"Even though you're eating healthier stuff," Dez groused, "I still can't believe how much you can pack away." She got out of the passenger's side and headed toward the 7-11.

Over the top of the car Jaylynn replied, "Hey! It's a hard job doing all the work out here with you just tagging along to take notes. I've gotta keep up my strength, don't I?" She slammed her door shut, straightened her collar, and stepped up on the sidewalk. "I don't think an ice cream snack will kill me."

"Yeah, but I gotta sit and watch you eat it and hear all those happy noises you make."

Jaylynn grinned. "You could join me, you know."

The tall cop pushed open the 7-11 door as she glanced back, exasperated. "Jay! You know I can't. Don't torture me."

Dez took two steps into the convenience store, her eyes scanning for the dairy case, before she noticed the clerk and saw his frightened face. Standing with him at the checkout counter, profile to them, was a perilously thin black man clad in a pink t-shirt and baggy black shorts. The big cop stopped abruptly and Jaylynn bumped into her as the man turned. Dez saw the gun swing her way and she reached for her Glock. Her ears filled with a roar as her chest absorbed a blow like nothing she'd ever felt before. She stumbled back. Sliding sideways against Jaylynn, she desperately tried to stay on her feet. Before she even hit the ground, she heard another roar, and the man in pink clutched his chest, then crumpled to the ground. She felt a blow to the back of her head, and then everything went white.

Dez couldn't breathe. Her lungs ached. A buzzing in her ears wouldn't stop, and a light-headed floating feeling came over her causing the world to tilt sideways and out of focus. She tried to keep her eyes open, but the tears streaming from them burned and blurred her vision. She pinched her eyes shut. . . .

*****

. . . Ears ringing from the report of her gun, Jaylynn scrambled out from under the deadened weight that had fallen partly against her. Her heart screamed out to Dez, but she forced herself not to look, to focus instead on what had been drilled into her over and over: halt the imminent risk, then render first aid.

Crouching, her gun held level, she moved quickly to stand over the shooter. He lay on the floor panting and twitching, the .45 near his hand. She put her foot on the barrel of the gun and eased it away from him, kicking it behind her and under the candy bar display case.

"Oh my God," the clerk was yelling repeatedly. He continued to stand behind the cash register, clutching the counter with shaky hands. Jaylynn nodded toward him in a daze, then bent over to fasten a handcuff to the shooter's hand. She rolled him to his side. He cried out in pain, but she clicked the cuff on his other hand anyway. Touching her shoulder mike, she put out the call for help, "Officer down," she said. In a mechanical voice she answered the questions dispatch asked and listened to their assurances that help was on the way.

Only then did she holster her gun. She paused for the briefest second, afraid to turn, her heart pounding so hard she thought she was having a heart attack. She spun shakily, and in two steps landed on her knees next to the wheezing woman.

"Dez," she shouted. Frantically she ripped open the pierced blue shirt, popping buttons every which way. She saw the exploded hole in the vest and felt the flat lump of hot metal imbedded there. Struggling to loosen the gray vest was awkward, but with a grim look of determination, she undid the Velcro and tugged up the white t-shirt underneath to reveal the smooth alabaster skin and the terrible mark on the right rib just below the pale breast.

She smoothed the t-shirt down. "You're going to be okay, Dez. It's okay." Jaylynn swung her legs around in front of her, sat back and leaned against the checkout counter. She splayed her legs out and leaned forward to drag Dez's upper body, face up, into her lap. The big cop stared at her, eyes glazed. "Dez, can you hear me? Your vest caught it. The bullet didn't penetrate."

"Help…me. Somebody help…" the injured cop whispered. "Something…bad has happened…help… me…"

"Shhh," said Jaylynn. "Lie still. You'll be okay." She brushed the hair out of Dez's face and held her gently, trying not to squeeze too tight.

"Unnnnhh…it hurts." She closed her eyes and let out a groan.

"I know, I know." Jaylynn leaned over her and made soothing noises. "Don't worry. Help is on the way."

Dez's eyes popped open and without blinking, she focused in on her partner's face. "Jay…Jay… the shooter…what about…."

"He's down."

Dez sighed and squeezed her eyes shut, then opened them again. "Are…you…sure?"

"Yeah. I shot him. He's down and cuffed. Stop worrying. You're safe now."

© 2001 Lori L. Lake - Used with Permission