Sorry for not being able to give you the next chapter before now. Work has kept me very busy since Chapter 1. I have to squeeze in updates when I can. So here's the next update!

Disclaimer: I don't have a glamorous life…which translates to not owning NCISLA.

DARK SHADOWS

CHAPTER 2

Her rumbling stomach was the sure sign of her hunger. It was a few hours since she had discovered the awful incident in the alley and managed to escape the killer chasing her. She climbed back down from the attic and headed to the door. Taking in a deep breath she re-focused her energy to reaching the soup kitchen, four blocks down from where she was now. Breaking into a jog, she made sure she kept to all the dark streets as she saw her refuge come into view. She slowed to a brisk walk as she neared the entry and kept her head down and headed over to the back of the queue to wait to have her first meal since breakfast.

Rosie watched the young girl in the line. She looked wary and scared. It was a look Rosie had seen too many times before. Young, innocent young kids on the run and too scared or too angry to go home. Rosie reached into the large pot of vegetable soup and pulled out a large spoonful and poured it into the bowl. She placed a large bread roll filled with butter on the plate underneath the bowl and offered it to the girl in front of her;

"Here you go sweetie. If you are still hungry you can always come back for seconds" Rosie smiled.

"Thanks" the girl mumbled as she tried steadying the bowl in her shaky hands before heading over to the seats at the far end of the hall.

Rosie shook her head quietly, "She shouldn't be here. She should be home in bed"

She heard the bark of his dog and saw the blond scruffy hair come in with his huge grin. Rosie chuckled as he headed straight for her, crushing her in a bear hug;

"How's my favourite girl Rosie?" he kissed her cheek as a rosy hue crept onto the spot where he left his mark.

"Now Marty, do I need to get my wooden spoon onto your backside for being cheeky?" Rose swatted his arm, slightly embarrassed.

Deeks chuckled, "I'm completely harmless Rosie, and you know that"

"Uh huh. You need a girl to keep you on your toes and in line mister"

"Too late I already have one of those"

"And how is the lovely Kensi?" Rosie smiled knowingly.

"She's good. Wow something smells amazing here"

"Have you and Monty eaten yet?"

Deeks nodded, "Yep shared a ham roll didn't we boy?" he smiled as Monty barked in reply.

"Marty? Do you see that girl over there?" Rosie nodded over her way discreetly.

He turned his head slightly so he could look at her without her noticing; "Yeah what's her name?"

"That's what you need to find out. She looks scared and wary. Maybe she has seen something or someone's hurt her and you are very good with kids. So?..."

Deeks smiled, "Fine. I'll go talk to her. How do you talk me into these things Rosie?"

"I'm good" Rosie smiled.

"I'll give you that" Deeks nodded.

"And you're a pushover" Rosie called out as she waltzed away.

Deeks chuckled and bent down to Monty's eye level, "Okay boy. You see that girl over there? Brown curly hair…Well I need you to introduce us. You got it?"

He stood and watched as Monty padded over to the girl and sat down next to her, putting his head on her lap, giving her sad puppy eyes.

"Hi boy" she said with the hint of a smile slowly emerging.

"Monty! How many times do I have to say no licking of strangers?" Deeks dramatically sighed as he walked over to them, "Sorry he has no manners sometimes"

"S'Okay. He didn't lick me" she kept her head down.

"Well he's Monty and I am Marty Deeks. You can call me either. Marty or Deeks that is. Most people call me Deeks though". He tried to catch her eye, "And your name?"

She kept avoiding eye contact. This wasn't going to be easy. A tough nut to crack.

"Oh I get it. I have to guess your name. Okay I'll play along. Let's see…Rachel? Katie? Louise? Amanda?"

No response.

"Don't tell me it's something hideous…like Deidre or something" Deeks said in mock horror.

"Gabrielle" she mumbled.

"Well that's not so bad. I mean my proper name is Martin. My parents must have been watching the Twilight Zone when they gave me that one. All through school I got teased when the kids called me Martian" he sighed, but saw her smiling a little.

"I dunno. I prefer Elle. Like Elle Macpherson the supermodel. I share the same birthday as her" she shrugged.

"Oh yeah Elle is hot. You and my partner Kensi would be like best friends. Her favourite TV show is Top Model" Deeks smiled.

Gabrielle kept patting Monty, only stealing little glances at Deeks, "I haven't seen it"

"Right…but you have seen something. Maybe something bad?" he crouched down in front of her.

She slowly nodded.

"Okay…don't freak on me but I am a LAPD cop" he dragged out his ID badge and photo wallet, and opened it to show her, "You're not in trouble…but I'd like to help you"

"That's a gross photo" Gabrielle looked up at him.

Deeks looked down at the photo then back at her, then back at the photo and frowned, "Hey! Okay I'll admit it's not one of my best photos but LAPD doesn't let you smile in photos. And my smile is my best asset. Can you tell me what happened Gabrielle?"

She looked around at all the other people in the hall. Deeks watched her and quietly nodded, "How 'bout we go outside?"

They crossed the road to the small park and headed over to the wooden bench. He waited patiently for Gabrielle to speak. He knew he couldn't push her or she would say nothing.

"I was walking towards the alley I sometimes sleep. I got near the alley entry and stopped when I heard a woman screaming. I poked my head around the corner and saw a man stabbing the woman. He…he killed her. Then he slashed her face with the knife. He turned around and saw me looking at them. He swore and started running towards me so I took off…as fast as I could. I kept running and running until I was out of breath. I hid in an old warehouse for a few hours. I must have lost him because he didn't find me. I got hungry…came here and that's it" she jumbled the words out.

"Gabrielle, would you show me the alley? That woman may have a family that is worried about her. I need to know who she is" Deeks took her hand, "Please?"

"If I do that, then what do I do? Find somewhere else to crash for the night. That's not easy in this place" Gabrielle shrugged, "I can't go home"

"I have a place you can sleep. It's safe and warm and I'll grab some choc mint ice cream on the way there. What do you say?"

"Okay" she looked at him, "But you'll be there with me…in the alley?"

Deeks nodded, "Of course. Come on, let's get my car"

Silence filled the car as they drove the deserted streets, "Turn right here" Gabrielle pointed. Deeks nodded and turned the wheel.

"That's the alley" she pointed as they slowly passed it.

"Okay I'll park around the corner" Deeks replied.

Deeks grabbed his gun and police radio from the glove box. He opened the door for Gabrielle and they headed for the alley. He stopped at the entrance, holding back her arm, "I'm right here okay?"

Deeks held his gun in his hand tightly as they walked towards the woman. He heard Gabrielle gasp as he bent down to look more closely at the body. He took out his phone and opened up the camera and shot several photos. He pressed the button on the radio and opened the channel for the Police.

"Yeah this is Detective Marty Deeks, LAPD. Badge number 8523. I have a deceased woman in an alley in Santa Monica. Looks like she was murdered. I'm near Raton Avenue. Request police presence"

The sound of running footsteps coming towards them made Deeks straighten quickly, bringing his gun up raised and standing his ground, "Stop! LAPD!" he barked harshly.

"Oh my God! No I think that's my friend" the man stammered, "Please man"

Deeks lowered his gun slightly but remained vigilant, "Who are you and how do you know this woman?" he calmly but sternly asked.

"I don't know her well. We were in a bar not far from here. We got into an argument and she slapped me and ran outside. I tried to catch her but I couldn't…"

Deeks frowned as he noticed Gabrielle staring, looking terrified at the man in front of her. The man saw Deeks looking at her and that's when he saw her. His eyes grew wide in shock and recognition. Gabrielle turned and started running down the alley. The man quickly pulled his gun from around his back and aimed down at Gabrielle. Deeks immediately swung his gun around to fire at the man, but the man grabbed a loose brick from the ground near the woman and threw it into Deeks' stomach.

Deeks doubled over in pain but pulled the trigger on the gun at the man. The shot went wild. The man scrambled over the back wall and rushed off down the street.

"Dammit!" Deeks cursed as he staggered hurriedly to his car. He pulled the car door open and pushed the key into the ignition. Monty gave a bark.

"Not now Monty" Deeks growled and his foot pounced the accelerator.

Another bark and a head of brown curls appeared in his rear view mirror. He crunched his foot hard on the brakes and turned around in the seat.

"That was him?" Deeks asked.

She nodded. "I'm scared"

"Hey…it's okay. We've had a rough night haven't we? So how about that ice cream I promised you"

"That would be good" she smiled.

Deeks stopped at the small deli near the boatshed. He raced in and got the ice cream and raced out again. He parked the car and he and Gabrielle along with Monty walked inside. Monty immediately plonked himself on the sofa and Deeks nudged her to go join him, "I'll get some spoons and a couple of sodas for us" he said as he headed for the fridge. Together they flopped out on the sofa, quickly devouring the ice cream, and sharing some with Monty.

Deeks heard his phone buzz in his pocket as he moved to put the rubbish in the bin and pulled it out, chuckling softly as he read the name on the screen, "Hi Hetty. I'm surprised you are awake at this time of night"

"I was just thinking the same thing about you Mister Deeks"

"Let me guess police scanner?"

"Yes Detective. Now care to tell me what's going on?"

Deeks duly informed Hetty of the situation with Gabrielle and the incident in the alley, holding nothing back.

"How's Gabrielle now?"

"Right now she's asleep on the sofa. It's likely the first decent sleep she's had in a while. I'll stay with her tonight"

"A good idea. I'll organise the team to meet you there first thing tomorrow morning" Hetty said, "I suggest you get some sleep too"

"Thanks Hetty" Deeks smiled and hung up the call. He went to the small cupboard and pulled out three blankets. Gently he draped one over Gabrielle who was curled up with Monty as a pillow. He placed one blanket on the floor for him next to her and the other blanket he pulled over himself, keeping his gun close by. "Sweet dreams" he whispered.

"It's me. Yeah we need to get moving on the plan. Something's thrown it all out of whack. You don't need to know the details. Just get moving. I'm on my way to you now" the man growled angrily down the phone. He punched his fist with fury on the table and grabbed his keys out of his pocket. Things just got complicated. Complicated was what he didn't like.

Thanks for reading, following and reviewing! Until next time…take care xxxx

Also apologies to anyone named Deidre…oops didn't want to offend you.