I was thrown off, but didn't show it. "Well, I work at tassey's, I'm a dancer." Rick snorted, and the three of us all turned our heads and glared.

He finished his thorough pat down, which was hard to bear with a casual face. "I'm afraid I never had the pleasure, so how did you snag Gabe over here."

I smiled and told him the cover story of how we met, and he seemed to buy it.

We got back to business. Looking around, we realised that the product wasn't there.

Angel told us that plans had changed. He would take the money and if it was all there, he would come back with the heroin.

Sam took the bag of money back, telling Angel that the deal was off. We needed to come up with something, or there wouldn't be a bust. I racked my brain while the men disagreed. "Hey what if, rick, Gabe and the money stay here, and I go with Angel to the product. If it's all there, I'll call Gabe. Rick will take the money, and I'll take the product. Everyone is happy."

By the look on Sam's face, Gabe liked his girlfriends plan, but I could see in his eyes the fear behind the plan. We wouldn't be able to watch each other's backs.

Angel spoke, breaking the eye contact between Sam and I, "You have a smart girl Gabe. She is a keeper. But, I would rather you go and she stay, if you don't mind."

No, that wasn't supposed to happen, Sam is more likely to be made than I am. We didn't have a choice though, as Sam went to leave, he came over to give his 'girlfriend' a goodbye kiss.

I apologized for getting him into this. He whispered, "Andy, don't worry, you had my back now I have yours. We will make the bust and see each other soon. Don't forget, we still have to talk."

I nodded slightly then kissed my 'boyfriend.' He turned to follow Angel, but I stopped them

"Angel, he's my man, I'm not letting him walk out of here without his gun." I hoped it would work.

Angel smiled then nodded to Sam. "You have a great woman there; don't let her get away Gabe."

They left, leaving just me, Rick and the cash. I needed to find out what was waiting for Sam, where ever they are going. I started degrading the kid, and before I knew it he cracked, spilling everything, just to prove he knew more than me. And what he spilled made my stomach flip. Gabe's boss was going to be at the meet.

If what he said was true, Sam was going to be made the second they walk into the warehouse. I needed to go warn the others.

"I have to go."

That threw Rick off. He started panicking, "That's not part of the deal. You can't leave."

He grabbed the gun when I turned and began walking toward the exit. When i heard the click, meaning the saftey was off, I stopped and turned back around. "Rick, put down the gun. I'm a cop. My partner just left with Angel and if what you said is true, he is going to be made and killed if I don't warn him. You are in trouble either way, but if you shoot me the sentence will be much worse. It's your choice, but I'm leaving."

I heard him repeatedly saying no and stop, but I just kept walking, that was until I was thrown forward. The gunshot followed seconds later. The searing pain retched through my waist was unbearable, but I didn't dare stop. I began running, pain aside, I needed to save Sam.

I left the building running to the back-up team, who were exiting the car, guns in hand. I quickly concealed the gunshot wound so they wouldn't see in, then I stopped them from coming toward me. "I'm fine, Sam has been made; you have to stop him before he gets to the warehouse, or they will kill him."

They called it in, telling the team that had followed Angel's car what was going on. We all got in the car. The pain in my abdomen was increasing by the second, but I refused to acknowledge it until I knew Sam was okay.

We sped to the warehouse. On the way, there was a call over the radio, 'Shots fired, one male shot in the chest, not responding, need EMS." I held in the sob of both pain and anguish. I needed to know for sure before I lost it. There were probably lots of men present at the deal.

We arrived to see a body in front of the warehouse. I hobbled out of the car, nearly collapsing from the pain, but I kept on going, I needed to know. I guess they called Luke in, because he was in front of the body, lifting up the yellow draping, that's when I saw who it was. Relief ran through my body, it was Angel who was dead. Sam was okay.

"McNally." His voice caused warmth to travel throughout my body.

I turned in the direction the voice came from and saw him heading toward me with a look of relief. The pain was getting worse, now that my adrenaline was wearing off. I knew I couldn't walk over to him, so I just leaned against the car, and waited as he walked over. We hugged, both relieved. That relief was shortly lived when Sam pulled away and looked down at his hand that was now soaked with blood.

I tried to reassure him that I was okay, but the only thing that came out of my mouth was, "Sam," and with that I gave into the Darkness, where pain didn't exist.