Chapter 1: Gotta Take A Shot When You Can

Tee walked into the parking lot. Sighing she made her way back to her gang leader. She was supposed to have extracted herself by now but she had inserted herself into the gang so deep that wasn't possible yet. When she joined the gang leader who was ironically named Leads, she noticed that she knew the people that were there to meet them. There, opposite Leads was Joe, Vince, Sam, Jason, Ace, Kyle, and Carlos.

Leads spoke when she was right beside him. "Did you check the perimeter?"

"What the hell do you think? I'm really not feeling getting my ass shot thanks." She responded sarcastically. She knew it wouldn't be tolerated in front of potential business partners but Tee was tired, she was depressed. But most of all she felt more like herself then she had in months with the people she trusted standing across from her. It was a mistake to talk to Leads the way she did, she knew it, she would pay for it she knew that too, but right then and there she didn't care at all.

As she expected Leads came in front of her and back handed her. The hit was hard enough to split her lip. "You may be the best shot and security but you give me any more lip and you will die, you good for nothing slut."

Tee glared at him as she wiped the blood from her mouth. "Seeing as I haven't slept with you or anyone else in the gang you might want to reconsider the slut part boy."

Leads just laughed as he turned to look at Joe. "See man; just have to show the bitches whose boss. This one in particular she's still learning her place. Sooner or later she'll learn that it's on her knees in front of a man with her mouth open."

Tee looked over at Joe. She could see the fire in his eyes. In all the years they had been partners there was one thing she had learned, something that never faltered, Joe hated seeing woman hit and referred to as whores. He hated it but he loathed it when it was her. Even in a fight where Joe was fully aware that she could hold more than her own he would do whatever it took to see that she didn't take any hits.

Out of the corner of her eye Tee saw Syd tapping three fingers on her thigh, it was a signal and it meant that somewhere Tina and Steele had their shots lined up. Suddenly two shots rang out and the two thugs to her left fell to the floor. Right away Leads grabbed her and pulled her in front of him. Tee saw a red laser dance around her trying to line up a shot and knew it was Steele trying to find a shot. When Tina and Steele had started working at the agency they had given Tina a rifle with a green laser and Steele a red one so that they would know who was targeting who and could work more efficiently.

By the looks of the red dot dance she knew the only shot he could find was right through the center of her left shoulder. "Take the shot Azerial." When nothing happened she cursed. "I swear to God if you don't damn well take the freaking shot you are poop and scooping for a month and spending a week on desk duty. It's an order damn it!"

Within seconds a shot rang out. Tee felt the bullet go through her shoulder. Thank god she was as short as she was; the high caliber bullet went through her and into Leads heart. He dropped back as she went to her knees. There was too much blood, which meant the bullet had hit an artery. She was going to most likely bleed out.

Just as she pitched forward strong arms wrapped around her and laid her down on her back. She looked up to see Joe kneeling beside her.

"I'm sorry there was no other way. If Steele didn't take the shot he would have gotten away. I couldn't let-"

"Shh Tiger." He whispered as he applied pressure with his balled up coat. "I know, but you don't worry about that now. You just concentrate on holding on."

"Don't blame Steele for this. I left him no choice. I made it an order."

"I know Tiger, I know." Tee began coughing. "Just keep breathing Tee okay. Don't make me break in a new partner."

Tee smiled. "Like you could, they'd probably shoot you the first time you took them to the opry." When he laughed her smile widened. "Be careful Public, I might think you like having me around."

Tee stopped fighting her heavy eyelids and shut her eyes with that final thought and allowed her body to relax, she was only vaguely aware of Joe calling out her name.