chasing demons. ***completed***

#18 rescue

Dan watched the erratic behavior of the man waving a gun at Emma's head. he was hurt bad but the adrenaline was pumping through his body so fast he didn't even register pain anymore. Dan recognized the look of when a man had been standing at the edge of a cliff for too long. he was too full of adrenaline to notice his surroundings. he knew one wrong move and Emma could die. it wouldn't take much to pull that trigger without even meaning too. Dan signaled for them to slowly enter the house. each man found entry from different rooms. he watched as kevin opened a bedroom window and crawled inside. Matthew entered from another window and Dan slid past the big living room window into a side door by the garage. he could see another door with a window and he waited a few seconds to catch his breath and assess the situation. he couldn't see the living room from this position but he could see he would be entering the kitchen from this small space he was in right now. slowly he opened the door praying the door didn't creek spooking the man with a gun. he was assuming it was Emma's ex husband and was confirmed the minute he entered hearing the man spit out his words. "you are mine Emma! that is my son!"

Dan's stomach was turning. this man was crazy. he had already jumped off the deep end and it was only a matter of time before he tried taking Emma with him. in this state he most likely was no longer even see anyone around. the crazed man was now hyper focused on just one person, Emma. Dan looked around assessing the room and the access to Emma and the crazed ex. the situation was diminishing fast and Dan knew time was not on their side. he knew his men were doing the same. the crazed man came crawling towards Emma holding the gun in the air then bringing it to Emma's temple. Closing his eyes to steady his emotions Dan knew he had to stay in control and not just run out to Emma it could mean her ex being trigger happy and that close of range would be deadly. deep breath in. breath slowly out.

Dan watched as the man brought the gun away from her temple. he knew he needed to use this as his opportunity. he knew Kevin and Matthew would also. all three men stormed into the living room taking the man by surprise. they didn't say a word. they didn't need too. they knew every man's actions. working together they stormed the man who brought his gun out aiming it at them. Dan released one shot as he watched the man slump on the wall. he ran over to Emma and the two men ran to the front door one opening it and waving down officers and ambulance and the other going to the older man. "we have a pulse. it is thready but we have one."

Dan kneeled down to Emma assessing her. he didn't move her out of fear. " Emma? Emma it's me. I'm here. you are safe."

her hand came to his and he watched a faint smile form on her swollen face. two gurneys came in with EMT and he watched as they loaded Emma and the man up off the ground and rushed them out. Dan finally took a deep breath. they had found her. they had gotten her out of this and now she was being rushed to the hospital fighting for her life. He should have gotten there earlier.

Dan watched as the EMT came running back towards him. "which one of you is Dan?"

Dan stepped forward. "I am."

" she refuses to leave without you." Dan went jogging towards the ambulance jumping in.

"Emma, stay strong for me baby." he reached over grabbing her hand in his and placing a kiss on her fingers. the door shut and the vehicle lurched forward.

"I love you captain. " her voice was a faint whisper he could barely hear. he leaned in towards her ear and whispered back.

"I love you too." resting his forehead on her hands he prayed like he had never prayed before. he needed her. she was the life that coursed through his veins. he couldn't breathe without her. she had become his entire life in a short amount of time and he would give his life for hers. the ambulance made it's way to the hospital and came to a stop lunging him forward slightly. he tried staying out of the way as they took her out of the back wheeling her into the double glass doors. all he could do was stand there and watch. he could hear them shouting orders and hooking her to IV's. a nurse motioned for Dan to head to the waiting room but he stood there watching his body taken over by shock. he felt his knees give out from under him and he fell to the ground tears finally pouring out of his eyes. finally every emotion he had felt for the last few days came out like a river spilling over its banks. he could no longer hold it back. he no longer had the strength and he gave in.

Dan hadn't seen Matthew and Kevin behind him. his body was numb. they ran up to him as his world began to spin out of control. "Dan! you've been shot." then everything went black as his eyes shut.

Dan's eyes slowly opened. he could see white walls surrounding him and a curtain separating him like a door. he could hear the beeping of a machine. he felt a hand reach out to him. "hey bud, you need to relax." Kevin's voice rang out to him. "the doctors removed the bullet. no one knew you were shot. apparently not even you."

"is she ok?" Dan's voice was hoarse as he tried to speak. it felt like sand paper had been rubbed across his throat. his eye lids were heavy.

"they had to do surgery. she had been beat pretty badly. one of her ribs had been broken and her arm and her jaw but they think she is going to live. she's in rough shape Dan. she hasn't woke up yet."

Dan could hear the hesitation in his friends voice. " how long?"

"it's been two days so far. as soon as you have healed more the doctors said you can see her."

Dan started shaking his head. " I want to see her now."

"Dan her father and her brothers are in there with her. you need to heal."

"who has Xavier?"

"Connor has been with him. they figured everyone already thinks he is family, and he is safe with him so they just decided to keep up with that routine." Kevin took Dan's hand. "you need to rest."

"I'm going to Emma with or without you." he slowly started sitting up trying to get out of bed. he needed to see her.

"alright let me get a wheel chair you can't walk like that." Kevin left the room and came back wheeling in a chair. he helped Dan into the seat and helped bring his fluids bag to the chair. "you are one stubborn asshole."

Dan smiled. he knew Kevin would do the same if it were Mary. he wouldn't take no for an answer and would crawl to her bedside. "you would do the same if it were Mary." he felt Kevin pat his should gently.

"yeah, you are probably right." he gently guided Dan down the hall entering a room filled with monitors. Dan could see her father sitting in a chair holding her hand as tears fell down his cheeks. her three brothers stood up as soon as they saw him and Kevin enter the room.

"aren't you supposed to be resting you just got shot saving our sister." her older brother Chris looked at him curiously. his eyes were blood shot and he looked ran down.

"I needed to see her."

"Dan, she doesn't look good. she looks really bad and bruised. are you sure you want to do this?" Chris had come to his side and knelt down beside him. "you know she would understand if you came back in a few days when you got some rest and she healed more."

Dan shook his head. he didn't care what she looked like he just needed to touch her and see her. she healed him in more ways than anyone in this room could understand. "I don't care about what she looks like. I love her. I need to see her." Chris nodded at Kevin to bring him closer as her father got up and moved from the seat next to his bed. he closed his eyes and took a deep breath before opening his eyes to stare down at Emma. her face was bruised and swollen. she had stitches running the crease of her neck. her hair was matted and pushed back. he instinctively reached out and held her hand. "she is still the most beautiful person I have ever seen in my life." he gently laid a kiss on her hand as he allowed tears fall down cascading from his eyes.