Title: Flashburn
Chapter 7 – Out of the Darkness

"Sorry," Brent whispers in pain.

"NO!" Ed's lips open to shout; a deft scream escaping before he drops his shoulder and charges in the direction of the angry curse a few feet away.

"Shots fired!"

"The boy's been hit!"

"I've got…damn it Ed. I had a shot," Donna curses as she watches her husband's body slam into Tristan's and both of them crash onto the ground.

Not caring about sustaining any further physical damage to himself, Ed's cuffed but balled fists land on what he hopes is Tristan's jaw; not able to see the vengeful killer's head snap back. But it's only seconds before his own fists land on Ed's stomach with iron force, wrapping around Ed's frame and using gravity to take them both on a tumble down the rest of the hill; toward Sam and Jules waiting at the bottom.

"I've got the boy," Wordy tells Donna. "Go get Ed."

"Copy."

"Boss we need EMS here and now!" Wordy tells Greg over their headset.

"Copy."

Ed's lips utter a painful gasp as Tristan's fist connects with his jaw; neither giving up or giving in. Ed, however, being at the disadvantage due to his sight, can't see Tristan's fists until they connect with his body can only curse when a firm jaw lands on his cheek, dangerously close to his tender eyes. Ed's fists ball up once more and punch back, catching Tristan in the side and forcing him to slightly falter.

But knowing what end awaits him, Tristan pushes on, kneeing Ed in the stomach and forcing the weary SRU officer's frame to slightly sag to the right. Don't give up…help is here!

"Ed!"

"Police! You're surrounded!"

Ed hears Donna's and Sam's voice and feels his mind utter a silent cry of relief. Try to get clear so they can take him down.

"It's…over," Ed grunts as Tristan tries to wrestle him into place as a hostage before Donna; not realizing that moving up the ravine behind him was Sam – someone who, if given the opportunity, wouldn't hesitate a second to end the violent confrontation.

"For you maybe…" Tristan growls back as his right hand fumbles for his knife; having already lost the gun when Ed's body slammed into his.

"Donna do you have the shot?"

"Ed's still…damn it not yet, do you Sam?" Donna retorts in haste.

"Negative."

"We need to end this team."

"Boss the air medics are here," Spike's voice is next heard.

Donna watches the knife appear, the glint catching her eye as she takes another step closer; her mind racing with panic that this was now going to turn into an armed stand off.

"Drop the knife MacNeil you have nowhere to go!" Donna shouts as she watches Tristan move himself behind her husband's captive frame.

"You drop your gun or I'll drop him."

"Don't listen to him Donna. You see the shot you take it!" Ed growls as he struggles to remain upright on his knees; Tristan now behind him.

"Ed. I love you you know that right?"

"Baby you do what you gotta do," he manages as Tristan's arm wraps around his neck.

"But I loved you more at the bank heist on St. Catherine's last Tuesday."

Ed's brain scrambles for a few seconds before it finds the reference and then takes action. With a swift motion, Ed tosses his head back, slamming it right into the bridge of Tristan's nose, breaking it and then twisting himself as far as he can to the right.

A few seconds later, the cool breeze of the bullet sails past the side of his face, embedding itself into Tristan's forehead; Tristan's lifeless corpse falling backward, taking Ed with him.

"Subject down!" Sam confirms through his own scope, ready to fire the same shot after Ed had moved his head.

"Ed!" Donna shouts as she drops her gun and hurries toward her husband as he struggles to free himself of Tristan's form. Greg quickly collects her gun; Wordy and Spike helping to get Brent ready for air transport. She finally reaches his side and drops to his knees, helping to pull him free of Tristan MacNeil's body.

"I got you," she gives him a brief hug, quickly forgetting about the fact her clothes would be needed for processing.

"I'm okay. How's Brent?"

"He should be okay," Wordy relays to Donna over the headset as he and Spike help to load him into the medivac-Wordy riding with him to the hospital.

"He's going to be okay. We gotta get you checked over," she utters in concern as her hand rests on his cheek to do a quick inspection of the skin around his eyes. "Did he hit your eyes at all?"

"No," Ed replies in truth as she pulls out her universal handcuff key and finally frees him. "Donna that boy…"

"He's going to be okay."

"He saved my life," Ed tells her as they both slowly stand up. "He risked everything and he…he didn't deserve that."

"He's going to be okay buddy," Greg pats Ed on the back. "We gotta get you checked over. Sam I want you and Jules to take over here. Wait until the uni's have marked it off and the coroner arrives."

"Copy."

"I'll meet you at the hospital," Donna tells Ed as she takes him by the arm and helps him up the side of the hill to where the defunct bunker and SUV were waiting. "Can you see anything right now?" She asks in a quiet tone as they stand and wait for SIU to arrive.

"Outlines," Ed replies with a heavy frown as he looks away.

"He's going to be fine," Donna's tender tone brings his head back to hers. "I'm worried about you."

"This…" Ed's voice trails off as he looks away.

"This what?"

"Nothing."

"Ed, don't do this, don't shut me out. What is it?"

"I was angry when I had to depend on that kid and he…he gave his life for me and I was angry. Donna I didn't even say thank you," Ed grits his teeth as he looks away in anger; Greg watching from a discreet distance. Her hand rests on his rough cheek and gently guides his face back to hers.

"He's going to be okay as are you. And you will get to thank him for what he did and am sure he'll thank you for saving his life."

"Do…"

"If you hadn't acted when you did, you'd both be dead and you know it. Okay SIU is here. I need to take care of this."

"I love you," Ed whispers as he leans in closer.

"I love you too," she whispers in return as her lips lightly nip the tip of his ear before she pulls back and heads for the dark, unmarked sedan, getting into the back and giving Greg a nod of reassurance that he'd safely deliver her precious husband to the hospital as promised.

"Never a dull day with you two," Greg comments after they were both settled into the SUV and heading back toward the downtown core.

"Was worried this time boss. Not being able to see…" Ed's voice trails off as he shakes his head. "For a second that kid left and I couldn't blame him, he was scared. But I looked around and I gotta tell ya…seeing nothing but odd shadows and outlines – I was scared too."

"Understandable. I would be too," Greg sympathizes in kind.

"If that kid hadn't decided to skip school and then be brave enough to see what the hell was going on…and he ends up getting shot for it," Ed sighs as he leans back further into the seat.

"We'll make it up to him," Greg promises as Ed can only nod and frown. "Okay I know you didn't want to worry Donna further, but did he damage your eyes?"

"Actually no. He loved the idea that I couldn't see what he was about to do. Made stupid threats but…"

"But what?"

"But I'm just glad that he never got a chance to do what he threatened. I felt pretty damn helpless as it was."

"Well you fought back pretty good my friend. Took him down true Ed Lane fashion," Greg praises as Ed's lips twist upward into a soft smirk. "And at least there's some light at the end of the tunnel."

"You know that isn't funny."

"It's kinda funny," Greg counters with a warm smile. "Okay we're here. First we'll get you into the ER to get you checked over. You know Brent's gone into surgery so there's no use in arguing."

"You've been hanging around Donna too long," Ed groans.

"Hey who do you think she learned it from?" Greg replies proudly.

"Yeah," Ed mutters under his breath, but knows Greg is right. Despite the fact that he wasn't feeling anything broken, he did want to see Dr. Eng and tell him what happened and make sure that the healing process with his eyes was still on track.

"Okay Officer Lane the skin around the eyes looks a bit dirty but given the circumstances you just told me about you got off pretty lucky."

"So nothing more is damaged? Why can't I see clearly yet?"

"Let's take a look."

Dr. Eng dims the lights and then pulls out a few small instruments, putting some droplets into Ed's eyes and then gently inspecting them one at a time. "The color of the droplets indicates there is no residual chemicals left and that is very positive. I don't see any retinal tearing or corneal strain so that is also very positive."

"I tried to keep them closed as much as possible," Ed informs the kind Asian doctor in truth. "When I was at home I kept them wrapped and…I will see again right?"

Dr. Eng turns the light on but dims the level before he asks Ed to open his eyes once more. "What do you see? Look straight ahead."

Ed slowly opens his watery eyes, blinking several times to clear away the last of the medicinal droplets and praying for his brain to give him some sign of hope. "Uh…an outline."

"Of what?" Dr. Eng presses.

"A man…I think or some boxes or…damn it," Ed squints and then curses in frustration.

"If you have to strain you need to stop. The fact that you can see an outline is progress as when I first asked you a few days ago you saw only darkness. I know you are frustrated and after what you experienced I can only imagine it's made you more agitated. However, you are on track and you just need to go back home and continue doing what you're doing. You don't need to come back tomorrow but come back on Tuesday."

"You said I'd have…" Ed stops and shakes his head. "Sorry," Ed apologies in a humble tone.

"You're making progress, that's good news. You will see again Officer Lane, it's just taking a bit longer," Dr. Eng gives Ed a pat on his shoulder. "I'll get my nursing assistant to clean the blood off your face and head."

"Thank you."

Ed remains on the small examining table, opening his eyes once more and looking at the distorted shapes before him. After he once again blinks away some of the residual droplets he's once again able to make out some confirmed shapes. A cabinet? A bookcase? He hears some shuffling to his right and closes his eyes once more.

"Nurse, it's okay I can do this at home."

"What makes you think you're wife will let you wait?" Donna's voice is heard; her face breaking into a smile as she notices his face relax. "Brent is just coming out of surgery now. It was a success and he's being taken up to a room. So lets…get you all cleaned up. You can't thank your would be rescuer looking like that right?"

"That was fast."

"I gave SIU the twenty-five cent version and said it was Sunday and my day off and if the didn't like it, too bad," she concludes lightly as she gently cleans away some of the dried blood from Tristan and his own around his mouth and nose.

"Donna?" Ed asks after a few seconds of silence.

"When I came back and found you missing…" her voice trails off into a curse. "Damn I promised myself I wasn't going to get weepy."

"Come here," Ed whispers as he slowly stands up and takes her into his embrace; holding her close. "Trust me the things he said…he said he was gonna bring you back there and I had to watch only I couldn't so I'd have to imagine…" Ed stops as his eyes finally water on their own and he shakes his head. "We're okay now."

"We are," she replies as she clings to him a bit longer before looking up and then guiding his mouth to hers and planting a soft, brief kiss on it. "Come on, let's go see Brent and then go home and relax."

"After all this I don't think I'll mind do nothing tonight," Ed replies as he takes the dark glasses from her hands and affixes them on his face. His hand clasps hers as they slowly leave the small examination room; being greeted in the waiting area by Tom, Wordy and the rest of Team One.

Ed talks to all of them a bit before they slowly disperse, Wordy remaining the longest until they are told that Brent is awake; Wordy taking his leave but promising to call Ed the following day to see how he was doing. The two of them, once again joined at the hands, carefully make their way toward the elevators and then up one floor to the surgical recovery unit; Donna telling Ed about the tragic van incident and Ed telling her exactly what happened with Brent in further detail.

"We're here," Donna whispers as they near the entrance to Brent's room; Ed's heart rate slightly increasing as their pace slows.

"Are you Officer Lane?" Ed hears a sharp tone as he stops short a few feet from the entrance to the hospital room.

"I am," he replies frankly.

"My boy was shot because of you," she starts in anger and then stops and utters a small sniffle. "I wanted to be mad at you but when he told me…told me you were blind and he wanted to stay and help and that he stepped in front of you willingly I…" she breaks down in a small sob before she gives Ed a brief hug and pulls back. "He's never done anything like that for anyone. He made me so proud today."

"He made me proud today also ma'am," Ed replies softly. "I'm sorry he was shot. I never intended for that but I am grateful with my life that he was brave enough to come and check it out and to help me. What your son did took a lot of courage and I owe him my life."

"What happened to the man that did this?"

"He's dead," Ed answers matter of factly. "I am very sorry for all of this."

"Are you really blind?"

"It's a uh…temporary setback," Ed slightly stammers and then frowns. "How is he? I don't want to disturb him but if he's awake I'd like to thank him in person."

"Please come, I think he'd like to hear from you that you're okay; he was asking."

"Just a few feet," Donna whispers as she gives Brent's mother a kind smile as they pass and enter the small room.

"Brent?"

"Hey…Ed," Brent greets with a sleepy tone; the full effects of the anesthesia not worn off yet. "Hey nice shades. Looks kinda official."

"Thanks. How you feeling?"

"Ah another day on the job right?" Brent slightly smirks. "I'm okay I guess."

"You're a brave young man Brent and I just wanted to thank you for all you did for me today."

"Ah it was…nothing," Brent offers with a small smirk.

"I'm alive because of you. Brent I never wanted you to do that. I just had to say that to you so your mother could hear me. Putting you in harms way was never my intent."

"She knows. She's just piss…ah angry right now because I skipped school," Brent looks up at his mother who can only frown in return. "Guess skipping today was okay right?"

"Well you know I can't encourage you to do that again right?" Ed offers lightly.

"Yeah I know. But that's okay. They said I'd only be in here one more day and then I could go home and recover. The TV here sucks," he huffs as Ed's face relaxes into a smile.

"When you're better come on down to the SRU and I'll give you a tour," Ed offers.

"Really? Sweet!" Brent smiles as he looks up at his mother who offers a kind smile in return. "What happened to that guy anyways? You guys take him down?"

"Donna took the kill shot."

"Wow really? That's super awesome. You're right, your wife is cool."

"She is that," Ed beams with pride. They talk a bit longer before Donna looks at Brent and knows its time to leave.

"We should let him get his rest now," Donna gently interjects; knowing her husband was unable to see Brent's yawn and the fact that he was struggling to stay awake for his sake.

"Okay," Ed agrees in a low tone as he leans forward slightly and with the help of his wife's guidance gives Brent's hand a small squeeze and then pulls back with a tender smile. "See you soon Brent."

"For sure," Brent answers in truth as they both stand up and give Brent's mother a few more parting words and then slowly head back into the hallway, toward the elevators.

"How you doing?"

"I'm exhausted," Ed responds in truth. "I'm glad I got to…talk to him," Ed pauses and frowns, wanting to say 'see' him but knowing of course that wasn't possible.

"You'll see him soon enough," Donna assures him as they get into the elevators. Her body sags into his, leaning on his strong shoulder as they head for the first floor. "You said I was cool?"

"I was going to say kick ass but wasn't sure his mother would have approved," Ed genuinely smiles as the doors open and they head toward the exit, taking the truck home that Greg had left for them. "I'm right aren't I?"

"Course you are," she gently giggles as they head for the truck, Donna helping Ed to the passenger side but then letting him get in on his own.

"Donna?" Ed asks after a few seconds of growing silence.

"Yeah…we should go," she quickly swallows back a small sniffle; his hand fumbling to find hers on the steering wheel and then holding it a few seconds. "I'm okay now."

"Want me to make supper tonight?"

"Was that supposed to be funny?" Donna retorts as she heads for the exit.

"Yes."

"It worked," she retorts with a warm smile as they pull into traffic. "I'm glad that Dr. Eng said things are getting better," Donna remarks as they head toward the front door of their apartment and then finally enter.

Ed stands in the entranceway and feels his stomach tighten.

"What's wrong?" Donna asks in haste.

"When Tristan was in here. He knew. He was watching me and when he first confirmed he knew…Donna I gotta tell ya…I was scared," Ed admits weakly. "I fought back but he knew he had me. And when he drugged me…I thought that was it."

Donna lets him continue to expel all his verbal angst as she wraps her arms around him and holds on tight; resting her head on his strong chest as his hand strokes her back. She feels the tension tight in his frame as she holds but refuses to tell him to calm down – he'd do that on his own. He had narrowly escaped the clutches of a sadistic murderer and so was due his time to rant about his own "perceived" failings about not being to stop Tristan MacNeil on his own merit. Finally after remaining in place for about ten minutes and listening to his angsty tirade she feels his body starting to loosen in her grasp and knows its time to get cleaned up and relax.

"You need a shower and then we'll get something for supper."

"You uh…wanna join me?" Ed asks with a small smile; Donna looking up in surprise.

"You sure? I mean yes but…"

This time it's Ed's turn to lean down closer and silence his wife with a kiss, at first being at the side of her mouth but then fully covering it a few seconds later; earning a soft smirk in the process. "This whole thing has shown me that life is too short to wallow," Ed huffs as he pulls back and offers her a heavy frown. "Today especially. When I was out there…dependant on Brent and even here with Tristan. Things I take for granted. It was beyond frustrating but really showed me not to waste time."

"Just don't plan to go skydiving tomorrow," she quips kindly. "I do agree though and it also has made me appreciate the simpler things also. So let's go have that shower, get some dinner and just relax."

"I like that idea," Ed admits as he gives her one more hug before their hands clasp and they head toward the bedroom to get undressed and then put into action their plan for the evening.

As Ed listens to Donna's soft chatter about what they'll have for dinner he feels his inner agitation starting to subside. The day had started out good, took a brief tour into terror and ended on a positive note despite the fact that darkness had threatened to overshadow them all. Tristan's vengeful scheme had forced him to realize just how precious life really is and from that moment forward he had a few plans of his own that he was going to put into motion as soon as his sight was fully restored. The future was looking bright once more.

A/N: Okay so I didn't want to rush the ending I have planned and still had a few more things to get in for our AU couple after this angsty adventure so you get another chapter (bonus right?) hehe so yup instead of 6 chappies your amazing feedback got you 8 and I hope you like how this tense rescue went and the meeting with Brent (aww I couldn't kill him!) and his mother and I hope you like the ending up next. Please do review before you go (your reviews are magic!) and thanks so much!