[ IP ] It does n't have to be like this ...

“ It… It doesn ’ t have to be like this… ” She said, gasping with her hands held up in front of her face. The cool metal hadn ’ t yet hit her temple but she knew it would in only a matter of minutes and if she hadn ’ t followed that last lead she wouldn ’ t be in this situation. 
 “ You know it does, you know that I have to kill you, Amanda. You dug to deep and I warned you, I told you that you shouldn ’ t dig, I told you that you should just let it go but you couldn ’ t do that… you couldn ’ t just let things slide. ” Her partner, Asher told her, pulling the hammer back with a shattering click, allowing the bullet to slide into the chamber. 
 “ We ’ ve been partners for 14 years, Ash, friends since the academy, I never thought you would go dirty. ” Amanda said, trying to play for time, desperately trying to think her way out of this situation. “ I loved you once, you loved me… I know after everything that happened with the shooting and the investigation things were rough but that doesn ’ t mean we have to end it like this. We could move on, just turn yourself in… I know the chief will go easy on you, you ’ ve been a good cop, hell, you ’ ve been a great cop, good record. ” 
 The sirens were echoing in the distance and she prayed that they were coming for her, even if she knew in her heart that they weren ’ t. The wind blew on the top of the building where she had followed him, blowing the loose, black jacket open and sobering her momentarily as she assessed her situation. She could reach up and grab the gun, but if she missed, it would be a fatal error and she would only have one shot at it. No pun intended. 
 “ You know I can ’ t do that Amanda, I ’ ve been working for the Arregehtti Family for too long, I ’ ve covered up to many hits, smuggled to many drugs and prevented to many busts. ” He shook his dark hair from his face, but the gun never wavered and stayed completely trained on Amanda. “ Even if I did, you know the Chief couldn ’ t protect me, his reach is too far, you saw what happened to Tony, we put him in witness protecting and he still ended up dead in three weeks. ” 
 “ So, you ’ d rather kill me? Your partner? Your supposed one true love? I thought I meant more to you than that, Slick… ” Amanda said softly, using the pet name she had used for him when they had dated in Academy, an inside joke after he had used the corniest pick-up line at a bar one night after class to pick her up. 
 “ Amanda… of course I don ’ t… I just… ” It was that moment of hesitation she needed and it was then she went for it. 
 BANG 
 “ We have an officer down, ” Amanda called in, tears streaming down her face as she held her dying lover in her arms, “ Officer down. ” 
 

