Pieces: Missing scenes from some of my favorite (and not-so-favorite) episodes: those in-between moments that I wish would have been a part of the stories. Chapters are in chronological order. Enjoy! *Note- this is a work-in-progress; I may add more chapters if inspiration strikes!

Chapter 1: In the Name of Love (1.4) 11/7/91

Chris heard a gunshot as he approached the door of the Kirkland estate, and bounded inside just as Rita hit the floor. Fuck. He ran at full speed and tackled Whitney Kirkland to the ground. "You're under arrest." He glanced back at Rita, who was incredibly still on the floor. "Sammy, are you okay? You alright?" Chris threw the cuffs on Mrs. Kirkland and ran over to his partner. "Sammy?" He cautiously reached down to check her and came up with a handful of blood. Oh no.

"Maid?! Get on the phone and dial 911."

It was at that moment that Rita started to stir. Thank goodness. With his other hand, Chris gently stroked her hair and offered reassuring words while they waited for the paramedics to arrive. "Sammy, shhhhh… it's going to be okay."

Rita croaked out a whisper. "Did you get her?"

Chris smiled. Typical Rita, laying on the floor with a gunshot wound and still making sure they got their collar. "Uh, yeah. She's not going anywhere."

The maid reappeared in the room and Chris sprung into action. "I need a towel. Quickly, please." The maid came back within seconds with a hand towel from the bathroom and Chris went to work, applying pressure on Rita's shoulder. "Sorry, Sam, this is going to hurt."

Rita gasped as Chris pressed the towel against her bloody shoulder. Chris gave her his trademark grin, trying to desperately lighten the mood. "Hey, no fair, Sammy. Who said you could get shot first?"

"Mmmmm… next time, it's all yours."

They could hear sirens approaching, and uniformed officers entered to transport Mrs. Kirkland to headquarters. The ambulance arrived seconds later, and the medics got to work on Rita, gently maneuvering her off of the cold floor and onto a gurney.

"Listen, I'm going to call Hutch, and I'll follow right behind in the car, okay?" He leaned down and placed a gentle kiss on her head. "Be a good patient until I get to the hospital." He gave her a wink and looked at the paramedics. "Don't let her boss you around. She's good at that."

"Would you stop it?!" Rita was still in a tremendous amount of pain, but the dizziness of hitting the marble floor was starting to wear off and she was returning to her usual bantering self.

Chris watched them wheel her to the ambulance and then stepped aside to call Hutch.

"Skipper, it's Chris."

"What the hell is going on over there?!"

The phrase, 'Rita was shot' lodged in his throat, and Chris choked up for a second. "Rita took a bullet to the shoulder."

"Damnit. Is she okay? How did that happen?"

I think she'll be okay. The wound looked clean. She got here before me to question Megan Kirkland, and Whitney Kirkland pulled a gun on her. We got her though- she's on her way to headquarters for booking.

"Alright. I'll meet you up at the hospital. You okay, Lorenzo?"

Chris exhaled. "Yeah. I just wish I would have gotten here thirty seconds sooner. I mean..." Chris trailed off, thinking of what could have been if Kirkland's aim had been a touch more accurate or he hadn't arrived when he did.

"Don't overthink it, Lorenzo. You'll drive yourself crazy. I'll see you soon."

Of course, Chris proceeded to overthink it. Before leaving the Kirkland Estate, he stepped into the first-floor bathroom to wash Rita's blood from his hand. He flipped on the bathroom light, and as he turned on the faucet he stopped and stared at his bloodstained fingers. Chris was by no means squeamish when it came to anything homicide-related; at this point, he had seen it all. Rita even teased him for being able to eat during organ recitals. However, one glance at Rita's blood and he felt faint. He leaned against the doorframe, taking deep breaths, replaying the events in his mind. This wasn't supposed to be a dangerous visit, and yet Rita ended up shot. If their hunches had played out correctly, they would have pegged Whitney Kirkland from the beginning. If he hadn't arrived with the warrant when he did… he shook his head clear of the awful thoughts attacking his brain.

He stepped out of the bathroom, briefed the officers on the scene, called Linda Kirkland to come and take care of Megan, and then finally left for the hospital, grabbing Rita's purse from the floor on his way out. Chris arrived just as they were about to take Rita into surgery. He was right, the wound was fairly clean, and her surgeon felt that the bullet appeared to be easily removable without any long-term damage. They had already given Rita some meds to relax her and dull the pain, and she was barely coherent as they said their goodbyes.

"I'm not going anywhere, okay Sam? I'll be right here when you're done."

"Thanks, Sam," Rita murmured with her eyes closed.

Chris grabbed her hand, leaned over, and kissed her on the cheek as the nurses came in to do some final prep. He felt the lump appear in his throat again; he hated seeing her in pain. Fairly certain she was safely in dreamland, he leaned into her ear and whispered the words of his heart. "You're my best friend, Sammy. I love you."

Rita mumbled something incoherent and smiled. Chris grinned as the nurses wheeled her away to surgery. She was going to be just fine.