Disclaimer: I don't own NCIS: New Orleans.

A/N: Back to Pride's POV.

Pride watched as Shanks' thumb began to lower onto the detonator button while at the exact same moment Brody pulled the trigger of the gun. It all played out as if in slow motion. The gun fired, the bullet hit Shanks between the eyes, and the detonator slipped from his hand as he fell to the ground unmoving. It was a perfect shot.

Pride immediately bent down and retrieved his gun, LaSalle doing the same, and then rushed over to Merri as Chris headed for Shanks. Before he could reach her though she began slipping to the ground, her eyes drooping shut. By the time he got to her she was laying on her side, her breath coming out in uneven puffs.

"Brody," he said urgently once he knelt down beside her. He gently rolled her over onto her back and pulled her torso up into his lap, being careful so as to not jostle her too much and further aggravate her injuries. "Hey, come on, keep breathing." It seemed like an odd order, but at the moment he thought it might actually be needed.

His eyes quickly swept over her, giving her a once over to check the damage. The blood stain on her clothing had definitely spread and there was a trail of smeared blood across the floor from where she'd dragged herself across it. Her head was bleeding now as well and it didn't do his worry any good.

"King?"

His gaze traveled back to her face and he realized she was trying to keep her eyes open. It looked like a valiant attempt, but he wasn't so sure it'd work. "Easy, Merri. You did a good job," he added.

"Shanks?"

He looked over to where LaSalle was knelt next to the body of Aaron Shanks. Christopher shook his head in answer to the unasked question before standing and gesturing to one of the security guards down the hall. Once satisfied that everything was under control Pride looked back down at Brody. "He's gone. Chris is getting you some help." He shifted slightly and used a free hand to brush away a few strands of hair from the head wound in hopes of getting a better look at it. He didn't miss the almost guilty look that crossed Merri's face as he did.

"I'm sorry," she whispered.

"You did what you had to," he told her softly.

He wasn't sure if she heard him or not. Her eyes slid closed as he spoke and within seconds hospital personnel were easing her out of his hold and onto a stretcher. As they rushed her down the hallway he stood and watched them go.

Pride checked the time yet again as he waited in the hallway outside of Brody's new hospital room. They'd been told which room was hers, but they weren't yet allowed in. As he stared at the closed door Christopher hung up his phone and moved to stand next to him and join in watching the door.

"Loretta is on her way," Christopher informed him. "She's bringing Sebastian too."

He nodded, not really all that surprised by the announcement. "Did forensics find anything at Shanks' apartment?"

"Oh yeah," LaSalle answered. He pulled out his phone again and pulled up a photo to show him.

In the photo was a cardboard box full of various household ingredients that looked like they'd been hastily thrown together in the box. He recognized the combination easily though. "What he made the bomb with," he stated.

"Yep. And I found this near Shank's body." Chris flicked through the photos until one of a NCIS ID appeared. It had Brody's name and birthdate, but Shank's picture had been put in place of Merri's. It wasn't a very convincing edit and was obviously a fake. "I figure Shanks tried to use it to get past the guard and when it didn't work, he shot him," LaSalle added. "Pretty solid evidence if you ask me."

"Yeah, it is. Not that it matters now."

Just then the door to Brody's room opened and Doctor Kaylan stepped out into the hallway while closing the door behind her, making it impossible for Pride to get a look inside. "Doctor," he greeted. "How is she?"

Kaylan smiled warmly in a similar way as the first time they met. This time however she seemed a little more at ease. "You know how I said she didn't have a concussion the last time we talked?"

Both he and LaSalle nodded in response.

"Well now she does. It's not the worst one I've ever seen, but's not all that good either."

"What concussion is," LaSalle commented.

"True," the doctor agreed. "She needs rest, and she needed a few more stitches and another blood transfusion, but I believe she'll recover. With time, of course." She smiled again before checking her watch. "If you'll excuse me though. I'm due in surgery. You'll be allowed in to see her in a few minutes."

"Thank you, Doctor," he said as she left.

"I think I'll head down to the gift shop," LaSalle said once the doctor was gone. "See if they got anything that'll brighten up Brody's room some."

Pride looked towards the hospital room again, wishing he could see through the walls and inside. It would be a few minutes more before they'd be allowed in and he could either stand around and wait or join Christopher in something at least semi-productive. He was tempted to stay right where he was and wait. He didn't particularly want to be further away from Merri than he had to right now, especially considering what condition she'd been in when he'd last seen her. He shook the thought, and the subsequent flashes of a blooded Meredith Brody, from his mind.

"Might as well," he answered. He could only hope no one tried to kill their newest team member again in the time it took him to go down there and back. At the rate things were going, he wasn't so sure.