Author's Notes: Okay, everyone complains that my NCIS: LA fics are too short. So, this is my attempt at something a little longer. Also, I know next to nothing about the exact area of the Colorado Desert this takes place in, other than what I could Google.
And I swear I don't have a thing for hurting Sam. I have a thing for seeing Callen give a shit.
I own very little and absolutely nothing related to NCIS:LA.
"For your sake, I hurry over land and water;
For your sake, I cross the desert and split the mountain in two."
―Al Hallaj
G pulled his ball cap lower against the glare as he shut the door of the agency SUV. He looked over at Sam. His eyes were hidden behind shades, but they didn't hide the concern.
"Something's bothering you."
"Maybe," answered Sam, thoughtfully. "Something about this just doesn't feel right."
"You think we're on a goose chase?"
"I have no trouble believing terrorists are crossing over into the US from Mexico. It makes sense, we've seen it before. It's easier than trying to get into the US directly. But camping out in the Colorado Desert? In caves?" Sam shook his head, as he adjusted the straps of his pack before swinging it on to his back. "They can hide in plain sight, disappear in a city. Why rough it?"
"We're not that far from San Bernardino. It's not outside the realm of possibility that this is a staging area. No nosy neighbors to ask what all that fertilizer is for." G shrugged into his own backpack and checked his weapon. "This just some recon on satellite intelligence. Worst case scenario, we find some bad guys and get a sunburn. Best case, nice hike in beautiful country."
"I'm pretty sure it can worse than that. A lot worse."
"Cynic."
NCISLANCISLANCISLANCISLANCISLA
When the rock face just in front of him exploded, all Callen could think was that he should have listened to Sam. Sam was rarely wrong. And this was definitely worse than a sunburn. The two agents were making their way down a narrow path to the gulley floor when the shots rang out through the valley.
Callen dropped to crouch and tried to pinpoint them. Sam was just ahead of him on the trail and he must have seen something G didn't because he rose up and began returning fire. Callen tracked his aim and finally spotted a glint of a gun barrel on the opposite wall. Shit. Whoever was taking shots at them had far better positioning. G darted back behind a larger rock and then began shooting up at the shimmer he had spotted across the gulley. Callen dropped back down and looked up the trail at Sam. His heart stopped when he saw another figure emerge from around a bend in the trail and take aim at Sam.
"Sam!" Sam glanced at G and then immediately whirled to face whoever was behind him. G never saw the bullet hit, but the sound of the single shot bounced around the rock walls and Callen bolted forward as Sam twisted, stumbled and fell from the narrow trail and down the sharp incline to the gulley below.
One shot and the gunman fell, but Callen hardly noted the man he'd just killed. He peered over the edge, trying to spot Sam. G could see him, about forty feet down, and he was moving. The ice in his chest melted just a little. The gunfire had stopped and Callen couldn't see anything where the other shooter had been.
He carefully but quickly began zigzagging his way down the steep incline of the cliff face. He knew it wouldn't take long for whoever was using them for target practice to start up again. They had to get out of there. Callen just hoped Sam was mobile. It felt like hours had past when G finally reached the dried gulley floor, surrounded on all sides by walls of stone and earth.
"Sam!" Callen knelt down next to the big man, his weapon training on the ridge above them. "How bad?"
"Bad." Sam's voice was strangled with control that couldn't hide the pain.
"Where are you hit?" G wanted to see, wanted to assess his partner, but he knew that they were fish in a waterless barrel here and he tried to keep his eyes up, scanning the ridge.
"Not hit. Missed. The fall...my leg..."
"We have to move, Sam." Sam didn't answer just began levering himself up only to nearly collapse again when he tried to put weight on his left leg. G managed to catch him until he could get his balance. "Come on, big fella, don't make me do all the work," murmured G, trying not think about how grey Sam looked. A shot cracked off the ground a foot away just as Callen noticed some cover.
"There!" A dozen yards in front of them was the opening in the rocks. Callen bore as much of Sam's weight as he could, all the while firing back behind and above them. Sam hopped and stumbled over the uneven terrain, keeping a death grip on the strap G's pack. As soon as they reached the opening, Sam fell with a cry. The small cave was shallow and empty. Callen immediately dropped to one knee and scanned the walls above where they had been.
Nothing, no movement and no more gunfire. He waited. For nearly a half an hour, Callen waited and watched, but didn't see anything. It was possible he'd hit the shooter, but it seemed unlikely. This was bad.
He gave the canyon one more long look and turned to check on Sam. His partner was lying on his back. The broken pieces of the satellite phone lay by his hand. He's managed to take his pack off, but hadn't moved from where he'd fallen, his eyes squeezed shut.
"How you doing?" Callen asked softly.
"I think I'll live," was Sam's terse reply.
"Let's check it out, okay?" Callen moved down to inspect Sam's left leg. The loose hiking pants lifted easily enough for G to see how swollen the leg was down near the top of the boot. Damn. They couldn't stay here. There was a real threat in this desert that needed an organized team to handle and Sam needed a hospital and now they didn't have a way to call for support.
Callen rummaged through his pack, pulled out a bottle of water and some ibuprofen and handed them to Sam.
"We gotta get out of here," remarked Callen after a quiet moment.
"You go."
"Yeah, right," said Callen lightly. "Like I'm leaving you here."
"You have to, G."
"Like. Hell."
"G." Sam's voice was irritatingly reasonable after he took a long, deep breath. "I can't put weight on my leg, it is totally jacked. You are stubborn as hell, but being bull-headed isn't going to get me out of this canyon. I'm too big, it's too far, and we don't know who else is out there. We'd be a hobbling, hot mess of a target. You and I both know you have a better chance without me."
G's face had tightened into a scowl, but he didn't respond. He stood and stepped over to look out the entrance at the desert. Sam was right. It sucked, but that didn't make it less logical. They were in the middle of nearly seven million acres of unforgiving desert. Deeks and Kensi would come looking for them eventually. But eventually could be too late in a place like this. They had supplies, but not for an extended excursion. Their best bet was getting somewhere elevated and hope for cell service. Or hope Eric was looking for their signal. And hope there weren't anymore snipers around to find them before their friends did.
Dammit. There was way too much hoping in this plan.
"This plan blows," said G, without turning around.
"No argument here."
"Alright," sighed Callen, finally facing his partner. "This is what I'm going to do. Hike back up to the trail and try to get a cell signal." Sam carefully pulled the SUV keys out of his pocket and tossed them to G.
"I am not going to need these."
"You will if you can't get any service."
"No."
"There is a ranger station thirty miles back the way we came in."
"Sam..."
"They'll have a radio or a satellite phone." G shook his head in frustration.
"How are you so sure that I'll go?"
"Because I am just as sure you'll come back." Sam's dark eyes were imploring, but he couldn't stop his smile. "Your stubborn ass is going to come back to get me, if for no other reason than you can remind me of it for eternity." Callen held his partner's gaze for an unreadable moment.
"Fine," consented G briskly, "but we are going to set you up for defense." He helped move Sam to the back of the small cave. It wasn't far, but the exertion and jostling left Sam sweaty and panting. Callen carefully lifted Sam's leg and put it on top of his pack, with water, protein bar, and painkillers within easy reach.
Lastly, G took Sam's weapon and put it into his trembling hands.
"I don't know how many are out there or if they saw where we disappeared to. But chances are, they're hunting. Try not to draw attention to yourself, big guy."
"Don't worry about me," said Sam, his smile wan. "I'll just be hanging out in the shade. Don't have too much fun out in the blazing sun with all the snipers, okay?" Callen smirked and stood up. He pulled on his pack, checked his weapon and stared out of the entrance. Still no movement or noise.
He glanced back. Sam nodded.
"I'll be back soon." And G walked out into the light.