Author's Note - Don's first mission with NCIS is finally revealed.
Chapter 6: The First Team
A day after Alan and Don had confessed everything they would all be sat in the lounge again with Gibbs and his team. "Pride and his team should be here soon, we won't leave until they arrive, since It will be two weeks until we go to the island to see you" Gibbs would say looking at Don.
"I wouldn't have it any other way Gibbs" Don would say as he turns to his family "So what do you want to do?"
"Stop asking us, what do you want to do little brother?" John would say
"How about another song Son?" Jeff would say passing Virgil the guitar.
"I had one in mind" He would say whispering to Virgil who would nod as he starts playing the guitar.
(Don – Italics, Virgil – Bold, Jeff – Underlined Italics, All Three – Bold Italics)
I can't fight this feeling any longer
And yet I'm still afraid to let it flow
What started out as friendship, has grown stronger
I only wish I had the strength to let it show
I tell myself that I can't hold out forever
I said there is no reason for my fear
Cause I feel so secure when we're together
You give my life direction
You make everything so clear
And even as I wander
I'm keeping you in sight
You're a candle in the window
On a cold, dark winter's night
And I'm getting closer than I ever thought I might
And I can't fight this feeling anymore
I've forgotten what I started fighting for
It's time to bring this ship into the shore
And throw away the oars, forever
Cause I can't fight this feeling anymore
I've forgotten what I started fighting for
And if I have to crawl upon the floor
Come crashing through the door
Baby, I can't fight this feeling anymore.
My life has been such a whirlwind since I saw you
I've been running round in circles in my mind
And it always seems that I'm following you, girl
Cause you take me to the places that alone I'd never find
And even as I wander
I'm keeping you in sight
You're a candle in the window
On a cold, dark winter's night
And I'm getting closer than I ever thought I might
And I can't fight this feeling anymore
I've forgotten what I started fighting for
It's time to bring this ship into the shore
And throw away the oars, forever
Cause I can't fight this feeling anymore
I've forgotten what I started fighting for
And if I have to crawl upon the floor
Come crashing through the door
Baby, I can't fight this feeling anymore.
Shocked that Jeff had started singing with them everyone was looking at him. "What? I sang this song to your mother the day I proposed" His sons jaws would drop at the revelation
"Dad, that's amazing, I didn't expect you to sing ever after Alan had grown up" Scott would say before the six hug Jeff.
"So what else did you sing to mom?" Don would ask looking at his father
"That is a story for another day son, just know there were many times we sang to you boys as you were new-borns" Jeff would say smirking before hugging his boys again "After everything we have all been through I am glad we get to spend this time together"
"Me too dad, me too" Alan would say as Don ruffles his baby brother's blond hair.
"I'm going to ring Brains now, inform him of what we found out yesterday and tell him the idea" Jeff would say as his kids nod to him before he walks into the bedroom.
After sitting down again, Virgil would pick up the guitar looking to his brothers "Keep holding on?"
"Yeah" Scott would say as his brothers agree.
Virgil would start playing the tune on the guitar
(Key is a little different since all six will be singing so their name will be in brackets before their parts)
(Scott) "You're not alone,
Together we stand
I'll be by your side
You know I'll take your hand"
(John) "When it gets cold
And it feels like the end
There's no place to go
You know I won't give in
No, I won't give in"
(Virgil) "Keep holding on
Cause you know we'll make it through
We'll make it through
Just stay strong
Cause you know I'm here for you
I'm here for you"
(Don) "There's nothing you could say
Nothing you could do
There's no other way when it comes to the truth
So keep holding on
Cause you know we'll make it through
We'll make it through"
(Gordon) "So far away
I wish you were here
Before it's too late
This could all disappear"
(Alan) "Before the doors close
And it comes to an end
With you by my side, I will fight and defend
I'll fight and defend
Yeah, Yeah"
(All) "Keep holding on
Cause you know we'll make it through
We'll make it through
Just stay strong
Cause you know I'm here for you
I'm here for you
There's nothing you could say
Nothing you could do
There's no other way when it comes to the truth
So keep holding on
Cause you know we'll make it through
We'll make it through"
Jeff would walk back into the lounge after talking to Brains for a little while.
(Jeff) "Hear me when I say, when I say I believe,
Nothings gonna change
Nothings gonna change destiny
Whatever's meant to be will work out perfectly
Yeah, Yeah, Yeah, Yeah"
(Scott, John, Virgil, Don, Gordon and Alan) "La da da da
La da da da
La da da da da da da da da
Keep holding on
Keep holding on"
(All) "There's nothing you could say
Nothing you could do
There's no other way when it comes to the truth
So keep holding on
Cause you know we'll make it through
We'll make it through"
After Virgil stops playing, everyone would see Gibbs, Tony, Ziva, McGee and Abby smiling "That was amazing" Abby would say "You guys should start a band"
This would make everyone laugh, thinking how they would cope touring the world "I don't think we would survive for long while on the tour bus, we may love each other to bits, but when we are in close quarters for a long time we end up arguing with each other" Scott would say laughing as there is a knock on the door. Gibbs would stand up patting Don on the shoulder before heading to the front door. After a few seconds, Dwayne Cassius Pride, Christopher LaSalle, Dr Loretta Wade, Sebastian Lund, Merri Brody and Sonja Percy would walk into the apartment shortly followed by Patton Plame wheeling himself in.
"Well if it isn't the hero of LA" Pride would say hugging Don before letting the others have a chance. "Gibbs"
"How you holding up kid?" LeSalle would ask after hugging him
"Don't you start" Don would say looking at Scott and Tony "Those two have been on my case all week"
"Good" LeSalle would say before smirking
"It's been a while Don" Merri would say before kissing him on the forehead "I hear you and Izzy are dating"
"Does everyone in NCIS know this?" Don would ask as the other agents nod.
"How are you ribs Donald?" Loretta would ask as she lifts up his shirt "Bruising seems to be going down from the photos I saw, cracked ribs will heal faster than fully broken bones, so they should be fully healed within the next 5 weeks" She would say lowering his shirt.
"I didn't even have chance to answer the question before you answered it yourself Loretta, it's good to see you" Don would say hugging her before kissing her on the cheek
"I made sure that only NCIS has access to any footage relating to the incident along with Abby, McGee, Eric and Nell" Seb would say after hugging Don.
"We wiped the footage from any news outlet so they cannot reuse it" Abby would state "Directors orders"
"Good, it was painful to watch" Don would say as Sonja looks in his eyes "Stop studying my emotions Sonja"
"Just checking you aren't lying to us" She would smirk before hugging him, "From what I have heard you Tracys like lying about your problems"
"She's good" Gordon would state before the others nod.
"You used to the crutches yet?" Patton would ask as he and Don fist bump.
"I can get to the bedroom door from my bed but still not any further" Don would say looking annoyed, after looking around he would introduce the team to his family and vice versa. After saying goodbye to Gibbs and his team, Abby giving him a really long hug, it would soon be the New Orleans team and the family. "What did Brains say dad?"
"He isn't happy at all, he's speaking to Fermat and has agreed to homeschool them both along with TinTin, Boys I know it is a lot to ask but I was hoping you could all help Brains out in doing so when you have the chance."
"Of course we will, I remember having to help John, Virgil, Don and Gordon with their homework before" Scott would say before looking at Alan "I can help out with languages and history"
"Anything to do with science I can help Brains with and do a lot with Astronomy" John would say
"Don and I can tackle the performing arts and creative subjects. While I show them engineering and woodwork" Virgil would state with Don nodding
"I will also help out with Maths and IT" Don would state looking at Patton "I may not be as good as Patton or Seb with IT but I can still have a degree in it"
"I can help out with Physical Education and go with what they are good at before going onto harder stuff" Gordon would chime in
"Once we get back to the Island we will speak to everyone making sure we have everything covered, I believe Lady P and Parker will want to help out as well over Video Chats"
"As long as you go easy on me I'm ok with that" Alan would state grinning.
"So" Gordon would state looking at Don "We all know you got injured on your first mission in New Orleans but you never told us why."
"Oh god" Don would put his head in his hands
"Oh that is a good story" Pride would smirk "Is it ok to tell them?"
"Go ahead" Don would say not looking up. As Pride starts to tell the story of Don's first mission with them.
(Flashback to Three Years ago in New Orleans.)
"All right guys listen up" Pride would say standing in front of the monitors in their base. He would click a button on the remote he holds and a picture of a female marine would appear on the screens "This here is Petty Officer Sara Marsh, she was found murdered in her quarters on the ship 20 minutes ago, we have been sent a helicopter to pick us up so grab your gear" Pride would say as he picks up two bags, "Tracy, This is yours" he would say holding out the bag to a 21 year old Don
"Thank you sir" He would say taking the bag as he walks behind LaSalle and Brody
After arriving at the crime scene on the ship, Pride would split his team to do jobs "LaSalle, Brody examine the crime scene, Tracy you are with me interviewing the people who found her." He would say before walking off followed by Don.
After finding the Lieutenant who found the body they would show their ID's "Special Agent Pride and Agent Tracy, are you Lieutenant Smith?" He would ask
"I am" the male Lieutenant would say.
"Can you tell us how you found the body?" Pride would ask as the Lieutenant sighs.
"We were meant to be on duty in the bridge, but when Marsh didn't turn up I was sent by the Captain to find her, when I got to the cabin, the door was ajar and I could see blood on handle. As I pushed the door open with my foot, I saw Marsh on the floor in a pool of her own blood, after calling the medics she was pronounced dead straight away." He would state as Dr Loretta Wade walks past them to the medical bay to examine the body.
"Did you see anyone suspicious around the area?" Don would ask looking at the Lieutenant
"Everyone has been reported for on the ship, and was accounted for at the time of her murder, we haven't looked at the CCTV yet as we were advised to wait for you"
Don and Pride would look at each other before Pride would speak "Can you take us to view the CCTV of the area?"
"Certainly, right this way" Lieutenant Smith would head towards the security office followed by Don and Pride. "Pull up the CCTV outside Petty Officer Marsh's cabin" He would order the marine in the room. Nodding the Marine would pull up the CCTV of the night before. As it plays, it would show the petty officer entering her cabin around 9pm after clocking off. Two hours later, a male would seen entering the cabin while wearing track suit bottoms, a hoodie with the hood pulled over his head and trainers. After 20 minutes, the male would walk back out with blood on his hands, and his hood down.
"Pause it there" Don would say as the video gets paused. The suspects face on full view. "Do you know who that is Lieutenant?"
"He isn't any of our crew"
"I'm going to need you to send this footage to us so our team back in New Orleans can run facial recognition on the man" Pride would state as the footage gets sent over. After pulling out his phone he would call Seb and Patton "Seb, Pat, we are sending over the CCTV footage with the screenshot of the suspects face, run it against facial recognition and against the personal records. Get back to us when you have something" Pride would look to Don "I'm going to send the image to you and the others so we can interview the crew and see if anyone knows this man"
"Yes sir" Before he could do this, Pride's phone would ring
"LaSalle?"
"Pride we have something, you need to see this"
Heading back to the cabin, LaSalle and Brody would be stood outside speaking to two crew members showing them the photo "No one saw this man last night coming or going, nor know who he is" Brody would state as they walk into the cabin
"What we found is a note about the Avalanche 7 years ago in Iceland" He would say handing the note to Pride and Don in an evidence bag so they can read it.
'If you don't stop investigating me and my allies right now, we will kill you Petty Officer Marsh, just like we killed your husband in the Iceland Avalanche at the ski resort in 2001. You have been warned.'
Pride would look at Don after they had read the note. "You ok Don?"
"So my mother's death was a part of collateral damage that killed this petty officers husband to stop him investigating whoever was behind it. And now they have killed again" Don would state looking determined "We are going to get him"
"Don't do anything stupid, if you find him, do not engage until we arrive." Pride would state as they get a phone call "Go ahead guys"
"The man's name is Holden Bennett; he is an American Citizen that has ties to terrorist groups around the world. He was in Iceland in 2001 before the avalanche at the ski resort, he was sighted in New Orleans before the ship left on its mission and hasn't been seen since."
"We need to alert the crew" LaSalle would say as Pride nods.
"LaSalle, Brody alert the captain and lock down the ship, nobody comes or goes. Tracy you and I will search the lower decks, once you two are done with the captain search the top decks, If you find him as I said earlier, Do not engage alone unless you have to" Pride would state as before he looks to the phone "Seb, Pat, we will get you linked into the CCTV, search through the footage until you find him, and alert us"
"Will do" Seb would say hanging up. LaSalle and Brody would leave, armed with their guns, as Pride and Don would head to the lower decks starting at the bottom.
"Stick with me and check every room." He would say before checking one of the first rooms. After checking the entire bottom floor, finding nothing, they move up to the next deck. With their communications linked to Seb and Patton they would be getting updates on areas of movements.
"Sir, we have the suspect in your vicinity, go left now" Seb would say as Don and Pride follow the directions. "We lost him around this area, there are only two ways in and out,"
Pride would signal for Don to go left as he heads right. Walking around Don would feel a gun being pointed at his head from behind "Drop the weapon" The man would state before Don hands him his gun and puts his hands in the air.
"Why did you do it Holden" Don would state turning around to face the suspect.
"She was getting too close to us for comfort, so we had to cut her off like we did her husband in Iceland. Why do I recognise you"
"I don't know" Don would say as Pride walks into view. Seeing Pride, Holden would grab Don and points the gun to Don's head
"Drop your weapon or I put a bullet in his head"
Pride would lower his gun to the ground before kicking it away "Let the kid go Holden"
"Not until I am off this ship"
"That won't happen, the ships on lockdown"
"Then I guess you need to order the lockdown to be lifted"
"I will do that once you let my agent go"
LaSalle and Brody would be making their way down the decks to help the situation. Don looking Pride in the eyes would smirk. All of a sudden, taking Holden by surprise, Don would bash him into the wall, making him drop the gun and let go off him. After fighting Holden for a few minutes, Don would manage to knock them both to the ground, as LaSalle and Brody arrive and point their guns at Holden "Stay down" Brody would state as Pride helps Don up.
"You ok kid?" Pride would ask as Don holds his left arm
"Bashed my left arm pretty hard on the floor, I will get Loretta to check it out when we get upstairs." Don would reply as Pride passes him his gun. Putting his gun back in the holster, he would head up to the medical bay followed by Pride while LaSalle and Brody deal with the suspect.
After explaining what had happened Loretta would check Don's arm over. "You haven't broken any bones, just a small fracture to the shoulder, take it easy and it should heal within a few days"
"Thanks Loretta" Don would reply before turning to Pride "I'm sorry I did that sir"
"Don't be sorry Don, you did what you had to do in a tight situation, you took him by surprise, disarmed him, escaped his grip and apprehended him, yes you were injured, but you did what any agent would have done, if it was me, I would of done that, Brody and LaSalle were too far out, you couldn't risk him waiting any longer and shooting you" Pride would say placing his hand on Don's right shoulder "Take a week off, go see your family and rest" Pride would state as they get told they will be docking in New Orleans in 20 minutes.
Once they were docked, they took Holden to central booking before heading back to their base. Being met by Seb and Patton, they celebrate Don's first mission with them. After they celebrated, Don would ring his dad and explain he got injured and has been ordered to take a week off to recover and see his family. "Get some rest tonight, I will send Scott over in the morning to pick you up, just be careful with your left shoulder ok?"
"Will do dad, see you tomorrow" He would say before hanging up and heading home
As Pride finishes the story, Don would look at his father and brothers who were all stunned for words "The reason I didn't tell you all sooner was because of the link to Mom's death"
"We understand that Don, it must have been a shock to you" Scott would say
"It was, we looked into his connections and after a few months investigating in New Orleans and finding links to LA I was transferred over there. But the trail went cold in LA, until last week when we found the building which they had used recently, unfortunately they were long gone before we arrived and had the bomb, which was linked to the doors from what Eric told me" Don would state
"We are so close in catching them all they slip away" LaSalle would add as Don looks annoyed
"LaSalle, Brody stay with Don tonight, Sonja, Loretta you are with me, and making sure the Tracys are safe at the hotel"
"Actually, if you all don't mind, there is plenty of room here for everyone to stay the last few nights here" Don would state, "Dad, Scott and John can take one of the spare rooms, you guys can take the other one while Virgil and Gordon take the sofas and Alan takes the airbed"
"Sounds like a plan" Jeff would state "Myself, Scott and John will go get everyone's stuff from the hotel, Dwayne do you want to come with us?"
"Sure, Sonja you are coming too in case I need you" Pride would state as they leave.
"You ok Don?" Brody would ask looking at him
"Just remembering the case, looking back I wouldn't change a thing" Don would say smiling
"I don't know, first he saves his entire team, now we know he took down the suspect in his first case, anything else we need to know" Gordon would say smirking
"My first case in LA involved Tracy Industries" Don would say making his remaining brothers look shocked "Dad will kill me for mentioning it, but he and Scott knew, John knows a few things"
"Seriously?"
"Seriously, remember the employee who was killed?" he would ask as they nod "She was the wife of a marine, which made it our jurisdiction, we caught the killer obviously"
"Damn, who wants a drink?" Gordon would say standing up as everyone says yes Brody would stand up.
"I'll help" she would say as they head into the kitchen