Disclaimer: I don't own Intelligence.

Prompt #2: Satellite - Seeing Clockwork in action - seeing Gabriel in action - was incredible.

Words: 855

It was two seconds after he identified the gangsters that Riley thought, So this is what Clockwork is capable of. Half a second later though, she was body-slamming him hard enough to make the man stumble out of the line of fire. She barely had time to think He couldn't see that coming? before the bullet tore through her flesh.

Gabriel hauled her back behind the van. "You took a bullet for me, what the hell are you doing?" he snapped.

"My job!" she snapped back, checking her magazine.

The resulting hail of gunfire all but drowned out the comm channels. Somehow Gabriel managed to hear and respond to Lillian, leaving Riley time to compartmentalize the pain in her shoulder and shoot back at the Chinese thugs. The next thing she knew, they were on the move.

Gabriel was effectively heroic, bodily hauling her in the door and clearing the paintballers with a single gunshot. That image shattered when Huang Fu and his thugs pinned them down in the dark. As she was still trying to breathe through the pain, Riley was somewhat useless at the moment.

In retrospect, taking cover inside a techno-blasting, blacklight-drenched, neon paint-splattered pseudo-battleground was not the best tactical idea. Her white blouse effectively put a neon ice-blue target on her chest. But since she was bleeding from a bullet wound in her shoulder, Riley figured she wouldn't be blamed for the poor choice of cover. Especially since it wasn't her call.

"Need that satellite!" Gabriel snapped, ducking back behind their meager cover. Riley couldn't hear Lillian's answer over the gunfire and Chinese techno music. Amos must have said something, because Gabriel's next words were a stressed, dry retort of, "Now would be good, Amos."

Riley took a moment to check her magazine. Counting the one round in the chamber, she had three shots left. "Gabriel, I'm running low on ammo." Another bullet impacted just above her head. "Tell me you've got a plan."

He didn't seem to hear her. His head tilted slightly to the left. "Got satellite infrared." Gabriel glanced up, then his eyes darted around the paintball field. He checked his gun's magazine, chambered a round, and stood up.

His first shot took out the attacker to their left. Riley watched in amazement as he slowly circled their position. Her eyes widened as Gabriel shot another Chinese thug. She couldn't understand where this accuracy came from. It was pitch-dark save for the fluorescent paint splatters, and nothing could be heard above the Chinese techno. How in the world could he -

Wait. He said satellite infrared. Infrared reads body heat. When she looked over the top of the obstacle, it was just in time to see Gabriel shoot one more thug with perfect accuracy. In the dark. With one shot.

So this is Clockwork. When he'd done it with her personnel record it had been a cute but annoying parlor trick. Now it was something especially fascinating to watch him use this ability to save both their butts with the deadly accuracy of a trained U.S. soldier. Now Riley could understand, just a little bit more, how vital it was to keep this man safe. What if someone got ahold of him? What if he turned on the US? What if he died?

Oh God, did she have her work cut out for her. And oh God, she was supposed to be saving him, not the other way around.

"Riley, c'mon!" His voice shattered her thoughts as his hand wrapped about her elbow. Gabriel hauled her onto her feet and gave her a look that asked if she was ready. She was about to answer when she registered movement over his shoulder.

He missed one. If they'd had time and he could see, she would have rolled her eyes.

Instead, Riley used Gabriel to steady herself and shot the thug down. Gabriel glanced back at the thug, then at Riley with a look of surprise. She shrugged it off with a slight grin. With a last glare of We'll talk about this later, they booked it out of the paintball arena as fast as Riley could run.

"Lillian's got EMS rolling. They'll be here within five minutes," Gabriel said as he set Riley down on the back steps. "Take it easy."

"I've been shot before, Gabriel. I know how to handle it." She kept her breathing even as she holstered her gun. "Gotta admit, that whole satellite thing was pretty amazing."

Gabriel smirked. "Was that appreciation I just heard?"

"Don't get too caught up in the details." She gave him a piercing stare. "But yes, I appreciate it. Saved our butts, didn't it?" A smirk tugged at her lips. "Even though you missed one."

He scowled. "Hey, I would have caught him."

"Would've caught one in the back of the head, you mean."

"Would not."

The fight would have gone on longer, but the ambulance rolled up seconds later.

Yes, an update! Thine eyes do not deceive thee!

Apologies, my life has gotten severely hectic in recent months and this chapter HAS NOT *glares at chapter* been cooperating.

Review please!