Chapter 1
Explosion
Monday, 02:41 UK time. London, England
Emma groaned with frustration as she felt around on the side table for her cell phone which was ringing incessantly waking her from her sleep, brushing her long brunette hair out of her face. Johnny's arm tightened around her waist as the blaring light from the screen blinded the half sleeping couple.
"Agent McLeod?" Emma stated to the caller as she answered.
"Sorry to disturb you, love, but there's something on the news you need to see..." Her commanding officer, Neal Doherty informed her as she rooted around for the television remote beside her. She pressed the power button and the large plasma screen on the bedroom wall flickered into life.
"British naval ship the HMS Tiger has exploded whilst travelling in a convoy with the American Navy, the number of casualties has yet to be determined..." The newsreader said calmly but Emma could hear the sadness and worry in the woman's voice. She hit the mute button and the footage of the Tiger in flames filled the screen.
"Oh my God." Emma breathed in the quietness of the flat they shared. Johnny, her fiancé stared in shock at the screen, now fully awake.
"That's Andrew's ship... My brother's on that ship..." Johnny kept repeating over and over, horror apparent on his face.
"I need you to head to DC, Emma. I need you to liaise with the American navy. I need to know what happened. HMS Tiger was America's responsibility whilst she travelled with them. You're to take Johnny with you, your flight leaves at 0600. I pray Johnny's brother is a survivor." Neal said quietly a few seconds later.
"Thank you, sir. I know just where to go. Out." She put down the phone and rolled over to hug her fiancé who had begun to cry quietly beside her. She couldn't believe this had happened and now she had to go home... To NCIS.