A/N: Special shoutout and huge thanks to Daitanro for the "favorite" and "follow" and all the reviews you've made. Really appreciate it! ;)

Chapter 27: "I can't walk": Tiffany and Stuart

"Okay, careful..." Tiff said to Stuart as they entered his apartment. He got his leg bandaged and walking with crutches.

The four agents were in the field chasing the suspects when it happened. In the midst of chaos and gunshots, Tiff lost sight of her partner but continued her pursuit. She thought she heard someone scream but got distracted when one of the suspects ran past her. When the suspects were apprehended in a dead end, Tiff noticed that her partner was missing. She spoke through her comms, "Stuart? Stuart, where are you?"

Labored breathing can be heard through her comms. "I got shot, Tiff. I can't walk."

She tried to stay calm. "Okay, Stuart, stay there. Tell me where you are." She followed his directions until she found him bleeding in the street. Maggie apparently followed and called for a paramedic while OA kept an eye on the suspects. Stuart was moved in a stretcher and Tiff rode in the ambulance with him to the nearest hospital.

The bullet miraculously missed his major artery that would have caused massive blood loss. He needed stitches and had to walk around with crutches but other than those, he will be fine.

With the perps secured in custody, the bosses allowed the agents to take the rest of the day off. Tiff volunteered to drive him home.

"So, do you need anything?" Tiff asked, after helping Stuart settle in his couch.

"Maybe just water, please," he replied, putting his crutches to the side. She gave him a bottle of sparkling water from the fridge.

"Thanks," he said before taking a sip. "Hey, what about you? You could get anything in the fridge. Mi casa es tu casa."

Tiff smiled and glanced around. Her eyes landed on the fancy coffee machine on the kitchen counter. "Of course, you'll have one of those," she said pointing to the machine.

"Oh yeah, here let me show you." Stuart moved to get up and Tiff immediately hurried to help him.

"Sorry, I shouldn't have asked," she said as they reached the kitchen.

"What are you talking about? You know I love to talk about anything coffee." After pushing some buttons and waiting for a few minutes, he handed her a mug of freshly brewed coffee.

As they sat down in his couch, Tiff cleared her throat. "Uhmm, Stuart." He looked up from his phone. "I just want to apologize for not keeping an eye on you. I should have-"

"Tiff, this is not your fault," Stuart said, leaning forward to look her in the eyes. "I'm the one who should've been more careful."

She shook her head, with her eyes closed. He wasn't sure but he instinctually reached out and hugged his partner. She hid her face on his chest but he could feel her trembling and his shirt wet with tears.

After a few minutes, she was back to her calm, composed self. "So, is there anything you need help with?"

Stuart knew better than to push her to talk about things. They will have that talk eventually. So with glint of mischief in his eyes, he said "Care to help me take a bath?" To which Tiff threw a pillow at him.

Notes:

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