Chapter Text
OA's heart drops to his stomach upon coming to the realization. The bullet went through Maggie’s vest. Calling for an ambulance as he runs as fast as possible to get back to his partner, he silently prays that he won't lose her.
"I'm on my way Maggie, just hold on okay?"
When he rounds the last corner, he nearly stops in his tracks when he sees her, face-down on the ground. she had barely moved since he left her, and there was now a pool of crimson forming around his partner's body.
Oh god. This can't be happening .
As soon as he reached her, he dropped to his knees beside her, pulling her into his arms. Her eyes were closed, but her expression had excruciating pain written all over it.
"Maggie? Hey, can you hear me?"
Her eyes flutter open, and her glassy-eyed gaze meets his. "OA?"
"Yeah Mags, it's me, you're gonna be okay, just stay awake. Can you do that for me?"
She weakly gives him a nod. Frantically, he searches her vest for where the bullet went through. He stops for a second upon finding the hole,
It went through the seam, how?
"Listen, Maggie, I’m gonna take your vest off okay?" As gingerly as he can, like she's made of glass, he slides the kevlar off of her and quickly spots the bullet hole in her shirt. She cries out when he puts his hand on her chest, her blood seeping through his fingers. His heart aches knowing he's hurting her.
"I'm sorry Mags, I know it hurts. I'm sorry."
Relieved by the fact that her partner wasn't hurt, she tries to relax a little. Judging by the look in OA's eyes and the amount of blood on the ground around them, she realizes this will likely be the last time she sees her best friend. She takes a few seconds just to look at him: though his expression displayed pure fear, she tried to imagine him smiling. God, how she would miss his smile. How she would miss him.
"OA..." she starts, wincing as she tries to take a breath.
"Shhh, don't try to talk, save your energy."
"Omar."
He freezes for a second, she'd said it again, she hardly ever calls him by his first name, usually only when she was scolding him for being reckless. But her voice wasn’t stern, or upset, she was calm. His eyes shifted from her wound, which was still bleeding, to her chocolate eyes. They, like his, were filled with tears; but they still had that sparkle that only her eyes had.
"Let me go."
His heart shattered.
"What? Don't talk like that, you're gonna be fine. I promise."
She felt guilty, so guilty, for hurting him like this. While she absolutely hated seeing him upset, she knew how strong he was. She knew losing her would not be easy on her partner. It would take time, but he would be able to move on.
"OA, it's okay. Let me go."
"No, no way, I am not letting you go, Mags. I know you're tired, but you gotta fight. This team needs you, your sister needs you. Maggie, I need you."
Erin, I'm so sorry. I love you, little sis.
"Take care of Erin for me," her voice is so weak, so sad.
I need you. OA's words replay over and over in her mind as the world around her threatens to fade to black.
"No, no, Maggie, keep your eyes open." he softly taps the fingers that have been cradling her face on her cheekbone. She could feel the cold metal of his ring on her face. She looks back into his tear-filled brown eyes.
"That's my girl, just keep looking at me, you're gonna be alright".
Maggie whimpers again, then sharply gasps for air, and she reaches for OA’s hand on her cheek.
"Maggie, what's wrong? Talk to me." He echoes his words from earlier, wrapping his hand around hers.
"Hu-rts.. c-can't.. breathe," she sputters, choking on blood.
The bullet had punctured her lung.
What can I do? She's dying and I'm just sitting here.
"Stay with me Maggie, just another minute, please."
There's too much blood. Why won't it stop? I don't know what to do. I can't lose her.
Her eyes were closing again, and her words slur through the blood filling her mouth, "-m sorry,"
"Omar".
Her head lolls to the side, into OA’s touch, blood dripping from her lips and into the palm of his hand as her eyes slip shut. His name would be what potentially were her last words as she goes limp in her best friend's arms.
"No, Maggie! Come on, don't leave me. Please."
He puts his fingers to her neck, desperately searching for a pulse.
Please. Please. Please. Please.
It’s weak, but it's there. Another tear rolls down his face. He knows the battle is nowhere near over yet, but at the moment, he takes temporary relief in knowing that she's still breathing.
He's at a loss for words by the time the paramedics get there, he's only able to hold her as she fights for her life in his arms.