OH no!!! Jo's been shot! Will she survive?!?! BTW . . . the reason Jo's speech has a lot of ". . ."s is because she's DYING!!!! One of my chicas said it sounded corny when read out loud but I don't care . . . she's DYING for goodness's sake!! It's hard for her to breathe let alone talk! Anyhoo, On to the story!

Disclaimer: I don't own, I RENT. Except for my characters and storyline, those are mine.

Slow Motion

A sharp pain resonated through her abdomen as two gunshots were heard . . .

Then numbness . . . She couldn't feel anything as the ground came up to meet her.

"Josephine!"

A loud cry was heard. She couldn't tell who it was. Subconsciously, she knew this might be the end. Opening seal-grey eyes, she met the chocolate-brown ones of the figure over her.

"Col-Collins?" she breathed out painfully.

"I'm here, Baby Girl." Collins reassured, "I'm here."

"I- . . . I"

"Shh . . . take it easy," Collins ran his fingers through Jo's hair, trying to keep her calm, "I called the paramedics, they're on their way. Just hold on Jo. Just hold on."

As she lay on the cold concrete floor, she could vaguely feel the steaming blood turn icy as it flowed out of the wound. Now was her last chance. She had to tell him before she couldn't. She thought it was better he didn't know but now she wanted him to know. Collins had to tell him . . . for her.

"C-Collins . . . listen to-to me . . . I . . . need you to tell Mark . . ."

"Tell Mark what?" Collins took off his signature orange vest and covered the wound to try and stop the bleeding.

"If . . . if I don't . . . make it . . . tell him . . . h-how much . . . I love , , , him . . ." Collins looked at her in confusion. Hadn't she said not too long ago that she didn't want Mark to know? "Please Collins . . . please . . ." Her breathing was labored. She was desperate. "Promise me . . . promise me you will . . ." How could he say no to her?

He couldn't. She was dying.

"I promise."

RENRENTRENTRENTRENTRENTRENTRENTRENTRENTRENTRENTRENTRENT

Two gunshots were heard by the Bohemians on the rescue team. Collins' voice cried out for the newest Boho. Maureen burst into tears, Mimi's eyes brimmed with them and Joanne comforted her lover, hiding her own sorrow. Mark's eyes grew wide and, with what little strength he had left, he ran to the source of the shots.

"Mark!" Roger sprinted after his weak friend, followed closely by Mimi, Maureen and Joanne. Down a few flights of stairs and a couple hallways later, they were met with a sight of three figures in a large room. The first: an empty shell of the serial killer who had haunted their lives for the past several months. The second, hunched over the third whose stomach was surrounded by a pool of blood.

"Jo . . ."

Collins looked up to see his friends come rushing towards them.

"Is she?"

"Alive . . . for now," He returned his focus to Jo, "Baby Girl, look at me. We'll get you through this, alright?" Jo nodded weakly. She was starting to fade.

Sirens were heard. Mimi and Joanne, both teary-eyed, ran to greet the policemen and paramedics. Joanne immediately spoke to the chief of police while Mimi lead the way to Jo and the rest of the Bohos.

"Thank you, we've got it from here." A paramedic named Nigel said, signaling two others to take over Jo's situation.

As the two paramedics worked on Jo, Nigel worked on Mark who was shaking from early withdrawal symptoms and from the cold New York air that easily penetrated his thin, worn t-shirt. Nigel gave Mark a blanket and finished checking him. He immediately found signs of abuse all over Mark's body and track marks on his arms. When Nigel looked closer, he noted that Mark was severely underweight and malnourished; his pupils were constricted and he was very pale.

When Nigel was done checking Mark, he sent him in an ambulance to the hospital. Roger volunteered to go with him as moral support.

By that time, Jo was already on a stretcher in an ambulance, speeding towards the hospital. Unfortunately though, she wasn't doing so hot.

"Miss?" the paramedic called, "Miss, could you tell me your name please?"

Jo didn't really want to talk. She wasn't even sure if she could . . . "May . . ." She gasped out. It was getting harder to think. She didn't know how much longer she could hold on. "Josephine . . . Eva . . . May . . ."

Collins, who was her escort, squeezed Jo's hand. He knew it was time to tell the world who she really was.

A long monotonous beep emitted from the heart monitor attached to Jo.

"She's flat-lined!"

"Get the AED!"

"Sir, I need you to let go of her."

"Okay, stay back . . . Clear!"

Jo's body bucked violently at the shock that surged through her, trying to bring her back.

"Again, clear!"

Tears streamed down Collins' face as he watched his friend fight with death for her life. He silently prayed to Angel to send her back to them.

"Clear!"

Jo's body bucked again before a steady rhythm of beeps was heard from the heart monitor.

"Thank god."

"She's a fighter."

The paramedics continued to work on the unconscious form of Jo. They stemmed the bleeding and placed an oxygen mask over her face. Collins took her hand again.

C'mon Jo, we need you . . .

Will Jo be okay?? You'll see!! Please Review!!!! I LOVE Reviews!!!