Chapter 2 – The Classified Ladder
Nate sat on the edge of the ER bed three hours after being admitted and diagnosed with a mild concussion and a deep flesh wound to his left arm that Deeks just had to prod. The man had gone to the office once Nate had arrived in the ER but returned shortly after to pick up Nate. The reason for his trip was lost on Nate but he had enjoyed the temporary peace.
"Really? Do I need to call Kensi?" Nate asked as way of deterrent to the bored detective and just to see the reaction. Deeks might think no-one noticed that he was deeply smitten by Kensi and equally terrified of her but the others did and Nate defiantly did. It was his job the subtle voice and speech changes, the difference in body language; the glances that he guessed even Deeks did not know he did. Kensi was no better other then she knew the others knew her change in behaviour around Deeks and tried to mask it with aggression.
Nate did not need to be a student of human body language to know that Deeks loved her aggression because it meant physical contact. Nate quietly looked forward to the day Kensi worked that out.
"No" Deeks responded quickly, "Don't call Kensi". Deeks was aware how fond of Nate Kensi was, hurting him would make Kensi hurt Deeks. Silently he wondered if Nate was competition, when Nate was around and not overseas Kensi hugged him a lot and they had a standing date to go for hot dogs at the end of any case. But at the same time it seemed thoroughly platonic and surely it would be breaking some oath or ethic if Nate got involved with his 'patient'? But this was Kensi would that stop him? It would not stop Deeks.
"Okay you are free to go" the ER doctor announced from the spot where he had been watching the psychologist and the detective. "Take it easy and if you get any severe headaches, nausea or vision difficulty come straight back".
"Thank you Dr" Nate said politely to the man before hopping to the floor and bustling straight past Deeks. He was headed to the office and knew Deeks meant to take him home. Being shot had unnerved and equally annoyed the doctor and he intended to be involved in his own investigation. Unfortunately Nate realised after a few steps he needed Deeks to drive as his own car had been shot along with him.
Nate stopped abruptly ready to argue his case of going to the office and not home but before he could round on Deeks, the shorter man had ploughed into Nate and knocked them both off balance. With one arm in a sling Nate could not do much other then hold onto Deeks for balance who was equally holding onto Nate to keep his. Somehow they stayed on their feet and before Deeks could make any comment Nate told him to take him to the office. Deeks remembering how he felt when he was shot and on the sidelines of the investigation simply nodded a yes and together they headed to the car each lost in their thoughts.
Nate was trying to think of who would want to shot him it was not as short a list as he would have liked, and Deeks was remembering his own ordeal and time in this very hospital. Maybe when Nate was back on track and not being shot at Deeks could make use of his skills, just to vent a few things. He absolutely did not need therapy. No sir, not him.
When, much to Hetty's displeasure, Deeks strolled into the ops centre with Nate on his heels the duo found the team looking at a screen full of faces. Nate recognised them as people he had had a big part in putting away either through profiling or testimony of mental states. It was not a pleasant sight to look at a screen of people who potential could mean you harm.
The team had at least 30 images up and were narrowing down the list they explained to Nate.
"First we eliminated all who are still inside and the ones that are dead" Nell elaborated for him. "We have 28 left".
Nate felt bad putting a dampener on their work but it had to be said, "What about my cases outside of this office?" he asked.
"What do you mean?" Sam responded.
"All of these are from my NCIS cases, what about the consulting work I have done? Most of these" Nate waved his arm at the screen to elaborate his point, "would want one of you guys or other agents dead over me. At most they met me in the boat shed or never".
"Nate has a point" Callen said "Eric bring up Nate's over cases".
"Bringing up" Eric replied as he tapped away at the keyboard closest to him.
After a few seconds new photo's started to appear. A lot of new photo's. Too many for the screen to handle. All heads turned to look at Nate with varying degrees of surprise. Well what did they think he did here to all hours cleaning up after their messes was not that time consuming and there were so many bad guys out there that needed to be stopped.
"Nate you need more vacation time" Kensi said sounding exasperated, "Nell can we reduce this list to those not in prison and currently alive?"
"Sure" Nell said and after a moment just over half of the new images disappeared.
"We can't rule out those in prison" Deeks said being the pragmatist.
"I'll go through the incarcerated potentials and see who have made threats or could have the resources" Nell chimed in. Callen nodded his approval.
"Let's deal with the suspects in turn, eliminate the more minor crimes" Callen instructed Eric. Again the pictures on the screen reduced in number.
"Well that looks more manageable, please keep me informed ladies and gentleman" Hetty said as she walked out of ops, patting Nate on his good arm on the way. "I have a clean shirt for you when you are ready Dr Getz" she tossed back over her shoulder as the doors closed.
Nate looked down at what he was wearing and realised it was a bit dirty, torn and bloody. It had been on top of the washing hamper this morning when he got his 3am phone call. It had also been chosen by Rose and had automatically become one of his favourites simply for that reason.
"What are these black squares Nell?" Sam asked drawing everyone's attention away from Nate's state of dress and back to the screen.
"I don't know" Nell replied tapping away on her data pad.
Eric answered for her. "They are classified cases, classified way above our pay grade" he elaborated dramatically.
"Nate?" Callen said wading into the conversation as the team leader he was responsible for all the members and was not impressed that there was something he did not know.
"Umm, other agencies, nothing really" Nate said trying to dodge the subject.
Callen and Sam exchanged glances, "I think he's hiding something" Sam started.
Callen soon joined in. "Me too Sam, and here was me thinking we were a team"
"Guess he is not a team player, I say who cares who shot him" Sam continued all the time staring down Nate with his arms crossed. He was getting annoyed.
"Me too Sam, it's sad when a man can't play nicely with the others"
"He's cheating on us G" Sam said this time looking at Callen.
"He cheated Sam" Callen replied shaking his head and looking at Nate pitifully.
"Wait, it's not like that guys" Nate said slightly panicked, his good hand fiddling with his sling strap, knowing he was falling for the ruse but talking anyway, "I may sometimes consult for other agencies on cases that are classified higher than the usual for this office but I am NCIS first".
"So you saying you out rank us on the classified scale?" Sam challenged.
"You pulling rank on us Nate, you may get more bullet holes" Callen threatened.
"I don't have any holes today just grazes" Nate replied side stepping the issue and physically side stepping a closing in Team. He came to a stop in front of the screen and attempted to end the conversation categorically, "and these three cases are defiantly not why anyone was shooting at me today, those left alive are not free and able".
Nate's final statement seemed to stop the conversation and as an added distraction the office mail handler came into the ops centre and handed Nate a parcel. "It's been screened and x-rayed nothing solid, metal or electrical inside" he announced unceremoniously before walking back out the way he had come.
Nate stared at the small box in his good hand, it was about the size of a brick, the address was handwritten and had been addressed to the main NCIS mail centre. Before he could start to open it Nell moved to stand next to him.
"Ummm" Nell said quietly, "There are four classified cases".
Nate turned, still holding his parcel, and looked at the screen and taking in the numbers on the black picture boxes worked out which were which. The fourth box took him longer to bring to mind by number. It was the lettering at the start of the number that really brought it back to mind. They stood for the city police department where it had all happened.
"Oh", he paused before pushing aside bad memories. "No not that one either, she is defiantly not free, but does want to kill me slowly and painfully. She would not shoot me".
"Reddick seemed to think the shots were bad shots, what if they were to scare and graze not kill?" Kensi declared.
"Would fit her MO but she got 8 consecutive life sentences, she is not on the streets" Nate wanted them to leave this subject alone. Badly.
"What's her name? Callen asked.
"She never had one" Nate replied still looking lost in thoughts. "Look up Federal Detention Centre Houston" Nate asked in Nell and Eric's general direction. It was no use till they got a few details the matter would not drop.
Without looking up he started to open the parcel with his good hand whilst gripping it in his left hand.
"What name?" Eric asked after a moment of watching him expectantly,
"Jane Doe" Nate said simply before finally opening the inside box.
When he opened the parcel though all ideas that it was not Jane were dispelled. In the box was small simple knitted doll in parts. It was obvious that the child's doll had been pulled apart limb by limb and head. It was Jane's Signature.
"That's just sick" Eric stated from Nate's shoulder making him jump. All eyes turned to Nate and his box. Soon all were taking a gander at the dismembered doll but before questions could start Nell broke the silence by announcing that there was no Jane Doe listed at the prison Nate had said.