Loved the episode but thought Chris was a bit too calm.

Title: Waiting
Author: Cindy Ryan
Spoilers: 2x5 Stung
Category: one shot, missing scene

It was part of being a cop that Oliver Shaw hated.
Seeing people at their worst.
Dealing with the victims.
Telling the loved ones that their family member wasn't coming home.

Tonight however Oliver found that situation transposed to his own division.
A young officer was trapped in a bomb rigged Meth lab.
His partner was trying to hold it together and failing miserably.
Chris Diaz was as tense as a tight rope walker without a net.

Oliver approached the youth and placed a supportive hand on Diaz's right shoulder.
Diaz jumped slightly having been lost in thoughts, memories.
Shaw gripped the younger man's arm pulling him away from the front of the crowd.

"Come on."

"Can't leave."Diaz protested ghostly.

"Won't go far, I promise."Oliver assured the rookie. "I've got some water in my car...thought you could use it."

"Not really."

Shaw reached into the squad through the open window and plucked out the luke warm bottle of water and pressed it into the youth's hand.

After a long moment Diaz twisted off the cap and took a long gulp of water."Thanks."

"No problem."

Oliver jumped as the plastic water bottle hit the hood of his squad with such force it exploded drenching the wind shield. Everyone turned at the noise and Shaw sent them a reassuring glance and waved them off.

"Sorry."Diaz apologized as he bent to retrieve the wayward bottle as it rolled to a stop under the front passenger wheel.

"Don't worry about it."Oliver replied. "Needed to be washed anyway."

"He's my partner and I'm stuck out here."Chris stated frustration etched in every word.

"You're helping him by not getting in their way."Oliver said quietly as he leaned back against the passenger door of the car.

"I should be in there."Diaz repeated as his fists clenched and unclenched at his side. "They wouldn't let me. I should have..."

Oliver pushed away from the car and placed a supportive hand on the rookie's left shoulder. "I know you feel like you let him down by leaving. But trust me you did the right thing. You followed procedure and got help."

Chris shook off Shaw's grasp as he turned to look at the house. "My partner's standing on a bomb and I left."

"Listen to me."Shaw urged finally gaining Diaz's attention."If they had let you stay it would've been a distraction and a danger to Dov. He'd be more worried about you and not concentrating on his balance. He'll be fine."

"How can you be so sure?"Chris asked hoarsely.

Oliver smiled briefly. "Because his luck has to turn around sometime and it might as well be today."

Diaz swallowed hard and nodded. "Thanks."

Clasping the rookie on the shoulder Oliver gently pushed him in the direction of Gail.
Shaw watched the two for a moment before his radio crackled to life.
He was needed elsewhere.

end