AN- This was yet another result from watching a rerun. Mild spoilers for episode 1x12.
Disclaimer- wish they were mine as they would have way more fun but they're not.
Chapter 1.
As they ran back to the restaurant when they heard the bang neither of them was sure where LaSalle was. They had last seen him go back in to look for his friend and when Pride left to assist Brody he was still inside. As they got close enough they saw people lying on the roadway just outside the building. One in a navy uniform the other all in black wearing NCIS Kevlar.
Getting closer they saw both men move and stagger to a semi sitting position. When they saw LaSalle move and half sit up they both stop running, he was safe. He may have a few bumps and bruises but he was safe and that was what mattered. Brody dropped back against the wall behind her to try and catch her breath as Pride joined her.
"That was not fun, not fun at all. I am not sure what was worse, running to check on LaSalle or the licking I just got" Brody said as she leaned forward and rested her hands on her knees still breathing hard.
"I can't believe I shot her and she still landed on the trigger. That has got to be fates way of telling me something, like maybe don't shoot people or don't hand to hand combat a trained assassin" Brody grounded out as she stood up and she got shooting pains in various places in her body.
Pride looked across at Brody as she stood up and moved to stand in front of her blocking her from view. Brody closed her eyes and rode out the waves of pain that hit her chest, legs and back as she stood up. She felt a shadow cross in front of her and knew who had stood in front of her blocking her from public view. She would not let anyone see her like this and he knew that hence him standing where he was.
He knew she needed a few minutes to school her features and put her mask back in place once the initial pain rode out. Once she had her wits about her she would cover the pain and not let anyone see it unless they had to. Whatever injuries she had see would access herself and if she decided they needed medical attention she would seek it, knowing her from Loretta to save a hospital trip.
"Brody look at me" Pride asked as he looked down her.
She held her hand up with 2 fingers up.
"Two minutes then you look at me okay" Pride told her.
She made some noise to gesture she understood and then set about taking a couple of deep breaths to calm and centre herself. When she finally opened her eyes she was meet by the deep stare of her boss looking down at her.
"You okay? You need a medic or Loretta?" Pride asked knowing what the answer would be.
"Loretta when we get back, don't think anything is broke but she can check to be sure. She put up a hell of a fight" Brody said as she came to push off the wall and let her own legs take the full weight of her body again.
"Stand still till your feet and legs catch up" Pride said as he saw her wobble a little and put both his hands out and rested them on her arms.
Brody stood feeling the man's hands on her arms and had to fight the urge to drop forward and hope he caught her as she had no strength left. Slowly she felt herself get it together and she was able to stand up without wanting to fall. She looked up at Pride and nodded her head.
"Ready?" Pride asked seeing the slight trepidation on her face as he stepped back and she took a step forward.
"Ready. Let's go pick LaSalle up and go home" she told the man who was still watching her.
Pride turned and looked round for his senior field agent. Seeing the ambulance he caught a glimpse of black Kevlar on the floor just outside it and realised LaSalle must be inside getting checked over. Looking across at Brody he nodded towards the ambulance and they set off to find LaSalle.
Once they came level they heard the distinct southern drawl of his coming from inside the ambulance.
"I don't need a hospital, it's a few cuts and bruises. Just stick me back together and let me go" they heard LaSalle tell the medics.
They both smiled as they could picture the scene in the ambulance without looking. Pride stepped forward and put his head round the door. Seeing LaSalle sitting on the stretcher with no top on he saw the scratches and scrapes that covered his senior field agents arms and the bits of his chest his Kevlar hadn't covered. He had a few bruises starting to appear where debris had flew out the building as it exploded and hit his Kevlar hard.
"You okay Christopher?" Pride asked as he saw LaSalle look at him.
"Fine, just need to get this cut seen to" LaSalle replied as he turned his head and let Pride take in the sight of the gash on his temple.
Pride looked at the medic and then back at LaSalle.
"He need a hospital or is he really okay?" Pride asked ignoring the look on LaSalle's face.
"He's good, any nausea, dizziness, double Vision he will need checking over but he seems fine" as the medic applied the last stitch to LaSalle's head
"Thanks" LaSalle said to the medic as he grabbed his t-shirt and stood up to make his way out the ambulance.
Pride stood back and LaSalle climbed out the ambulance to come and stand beside Brody. Brody looked at LaSalle as he stood and pulled his top on. He looked fine and the medics had let him go so he must be.
"You both ready to go home?" Pride asked the 2 agents who stood in front of him.
LaSalle and Brody looked at each other and then at Pride, both nodding and taking a step forward. It was them Brody got a sharp pain in her chest and took a deep breath in. She grabbed the first thing in reach which happened to be Prides arm. Pride whirled round at the contact on his arm and the sound Brody made.
"Brody!" As he whipped round and grabbed her by the shoulders as she dropped forward a bit.
"I got it, I take back what I said about nothing broken. I take it my ribs took a beating" as she steadied herself again.
"In there now" as he nodded to the ambulance.
Pulling herself to full height again she shot daggers at Pride before shrugging his hands off her shoulders.
"No, nothing they can do for ribs. Pain relief and a hot bath. Let's go home please" she said looking directly at Pride sounding sort of desperate.
LaSalle was at a complete loss at what he had missed but listening to the conversation taking place he had missed Brody getting a kicking, he presumed by the assassin. For her to be in the state she was it must have been a hell of a fight and he could only imagine what she gave back in return. LaSalle looked between his partner and his boss to she who would win the battle of wits. Looking at Brody and then Pride he saw his boss falter and knew Brody had won.
"Car now, both of you" as Pride reached over and placed a hand on Brody's elbow to guide her to the car.
Brody was about to argue but seeing the look on Prides face she didn't and let him guide her to the car. He lead them both to the passenger side and opened the door for her as she went to climb in. After a lot of teeth grinding and eyes closed tight shut Brody finally made it in the car. She went to put her seat belt on but the pain ripped through her and she stopped.
"Stop, I got it" Pride said as he reached across her and buckled her seatbelt up.
Once she was in Pride stepped back and looked at Brody who he saw still had her eyes closed. Closing the door he went and got in the drivers side looking in to the back at LaSalle who was also sat with his eyes closed. Yet again his team had took a beating and they were paying for it.
Driving back he kept a close eye on Brody as she sat stark still. He made sure to drive slower than normal to make sure the car didn't bump of jerk. When he finally parked up he turned and look at LaSalle who had opened his eyes and was now also staring at Brody in the front seat.
"Home again, let's get you both inside and see about some food and coffee" as Pride undid his seat belt and reached across and undid Brody's.
LaSalle got out the car and looking at Pride he nodded as Pride went round and opened the passenger door. LaSalle walked in to the office and out of sight leaving Pride to deal with Brody. Brody on a good day was good but on a bad day she was a pain in the ass. She was too stubborn for her own good and she would not accept help so LaSalle left his boss to deal with her.
"Brody were back. Come on inside and we can get Loretta to check you over" Pride said gently as he placed a hand on Brody's arm.
Brody opened her eyes and looked at Pride before shuffling sideways to save moving her chest and ribs. It did work a little but she got a sharp pain as she lowered her legs out the car to the floor and stood up. Pride reached out again to take her arm but she pushed him away.
"Enough, I will help you inside or God help me I will pick you up and carry you to Loretta. You're in no state to argue with me so suck up the ego and let me help you please" adding please on the end to soften the blow.
Brody just looked at Pride and gave in. She slumped against his side as he put his arm round her shoulder and back as he tucked his hand under her arm with his hand resting on her side.
"Finally, let's get Loretta to check and see how bad you actually are. I got you" Pride said as he guided them both inside at the same time as texting Loretta.
They took a very slow walk to see Loretta, finally arriving 10 minutes after they got out the car. When Pride pushed the door open to autopsy Loretta had her back to it so didn't see them enter.
"I thought you got lost for how long it's taken you to get here" as she turned around and saw Pride standing with Brody literally tucked at his side holding her up.
She saw the fear and concern on Prides face for the women at his side. For her to be like this it must be bad. She put down what she had in her hand and practically ran the length of the room coming to stop at Brody's free side.
"You should be at hospital not here. What the hell happened to you?" Loretta asked looking at Brody than Pride.
"Our little ninja took on a trained assassin and won. Shame she took a licking in the process" Pride told Loretta as they guided Brody over to one of the examination tables.
"Right then, Kevlar off and then up on the table so I can see how bad you are" Loretta told the 2 people in front of her.
Pride let his arm slip from around Brody's shoulders as he came to stand in front of her and undo the Velcro holding her Kevlar in place. As he lifted it away he saw her wince again as she stood still leaning against the table behind her. Looking at her he knew she had no chance of hoisting herself up and on to the table to be checked over. It was up to him to get her there. Stealing himself for a tongue lashing he stepped forward and placed his hands on Brody's waist before lifting her as gently as he could to sit her on the table.
Out of instinct Brody brought her hands up and placed them on Prides shoulders to steady herself as he lifted her. Once he placed her on the table she let her hands drop away and he let go of her waist. Putting his hands under her legs he swung them around then with one hand on her shoulder and the other on her back he guided her to lie down. When she was finally lying down he stepped back but was shocked when she reached out and grabbed his hand. He took the hand and held it tight.
"You want me to stay?" Pride said more as a statement than a question.
He was surprise and pleased she was finally letting him into help her.
"Dwyane can you grab that screen and set it so we have some privacy from out there" Loretta asked nodding towards the white screen behind him in the corner of the room.
He went to let go of Brody's hand but she hung on tighter.
"I am coming back, promise" as she finally let go and he went and got the screen and set it up behind him.
Stepping back to the table he took her hand again and gave it a reassuring squeeze. Brody looked at him and he saw the unshed tears in the corner of her eyes. Oohh hell a crying woman was not something he was prepared for, especially this one. She could not cry, not his crazy, sassy, loud, funny, kick ass tough agent.
"You ready Merri?" Loretta asked as she stood beside Brody looking down her.
Brody nodded and Loretta's grabbed the blanket from behind her. Loretta placed the blanket over Brody's legs and waist before she removed her boots and somehow managed to get her to shuffle out of her jeans. Bringing the blanket up over to reveal Brody's legs she made sure that the blanket covered her waist. There was bruises forming up and down Brody's legs but luckily no cuts or abrasions. Running her hands up and down Brody's legs Loretta checked them over before covering them back up again.
Now was the tough part, her chest and back. Loretta looked between Brody and Pride as she rested her hands of the hem of Brody's top. Brody understood and nodded her head. She knew she was going somewhere she had never been before but she needed checking over but she needed someone to be there and the person she choses was her boss.
Brody locked eyes with Pride as Loretta slowly started to work her top up till it came to her arms. One arm at a time she pulled the top off over Brody's head and then looked down at her chest. Pride did his best to keep his eyes locked with Brody but his concentration was disturbed by the gasp that came from Loretta. He looked at Loretta then he made the mistake of looking at Brody's chest and stomach.
Without realising till he heard Brody gasp he had squeezed her hand tight seeing the injuries to her chest and stomach.
"Sorry" as he loosened his grip a little.
"Is it that bad?" Brody asked as she tried to look between Loretta and Pride but not being able to due to the fact she was flat on the table and she didn't want to lift her head.
"Well we can tell what shoe she had on, what size it was in and the pattern of the thread if that answers your question" Pride replied still not looking her in the eyes.
"I hate to think what would have happened if you didn't have Kevlar on. It may be bulletproof but it's not foot proof. She must have hit you with some force to do this through the Kevlar" Loretta commented.
"I am not even going to touch you, I will X-ray and check how many and how badly you ribs are broken and cracked" Loretta told Brody as she stepped away to fetch the X-ray machine.
Pride still had a hold of Brody's hand and was still staring at the marks and bruises on her chest. Brody nudged his leg with their joined hands to get him to look at her. His eyes travelled from the marks on her stomach and chest up her body, over her black lace covered breasts to her face and then he locked eyes with her again.
"Why didn't you tell me it was this bad? You're not invincible and you are not replaceable" making sure he added extra meaning to the last 2 words.
"I didn't realise I was till now. As you know yourself, adrenaline kicks in and you feel nothing at all. It's not till you're safe you start to process what happened and that's when it hurts. You know that as well as I do. No doubt by morning I will feel even worse than I do now if I can move at all by then" Brody told the man who stood looking down at her.
Loretta came back and set the X-ray machine up ready to see how bad things looked from the inside. Pride and Loretta stepped away while the machine took the pictures but as soon as Loretta said it was done Pride was back at Brody's side holding her hand again.
"Merri do you have clothes upstairs that are maybe not as well tight as these are? The state you're in you need more loose fitting clothes" Loretta said to Brody as she came and looked back down on the young woman.
"No, just my normal stuff in my bag in my locker" Brody replied.
Pride looked at Brody then Loretta then back at Brody.
"Give me a few minutes, I have the solution" as Pride let go of Brody's hand and went to move away.
Before he stepped away he did something that even he didn't realise he had done till he was out the room and half way back to the office. He bent over Brody and placed a kiss to her head before leaving the room.
Brody just lay there with a smile on her face and Loretta just stood speechless.
As Pride made his way up to the office it hit him what he had just done and he stopped dead in his track. What the hell possessed him to kiss her head? On saying that what made him stay when she was being checked over? He knew he would get to see way more than he wanted to, well okay maybe needed to. He was not going to stand and say he had not let his thoughts go there when they were out and about and he got a good view of how busty his junior agent was. He was a red blooded male and he was now a single one at that.
Walking back into the office he went to make his way upstairs when he was stopped by a voice calling his name.
"King where's Brody's? How is she? What the hell happened out there?" He heard LaSalle ask him bringing him back from his wayward thoughts.
"She's still with Loretta waiting on X-rays. Not going to lie to you Christopher shes a mess. Her chest and stomach look like they have been used as a gym punch bag. She has a few bruises to her legs but there are no open cuts or grazes so that's at least something" Pride told LaSalle as he looked at the cut on his temple.
"When she caught up with the friendly assassin she took quite a kicking but she did give it back just as good. She will pay for this tomorrow and for the next few days to say the least. Worst lot of bruises I have seen in a long time, looks worse on her as..." But he stopped there when he felt LaSalle's hand on his shoulder.
He looked at LaSalle and then hung his head. He wasn't sure what he was going to say at the end of the last sentence.
"I came back to get her some clothes to wear as Loretta suggested she wear something a little less tight. She hasn't got anything less well Brody style so I said I would find something" as he nodded up to his office come bedroom.
"Go find something and I will make you coffee to take back down for you both" LaSalle said as he let his hand fall from his bosses shoulder and turned towards the kitchen.
Pride nodded and smiled as he walked away to go upstairs. Taking the stairs 2 at a time he went in his room and looked around for clean clothes. Finally he found a pair of sweatpants and a t-shirt as well as a pair of socks and a pair of his slip on slippers. Gathering them together he made his way back down to find LaSalle standing with 2 steaming cups of coffee in his hand smiling.
"Go take care of her" LaSalle said as he passed the cups to Pride.
Pride nodded and took the cups in one hand still holding the bundle of clothes in the other. Making his way back to autopsy he thought about why he was so wound up about this. Meredith Brody was a special agent, she was trained to deal with this sort of stuff. She had taken lessons in Aikido to see off the best attackers she came across. Yet here she was down in autopsy covered in bruises and her ribs were no doubt broken in at least a few places. She had pushed away his help at first yet now she had reached out to him, needed him to be there. She didn't accept help very often and she never asked for it. What was it that compelled him to stay and help? Was it the fact she asked? Was it the fact he felt responsible for sending her after the mad women? Was it the fact she was a woman? Or was the matter a little closer to heart and home.
When she first arrived he wasn't sure he wanted her there, wasn't sure if she would fit in. Yet here he was standing debating how he felt about her. When had she got such a grip on him?. What he hadn't noticed was as his brain got lost in its train of thought his feet has carried him to the doors of autopsy. He looked through and was glad the screen was still up so no one knew he was there. Taking a deep breath he pushed the door open with his shoulder before turning to walk around the screen and face whatever was going round in his head about the woman who currently lay bruised on the table behind the it.
AN2- This was supposed to be a nice little one shot, well it was in my head. At least I broke the one shot funk I was in. Now to go do chapter 2.