Operation Dead Zone

Chapter 1

The sirens were deafening and threatened to make his head explode. It pounded and pulsed that it felt like he could feel the individual hairs standing up on his head. He could barely hear the voices of the EMTs as they rattled off vitals. It was all noise and it was forcing him to squint since he couldn't open his eyes.

BP is 140/20.

He felt his eyes being pried open and was greeted by a blinding light. It took him a split second to realize that it was a penlight and that the EMT was looking at his eyes. Why the hell was he doing that?

Pupils are responsive. Still may be a concussion.

Got a bleeder.

It was natural to want to roll his eyes and he would have told them that it was fairly obvious. He had been shot and nearly blown to bits. That kind of thing produced blood. He wanted to growl at them but it was too much and he closed his eyes and let the darkness take over. It was noisy when he went under and it was noisy when he awoke.

The sounds were noisy but less harsh. He recognized them from having been in a place that produced them one to many times for most people's comfort. There were also a few other sounds that were different. The murmurs of familiar voices.

Are they okay?

He knew that sweet voice. He had known that voice for years, the happiness in it infecting everything and making it better. He knew it as well as one other voice he got to know well over the years and both were filed away as a means of providing himself with reassurance and occasionally comfort. Now it sounded scared and worried. Inwardly he groaned, annoyed with himself for causing it and mentally making a note that he was going to have to make it up to her when this blew over.

Agent McGee is going to be fine. He did take a hit in the vest and will have a few bruised ribs and it was a graze on the arm…

That was good. That was very good, but… not so good for him. He was starting to feel it now and he wasn't liking the position he was in. He slowly opened his eyes and blinked to let them focus, but the effort was tiring and the murmurs that were familiar were rather soothing. He did try to stay awake since he knew that they were talking about him.

… injuries are severe and significant blood loss. We managed to save the kidney but it will be touch and go for the next few hours.

So you are saying that all we can do it wait?

He perked up slightly and forced his tired brain to focus. That was her. His alqamar with the passion in her voice that never failed to make him rise to the challenge. It held her spirit that competed and would surpass a man but still held that femininity he loved about her. It was rich like honey and playful especially when she mixed up her idioms. Playing with fire and he knew this latest thing would get him a tongue lashing.

McGee? You alright?

He heard the name and then another noise. It was then that he remembered. The bullets had been flying everywhere. Glass was shattering and he saw him. He saw him with the case. The look. It was one that told him that there was no surrender but a fight to the death. He knew that look well and saw the bleeping light. He had shouted out and grabbed McGee. There was a crash and a boom and something hit him in the back. His eyes closed and darkness started to creep in.

There had been a steady beeping. Now it was becoming erratic. It was like being in that damn ambulance again. It got quieter as his brain refocused on the last thing that happened. He felt the explosion and then…

Code blue in room 3!

The monitors were blaring but he didn't hear them. He was back where it started. The pain in his back. The burnt smells of chemicals and other debris. The smoke was thick in the air, obscuring his vision. It brought back memories of another time and place that was still painful to remember. And one voice he heard before he blacked out completely.

They will pay, Boss.

Two Days Earlier

The elevator dinged, signaling that it had arrived on the floor that had been selected. The door opened to reveal Tony and Ziva, returning from following up on a lead, arguing once again about her driving skills. Ziva was saying that her chosen route was more efficient as it had avoided traffic since what they found from their lead was time sensitive and needed to be gotten down to Abby. Tony was insisting that it was efficient if they wanted to make it onto the most wild police chases. It was the usual bickering that was playful in nature laced with real concern or annoyance.

"And we were damned lucky that all that guy did was flip you the bird…" Tony was saying as they entered the familiar ring of cubicles that was their workspace.

"Flip the bird?" Ziva frowned in confusion. It was a new one even though she was familiar with certain 'universal' insults.

Tim McGee had heard the 'discussion', but merely smiled as he continued to check up on something for the team leader, Gibbs. Their case was a dead Marine that had been an attaché to a major weapons development company. At first it appeared to be an accident but the medical examiner, Ducky, managed to discover that it was actually murder and done in a very slick fashion and would have been almost undetected. Tim's job involved him getting more into the company and the work their dead Marine was into, but he had been hit by a wall that was called "CLASSIFIED" and he had been trying to get around it. It was what he was in the middle of when Tony and Ziva returned.

Tony was shooting a look at Ziva and tried to explain it, "It means…"

"The finger."

The voice was new and attracted the attention of the two arrivals. Tony looked to see a man sitting at his desk and looking very at home in it. He could tell the stranger was dark haired with golden brown eyes and olive toned skin. He was dressed casual in jeans, shirt and a blazer complete with shoes meant for running and chasing after suspects in. Certainly worthy of being noticed but the fact that the guy was good looking irked Tony as he narrowed his eyes at the man and replied, "Right. And that's my desk."

The man looked up at Tony as if to ascertain the disposition of the man and, without a hint of apology, stood up and moved away from the desk. He sidestepped away, commenting, "Just keeping the seat warm and enjoying the view."

Tony eyed the man, trying to size him up. It didn't hurt that they were roughly the same height though the newcomer was slightly taller. It would be a fair fight, more or less. He noted that there was no visitor's badge so that indicated an agent or personnel from NCIS. The thing was that he had never seen him before and that made him suspicious as he watched the man move around him, coming between him and Ziva and heading towards the stairs that led to the director's office. He asked, "Got a date?"

"Just a meeting… with the director."

Tony watched as the man seemed to casually stroll up the stairs, disappearing from view. He turned to look at Ziva and noticed she had a peculiar expression on her face. He recognized it as the one she used when she was sizing up a suspect, but there was something different about it. He commented, "Wonder which department he's from?"

"Yes," Ziva replied almost absently as her gaze lingered on the stairs before she refocused and said, "I am going to take the evidence down to Abby."

Tony eyed her strangely and replied, "Alright. I'll take care of the BOLO."

Ziva nodded and headed towards the way that would lead her to Abby's lab. Her lip gave a slight twitch of amusement as she heard Tony scold Tim for allowing a stranger to sit and go through his desk. Tim's protests had her smile but she sobered as she got into the elevator and pressed the button. Since she was alone, she was able to breathe a huge breath. She leaned against the wall of elevator and looked upwards.

Why today of all days?

That was the question. She looked around with a worried expression on her face. She probably shouldn't worry since he was relaxed when he walked away. Then again he could do that when the situation was tense if only to make others feel comfortable. Still, she couldn't help but worry. It only added to the feeling of unease that she felt when she woke up yesterday. It carried over when they got the call about their dead Marine. Something about it had her uneasy.

There was no use worrying about it. She couldn't make a show of it. Not if she wanted to get him in trouble with his job. If it could be called that. The elevator dinged to let her know that she was on the floor she had wanted. She straightened up and adjusted her hold on the evidence she had collected. At least time in Abby's lab would allow her time to be able to compose herself from the surprise she just had been subject to. She was sure she would have answers in due time. If not, she knew how to find and get them, often with a little physical interrogation. That gave her slight pleasure as she entered Abby's lab and the familiar sound of the forensic scientist's music.

The director's office was a familiar sight. Ray Salazaar, had been there countless times per the request of Director Jenny Shepard over the last few years. All to be assigned to jobs that essentially were and never to be acknowledged with a few more 'legit' ones like being on protection detail and even then he was a nonentity in the ranks. It was a testament to how good at his job he was even with his current situation.

He looked around the office and noted slight changes. A thing to be expected since there was a change of leadership since Director Shepard died from gunshot wounds. At least he was still an agent with NCIS, though that title was still shrouded in the sea of limbo. He could only guess that he was being summoned for a new assignment and one that would probably send him overseas and mentally began planning what he was going to do before taking off… again.

"I assume you know why you have been summoned here."

Ray turned his attention to the man sitting at the desk. For a brief moment his lip twitched as he recalled another time the same question had been asked, in a similar manner, and almost the exact same setting. He wanted to laugh but kept it in to himself as he replied as he shifted slightly, "A dozen possible reasons."

Director Leon Vance looked at the man standing before his desk, thinking about how similar that posture was to one another agent he knew quite well was capable of doing. No doubt Director Shepard had thought the same thing. Studying Ray, he took in the athletic build that had been maintained religiously through numerous missions for the Navy into NCIS undercover work and now in a state of limbo that had been defined by his predecessor. He was amused at the response since it gave no indication that he was intimidated. The man had been around the block before. He replied, "Name one."

"Most obvious, assignment on another op or to return back to the LA unit, but not as an official agent but as Delta Alpha 6. Courtesy of the late Director Shepard." Ray looked at Vance with a slight look of bemusement blended with the silent demand to not be bullshitted with. "Unless of course I am to be thrown in meaningless babysitting duties."

Vance blinked at the response. The manner was one agent but the reply was something else. He folded his hands together and replied, "No security detail this time."

"Oh, then when do I leave?" Ray expected that he would be handed the assignment without fuss and be expected to be where he had to be within a reasonable timeframe.

"You're not going anywhere."

Ray blinked at that. He was struck with a momentary point of confusion. "Not going anywhere?"

Vance would have been highly amused at the expression he was getting, but what he had on his plate was time sensitive and it would bring up old memories. "No. You're going to be working here."

"Doing what? Homeland security is their thing and I doubt you need some muscle. Most anyone important already has someone assigned."

Vance had to admit that he was impressed with the calm demeanor the man had in front of him. Everything he was seeing blew away what his personnel file said about him. He kept his thoughts to himself as he kept the conversation going, "You will be working here as a NCIS field agent. You're being fully reinstated."

Ray blinked. He didn't want to believe that Director Vance had just said that he was to be reinstated. He only agreed to his current position since Director Shepard sort of guilted him into it. He didn't believe a word she said about putting in a good word for reinstatement, and he had long gave up any hope of that and made lemonade from the life that had been handed to him. He looked at the director and he let out a dry laugh, "Have things changed around here so much that you developed a sense of humor or am I going deaf?"

"You heard me right. You're being reinstated."

Ray narrowed his eyes. Even with the confirmation, he wasn't entirely believing the situation. "And the price for that?"

"Price?"

"There is always a price, Director." Ray looked at Vance soberly. "I went from the dirty secret swept under the rug to asset Delta Alpha 6 and the cost was that I was at beck and call for anything sent my way and I couldn't even set foot in the building unless asked. That and I was made to understand that if I was caught I would be disavowed." He gave a slight smirk, "So there is always a price."

Vance stared at the man. He knew he had the right one for this since he didn't take things at face value. A lesson probably learned the hard way. He knew that he wasn't going to be able to hide much from him and what the man knew, they needed. With as slight smile, he replied, "The price… is Operation Dead Zone."

Ray was literally speechless. He almost forgot to breathe when he heard the name of the one thing that he wanted to forget but really couldn't. He blinked as he recalled that operation and he could hear the voices in his head… everything. He focused on Vance and asked, "What?"

Vance saw the reaction. It wasn't visceral but he could see the memory still had a profound effect on the man. He repeated, "Operation Dead Zone. Everything you know about the mission."

"But that is in the AARs. Why?"

"Because what can be accessed and what happened are two different things," Vance replied as he stood up. He maneuvered around his desk while keeping an eye on the man. "You are aware of the classification of that op. Considering you are a Navy SEAL."

"Reserves," Ray automatically retorted. He looked at Vance, trying to keep a modicum of respect. "And I have been bound to never speak of it again. It was the terms of me being allowed to remain with NCIS if only in name."

"In name and with a steady paycheck. Though it seems you've branched out." Vance gave a knowing smile at the man. "Something about a forensic and communications technology firm."

"You do what is necessary to not make waves. If you want to stay unnoticed." Ray didn't bat an eye at the implication. It wasn't a secret that he had other means of income. It was legally earned and he reported his wages and earnings to the IRS. There was nothing to be overly concerned about. And it did take his mind off of other things.

Vance wanted to chuckle at the response. "Didn't seem to enter your mind when you entered the Navy Yard after the explosion caused by Harper Dearing." He gave a pointed stare at Ray as if to say nothing the man had done went unnoticed.

"See that's a thing with serviceman and being raised by a Marine," Ray replied as he straightened slightly. He looked at the director, "You don't leave a man behind. You watch the back of the man next to you. Even if you didn't part on good terms." He uttered the last part softly before turning away to pace and think a little. He turned back around and asked, "What do you want that you already don't have?"

Vance was a bit suspicious, but he wasn't seeing resignation. He had been considering this for some time since the evidence had been brought in on the current case and what had been found out. He sat on the edge of his desk and replied, "First let me ask you this: in your years as Delta Alpha 6, have you had any contact with your old team?"

"No."

Vance eyed Ray. "No contact whatsoever?"

"Only contact with military personnel are friends I made at BUD/S." Ray looked at Vance. There was nothing to hide. It also reminded him that he had to pick up Callisto from the kennel where he boarded her. "As to the members of the team sent in to recover two research scientists in hot territory… no."

"You sure?"

"It was a condition of my state of limbo," Ray explained with a polite tone of reference for his situation. He looked at Vance, "No contact with members of the team on that operation or I would be severed completely. No benefits… nothing."

Vance knew the terms of Ray's position. He just wanted to make sure, not that he doubted the man's integrity. He didn't. It was all part and parcel of vetting the man. "Good."

Ray blinked and studied the director. He was well aware that he was being scrutinized while a job offer was being made. He took a step forward and shuffled on his feet. "Anything else?"

"That's what I needed to know," Vance replied as he folded his hands together in front of him. "Just doing my job if I'm going to reinstate you."

"For what? You have the AARs on Dead Zone. It's been dead in the water, put to bed for years. What could I possibly give you?" Ray was puzzled about the whole thing. He heard what Vance was offering but he still couldn't figure out what changed to bring this about.

Vance knew he was going to have to bring the man into what he was going to be involved with. The man could be trusted. The service record spoke for itself, even with all the redactions. The assignments he had the last few years showed skill in undercover and operations that officially didn't exist except from the personal records of Director Shepard, which she entrusted to Agent McGee. As far as he knew, McGee hadn't accessed them, under the assumption that it was a backup to a case.

Ray looked at the director with an expectant look. He sensed that there was a purpose to this whole meeting. He just wanted to know what it was about. Having been burned before, he was being cautious, but he was aware that he could be crossing a few lines. He respected the chain of command. He was a serviceman and got it. Yet, he was wary when it came to a possible mission that would basically throw him under the bus if something went wrong. He could see though that the director was debating internally on a few things. So he waited patiently, a thing he was good at.

Vance watched as Ray adjusted his stance to wait. He had to admit that the patience and willingness to wait out things was astounding. He decided to bring him up to speed, "We have a dead Marine, Corporal Jonathan Rawlings, attaché to Leland Biotechnics, was found dead outside a local watering hole for sailors from a gunshot to the back, through and through. What we found on his body was a business card."

Ray raised his brow. So far he wasn't hearing anything that would make him think that it had anything to do with the op that he had been essentially forbidden to speak of. He wasn't rude though, and waited for Vance to give him more details. He did have to admit that he was intrigued by the case and was already coming up with possibilities. He did miss conducting investigations. Well, he helped the LA unit a few times but for the most part, he was the one sent in to execute and plan and then disappear when the job was done.

Vance looked at Ray as he waited. Keeping his eyes on the man to watch his reaction, he added, "On it was information pertaining to Blackstone."

Ray felt his throat constrict slightly. So that was what had Vance rustling him up out of his so called retirement or limbo. Yet, there was a feeling of apprehension since essentially there was no one who was supposed to know or have anything to do with that op. The ones who knew were either dead or like him. Actually, he was the only one that was in the state of limbo. The other team members had been discharged or tapped to other sources. As team leader, he got the short end of the stick.

Vance studied Ray and kept going, "The name on the card was JJ Rook and a phone number."

"So it's a business card," Ray replied with a shrug of his shoulders.

"The number was checked and it came back to a disabled line and a flag on the op. Your op." Vance looked at Ray firmly. "That's why I am reinstating you."

"You want to reinstate me because of a business card?"

"A card with information that is not supposed to exist. That tells me that there is someone who knows about that op that shouldn't. Did you know Corporal Rawlings?"

"No." Ray looked at Vance with a piercing look. He shifted on his feet but didn't break eye contact. "The only people I've had contact with was an old friend from BUD/S. He watches and trains my dog when I'm not in town. As to the card… there is only one reason someone would have it," Ray replied as he gestured at the file, Vance was holding. "And the ones who would have it are dead."

Vance looked at Ray and could find no hint of deception. The man was not known for it unless he was going undercover. "Then we have a problem. So now you understand our situation?"

"I do now," Ray replied. He straightened up and put his hands on his hips. "So… what do you want me to do?"

Vance gave a slight smile. He put the file on his desk. "You're going to work with the team that is working this case." He leaned over and pressed the intercom button and said, "Send him in." He looked at Ray and continued, "You'll be working with…"

At that moment the door to the office opened. Ray turned and saw the one person he knew well and hadn't really seen in years. He uttered, "Gibbs."

A/N: Welcome to the reboot of Operation Dead Zone under the series Delta Alpha Six. I hope you enjoy this reboot. Thanks for all of your support.