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OA thought he was going to be sick as he hung up the phone. He was used to getting calls at 4am, after all, crime didn't take a break for sleep. He was used to answering ones from Jubal, then jumping up to tackle whatever case popped up during the night, but this call… well this wasn't one he was prepared for. This call turned his world upside down.
It was from Jubal, but not about an ordinary case for the team. This time, it was personal. One of their own was involved, in deep in a life-threatening situation.
Maggie Bell had been undercover for nearly three months, but now she had missed two check-ins with her handler, and it was believed she was being held by a drug cartel.
OA had never gotten to the JOC so quickly. Everyone was there, and a picture of Maggie was posted on the screen. OA took a moment to stare at it… at the woman he finally realized he was in love with.
The thought of anyone laying their hands on her made OA see red, and he vowed to take down anyone that threatened her safety in any way.
Jubal's voice snapped him into focus, and made his heart plummet all over again. "Everyone listen up. One of our own is missing, and in extreme danger…"
The next few hours were a blur for OA. The team learned everything they could about Maggie's operation, and who she had to associate with while undercover. Then they were learning about the Sinaloa Cartel, the one Maggie and the UC team had been targeting… but now the tables were turned, and the cartel was targeting Maggie.
OA and the team hadn't found out who, but they had reason to believe that there was a leak in the department… someone that blew Maggie's cover, and as soon as OA found out who, he was going to make them pay.
He would've given anything to have Maggie standing there with him, to be able to tell her how he truly felt. He was regretting not telling her before she left, and now he just prayed he would get the chance.
During the course of the search, he lost it a couple of times, going off on his teammates, even once on Isobel. That time he was nearly pulled from the investigation, Isobel saying that he was too close, but after literally begging and being issued a warning, he was allowed to stay on.
After that, he knew he had to pull himself together. Maggie didn't have time for him to break down. She was counting on him, and he would never forgive himself if he got kicked out of the JOC. He had to stay focused and be ready to move.
About twelve hours after he received that heart-stopping call, the team got lucky and caught a break. They were led to an abandoned warehouse about sixty miles from Maggie's cover house. Due to the time constraint, the team used the helicopter to make it a quick transport.
OA knew before they got there that this was where Maggie was being held. He couldn't explain it, but he just knew. What he didn't know was the condition in which they would find her. That terrified him more than anything ever had… because there was a chance they were already too late.
It felt like an eternity to get the FBI and SWAT teams prepped for entry. In actuality, it was only a few minutes, but to OA, every second that went by was wasting precious time.
Jubal had OA leading a team in, and though he was surprised, he was also very grateful. At least that way he would have control over something. Everything else felt like it was stacked against him.
Once the teams were ready to move, they hit the building in full force. OA didn't know exactly how many agents and officers were part of the raid, but it looked like Jubal called in every contact he had.
OA led his team through one of the entrances, and half of them branched off to go upstairs. They methodically cleared several rooms, hearing gunfire from the back of the building, then after taking down two men themselves, they moved on to the next corridor.
Hearing movement up ahead, they moved with caution. OA caught sight of a shadow around the corner, so he identified himself as FBI and told whoever it was to show themselves.
No one came out, so OA signaled for the team to move. Rounding the corner, his heart jumped into his throat at the sight.
His partner was there, but she was being used as a shield. Alejandro Rejas, head of the cartel, was behind her with a knife held against her throat. Of all the times in the past three months that he imagined his and Maggie's reunion, it didn't look anything like this. He didn't have time to analyze that, however.
He met Maggie's eyes for a moment, and she steadily held his gaze. He could see the relief upon his arrival, coupled with the determination that was always present in his partner's eyes… but she was still very much in danger.
OA's blood boiled and he wanted to kill the man right then and there, but at the same time he knew the wrong move could lead to Maggie's throat being slit. He gave her the smallest of nods, which she returned, before turning all of his attention to Rejas. "Put the knife down, and step away from her, right now." He kept his gun trained on him, but he didn't have a clear shot. Three agents stood behind him, but he knew they didn't have a shot either.
"No. See, what you don't understand, you're not in control here… I am. She needs to be taught a lesson, and so do you. You don't go up against us and win, so the only way she's making it out of here is in a body bag."
At that, OA felt his finger tighten slightly on the trigger. He glanced once more at Maggie, and knew she got the message.
Maggie moved quickly, elbowing her captor in the gut, while using her other hand to push the knife away from her throat. She dropped to the ground as OA pulled the trigger.
Rejas collapsed as the gunshot hit him square between the eyes. Another agent made sure he was down while OA rushed over to Maggie, who was just now getting to her feet. "Maggie, Maggie, are you okay?" He placed his hands on her shoulders and looked her over for any visible injuries. She had a black eye forming, a cut on her cheek, and some bruising around her left collar-bone. The palm of her hand was also bleeding from where she had grabbed the blade of the knife seconds ago.
Her breathing was labored, eyes slightly widened from the adrenaline, but she nodded regardless. "Yeah, I think so… thanks to you. You've always had such impeccable timing." She tried to joke, but given the circumstances it fell short.
OA just stared at her for a moment before pulling her into a hug, being mindful of her injuries. "Oh, Mags."
Maggie let out a deep breath as she held him tightly.
OA completely blocked out the rest of the teams, as some of them entered the room, and the rest called "suspects in custody" over the radio. All that mattered in that moment was her, that she was safe and in his arms.
The two pulled apart as the EMTs came in. "Okay, Mags. You need to get checked out." He had no idea what the true extent of her injuries were, or what she had gone through in the time she was missing… or the whole time she was undercover for that matter.
"No, I'll be fine."
"Maggie, please." With the adrenaline still undoubtably coursing through her body, he doubted she was feeling much pain right now. She would be later though, and he desperately needed the reassurance that she truly would be okay.
Maggie finally nodded, and OA walked with her to the ambulance. He stood beside her the whole time EMTs checked her out. Then, after she was cleared with only minor injuries, he along with Scola, accompanied her in the chopper back to the JOC.
Immediately upon arrival she was expected to speak with Isobel, Jubal and some of the higher ups. OA asked if it could wait, but there were too many questions and a debrief that needed to happen as soon as possible.
Maggie was in Isobel's office for a while. Several agents from the task force were called in too. OA stayed right at his desk, so that he could see Maggie through Isobel's window. After everything that went down, he didn't want her out of his sight. He knew she was having to give her full account of everything that happened, and he hated that she had to relive it.
He did receive word that the leak in the department had been brought into custody. Nobody would tell him who it was, but he wouldn't have minded getting five minutes alone with the guy. He figured that was why nobody would tell him, but he promised himself that one way or the other he would get his answer.
That train of thought was stopped by Maggie finally exiting Isobel's office. She looked exhausted, still beautiful to OA, and he knew she was ready to go home. She accepted when he offered to drive her.
He asked if she needed to stop anywhere, but she declined, saying that she just wanted to get to her apartment after not being there for so long.
The drive was relatively quiet. OA could tell Maggie was processing everything. By now, he was used to how his partner handled stress and she usually appreciated silence in order to gather her thoughts.
Twelve minutes later, he pulled the vehicle to a stop outside of her building. He started to open the door so that he could grab Maggie's bag, but stopped when she made no move to get out. "Mags?" Maggie didn't say anything, so OA gently touched her hand. He frowned when she slightly flinched. "I'm sorry. Are you okay?"
She finally met his eyes. "Yeah, sorry. I was just thinking."
"Do you want to talk about it?"
"I just… I guess it just hit me how today could've ended… you know?" She looked down at OA's hand, which still rested on hers.
OA cringed, hearing her words. He did know how close she came, and it absolutely terrified him to even think about it. He knew that couldn't be an easy thing for her to take in.
"And if today had been the end, I would have died lying to you."
"What do you mean?" He felt his heartrate increase a bit, willing to venture a guess in his mind.
Maggie turned in her seat so that she was facing him. "OA, I really don't know how to say this, but I know I need to. I can't continue without you knowing the truth… especially after today." She flipped her hand over and intertwined her fingers with his. "Do you remember the Jackson Hale case about eight months ago?"
OA nodded, that was a bad one. He didn't need to hear anything but the name to remember it. "Yeah, that one really got to you."
"Yeah, and I wasn't thinking all that clearly, on the verge of making a few mistakes. You noticed right away and sat me down before I could do anything stupid. You remember that?"
He nodded again. "Of course I do."
"Well, I remember it like it was yesterday… and it wasn't just your words, but the way you spoke to me. You were so gentle, so understanding, you never judged. It made me realize, you knew exactly when to step again because you know me so well. I didn't even realize how close I was to losing it, but you did… and I didn't lose it because you were there to catch me."
OA had been staring at their intwined hands, but the emotion in her voice made him look up. Her eyes were filled with tears, but a soft smile graced her features.
"In that moment, you kept me grounded. That's how it always is, Omar. You're my rock, you keep me steady. I was lost without you the past three months. You were the reason I was so hesitant about taking this case, but I honestly didn't know how I would make it without you for so long. That case, that's when I realized my feelings for you went deeper than a partner. OA, I love you. I know I shouldn't because it could complicate or ruin our work relationship and friendship… but I can't help it… and I know you're with Mona, and-"
Maggie was cut off by OA's soft chuckle. "Mags, Mona and I broke up, not long after you left for the UC gig." The whole time she was speaking, he couldn't believe what he was hearing. He had finally realized that he had loved her for longer than he dared to admit, but hearing that she felt the same and had for almost the past year… well, he couldn't ever remember feeling such elation.
"You broke up?" Surprise was evident in her tone, but he could see the spark of hope in her eyes.
"I couldn't lie to her, or myself anymore. I didn't love Mona… because she's not you. I'm in love with you. It killed me everyday you were gone because I knew there was a possibility that I wouldn't ever see you again. I vowed to myself, as soon as I got the chance, I wouldn't let another day go by without telling you… but I guess you beat me to it." OA went to say something else, but it was Maggie's turn to cut him off.
"OA, could you please kiss me now?"
That was all he needed to hear before catching her lips in a breath-stealing kiss. He couldn't have been happier to have her home.