Can I Kill Him?

Chapter 1

It had been a long, tough week. The Molina Cartel, in conjunction with an Islamic group, had been busy planting explosives around the city and playing cat and mouse with the FBI, DEA and NCIS. Because of the nature of the crime the alphabet soup boys had been called in to assist in the finding and incarcerating of the offending cartel members. It had taken many long hours for all the agencies to find and disarm the bombs. There had been no arrests of Islamic nature but in the process two agents had been taken from two agencies: one from NCIS and the other from DEA. The agent from the DEA that had been taken was Talia Del Campo and the NCIS agent was Kensi Blye. Needless to say Deeks was not pleased that they had his friend and his girlfriend and in fact he was quite worried for Talia and desperate for Kensi.

The next day Agent Del Campo returned unharmed. The flunky who'd given her up shared a few clues as to where Kensi Blye had been taken. The cartel had land and a house in the foothills outside of Santa Clarita. The team headed out to get their agent back.

The access to the house in Santa Clarita was a dirt road full of deep ruts and huge rocks that the team drove slowly over so they didn't break an axle on the Suburban they'd borrowed. They also dodged the thunderstorms and torrential rain that hung like a heavy curtain all around them as they drove in to the dilapidated farmhouse. Backup should be following shortly and shortly was the operative word. There was a sense of urgency from the team and not so much for the other agencies. Callen and his team just wanted to get to Kensi before something drastic happened to her. Callen's hands opened and closed showing the amount of nerves that played on his mind. Sam drove and seeing the urgency in that proved difficult but if you looked closely you'd see it. Marty Deeks, in the back seat, had a running prayer going on in his head all the way to the farmhouse and he gnawed at his bottom lip incessantly. When they finally arrived at the farmhouse the rain was coming down in a dismal drizzle but they were relieved that no car awaited them. There could still be cartel members waiting for them inside the dilapidated building.

After gearing up the team entered the old farmhouse silently. Sam had picked the lock and entered the back door as Deeks and Callen entered the front. They cleared the house room by room, put on evidence gloves and began silently searching through closets and under the furniture for any clues as to where Kensi could be. Sam found a trap door to the cellar, pulled on the cord that was in place of a handle and called out to Deeks and Callen.

They drew their weapons and followed Sam down to the floor below.

Sam, the first one down the stairs, scanned the room for any clues to the whereabouts of their agent. He turned to Callen and the look he gave showed the concern he felt for the two agents involved; Deeks and Kensi.

The cellar was dark and dank. The weather outside wasn't doing anything to help with the damp feeling in the room. The floor was a dirt floor that had been hard packed over the years that the house had been in use. Dark green plastic covered the windows from the outside and the light, as dim as it was outside, fought to reach the basement floor. There were three metal posts running down the center of the basement along the main joist. The middle one had a figure slumped against it and that worried Sam. He turned aside and spoke to Callen. "Take him back up."

Callen nodded and turned to Deeks. "Let's go back up and let Sam handle this."

Deeks wanted to argue but the look on Sam's face told him that no argument would be brooked and Callen took his arm and guided him back up the stairs.

With Deeks removed for the moment, Sam walked cautiously to the figure on the post. Kensi had been tied to the post and left there. She'd been beaten pretty severely and had bruises all over most of her body. There was blood dripping from her mouth and nose and it looked like her nose had been broken. Two of her fingers were broken as well. Someone had done a pretty thorough job of beating her. Sam pulled his phone from his pocket and punched in the number for Eric and Ops. "Eric, I need a helicopter to come in and medi-vac Kensi. She'd been beaten pretty badly and needs help soon. The ambulance is going to have a hard time getting in here."

Hetty had come into the room while Sam spoke and her concern became evident. "Mr. Hanna, how is Mr. Deeks dealing with this?"

Sam thought that he knew but with Deeks it's always a mystery. "Not sure. I had Callen take him away."

Just then the door to the cellar burst open and Deeks came down the stairs. Callen followed behind him trying to get him to see reason. It all fell on deaf ears. "He just came back in. I'll have to call you back."

Deeks ran to the woman that Sam had cut lose from the pole and touched her cheek. Kensi let out a low moan and that is what finally set Deeks off. "Kens, come on baby, you're going to be fine. We're getting you out of here soon." Marty turned to Sam. He whispered to keep Kensi from hearing the question. "How do we get her out of here? She'll never make it out over that road."

Sam knew how Deeks felt and it pained him to not be able to give him an answer he'd want to hear. "I've called for a medi-vac and they're on their way. We should hear them soon. You have to stay calm for her sake. Don't worry Man; we're here for you and her. We're not leaving and neither is she until you can go with her. You'll fly out with her. Okay?"

Callen sensing the raw emotions from both men motioned for Sam to come with him. When Sam followed he shook his head. "You can't promise him that. The chopper may not take him. Do you really want to deal with that?"

"No, but having him lose it in front of her isn't good either. He needs to know that we are there for him and her. We are and if we have to hog tie him when they turn him down…well, we'll deal with that then." Sam knew how that worked. Michelle had been hurt once and it had been hell trying to get to her in the hospital. He'd move heaven and earth so that didn't happen for these two.

Sam went back to Deeks and Kensi. He placed his hand on Deeks shoulder and felt the beleaguered breathing of the detective. Twenty minutes later he heard the far off sound of rotors and knew that the chopper was on the way in.

Callen heard the chopper and moved to the stairs and then to the door above. He went to guide the EMT's in.

Sam moved to where Deeks sat holding Kensi and spoke quietly to Deeks. "The medi-vac is here and we're going to have to give the EMT's room to work. Do you understand Deeks?"

The styled by pillow detective nodded. He was wearing some of her blood on his shirt and pants and refused to let her go. "I'm not leaving her..." His thought trailed off and did his gaze. Sam sensed the worry behind those tense eyes.

Sam took the younger man by his shoulders. "I'm not asking you to, but the EMT's might need to see to her injuries and you'd be in their way. We can wait over here, okay?"

Deeks nodded his acceptance but never let go of Kensi. He held on for dear life like he was the tether that kept her amongst the living. Maybe in a sense he was.

Two EMTs entered the basement carrying the equipment they'd need to examine her and to haul her back out to the chopper. One, his name was Ray, asked the pertinent questions: name, age, how it happened. Deeks answered in a sing-song voice that worried both of the other agents. Sam was watching someone just go through the motions and recognized a man just doing what he has to but underneath was a large gaping wound around his heart.

As an EMT walked by heading for the stairs Sam stopped him. He looked at the name badge the man wore and stared talking. "Dave, the man with Kensi is her fiancé. It is going to kill him to have her leave without him. Is there any way he can fly out of here with you? Please?" Sam was not one to beg but in his heart he knew that Deeks needed this, desperately."

The EMT looked surprised that the question had been asked. Both he and his partner were very sympathetic in cases like this. He nodded to the big guy. "Don't worry we'll make room for him."

Sam smiled and shook Dave's hand. "Thanks Man." Sam paused before asking another question. "Where'll you be taking them?"

Dave looked to his long-time partner and like Sam and Callen; there was the silent response to the question. He looked back to Sam. "We're looking at broken ribs and possibly some cracked ones as well. There could be internal bleeding. I'm sure you've noticed the broken fingers and nose. Pacific Medical has the best trauma center for this type of emergency and that is where we're taking her as soon as we have her stabilized and loaded on board. Got to go and help Ray. He's almost ready to move out. We could use a little help with getting her to the chopper."

Sam breathed a little easier. "You got whatever you need. I'm having our boss call her mom but just so that you know Deeks also has the consent forms to get her the help she needs. Keep him in the loop or else he won't be easy to get along with. It's the best way to keep him in control." Sam still worried how Deeks would handle it if her condition worsened on the way in to the hospital. He redialed Hetty. "Sam here. The medi-vac is getting ready to leave as we speak. Kensi is not in good shape. There are broken ribs and a few cracked ones, a broken nose and two fingers also the EMTs didn't say it but she's dehydrated and non-responsive at the moment.

Hetty's forehead creased with worry. Danger, possible injury and even death are part of this job, but she never learned how to deal with it. These agents are all hand-picked by her and in essence became her children. Seeing one hurt filled her with two things, rage and pain. She turned her attention to something she could do something about. "How's Mr. Deeks doing?"

Sam shrugged as if she could see him. "That's the sixty-four thousand dollar question. He seems fine but I'm pretty sure he's hurting bad inside. We'll keep an eye on him here. The EMT's are taking him with them. Will you be at Pacific Medical to meet them?"

"I'm leaving as soon as I get off the phone. I assume the medi-vac has left." Hetty picked up her purse and took her keys from her desk. She stopped for the paperwork the hospital would need for Kensi. "I'll see you there."

"Not yet Hetty, but soon." Sam closed his phone and watched as Callen and Deeks placed Kensi into the chopper. Deeks climbed on board, strapped himself in and the chopper lifted out turning towards Los Angeles and Pacific Medical Center. Sam swore to himself that they would get the bastard that did this.

Callen stopped at the Suburban and got the flashlights. He and Sam had just turned and went back inside and when they hit the cellar stairs they heard the engines of two other vehicles pulling in behind theirs. They continued to the basement and when footfalls came down the stairs both agents pulled their service weapons. A voice shouted 'FBI' as two agents came down the stairs with their guns drawn. Callen shouted NCIS and both he and Sam pulled their badges and ID's out.

After all the badges were shown introductions were made. "I'm Agent Dan Russell and this is Agent Sigourney Walton. What did you find here?" Agent Russell examined the basement for any information.

Sam, being used to dealing with the FBI, gave a grimace of impatience and began to speak. "No one was here except Special Agent Blye. She'd been tied to the center pole and beaten. We've not had time to really investigate it. We understand that it has to do with the Molina Cartel and the rash of bombing threats. Agent Callen and I are beginning our investigation right now."

Agent Walton turned abruptly from the center of the basement and faced the two NCIS agents. She spoke as she strode to where Callen and Sam stood. "No you will not. The abduction and assault of a federal agent falls under the pervue of the FBI. Go home Agent Callen and Agent Hanna."

Callen's back went up. The arrogance of the FBI had always irritated him while he worked for them and on this day Agent Walton proved they were still just as arrogant. "Let us take a quick look around and then we'll go."

Walton stood toe to toe with Callen and his puppy dog face held no sway with the agent. "No Agent Callen, get out of here and let us do our job. We'll forward the forensic evidence to your agency. Sorry it was one of your agents in here, but let us do our job."

Callen looked to Sam and both agents put their hands up as if to surrender and then walked up the stairs and to their vehicle. When they both were in the truck Callen turned to Sam. "Will we ever see that evidence?"

Sam shook his head no. "Not unless we call in Vance. Hetty may be able to get it, but I'd bet it won't be on our desks tomorrow."

Callen could do nothing but agree silently.

Both men sat and watched FBI agents come and go from the farmhouse. It didn't have a positive feel to it. Sam took a deep breath as he watched the comings and goings. He let it out and spoke in a worried voice. "Deeks isn't going to like this."

Callen agreed with Sam. "I know it. He's got enough to worry about so I won't be telling him about this right now." Callen looked at the sky. It showed signs of a severe downpour coming towards them. "Let's leave for the hospital before the rain hits."

Sam smiled and started the truck and put it in gear. "Yeah let's let the FBI deal with a wash out." Both men laughed heartedly at that thought.