Mal Fallon

So there I was, and surprisingly, Natara Williams wasn't what my eyes were focused on. It was Esmeralda Salazar, as she was attempting to explain to us why we were both here. And well… I knew. She wanted nothing more than my blood, and not just that, but she wanted Natara as well.

"Psychologically, it makes sense that I would ask for Natara. I knew better that she would come in here, sacrificing her life to save hostages. Mal, I wasn't so sure you would. I figured you would try and dive in here with your gun, and attempt to quarantine the situation that way. Then I would have killed a hostage. I don't want to do that, Falcon. I don't. But what I did want, was you. And you're here. I knew your infatuation with Agent Williams would lead you right here. Was I wrong?"

As much as I hated this woman, she was kind of right. "Obviously you aren't. I'm here, aren't I?"

She chuckled and put a cigarette up to her lips, lighting it. "But before we get to business, let's talk business. I truly am sorry about your father. He was… actually… a decent person. Definitely not as horrible as you, no offense or anything."

"Oh don't worry, none taken." I was being sarcastic.

With hearing about my father, I was a little distracted, but I caught another gaze across the room from Natara. It was the exact same one she gave me at the resort. It said. Keep the conversation going. So I did. And I knew exactly what I had to say, although I didn't really want to. "Detective Fallon, I guess I just have one last question, is there anything you wanna say to anybody in this room?"

She nodded her head towards Natara. "Nah… not really." I replied, "Why?"

She looked a little floored. "Well, Mal, there's something you need to realize. You need to know what you put me and my new family through. You killed people I love! So in return, Natara…" She turned towards the corner, "Gotta go sweetie."

I tried to swallow back my fears as I said the following: "Then wait… I'm confused. Why are you killing Natara?"

"Because.. You love her. You showed all of San Francisco that last week."

I shook my head. "So what? You think it's really going to affect me if you stab her? Sure, It would suck to lose my partner but… she rejected me. So any feelings I have, they don't matter anyways."

She didn't say anything.

"You already got my father, Esmeralda. Sure, he wasn't a great man. And let's be real. I'm not either. But honestly… honestly… If you kill Natara, you're accomplishing nothing."

She looked a little baffled, and then straightened herself up. "Mal, you must think I'm an idiot. You cannot use them words on me! And all you did just there, was piss me off!" She waved at one of her men. And then she spoke something in Spanish.

I knew right then, something horrible was about to happen.

Natara Williams

Before Mal or I could do anything, I felt a knife across my cheek. The cut wasn't deep, and I could tell. It burned like hell, but I couldn't let it get the best of me. I had way worse things happen to me, after all.

But watching the horror on Mal's face right then made me make a promise to myself. If we survived this, I was going to apologize for everything. I doubted he would forgive me for rejecting him… twice. But I was going to try.

I needed a way out, though. I needed a plan. And just then, when there wasn't much I could do. I had to think outside of the box. I began to fidget around on the corner, feeling for my phone. I wouldn't be able to call anyone, but making a "butt-dial" wasn't a horrible idea. Somebody, hopefully someone from the precinct, would tell the Captain and Lieutenant to send the SWAT in. But then I remembered dropping my phone outside earlier, really swift, Natara.

All I could do at the moment was wait, hoping that Mal had some sort of plan. The look on his face said he didn't, and neither did I. It was terrifying.

But suddenly, luck worked in our favor. Esmeralda spoke up, "You know what, I have an idea. Gentleman, I'll be back shortly. And lovebirds…" She sent a glare at Mal and myself.. "Sit tight."

After she departed, the men didn't hesitate to tie up Mal, too, but they removed the gag from my mouth, which was pretty shocking. And what was even more surprising, was they let him sit right next to me. I know I should have been contemplating possible escape routes, but I had to address something else, first.

After about five minutes or so of silence, I had to talk to Mal. I just had to. I needed to tell him I loved him, too. Because what if this was my last time with him? What if Esmeralda came plowing back through that door with a grenade launcher? He needed to know. "Mal, can I tell you something?"

He didn't even respond, so I kept going.

"I'm sorry."

His voice grew faint. "Sorry for what?"

"I shouldn't have yelled at you when you told me how you felt. That was screwed up. And the truth is, you.. You didn't deserve it at all."

He sighed. "Nah… I mean, I can understand how that would have been embarrassing. I just wanted you to know… and stuff."

"Mal, it's alright. I just want you to know that… well, I t-think that I feel the same way, kinda."

He froze, and his eyes widened.

"And I think I have. I guess I have a weird way of showing it, huh?"

A small smile escaped his lips, and his blue eyes were still intoxicating, despite how awful this situation was. He was an excellent distraction. "You could say that. But hey, at least you told me. Better late than never."

Our eyes were locked together, and in that moment, he said something I didn't expect. "In case we don't die today.." his eyes wandered towards the men watching us for a moment… then back to me, "promise me something."

I waited.

"Let me take you out to dinner later."

I nodded. "I guess I can stomach it."

"If you're lucky, Natara, I'll let you even be my girlfriend."

"Mal, seriously though, I'm actually worried. And, I just want you to know for real, I do love you." Saying it knocked the wind out of me. I hadn't said it since Shawn. But in an instant, I realized I meant it.

Next thing I knew, Mal kissed me. Yeah, it couldn't be as long, passionate, or intense as I wanted it to be, but the heat of that moment made it so much better "Nat, I said it a hundred times, and I'll say it again. I love you, too. Don't worry about… anything. That's… not you. Be strong."

He made it all seem easy, but our chances were pretty low. Esmeralda wasn't our typical 'profilee'. She wasn't necessarily hard to read, but since she knew my abilities and Mal's abilities, our actions were all pointless. She thought we were basing everything off of me profiling her. Which I had been doing all along, but with the information I gathered already, profiling didn't do me a whole lot of good. "You're right. I guess I just didn't expect any of this. With her. Or with you."

He laughed. "Come on, Natara. This job is never what ya expect, you know that. And as far as my feelings for you… I was pretty caught off guard, too."

"From when I got here? Cause' that's what you said at my wedding."

"Almost wedding. And no, I mean, I always thought you were kinda gorgeous but after a few cases I noticed myself falling for you. I tried dating other women, tried to find new hobbies, and I tried not to think about you as more than a friend. But I had to deal with it eventually, and now I couldn't be happier that I did."

"But Mal, I don't want to die here."

He smiled, and kissed me one more time. "And you won't."

I wished I could have read his mind completely. I didn't know what he was thinking. But after I simply felt too tired. I let my body take me. I fell asleep.