A.N.: OMG, I am SO SORRY for delay! This past days became a mess. A delicious mess, but still! I'm updating right now, and thank you so much for your support! \o/
DISCLAIMER: NICS LA and characters are not mine. Just a few original characters and the plot of this fanfic are actually mine.
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The voices echoed and seemed far away. Her head moved a few times and she tried breathe more deeply, but nose hurt a lot and she closed her eyes. Breathe through the mouth...breathe through the mouth. She repeated this mantra for a few minutes before venturing to open eyes again.
White walls. Reclining bed - this way she doesn't need lay the whole weight on her back. A tube and thin wires connected at her. There's also bandages that protected the stitches she has in one arm. The index finger of one hand seemed heavier than all the others and she focused the view until realized that a pulse clip was attached to it.
A low and yet annoying sound. Beep...beep...beep...
And then she finally open her eyes. Everything came at once: the kidnapped partner, the tracks, the race against time, the water tank turned into a horrendous place for human guinea pigs, the shots...
He had to face Deeks. He had to shoot the person who saved her life more than once. The guy she...loves.
The little sleepiness she still feels went away in a snap, and she set up quickly on the bed. The movement sends waves of sharp pain to the right side of her body and she ground teeth, groaning in agony.
- Hey...easy now. Don't get up just yet, you'll be sore for a while.
- Callen...you okay?
- Good morning sunshine. Nice bandage on your face.
She seemed confused by the phrase and raised the free hand to her face. Her nose was held by a micro-stem that was hidden under a firm bandage. Shook her head a few times, sighing. Then she tried to check the broken ribs, but the simple movement to turn sideways almost made her cry.
- What did I say about "easy now"? I'm okay. And you're fine. You got a trip to OR because of the ribs and the arm. They also mended your broken nose. You'll survive.
- Sam...Deeks?
The last name came out in a whisper. If Callen weren't near her, she wouldn't listen the doctor's orders to lie down. He rested one hand on the bed rail while the other landed on the agents's shoulder. There were moments in his work where he simply hated being the team leader. So he started with the good news.
- Sam's fine. A few bumps, nothing else. He's going to stay with a black eye for a few days, but according to him that's a charm.
She knows. She almost can read Callen's face. Those light, almost playful words doesn't tell the whole truth. Something happened her partner. She swallowed the lump that formed in her throat, eyes watering, but no tears falling.
- Callen...where's Deeks?
- Mr. Deeks can't talk to you right now, Miss Blye. Mr. Hanna is with him right now.
Hetty entered the room with her fingers entwined. Then she relaxe, going to his agent and resting one of his hands on his bandaged arm.
- He spent hours in surgery. The smallest damage was on the wrist, which was broken and easily repaired. The biggest one was from the shot. He lost a large amount of blood, hit some ribs and one of them ended up piercing one of his lungs, wich collapsed.
Kensi can't take it anymore. She let the tears flow freely, streaming down her face. It's my fault...it's all my fault. She hid the face with one hand, trying to erase all the shame and remorse she feels at that moment.
- Hetty, please don't...please...
- His heart stopped in the ambulance, in ER and during the surgery. They had to intubate him and put him into an induced coma.
She already felt her heart heavy and would never forgive himself. She'll never trust herself again; couldn't bear to go to work everyday and not see partner again. A sob escaped, and she seemed to shrink from all the guilt she feels. She almost doesn't hear the tiny manager's next words.
- But no, Miss Blye. He didn't die. He is in very bad condition right now. But it's still alive. He's stubborn as his partner.
Kensi raised the face immediately, happily shocked by the news. This is the best surprise of all! She wiped her eyes with a tissue from a small box that Callen readily offered. There's always one in the drawers of the hospital rooms. She still felt a lot of guilt, yes. But now she has the opportunity to apologize and thank for all the things he has done for her.
A chance like this happens only once in a lifetime. Kensi wouldn't waste it.
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- Did you know they're studying the possibility of Surfing become a Olympic Sport? Now it'll be impossible to get you off the beach. Olympic surfer.
Sam read a magazine's sporting article while talking to the man in front of him. One leg crossed over the other, his back resting lazily on the back of the chair that the nurses so gently placed in the room. It wasn't the most expensive, nor the best to sleep. But compared to the chairs normally used for the visits, this is a luxury.
The Seal turned the page, but doesn't pay much attention in the articles or in the photos. All he needs is distract his head and create positive thoughts. He put the magazine in the drawer nearby of a table, reaching for the armchair closer to the younger's bed. He rested his arms on the mattress, staring at the cop lying down and sedated.
Deeks has almost all of his chest and abdomen bandaged. The broken wrist is now protected with a cast and secured in a blue sling. The last time Sam saw someone surrounded by so many machines was about years ago. And the fear is exactly the same of that time. Intubated, Deeks has all the help he needed to breathe without his still healing lung straining. The soft sound of the respirator and the monitors' beeps were the only sounds beyond Sam's voice in that room.
Even with all the risks still running, Marty looked absolutely calm. Eyes closed effortlessly, face asleep making him younger than he really is. There is no suffering there. He is...in peace. And this is precisely what make Sam's heart twist with fear.
- Deeks, just fight, okay? I know I'm not the best friend for you...damn, not even the best partner I've been lately. But if there's one thing that I always admire in you, it's your stubbornness. You've always stamped your foot until you've shown a valid point. So do it. Prove you can get out of this, okay? Don't you dare give up.
And then he lowered his head and closed his eyes, clasping one of Deeks's hands. When you raised the eyes again, resolve to talk about the case.
- We caught Radivilov. He also had to undergo surgery. Callen shot him. I would've killed, but Callen knew you want this guy rotting in jail. We made a fine comb in Vernon until we found the loading of the serum. You will not believe...it was locked. Deep in the riverbed. The last place we looked. The guy hired professional divers just to do that and then killed them. And we just found because it had metal plates and the detector accused.
Sam doesn't let go of Deeks's hand. He hope that the younger man could know that there is someone with him, that he is safe, that there's no more cowardly and psychotic people after him. There's nothing more to fear. And then the story went on.
- The search team had to take the box with the utmost care. If that poison leaked into the river would be a tragedy. Maybe thousands affected. And I think Radivilov's idea was exactly that. Speaking of him...we compared your DNA to his. Deeks...he's just your biological father. In practice it's the same as nothing in your life. Don't worry. You'll never be like him.
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The doctor in charge of Deeks' treatment received daily visits and questions from the detective's friends. This doesn't bother him, and he is even pleased with everyone's concern. Always had the fixed thought that loved ones helps a lot in the recovery of patients.
On the seventh day of induced coma, Dr. Sanders reported that Deeks would be removed from the respirator because his lung showed significant improvement. They would still leave him with an oxygen mask for two more days. He also said that sedation would be slowed down gradually to aid the detective's awakening. He gave a warning to everyone: Deeks could take sometime to wake up.
Still those are excellent news. Kensi, who had already been discharged and went to the hospital every day to visit her partner, doesn't restrain her happiness. She was embraced by Roberta, who at that moment felt exactly the same surge of joy she had on the day of her son's birth.
Callen and Sam breathed a sigh of relief, exchanging a handshake.
Hetty only thanked Dr. Sanders, then stood quietly and with a discreet smile.
At that moment nothing could make her more satisfied.
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Everything that happened in the last days seemed like a dream. His brain could barely process the images. Sometimes all becomes clear, and then it's all melted like sugar dissolved in water.
A voice began to echo in his mind. It's like coming from outside, almost a whisper. He feels a soft warm on his forehead, as if someone gently pushed his hair away. Then a hand brushes his cheek. He knows those gestures. He remembers that and doesn't feel anything like this in years! But no...Too good to be true.
- Marty? Can you hear me? It's time to wake up, sweetie.
He understands every word and recognize that voice. It's impossible, I'm dreaming! He doesn't hear that voice, so close, since his eighteen years old! He barely noticed when he shook his head and narrowed eyes. He doesn't feel uncomfortable at all. In fact the whole body was relaxed at first...like he's sleeping the best of dreams.
He takes a long breath before slowly open the eyes. Everything is still like a blur. Even the faces of the two people who are with him. One on each side of the bed. Slowly focus the view. He shut the eyes again, struggling the temptation to sleep again.
Marty waits the feeling of heaviness in his body pass a little and then opened eyes again. He felt one of his arms immobilized and something on his face, and got a little bit scared, trying take out that object. Someone stops him, holding his hand so kindly that he is surprised when he saw the person. His voice is still weak and muffled by the oxygen mask, but he's there; there's no more traces of that damn drug. He is Deeks again.
- Kensi ...
- Hi! Hi, Deeks...you're awake! Finally!
He tries sit down, being stopped by a gentle hand on his chest. The top of the bed is raised a few inches, so he doesn't need to stand straight on the mattress. He felt a little pain and groaned, but soon someone must have pressed the pain button, because the nuisance passed after a few minutes.
- Welcome back, sweetie...
He heard the same voice that asked him to wake up. It wasn't Kensi's. He's still staring at the agent when she smiled and nodded toward where the voice came from. Deeks turned his face slowly, not believing what his eyes sees.
He owes the life to her. Every time he said "I love you" and "thank you" don't seem enough for the greatness of that woman's actions. She is his hero. His eyes filled with tears - and his soul with lightness - when a kiss he hadn't felt for years is placed on his forehead.
- Mom...