Chapter 1 - Sensory Overload
The first thoughts that ran through his mind as consciousness came back were, "Where am I?" and "Why am I lying down?" The last thing he could remember was sitting in a chair and a very bad dental procedure given without anesthesia. Deeks tried to run his tongue over teeth, but couldn't feel his tongue or his lips, or anything really in his mouth. He tried to open his eyes to look around, but they felt so heavy and wouldn't open. Were they pumping him full of some drug, or was he already dead? Deeks felt very disoriented and a bit panicked now. "Come on, man, you're a detective. Detect something. Use those other senses." Taking a moment to think and get his bearings, he noticed there was still the feeling of being restrained. "Guess I'm not dead if they still have me tied up. But why can't I remember anything else? Shit, I didn't say anything, did I? What the hell happened?" He tried wiggling his fingers and sensed some movement. Some improvement is better than nothing.
Next he listened. He remembered hearing the uncharacteristic, horrific groans and shouts of Sam in the room across from him. As dreadful as they were to hear, at least those sounds gave him assurance that Sam was still alive. Deeks also recalled loud voices with a Russian accent, asking him one question over and over and over. But now as he tried to focus, there were no loud voices, no painful moaning, just a faint hum, a steady beep, and an occasional rustle of something. Was he strapped to a bomb? Did they leave him for dead? Deeks started to panic again and tried to move his body. It was no use; his body was too heavy and didn't seem to want to work. Plus he knew he was still restrained; he could feel something against his wrists. "Come on, Marty. Think. You've got to get yourself and Sam out of here. Slow and steady. Focus."
He couldn't see anything through eyes that refused to open. His sense of taste was worthless since he couldn't even feel his mouth right now. Sounds in the room (or wherever the hell he was) didn't make sense and only made him feel more anxious than before. There had to be something else… his sense of smell. Relaxing just a bit, Deeks took in as deep a breath as he could. After a moment, he noticed something familiar. But it's not possible – they must really be messing with his mind now. No! He had to stay sharp. He couldn't let them win the mind games. He inhaled once again and tried to analyze what he smelled. It was so familiar, and very comforting. Deeks could smell a unique mixture of what could only be described as sunshine and gunpowder. But that means…
"KENSI!"
He thought he was shouting her name, but it was all in his head. No sound came out of his numb mouth. Dammit, why wouldn't his body cooperate with him? Was she here? Had she been made as well? Did that mean Callen was nearby, too? His team, his family, was in trouble and there was nothing he could do. What a completely helpless feeling. He would do anything to protect Kensi especially. She is his partner, his friend, and hopefully even more. Well, at least he got one real, non-cover kiss in before the end. "I hope she was able to hear everything I tried to say in that one kiss, because I may never get another chance to tell her what I really meant by it. Just please let her be ok." They could kill him right now and right here if it meant she would be ok, if that's what it took to protect her. Of course that promise he made her would be void, but at least he could die protecting the woman he loved.
"KENSI!"