====== One Hell of a Proposal ====== Previous: [[logs:forbidden_romance:she_s_never_late|She's Never Late]] Shooting the guard meant he was facing in the right direction to catch the glint of the crucifix, barely hear the cough. //Plip// He pulled his aim as he shot. Instead of putting the round through the hand he saw by reflex, the round passed millimeters above, splintering the woodwork behind. He realized what he heard, saw. It was her crucifix. A second round. //Plip// He'd missed with the first intentionally, the second one was closer to the body that should be there, again, a miss. //Move kid. Make it look good. I know you're trying to help. She helped you survive. Now it's your turn to do her proud.// Pain. LA let out a loud curse in Italian, collapsing, his squirming rubbing the blood all over his shirt, making it look a lot worse than it was. Big Ange turned, pale. "If he dies I'm gonna make you wish you'd never been born!" He spat at [[profiles:danielabooth|Gabi]], then moved out into the hall. His son was on the floor. His boy…his only boy! Big Ange let out a roar and charged towards his son, seeing the blood all over him. "ANGELO!!" He screamed in agony. That Carmichael cunt was going to **//PAY//** !! Ange…no..no. Gabi, move, move, get up get up. //Good boy. In days to come you'll tell stories of this moment.// He kept his stance low, moving forward smoothly with the gun at his shoulder. Flick. 3-rounds. He's a big guy, be sure, Seeley. Around the corner. Peek. Around. Aim. "ANGELO!!" "Angelo Carlucci, you are under arrest for the kidnapping of Gabriella Carmichael…" Move, Gabi… Ange….She came into the hallway, scrambling to get a feel on aching legs. Oh, Ella…she was covered in bruises, her nose looking broken, blood staining swollen lips, one eye ringed in angry purple. She staggered in the light and the sound had Big turning. The world slowed down as the gun began to lift. Eyes went wide and hair seemed to lift as she began to move down, still forward. Ever forward. [[profiles:seeleybooth|Seeley]]!!!…and then… Ange. Blood. No…nonono…. The gun was still lifting. Adrenaline. Time slowed. Gabi. You're… No, concentrate on Big Ange. Gun. Rising. Caress. //PlipPlipPlip// Chest, upper chest, face. The guy staggered. //PlipPlipPlip// Again. His gun control was perfect, even in the situation. He was probably going down, dead. //PlipPlipPlip// Be sure. 100% sure. He **cannot** hurt her anymore. It was only a couple of seconds. It felt like years. Gabi //wanted// to throw herself into Seeley's arms. The first shot made Ange pull the trigger and Gabi's face contorted in pain, a hand reaching down to her calf. Just a glancing blow as she staggered, falling towards LA. "Fratello!!" She cried as she fell to the floor next to him and as Big Ange hit the floor, dead, LA stood and gathered Gabi up in his arms. "It's just a fleshwound, sorellina." He said as he waited for Seeley to holster his gun and take his woman into his arms. He was alive. He was free. But more importantly…. Gabi was free. Breathe Seeley. It's over. He breathed. Long, deep filling the lungs. He saw the blood over both of them, trying to judge who was hurt worse. He knew the round he grazed Angelo with wouldn't leave anything more than a minor scar, but it would look good and leave the kid with a story to tell. He was more worried about the round Gabi took as Big Ange went down. It was better than the alternative, but… Two clicks back to safe, then he lowered the gun, slowly, to let it hang from the strap across his chest. He walked the few steps down and across the floor to the pair of them. He squatted in front of them, reaching out to Angelo to tear a couple of strips from the bottom of his shirt, wadding one up and placing it on his would. "Hold it there, put pressure on it." Next one was for Gabi, longer. He tore it in two, wadding them both up and placing them on the bullet holes. "Same for you Gabi." He wanted to hold her, but he was too busy doing his job. He looked into her eyes. Wait. Shit. She looked like shit. I'm gonna kill whoe… Double tap on the radio button, then. "Clear, stand down. I need a medic, four dead, two wounded." He stood in front of Angelo. "Sorry kid, you know I'm going to have to arrest you, right?" Stat-No, GODDAMNIT! LA held the cloth to his wound. He knew sticking around would get him arrested. But he'd had to protect Gabi. His little sister. Her tattoos. "Do what you have to. I don't care as long as she's safe." He said. "She's gonna need her ink removed…and a new name. We were allied with the Mangiones." Gabi met Seeley's gaze. She needed him to hold her but she knew he needed to do his job. She didn't dare ask. She knew he couldn't say no if she did. Seeley grabbed her wrist for a couple of seconds and squeezed. It was the best he could do in the situation. Then he stood and looked at Ange. "We can sort that out." He glanced down at her on the floor. So small. "She can have mine." Did he just say that? He said he would protect her. He just killed for her. She was precious to him. That was one hell of a proposal. The medics arrived, tended to Gabi's calf, wrapped it, made sure it was clean and safe. They did the same to Ange's graze on his arm. Seeley still had to officially arrest him, but gave him time with Gabi, free, before turning him around and cuffing his hands behind his back. "I'll have a word with Caroline, Gabi won't press charges, I can guarantee that." Ange looked up at Seeley. A look passed between them. Did this Fed really understand what Gabi was to him? Of course he did. LA knew how it worked. He and Gabi talked among themselves while they were being bandaged. "You're getting a chance at being able to put it all behind you." He said quietly to her after Seeley spoke. Gabi looked up at Seeley as he…did he…ohhhyeshedid. "I would like that name. And the man who'd give it to me." She said. Where was her static? The sword was gone. There was…a low shh wayyy deep down but it was…normal. Her anxiety…would never be as…constant. "Wouldn't be here if it weren't for her." LA said as Seeley cuffed him. "You take care of my little sister, fratello. She'll be a good wife to you." Brother. He's a good kid. He protected her. He made sure she was there for him to come and get. "She wouldn't be here if it weren't for you." Pause… "Brother. I will take care of Ella. I promised her I would. I give you the same promise." He handed Ange off to another agent for processing. There was something more important. Someone. He pulled his weapon from his body, lifting the strap over his head, then pulling off the straps of the vest and shrugging out of it. His shirt was crumpled, he was sweaty from the heat and exhaustion, but she was safe. He reached down to pull her up, pulling her arm over his neck and shoulders, his arm under hers and around her back, keeping her injured calf close to him. He'd carry her all the way home if she needed it, but he knew she would want to walk on her own if she could. This was a good compromise. "Come on, let's get you home, Ella." Already they were using a new first name. Gabi Carmichael would, with the wave of paperwork and ink removal, become Ella…Booth. The world had so many possibilities. She looked up at Seeley as he helped her, supported her. Suddenly…her reasons for being afraid were gone, the biggest reason being wheeled off in a body bag. He'd come for her. Killed her fear. Her love. Her Master. Her…fiance? "Ella Booth. Has a nice ring to it." She said softly as he helped her out. If only she knew what he had prepared for her, if she'd arrived when she was supposed to. He couldn't bring the ring with him. At least he managed to propose, however strange that proposal might be. But for the Fed and the Mob Princess…it seemed almost fitting. Case [[:cases:185-ac-7541|#185-AC-7541: Carlucci, A (Sr)]]