A/N: Thank you for all those who continue review I really appreciate the support for this story.
Kensi opened her eyes from her spot on the dirt covered floor of the cave. She didn't know how long she had been laying there, or how long it had been since the ambush had taken place. She was still trying to figure out where here was, and exactly how she managed to end up in the cave. Kensi sat up slowly, making sure the dizziness had passed. Once she was satisfied she wouldn't pass out again, she took her hand and pressed hard into her ribs trying to calculate the extent of her injuries. Kensi bit her bottom lip to keep from crying out in pain, she figured she had at least two cracked ribs.
After recovering from the sheering pain that shot through her ribs, she calmed herself down and began to take note of her surroundings. Moving slowly, Kensi eased herself up to her knees so she could see the surrounding area more clearly. She was in a small cave that had dirt covered floors. She could faintly hear the sound of water dripping though she couldn't see it, it sounded fairly close by. After she was stable and certain she wasn't going to pass out, Kensi stood up. Trying to remember what had happened she closed her eyes.
"Burn the bodies of those that are dead. Take the rest as hostages." A man had ordered.
Kensi and Granger were on their knees being held a gunpoint. A man grabbed her by her wrist, that were currently tied up and loaded her and Granger into the back of truck.
"No matter what, do not tell them anything." Granger ordered.
"Not a word." She agreed.
Kensi opened her eyes, as she heard movement in the cave. Cautiously, Kensi followed the sounds of the movement to the west side of the cave. Laying on the ground about ten feet in front of her was Granger with a trail of blood. Oh God, Kensi thought all the blood in the cave must be his.
"Granger!" Kensi called out as she kneeled down beside him.
"Your ok?" He asked surprised.
"Besides a broken wrist and a few cracked ribs yes. What happened? I don't remember anything after we were loaded into the trucks?" Kensi asked.
"They took us back to their camp. They wanted to know who we worked for, and what are mission objective was. They were going to kill you, but Jack stopped them once he realized who you were. We told him nothing about our mission. He drug us out into the desert and beat you half to death thinking you would give up the mission objective. You didn't, and they were going to execute us." Granger explained stopping because of the pain he was in.
Kensi closed her eyes and shook her head in disbelieve.
"He pointed the gun at me, and you stepped in the way. He shot you instead of me. He hit me with the back of his rifle, I blacked out." Kensi said shocked at her own memory of the events.
" He left us, thought we were dead. I picked you up, and carried you hear. I couldn't make it any further, I was losing to much blood."
"Why did you do all this to protect me?" Kensi questioned.
"A long time ago, I made a promise to a good friend, that I would watch out for his daughter. I never break a promise." Granger said reaching his hand up for Kensi's. Kensi took his hand in hers. "I will tell your father, you said hello." Granger said as he closed his eyes and passed into the next life.
Kensi fell back on her butt, brining her knees to her chest. This time she was going to end this for good. But first she had to do something.
Walking outside the cave she got down on her knees and started digging with her hands. She dug until the sand burned her like a hot branding iron, but she didn't care, she didn't feel it. She kept digging, and the harder she dug the angrier she got. Angry with herself , angry with Granger for dying playing the hero, angry at Hetty for making her go. Right now she was angry at the world.
After what seemed like hours Kensi returned to the cave dragging Granger's body out into the desert, and placing him the hole she had just dug. She never really liked Granger, hell she is pretty sure she hated him, she is pretty sure everyone did, but after the man gives up his own life to save hers she figures the least she can do is burry him the best she could. After laying Granger to rest, she grabs the rifle off the ground checking to make sure its loaded. When she is satisfied that it is, she turns back towards the direction that they just escaped from.
Using her tracking skills she had learned from her father, she followed their tracks backwards until she was led back to camp. It was completely isolated in the middle of the desert, it was down in a hollow with sand hills that protected it on all sides. Kensi watched as the men headed in out of the camp, making mental notes to herself about how many were with guns. After counting at least twelve men (if that's what you want to call them), with guns she decided to wait to make her move on the camp.
Kensi was not a killer, and she knew there was a fine line between what was right and taking vengeance in your own hands. But this was not vengeance, this was justice. Justice for the innocent villages he has attacked, justice for the soldiers he had killed during the ambush of her unit, and justice for her. It was time for closure, it was time for this to end now. It was time for her to complete her mission.