failegaidin

            The only sound he could hear was the pounding of his heart in his chest. The courtroom erupted into chaos as bullets burst through the air, crashing into walls and people with equal abandon. Court officers and onlookers fell to the floor, either to avoid the shots or because they were forced down when the bullets ripped through their bodies. His own gun was out, but it was already too late – officers had come bursting into the room at the sound of gunfire, and they promptly took down the person responsible for the death and carnage.

            Still in shock, his eyes shifted to look around him. It was impossible to take it all in. The ex-girlfriend of the defendant had used a machine gun to take down as many people as possible in the few short seconds she had. Somewhere in the back of his head, he knew that she had had help, that this was an inside job.

            But all thoughts of investigation fled when his gaze rested on the Assistant District Attorney. Suddenly freed from his paralysis, he rushed to her side, ignoring the cries and pleas that were just now reaching his ears. Kneeling, he stared at the gaping wound in her stomach with something akin to helplessness.

            "Don…" she whispered, one hand coming up to clench his arm.

            He held her hand and cradled her head in his lap, the blood soaking through his pant legs, staining them.

            "Hold on, Casey," he choked. "Hold on."