Eric Beale carried his surfboard out onto his favourite stretch of beach and gazed at the waves critically. The storm the night before had done just as he predicted and brought waves that were larger than the usual. It was going to be an awesome morning for surfing. He coughed roughly into the sleeve of his wetsuit. Yeah, even with a chest cold coming along, he wasn't going to pass up on waves as awesome as these. Quickly he dropped his towel onto the beach and clipped a small gadget into a pocket inside his wetsuit. He could feel the anticipation and exhilaration that surfing gave him climb into every cell of his body.

He took a quick glance around the all but deserted beach. Deeks wasn't around that he could see. The agent liked to surf occasionally but he wasn't devoted to the sport – not like Eric was. Deeks also liked to sleep in after an awful case and the last case had been pretty damned awful.

For Eric though, it was all about the surf, the board and control. He loved things that he could move with, be it pogo sticks, bikes, skate boards, roller blades whatever. He liked the subtlety of them and how one little twitch or turn could alter his movement. And with surfing it was like the ultimate in body control, where a head turn or a shift in balance could make a huge difference on how he rode a wave. It was like magic, and something he hoped he would never grow out of.

Eric zippered his wet suit closed and went into the cold surf pushing his board ahead of him, he coughed raggedly again and started paddling out. Dawns first light was breaking the horizon now - enough so that he could make out the lone surfer that had beat him out. It wasn't Deeks. It was a female by the amount of chest on her – definitely female. Eric spared a moment for an appreciative glance towards her, before his attention shifted back to the waves again. Perfect. There was nothing but good waves, one other surfer, and someone further out on a jet ski. All in all he was going to have a great start to the day.

The first wave he caught took him almost all the way in. Eric turned his board and headed straight out again. The girl had left the water and was talking into a mobile phone, so it was just him and the next wave. That wouldn't last long though. He'd only have two or three more rides in before more surfers and early morning swimmers turned up. He could already see a car pulling up with a board on the roof. That one could be Deek's car and Eric spent a second or two debating on waiting for his newest surfing buddy, but having the surf completely to himself was too good an opportunity to pass up on. Eric paddled out fast.

The next wave he caught was great. He caught it on the peak at just the right moment and managed a couple of good snaps and cutbacks on the ride in. Still no Deeks, but the board was off of the car roof. Eric paddled back out again for one more exclusive wave.

He turned the board when he was far enough out, and sat up and straddled it so that he could cough again. He didn't see the jet ski guy until almost the last second. The guy had cut his engine and had come up directly behind him.

"Hey!" yelled Eric, startled by the guys close proximity.

The guy angled the jet ski even closer.

Eric was about to tell the guy where the hell to go when jet ski guy lifted a gun and shot him point blank. Eric slumped half into the water and felt himself being hauled across the lap of the jet ski guy … and then everything … faded … to nothing.

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First NCIS story - not sure if I'm gonna continue or if I even have the characters right - please pass on your opinions