First Date

These good fellows don't belong to me but I promise when I'm done to pick um up, dust um off and with a kiss on the cheek return them safely home.

"When you're in a tight place and everything goes against you,
till it seems as though you could not hang on one minute longer,
never give up,
for that is just the place that the tide will turn."

Harriet Beecher Stowe

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This chapter is short, sorry, just how my brain works. Another one will follow quickly, I promise. Thanks so much for the encouragement to keep going on it.

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Chapter 21

Johnny's heart was racing as he watched Kanda's arms fall to her side, her body now limp and Adler's arm was the only thing holding her up. Roy was down to the sand but almost three times the distance away. It was now or never and with one last glance to his partner he lunged. With a swift motion Johnny's shoulder impacted Adler right in the chest as he aimed for his already injured area. He knew with his own injuries he needed every advantage possible and he was only going to get one shot at this. His shoulder took the impact with little pain but as he knocked him to the ground his already bruised ribs screamed at the punishment he was dishing out to them.

But the desired effect took place. When Adler went to the ground his release on Kanda allowed her unconscious body to fall to the soft sand. Johnny reached straight for the gun as he watched Roy sprint towards them but Adler was not down for the count just yet and began to quickly fight back with Johnny. He tried to keep his hold on the gun hand but Adler was fighting with a strength that Johnny no longer owned. After pushing Johnny onto his back Adler punched him right in his side, also knowing his weakest spots, sending a blinding and paralyzing pain through his entire body as the man's fist impacted at his gunshot wound. Johnny was no longer able to defend himself as he struggled to simply remain conscious. Come on Roy ole pally, now's a good time to join this party, Johnny thought as he braced himself for the next assault.

But what Adler didn't expect was the suffocating arm hold that gripped him from behind and pulled him off the young man. Roy's protective nature instantly drew out his long buried military training as he put the man in a merciless hold. Adler, however, had several inches and pounds on him and fought back with a vengeance. Threatening to knock him off balance Roy grew highly aware of how close they were getting to the rocks. With his other hand now securely grasping his own fist he held on for dear life as Adler thrashed and struggled to be let loose in his own fight for that ever precious oxygen.

Johnny had managed to roll to his side as he watched Roy's struggle but when he looked up to see Kanda's unmoving body lying a few feet away he began crawling to her. She was too quiet as he approached her. In that horrible moment before he tackled Adler, Johnny had watched that light go out in her eyes. He had waited too long. Now he feared that he failed her and in failing her he had failed his best friend. The brother part of him just wanted to scoop her up in his arms and cradle her but somewhere beneath the aching ribs, coughing, and burning side the training in him broke through and he reached for a pulse.

His fingers almost hated to make contact for to know was sometimes even more terrifying. His heart sank, what little hope he held onto was now gone. Glancing over to the ongoing struggle of his friend and Adler Johnny was torn between them. He knew that his own injuries would keep him from being any help to Roy; he was healthy and unhurt and had the best chance of taking Adler down. If there was any possibility that Kanda could be saved it was up to him.

Bending down he began CPR on his sister.

Roy was focused on his task to take this man down and thus oblivious to what was happening a few feet away. Nothing would break his grip at this point and even though his arm felt like it was ready to fall off he held steadfast. Then he felt the man go down as Adler fell to his knees, his attempts grew weaker now unable to get Roy off of him.

Johnny struggled to give her the breaths since his own lungs burned and seemed to refuse him a good deep breath. His compressions were rapidly exhausting him while his coughing worsened with the exertion. Tears ran down his face, "Kanda, please don't leave me." Looking back over to Roy in a desperate need for help he saw him bring Adler to the ground. "Roy!" He called his name but Roy couldn't hear him. Johnny wasn't sure if it was the pounding surf or that Roy was caught up in his own personal battle right now. Adler was now limp in his arms but he was not being released. A part of him shouted, good let him die but he was in Roy's grip. Getting up he made his way to his friend and saw the look in his eyes telling of the unleashed fury they held. Grabbing his arm he yelled his name but Roy still wouldn't hear him. As Adlers eyes started to become lifeless Johnny knew he had to get Roy off him. He had to stop him from doing something he would live to regret when he came back to his senses.

"ROY!" He shook his shoulders hard until his eyes locked on his. Yelling at his best friend, "He's not worth it. Let go!" He watched those blue eyes go from darkened rage to a flash of panic at what he had done or almost done.

His grip released and he sat back on his heels letting Adler's body fall to the ground. He looked into Johnny's eyes with a silent 'thank you'. He understood well what almost happened and killing a man was something he did not want to do.

Instantly his concern shifted, "Kanda?" Those same dark brown eyes spoke to him and made his blood run cold, "Johnny?"

Johnny didn't know how to tell him, what to tell him. "I think she's gone." His voice was just a whisper.

Panic and dread swelled in him as he jumped up and ran to her body. Her color was so pale, no heart rate could he find. "Oh God no, please no," he cried. He got down by her face and pushed her dark hair back, "Come on babe I need you to come back." The thought of losing her now was more than he could take.

"NO!" He yelled and reached down with a thump on her chest and resumed the compressions. This was someone he loved more than life itself and right now he would have given his life to her in a heartbeat. A heart beat, yes. "Come on babe," he coaxed her as he looked over to Johnny. His partner had fallen to his knees beside them and Roy saw the grief in his eyes too. What would Johnny do without her? She had come into his life such a short time ago but instantly became a lifeline to Johnny that he had never let go of.

"Damn it Kanda, fight back!" He yelled at her.

Johnny saw her gasp. "ROY!"

He stopped and felt for a pulse, "It's strong." Then taking her shoulder he encouraged her some more, "Kanda, come on. I know you can do it. Breathe for me." Another gasp then her breaths became more regular. The tears ran down his face as he glanced above, "Thank you."

Sirens now filled the air and both men looked up to see headlights now visible up above them. They both could see several officers come down the path and race towards them. Roy called out, "Call the fire department and two ambulances."

Damned if he was going to let her ride in the same vehicle with that maniac.