Chapter Ninety Two: Hurt

My tears don't fall too often
But your knife is cuttin' me deep

Emeli Sande - Hurt

Maggie's purple dress was wrapped around Jack's large fist as he used the silky material to rub away the streaks of vibrant red blood that flowed down Antonio's muscular chest. Her sweet floral scent was in his nostrils, drowning out the pain for a mere moment before it was cruelly snatched away once more. Every time Jack used that pretty garment it was like another cruel stab to his heart. It made his dark eyes burn with unshed tears, it reminded him of just how helpless he was. He had been forced to watch Jack strip away every single thing that he loved about Maggie, the bastard had broken her down into a million pieces and now she was left hanging there like a piece of meat.

She was dying and there was nothing on this earth that he could do about it. The feeling in his hands was gone, those razored barbs were twisted deeply into his flesh, almost as if they were part of him.

"It won't be long now." Jack said, leaning against the grubby whitewashed wall. Those hazel eyes of his came to rest on Maggie's limp, prostate form as she hung by her manacled wrists. "Suffocation or blood loss, it doesn't matter which, she'll be dead within the hour."

It was true, Antonio didn't have to be a doctor to see it. Her pale features were ashen and waxy, her cracked pink lips were barely parted. He couldn't see the rise and fall of her chest, it was only the tell tale rasp in his ears that reassured him that she was still breathing. It wouldn't be long until he watched her slip away right before his eyes. No matter what Jack had done to him physically, it was nothing compared to this emotional anguish. His heart was being ripped apart from the inside out, the agony of it all rushing up inside of him as he stared at his dying lover. He had done this to her. He hadn't been the one to to wield the blade but the consequences of his actions had led to this very moment. Antonio had as good as murdered her.

"Do what you want to me." Antonio murmured to the other man, the taste of copper on his swollen lips. "But save her, she doesn't deserve to die like this."

"Do you think that Paul deserved to die the way he did?" Jack asked him, his voice twanging with rage as he pushed off the wall to confront Antonio. "Locked up like an animal, beaten and then suffocated."

He jabbed his finger at Antonio, his expression a mask of animosity. The venom was rife in his eyes, his voice steely and cold as he spoke. "You brought this on yourself and now you have to suffer for it."

"She is innocent." Antonio pleaded, wrenching his bonds, straining against the razor wire. It didn't matter how much it dug into his skin, that pain was nothing compared to misery that resided inside of him.

"You have to learn that your actions have consequences Detective Dawson." Jack hissed, the low growl at the back of his throat as he pointed at Maggie. "And this is one of them."

The door was right in front of them and Halstead didn't even remember the stealthy approach they must have made towards it. He was running on instinct and that was dangerous for a man like him. Right now he couldn't bring himself to care, all he knew was he had to get into the soundproofed basement of the abandoned care facility before the damage to his friends became irreversible.

If it wasn't already...

He twisted the door knob and found the door unlocked, his jaw clenching at the knowledge that the bastard had been too wrapped up in other things to consider safety as a priority. He had thought that they would never find him, that he could do what he wanted to Antonio and Maggie without recourse. The fierce anger coursed through Halstead, he could feel the potential for violence raising to the surface as he kicked the door open causing an almighty bang to ripple through the room before he swung into it. His team following closely behind as he fixated on the sight before him.

Jesus Fucking Christ...

His forefinger tightened on the trigger of the automatic weapon as he lined up Jack Cooper in his sights. His hands were steady as he watched the surprise register on the other man's gaunt features. His teeth were bared like an animal as he leaned in closer to Antonio, his craggy lined face was the only thing that Halstead could see as their eyes met. There was malevolence in his stare, the agony he had inflicted upon Antonio's body bought him more pleasure and it sickened Halstead. The tip of the knife grated across the socket of Antonio's left eye socket before the blade nicked the very edge of his dark eye causing a trail of blood to roll down the curve of his cheek bone like a crimson tear.

Enough was enough...

Halstead squeezed the trigger without hesitation. The bullet hit Jack Cooper right between the eyes, forcing his head to snap backwards at the impact. The knife slipped from his hand, making a clinking noise as it struck the concrete beneath his feet, his hulking body sloping backwards before striking the ground with a dull thud that echoed through Jay's ears. Jay lowered his weapon, taking a further step into the room. It was then that the overpowering coppery tang assaulted his nostrils, he could taste it on his tongue as his stomach rebelled against it. Erin was a step behind him, he could feel her presence lending him strength as his gaze flickered to Antonio. His friend tilted his head away, the left of his face a patchwork of bruises and blood as his stare fixed on the other person in the back of the room.

"Maggie." Antonio hissed through grinding teeth. "Get Maggie."

Hey guys, here's the rescue you've all been waiting for. As you can see Maggie's in a bad way, who knows if she will survive.

Lauren: When I was writing and that stuff started coming out about Gabe I was like dude what have you been hiding! I wanted it to be a personal thing between him and Kim, that even Maggie had no idea about. I liked the idea of them seeing different sides if their father. I'm really glad that your enjoying this story. I really enjoy writing it and it's great to hear how much you like it.

Anime: LMAO, I live to create chaos for you! I hope you enjoyed the rescue chapter and I make no comments on what will happen. LMAO! I am so glad that I give you that feeling when you watch CPD, to be honest I wasn't really a fan of Antonio and Brett, the relationship seemed too juvenile for me and I always felt that Brett had to work hard to fit in with his life.

Phoenix: I'm so glad I was the one to break the news to you regarding Jon Seda, I am massively happy too! I am with you on Justice, it lacked something that the other shows have and I think it may be the unity and family sense of things. I couldn't get on board with some of the chars, (I did love Antonio's partner tho) – the social services storyline really had be hooked. I love Gabe, writing him is just amazing because he has so much potential. Also first time I have written a priest and the complications that entails.

Nat: Thank you very much for your lovely words. Gabe at the moment is one of my fav chars to write because there s just so much I can do with him. He's also a challenge in terms of his job and personality. I think the next chapter will be more informative to you in terms of how every one is doing. I would love to be a writer for them, the only issue would be I would focus on all the char relationships as opposed to the case lol.