This story kicked around in my head for a day and I wasn't going to write. But a thunderclap woke me up and this story wouldn't get out of my head. So here I am at 3am writing this out. I don't think this is my best writing but, oh well. I did mention it was 3am so be kind. Please review if you want. Fortunately stories can be edited and updated with corrections. If something is glaringly wrong or needs fixing, let me know. So why did I write it? There have been loads of stories about Deeks, but NOTHING about Sam.
Disclaimer: I borrowed Sam and Deeks and the others.
Sam couldn't believe what he was being forced to hear, see and feel while strapped to this chair. He had to decide the impossible: give up Deeks to save Michelle or save Deeks by giving up Michelle with the slim hope that she would be able to find a way to save herself.
He knew that for Michelle, he would endure anything physical they put him through. His own body was feeling that pain right now. Every jolt of electricity that went through his body contracted his muscles until they were about to snap. He thinks some of them may have already snapped. His teeth hurt from his own determination not to say anything and the pressure of his jaw muscles forcing his teeth together. His heart was beating erratically and he wasn't sure if that was from the electricity, his own fear that Deeks would give up and tell them everything or the adrenaline that was running through his already damaged body. He was beginning to feel like the character from The Green Mile when his electrocution was purposely botched.
But could he expect Deeks to do the same? He wanted to close his eyes so he couldn't see what they were doing to Deeks but he didn't. He owed the Detective that much. Guilt tore through his soul with every scream. He had lashed out at Deeks from a place of terror. And Sam was terrified, truly terrified for only the third time in his life and all three times involved Michelle.
The first time was before they were married. They were working on the joint operation and she had been shot. He felt terror when he saw the bullet hit her and she dropped to the ground. It was how he discovered what he was feeling for her was love. He would have taken that bullet for her. The shock of having her shot and their target approach her to finish the job had him sprinting through gun fire to try and get to her in time. All the different emotions he felt when it turned out to be a slightly more than minor wound to her right shoulder that she used it to her advantage to bring the target closer to her so she wouldn't miss when she shot him with her left hand. The relief and pride he felt and the thought that shot through his head, "That's why I love her", had him stunned.
The second time was when Hetty left him in jail. Michelle was with Siderov and Sam wasn't there to back her up. The terror had him breaking out of jail and racing to find her. Out of desperation and determination he was able to find her and shoot the Siderov's man before he was able to shoot her.
Hell if he were honest with himself he has been terrified of Siderov finding out that Michelle was an agent for this entire operation and that was why he struck out at Deeks, his most convenient target.
Deeks let out another scream. Instead of continuing to drill into his teeth, they tried to force salt into his mouth. As an odd advantage it looked like the blood running out of Deeks' mouth was preventing the majority of the salt from actually getting to the wounds.
Everything Sam saw convinced him again and again and again of the Detective's resolve and strength. Siderov had called Deeks "the weak one". Sam knew where Siderov got this idea. It had been in Sam's head as well. How could a mere LAPD Detective withstand such torture? Deeks didn't have the military training Sam did or the intensive CIA training that Callen had. He was just a cop but watching what Siderov was doing to the man and the fact that he was still doing those things let Sam know that Deeks had NOT given up Michelle. Sam marveled at that strength while feeling guilty for not bothering to see it before; even though it had been there time after time. Everything Deeks had done should have earned Sam's respect and trust, but Sam just didn't give in. For three years Deeks took Sam's shit without real complaint. Perhaps if Deeks had stood up to Sam and told him to stop, Sam might have relented, but he doubted it. Sam was nothing if not a stubborn person. That stubbornness had gotten him out of a lot bad spots, but it also meant that he had treated Deeks shamefully.
The screams stopped and Sam saw Siderov re-enter the room he was in and look at him intensely. "So, she is an agent." Sam fought hard to control his reaction. He didn't let anything show on his face or in his body posture, such as it was, and most definitely not in his eyes. He looks Siderov straight in the eye for second before he shifted his gaze from Siderov back to Deeks. The reason the screams stopped was because Deeks was being beaten rather than tortured. Would they continue if he had told them? Sam thought. No, they wouldn't. They are trying to play me against him just like what Callen and I do to suspects. Sam knew Deeks didn't tell them anything. In fact if Deeks could talk he would probably be saying something to piss them off even more. That's just Deeks' way.
Siderov was watching him for any reaction. Sam wasn't sure but the way Siderov left him, he hoped he hadn't betrayed anything either.
The man beating and torturing Deeks left with Siderov and Sam got a clear view of what they had done to him. "The Weak One" had taken everything they did to him and that looked like a lot. Sam could clearly see blood down the front of his shirt. Sam assumed it was from Deeks mouth. They left his mouth pried open with that device. Deeks' nose and jaw were broken. That was obvious from the odd angle of his nose and lower jaw. The device they used to keep his mouth open had cut into his cheeks. At some point, the flesh around the device had split open. Sam could see some of it sticking out of his face. Deeks eyes were already swollen shut.
Sam continued his visual inspection of the Detective and saw that he was having trouble breathing. He must have a broken rib and possibly a punctured lung.
If they were found soon, Deeks physical injuries would heal. Apart from the punctured lung and possible blood loss, the injuries weren't life threatening. Yet. If Siderov came back, what would they do next? At some point the human body shut down, doesn't it? You stop feeling the pain? He hoped that right now Deeks wasn't feeling any pain.
Sam knew that he would feel guilt for the rest of his life over the way he treated Deeks and the things he said to him. Strangely he hoped that guilt lasted a long long time but he was sure it wouldn't be. He was also grateful for everything the Detective, no, he was grateful for everything his friend had done to protect his family. Sam knew that Deeks would die rather than betray Michelle. Not just because she was a fellow agent, but because she was Sam's wife and a mother. Deeks is loyal almost to a fault. Sam's mind flashed to fellow detective Jeff Versy and the lengths he went to in order to force Versy to seek help and get sober. How Deeks stuck by Ray. It seemed once Deeks decided he was going to help you, he did, no matter what. And right now, Sam needed Deeks help and Deeks was giving it and would continue to give it until this ended one way or another.
