Chapter 10

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Nell and Eric embraced in silence for what felt like 5 minutes, before Nell broke the silence but kept a hold on Eric.

"I'm sorry I didn't tell you." She whispered.

"It doesn't matter. I'm just …I'm glad you're safe Nell. I'm sorry I wasn't there to help you" He replied not letting her go.

"It's okay. I'm sorry I ignored your calls." She said as she sniffled.

Eric loosened his hands from around Nell, took a step back and looked her in the eye. "It's alright. I understand. You needed time." He said as he smiled softly.

Nell nodded as she walked over to the couch and sat down. Eric followed and sat down next to her.

"Can I ask you something?" he asked

"Yeah" Said Nell

"What happens now…. With…Him?"

Nell swallowed hard. "He uh, he confessed to everything. He's going to prison."

"So you don't have to….with..him…at the tri.."

"No" Said Nell quickly cutting him off.

Eric smiled. "That's good news." He said

"Yeah" Said Nell as she gave a soft smile.

Meanwhile Sam, Deeks, and Callen were waiting outside the boatshed while Nell spoke to Eric.

"Nell seems to be doing better." Commented Sam

"Yeah, she's strong Sam. I mean for her to confront Tom the way she did. I mean that takes guts and heart. She's a lot strong than we give her credit for." Said Deeks.

"Maybe, she's a lot stronger than YOU give her credit for Deeks." Said Sam

"I always knew she was strong." Whispered Deeks so that Callen or Sam couldn't hear.

"How is she doing being at your place G?" Asked Sam

"Wait, how can she stay with you? You don't even own a bed, a pot or a pan, a chair." Said Deeks.

"I do now." He said

"Hang on when did you have time to shop. You've been with Nell the whole time."

Callen realized Deeks wasn't going to let this go. "Hetty bought some furniture for me, alright! Nell was coming to stay and she couldn't sleep on the floor now could she Deeks."

"So Hetty furnished you're…yeah…that's…wow…"

"So how does it feel having actual furniture G?"

"Weird, but good." He said

Sam chuckled as Deeks smiled.

"By the way Deeks, in answer to question she's doing better. I think that Tom confessing what he did and that fact that he's going to prison is definitely helped her move forward."

"How are you doing with her being there?" Asked Deeks

"What do you mean Deeks?" he asked as Sam smiled.

"I mean that it's a lot for someone to take on. If you need a hand with anything you know I'm here and Sam's here."

"Did you just volunteer me Deeks?" Asked Sam

"Yes, yes I did Sam."

"We're good Deeks. Thanks for the offer."

Meanwhile back inside the boatshed Nell and Eric were making small.

"Have you spoken to Nate about what happened." He said as he struggled to get the words out.

"Yep. He's gonna help me get better." She said quickly.

"Get better, like help..with…the.."

"Yep" she replied. They sat in silence for what seemed like an eternity until Nell spoke.

"Why is this so awkward? It's like ever since you've known about what he did to me you're treating me differently. It's like you're afraid to upset me. Are you scared that I'll break down into a million pieces and you won't be able to handle it? All I want is for things to be normal and you can't even do that." Said Nell as she got up trying to hold herself together she opened the door and walked outside to where Callen, Sam and Deeks were waiting.

Eric quickly got up and ran after her. "Nell I'm sorry. I didn't mean to…I was just trying to be.."

Nell didn't respond she walked straight passed the guys and headed off down the pier.

"Nell?" Said Callen. She didn't respond. "NELL!" He yelled, but she didn't respond.

Callen turned to take off to catch up to Nell, but Deeks stepped in. "I got this Callen" Callen nodded as Deeks took off after Nell.

Callen and Sam turned to Eric. "What did you say to her?" Accused Sam.

"What..I didn't say anything." Replied Eric

"You must have said something." Said Callen

"I told her I was sorry that I wasn't there to help her. She apologized for not telling me and I told her it was alright. I figured she needed some time and space."

You must have said something else Eric. She wouldn't have gotten upset over those comments. Think Eric!"

"G!" Said Sam as he pulled Callen up.

"Sorry" he muttered.

"I didn't know what to say to her Sam. I didn't want to ask how she was, because I know she's not doing great. I know she's going through a lot and I didn't want to ask the wrong thing in case she got upset or I caused her to get worse."

"I understand Eric." Said Sam as he put his hand on Eric's shoulder.

"She blew up at me. She told me I was treating her differently and that all she wanted was to be normal and I couldn't even do that for her and she got up and walked out. I didn't mean to make her angry Sam."

"I know Eric." He said. "She didn't mean it, she's angry and she's trying to deal with what happened to her the best way she can."

"Maybe I should leave. I don't want to hurt her."

"It will hurt her more if you're not here Eric. Don't abandon her. She's gonna need you. She's gonna need all of us." Said Sam.

They watched on as Deeks jogged up next to Nell, who had tears running down her face.

"Nell, its Deeks, what's going on."

Nell kept walking. "I can't help you if you don't tell me what's going on."

Nell didn't respond.

"What did Eric say?"

"Nothing it doesn't matter." She whispered.

"It does matter Nell and it matters to me because it's got you so upset."

Nell looked down away from Deeks before looking back at up at him.

"Come on." Said Deeks as they walked towards the railing at the end of the pier near the boatshed.

"So you feel like telling me what Eric said?"

Nell nodded no.

Deeks turned to Nell. "You know I sort of know what you're going through you know."

"You've been raped Deeks?" She asked

"No, no I haven't but my father was a drunk he used to abuse and beat me and my mom almost every day." He said as he looked at Nell.

"I'm sorry I didn't know." She said as she avoided eye contact with him

"Hetty knows, but no-one else does."

"I won't say anything" She said in a soft tone.

Deeks smiled. "One day I when I was like 11 he got so drunk that he was waving a shot gun at me and my mom. We thought he was going to kill us both. I had a gun that my best friend had given me for protection. I took it out and I shot him."

Nell looked up at Deeks. "You shot your dad?"

Deeks nodded. "All I wanted for him to stop hurting me and my mom."

"Did you kill him?" She asked cautiously.

Deeks smiled. "No, he lived. But me and my mom, we left that day and we've never been back."

Nell nodded slightly.

"The worst for me was after we had left. I mean the constant abuse from my dad was bad, but after we left my mom was scared that I would act out, or break down, or be constantly on edge, but all I wanted to be was normal."

Nell smiled.

"Something I said?" he asked with a smile.

"I blew up at Eric." She said.

"You just wanted him to treat you normally right" he said

Nell nodded. "Yeah. Everything was so awkward, he didn't know what to say, it's like he's scared to say the wrong thing, like I'm breakdown. Like I'm a doll made of china."

Deeks smiled. "You're definitely not made of china Nell. "You're made of adamantium."

"Like Wolverine."

Deeks smiled. "Yep completely indestructible."

Nell smiled. "Thanks Deeks."

"Except when mixed with water and electricity."

Nell chuckled as Deeks laughed.

"Come here." He said as Nell moved closer to him. "First time I've heard you laugh in a while."

"Yeah, thanks for making me laugh." She said as they looked out into the ocean.

"Anytime Wolverine." He said as he smiled.

Nell smiled.

After a couple of minutes Nell withdrew a little from Deeks. "I should apologise for blowing up at Eric."

"Alright, let's do this."

Deeks and Nell started to walk back towards Sam, Callen and Eric.

"Just let her talk Eric okay."

"Yeah" he said quickly.

Nell walked up to Eric. "Hey. I'm sorry. I didn't mean to blow up at you in there. I was just.."

Eric cut Nell off before she could finish. "It's okay. It's my fault. I should.."

Sam cut Eric off. "What did we say about listening Eric." He said. Nell smiled.

"Sorry." He said as he motioning his head to indicate Nell had the floor.

"I'm still working things out in my head Eric and people treating me like I'm going to fall apart all the time isn't helping me."

"What can I do, tell me what I can do to help you."

"I think she was before you interrupted Eric." Said Callen as he smiled.

"I just..I just need everyone to treat me normally. That's what I need. When you treat me like I'm falling apart it makes me vulnerable, it makes me feel like I'm back with him again and I don't want that. I want things to be normal so can you do that? Please?

Eric smiled. "I can do that."

"He means we can do that." Said Callen

"How about we do something really normally and go and get some lunch."

"Lunch is on you right Eric?" Said Deeks as they all started to walk off towards the cars.

"What about Kensi?" Said Sam

"I don't even know where she is?" Asked Deeks.

"Besides she was looking forward to Deeks free days." He said

"You could call her." Said Callen

"So could you" Said Deeks

"Yep, clearly lunch is on me." He said to himself with a smile as he ran to catch up to the guys

Please, please review guys, let me know what you think.

I hope you like the little Deeks, Nell connection.

I'm trying to now move Nell forward into recovery.