"If you don't tell us where she is I swear to you I will do worse things to you than what the Taliban would do when they found out you've been talking to us." The man still kept quiet. "If you don't start talking in the next 10 seconds I swear to you we will take you back to the base and have the interrogators have at it."
Callen counted to 10. Just before he reached 10 the man spoke up.
"Alright alright. I'll tell you. She was here, they took her south. I don't know where to I swear. All I know is they were heading south and they left about 30 minutes ago. That's all I know I swear."
"How many were there?"
"About 10 I think."
"You're coming with us," Callen spoke as he pushed the man towards the exit.
They continued walking towards the south.
"How far could they have gotten?" Callen asked one of the soldiers.
"Depends on how fast they're going, on foot I'd say about a couple of miles."
"Is there a way around these mountains by car?"
"Yeah there is. It should take about an hour to get around it, including the walk back to the jeep."
"How long would it take them to reach the other end of the mountains?"
"That still should take them probably a little over an hour to get there, if they are going there, they could hide out in the mountains."
"What you're thinking G?" Sam asked.
"I was thinking about sending a team that way so we can hit them from both sides. We can cover more ground that way."
"I think you're right agent Callen. I will take a few soldiers and we'll go that way."
"Sam will go with you too."
"That's fine."
Sam left with a team to go back to the jeep while Callen and the others kept walking through the mountains.
…..
Rebecca sat there in a part of the cave still chained. Her ribs were really hurting which started to affect her breathing. She hoped Callen or someone would find her soon. She never saw any other soldier so she figured it was just her they had. Rebecca had no idea how long she had been here but she was tired. She wanted to sleep but she was afraid to close her eyes. She heard them talk in the background but she couldn't make out what they were saying. The next thing she knew they were coming into the room and dragged her off. They put her in a chair and her to it.
"What do you want with me?!"
"Give us the location of the base you're staying at."
"Never," Rebecca spat. She was rewarded with a strike to the face.
"We can keep doing this all day long. I'm leaving here till you tell me the location of the base."
"Then you'll die in this room cus I won't tell you where it is."
"You will die first."
"Then you might as well kill me now cus I will never tell you were the base is."
Rebecca received yet another few punches to her face.
"We can do this the easy way or the hard way. It's up to you."
"I will never tell you were it is. I won't let you kill my fellow soldiers."
"That's your choice then." He signaled to another men and he went to pull a box out. "I told you there's an easy was or a hard way. Guess you want the hard way."
Rebecca watched as the contents of the box were placed on the table. She saw all kinds of torture tools.
…
Callen and the team had been walking for almost 45 minutes after they split up when the man at the front of the group made the signal to stop. He pointed to a little further in the mountains. There was someone standing there. They hit away so they wouldn't be seen and Callen went higher up with a soldier. They looked out over the area and saw 4 guards standing outside a mountain. They looked at the mountain and saw a door in it.
"That's got to be where they are holding Rebecca," Callen said.
The soldier pulled out his com and called the base.
"Lt. Smith, have you found LCDR Jenkins?"
"No not yet, but we think we have found the place they are hiding here. The coordinates are 3-4-2-8 niner north, 7-0-2-2-3-1 east. We believe there's a Taliban compound here."
"34-28-9 north, 70-22-31 east got it. Stand by lieutenant we're running the coordinates now."
The coordinates were put in the computer and it searched for the spot on the map. They could see with the satellite there was something in that position.
"Alright lieutenant you've got the green light."
"Roger that sergeant."
The lieutenant contacted the other team.
"How far away are you from 34-28-9 north, 70-22-31 east?"
"About 10 minutes, why?"
"We believe we have found the compound where they are holding LCDR Jenkins."
"We'll be right there."
Callen kept his eyes on the compound. He hoped Rebecca would still be alive. 10 minutes later they got word from the other team that they were in position. From above they took the guards out before storming into the compound. They had cleared every room when they came to the room they were holding Rebecca in. They kicked the door open and immediately shot the targets down. They were carefully not to shoot Rebecca who was still sitting in the chair. Callen was at the end of the group.
"Targets are down," one of the soldiers called.
"What about the package?" The sergeant back at the base replied.
Callen walked in as soon as they said targets down. He quickly walked up to Rebecca and checked her over. Rebecca flinched when she felt his hand on her.
"It's okay Becky, it's me, G."
Rebecca looked up and into Callen's eyes. "G?" She asked confused.
"Yeah it's me, you're safe."
"Package is secure," the soldier reported to the sergeant.
There was a wave of relieve back at the base.
"It's okay honey, you're safe," Callen spoke as Sam was busy untying her. Rebecca fell to front but Callen caught her. "It's okay Becky, I've got you. You're safe. It's okay. We're getting you out of her."
Callen lifted her up and she groaned in pain.
"It's okay Becky, we're going back."
"My ribs, they are broken."
"Does it hurt too much when I hold you like this?"
Rebecca nodded. Callen motioned to Sam who came around and got on the other side of Rebecca. Sam put Rebecca's arm around his neck while her other arms was around Callen's neck already and together they carried her out of the compound. They went into the other direction as they came in by since the jeep was closer to the other way, the way Sam and his team had taken. One of the soldiers ran ahead and got a gurney read for Rebecca. Once they had reached the jeep Rebecca was laid down on the gurney before they pushed her into the jeep.
"G," Rebecca called frantically when Callen let her go so she could be loaded into the jeep.
"It's okay Becky I'm still here." Quickly Callen got in the back with Rebecca and took her hand again. "I'm here okay. I'm right here. I'm not going anywhere, you're safe."
The doctor that had gone with them looked Rebecca over and gave her some oxygen. It was about an hour and a half drive back to the base. Rebecca felt safe now. She closed her eyes and let the exhaustion take over. Callen never let go of her hand during the entire ride.
Everyone looked as they drove back onto the base. The people who had gathered around the truck as it stopped started clapping once they saw it was Rebecca. She was back home safely. Rebecca was quickly taken to the hospital. Callen stayed at Rebecca's side until he was ushered away by the medical staff. Rebecca looked up as she felt Callen letting go off her hand.
"It's okay Becky. You're back at the base. The doctors are gonna look you over. I'll be right here. I'll just call Hetty to let her know we have found you, okay. I'll be right back."
Two of the medical staff looked at each other. "Hetty, as in Hetty Lange? I thought she was an urban legend."
Callen smiled at them. "Oh no she's very real. And yes everything you've heard about her is true."
"Wow, you work with her?"
"Yes, she's our operations manager."
Callen stepped away and pulled the sat phone out and called Hetty.
"Mr. Callen, have you found Ms. Jenkins?"
"Yes we have, she's in the hospital and the base right now being looked over."
"Thank god. How is she?"
"A little shaken up but I think she will be okay."
"Good. Take care of her Mr. Callen, take as much time as you need."
"Thank you Hetty," Callen replied and hung up the phone.
Callen walked back into the hospital and went to see how Rebecca was doing. The doctors were still working on her. Callen watched as they worked on Rebecca. Luckily Rebecca didn't need surgery. Once they were done the doctor stepped up to Callen.
"How is she?"
"Physically she should be okay, she has a few broken ribs, she bruised a couple of fingers, she has a mild concussion, some cuts and bruised on her body but other than that she's fine. Mentally it will be a different thing I'm afraid. Her PTSD will probably will act up after this again."
"Yeah perhaps. How soon can I take her home?"
"That's up to her, technically she still has a few more months left in her deployment."
"She's not staying here! Not after what happened!" Callen yelled at him.
"That's up to Rebecca to decide."
"She's coming home with me. I'm not leaving her here, not after what happened."
"We'll talk about this more when she's stable enough to travel."
The doctor walked off and Callen walked up to Rebecca's bed. He sat down on the chair next to the bed and took Rebecca's hand. Rebecca turned her head and looked him in the eye.
"I'm glad to see you again," Callen spoke as he moved his hand over her face. "I'm glad you're alright. They had told me you were dead but it didn't want to believe them. You couldn't be dead, you just couldn't. So I came out here I just had to see for myself."
"Thank you for coming," Rebecca spoke in a faint voice.
"You're welcome. I love you Becky."
"I love you too G."
Callen bent down and softly kissed Rebecca on the lips. He was so glad that they had found her and she was alright, well physically anyway. He was glad he had trusted his instincts and had come to Afghanistan, he just knew she wasn't dead. Luckily they had found her before the Taliban had done something terrible to her. He hoped she would be alright mentally and that her PTSD wouldn't cause her too much trouble. But he would be there for her no matter what.
Rebecca finally was allowing herself to relax. Callen saw her trying to fall asleep.
"It's okay Becky, just get some sleep. I'll be right here for you. It's okay, you're safe."
Rebecca closed her eyes and eventually managed to fall asleep. Sam walked into the tent.
"How is she?" Sam asked softly.
"She'll be okay physically. The doctor is however worried that her PTSD will act up again."
"She'll be alright G. Besides she has you."
"Yeah, and I'm gonna be there for her."
"She'll be fine G, just give her time. I'm just gonna get some rest, you're gonna stay here?"
"Yeah, I wanna be here in case Rebecca wakes up in the middle of the night."
"Alright."
Sam walked off and Callen sat back down on the chair next to Rebecca's bed. He looked at his girlfriend sleeping. He had come so close to losing her. He didn't want to lose her, ever! Suddenly he had an idea what he would do when they got home. He filed it away for when they would be home.
A couple hours later Rebecca shook up in her bed. Terrified she looked around where she was. Callen immediately was at her side.
"It's okay Becky, you're safe. You're in the hospital at base. It's okay." Callen sat next to her on the bed and took her into his arms. "It's okay Becky, I've got you. You're safe."
Callen lay back down on the bed with Rebecca in his arms as Rebecca winced.
"Am I hurting you?" Callen asked concerned.
"Yeah my ribs a bit."
"Sorry." Callen let go of her and placed her on her back on the bed and lay down next to her on his side. "This better?" Rebecca nodded. Callen laid his head next to hers on the pillow and carefully wrapped his arm around her. "It's okay Becky. I'm here, just try to get some sleep. I'll be right here next to you."
Rebecca snuggled a bit against Callen and fell asleep again a little later. In the morning Rebecca woke up and she felt someone lying close to her and she felt an arm around her body. She immediately recognized to who the arm belonged to. For a moment she thought she was back in LA but then she remember again what happened.
"Good morning," Callen spoke.
"Good morning," Rebecca replied.
"How are you feeling?"
"Okay I guess."
A little later Callen saw someone walking up to them. He was a Captain.
"LCDR Jenkins," he spoke as he approached. Rebecca lifted her hand and saluted him. "Glad to have you back here again Commander. How are you feeling?"
"I've been better. But I'm okay."
"We're glad to have you back here again."
"What happened to the others that were in the convoy?"
"I'm sorry to inform you Commander but they all died."
Rebecca couldn't believe her ears. The other 4 medical soldiers in the jeep all had died.
"I know this is hard right now but I've gotta ask you a few questions."
Rebecca composed herself. "Yeah sure."
"Do you know if any of our ops have been compromised?"
"Yes I know, and no nothing is compromised. I didn't give them any information, I'm 100% sure of that."
"Alright. One more thing, you technically have a few months left in your deployment but in light of recent events we would understand if you want to go home. It's up to you to decide. The navy supports you in whatever decision you make."
"I'll think about it."
"Alright, rest up Commander. We're glad to have you here again."
Rebecca saluted him as he walked off.
"You can come home if you like," Callen told Rebecca.
"I don't know. Technically I still have a few months left."
"I know, but you heard what the Captain said. You can go home if you want. It's up to you but I think it would be better if you came home. You've been through a lot. No one would blame you. With your PTSD and everything I think it would be better if you came home. I would feel much better knowing you're safe at home other than being captured here again."
"I know, maybe it would be better for me. But I don't want to let my country down."
"You won't. They all would understand. You don't have to decide now honey, just think about it."
The doctor came back and checked on her.
"You're injuries are already healing nicely. You're safe to be transported if you choose to go home."
"Thank you doctor."
A little later Sam stepped in.
"Hey Rebecca, how are you?" Sam asked.
"I'm okay. I've been better."
"Glad to see you back with us again."
"It's good to be here. Thank you for coming for me."
"Of course. G went after you and I couldn't let him go alone."
"Thanks."
"There's a plane going back to LA tonight," Sam told Callen. "We can fly with them."
"Great. You should at least go. I will let you know if we'll join you."
"Okay," Sam replied and he walked off.
Rebecca lay there thinking about what to do. She didn't want to let her country down but she didn't think it would be a good idea if she stayed here. She could feel her PTSD already acting up. It would be better for her to go back home.
"I'm coming home with you," Rebecca spoke after a while.
"You sure?" Callen asked.
"Yeah, it would be better for me."
"Alright, then we'll go home."
Callen made everything in order for the three of them to fly back to LA. Callen went to Rebecca's tent and grabbed her stuff. He put everything in her bag and headed back to the hospital. Rebecca was just finished getting dressed.
"You ready go home?" Callen asked.
"Yeah, you got my things?"
"Yes, everything is in the bag."
"Good."
Rebecca said goodbye to the other medical staff before walking to the jeep that was going to transport them to the airport. They got to the military airport and boarded the flight. Rebecca stood there watching as they loaded the coffins with the bodies of the fallen service men and women. Callen stood next to her and wrapped his arm around her. In those coffins were also the bodies or her fellow medical soldiers. She couldn't believe that she was the only one who had survived the convoy attack. Rebecca saluted as the coffins were loaded into the flight. Once every coffin was loaded into the plane Rebecca, Callen and Sam got in as well. Rebecca sat down and wiped away a few tears. She settled into her seat and managed to get some sleep on the flight home.
"Becky," Callen nudged her awake. Rebecca shook up and grabbed Callen's arm tightly. "It's okay Becky, it's just me, we're back in Coronado."
Rebecca let go of his arm when she noticed it was safe. They got off the plane and grabbed their things. Rebecca stood there as they loaded the coffins off the plane. She saluted until the last coffin was off the plane. Every coffin was covered with an American flag. Callen stood there. He felt bad for the fallen soldiers and for their families but was glad Rebecca wasn't one of them. They got into the car and Callen drove home. He dropped Sam off before going to Rebecca's place.
It was just past midnight when Callen and Rebecca arrived at Rebecca's place. It felt good to Rebecca to back home again. Rebecca immediately walked to the bedroom. Callen locked up and followed her. He helped her get her pajama on and they crawled in bed.
"I'm glad you're back home again," Callen spoke.
"It's good to be home. I've missed you."
"I've missed you too. I'm just glad you're alright. I felt so scared and sad when they told me you were dead. I just couldn't believe it. I was glad you weren't dead but you were still being held by the Taliban. I was so afraid, I just hoped you would be okay. I can't lose you."
"You're not gonna lose me G. I'm still here."
"I know and I'm glad. Come on let's get some sleep."
"Could you maybe hold me?"
"Of course."
Rebecca lay on her back and Callen had his arm wrapped around her and rested his head against hers.
"This okay?"
"Yes this is fine."
"Goodnight honey."
"Goodnight honey."
Callen gave her a soft kiss before she fell asleep. Callen lay awake for a while. He was so glad to have Rebecca back home again and back in his arms. He just wished it had been under different circumstances.
Rebecca woke up a couple times that night screaming and terrified. Callen tried to calm her down. She relaxed a bit when she got a grip back on reality. She was glad that Callen was here with her. She didn't want to be alone right now.
Callen was awake early that morning. He just stayed in bed so he would be here when Rebecca would wake up. He had called Hetty yesterday when they were on their way back home and asked her for a week off. Of course Hetty gave it to him.
A few hours later Rebecca was awake as well.
"Hey honey," Callen spoke and gave Rebecca a soft kiss.
"Hey G."
"Did you sleep okay?"
"Yeah it was okay. Thank you for being here for me."
"Of course. I'm gonna make use some breakfast."
After breakfast Rebecca went to get a bath. It felt good to have a bath again. She stayed in the bath for about an hour before Callen helped her get dressed again. With Rebecca's help he put the bandage back around her ribs.
"Will you be okay on your own for a while? I've just gonna go run some errands."
"Yeah I'll be fine."
"Alright, I'll be right back."
Callen gave her a kiss and walked out of the door. He needed to get some things for tonight. He walked back into the house through the back door so Rebecca wouldn't see what he had bought.
"It's me Becky," Callen called.
"Hey G, I'm in the living room. Do you need help with putting it away?"
"No I've got it. You just stay there."
Late in the afternoon Rebecca went to lie down since she was pretty tired. This gave Callen the opportunity to get everything ready for tonight. He was going to make a special dinner for Rebecca. He got dinner ready and decorated the dining room in a romantic setting.
When everything was ready he walked into the bedroom. Rebecca was just waking up.
"Hey Becky, dinner's ready."
"I'll be right there."
Rebecca walked into the dining room a little later and was blown away. It looked so beautiful.
"What's all this G?"
"I wanted to do something special for you."
"That's very nice G. Thank you."
Rebecca sat down and they had a nice dinner.
"There's a reason for all this," Callen said once they were done. "All this has made me realize that I don't ever want to lose you. I can't imagine living my life without you. So…." Callen pulled something out of his pocket and got up. He got down on one knee in front of Rebecca. "Rebecca Jenkins, will you marry me?"
