Just Breathe
SWAT movieverse.
Dedicated to Hiju; thanks for provoking the muse and keeping her fed.
Chris’ daughter was on a rare sleepover at her friend’s house; Jim had little trouble convincing Chris to accompany him to dinner and the late showing of the latest summer blockbuster movie.
Street liked this weather, except that it was hot. Of course the upside of the high temperature was that Chris was wearing one of his white cotton undershirts. He thought she looked much better in it than he did.
"What?" she asked, arching an eyebrow. "Do I have something in my teeth?"
"Nope."
"Then why are you staring at me like that?"
"No clue." he grinned and she slugged him.
He caught her arm and pulled her close, pressing a quick kiss to her temple. He loved so many things about her, her eyes, the way she smelled and the soft laughter that bubbled whenever he caught her unaware with his affection.
He put his arm around her shoulder, "How about we stop and get some ice cream?"
"It’s almost midnight." she protested.
"So? Everyone knows that mint chocolate chip is calorie free when eaten after 10 p.m."
She laughed, "You have the most sound reasoning ever. How can I possibly argue with that?"
"Now all we have to do is find a shop that has it and is still open."
"Murphy’s is just a block over," she checked her watch, "and open for another twenty-two minutes."
"Race you." He challenged, "I’ll even give you a head start."
"You just want to watch my ass."
"It is pretty awesome."
Chris took off; glancing back over her should at him with an evil grin. "If you win I’ll cook you breakfast."
"Oh, now you’ve done it!"
The bell above the door chimed and seconds later came the thunder of a 45 caliber.
Jim shoved her and Chris stumbled to her knees, feeling something brush through her hair.
The impact knocked him back, the door slammed open and he fell, glass from the shattered door rained down on him.
The pimple-faced kid robbing the store dropped his pistol as the cash from the register fluttered down around him. He dashed past Sanchez, leaped over Street and out into the crush of people on the sidewalk. In moments he was swallowed by the crowd.
He could hear Chris screaming, calling his name, it sounded muffled to his ears as if he were underwater. Everything sounded so far away except for the pounding of his heart. It thudded in his ears, growing slower and fainter with every passing minute.
Chris was beside him, her could feel her hands on his face, warm on his chilled skin. Why was he so cold?
"Breathe! Please, breathe!"
He tried; he really wanted to do this one thing for her but his chest was on fire.
Everything was so bright, the lights made cold halos around Chris’s hair as she leaned over him. She looked like an angel. Why was he lying on the ground? Why was it so hard to breathe?
He could breathe if she would just stop pressing down on him. He tried to tell her to stop but his mouth was filling with thick hot copper and all he could do was cough.
He struggled with her, his hands twisted in hers, fighting to push her away. He couldn’t keep a grip; their hands were slick and red.
"Stop it!"
He couldn’t breathe and she was killing him.
"Stop fighting me, I have to keep pressure on it, you’re bleeding!"
Chris buried her face in his neck, "He nearly got your heart."
Jim threaded his fingers through her hair, breathing in the scent of her shampoo.
"Couldn’t have."
She pulled back, surprised. Her eyes glistened with tears, "Why not?"
"Because you already have it."