When All Is Said & Done
Chapter 2
"Eric, talk to me…where are we going…" Callen asked into the cell phone speaker that Kensi was holding.
"We've checked out almost all the records…there are three left at the far end of the that industrial district," Eric said, as he viewed images of an abandoned industrial buildings parking lot on the Ops screen,"…there are functioning traffic cams at the entrance to each building and we have three SUV's at the one called Peterson's Electronics. It looks like Siderov's SUV's, but I can't get a shot of the plates from the angle I have…"
Shooting a glance at the two female agents, Callen replied grimly, "good enough for us…we're checking it out…"
"Mr. Callen, there is a tactical team twelve minutes behind you…" Hetty interjected.
"If Siderov has been questioning them all this time," Michelle tightly, "Sam and Deeks don't have twelve more minutes…if they're not…." she was unable to continue.
"Ya' better make that two ambulances too…" Callen stated.
"Understood…" Hetty replied.
…..ncis la…..
"I can continue this all day, agent…you on the other hand…." Siderov said casually, as looked up from the switch on the control panel controlling the electrical current.
With Deeks loss of consciousness, Siderov had moved back into Sam's room and commenced to flip the switch a few more times…each time for a few seconds longer….and each time Sam's body arched painfully, stealing his breath away before collapsing boneless back into the seat. By now the agent was gasping for breath, his heart pounding wildly in his chest; sweat stood out on his forehead and his shaking body was both tingling and burning simultaneously.
Eying the man strapped to the chair dispassionately, Siderov asked, "your skin on fire agent…do you feel your heart faltering…falling out of its rhythm…?"
Sam ignored his torturer's casual taunts as he concentrated on pulling air into his battered lungs, running through several scenario's and wondering what he could tell the Russian to give him and Deeks at least a momentary reprieve; he didn't doubt for a second the minute Deeks showed any sign of consciousness that Siderov would start in on the detective again.
The agent knew if he told Siderov too much, he and Deeks were as good as dead; but how long could they hold out before the damage was irreversible or fatal….before the team managed to find them? It was a precarious balancing act…he needed to feed the Russian information in small bits…just enough to keep them alive a little longer, but not enough to compromise the team.
"So, I'll ask…again, is Quinn an agent or were you just using her to get to me…" Siderov demanded, adding, "And how much does NCIS know…how did the local police get involved…?" The last was asked with a truthful tone of confusion as Siderov gave a small wave towards the detective.
"Not…not involved…LAPD doesn't know…a thing…about you…" Sam ground out painfully.
"So you honestly expect me to believe that this detective just stumbled upon our meeting place…" the Russian scoffed, "please do not think me such a fool, agent…."
They were caught, Siderov already knew he was an NCIS agent…Deeks already admitted to being an LAPD detective so Sam saw no harm in drawing out this line of questioning as long as he could; buy them time and keep the focus away from Callen and Michelle…and his injured team mate.
"…liaison…Deeks is a liaison…." Sam said with a strained huff.
"Liaison…?" Siderov questioned, curious despite more pressing issues, "Explain this…liaison…? NCIS, it is government agency…no; what purpose would a liaison serve your agency….?"
"Too many crossed cases…" Sam answered simply.
Siderov gave a small nod, "sticking their noses where is does not belong then…?" He then gave a small snort as he looked first to the unconscious detective then back to Sam, "the local constabulary, forever getting into what they do not understand…this game we play…" Siderov waved a hand between himself and Sam as he spoke, "it is not for the weak of constitution…the locals should stick to their petty concerns, their drug dealers and wife beaters…."
Sam couldn't help a snort as he remembered the Zama case…not only had LAPD and Deeks made it into the gym first, suspected the drug connection between the gym and the marines, but the detective had held his own against the agents; had saved Sam's life when his cover was blown in less than three days. No Deeks was far from weak or stupid, "different crimes….same case….in the end you're all the same to us…criminals…"
Siderov chose to ignore the insult and waved a casual hand towards Deeks, asking, "So, you tell the truth then…when you say he is not your partner….?"
Sam gave the man a sideways glance, wondering what Siderov meant by the statement-was he insinuating the Sam didn't care about some local cop assigned to his team, or was he trying to get Sam to admit that the detective was a valuable member of the team; either outcome did not bode well for the detective thus Sam just answered with an indifferent shrug.
"No matter your answer…he, as you, interfered in my business…and you both shall pay for that mistake…" Siderov stated.
Summoning all the strength he could muster from his battered body, Sam slowly lifted his head and met Siderov's steely gaze with one of his own, shaking his head slightly, "you're on every watch list…ever agency from the US to Europe…you kill us, won't matter—you're not selling those bombs…"
Siderov raised a brow at the agent's defiance, answering casually, "they can't be everywhere, can't have eyes on every potential buyer…in any case, Agent Hanna, it will no longer be you or your detective friend's problem after today…"
Sam sighed internally, this was it…he and Deeks were going to die here; he knew his team…his wife would have given it everything they had, turned over every rock and followed every clue…but this time is wasn't enough…they had just run out of time.
While he had many regrets—for his wife, his kids, his partner and the mission the one true regret, the one that burned in the forefront of his mind, the one that would be the last image burned into his retina's—was Detective Marty Deeks. Sam deeply regretted the words he spoke to the man earlier that day…for the continuous beat down he gave to the man, who, despite all of it, came to back up this team with everything he had…never backing down, and even at one point giving up what meant the most to him—his shield, in an effort to save one of their own.
He glanced over at the detective, still draped unconscious in the chair and only hoped that it would end quickly…that Deeks would die without suffering anymore at Siderov's hand. Sam turned his attention back to Siderov and his men…they were conversing quietly in their native tongue, no doubt on how to kill and dispose of their bodies…on moving the bombs to a safer location…he fervently hoped that he was correct, that some agency…any agency…would succeed in taking Siderov down…retrieve the nuclear weapons before countless more people suffered for his failure.
Sam dropped his head in frustration and growing despair, never in all his time in the military and as agent had he felt this level of helplessness…of anger. He had failed on so many levels today…his wife, his kids…his agency and his mission; but mostly he had failed his partner…his eyes rested on the detective who seemed to be stirring in his seat.
…..ncis la….
Lowering the binoculars from his eyes Callen reported with frustration, "…there is no way we can get in there without being seen."
"If Siderov sees us coming he'll cut his losses and run…" Michelle stated.
Face drawn into a worried scowl, Kensi said, "…meaning he'll kill Deeks and Sam."
Michelle nodded.
Eying the area with mounting anger and frustration, Kensi pointed to the ridge behind the buildings, "we could come down from behind…the ridge would offer us some cover…tactical can't be that far behind us…"
"It would take us close to an hour to work our way around that way, with no guarantees we wouldn't be spotted…can't get a fix on any of Siderov's men from here…" Callen replied with equal frustration.
"I'll go in…" Michelle stated.
"What…no, Siderov already tried to have you killed…" Callen exclaimed.
"Maybe…not sure what was up with his lackeys…they didn't turn hostile until Kensi showed up…I think they were just supposed to contain the problem until they heard from Siderov…" Michelle explained, "besides, I've worked with the bastard long enough to know he likes to look his enemies in the face…let them know he beat them, before he kills them…"
Seeing the uncertain looks directed her way by the two NCIS agents, Michelle continued, "look, we don't have many options…I go in and see if I can salvage this cover, get eyes on the inside…if it's compromised, come in guns blazing…I'm not hearing another plan to get Sam and Deeks out of there…
Callen and Kensi exchanged uncertain looks, the plan was risky…doomed to failure from the start, but they were out of options if they wanted to attempt to salvage the mission, retrieve the bombs…and, against all odds-save their team mates.
Finally, Callen broke eye contact with Kensi and turned to Michelle with a curt nod, "let's do this…"
…NCIS LA…