Hello, lovelies, we have returned with another chapter. Tell us, how are we doing? And i want you people to know that we'll have a few more chapters, I'm pretty sure. This has been a blast writing, working with Athena465 has taught me a lot of things, and I'm so proud of this story, so please continue reading, following, reviewing and favoriting, (even though that isn't a word).

Kisses,

lovedaniruah

We are back with another chapter, it was supposed to be uploaded yesterday but I was at a dentist app. I have loved writing this story with lovedaniruah, and those waiting for my other stories I promise I will try to update them sometime this week.

-A. Grayson

The Price Must Be Paid

Chapter 6

Kensi squeezed Nell's hand so much it was whiter than bleached paper, they had given her a belt to bite on because the because the pain was unbearable for the female agent, and she was already suffering from the beating Antonio gave her. Sam was pulling out the bullet out of her leg in one of the spare interrogation rooms, and it was hurting like hell for her. But not as much as not seeing Deeks beside her.

The thought of Deeks made her feel better, his smile, his laugh, well just everything about him. She imagined him coming through the door, and pulling her into a long, deep hug. They'd spend the night together, and be happy…she so badly wanted to be happy…happy with Deeks. She'd even look at the door when she wasn't squeezing them shut and taking short small breaths because of the pain.

Sam looked guilty the entire time he went about digging HIS bullet out of HIS little sister's leg. He'd shot Kensi…. He shot his little sister. After he stitched her leg up, he pulled her into a big teddy bear hug.

"It's not your fault, Sam. You had to, you and Callen were in danger. You stopped Hayden, but I took the impact. It is okay Sam, I am o-…" she stopped, she did not know if she was okay mentally, she was a fucking train wreck, so she hugged him back as best as she could, since her leg was propped up in front of her.

"It is my fault, Kens. I shot you! That's-" but he was interrupted by a bang from downstairs, causing Kensi to jump and her bullet wound to flare up. Callen put a finger up to his lips. "Sam and I will go check what that was, and Nell, you stay with Kensi." Nell nodded and moved over towards Kensi while taking note of the tension that radiated off of the female agent when she got within touching distance.

Sam and Callen shut the door behind them and Nell went to go turn off the lights. Kensi was here for now, but nevertheless Nell had her knife in boot, but never ever wanted to think about that option, the option that Kensi could disappear and Nell would have to defend herself. She shook the thoughts from her head and helped Kensi over to the corner, where they sat behind the couch.

Kensi put her head on Nell's shoulder while stretching her injured leg out, and felt her eyes drooping, the past few days may have not slowed Hayden but they took a toll on Kensi. Nell put an arm around her best friend and pulled her a bit closer to her, trying her best to take over Deeks' job for the moment but Nell wasn't Deeks. Looking down at the female agent Nell noticed the deep crease between her eyes and the pain, she hadn't seen Kensi that vulnerable since Afghanistan and here she was again, except worse. She was fighting against the darkest and deadliest part of herself and Nell wanted to be there for her, but she could only play role-reversal…

If Nell was in this position or anyone else on the team, where the darkness she undeniably has in her came out and took over…would she have the strength to fight back like Kensi? Because lets face it, at anytime one of them could be called under to assume the identity of a criminal and they all have a chance of falling victim to the high life of the criminal…just because Kensi was in this position doesn't mean that it could not have easily been Callen or even herself…this is the price the Alpha team pays everyday…

"Thanks, Nell." whispered Kensi tearing Nell from her thoughts, as she began falling asleep. She always felt safe in the arms of her best friends, and safety was something she hadn't felt in a long time.

Sam and Callen came back up after a few minutes. "It was nothing." said Callen, as he opened the door, but Nell shot him a glare and nodded her head towards Kensi, whose head was resting on her lap, and her body was sprawled out on the ground.

All of them smiled lightly when they saw her. Of course she was exhausted, but they hadn't seen her that peaceful in a long time. Sam gently picked her up mindful of her wound and placed her on the couch, and covered her with a warm blanket. Nell kneeled down and pressed a light kiss onto her best friend's forehead. "You're safe, Kens. We're here now." she whispered. They all left, and shut the door behind them and turning the lock.

At the heavy clicking of the lock two polychrome eyes shot open and a twisted smile tainted her beautiful features. Hayden was unlocked from her little box again, and she was dying to play a game.

He was pushed out from the moving van, out by an empty dirt road. He cried out in pain on impact, and then after five minutes of lying on the ground, he pushed himself to get up. The only thing Deeks could think about was Kensi. His beautiful, beloved Kensi. Her raven hair, her sparkling mismatched eyes; he saw her smile play in his head, and limping, he pushed himself to climb down the hill, and he then realized that he knew where he was. Deeks hobbled down the street, away from the kids who were busy playing soccer in the street, and he stumbled onto the front porch of a little house with a well kept green lawn and red door, and he rang the doorbell.

And the door opened, and there was Michelle Hanna, who's face went from neutral to concerned immediately. "Please, Michelle." he begged. "Help me."

Michelle pushed her daughter away, and helped Deeks into the living room and onto the couch. "Kam, go get the first aid kit!" she yelled, as she cut off Deeks' shirt, revealing a field of wounds.

"Who did this to you, Marty?" she asked, dabbing some rubbing alcohol on a cotton swab and cleaned his cuts. Deeks winced and replied. "Just your average terrorist group." he groaned.

"Kam, go to your room." ordered the CIA officer. The little girl, whose big brown eyes were full of fear, nodded and ran upstairs to her room. After his wounds were stitched up and bandaged, and he was given a glass of water, Michelle sat on the couch next to him. "How did you get here?"

"The dudes who took me, tortured me and then dumped me here. I decided to go up and then I recognized your block. Sorry if I-"

"Marty, you know this is a safe place where you can come anytime you need help." said Michelle sternly. "How's Kensi doing? Does she know you're here?"

Deeks' eyes grew wide. "Right. Kensi. I need to get to her." he said, standing up.

"I'll drive you." said Michelle. She grabbed her purse, and called her daughter to come downstairs. Deeks limped out to their car and sat in the backseat, as Kam sat next to him, and said,

"Deeks, are you okay?"

"Fine, Kammie. Just need to get somewhere." replied Deeks. "Other than that, I feel absolutely dandy." he said the last part in a cheery voice that made Sam's daughter smile.

As they pulled a few blocks from the boatshed, Deeks got out, thanked Michelle, and began walking towards the dock, praying that his team would be there.

Callen and the team were sitting in the boatshed while Eric was in OPS trying his hardest to find Deeks, but the poor tech was getting frustrated and was ordered by Hetty to take a break "Has there been any indication of Burns?" Hetty said appearing on the screen.

"No, she was Kensi when we left the room and has been asleep ever since." Callen answered…and was about to continue on when the door to the boatshed flew open nearly coming off of its hinges. In the door way was a beaten yet determined LAPD Detective. He had a black eye and a cut lip and cuts and bruises all up and down his arms.

"Deeks!" Nell yelled as she ran to his side and helped him sit in her now empty chair. The blonde Detective looked around for Kensi but only saw her on the screen, sleeping.

"Hayden Burns was beaten…I heard them…I heard her screaming….you have to find…"

"Mr. Deeks please…" Hetty interrupted. "We know Burns was beaten…"

"How do you know that?" Deeks watched as the entire team looked to Kensi on the tv screen. "Kensi…is Hayden Burns?" before anyone could speak he was out of his chair and heading to the room she was in but came to the locked door…"Why the fuck is this locked?" he turned to his team.

"We can't risk Hayden getting away…" Callen began.

"That is not Hayden that is Kensi! Open the fucking door G." Deeks growled. Callen looked to Hetty.

She sighed and nodded. "Hetty…"

"Save it, Ms. Jones. We can only hope that it is Kensi when he unlocks the door, I am on my way."

But it wasn't…Kensi was long gone…pushed to the side…and that is who Deeks and the team witnessed as her eyes opened slowly, but in his elation that she was alive Deeks failed to notice the cold and hateful look.

"Kensi are you…"

He was cut off my her lunging, her hands poised for his throat, but he was quickly pulled away by Sam but failed to notice Hayden change direction and grab Nell and pulling her in front of her body. Sam and Callen pulled out their guns while Deeks watched, frozen from the floor as a woman he didn't know held Nell in a chokehold and a playful smile touching her face.

"Let her go Hayden." Callen commanded.

"Oh where is the fun in that Agent Callen? It is a shame really, she is such a pretty little thing…" She said as she stroked Nell's cheek with her free hand in a faux motherly way. "It would be such… a pity if I were…" her grip tightened causing Nell to cry out in pain. "Apply pressure…or break her pretty little neck." The laugh that emanated from the female agent was cold and sent everyone on edge, but she fell silent when Deeks stood up behind Callen and Sam causing Hayden to stop and sharply inhale.

Nell's vision became blurry with tears. Who was this woman? She knew that if she died, Kensi didn't kill her. Hayden Burns did. But she had such a hard time trying to convince herself that Kensi wasn't the one doing this.

She shook her head forcefully tightening her grip on Nell. "ha no, that won't work, I am so close…" she squeezed her eyes closed as she felt something hard hit her on the head "Son of a bitch!" she yelled as she let go of Nell to grab her head, and fell to the ground

Sam pushed Nell and Deeks out of the room as her breathing heightened and he only noticed Hetty when she moved to stand in front of her senior agents, a gun in hand aimed directly at the woman she thought of as a daughter.

Hetty couldn't tell who was on the ground before her; was it Kensi or Hayden…she had a promise to keep…never in her life was Hetty this conflicted.

"DO IT!" the woman yelled. "Pull the fucking trigger!" she dropped her hands from her head and faced the little woman …Hayden Burns…maybe. Hetty's finger hovered on the trigger as she watched as Kensi slipped further and further away…Hayden Burns…

"Shoot me!" screamed the girl. Both Hetty's eyes and hers were full of tears, and everyone in the room was basically crying.

Hetty saw the look in the girl's eyes, and her finger tightened around the trigger and then...