70Chapter 9
3 strikes - out
A/N So far, last December and January weren't the kindest months to me. Family needed to be cared of, my mom and oldest son were hospitalized, my knee cap decided to move a slight bit, which left me in horrible pains. Luckily this is all getting better! Then, two co-workers left and I've done things I never did before, work related. Also I was left with a serious writing block…
But then, here we are, really at the very final part of this story. Again, I want to thank you all for sticking to this story, especially Linda Wigginton! But it goes for all of you, of course, so thank you for reviewing. I finally know how to let this story end.
Once again, the idea came after I read about NCIS working on a case where they apprehended sailors and Marines who were smuggling drugs and work on human trafficking. Still, it is a work of fiction which means that names, characters, places, events and incidents are either the products of my imagination or used in a fictitious manner.
Feel free to read this chapter as well and leave me a review!
Kni®benrots
DISCLAIMER:
Recognizable characters are not mine, hopefully CBS & Shane Brennan let me just play with them.
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Los Angeles || Seal Beach Navy Base
"How much time do we need?" Eric nervously asked. Deeks immediately snapped to no one in particularly as he witnessed what happened. "He's defenseless, and —"
He stopped speaking as he saw how the men started dragging Callen towards a car. Not his own, Deeks knew, but somehow the large Jeep fit him. "What the hell…" he swore.
From his position he observed how something made the men look up at Emerson White. While dragging the limp body of the agent in charge, the shirt that Callen wore and had carefully tucked into his jeans, was lifted during the action enough to have the phone he'd hidden underneath drop on the tarmac.
Once Emerson White noticed it, his face grew pale and his eyes spit fire. Loud curses were heard and White lifted a gun from a holster. A second later he fired it and the phone was destroyed.
Loud yells now came from everywhere. In their earpieces it was Nell's voice yelling "Our men were in time and all evidence is still there. Good to go!"
At the headquarters, Hetty suddenly missed the direct line without knowing what happened. All she had right now were the contacts she had with the rest of the team. "Do what you think is right," she said, perhaps to no-one in particular.
And Sam, whose dark voice barked 'Execute! Kensi, execute!'.
In his voice all kind of emotions sounded. He was scared for his best friend, afraid that White's shot was going to sound sooner than Kensi's. Angry for not being able to intervene any earlier and perhaps above all, frustrated that Callen had once again chosen to work alone. Sure, perhaps not completely voluntary, but all in all it would have been so much easier that his partner had been an open book instead of leaving breadcrumbs like he'd done with the phone. Had Callen really walked into a trap like this, playing with his life, deliberately to win time? Was he trusting his team enough, knowing they would be here in time to be able to be intervene indeed? In a matter of a second, thoughts like this crossed his mind.
While he already was on his feet and running towards the scene he saw how Emerson White dropped his gun and went down after Kensi's perfect shots. More shots came in the direction of the other two men who were around. Deeks and Eric, Sam reasoned, noticing nearly automatically from which direction the shots came.
And although he knew Callen was out and lay on the pavement, Sam shouted his name "G!"
The slackness of the body of his buddy reminded him of the first moments after the shooting of the fifth of May, years ago. Yet this was so different. There was bleeding from Callen's head and the position of his left arm.
"Damn, G," he muttered, knowing that his partner wouldn't hear him. "Where's the teamwork this time?"
There was a frantic 'Sam, status please' in his ear and while looking around he nodded and said "We're good, Nell. Need an ambulance for Callen though."
The operations manager now spoke "How is he, Mr. Hanna? I want a fair reply."
"Headwound and his arm is broken, that much I can see, Hetty. There are cuts and bruises, he's been kicked and beaten, so perhaps there's some internal damage, I can't tell. That's all."
He heard how she slowly breathed out, and Sam did the same, feeling how the first bit of adrenaline left his body.
He felt someone coming in his direction and he knew by the step itself it was Kensi. "He ought to be okay in a month or so, don't you think?" he asked to nobody in particular, still, also to her.
His female co-worker shrugged, squatted down and gave her opinion "I hope so, Sam. I looks like a nasty fracture though." She continued "We came by helicopter, remember. It's still here. We could send Callen to a hospital that way?"
"Not necessary Kens, there should be a medi-chopper any time soon," Nell said. "He needs a medical check-up before you move him, don't you think? How about the other guys?"
Kensi stood up and watched how Eric and Deeks did a quick check of the four men that were responsible for the lead agent's situation. "Deeks! What do we need?"
Her husband held up two fingers and shouted back "two!" and Kensi repeated it, not knowing if Nell was able to hear Deeks as well. "Two to care of, and a coroner. White is alive."
"Well done, Miss Blye," Hetty answered, obviously listening on the same line as Nell. "We'll wait for Mr. Callen and Mr. Hanna at the usual hospital." She shook her head and made sure that Nell was to prepare the files she'd take with her on her way to the hospital.
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Los Angeles || 'the Squid and the Dagger'|| four weeks later
It had been quite a struggle to get up early, have a shower and get dressed but he'd managed it all. Sam would be around to pick him up in a few minutes.
It was time for some new steps in his personal life.
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previously
The first full five days spent in the hospital were long, but an easy ride and actually doable compared to the time he involuntary spent at home during the following weeks.
After the most severe headaches were gone, he'd been sent home. Pins and plates and plaster kept his arm in the right position for the time being, and he realized all to well he'd needed another operation someday near.
Home... where Roberta Deeks and Hetty had been around, both more than willing to help and fussing over him and although they meant well, Callen had enough of the situation. He'd been out for another long walk and had decided to discuss the situation with Hetty, the minute she'd show up.
She anticipated, actually, the way only she could. "Remember, Mr. Callen, how we had that little chat some months ago? About how I won't be around forever, running our business?"
It had bothered him at the time, but he'd shrugged the thought off during the many cases that needed to be solved. He opened his mouth for a reply but hesitated when Hetty smiled his way, softer than he was used to. She gently let her hand rest on the cast and his eyes followed that hand. Bonier and with more dark spots than he remembered. He looked up and let his gaze rest on her face. There still was strength and wisdom in her eyes, yet she seemed to age faster than Callen really imagined. Was she suffering from the effects of Agent Orange after all, like Granger had? He heaved a deep sigh, one that said more than Henrietta Lange really heard. Then Callen nodded and softly spoke "I don't know, Hetty."
"Give it a try, dear boy. You and I both know you're far from being cleared for field work. Right now you're getting annoyed from doing nothing. Go and try and run the office." She paused a few seconds, staring ahead without really looking at anything, and continued "I'd like some time off. However, I'll be around, so don't worry about me this time."
"But…" he shook his head. He really didn't want to know. He really didn't want to try. "I can't ever replace you. I can't.. what if I make a decision you wouldn't agree of? You know I can't ever … be you."
She closed her eyes for a second and smiled that soft way again. Tired, he recognized. "Director Vance will guide you. Trust your gut feeling, Mr. Callen. Has it ever let you down?"
He grinned and shrugged "Not really. Still, there are the many times I got shot or stabbed, despite that gut feeling."
"Too many times indeed, Mr. Callen. You and I know that nobody is invincible."
Callen simply shook his head. "I'd like to think we all are. In fact…"
"I don't want to see you die before my time has come," she interrupted, her voice sharper this time. "There ought to be more in life than you've experienced so far. You're young enough and there's still time left to, well, time to smell the roses".
He huffed. "As if I haven't—"
Again, she interrupted. "Our younger intelligence officers sure will find her, Mr. Callen." And with a cunning smile she added "I wouldn't be surprised that Miss Jones already found a first trail."
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Callen recognized the roar of the black Challenger and closed the door of the Squid and the Dagger. A new day. Ready for another day at the office.
THE END
Thanks for reading! Are you all ready for the next episodes of the show? I am!
