A/N: This is just a filler chapter until I can get the next one up. This one shows a trial that Bryan had to face in his past, and is the setup for the next chapter anyway. The review rate for this story is a little low, so now I'm begging everyone who reads this, PLEASE REVIEW!

(Two Months Later)

Their original plans had fallen through. Terrorists had seen to that. The fact of the matter was that they were just too busy to go and see their friends over in Corneria. In fact, they had at least two terrorist related calls a day. It was almost like they were trying to get out it before the end of the war.

Bryan sighed as he slid the clip into his sidearm, taking time to settle his aim on the target a few yards in front of him, he unloaded the entire clip into it. He took the headset off and pressed a button.

"Very good, you're getting better for someone who hasn't been here in a year." The instructor stated as she took the target from him.

"Been busy."

"Why do you even bother coming here, really… you've got the best aim I've ever seen, you don't need to come at all!"

"Yah, but this keeps my aim sharp, and plus it helps relieve some aggravation."

"I bet. See you soon, ok?" She waved him off as Bryan smiled and nodded, sliding his weapon back into his holster after reloading a fresh clip. He headed for his unit, getting in he sat in the driver's seat for a second. He sighed, starting it up, he drove home.

(Bryan's House)

He checked his answering machine as he opened the fridge and grabbed a can of soda. Once upon a time he had promised his past love that he would never touch a alcoholic drink again, and so far, he had held to it.

"Uh, hay, Bryan, it's Jackie. Just calling to check in on you, you seemed kind of out of it today, are you ok? If there's something wrong you can always come to any of us. Just… sigh give me a call ok, I'm worried about you. Talk to you soon."

Bryan had to smile a little. Jackie was the newest member of the team and had taken Tommy's second nickname of 'Rookie'. And while at first some of the agents were not happy to have a 'replacement' for Kasey, they all knew that they needed another team member to help out. They would have called Jason, but they saved him for missions that they would really need the extra help since he was supposed to be retired.

Bryan quickly picked up the phone and dialed Jackie's cell number.

"Hay, Jackie it's me."

"I was waiting for you to call… what's up?"

"I got your message. Nothing was wrong today, I was just tired and frustrated. That's all."

There was a pause on the other end which Bryan took as wither or not Jackie was going to let him off the hook.

"Alright… but you would tell one of us if something was wrong… wouldn't you?"

"Of course, you guys are the only family I really got anymore. Who else would I talk to?"

"Knowing you, you'd figure something out. Listen, I got to go, got my mother staying here for a week so she can see what it's like around here. I want to show her a few places, but I don't know where much of anything is still. I can show her the food store or the bank, but that's about it."

Jackie had moved from Los Angeles, California to Hartford, Connecticut, she was only a few miles from Bryan's house.

"Don't get out much, do you?"

"How did you figure it out?"

"Ok, if you need help showing her around, give me a call. We can show her together."

"Alright."

Bryan sighed as he hung up the phone, tossing his wallet and keys onto the counter, heading for the bathroom to take a shower.

At first Bryan wasn't too fond of Jackie, but now they were best friends, hell, even small rumors had started around the office, courtesy of Mei.

Of course, everyone knew they were rumors, but what's a little banter between friends?

Bryan stopped in the hallway and looked at a picture. He had always been tempted to take it down, forget about his past, but he still couldn't bring himself to do it.

In his past he had been engaged to a lovely women by the name of Nicole. They had fallen for each other at first sight. They had big plans that had included each other. They would move out of their Hartford apartment. Find a little place on one of Connecticut's local beaches so that Bryan wouldn't have to leave DCTU and she could work on her paintings.

They had moved into the house and were even planning on having kids.

But all that changed in a night, ten years ago…

(10 Years Ago - Flashback)

Bryan pulled his car to a full stop in his driveway. He shut off the lights as he stuck the last bit of burger into his mouth. He got out of the car and walked up to the front door. He stuck the keys into the lock and tried to turn it, only to find that it was already unlocked.

Huh… she must have forgotten to lock the door.

He pushed the door open and locked it behind him. He looked around the living room, seeing nothing out of place he made his way down a hallway and to the closet. He set the jacket in it before shutting the door.

"Nikki? I'm home!" He called out, checking his watch.

"It's only eight thirty. Don't tell me she went to bed." He muttered, heading back for the living room, he hit a light switch, only to see that the light wouldn't turn on.

He tried the one next to it. Still nothing.

"Ok, I know I paid the bill." He mused, shrugging as he headed into the kitchen. He nearly slipped after entering it but caught himself on the counter.

He looked down to see a dark liquid pooling on the floor. "The hell is that?"

He drew his flashlight from his belt and clicked it on, pointing it towards the liquid.

"Is that… blood?" He looked around a little bit a noticed droplets leading off into the other room of the house.

"Nikki! You here?" Still no answer. Now Bryan was almost panicking.

He followed the trail out the back door and into the yard. He found her there, laying on the ground with a bullet wound in her chest. Her breathing was shallow.

"Nikki!" Bryan yelled, dropping his flashlight to help her.

She wasn't responsive and looked like she had lost a lot of blood. Bryan applied pressure to the bleeding as he grabbed his radio from his belt. He used one hand to turn it on and talk into it.

(DCTU Dispatch Center)

Dispatcher Lori was on call that night. She was sitting at her desk just drumming her fingers on the desk. It had been a slow night and nothing really seemed to be going on since ninety-nine percent of the DCTU staff had gone home for the night.

Lori herself wasn't planning on going home to everyone went home. She was their lifeline if they needed help, many medic and back-up calls had seen to that.

Lori sighed again, sitting back and turning the speakers on so she cold take up her headset.

She never saw the call that was about to come in coming. None of them did.

"Five-Five David! I repeat, Five-Five David! I need help! Requesting medical assistance!"

Is that Bryan's voice? Something must be really wrong, he seems almost panicked. She thought to herself, checking the monitors for his current location, seeing his address she knew why.

"This is Dispatch! Five-Five David, what do you need?"

"Officer needs help! Medical assistance! Code three!"

Lori grabbed the other microphone and yelled into it.

"This is DCTU dispatch, officer requesting assistance! We need medics, ASAP! Grid six, location twelve! That's 426 Frost Rd.!"

"DCTU Dispatch, this is Medic County General. Dispatching Medics to location."

"DCTU, Copy!"

Then on their microphone.

"Dispatch to Five-Five David! Medics are on the way! Repeat! Medics in Route!"

"I copy! I need them here, now!"

Lori looked up at the main screen as another unit flashed an indicator on it, signaling that someone else had clicked onto their channel.

"This is Twenty-Seven Wolf to Five-Five David. Bryan, what's wrong?"

"Kasey! Nikki's been shot! Unknown attackers. Building seems clear."

"Alright, hold tight, I'm responding. Twenty-Seven Wolf to Dispatch, show me en-route, code three."

"I copy."

"This is Seven-Six Inu. Responding to location. Code three!"

"Copy."

Lori sighed, sitting back in the chair a little, shaking her head.

She knew that so long as they all got there in time, Nikki would be fine. Kasey and Mei were on the way. Mei was the teams medic, and Kasey was Kasey. Surely, everything would be fine.

But an attack on a DCTU Agent's house was something unheard of. Whoever had done this had some guts. She had to admit that to herself.

"This is Medic Thirty-Eight to DCTU Dispatch. Copy?"

"I Copy, clear."

"Our ETA is forty seconds."

"Copy."

"Dispatch to Five-Five David, You've got Twenty-Seven and Seventy-Six responding to your location. Medic Thirty Eight is thirty seconds out."

"I need them here now, Nikki's fading fast, I can't get a blood pressure or pulse!"

"I copy."

Lori couldn't help but let a few tears fall. She had met Nikki before and she really liked the girl, she was good for Bryan. The thought of her dieing made Lori cringe.

Not only would he be devastated, but he would go on a rampage to find out who had done it.

"This is Police Dispatch to DCTU Dispatch. Copy?"

"I copy, clear."

"We have just received a call from a local resident in the area of the shooting. Says that not more than six minutes ago she saw several men in TAC Gear walking down the streets. They had automatic rifles. SWAT is Dispatched for containment. Copy."

"Clarify."

"We are calling a city wide TACTICAL alert. Copy."

"I copy. Clear."

"Clear, over."

Then to DCTU Agents. Lori flicked the alert switch which sent out a loud alarm sound to all of the DCTU agents who had their radio's on. If their radio wasn't on then the signal was echoed to dispatch, where a computer rerouted it to their cell phones, which by DCTU Policy and local Law, had to be on at all times.

"Dispatch to All Units! Repeat, Dispatch to All Units! We are on a city wide TACTICAL alert. TAC alert centered in Grid six, repeat, TAC ALERT TO GRID SIX. All units respond."

"Dean here, Copy."

"Tom, copy."

"Mei, on scene."

"Jason, I copy."

"Kasey, on scene."

"I copy, you'll be working with local SWAT and Police forces."

She sat back in her chair, taking a moment to collect herself. She should of waited a little while longer as the next message she was about to hear would wound them all for a long time.

"Medic Thirty-Eight to County General and DCTU Dispatch. Victim, DOA."

(Present)

Bryan sighed. Shortly after that incident he moved back to Hartford.

"God that day sucked like no other. And the worse part is that we never caught who did it."

Bryan sighed again, making his way to the shower. He got out and quickly redressed before settling in on the couch and turning the TV on.

After ten minutes he sighed and flicked it off, grabbing his wallet and his keys he headed out the door.

No doubt the rest of the off duty team, except for Jackie, would be at their favorite lunch place for dinner. Maybe he would just swing by and grab a bite.