Twenty Seven

I was back in the field and I was so fucking happy. My adrenaline was pumping and my hand was tight around my gun. We had been called to an active shooter in an office block, there were shit loads of us, armed police on every floor. We were told to get to the fourth floor and Leon was in front, walking up the stairs, Matt was behind him and me behind Matt. I was doing my usual, walking backwards up the stairs, my gun pointed. We didn't actually know where the shooter was so my eyes were darting up every step. It felt odd to not be directly behind Leon, but I was so fucking proud of him. We got to the fourth floor and Leon and Matt stopped. I stopped walking myself, one foot on a step. I didn't turn my head to them so had no idea what was on the fourth floor. My heart was smashing into my chest, my eyes down the stairs.

“Baby,"

"Yeah," I responded to Leon.

"Take the men's toilets, on your right when you're up the stairs."

"Received." I walked backwards up the last steps, turning to