The instant before the situation explodes, Duncan springs into action. He feels the body beneath him, the jolt as they hit the floor. He's shielding her. In that moment, he's not thinking like a hostage taker, not doing the rational thing for the greater good, not merely preserving an asset. He's reacting like a father, protecting her and trying to keep her out of harm's way.

His first thought as they lie there, catching their breath, is whether dashing her to the floor like that might have hurt the baby. Maybe he should have drawn her to him and gone down first, cushioning her landing instead of covering her back; however, protection protocol kicked in in the heat of the moment, so he dove first and thought second. But he doesn't want to hurt the baby or her or the good doctor or anyone who hasn't hurt him first. Most people not actively trying to take down his country really have no reason to fear. (Although he has this lingering itch to beat Brian senseless which he tries his best to ignore.)

A quick unconscious assessment of the area has him counting breath patterns: a rapid hyperventilation through flared nostrils coinciding with Morgan's rise and fall beneath him, a shallow exhalation ffrom Sandrine's last known position near the landing (probably collecting herself after the shootout), the thrum of blood in his ear as he draws his own steadying oxygen. And that's it; just the three. Duncan lets his head fall for a moment with a sigh. He'll have a lot to deal with in a second: body disposal, a wounded colleague, a hormonal teen, crying probably, and more of those terrible looks he's really starting to hate getting from Ellen.

But he takes a moment and says a silent prayer for the baby, that it's… all right. That Sandrine was wearing a vest. That he can comfort Morgan, if she needs it. If she'll let him. And that… well, that they all just get out of this thing alive.

A/N: whipped off after tonight's episode, b.c hopefully someone has a Good Reason for what's going on.

Whether you liked or not, please R&R. Thanks.