Sorry this chapter is so short. But I hope everyone enjoys. Thank you for reading.
"Got 'er in my sights"
Ed's voice filtered into his earpiece. Again, Parker waved this off. Uttering a low "stand down for the moment" before proceeding.
"Rachael, I know it hurts. Really..but this isn't the answer"
They could hear Steve pleading for his life. Parker's concern grew that this particular incident could only be resolved by lethal force. Something he never wanted to resort to, unless absolutely necessary. He swallowed hard, there was one last thing he hadn't tried yet. And that was to attempt to get through to her on a more personal level, by revealing his own pregnancy. Clearing his throat anxiously.
"Rachael, before when you said I wouldn't understand...I do..I, I'm-"
Before he even had a chance to finish, they hear a gunshot. "Boss, now!" Ed shouted into his earpiece. Greg reluctantly nodded his head, despite Lane physically not being able to see it. Feeling his heart sink, his voice lowered and broken.
"Now"
He slammed his eyes shut. As the haunting sound of Ed's rifle rang out. Within an instant, what he had hoped could be resolved, diminished within an instant. Although the situation seemed bleak, came a sliver of hope. The victim and his child survived the gunshot. Everyday his job required decisions that weren't so easy to make, so when the outcome gave them, even a fraction of something positive, Greg clung to it like a life ring.
"Hey, you alright?"
Came Ed's voice almost immediately from behind him, once they were back at the station. Parker gave a halfhearted smile and a light nod of his head.
"I know it ain't easy, boss. But sometimes we gotta do what we gotta do"
"I know, Ed. But sometimes I wish we didn't"
All the sudden, it appeared as though Lane had a question just brimming beneath the surface. However, unsure of how exactly to execute it. He took notice as the seasoned sniper bit his bottom lip, mulling it over in his head. Greg's lukewarm expression gave way to a more convivial one as now a small smirk appeared.
"What? You wanna say somethin', I can see it"
He goaded him facetiously with a chuckle.
"Well, it's just that..when you were tryin' to reason with the shooter. What did you mean when you said you knew what she was goin' through?"
Parker's breath caught in his throat. Feeling as though his heart had ceased. It wasn't that he was against informing Ed of his situation, and the team had to know eventually. But he feared the outcome down the line. As joyous of an occasion this was for him, it also hindered his profession within the SRU. He gave a small smile, rubbing the back of his neck somewhat anxiously.
"Simply protocol, Ed. You create a pseudo mutual understanding in hopes to reason with the suspect. Unfortunately, this time around. Reasoning was like piss in the wind"