This is set sometime after "Alarmed," which you'll find somewhere down in the list. You don't have to read it first, but it wouldn't hurt!
Disclaimer: The characters aren't mine and no disrespect to the script writers or the actors is meant.
This wasn't supposed to be a multiple chapter story, but it grew . . . and grew . . . and it's finally done.
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The operation was a success, but no one could say it had gone well.
Marine Sergeant Forrest Groppman, had made his final stand in the worst possible place, and visuals had been cut off for nearly ten minutes until Eric had pulled off one of his Deus Ex miracles to bring up scene after scene of indescribable chaos--but no other signs of the point team.
And just as a streetside security camera had picked up figures standing in showdown formation in the middle of the street, an apparent explosion had blown out the transmission.
It was another century until word came that the target had been acquired and Sam and Callen were enroute back to OPS.
Kensi remembered how to breathe.
She traded relieved smiles with Dom and squeezed Eric's shoulder as he dropped into a chair and wiped his glasses with his shirttail. Even Hetty's shoulders sagged in relief for a split second, before she resumed her impeccable posture and marched off to report to Director Vance. Nate blew out a long breath of his own, shot Kensi one of his rare smiles, and quietly left the ops room. By tacit agreement, the rest of the agents followed him to the common area to wait.
Dom and Eric sat down at the table and picked up their old argument about social networking sites, while Nate took his usual observation post to one side, graphic novel in hand. Kensi paced, refusing to relax until she saw with her own eyes that her teammates were unhurt.
But when they finally arrived, Sam brushed past Kensi without a word and stalked to the staircase, leaving Callen, stoic mask well in place, to explain in two words: "Collateral damage." He looked down at his black shirt, which wasn't dark enough to hide the street grime or blood spatter, and left in the direction of the locker room. Kensi, frozen in place, watched Nate move to the foot of the stairs, head cocked as if listening to something. He nodded to himself, and went after Callen.
Kensi frowned. Callen would be all right—he was always all right, or at least wouldn't admit to being anything else. Why had Nate chosen him over Sam? She'd never seen an expression like that on Sam's face . . . not even when they'd almost lost Callen . . .
She thought she heard Dom say her name, but she was already walking away. Halfway up the stairs, she recognized what Nate must have heard: the sound of fists hitting a canvas punching bag.
Kensi ventured back into the darkened corner and stood , watching Sam pound the bag with unbreakable concentration. The steady punches sped up, until emotion overcame skill and he beat on the bag with all of his considerable strength. Long after she thought it would, his energy gave out and he leaned against the swaying bag, steadying it with one arm.
She took two steps, and he lifted his head to look at her. She slowed down, but didn't stop, halving the distance between them before he let go. He moved to the bench against the wall and sank down bonelessly, head lowered, perspiration gleaming in the dim light.
She sat next to him and cradled one of his large hands in hers. "I thought I was the one with the temper," she said, looking at the swollen knuckles. She blew across them, hoping to cool the inflamed skin.
"Surprise," he said, without smiling. He tried to pull away, but she wouldn't let him.
"We couldn't see anything, or hear anything. we didn't know if you were okay or . . ." She threaded her fingers through his, careful of his injury. "Talk to me, Sam," she whispered.
He shook his head. "Kensi . . . "
"Whatever else I am to you, Sam, I'm an agent, too. A born operator, Callen says. You can share this with me--I won't break. Or run." She waited for him to nod. "What happened out there?"
He sat motionless for a few seconds, then drew in a deep breath and started to speak.
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