A/N: I'm so appreciative of all the lovely reviews, thank you to all of you who took time to leave them. Also thanks to all of those who have followed or added this as a favorite. I now have a Beta, so must say a big thank you to Kadiedid for volunteering.
It only takes them five minutes and they pull up at the compound that houses the CQB training ground. It's made up to look like a small town and there are mock ups of various houses, a small block of apartments, some shops as well as other random buildings like garages. The building they had been training in had been toward the centre of the area and as they slowly walked up to it they were met with a various emergency service vehicles, crew and a flurry of activity. The house itself was reminiscent of something from a disaster zone and when seeing it Kensi couldn't hold back a gasp. Only the back and side walls of the house remained while the second story and front wall had been reduced to rubble. There was a small group of people carefully shifting debris from one spot. It was slow going and they were being cautious. There was an ambulance off to one side and medics waiting with it ready to tend to Deeks when he was found. Standing back watching was Major Jensen and his team from CID. Callen spotted him and they made their way over. Kensi couldn't tear her eyes from the house and Sam gently steered her in the right direction with his hand tentatively at her elbow. He was aware that she appeared to be slightly zoned out by what was going on and he briefly wondered if they were doing the right thing bringing her here.
Callen flashed his credentials at the young CID lieutenant who barred their way and the lieutenant apologized to them quickly once he acknowledged who they were.
"Major," Callen addressed Jensen by way of greeting and getting his attention.
"Agent Callen, Agent Hannah," he greeted them having been introduced earlier when they'd first found the unconscious Kensi. "You must be Agent Blye," he said extending his hand to her as they shake briefly, Jensen being careful knowing what state she had been in earlier. He got straight to the point. "We found your Detective," he nodded over at equipment being packed away in a Hummer and they all assumed it to be some kind of heat sensor. "He's unconscious and we have no idea what state he's in until we clear more of the debris. It's slow going due to being unstable but we hope to have eyes on him in the next few minutes."
None of them knew what to say. It was the awful moment they all hated when they know the life of one of their own hangs in balance. They felt helpless and frustrated.
"Any idea what caused the collapse?" Callen asked wanting answers.
"Not 100% at the moment but I'd hazard a guess at some sort of explosive. Look at the place." Again he nodded this time in the direction of the ruins. "You know how those places are built. They're mostly concrete and they don't just collapse. They are designed to put up with constant shoot outs."
"Who else was training here?" Now it was Sam's turn to ask questions. He still had one eye on Kensi who was watching the rescue team work.
"No one. Place hasn't been used all week. You think this was deliberate?"
It's Kensi's turn to speak up and Sam and Callen are a little surprised. While she was watching what was going on elsewhere she was clearly paying attention. "Hardly an accident," she said sounding pissed. "People just don't leave explosives capable of doing that lying around and certainly not on Marine bases. I think the question that we should really be asking is why?"
"Kensi," it's almost a warning the way he says it, but really Callen is just trying to calm her down. "We'll get to the bottom of this, we will, but first we have other concerns."
"Case is all yours when you're ready, in the mean time I'll have my men secure any evidence we find and keep you appraised of anything we turn up."
"Appreciated," Callen says and shakes the man's hand. This time it's Sam's turn to nod a silent thank you to the Major, but Kensi says nothing, unsure of her emotions. They make their way nearer to the site of the house and the three of them strain to see what's going on. They're only meters away from where the rubble ends and they can see the sudden flurry of activity that's broken out where the rubble was being moved. Someone shouts over to the paramedics and they start to hurry over.
"Deeks?" Kensi shouts and tries to hurry over to see what's going on. She doesn't get too close remembering that the place is unstable, but she really wants to see him. To know how he is and if he's still... she can't bring herself to think about the worst case scenario. Callen moves up to her side by way of support, knowing she's not one who would take kindly to any physical comfort. She's antsy and time seems to be going so slowly. 'What's taking so long?' she wonders. And then the rescue team all move aside and the paramedics move up. One is carrying a bag of equipment, the other a stretcher. She closes her eyes briefly and hangs her head trying to get her emotions in check knowing that it won't be long before they know how he is.
It's the longest couple of minutes while the three of them wait for news. One of the rescue team who was helping move the rubble walks past them and Sam gently catches his arm. He doesn't say anything but the young man catches the look in his eye. "He's alive," he assures them quietly and moves on. He's no medical expert and doesn't want to say more. That's some relief at least and Sam lets out a small sigh like he'd been holding his breath waiting for news. A couple of more minutes pass and they see the stretcher being manoeuvred into the rubble. It's annoying that they can't see more and they can't move closer for fear of disturbing something. And then the stretcher is being lifted up and the rescue team are helping to move it and its precious cargo.
Kensi's breath catches as she recognises the prone form of Deeks and his dirty blonde mop of hair. His head is held in position by an orange support. There are blankets across his body and he's held in position by half a dozen straps. She can't make out anything more than his shape and wants to know how he is. She edges over toward where they left the gurney knowing that's where they're carrying him to. They are being slow and gentle not wanting to make any sudden movements and she realises that they must be concerned he has spinal damage or something. She silently hopes they're wrong but it never hurts to be cautious.
The next thing she's aware of is the two paramedics lowering the stretcher and its patient on to the gurney and she gets her first look at him. His hair is full of dust and has turned an odd shade of grey. His face is a similar shade and is covered in small lacerations. There's one large cut at the top left of his forehead that must have been bleeding because there's a trail of dried blood down his cheek. She can't see much else as the blankets are hiding him but she can see blood soaking though one of them and she winces, knowing what ever is going on under there is not good. She's pleased to see that he's breathing however and she wants to ask how he is but before she can get the words out the Paramedic answers the unheard question.
"He's in a bad way and has several injuries that need urgent attention but I don't think any of them are critical. We'll know more once we get him back to the hospital and the doctors have taken a look at him. I wouldn't call it lucky but he seems to have avoided any serious internal injuries thanks to the support beam that wedged a half meter above him. It shielded him from being pinned by the section of wall that would have otherwise crushed him."
Kensi shudders but at the same time grateful nothing appears to be life threatening. She can't begin to explain how relieved she feels, but she holds back a little knowing that nothing is certain until they get him looked at properly. The medics have lifted him in the ambulance and she fumbles her words when she asks if she can ride with them. They can't see any harm and agree while Sam and Callen tell her they'll be right behind them and will meet her there.
The ride back to the hospital seems to be taking forever compared to when she'd done it with Sam and Callen less than thirty minutes ago. When they finally arrive at the Emergency Room Deeks is whisked away by a party of waiting doctors and nurses and she is forced to let go of the side of the gurney. She isn't sure when she had started clinging to it and part of her knows if he hadn't been secured under blankets and straps she would have no doubt found herself holding his hand. She's left sitting in the back of the ambulance. The medics have followed Deeks and are relaying info to the medical team.
It's now that she's hit with a wave of emotion. It's like someone has suddenly emptied out her heart of loneliness. She realises in that moment, for all the bickering they do and for all the eye rolls and arm punches she gives him, that he means so much to her. The annoying, self-confident LAPD detective has somehow wormed his way into her heart and she has no idea what life was like before she met him. A distant part of her mutters 'boring' and she pushes it away. She would normally chide herself for such thoughts but she's fed up with lying to herself.
Kensi is staring into space when Sam and Callen appear at the back of the vehicle, and even though they are right in front of her she doesn't register their appearance. They watch her with concern. Sam is wondering what she's thinking and Callen is wondering how to get her attention without startling her. He opts to climb into the back and lay his hand gently on her bicep while calling her name softly. He calls three times, each progressively louder before she acknowledges him and allows him to guide her out and into the hospital to start another round of waiting for news of her partner.
A/N: would love to hear your thoughts so please review.