Chapter One: Descent
The Ops Center was in total Chaos. Trying to coordinate both NCIS Assault and LAPD Swat teams was keeping Hetty and Granger busy while Eric was frantically typing on his computer, trying to find any edge they could use. "L Squad 1 in position" "L Squad 2 in position" Two male voices responded. "Hold position until the signal has been given to go in. Dynamic Entry and Lethal Force has been authorized." Hetty responded. "Copy that" The men both said in unison. "Mr. Callen? Are you in position?" Hetty continued. "We are in position, just waiting on the word." Callen responded. Hetty looked over to Eric. "Mr. Beale?" She said. "I'm working as fast as I can, Hetty. These guys are good. They used what she knew to beef up their defenses." Eric said, not looking away. "We are running out of time, Mr…" She was cut off by a loud slam that took everyone in the room a few moments to realize came from Eric. "Damnit, Hetty! I know! But hounding me isn't going to help" He raised his voice, something he rarely did. Hetty walked over to him and placed a hand on his shoulder, softly squeezing. Eric held his head down, bracing himself against the desk as he stared at his keyboard. "Be calm, Mr. Beale. We are relying on you. She is relying on you. You can do this. I have the utmost faith in you." She squeezed his shoulder again. He composed himself and started typing frantically again. After a few moments he clapped in excitement. "I'm in!" He returned to typing. After a few moments he grabbed his tablet and took his place in front of the center table in ops. "Cameras are coming online now. " He said as 8 cameras came up on the big screen. Hetty reached for her ear. "N Squad, You are go. Keep it stealthy. L Squads you are on hot standby. Once the package is confirmed clear you are clear to go"
Callen, Sam, Kensi, and Deeks slowly made their way to the door of the large warehouse. They were in tactical gear and armed with assault rifles. They stopped at the door as Sam moved up and opened it. "Eric, do you have visual on the package?" Callen said
"Scanning now." Eric said as he typed on his tablet, bringing the cameras up one by one. When he found the one he froze, the tablet slipped from his fingers and hit the ground; a loud crack was heard as the screen broke. He had to swallow 3 times before he could get the words out, even then they were faint. "Visual confirmed. I see her…. I see Nell." The image in front of him was Nell, hanging by her wrists. She was unconscious since she was not supporting her own weight. Her shirt was tore and even in the low light, grainy image they could make out cuts, burns and bruises on her stomach and her face. "Where is she, Eric?" Callen said, impatiently. Eric couldn't respond, tears welled in his eyes and it felt like a hand was crushing his heart. He turned around and grabbed a nearby trash can, doubled over, and violently vomited into it. Granger stepped in. "Agent Callen, She is in the far right room at the end of the hallway, 35 meters ahead. There are 5 rooms between you. Be careful. Any of them could be an ambush."
"Copy that." Callen said then turned to his team. "Sam, you enter first. I follow Sam, Deeks behind me, Kensi you bring up the rear. When we locate her Deeks you grab her and we go out the same way we came in." Callen said. They all nodded. Sam moved in, followed by the other three slicing the pie.
Eric stood back up, wiping his mouth. Hetty returned holding a glass of water out to him. Eric gave a weak smile before taking a few sips of the water.
It was an agonizing 5 min for the team to make it across the building. They made it to the room where Eric had said she was. Sam whispered, "I have eyes on Nell. I'm moving in." He moved around the door frame, hugging the walls as he made his way over to her. Sam, using hand motions, pointed out the places for Callen and Kensi to cover. "Go, Deeks" Callen whispered. Deeks slung his gun over his shoulder and grabbed his knife. He reached up and started cutting the rope that was holding Nell up. She started to stir a bit before opening an eye, weakly. "Be still Nell. We are going to get you out of here." He said. He lowered her to the ground before undoing the ropes around her wrists. He looked over her and could feel the anger rising seeing what these animals had done to her."I have the package. We are on our way out." Deeks said. He reached down. "Come on now Nell. Stay with me here." He lifted her in his arms, which was surprisingly easy because of how light she was. He turned toward the exit when figured darkened the entry. They started shouting in some language and raised their guns. Callen and Sam fired first and dropped both of them. "Jig is up. We got to get out of her, now!" Callen said as they all started running toward the exit. As they made their way gunfire erupted behind them. They took cover in two side rooms as Callen and Kensi returned fire. "Go! Get her out of here!" Sam yelled over the gunfire. "We'll cover you!" Kensi added. Deeks waited a few seconds for a lull in the gunfire. He heard a stop and that was enough for him. He ran as fast as he could toward the daylight. All the jostling had woken Nell. She was groaning in pain at each step. She tried to speak but she could only barely make out the words "Eric...Where is Eric...I want Eric." She sounded like a toddler calling for her mother after scraping her knee. "It's Ok Nell. I got you. Eric will be here shortly" A few more steps and he made it outside. Two paramedics rushed up with a gurney. He laid her down on it and let the paramedics take her. "Package is secure. Guys, get out of there!" Deeks yelled into his headset.
There was a collective sigh of relief in Ops. Eric slumped to the ground in front of the table. "L Squads, take entry positions. As soon as N squad is clear you are go" Hetty said.
After a few moments the rest of the team came out and met up with Deeks by the ambulance. "It's bad. She has multiple fractures, internal bleeding. She is anemic right now as well as numerous burns, cuts, and bruises all over her. Medic thankfully doesn't think she was…assaulted." Deeks said. "Go with her. We will finish up here" Callen said. Deeks shed his vest and gun. Kensi reached out and grabbed his hand. "Keep us informed." She said squeezing it. "I will" He said as he jumped into the back of the ambulance as it sped off. "Hetty, we are heading to Mercy General. Nell is in rough shape but she is alive. I'll let you know more when I find out" Deeks reported.
"Thank you, Mr. Deeks. Please stay in touch." Hetty said as she hung up. She turned to Eric. "Now, Mr. Beale, I believe you have somewhere else to be." She said. Eric looked up, still in shock of the events of the past hour. "Wha?" was all he was able to say. "The hospital, Mr. Beale, you are needed there a lot more then you are needed here." She said. He slowly stood up. "No, there is too much work to be done. I have to go through all their files and piece together what they stole." Eric said, his hands shakily reaching for his tablet. "Eric." She said in a voice that was both forceful and caring. "Eric, your job here is done. Your new job is to be by Ms Jones' side. She is going to need you" She softly squeezed his arm. "Go, that is an order" She said. Eric took a few small steps toward the door and then broke into an all out run.
Not really a whole lot to talk about in this chapter. I think I could have done more with some descriptive work (Which is always something I struggle with as a writer) but all in all I am happy with out this chapter turned out
