Chapter Text
Omar Zidan's apartment, 8:57 a.m.
The morning rituals had become a habit from which Maggie Bell did not deviate, even if work called on them, even if they had a disagreement, even if anything slipped into these rituals. In seven months, not once had she skipped one of these.
Waking up before her alarm, turning and looking at the man who shared her life, remaining silent until he woke up in turn. She waited patiently for him to open his eyes, when that happened, she approached and placed a light kiss on his lips. If they had time, their kiss would last forever and they would wake up in a much naughtier way, enjoying each other’s before getting up.
She showered while OA prepared breakfast and when she was finished, he took her place. Then, they got dressed together before going to eat quietly, discussing everything and nothing, their plans for the evening, the weekend or their family. It didn't matter, but they were talking to each other.
At the end of breakfast, they cleaned up, put a jacket on and their shoes before exchanging a last kiss, sometimes a second, then a third before leaving Maggie's apartment or OA's, depending on where they had been staying the day before, then they went to work.
This all worked perfectly. They had been hesitant at first, wondering how to make their relationship and their work work, but they had come to an agreement. Once out the door in the evening, they just became Maggie and OA, a normal couple. Once they arrived at their job, they became Agents Bell and Zidan, focusing on their job. It wasn't always easy, sometimes they were afraid for each other, but for now everything was going well.
Only that day. The alarm didn't go off and Maggie hadn't woken up until then. It was the first time this happened.
She woke up with a start, seeing the alarm clock flashing. A power outage, probably due to the storm the day before.
- Shit ! OA !
He woke up hearing her urgent voice.
- The alarm did not ring. We are going to be late.
He jumped up and together they got ready much more quickly than usual. Without a word, far too focused on not forgetting anything and not being late. Maggie looked at her phone.
- I have to be in court in twenty minutes...
- Do you want me to drop you off ?
She smiled at him, put her cell phone in her pocket before taking her car keys.
- Not today, otherwise you'll be late for the office. See you tonight ?
- Ok.
Without saying anything else, Agent Bell left her partner's apartment, telling herself that if she didn't hurry up, she would really end up being late.
Prosecutor's Office, 2:27 p.m.
Maggie Bell shook the hand of Prosecutor Sheridan who smiled at her.
- Thank you for your testimony Agent Bell, this man will remain locked up for the rest of his life.
- No problem.
She looked at the time displayed on the desk clock.
- I'll leave you, with some luck I can be useful for a few hours.
- Of course. Take care of yourself.
Her testimony had taken longer than expected, plus the judge had ordered a break for lunch when he saw that the victim's family was starting to lose their temper. She had briefly wanted to call OA to tell him that everything was going well, but he was unreachable and according to Tiff, he was on an operation with Scola. She did not insist and returned to testify.
As she exited the building, Maggie took out her phone and saw that she had three missed calls from Jubal. This time, she was worried, it wasn't like her superior to call so much knowing she was busy testifying.
She called again and what she heard scared her like it hadn't happened in a very long time. OA was injured, in the hospital and no one had any news yet. Another message came from the hospital telling her that her partner had just been admitted and that they would probably need her.
Without waiting, she hung up and went to her car, she got in and drove off while remembering the few minutes she had spent with him this morning.
It was different, no waking up early where she could watch him sleep, no kisses exchanged in bed, no intense embrace. No preparation together to discuss everything and nothing, no breakfast prepared by Omar... No, they were late, they were in a hurry.
No kissing before leaving.
It was the first time in months that they hadn't kissed before leaving. And that day, OA was injured, without her to support him. Maggie didn't even remember telling him "see you tonight" or that she loved him. She hadn't told him often, only two or three times, but he knew it. No ? If he knew, he was going to hang on.
She gripped the steering wheel in her hands and accelerated towards the hospital. He had to hang on. He couldn't leave her, not like this, not with the way they had left in the morning. Not without her telling him once again the words that she loved to say to him but that she still had trouble pronouncing.
No, he shouldn't leave her.
OA had to hang on.
Hospital 2:41 p.m.
Maggie had driven fast, probably much faster than she had the right to, but she didn't care, she had to get there as quickly as possible.
Entering the hospital, Maggie knew she had to take a professional, friendly stance, no one knew about their relationship. They had always been close, so no one would suspect that she was worried about Omar, but she had to stay calm.
Jubal was there, in the waiting room and despite the lump in her throat that wanted to explode, Maggie swallowed it and headed towards her superior.
- How is he ?
She wanted to scream, to demand answers without having to ask questions. But she had to stay calm. They were friends. Partners. Nothing more...
At least in the eyes of others.
But he was more, so much more.
- He's in the operating room. I'm waiting for news.
She pursed her lips gently, doing her best to blink back tears. She was about to ask what happened, but Jubal beat her to it.
- He was chasing a suspect, he was going to arrest him when we heard a fight. He suffered two stab wounds. The first in his vest, the second at the neck...
It was serious, Maggie had felt it. She was afraid, but shouldn't show it too much, no one knew. But without knowing it, a tear ran down her cheek. Jubal took her arm and made her sit in one of the many empty chairs in the waiting room.
- Hey, listen to me. Do you need to pull yourself together ? Isobel is coming and if you don't want her to find out that way, try to calm down. He'll get over it.
In shock at what Jubal had just said, Maggie wiped away the furtive tear and looked up at him.
- How...
- How do I know ?
She nodded.
- Let's say I had doubts for a while, but you just confirmed them.
Jubal sighed.
- Since when ?
Maggie inhaled, then exhaled, trying not to lose her footing again.
- A few months... Seven exactly. I thought we had been discreet.
- You were... I just noticed different looks, different ways of speaking to you... I don't know, but I started to ask myself questions.
Maggie nodded.
- Does anyone else know ?
- I don't think so... I haven't told anyone about it.
- Ok thanks.
Jubal didn't add anything, he knew that Maggie was worried and that as long as they didn't have any news, nothing could calm her down.
- It was unexpected... It just... Happened.
- I'm not asking anything Maggie, it's your private life, you both work as before, so no... I have nothing to ask.
Without another word, Maggie nodded again, fighting as best she could against the tears that wanted to fall. But she shouldn't break down, he was going to get through it. He had to.
Hospital 3:14 p.m.
The team had arrived quite quickly and Maggie had done everything not to show more anxiety than necessary. It wasn't easy, they still hadn't heard from OA. She tried to talk to them but her heart wasn't in it, she suffered from this lack of information, from this lack of him quite simply.
- Anyone for Omar Zidan ?
She turned and saw an older doctor approaching them.
- Yes ? How is he ?
He looked at each person here and knew his patient was with the FBI and needed to be in the presence of his team.
- He lost a lot of blood and he scared us during the operation. But we managed to stabilize him. He will make a full recovery.
Maggie felt all the air she had been holding in her body since the doctor arrived leave her lungs and she smiled nervously. He was fine. He will recover. The only thing left was to ask to see him, but someone beat her to it. It was Isobel.
- We can see him ?
- He's in the recovery room. Someone will come and warn you, but he needs to rest.
Two hours later
Maggie was pacing, Scola and Tiff had left, knowing that visiting hours would end soon, but they wanted to be informed of any developments.
Seeing that Maggie was starting to get restless, Jubal slowly approached her.
- It'll be ok.
She looked at him before glancing at Isobel who was on the phone.
- I need to see him Jubal...
- I understand... I just went to talk to the doctor, he's back in his room. You can go.
Maggie looked at her boss, if she did that, Isobel would realize something was going on.
- Don't worry, I'll find something to say to her. Go see him.
- Thanks.
Without waiting, Maggie headed towards OA's room.
Hospital, Omar Zidan’s room 5:31 p.m.
There he was, lying in bed, a tube in his nose to help him breathe, this time Maggie didn't try to fight. She was alone, with him, so she let all her emotions out, tears ran down her cheeks and she approached him, taking his hand in hers. He was still asleep, Maggie squeezed his hand and brought it to her lips.
- You scared me...
Another kiss to his hand and Maggie rested her cheek against his palm. Omar didn't move an inch, but she didn't worry. She stayed by his side, waiting for the slightest sign that he would wake up.
Throughout her wait, Maggie thought about how they had separated that morning, it was no one's fault and she knew that, but Maggie blamed herself for not having done what she used to do. No kiss, no coffee, nothing... And as luck would have it, it was that day that he was injured.
She smiled and moved a little closer to OA.
- I promise you that no matter how late I am, I won't leave you without a kiss.
She placed a light kiss on his cheek when she heard the door open to reveal Jubal and Isobel. She quickly let go of her partner's hand in order to hide their relationship as much as possible.
- The visits are going to end, we're going to go. How is he ?
- He is still sleeping...
- Okay, you let us know as soon as there is anything new.
She nodded before hearing the door close. Maggie sighed, hoping they could keep their secret for a while longer, at least until OA made a full recovery. Then they would notify everyone.
The next day, 6:32 a.m.
Maggie sat up as she felt movement beside her, it took her a few seconds to remember where she was. She had made sure to stay with him, not caring when the visits ended or the nurse coming to tell her she had to leave.
She looked up at OA, he was looking at her with a slight smile on his lips, Maggie returned it and placed a quick kiss on his lips before sitting down next to him.
- Hey... You're back.
- Hey... I wasn't planning on going anywhere.
She smiled at him even more, placed a hand on his cheek and told herself that it was all over. He was fine. He would be fine and she vowed to keep her promise and continue their little rituals no matter what happened.