed no further bidding. Gun raised, Tony ran inside.
"Tim?" She looked down to his chest and saw the hole the bullet had made. It was bleeding freely, and her breathe caught in her throat. She quickly removed her jacket, bundled it, and pressed it firmly to his chest. She pulled out her cell phone and quickly dialed, keeping the pressure on his chest. She gave the details quickly and threw down her phone. Leaning over him she saw the fear in his eyes. He started to speak, couldn't, moistened his lips and gasped, "fire escape". She understood. "Tony's checking now, it's okay." He nodded.
She saw the blood on his face on his face and realized where it was from. Taking a tissue from her pocket she wiped it off .
"Thanks." His voice was thin and rasping, and he was fighting for breath.
"Don't talk, okay?" She tried to smile as she spoke, she didn't want to frighten him any more. Her jacket was soaked in his blood, but she continued to press it against the wound. He was losing too much blood. With her other hand she stroked his face, wanting him to feel her touch.
Although there wasn't much of a difference in their ages - there were only a few years between her, Abby and McGee - she had always felt much older than the other two. In many ways, though she would have hated to admit it to anyone, she felt she had much more in common with Tony. Now, as she stared down at Tim, she thought he had never seemed younger and she had never felt so much older.
Tony joined them then, holstering his gun. He shook his head in response to her unasked question. "He's gone, there's no sign."
"McGee said 'fire escape'."
"He must have got out that way. How's he doing?" He glanced at prone form of their witness, and looked quickly away.
Kate didn't answer, she just looked at him, all their enmity forgotten in that single act. The knowledge between them both that in a crisis they only needed and wanted each other.
Tony sank down to the floor beside them. McGee was white as a sheet and his breathing was becoming increasingly labored. Keep it light, he thought, don't scare him any more than he already is.
"Hey Probie, how ya doin'?"
"Can't breathe…"
"Take shallow breaths, okay?"
Tony looked at Kate.
"How long till the paramedics get here?"
"They said they were close."
He looked at the blood soaked jacket and the blood pooling at their knees…there wasn't much time. Tremors started to shake Tim's body.
"Tim? You okay?" Even as he spoke he thought he'd never asked a more ridiculous question.
"C-c-cold…"
"You're going into shock, and you've lost a lot of blood, but you're going to be okay…McGee?"
McGee's eyes started to close.
"Tim, stay with us."
His eyes were unfocused and glassy. His lips moved again, but now the sound was so faint Kate had to lean closer to hear him. His eyes closed and he finally lost consciousness.
"We're losing him!" cried Kate.