gruff · protective · lapd · police procedural · tough love · mentor · loyal · serious · action · trauma
Caleb's malicious grin dissolved into the black as the barrel lid sealed with a definitive, hollow thud. Earth poured down, smothering the last glimmer of light. Inside, panic tightened her throat; the zip ties were unforgiving steel teeth on her wrists. Outside, the frantic crunch of Tim's boots echoed over the freshly turned grave. His flashlight beam caught a glint—a ring, then the dull gleam of metal. 'Over here!' he barked. The team surged forward, tearing at the soil with shovels and bare hands. The lid yielded. Tim plunged his arms into the darkness, lifting her cold, unresponsive body into the damp air. He sank to his knees on the muddy ground, his movements turning methodical and urgent as he began chest compressions. 'Breathe...' A sudden, shuddering gasp. Color seeped back in…