An:/
So here's another chapter.
Thanks to those who took the time to review & for the alerts.
Just a warning that there are some minor profanities in this chapter. Nothing major, but I thought I best warn readers about it.
Please enjoy & let me know what you think.
Lottie.
Previously: But what Kensi and Deeks didn't realise that the idea of marking the targets in blood, wasn't as farfetched as it seemed.
Sam and Callen looked at each other silently, opening their ears, trying to hear anything that would indicate that Kensi and Deeks were in trouble.
After several minutes of silence, Callen heard a faint cackling that was coming from far below. Realisation featured on both agents faces when they recognised the sound of Kensi's laugh.
Sam shook his head and smiled widely "I think she's fine"
"Yeah but I'll try contact them just in case" Callen decided pulling out the transmitter, trying to secure it on the network that was reserved for communication between the two teams.
After several moments of tuning, Callen was on the receiving end of dead static. Turning the transmitter off Callen looked to Sam.
"Transmitter is off."
"I'll try calling her" Sam suggested pulling his phone out. Several attempts later, Sam concluded that Kensi's mobile was either receiving no signal or was turned off, as was Deeks.
"Should we check it in with Eric?" Sam questioned, concerned for their safety.
"Just to be safe." Callen agreed, turning the transmitter back on.
"Eric? Heard from Kensi or Deeks yet?" Callen spoke into the transmitter.
"Not yet, but there GPS confirms they have passed point three." Eric tried hoping that he wouldn't receive a scolding.
"So they are moving?" Sam asked.
"Yeah at a regular pace...and both of their watches indicate a heart beat so they aren't dead if that is what you are thinking." Eric informed quickly adding the last part.
Sam and Callen laughed amongst themselves. "Thanks Eric." Callen said once again before turning the transmitter off.
"Let's keep moving." Callen said keeping the transmitter in his hand for safe keeping.
"Ouch! Shit!" Deeks yelled grabbing his arm that was now oozing with blood. Kensi stopped in her tracks and quickly backtracked to where Deeks was now loudly swearing.
"Deeks?" Kensi asked concerned not having a full visual of the liaison officer.
"Kensi, over here" Deeks called as he sunk to his knees removing his back pack. Kensi broke through the branches and found Deeks searching through his back pack for medical supplies whilst his other arm was being coated in his own blood.
"What did you do?" Kensi asked as she sank to her knees beside Deeks, grasping the injured arm for a closer inspection.
"Barbed wire? Really?" Deeks accused swearing loudly when Kensi smothered the cut area in antiseptic and anesthetizing cream.
"What do you mean barbed wire?" Kensi asked confused as she continued to tend to Deeks wound, whilst he struggled against Kensi.
"It's over there, was trying to clear the area to get a better view of the next target and it caught my arm. Fuck Kens" Deeks complained again as she prodded the exposed area.
"This is going to need stitches." Kensi smartly observed.
"I think they can wait." Deeks informed observing a devious glint in Kensi's eye.
Kensi rolled her eyes and began applying bandages to the area. After a moments silence in which Deeks watched Kensi skilfully encase the wound with gauze and bandages, Kensi spoke up
"Was it really barbed wire?"
Deeks nodded pulling his injured arm closer after Kensi released her hold. "That's never been there before." Kensi thought aloud concern written on her face.
"That isn't comforting Kens" Deeks pointed out as he gathered the medical supplies into his pack.
Kensi stood and turned on the spot observing the surrounding wilderness with her trained eye. Nothing seemed noticeably different but the inclusion of barbed wire in the training course was somewhat peculiar and very unlike Hetty, who was always about maintaining her agents safety.
Eyeing Deeks who was now standing back pack ready, armed covered in a crisp white bandage that stood out against the rest of Deeks that was still covered in now dry paint, Kensi concluded that something was off.
"Everything okay Kens?" Deeks asked furrowing his brow.
"I don't know" Kensi answered absently as she observed the surrounding area for the umpteenth time during the exercise. "Something feels off."
"Your spidey-senses tingling?" Deeks joked smiling.
Kensi shot Deeks a heated glare and she began trailing back on the path they had just taken. "Ah Kens target is that way?" Deeks indicated over his shoulder with his non-injured arm.
"Where is this barbed wire?" Kensi asked not being able to locate it.
Deeks indicated to her the general area of where he had cut himself. Kensi moved closer and found after a short inspection that several layers of barbed wire had been threaded amongst the thick shrubbery and wrapped haphazardly around tree stumps.
"So you saying this isn't normal?" Deeks asked as she lowered himself down next to Kensi.
"I'll admit its a little hinky, but maybe it was added to stop racoons or something..." Kensi half heartedly suggested looking the 'trap' up and down, knowing subconsciously that it was indeed not for those purposes.
"Or bears" Deeks added as he too observed that amount and levels of barbed wire that was tangled before them.
Kensi stood back up and Deeks hesitated before he too stood up. "C'mon lets keep moving" Kensi decided sending another concerned look at the barbed wire, before heading back to the trail.
Deeks eyed the wire suspiciously before following suit. "Should we call this in?" Deeks asked as he caught up with Kensi, now walking side by side with her.
"It's probably just a one off thing. We'll let Hetty know when we get back to OSP"
"You think it's safe to keep going?" Deeks asked uncertainly.
"Well that was dangerous but I think we should be safe from here on out."
"Dangerous? You're telling me? I have to hole in my arm to prove it." Deeks pointed out dramatically.
"Deeks its barely a scratch" Kensi chastised.
"One that'll need stitches" Deeks reminded.
Kensi sighed and looked down at the map. "Okay first sign of anything else hinky, we will call it in and go from there. Deal?"
Deeks pretended to think for a moment. "Deal"
The sun hot sun was beginning to let up on its intensity and a cool breeze was flourishing through the forest. Kensi and Deeks were delving deeper into the Hunter's depths and the dauntingly high treetops were cooling the forest floor whilst creating a cool shade to escape the heat from. Unknowingly Deeks had taken up whistling again, micking the sounds of various birds and creatures that echoed through the beautiful wilderness. Seizing the opportune moment to get to know her partner better Kensi started making small talk with Deeks, which although was unnecessary would make the task at hand less tiresome.
"How's your arm Deeks?"
Deeks swung it casually. "Pretty numb. That stuff worked, Thanks Kens" Deeks smiled remembering he had forgotten to thank her earlier.
"Any time partner" Kensi smiled in return. Another moments silent ensure before Kensi decided to just plunge straight into conversation.
"So Deeks ever been camping before?" Kensi asked trying to approach the subject gently just in case it opened old wounds.
Deeks ducked his head and then smiled brightly at Kensi, his eyes glistening with the memory. "Just once with my Grandpa"
Kensi raised a surprised eyebrow at Deeks. He had never mentioned his grandparents before, and well to be honest neither had she, so she was shocked to hear him talk about them.
"Where'd you go?"
"I can't remember exactly, I was 10 at the time, but I remember was this quiet and secluded place. From our camp site you could hear the running river and the sound of all the wildlife. It was some of the best fun I had as a kid. We would stay up real late and Grandpa would tell me stories from when he was little, we'd eat roasted marshmallows and eat the fish we caught that day when we went fishing. Grandpa loved fishing." Deeks continued to smile as he recollected to the silent Kensi.
"Why did you only go once?" Kensi asked curious, although she knew she was pushing her luck.
"Grandpa died two months after that trip. Turns out he had cancer, terminal... that's why he took me camping. I don't think he ever realised how much of an escape that trip was for me and how much I loved him for it."
Kensi looked up at Deeks eyes and found him staring out to space, "I'm sorry Deeks." She whispered softly.
"It's fine, it was a long time ago." Deeks brushed off.
"What about you? Lady MacGyver, been camping before?" Deeks joked returning to his usual casual manner to mask his stirred emotions.
Kensi beamed proudly. "Yes, several times actually. The last time I went I was 13, with my Dad. It wasn't just your regular camping it was survivalist camping. Live off the land, that sort of thing. I learnt so much in that weekend. Just me and my Dad" Kensi reminisced proudly, smiling brightly at the thought of it all.
"Was it always with your father?" Deeks asked politely yet curiously. Kensi laughed at the memory and continued.
"One time me and my best friend Anna camped out in my backyard, when we were 9"
"Didn't last the night, did you?" Deeks asked giving Kensi a knowing smile.
"Well no, but it's because Warren Johnston scared Anna." Kensi objected.
"Only Anna?" Deeks asked eyebrows raised.
"Only Anna. I threw rocks at him and threatened to disembowel him" Kensi commented in a matter of fact tone.
Deeks laughed at this "Even as a child you were hostile" Kensi scoffed loudly.
"I am not hostile"
"Mmm Yeah you are Kens" Deeks disagreed.
"Am not."
"Are too"
"Am not"
"Are too, times infinity" Deeks called loudly. Distracted by the small argument Deeks tripped on a low lying branch falling flat on his face. Kensi tried not to laugh but couldn't help herself.
"You aren't an outdoor boy are you Deeks?" Kensi asked helping him to stand back up.
"I've told you that before" Deeks groaned as he dusted dirt of his shirt. "The dirt really brings out the paint doesn't it?" Deeks joked. Kensi hit Deeks in the chest and stepped over the branch Deeks had tripped on previously.
"Let's keep moving I can see the fourth target."
By now Sam and Callen were well ahead of their colleagues. Whilst they two were taking minor side-trips to mock one another or to have breaks they had already reached their seventh marker and were heading for the home straight as they began descending the rinsed hill.
"Does this boot camp seem a lot easier to you?" Sam asked as he walked through dense shrubbery.
Callen nodded and shrugged. "Maybe Hetty gave us the easier trail because Deeks is a beginner."
"Doesn't seem like Hetty, Kensi had the hardest track for her first boot camp."
"And look at the record she set" Called pointed out.
"You saying that wasn't all you G?" Sam joked playfully.
"She was determined I tell you. Wanted to prove herself." Callen admitted.
"Typical Kensi"
The two senior agents fell silent, occasionally grunting with minor exertion as they forced their way through unmarked tracks and rough terrain.
"We should have taken Hunter's" Callen pointed out as he tried not picture himself slipping and falling down the rather large embankment.
"Hunter's is for beginners G, this is the real thing" Sam commented hitting a flimsy tree rather hard causing it to rock waywardly.
"Maybe I'll go join Kensi and Deeks then, with the map" Callen deadpanned jokingly.
"Good luck to you" Sam laughed knowing that Callen wouldn't follow through with the empty threat.
"I'd probably be safer down there with them." Callen suggested again looking down the steep hill littered with trees and various flora.
Sam grunted and patted Callen on the shoulder as the studiously passed him. "Like I said good luck"
Approaching the clearing of the fourth target, Kensi and Deeks had continued talking about their various adventures they had endured in the wilderness either through work or from personal experiences.
"A militia group really?" Deeks repeated not truly believing Kensi's words.
"Yep, Callen went in undercover, just one of our many successful missions. Hence why..."
"We train the forest, okay that makes some sense" Deeks finished beginning to understand the exercise as more than a game.
On the edge of the clearing Deeks stopped, whilst Kensi continued forward, several feet a head of Deeks. Realising that Deeks wasn't following her Kensi stopped and turned on the spot.
"What's up Deeks?"
Deeks pointed to the area of the ground that was particularly dirty surrounded by several unknown footprints. Kensi lowered herself closer to the ground to inspect the footprints better.
Pulling out her cell Kensi took several shots of the mysterious foot prints, to send to Eric.
"So ah, does this classify as hinky?" Deeks asked looking across at Kensi.
"Could just be the foot prints of the agent that marked the target." Kensi suggested, now standing holding out her cell trying to find better reception. Deeks silently nodded watching Kensi try to find anything she could with her cell.
"I'll call it in, hand me the transmitter."
"It's nothing Deeks, we are just over reacting." Kensi commented giving up on finding reception on her cell.
"But what if it isn't?" Deeks pointed out, slowly tracing the tree line with his eyes.
"Deeks, c'mon it's training. This is probably just apart of it. Let's just record the 'evidence' and keep moving"
"We still need to check in" Deeks reminded hand outstretched signalling for the transmitter.
Kensi sighed and reluctantly handed over the transmitter, eyes blaring holes into Deeks. Turning the switches and tuning in the frequency Deeks, a burst of loud noise came through the transmitter before Eric's voice was heard.
"Kensi? Deeks?" Eric asked sounding relieved.
"Hey Eric, Checking in point four." Deeks responded eyes still trained on Kensi's.
"You guys alright?" Eric asked quickly before he was once again cut off.
Kensi and Deeks shared a knowing look, each daring the other to admit that there was something 'hinky' to inform Eric of. They didn't know, maybe all these peculiar events were just the training.
"Fine Eric, why?" Kensi answered from several feet away, as Deeks began to respond.
"Sam and Callen were worried, you didn't check in at the last target"
Deeks sent Kensi a awkward look. Eric was right, amidst all the paintball fighting and the playful banter the partners had forgotten to check in with Eric.
"Sorry we were... ah distracted." Deeks replied, shrugging his shoulders when Kensi raised her eyes brows in protest to his retort.
Back in Ops, Eric and Nell shared a look. Neither wanted to asked what had caused the distraction, but they both had some ideas as just what might have, all evidently being wrong.
"Progress?" Kensi asked before Eric could ponder on what was meant by distraction any longer.
"Sam and Callen have reached marker seven, and by the looks are beginning to head outbound to eight." Eric said after several audible clicks and taps of his keyboard.
"Shit" Kensi hissed under her breath.
"Got to let you go there buddy, by the looks of my partner over here, we have a lot of ground to make up. Over and out" Deeks responded shutting down the transmitter.
Deeks looked at Kensi who's brow was now furrowed. "Seven? Already? How is that even possible?" Kensi asked herself aloud, pulling out the map to check the route that Sam and Callen was no doubtedly taking. "Up hill as well? Really?" Kensi questioned again.
"Well I'm guessing they haven't encountered any barbed wire or mysterious foot prints and I think it's safe to assume they didn't have a paintball fight..." Deeks commented reading the large map over Kensi's shoulder.
"We've fallen behind. We have to make up for lost time. Let's get moving." Kensi quickly said indicating in the general direction of the next intended target.
"But we haven't..." Deeks started looking at the target in the distance.
"Well we checked in Deeks, not much more we can do" Kensi retorted cutting Deeks off.
Deeks nodded at Kensi, once again trailing her out of the clearing, sending once last glance at the unmarked target in the distance.
Had Kensi and Deeks, approached the target, as per protocol, they would have realised the danger was more imminent and potentially more real than expected. For engraved on that very marked tree, was the ominous words. 'I'm watching'
An:/
Hopefully not to OOC this time around. Will update soon.
Hope you enjoyed :)