An Eye for an Eye
Chapter Ten
For one heart-stopping moment Deeks thought they had arrived too late. He walked closer and touched Callen's shoulder. "Is he…?" He cleared his throat before trying again. "Is he alive?"
"Yes," Callen replied, his voice rough with emotion.
"I'll find something to clean his head wound," Kensi offered. "There's water and a medical kit in the car."
Callen stood up, his eyes never leaving his partner's face. "He needs a doctor. You and Kensi take him and then get the hell out of here."
"What?" The unexpected command caught Deeks unprepared. "You think we're going to leave you? Are you out of your mind?"
An unnatural stillness betrayed Callen's tension. "I shouldn't have asked you to come. This is my fight. I'll finish it alone."
"Without us neither you nor Michael will make it home," Deeks stated bluntly. "Going in without backup isn't an option."
"I'll find a way. This isn't open for debate."
A faint groan signalled that Sam was fighting his way back to consciousness. Deeks bent down and satisfied himself that there was a strong pulse. "He's got a hard head," he commented. "Just like his partner."
"I've given you an order," Callen stated emphatically.
"Really? That's kinda hard since we're not here officially. How do you think you can keep us out of this? Once you're inside the Comescu compound there's no way you can stop us attempting a rescue."
Callen stepped inside Deeks' personal space radiating a level of anger that he seldom displayed. His hands were tightly clenched fists and his mouth was set in a hard line. His entire demeanor was aggressive and designed to intimidate. Although Deeks felt a flutter of anxiety he refused to back down.
"Sam's probably got a concussion. If he doesn't rest he could do permanent damage." Callen's rapid breathing exposed his anxiety. His efforts to bring his emotions under control were painful to watch. "I'm asking you…please take care of him."
"Why don't we wait until he wakes up and see what he has to say?"
"I've waited long enough." Callen turned away.
Deeks reached out and grabbed Callen's arm. "You're not leaving."
"I'd like to see you try to stop me."
"What's going on?" Kensi walked in carrying two bottles of water and a small bag. She knelt beside Sam, pulling out a sterile wipe to clean away the blood.
"Our fearless leader thinks he can take on the entire Comescu clan by himself," Deeks said snidely.
"That's not going to happen." Kensi discarded the blood-soaked material before gently probing the wound. "He's going to have a spectacular headache when he wakes up." She looked up at Callen. "And he will be seriously pissed with us if we let you go alone. Do you really think he won't come for you and Michael? Making a plan and working together increases the odds of survival."
"She's right." Deeks didn't relax his grip although he saw a slight lessening in Callen's rigidity. "We didn't come all this way to hide in a corner until the fight's over."
Sam's eyes fluttered open although his gaze was unfocused. "What hit me?" he whispered hoarsely.
"We were hoping you could tell us," Kensi said gently. "Do you think you can sit up?"
"Yes," Sam said without any conviction or attempt to move. His brow furrowed. "We were led into a trap. Where's Petru?"
"I'm sorry, Sam. He was dead when we got here." Kensi eased her arm under his shoulders, ready to support him.
"Damn. He was a good man."
"I'm sorry we doubted him. Callen, can you give me a hand?"
Deeks retreated a few feet when Callen nodded and bent down to add his strength to Kensi's. Now that Sam was awake he didn't think Callen would simply walk away. With excruciating slowness they eased Sam into a sitting position. The big man looked like he was about to hurl. Kensi handed over a bottle of water.
After taking a few sips Sam eyed his partner critically. "You're very quiet and you have that look."
"What look?" Callen asked defensively.
"The one you get before you say or do something that I'm not going to like."
"You're imagining things," Callen replied, evading the implied question. "Do you remember what happened?"
Sam lifted a hand to the cut on his head. "We were at the auto shop when Petru got a phone call from one of his colleagues. He said that Michael had been seen with a couple of men and that we had a shot at rescuing him."
"You believed him?" Callen asked.
"Not entirely but we couldn't ignore it."
"Why didn't you call Kensi and Deeks for back-up?"
"I didn't want to compromise them unnecessarily. We were ambushed and the rest is a blur." He looked around at the bodies. "I guess you took care of them. That's not going to sit well with Ilena."
"I'll worry about her. Kensi and Deeks'll see that you get to a hospital."
"See? I knew you were going to say something really stupid." Sam pushed himself up to confront his partner, swaying slightly until he caught his balance. "You don't get it, do you?"
"You're hurt."
"What do you think happens when a soldier's on patrol in hostile territory and he gets wounded?" Sam glared ferociously. "He keeps going because the alternative is to lie down and give up."
"This isn't the jungle, or the middle of the desert. They have a nice clean hospital with doctors and nurses ready to take care of you."
"I'm not in the mood to listen to your smart mouth, G. This is a war zone and I'm not letting you walk out of here until you see sense and we come up with a plan."
"He's right, Callen," Deeks stated. "Like it or not we're a team and the sooner you accept that the better."
NCISLA
With a feeling of helpless frustration Callen called Ops. All his arguments had been met with a level of determined resistance which finally convinced him that he wasn't going to prevail.
"Mr. Callen?" Hetty sounded tired. "Did you find your partner?"
"Yes. They hit him over the head, which given his lack of brains, didn't do too much harm."
"Am I to understand that you and Mr. Hanna have had a disagreement?"
"You could say that. How's Kristen?" He carried two distinct pictures in his mind. One was of the joy on her face when they had been together. The other, which he saw with painful clarity, was the mixture of sorrow and anger when she confronted him about Michael's abduction.
"She has surprising strength of character. She's sick with worry about her son, yet she holds on to her composure. You chose well."
There was a cramping in his gut. "She was a means to an end. Nothing more."
"I find that very hard to believe. She is also concerned about you."
He couldn't let himself believe that. "Have you spoken with her about going in to protective custody?"
"We have had several interesting conversations. Nothing has been resolved yet."
There was something in Hetty's voice that triggered a deep suspicion. "Don't meddle, Hetty," he warned.
"What a strange thing to say. When have I ever meddled in your life?"
Callen almost growled in frustration. "Since I was five years old," he snapped. "I'm quite old enough to make my own decisions."
"Yes, you are, Mr. Callen."
He knew her well enough to recognize that she was patronizing him. He didn't like it and couldn't do a damn thing about it. "I'm at the beach house. If you don't hear from any of us in an hour you can assume the worst."
There was a deep sigh. "Be very careful."
He ended the call, thrusting the phone into his jacket pocket. The sky was a pale blue with the sun creeping over the horizon. He stood on the sidewalk, separated from the beach by a low wall. The house lay to his right, secreted behind mature trees and bushes. It was a peaceful scene giving no hint of the horror which lurked only a few feet away. The waves lapped the shore while he watched a lone jogger enjoying the early morning tranquility.
Callen stepped down onto the sand, turning toward the wrought iron gate that would allow him access to the beach house. It opened soundlessly and he let it close behind him. Now that he was inside the grounds he could see the stairs leading to a wooden deck. Through the sliding glass door was the large dining room. He took a leisurely look around, paying particular attention to the upper floor. Was Michael in one of those rooms? He couldn't see anyone watching through the windows. Now that he was so close he was filled with a strange reluctance to move. The thought of seeing his son again left him elated and terrified all at the same time.
He began to walk. Before he reached the bottom of the stairs two men emerged from the house to stand on the deck. Both carried semi-automatic rifles. Neither spoke, just watched him climb the stairs. Slowly and carefully Callen drew his gun and handed it over. He was searched and his phone confiscated before the men stood aside to let him enter the house.
Ilena sat at the head of the table. She was alone and the shadows under her eyes showed her exhaustion. A fierce smile crept over her face. "Sit down."
"Where's Michael?"
"You can see him in a minute. Tell me first what has happened to Cezar."
Callen pulled out a chair. "Your bodyguard? I killed him. I hope he didn't mean anything to you."
The smile faded. "You will regret your actions before you die."
"What did you expect? He murdered my partner."
"So, you have Agent Hanna's death on your conscience. I would be lying if I told you I was sorry."
"Don't worry. I won't be sorry when I put you out of your misery."
"So optimistic." She stood up. "It is time to reunite you with your son. I have told him about you, although he didn't believe me."
"You said you would let him go."
"I lied."
Callen kept his anger in check. "How would you feel if I held your children? Vasile must be nearly eight now and Adriana…remind me, is she five or six?"
"What do you know of my children?" she demanded, a thread of fear in her voice.
"I know everything, including what will happen to them if you hurt Michael." He captured her brilliant green stare and held it arrogantly.
"You will not harm them. It isn't in your nature."
"You have no idea what I am capable of doing and you underestimate the long reach and determination of my friends."
"Perhaps, but they are well protected and, in a very short time, they will be safely out of reach."
Callen cursed silently. "All you have to do is release the boy and they will have nothing to fear. Let the blood feud end with us."
"Too many of my family died when you and your friends came here with murder in your hearts. Come, your son is waiting for you."
Callen followed her out of the dining room, aware that he was being shadowed by the two guards. He couldn't make a move until he was sure that he was in a position to protect Michael. She led him to the stairway close to the kitchen. Another armed guard stood outside a bedroom door. Callen drew in a shuddering breath and prepared to meet his son.
Tbc
Caroline
May, 2013