This is a shift day. There are two updates today.
"Technicolor Wishes & Hi-Def Dreams"
17. And Responders
She had never been afraid for her life, not until they walked into that building, pursuing the shooter who had fled the scene of his crime. They were supposed to impersonate these federal agents who knew what they were doing. She had no idea what she was doing. They would run into that man and he would shoot her, she could see it.
"Hey," Puck had distracted her. "You can do this."
"What if I can't?" her eyes pooled with tears. He had pulled her into his arms to calm her, placed a reassuring kiss at her forehead. "I don't think we're supposed to do that," she'd sniffled and he breathed out.
"Maybe that's why we're here, to give those two a good shove in the right direction." It made her laugh.
"It'd be about time." He looked down at her.
"We'll get through this one together, okay?" he nodded, and she matched him.
"Okay."
"Now take out your gun." She froze. "You need to know how to hold it, just in case." She reached down, and he could see her hand shake as she pulled out the weapon. He stepped behind her, using his arms to shadow her into position. "Like this, not like this, got it? Aim, lead…"
"How do you know how to do this?"
"TV, movies, video games? Won't win any awards, but it'll have to do."
"Maybe we should wait for Gibbs…"
"Would they wait?" Puck pointed out. When they heard a noise coming from across the half-renovated floor, she squeaked, and he took out his own weapon.
"What do we do now?" she whispered. He pulled her to take cover, then he called out.
"NCIS! Come out with your hands up, toss down your gun!" The response came in the form of a shot being fired in their general direction. Rachel was scared, but she was trying to stay alert, which he had to applaud her for, knowing how she didn't want to come into the building.
"The building is surrounded, there's no way out!" she shouted, and he turned to her.
"What are you doing?" he whispered, stunned.
"The longer we wait, the more he'll know about us, no?" she explained. "We have to flush him out."
"Are you sure about this?" He knew what that meant, and so did she. Rachel nodded, and he didn't know what got into him, but he pulled her up and kissed her. "How's that for a shove in the right direction?" She smiled, and then they split up.
He had barely made it around to another corner when he heard the gun cock.
"How about you toss the gun?" It was a girl's voice. He turned around, one hand in the air. The girl had her gun pointed at him. "Now." He did as told. "Kick it over. "He did, and she picked it up, tucking it in the back of her pants.
"You're the shooter?"
"Maybe I am, maybe I'm not," she played coy. "Hands on your head, turn around." She pushed him forward. "Hey, if you don't want your boy to die, I suggest you show yourself now." Rachel inched forward, gun out as he'd showed her.
"Let him go. You think you're in trouble now, you have no idea." Her nerves had turned to fury.
"Big mouth there," the girl frowned.
"You have no idea," Puck kept his eyes on Rachel. She was trying to find a way to get him out of this. If she shot, all she'd get would be him. When she looked back at him, he saw… he wasn't sure what he saw.
But then she started to sing. It caught him off guard, but then he knew, if he was surprised, then the shooter…
He reached back, caught her arm and knocked her grip from the gun. It hit the ground, and he tackled the girl down.
"Get me some cuffs! That was excellent!"
X
The adrenaline rush of their previous adventure was all gone by the time they had awakened. For Puck it had meant a misstep, and his ankle flaring up more painful than ever, and he grabbed the first piece of furniture he could get his hands on. He looked around for Rachel, but she wasn't in the room… a room in black and white once again.
He looked up to see the door open from behind him, and then there she was. He let out a sigh of relief.
"Your ankle?" she asked, rushing to him to help him sit.
"I couldn't feel it before, too much was happening…"
"Look, you're sitting this one out, whatever it is, I'll handle it on my own." She started looking around, hoping to find something that would tell her where they were. So far, she had no idea.
"I'm fine, I can help…" he tried and failed to stand.
"Forget it, you'll only make it worse and…" she paused.
"What is it?" he asked.
"Mayberry…" she read.
"Relative of yours?" he joked and she turned with a frown.
"No. That's where we are. It's that… the show, I can't…" she closed her eyes, trying to remember. And then it hit her. "It's the Andy Griffith Show."
TO BE CONTINUED (TUESDAY)