A/N: I hope you guys are liking my story so far! This chapter is going to be a bit more Jo and Mac. And any advice would be loved. Thanks to all of you that reviewed! Reviews keep me going!

P.S.- Sorry about it taking so long, I've been choreographing a musical on top of my classes and my normal work schedule. I promise to try and do better!

"I didn't say you could play my game too."

Something hard hit his left knee sending him to the ground with Jo still in his arms. He rolled on his back, and jumped up to see Curry standing there, obviously waiting for him. Immediately he reached for his side arm only to be met by his on duty weapon to be pointed at him by a heartless killer.

"What game are we playing?" Mac asked coolly, feeling the pain in his knee start to explode through his leg.

"The game for Jo's heart and mind."

Before anything else could be said two gun shots rang through the air.

Mac's body feet came out from under him as the bullet crashed into his shoulder. He wasn't even sure if had pulled the trigger. With his side arm revolver still in his hand, he tried to force himself up. Pain erupted in his torso forcing him to the ground, but he swore he caught a glimpse of someone running out the door.

Slowly turning to his left he looked at Jo crumpled on the floor beside him. They were so close. They needed to get going, and the door to the outside was right there. But his body didn't listen to its demands to stand and get Jo and himself to safety. His body felt weak as he reached out to Jo, taking her soft hand into his.

"Hold on, Jo," Mac whispered his eyes sliding shut. "I will if you do."

Ellie had finally made it outside when two bangs muffled by the sounds of sirens and people stopped her heart. Her feet halted in their tracks. She knew what the sound was. She had heard it before.

"Mom…"

Danny was running towards the building, Lindsay hot on his heels. The moment his eyes landed on Flack he flew into full sprint. It was his detective instincts that told him by the way the officers on the scene were acting this wasn't good.

"What's going on?" Danny demanded watching in disbelief as smoke rolled from the windows of the crime lab and painted the sky grey.

"According to Adam a handful of men rolled in and demanded to see Jo. Security confronted him and the next thing anyone knew there was gun shots and yelling that everyone needed to leave. Apparently he grabbed a lab tech on her way out though. But Jo, Mac, and Ellie never made it out." Flack explained watching the fire fighters finally beginning to move toward the building.

"Ellie's in there too?" Lindsay croaked completely shocked. No wonder Jo and Mac didn't get out. Even if Jo had found a way out there was no way she would leave Ellie behind. And Mac… Mac would protect his team with everything he had.

"Not anymore!" Danny ran past the tape to the teenage girl appearing from the side of the building.

The smoke in Ellie's lungs did not help the difficulty breathing she had before. Her stomach hurt, her lungs hurt, her entire body hurt. She stumbled primarily unnoticed towards the tape until her body heaved into a coughing fit. Hands wrapped around her body as she was scooped up.

Alarmed, she looked up only to find herself staring in the eyes of one of her mother's good friends. Danny glanced down at her as he rushed her back over to his wife and friend.

"Hang on kiddo."

"Danny?" Ellie choked. "Mom's hurt and Mac was carrying her. And- and I think I hurt gun shots…"

Danny sat Ellie on the concrete as her knelt to meet her eyes.

"How long ago?" he asked her trying to remain gentle in the tragedy.

"Only a minute or two ago," she replied as Lindsay knelt beside her too, immediately checking her vitals.

Jumping up, Danny grabbed Flack's arm. "When was the explosion?" he asked with such force Lindsay and Flack were both surprised.

Flack shrugged. "Fifteen minutes ago, they said the place was pretty much evacuated except for the three of them."

"Jo and Mac need help."

Jo stirred, absentmindedly squeezing Mac's hand as she grabbed at her head with her other hand. Blinking away stars she looked to him. Blood. Lots and lots of blood.

"Oh God, Mac."

Her head pounded as she pulled herself to her knees and pressed her palms over the hole in the right side of his chest. The hot blood seeped past her fingers as she glanced around for anything that could help her get him out of there. Coming up with nothing, tears slid down her cheeks in desperation.

Stupidly, she took a deep breath ready to call out for help, or perhaps just calm herself, but all she could do was cough as the thick smoke gripped her throat. Her head spun even more as her coughing ended.

Mac was lying there, all he was trying to do was keep her safe and he ended up getting himself hurt in the process. It killed her, and if- God forbid- didn't make it out of there, she would never forgive herself.

Being a woman of science, Jo didn't find herself turning to God all that often, but at that moment she didn't hesitate to look up to the heavens for help as she listened to the flames roaring closer to her. For the first time in ages Jo prayed. She prayed that Ellie was safe, that Mac would live, and selfishly, that she wouldn't have to live with the guilt of anything happening to either of them.

"Jo!"

The voice was so sudden she jumped, almost taking it as a voice from the heavens, but glancing toward the door she saw Danny and Flack running toward her.

"Aren't you a sight for sore eyes." It was suppose to be some sort of joke to make herself feel better, but it failed miserably to even her own ears. Flack had already pulled Jo to her feet and was looking over her with great concern; Danny on the other hand had bounced to Mac.

"He's been shot and he's bleeding pretty bad, we have to get them out of here," Danny said with such urgency it made Jo feel sick to her stomach.

Flack held Jo's shoulders. "Can you walk?"

Weakly, she nodded, knowing that both men were going to have to get Mac out of there and she knew she could manage herself. She had to be strong. Emotionally and physically. After all, Mac was in this situation primarily because of her.

Ellie, though not one who typically cared for being babied or cared for by anyone but her mother, allowed Lindsay's hovering as she sat in the ambulance being looked over by the paramedics. She watched desperately in the direction the men had run off into, but it felt like so much time had passed.

Lindsay squeezed the young girl's hand, but didn't even bother forcing a supportive smile, the reality of the situation was painfully clear.

Suddenly a figure appeared from the smoke, then several more.

Ellie nearly jumped out of the ambulance at the sight of her coughing mother the other soot covered men. That was until she saw Mac.

They were too far away to hear, but both Danny and Flack were shouting and Jo wasn't looking exactly sure on her feet. Paramedics ran to meet them and swooped away Mac so fast it made it obvious to both Ellie and Lindsay the kind of shape he was in.

Jo on the other hand was arguing with a paramedic, pushing them away and yelling. Flack bravely stepped infront of her. Oh how Ellie wished she could hear. She had never seen her mother so forceful before. Well, so bluntly forceful.

"I have to find my daughter and then I have to be with Mac," Jo demanded pulling herself away from both Flack and the frustrated looking paramedic. "Please," she tried a little more venerably. "Please, he needs me. They both need me…"

"Ma'am, please, we have to take you examine you, you're bleeding," the poor man tried again, glancing at Flack for help.

Finally Flack turned to the poor man. "How about you take Jo and Ellie to the hospital and examine them both on the way?" he tried to compromise.

All Jo could manage was a nod as she fought back tears of frustration and fear. No! she silently demanded. You will not cry. You are stronger than that! You have to be strong. For Ellie and Mac. You have to be strong.

She allowed herself to be led to a nearby ambulance where her daughter and good friend was waiting on her. Little did she know that only yards away stood a man hidden in plain sight. A sinister grin spread across his face and a police issue gun tucked into the back of his pants. He was right there, watching along with so many other people, seeing what he had done. The first move had been made and it was her turn. But the question was, did she realize she was playing with more than just fire?

PLEASE REVIEW! They make me make time to write more and trust me, it's hard to find time in my schedule. I hope to add more soon!