It's short and it's the best I could do for what you wanted. Hope it's still worth the read to you! ☺️

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Donovan swung the car into a parking spot, feeling like someone had ripped out his insides. The engine died and for a moment he stared at the dashboard everything in him heavy with the previous two weeks. Mechanically, he removed the keys and climbed out.

The Virginia air was tinted with the smell of coming autumn. The Quantico base was a hive of action as recruits jogged from one activity to the next. In the distance, the sharp crack of gunfire could be heard.

As Donovan surveyed the familiar scene, he searched for just one face. It was the only face he needed to see at the moment. The one person that could help.

When she didn't magically appear, he went looking for her.

After inquiries, he found himself walking through the training building. The walls rang with conversations and the mocking laughter of recruits who had gained the upper hand. At the center of the building was a spacious room packed with floor mats, rubber dummies and boxing rings. The gray walls were dotted with raised windows that flooded the room with natural light.

A few neighboring eyes drifted to Donovan as he stood in the doorway. A couple even shared stories they had heard about him, but he didn't notice any of it. His focus was cutting through the occupants.

A flash of brown hair in a corner snagged his attention and he felt a bit of relief.

The feeling vanished as he took in the scene. A fellow male trainee had flipped Carter and pinned her to the mat. A smile creased his lips, as he gloated in his victory. Not one to give in so easily, Carter struggled to loosen his hold, but her opponent didn't let her go.

Rage tore through Donovan narrowing his vision and making every muscle tense. The noise around him blurred to a dull roar in his ears as he crossed the training room. The pair weren't aware of him until Donovan was yanking the man off Carter and slamming him into the wall.

"Don't you ever touch her," he said, pinning the guy there with one hand at his throat.

"Donovan! Stop!" Carter shouted, gripping his wrist, trying to pry him off her sparring partner.

"Do you understand me?" Donovan spat at the guy, ignoring Carter.

"Donovan!"

The blow came out of nowhere and snapped Donovan out it, giving the guy a chance to get some distance from him.

"What the hell, man?" he said, rubbing his neck. "We were only sparring."

Regaining his senses, Donovan pointed at him. "I don't care, don't touch her."

Carter appeared between them, her face contorted with anger.

"Get a hold of yourself, this is what I'm here for," she snapped.

Donovan felt his body shaking with the raw emotion that was coursing through him. Despite the fierce look Carter was aiming at him, it felt good, this was something he could handle.

"I don't care," he said. "I don't want him hurting you."

Carter shoved Donovan's chest, making him stagger back.

"I can take care of myself."

"I know that. I know better than anyone."

Carter threw up her hands in frustration. "Then why the hell are you getting mad at Brandon?"

Donovan clenched his fists, not able to speak. Carter's eyes cut into him, seeming to see deep into his soul.

Without saying anything, she grabbed Donovan's hand and guided him out of the training center into an empty locker room.

"What is going on?" she asked, her anger dimming.

"I don't want to see you get hurt," he said, needing to hold onto his anger, needing it to act as a shield.

"We've just been over this, I can protect myself."

"That's not it!" Donavon shouted, his hold slipping. "I can't see you hurt."

Instead of responding, Carter studied him. The annoyance that had created tension in her face softened.

"What happened this week, Donovan?" she asked.

Flashes of a gory scene crowded Donovan's mind and he took a step back. He tried to grasp for the rage that had been pulsing through him moments ago but it was all gone. All that was left was the feeling that someone was cutting him open.

Carter closed the distance between them, cupping his face.

"I'm right here," she whispered, trying to read where he had disappeared to.

Her touch grounded him and he focused on her eyes. They were so familiar to him, they were his safety, they were his home.

The wall he had been forging crumbled and his shoulders sagged as his head dropped.

"I lost an informant," he said, the words leaving his throat like they were knives.

Carter said nothing, leaving space for him to go on.

"She was barely twenty-one. A recovered heroin addict. She was helping us keep tabs on her dealer." Donovan's jaw flexed as the memories pummeled him. "I didn't get her out in time. He beat her to death. Her body was barely recognizable."

He stared at the floor seeing so clearly the mangled form of the girl, the arms twisted at wrong angles, the lacerated flesh, and shattered bones. He closed his eyes, wanting to erase the images from his mind, but knowing he never wanted to forget. Never forget what it had cost so it would keep him from making a mistake.

Wordlessly, Carter eased Donovan down onto a bench - situated between the lockers - and settled down with him, wrapping her arms around him.

Donovan buried his face in the crook of her neck, clinging to her, feeling the life that flowed through her body. Safe in her arms he let himself feel it all. His grief spilled out, tears sliding down her shoulder, and Carter held onto him tighter, saying nothing, letting him feel all that he needed to.

As the minutes passed and Carter comforted him, running her hand through his hair and brushing his head with soft kisses, the pieces of himself that had been fracturing since the incident began to heal. When he raised his head, she kissed the tear tracks on his cheeks.

"You are not going to be able to save everyone," she said. She rested a hand on his chest. "But because you care so deeply, you will save so many. Remember that."

Donovan kissed her, stealing the words from her mouth and carving them into his heart.

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Buttered muffins!
(Gosh like I even know, I guess cause I could, do I need a better reason?)

Soooo...what did you think?

Honestly, I wasn't sure how this chapter was going to end when I started out but I kind liked the ending, it definitely was surprising. Who knew Donovan had such a big heart! It makes sense that Carter is the only one he shows it to. Also this was my version of Donovan being jealous-ish.

I have one thing I would like to discuss with you. Sometimes I can't always answer every comment, okay most of the time I can't but I try to answer at least one comment for every person who comments.

I honestly wish I had all the time in the world to write extremely witty replies to all your comments but I have to also focus on writing and I figure you would rather have more things to read than just my replies.

So even though I do read all the comments sometimes I can't answer with more than an emoji. To me an emoji says, 'Hey, I see you. Thank you. I love you and appreciate your support.' Is that still worth it to you if I just comment an emoji?

Anyways, just know that I love your comments! You have no idea how much they make me smile and laugh! For reals, thank you for being the wonderfulness that is you!!

If you feel so inclined to do than vote, comment, follow!