The tension in the air was so thick; you could have swum your way through it. Kate's arm was slightly shaking. Tony was perfectly still, beads of sweat ran down his face.
A look of confusion was plastered on Tony's face. "Shit shit shit" thought Kate, she wished she could just turn back time.
Tears stung at Kate's eyes, blurring Tony's half frightened face.
Tony's heart was beating incredibly fast. It was so loud he was sure Kate could hear it.
Kate lowered her arm, then dropped the gun. It landed with a loud 'thunk' on the bullpen carpet. Kate backed inside to elevator.
Leaning against the wall, and steadily slid down.
Tony bent down and picked up Kate's gun, unloading it. He then went and sat next to Kate, as she breathed heavily. "You want to talk about it?" Tony asked. Kate didn't move.
"When I was six, I lived in a farm, every day I'd go down to the river behind our house, with checkers, my dog. He looked just like a chessboard."
"One day, there was a bad storm, my mum told me not to go near the river, but I had too, I couldn't find checkers. When I got down there, a tree had fallen on him. He was almost dead, barley breathing."
Tony shifted to get comfortable.
"So I sat down and cradled him in my arms, in the pouring rain. Stroking his head gently. I didn't move till the storm had passed. But by then he was gone."
Kate looked over at Tony, with eyes of that six-year-old girl.
"Do you think checkers died happy?" asked Kate in a whisper.
Tony carefully thought his reply.
"He must have, spending his last moments with the person he loved most".
Kate smiled, tears streaming down her face.