It was day three of her being gone. It had been almost 72 hours since she threw a dish towel at his head. 72 hours since she had said good-bye to him and he walked out the door. The team was working hard, and Owen Granger had been extremely helpful, now their problem is that there was so much to shift through, so many houses and contacts with nothing pointing a specific way. Nell's location could be anywhere buried with the thousands of houses, contacts, and businesses. Eric had been working himself to the bone running the names, they all had been working themselves to the bone, but right now Callen was the only one awake, pounding his pointer fingers to the keys. Kensi had been forced upstairs after falling asleep over and over again on the floor, and was asleep in the guest bedroom after many promises that she would be informed no matter what. Deeks was out-cold in his chair, body slung in an awkward way, Eric had taken the couch and Sam was out-cold sitting at the kitchen table, face planted to the table. Callen saw how much they cared, how much they wanted Nell home, but yet Nell was only family to them, but to him, Nell was a future. He continued his pounding on the keys.
It had been three days since she had arrived here. She was thankful for the clock that was on the wall, but yet it made time pass excursively slow. The bedroom also had a bathroom so hygienically she was satisfied. Tom brought food every meal time, something she was beyond greatful for, for her baby, but she hated his visits. He made passes every time, one time grabbing her butt, another time kissing her hard. She just sat like a doll, frozen as he did all of this, more afraid of what he might do, then what he was doing
….
It had been four days, 96 hours. 96 hours of Nell being somewhere with Tom Granger, doing who knows what. Eric shifted through the data, as the team discussed possibilities. They knew they couldn't check every house, every story, so they searched for criminal records, enemies, past records. Callen knew they were running out of time. They weren't running out of time in the way he was used too, such as when the clock expires, a dead body is found. They were running on more of an emotional clock, for Nell's mental healthy and safety, physical safety, emotional safety, and God help Callen-her sexual safety.
"Roy Mondez has a criminal record of credit card fraud. He was in jail for around four years, him and Tom were childhood friends. It's possible Nell knew him well, and…Roy has his own car shop, he fixed up cars." Sam's voice was mono-tone though. It seemed to Callen that all of Tom's friends had priors, perfect places to hide a woman, and a connection to Nell.
"It's something," Kensi answered, his voice soft.
"I'll call this one." Deeks volunteered. Since they couldn't leave any loose ends, they would call and pretend to be a census collector. They asked questions about how many people resided, the businesses, the neighborhood, ect ect, while on speakerphone. They then had a huge judgment call to see if they should investigate anymore. Kensi always thought they were innocent, Callen guilty, the rest of the team switched sides more often then not.
"Let's hope this guy is it." Sam replied, as Deeks starting dialing.
…
She was craving…pickles. It was late, but right now pickles sounded fantastic. Actually, she thought that if she didn't get pickles soon, she might just die. It was a pregnancy craving, she knew, but it was so extreme she felt the need to call for Tom.
When she had gotten cravings with G, he had gotten whatever she wanted whenever. Maybe he was willing before of his sleeping habits, or better words his lack of sleeping habits, but it suddenly made her appreciate him even more. It made her miss him even more, made her wonder what he was doing, That's when it dawned on her. The perfect plan, the perfect plan of her escape. She lived a life of undercover, now to escape she just needed a little of undercover work.
….
Another name to cross of the list, another dead end. Callen sighed, feeling his lack of sleep build up on him.
"Why don't you sleep?" Sam asked gently, placing his hand carefully on Callen's shoulder.
"Because she's out there all alone, and it's my fault, Sam. All my fault." He spat bitterly. "I should have done more to keep her safe."
"Freewillingly, you took her across the country so she could be safe. Doesn't sound like your fault."
"I did that out of selfishness, I couldn't let her leave me." Callen snapped back, causing Sam, Kensi, Deeks, and Eric to freeze in their places. Deeks paused between bites of his sandwich wondering where this conversation was going. He almost felt embarrassed, like he was witnessing a private moment, one that he was about to eavesdrop without even trying. Kensi and Eric both stopped typing, momentarily looking at each other, both with eyebrows raised. Sam didn't even flinch though, keeping his hand pressed on G's shoulder.
"Sam" Callen whispered, his voice sad and soft, almost pitiful. This was a voice that Sam or the rest of the team had ever heard before. "We talked, we talked about the future. We were living a secret yeah, but we wanted to be together, together as Nell and G. We discussed baby names, we talked about our future, our baby. We talked about how genetically the baby was Tom's but how she would want nothing less for it to be mine, and have my last name, and I don't know Sam. I never expected this, I never expected my life to changed by her of all people. I never expected a family or anything. I never expected how good it felt to wake up next to her in the morning, or having her to say good-night too. I finally got this life, and now it's gone."
The room was funeral silent, and before anybody could move, Kensi slipped out of her chair and crouched next to Callen, slipping her hand into his.
"I promise you Callen, we will get her back. Because listen to me, we will never stop looking for her."
His arms wrapped around her and she hesitentialy hugged back. 'It's going to be okay," She whispered, rocking back and forth. He didn't answer because of the lump in the throat, but that was okay. She understood him. "Go to sleep, Callen. We will keep working."
…..
"Tom. Tom, I really need you." Her voice was pleading, honey sugared and sweet.
"Nell?" His voice was confused, and she assumed she woke him up from dead sleep. Or it could have something to do with that she hadn't talked to him since arriving. "What is it, baby?"
She suppressed the chill that was forcing it's way down her spine, before sticking out her lower lip in a fantastic pout. "I just woke up with the most awful cravings, Tom. I'm sorry for waking you."
"What do you want Nell?" He asked, taking a step closer, running the back of his hand softly down her face.
"Pickles."
"Come with me, Nelly." He took her hand, leading her through what seemed to be an apartment, a small apartment at that. He lead her into the kitchen, pulled out a chair for her, making a grand motion for her to sit down before going for the pickles. It would have been kind of sweet, if it wasn't for she had been kidnapped, and raped, and forced against her will with her creepy maybe psychotic very dangerous ex-boyfriend.
'These pickles good?"
"Perfect," She replied, flashing him a large grin. She was going to bring her total A game of charm right now, because she couldn't mess this one up, this could be her only chance. She had watched one Kensi Blye navigate the bar and pick up guys in bunches, and she was to do the same with Tom right now. But it was hard to look attractive while shoving pickles down your throat. "Something on your mind, Tom?" She asked, her voice slow and soft in almost a sexy voice, a voice she had never used before.
He smiled a large closed smile, looking very much like a cat before he pounces on his prey. Nell felt her insides freeze up, but she continued to grin. It's for the best, it's for the best. It's so we can get out of here. I just need to start living like his wife, like I love him and then I can sneak away.
"What about your..husband?"
'He forced me to live with him. Tom…" She stopped, taking his hand into hers. "I am so thankful for you." The words hurt to spit out, they were so far from the truth. "I was so confused these past couple of days, I'm sorry if I hurt you at all."
His smile was large now, and Nell fought the shakes accelerating through her body.
"Well, I have one way you can make it up…" He replied, taking her hand and leading to the bedroom. Nell's legs turned to jello and she tried to smile, play it cool.
"Tom, I'm 6 months pregnant. " She tried to giggle, but nothing came out of her mouth.
She didn't even have time to defend herself on his second slap of the past four days. She lost her balance, falling into the wall. Her cheek had still stung from the last time, and tears filled her eyes.
"You owe me." He replied, before wrapping his fingers around her wrist.
Nell shook her head, forcing the tears away. This is to get home. To the team. To G.
I'm trying to decide if I want this to go in a long chapter story, or split it off and create a sequel. Any suggestions? I'm thinking a good 10 chapters left, maybe less.
