step by step
An NCIS fic collection
by mew-tsubaki
- ^-^3
imagine: seasons 3—snow tracks (this post on the sideblog: 704031154332942336/ parknight-imagines-seasons-3-snow-tracks)
tags: pre?Parknight
- ^-^3
It's been whiteout conditions in D.C. since yesterday, and, honestly, nobody should be working in such a storm. But crime doesn't stop just because business does, and so Knight and the others find themselves in pursuit of an armed robbery suspect even though it's hard to see even a car length ahead of them on foot.
The snow's let up for the moment, so they're not out in the middle of a full-blown blizzard, but the winds are lively enough to shove the topmost layers off all the nearby buildings and vehicles. Knight seeks shelter from the drift in the shadow of a detached shed on the store's lot and checks her magazine.
Mostly full, minus two rounds. Plus she has a backup in her pocket. Now if only the winds would let up and make this fake snowfall stop so she could find the robber and maybe, hopefully, not shoot Parker or McGee or Torres.
That thought causes an anxious lump to form in her throat, but Knight banishes the idea from her mind. No, she can do this. She's been in worse situations before and come out on the other side winning.
She narrows her eyes and tries to adjust to the starkness of the bright white in the middle of the winter day. The sun hinders…but helps, too, she learns, when she catches sight of footprints crisscrossing ahead of her.
Those prints could lead to their suspect. If their robber went one way, thought better while surrounded by NCIS agents, and doubled back…
Knight moves out from the safety of her shelter when she hears it behind her.
A single, telltale CRUNCH.
She freezes and tightens her grip on her gun while pricking up her ears. No hasty moves… It could be anyone behind her…
Another step—another CRUNCH. It's not Torres' heavy footfall; unless he puts in a truly concerted effort, he's never light-footed and rarely covers his heavy steps. McGee's always shuffling, and the steps coming toward her aren't in a hurry as she would expect their suspect to be. And yet, more than that…
No, she knows this footfall. Steady, determined. On the hunt for the perpetrator in his crosshairs. Reliable for those who have his six (and whose sixes he protects).
The tension in her shoulders abates before she turns, before Parker pulls up on her left. But then she catches his eye and he, hers, and she spies the same relief in the way his stare lingers. He's glad he found her, too.
They move forward, alert and in sync, with nary a distracting thought to keep them from their task…
…but Knight does stop to wonder when, minutes later, McGee announces he's got their guy and the coast is clear. Yes, she and Parker holster their weapons and exchange another lingering look, and Knight wonders:
At what point did she become so familiar with the way Parker moves?
- ^-^3
As I type this, it hasn't snowed yet where I am, and I'm hoping this imagine doesn't jinx me, *LOL*. But also—in sync Parknight, yaaay.
-mew! B3