Aiden ran for a few more steps, seeming not to hear Marcia’s protests, then stumbled, literally feet from the doorway of the building he’d been heading to. A pained gasp escaped the private as he fell, tucking his body around the Latina lieutenant’s to keep her from further harm. He hit the ground hard, and Marcia slipped from his grip. “<i>H-Hh!</i>”<br/><br/>Aiden couldn’t do much more than lay where he fell, clutching at his side. A ragged hole had been torn through his fatigue shirt, and a bloody wound showed underneath. The blond sniper pressed his gloved hands into his side, attempting to staunch the wound while he scrabbled to get up, booted feet propelling him toward the relative shelter of the building. All he could guess was that a stray bullet had grazed him, leaving a deep gouge in his side.