Note: Whew. Writing this chapter was exhausting in many ways. Lots of highs and lows. I feel I should provide something of a warning for this chapter. There's some violence and blood, implied abuse, and you may need some tissues by the end. That's all I'll say on that front. All mistakes contained herein are mine or the fault of my ineffective spell checker. Thank you for reading, favoriting, alerting, and reviewing this story, and for continuing to follow along as this moves towards the end. There are still some big things to come and story threads to tie up, so this is really just the beginning of the end. Thanks for reviewing if you do, and if you want to throw daggers at me after this chapter, I'll understand.
His heart leapt with hope just before Marina spoke. Seconds earlier he'd watched the regret, frustration, anger, and resignation shift over her face, determination seeming to be the last emotion to make her gray eyes flash. Deeks didn't know why he felt hope, just that it sprung up and grabbed him in the throat, much like fear had earlier. But this was stronger than fear. Hope replaced that earlier gripping fear and he held onto it, watching Marina and breathlessly waiting for her to speak. When she finally spoke, Marina blurted her words out.
"I have it. I can make him talk."
Deeks swallowed thickly, exchanging a quick glance with Kensi. Her eye wide with anticipation, Kensi anxiously nodded to him as if she couldn't manage to get the words out and wanted him to ask.
"What? How?" Deeks asked, the words a croak that he cleared roughly. The initial shock of Marina's announcement wore off and Deeks felt concern creeping in. There was Marina's torn sweater and the bruise on her cheek that indicated she'd been through something since parting ways with them not long before. And even with Hailey locked away Deeks couldn't ignore whatever Marina had endured. "What happened to you?"
Marina shook her head, trying to dismiss his question by avoiding his eyes. "It does not matter. I am fine."
Deeks' eyes narrowed at the phrasing, uttered in Marina's accented voice, but all too familiar. Without moving a muscle, Deeks shifted his eyes to Liam, raising his eyebrows in question. Liam looked at Marina, her pleading eyes on the young agent. And Deeks could almost see the thoughts turning through Liam's head. He had to know David was listening over the comms and although David and Marina didn't have any kind of conventional relationship, at least not yet, Liam wasn't blind to the connection his partner and Marina had quickly formed.
Sighing, Liam looked apologetically at Marina, his voice low as he responded to Deeks. "I found her downstairs in the basement. She was running away from something and she looked roughed up and already had the bruise. I asked but she wouldn't answer except to say we needed to leave quickly. So we came up here."
"Roughed up and bruised? Guys, is Marina okay?"
David anxiously interrupted and Deeks watched as Marina sighed. But even through the sigh, Deeks could tell David's concern didn't annoy her. Marina might have found it a little excessive, but Deeks caught how her cheeks flushed warmly. David's worry wasn't entirely unwanted, just new and unfamiliar.
"My earpiece fell out. Please tell David I am fine, that I am unharmed." As Liam raised a disbelieving eyebrow, Marina pressed. "Please tell him. He must not worry."
"He can hear you over my comm," Liam replied evenly. "But it might help him and us to know what happened to you. And how whatever you have can get Markovic to release Hailey."
Marina nodded slowly, realization dawning in her eyes. "You are right. I'm sorry, I am just not used to anyone caring that much about what happens to me."
Kensi stepped forward, reaching for Marina's hands and squeezing them gently. "We care, Marina."
Mustering up a wavering smile, Marina squared her shoulders and lifted her chin. "After Sergei brought me in the building he wanted to find a quiet place. I got him to tell me as much as I could about the building so if you were listing in that it might help you."
"It did help, Marina. Very much," Deeks murmured. Marina smiled softly, looking relieved.
"I'm glad to hear that. Sergei was boasting to me about his work with one of the generals and he told me that there were secrets and records in the basement that the powerful men in the Kremlin would not want to be made public," Marina hesitated. "So I played into his claims and pretended to find this kind of power attractive. I told him I wanted to see these records."
"And they were in the basement," Kensi concluded, remembering that it had been when Marina had gone below ground that they'd lost her signal.
"Yes. He took me into one of the rooms in the basement, lined with filing cabinets. He wanted to—he wanted me—" Marina struggled with the words, her voice turning quiet and ashamed at the obvious memory of Sergei's intentions for her. Kensi ran a hand up Marina's arm, resting it reassuringly on her shoulder. The weight and strength of Kensi's fingers seemed to help Marina gather her words. "But I pretended to want to see the records, to want to understand how someone like him could be so powerful. It was not difficult to understand that Sergei is not involved in the secrets the officers have, but he knows of them. He used this association to try and impress me."
Marina shook her head in disgust. "He told me of many deals several of the generals have made with organized crime in Moscow. It is not entirely unknown that the military works with the Bratva and other criminal families. If it benefits them both they will make deals and the people never hear of it. Corruption is not new in Moscow. Reporters and even government officials look the other way because the story is too difficult to follow and the risks are too large. My father investigated organized crime in the government while he worked for the Federal Security Services and he was killed for it. The cost for caring is very high. I don't blame people for hiding from the truth."
Her eyes bright with tears, Marina blinked quickly and shook her head as if to push the memory of how she'd lost her family away. "Sergei listed many names of generals and officers involved in money exchanged for violence, money exchanged for the government and military to look the other way so that the Bratva and other Moscow crime families could become rich and powerful through selling weapons, secrets, and drugs. I thought that alone would be enough information to bring down the kind of men who had my father killed, and the kind of men who cut corners in their businesses and caused accidental deaths like my husband's. I thought I might be able to get enough from the records to at least bring some of those nameless men out of the shadows."
"I encouraged Sergei to keep talking. It was easy for him to take the bait. Once he began talking he continued to want to impress me with stories. But it wasn't until he spoke of an old secret, one between the highest ranking general in the Kremlin and the leaders of the Bratva, that I realized what story he was telling me," Marina said, her voice hardening with every word until she practically spit them out.
"It was an old secret from over ten years ago. The general was a lower ranking captain. He and his assistant, a Junior Lieutenant, were aware that a man from the Federal Security Services investigating organized crime was getting too close to uncovering several deals the general had made with the Bratva. Money was traded for wealthy government building contracts and for looking the other way during construction when unsafe working conditions resulted in injuries and death, and even unsafe buildings and equipment used by the government. The general turned this information over to the Bratva and they had the man from the Federal Security Services killed." Marina took a shaky breath. "That man was my father. The junior lieutenant was Major Markovic. The captain now runs and operates the Kremlin as a general. And the evidence of the relationship between the Bratva and the general is in these contracts, invoices, and account statements."
Stunned, Deeks stared at the papers, disbelieving of the proof Marina was carrying. "But why would the general or Markovic allow those invoices and statements to even exist? Isn't their existence a threat to him?"
"The Arsenal is supposed to be impenetrable," Kensi murmured. "He never would have thought there was a risk of them getting out."
"We Russians are a proud and occasionally overly confident people," Marina admitted with a small smile. She held up the sheath of papers she'd been clutching in her hand. "I pretended to not believe Sergei and I demanded to see proof. He said the general kept these records as a way to cover himself if the Bratva were to ever become difficult. He could blackmail them with exposing their connections to the murders of government officials. My father was not the only man killed."
"But how is that going to help us convince Markovic?" Liam asked abruptly, his voice carrying an edge of impatience. "I get that he's a high ranking general in the Kremlin, but he's not the guy sitting in this room."
"The general's rise to power is linked to Major Markovic's," Marina replied evenly, her earlier anger measured. "They both received promotions after my father was murdered. Neither man will want this information made public. People may usually look the other way because of the lack of evidence, but this information is too much to be ignored. If it is made known to the outside world the general will trace it back to Markovic. He will know who is to blame."
"And if Markovic wants to save his military career and ever see another promotion rather than the inside of a Siberian gulag, he'll be willing to trade anything to keep the information a secret," Deeks said quietly, finishing Marina's train of thought. Marina nodded silently, holding the papers out towards Kensi. Although the stack was thick, the pages trembled slightly, Marina's own shaking hand giving her away.
Kensi took them carefully, breaking eye contact with Marina for a moment, to meet Deeks' eyes. Seeing the hesitance in the deep brown of her eyes, Deeks was opening his mouth to ask why she would pause when the key to freeing Hailey was in her hands. But then it hit him and he could only turn to look at Marina in awe. Now her earlier contrary emotions made sense. Regret and frustration that she had the evidence to bring vengeance down on the people who had torn apart her family. Anger that they would escape justice. And resignation because as much as Marina might want revenge, she was willing to give it up. For Hailey. To save the life of a young woman she didn't even know.
As if to divert their attention, Marina lifted a shoulder defiantly and touched her reddened cheekbone, unable to hide the wince of discomfort. "Sergei showed me these records and then attempted to become more—amorous—with me. I pushed him away, we fought, and I hit him with a chair. He was unconscious when I left. I spent several minutes looking for the incriminating files and then I took the papers and was running to to escape when Liam found me."
Liam looked impressed as Marina finished talking. "Sounds like you didn't need my help at all."
"Perhaps not. But I was still glad to see a friend," Marina said, her gray eyes warming and melted away the memory of what she'd endured. Liam offered her a grin, which she returned with a wavering smile. Standing up straight, Deeks watched as Marina seemed to draw from those around her, as if their presence brought her confidence. But even with Kensi holding the answer to everything they'd been fighting for, Deeks still felt uncertain.
"Are you sure you want to do this? It means letting go of revenge for your father," Deeks said. He paused, knowing there was more than just that. And as much as he wanted his sister back, he couldn't let Marina make a decision that would affect her life without her knowing the full consequences. He didn't have it in him to knowingly ruin her life. "And it means your life is going to be very different. I don't know if you can go back to the life you have here in Moscow. Too many dangerous people know your face now and will know you've been involved in something against the government and the military. Too many people will want answers for what's happened here today."
If Deeks was expecting Marina to shirk back, falter, or change her mind, he was instantly surprised. Marina stood tall, defiantly lifting her chin and staring straight at Deeks. "I understand what this means. My father would not want an innocent young woman to be a casualty of the actions of these men, even if it means letting his killers go. That would not be justice to him. And it is not justice to me. This is what I want."
"What about a double cross?" Liam murmured, his eyes darting from Marina to Kensi. "We could pretend to give up the evidence but then take it with us, expose him anyway."
Marina shook her head slowly. "Thank you, Liam, but no. If we leave quietly and only take Hailey with us we will have a better chance of getting out of the Kremlin. I do not believe it is worth the risk. We should hand over the information and let him do what he will with it. It will be safer for all of you."
"But what about your life here? What will you and your daughter do?" Kensi asked softly, pressing in on the point that still lodged uneasily at the back of Deeks' mind. Marina smiled, appreciation for Kensi's concern softening her fathomless eyes. Deeks understood that veil of sadness and mystery that had been there when they'd first met Marina. She'd been through much in her life but little seemed to stop her. Survivors didn't have the luxury of dwelling on the difficulties in life. Even still, her sadness was a part of her, carried every day as she pressed on.
"I am fortunate. Callen long ago arranged for fake passports for me and Katya should we ever need to leave Russia. I have stayed because Moscow is my home and I could not imagine leaving. But perhaps it is time for a new life and a home somewhere else," Marina said softly, sudden uncertainty making her draw a deep breath. "Perhaps that home could be in America."
Kensi's smile was wide and relieved. "Of course it should be in America. You have to come back with us."
"It seems only fair considering you gave up your life here to help us," Deeks agreed, a grin wide on his face. Marina looked relieved to have their support, and in their easy enthusiasm in wanting to help her in return. She held her palms up, forcibly pushing the papers back towards Kensi, who had been hesitantly holding them for Marina to take back if she hadn't wanted to go through with using the evidence to persuade Markovic.
"Then please, do what you must to convince Markovic to release you sister."
Kensi looked back towards Markovic, who was still watching them with angry curiosity. When Liam and Marina had arrived all their attention had been turned towards them. But just before, Kensi had been ready to torture Markovic in order to convince him to let Hailey go. Despite his earlier ambivalence towards them as any kind of threat, Markovic looked a little less certain since Liam and Marina had arrived. Deeks watched as that uncertainty swam in his eyes as Markovic honed in on Kensi and shifted his eyes to the pages in her hands before looking back at her face, trying to gauge the confident expression on her face. And Deeks realized the fact that Markovic didn't speak English was working to their advantage. He had no idea of the conversation and debate that had just unfolded in front of him. And it would allow Kensi to be convincing in her next attempts to barter for Hailey's release.
Turning her head to Marina, Kensi set her lips in a grim, thin line. "I'm going to need your help laying this our for Markovic. You know more about what Sergei said and what these papers say. Can you do that?"
Marina was quick to nod, though Deeks saw the furrowing of her eyebrows that gave away some of her hesitancy. Striding over the the window, Deeks pushed aside the heavy curtain to glance towards the open plaza in front of the Arsenal. He looked back at Kensi, fixing her with a steady gaze. "There are a lot less civilians out there now and a lot more soldiers."
He didn't need to elaborate on the obvious. They were running out of time. Kensi nodded briskly, jerking her head so Marina would follow her and approaching Markovic from the opposite side of his desk. From Kensi's periphery Deeks watched as she quickly became the confident, capable, and calculating federal agent he knew she often had to be. Speaking in Russian, Kensi's voice was modulated evenly and almost unhurried as she relayed the details from Marina. Occasionally she would pause and gesture for Marina to speak, filling in some detail. Deeks had no idea of the exact words, but he saw the affect they had. Markovic initially paled, his body going completely still as he physically reacted to the damaging evidence Marina had found. Kensi's voice lowered, which only served to punctuate her message, as Markovic actually seemed to shrink into himself, his head bowing as he stared unblinkingly and disbelievingly at the stack of papers in Kensi's hands.
The calm in her eyes, the utter certainty settling over the delicate and strong planes and angles of her face didn't give way to a single muscle tick of worry or fear. Deeks knew that was all below the surface, he knew Kensi felt what was at stake more than anyone else in the room, but she didn't give it away. It was probably the performance of her career but she didn't break. Deeks felt a rush of pride for his wife, for the unrelenting ferocity she'd had over the last week. She was as impressive as the day they'd met, that fearlessness drawing him to her in a way he'd never been able to resist, then then nearly knocking him off his feet with how good she was, how persistent and strong.
Deeks had to shove his hands in his pockets to keep them from shaking. They were so close to getting Hailey back and he felt his heart rate nearly triple in time, the steady beat nearly drowning out every other audible sound. Needing to focus his attention somewhere, Deeks turned back towards the window, speaking into his comm. "David, Callen, we're getting close here and we may need to leave in a hurry. Where are you guys?"
The line went fuzzy with static for several long seconds before Callen's nearly breathless voice filled his ear. "I've got Cody and we're almost at the exit. The front door to the Arsenal is still unguarded. We're coming up."
"Negative, Callen," Deeks replied brusquely. Looking out the window and in the distance he saw Callen and Cody crossing the plaza in front of the Arsenal, the latter leaning heavily on Callen's shoulder, red ribbons of blood covering half his face and obvious even from a distance. "Take Cody and get out of the Kremlin. We'll meet back at the hotel as soon as we can. All of us."
"We're not leaving you in there by yourselves."
Callen's voice was almost angry at the order but Deeks shook his head again. "We all stand a better chance if we split up. It's going to be hard enough with five of us leaving together. Cody is injured, you guys are unarmed, and you need to get to safety." Deeks paused, hearing the reluctant agreement in Callen's silence. "You know I'm right, Callen."
"Yeah, but I don't have to like it. We'll see you back at the hotel."
Callen's begrudging acceptance rumbled in his voice until he went silent and Deeks watched as Callen and Cody disappeared from his view from the window and towards the exit. "David, status report."
With David's comm line open, Deeks heard a myriad of sounds from sirens to honking horns to people shouting words he didn't understand. David swore loudly and that sound was quickly followed by the staccato thumping of feet on pavement and cobblestone. More shouts followed and Deeks was about to demand David report when the younger agent spoke, the words coming out in an uneven stream.
"Had to leave my post. Soldiers were suspicious. Standby."
Worriedly Deeks waited, knowing David would speak again when he could. It took several minutes, but finally David's voice broke in again, words spaced between heavy breaths.
"Sorry, I had to get out of there in a hurry. The soldiers saw me hanging around and looked like they wanted to ask questions. I tried to leave quietly but they followed me. I ran half a mile and found a metro entrance. I think I lost them."
Relieved David was out of harm's way, Deeks exhaled loudly. "Good, keep going. Callen and Cody are heading to the hotel, which is where we'll be soon, too."
"Do you have Hailey? Is she okay?"
"We're almost there."
"I'm going to lose you guys in a few seconds once I get underground. But Deeks, right before I had to run I heard from Eric. He hacked the Kremlin's camera security system. He was wiping the last several hours of video and he said he took the cameras out of commission for at least awhile longer. He bought you some time."
Deeks grinned, knowing his earlier confidence hadn't been misplaced. "I knew he could do it. He's going to have bragging rights on this one."
David chuckled over the line, the sound beginning to break and mingle with static. "No doubt. I'm heading underground, but will you tell Marina something for me? Tell her I'm glad she's coming home with us. With me."
"I'll tell her. Stay safe," Deeks ordered. David replied in the affirmative and clicked his comm off, leaving silence in Deeks' ear. Technically Jack's communication line was still active, but after a few seconds of trying to raise him, Deeks gave up. He had a feeling Jack was plenty busy with negotiating the hostage situation he'd set up in the Cathedral of the Archangel Michael on the other side of the Kremlin. Kensi might have been able to get through to Jack, but there weren't the minutes to spare that it would take away from her convincing Markovic to free Hailey. Deeks felt disgruntled gratitude for the diversion Jack had given him and even though he didn't know the man well, he had a feeling Jack didn't want to be saved. He'd taken drastic measures knowing full well the consequences. Deep down Deeks knew it had everything to do with the debt Jack felt he owed because of his involvement in Hailey and Kyle's kidnapping. And Deeks decided he could respect that decision by leaving Jack to his own fate.
"Deeks."
Turning at Liam's voice, strained to the point of breaking and nervous with excitement, Deeks realized Kensi and Liam had Markovic on his feet, having untied him from his chair. They held him secure between them, unable to escape. But Markovic was practically a rag doll, his earlier defiance replaced by dejected fear. He looked from Kensi to Marina, desperation making his words tumble out. Kensi jerked her head in response, motioning to Marina. In response, Marina dropped the stack of files she'd found in the basement, the incriminating files that would ruin Markovic's career, into a metal trash can. Markovic muttered a few words and Marina bent over the desk, rummaging in the drawer for several seconds. Her eyes widening, Marina lifted a handgun she'd found in the drawer and gingerly placed it on the desk before pulling out a book of matches she'd been searching for. Kensi spoke quickly, her words harsh. When Markovic shook his head Kensi shoved him roughly towards the metal door and keypad.
"He wants us to burn the files before he gives up the code," Kensi said tersely, translating for Deeks. Liam frowned worriedly and Kensi shook her head in response. "There's no way I'm going to do that. He needs to let Hailey go first."
Kensi barked out her next words in Russian, twisting Markovic's right shoulder forward painfully, stretching the arm from its socket. Markovic cried out but Kensi held the pressure, letting up only so she could grip the back of his head and force him towards the fingerprint and keypad on the door. Breathing heavily, Markovic finally nodded. Kensi loosened her grip on Markovic's right arm, allowing him to reach up and press his thumb to the scanner. The screen of the scanner blinked green and Markovic lifted his hand to the keypad, quickly punching the numbers in a blur of fingers, the click of the buttons the only sound in the room.
Deeks didn't realize he was holding his breath until the room around him began to swim a little around the edges of his vision. He sucked in air, the room spinning around him as Deeks took several long strides forward, his eyes fixed on the door and waiting to see if it would swing open as evidence that Markovic hadn't double crossed them. The keypad signaled a long beep and then like a heavy sigh the bolts within the door released, the sound of metal on metal audibly swishing. The door clicked loudly and opened just slightly, enough to signal it was unlocked.
Kensi's intake of breath was short and relieved and she met Deeks' eyes with tears in her own. Markovic's rushed words and clear demands caught her attention long enough for Kensi and Liam to bodily jerk Markovic back towards the chair, again securing him to it was the curtain sashes. His eyes fixed on the trash can, Markovic's voice raised and Kensi finally nodded to Marina. Without hesitation, Marina lit several matches, dropping them in the can where they quickly caught fire on the papers within, the flames rising up to lick over the edges of the can. Markovic stared at the can for several long seconds, enough to know the evidence had been destroyed, when Kensi wordlessly nodded to Liam. Silently, Liam stepped forward and punched Markovic in the face and with enough force that his head snapped back, his eyes rolling back and his body going slack as he immediately lost consciousness.
Deeks stepped around the desk and towards the metal door, feeling Kensi come up next to him and her hand slip into his. She squeezed his fingers, and Deeks focused on that feeling, letting it center him, before he released her hand. Deeks gripped the side of the metal door, the heavy weight requiring both of his hands to pull it open. When he finally had the door open, Deeks looked inside the closet-sized room, immediately looking towards the bed and his heart leaping when he didn't see Hailey.
Sick fear plunged an icy dagger in his stomach as he darted his eyes around wildly, the room looking exactly as it had appeared on the tiny screen on the outside of the door. Small twin bed, sink, and toilet. Deeks wanted to scream in frustration, thoughts crashing and wondering how Markovic had fooled them, when he heard the soft whimper coming from near the floor. Hope made his heart leap and Deeks fell to his knees, finding the small space between the sink and bed where Hailey had wedged herself. She'd folded her long limbs as close and as tight as she could, her elbows around her knees and her trembling hands covering her face. Her whimpers were turning into soft cries, her whole body beginning to shake with fear as she kept her head hidden.
Horrified at her condition, so fearful in ways Deeks had never wanted his sister to experience, Deeks reached his hands out, resting them gently on Hailey's forearms. Even though he didn't see how it was possible in such a small space, Hailey shrank back further, her loud scream of "No!" echoing in the room. Deeks glanced at Kensi, seeing the concern in her eyes as she sank down to her knees next to him. Realizing that Hailey might not recognize them through the fear and trauma of her ordeal, Deeks withdrew his hands. He bit his lip, focusing on the pain and the taste of blood in his mouth, searching desperately for a way to reach his sister. His eyes dropped to her feet, bare and smudged with dirt. She had huge feet, something he'd always teased her about. Hailey had always tossed back that they only made her better at surfing, giving her more paddling power.
For reasons he couldn't explain, Deeks focused on her feet, watching her toes curl under in another instinctive mechanism to protect herself. The purple nail polish on her toes was chipped and at least three of her toenails were torn away, dried blood evidence of past struggles. Shoving aside his anger at the physical evidence of her kidnapping, at the things he could see and the worrisome unknown things he couldn't, Deeks reached forward again, gently circling her ankles with his hands and leaving them to rest there. Hailey was still shaking wildly, but she seemed to still a little under his touch.
"Hailey, it's me. It's your brother. We're here to take you home," Deeks said quietly, trying to keep the desperation from his voice. Desperation that she would hear him, that she would recognize him, that she would ever again be the sister he remembered.
Hailey's head immediately lifted, her brown eyes wary as she looked at him over her arms and through the wild mess of her hair. Her body now completely still, Hailey's eyes fixed on Deeks, then shifted quickly to Kensi, and back to Deeks again.
"Marty," Hailey croaked, her voice dry and cracking with uncertainty. "Kensi."
"Yes, we're here," Kensi replied in relief. She looked behind her shoulder and up at Liam, who was crouched on his haunches behind Kensi and Deeks, worry swimming in his blue eyes and obvious restraint on his face as he resisted reaching for Hailey. "And Liam's here too. David, Callen, and Cody too. We're all here. We all came for you."
"Kyle. Where's Kyle?" Hailey blurted the words out, her eyes flashing with rising distress.
"He's fine," Deeks reassured her, knowing the last Hailey had seen Kyle had been in Prague days before when she'd been forcibly separated from him. "Cody and Liam got to him. He wasn't hurt. We got him to safety and we came as soon as we could for you."
Hailey's eyes locked on Liam and she blinked, the shimmering of her eyes giving way to tears that spilled down her face. Deeks heard Liam make a strangled, tormented sound in the back of his throat and Deeks had a feeling he understood where the misery was coming from. They had Hailey back, but the cost was still unknown. Hailey's eyes were back on Deeks, recognition lighting in them and her lips trembled, a small smile lifting the corner of her mouth and making Deeks' heart leap.
"I knew you would. I knew you'd come for me."
And then Hailey was reaching for her brother just as Deeks was pulling her towards him. He was still on his knees, cradling her slim body close as he folded her into his arms, ignoring the discomfort of the hard and cold floor beneath them. Hailey's arms were around his back and she hid her face into his chest as Deeks tightened his arms around his sister. Hailey had always been willowy tall, with almost impossibly long arms and legs. But now she felt delicate and thin in his arms, her body chilled and shaking from what she'd experienced. Feeling the unbidden sobs rising in his chest, Deeks tried to dismiss the sting of tears in his eyes but he finally couldn't ignore it any longer and let go of Hailey with one hand long enough to wipe the tears from his face.
"I've got you, Hailey. I've got you and you're safe. I've got you." Deeks repeated the words over and over, the only promise he could manage even though it felt inconsequential. But it was also the only one that felt true.
"Can we go home?" Hailey murmured, her voice quiet and desperate against his chest. Deeks nodded, his chin rubbing against Hailey's head.
"Yeah, we're going home. Can you stand and walk?" Deeks replied. Hailey nodded slowly and Deeks got to his feet, reaching down to lift Hailey to hers. She rocked a little and almost lost her balance, but Deeks caught her around the waist. Hailey smiled at her brother gratefully and finally turned towards Kensi and Liam, who were just behind Deeks and watching was anxious eyes. Although he hated to let her go, even for a second, Deeks knew he wasn't the only one who needed to reassure themselves that Hailey was back with them and no longer just out of reach. As if recognizing the same, Hailey stepped away from Deeks towards Kensi, who gently hugged Hailey close, whispering words of gratitude in her ear. Hailey was nodding in return, stepping back long enough so Kensi could smooth her hair from her forehead so she could press a gentle kiss there.
"I'm so glad we found you. I missed you so much, and I'm so sorry," Kensi said, regret making her voice shake. Hailey cocked her head to the side, confusion clouding her eyes. Before she could ask, Kensi shook her head and swiped at the tears that had begun to fall. "But someone else has been missing you even more."
Stepping slightly to the side, Kensi gestured towards Liam, who stood just a few steps away from Hailey. He stared at Hailey with a mixture of disbelief, hope, and longing in his wide eyes. His breaths were shallow and through slightly parted lips, his skin pale beneath the several day's growth of beard and the still healing and mottled bruises from the car accident that had started the whole ordeal. Liam's eyes stayed fixed on Hailey until she took a step towards him, her hands reaching for him and her name on his lips. He moved so quickly that Deeks blinked and suddenly Liam had Hailey in his arms, lifting her up and crushing her close to him. Hailey didn't seem to mind in the slightly, her arms had gone around his neck and she gripped him tightly.
In another time the kind of intimacy and obvious physical need between his sister and Liam probably would have made Deeks uncomfortable. And in a way he looked forward to the time when he was embarrassed to watch Hailey physically affectionate with the man she loved. It spoke of a future time when Hailey might be able to tease him about her boyfriend, when they wouldn't be in a life and death situation where being reminded of how important one person was to another was as important as the reasons for living. Because Hailey and Liam, clinging to each other, their faces hidden away as Liam kissed the side of her face and murmured word of love in her ear as Hailey trembled against him, were a living example of that raw and deep connection and importance one person could place on another.
Finally allowing them some privacy, Deeks stepped around Liam and Hailey, pulling Kensi with him. Marina was watching Liam and Hailey with a small smile on her face, her gray eyes bright with tears she shook away with nod of her head as Deeks approached her.
"We need to leave as soon as possible. If for some reason we get split up, remember to meet back at the hotel," Deeks said, looking to Kensi and Marina for affirmative nods. He caught Marina's eye. "And we may need Russia very quickly. You're going to need to get your daughter and your passports quickly, can you do that?"
"Yes. Once we leave the Kremlin I will get Katya right away. My neighbor is watching her," Marina replied. She glanced at Hailey and then at Markovic, who was still unconscious and tied to his chair. "She will need shoes. His may be too large, but they will have to do."
Nodding, Deeks circled around the desk and began untying Markovic's shoes. He stood with the boots in hand and called to Liam, who gently lifted Hailey to sit her on the desk, her feet dangling off the end. Deeks and Liam knelt down to put the boots on, quickly lacing them up for her. Hailey was silent for several seconds, but she finally spoke, her voice curious.
"Who are you?"
Realizing the question was directed at Marina, Deeks stood and pulled Marina closer, an arm around her shoulders as he smiled at her gratefully.
"This is Marina Ershov. She's an old family friend of Callen's. Without her help we never would have gotten in here and we never would have found you. Marina, this is my sister, Hailey."
Marina stepped forward and took Hailey's outstretched hand between her two hands, squeezing it with a warm and gentle smile. Hailey's eyes softened with gratitude and she mustered a small smile. "Thank you for your help. I don't think I can ever say how grateful I am."
Marina shook her head, her smile widening. "No thanks are necessary. It has been my honor to assist. I am happy to have helped." Marina paused, seeming to consider her next words. "When Callen asked me for help I could not contemplate what he would need. When I saw the number of people who had come to find you, I knew the love and loyalty in your family was strong. I feel fortunate to have seen what your family has been willing to do to find you."
Knowing Marina had to be thinking of her own lost family, Deeks silently watching Marina speak words of kindness and selflessness to his sister and he knew he would never be able to repay her sacrifice and bravery. He cleared his throat, knowing there were so many words that could be said to explain Marina's involvement in rescuing Hailey but that they didn't have time right then.
"Marina is going to come with us. Her involvement in finding you has made it unsafe for her to stay in Moscow. I think we all feel lucky that we'll get the chance to help Marina in a new life back home. And we'll get to know her better, too."
Hailey nodded, curiosity for the woman she didn't know but clearly owed much to blooming in her eyes. "I'm looking forward to that, and to getting home."
Liam and Kensi had gone to check the hallway and returned quickly, their expressions set and serious. Liam jerked his thumb towards the window and the outside plaza in front of the Arsenal. "We've gotta go. I think the front door is still unguarded, but that's not going to last."
His eyes sweeping the room, Deeks saw Markovic was still unconscious. He caught sight of the gun Marina had found earlier in the desk and he picked it up, checking it over and finding it loaded and ready to be fired. He slid it into the waistband of his jeans and the small of his back, lifting his jacket to cover it. Liam shouldered the backpack Deeks had been carrying earlier, his other arm free so he could hold Hailey's hand in his. She gripped his hand tightly in return and Liam kept a steady gaze on her.
"Just hold onto my hand, alright? Don't ever let go," Liam said, gaining a emphatic nod from Hailey.
"I'll go first," Deeks ordered, the command in his voice leaving no room for argument. "Then Liam and Hailey, and Marina. Kensi, you take up the rear. We get outside and move towards the exit. The hardest part will be getting off the Kremlin grounds. Blend into the crowds if you can, don't draw attention from the soldiers or guards."
Leading the way, Deeks exited Markovic's office, breathing a sigh in relief that the hallway and stairwell were clear. He glanced back and saw everyone was following him, with Kensi giving a brisk nod and gesture as they descended down the stairs to the first floor. Pressing his ear to the door, Deeks listened before swinging the stairwell door open and stepping onto the first floor, relieved to find it empty. Holding the door open, he gestured for Hailey and Liam to exit, looking back into the darkened stairwell for Marina and Kensi to follow.
The shouts from the basement were enough to alert him that something was wrong. The shouts had been male and in Russian, which made Deeks surge forward and back into the stairwell. He reentered the stairwell, the darkness robbing his vision as it took a moment for his eyes to adjust. Shadows moved around in an obvious struggle and Deeks was reaching for his gun when a loud gunshot went off, then another, followed by Kensi's angry howl. His ears ringing from the echo of the gunshots, Deeks had his gun in hand when he was finally able to see clearly enough.
Kensi was fighting the soldier from earlier, Sergei, her knife in hand as she swiped at him, slicing his bicep and leaving a trail of blood behind. She was moving quickly, ducking away from his outstretched arms as his face contorted in anger and pain from his wound. And Kensi was moving quickly enough that Deeks didn't have a clear shot. It was then that Deeks looked around the stairwell, gasping and holding his breath as he saw that Marina had fallen to the floor on her back, her hands pressed to her stomach and trying to halt the flow of blood from a gunshot wound.
Marina looked up at him helplessly, her gray eyes confused and dulled with pain. Rage welled up and Deeks swung around, lifting the gun in his hand. He had the barest window of a clear shot and he took it, instinct taking over as he pulled the trigger. The gunshot stole away his hearing but Deeks kept his eyes on Sergei, watching as the man's body jerked when the bullet hit him in the forehead, pushing him away from Kensi as he hit the wall and slumped to the ground. Ignoring Sergei, Kensi fell to her knees next to Marina, reaching out to check her wounds. Deeks went to Marina's other side, waiting the long seconds for Kensi to lift horrified eyes to his, the sorrow there telling him everything he didn't want to know.
Cursing under his breath, Deeks stood to go to the stairwell door, finding Liam and Hailey on the other side and crouched against the wall. Liam's eyes were wide and fixed on Deeks' knees, which caused him to look down and see that his jeans had been already soaked in blood. Marina's blood, from having kneeled down next to her.
"Take Hailey and go," Deeks ordered. Liam hesitated, long enough for Deeks to feel his anger build. "Go! Kensi and I will follow you. But you need to go now. I'm ordering you, Liam."
His training finally kicking in, Liam straightened and pulled Hailey with him towards the front door of the Arsenal. Deeks watched them go, seeing the confusion on Hailey's face and wishing for a second that he'd told his sister he loved her. The wish was gone as she disappeared from view and Deeks quickly turned on his heel, returning to the stairwell where Kensi was kneeling next to Marina, uselessly pressing her hands against Marina's stomach wound. Kensi was crying silently, talking quietly to Marina in Russian, probably uttering words of comfort and nonsense. Marina was pale and her eyelids drooped, the puddle of blood around her growing.
Deeks didn't need an official medical diagnosis to tell him the horrible reality. Just as certainly, he didn't need to be told that Marina's last minutes shouldn't be spent alone. Falling heavily to his knees, Deeks lifted Marina's shoulders and rested her back against his chest. He felt blood seeping into his jeans from Marina's back and he realized with a growing, tired anger that Sergei had shot her in the back. First in the back, and then, probably when she'd spun around in surprise, in the stomach. Deeks felt no regret that he'd killed Sergei rather than wounded him. His anger churned into a dark and roiling rage that threatened to burst out of him.
But Marina didn't need his rage in that moment. Her breaths were short gasps, the paleness of her skin giving way to an almost translucent shade that made her gray eyes practically glow. Deeks struggled with his anger but he pushed it aside, focusing on the only thing that was important in that moment. Making sure Marina didn't feel alone.
"Hey, hey, I forgot to tell you. David wanted me to tell you something. Marina, did you hear me?" Deeks murmured gently, prodding Marina to nod and open her eyes.
What little warmth in her eyes that was left seemed to fix on Deeks, her lips barely forming the whisper of words. "David?"
"Yeah, he wanted me to tell you he's glad you're coming home with us, with him."
Marina managed a small, regretful smile. "I would have liked that. Tell him I am sorry for what we almost had, for what we could have had."
Deeks nodded, the hard lump in his throat tightening with regret and a hollow sadness. "I'll tell him."
Kensi was still trying to stem the flow of blood, her hands painted in red and her face wet with tears. Reaching out, Deeks gently laid a hand on Kensi's shoulder, trying to stop the useless efforts. She looked back at him wildly, the conflict wrenching her face into a focused and confused frown even as she fought her own sobs. Kensi knew Marina was dying, but she couldn't accept it, didn't want to accept it.
"Please," Marina whispered. "Please take care of my Katya. She has no one else. Please take her."
Guilt tugged at his heart and Deeks nodded, agreeing without a second thought. It was because of them that Marina's daughter no longer had a family. He couldn't imagine the ache of regret would ever ease knowing that. Marina seemed to sense his thoughts as she shook her head, lolling it back and forth in an attempt to press home her point.
"Do not blame yourselves," Marina coughed gently. "It was my choice. I am sorry for Katya, but nothing else. Please remember that. Please remember me for her."
Her breathing spacing out and slowing with a gentle sigh, Deeks watched as Marina's eyes dropped slowly, the sadness gone from her gray eyes as her face smoothed over and her body stilled. As if reacting in sympathy, Deeks felt his heart halt, the pain of loss as physical as a knife to the chest. That was followed by a shiver down his skin that seemed to jump start his heart, finally making him breath in gulps of air that made him lightheaded. It felt like the worst burden that Marina had died in his arms, but Deeks couldn't have imagined giving up the responsibility he'd felt to hold her as she slipped away.
Although it sickened him to leave Marina in the stairwell, Deeks knew they had no choice. Just as he knew there was no choice that they had couldn't stay in that stairwell any longer. Gently he shifted Marina to lay on her back, knowing the vision of her peaceful and pale face surrounded by the violence of blood would be one that would follow him for the rest of his life. Kensi was still sobbing, her hands beginning to cake with dried blood. Deeks gripped Kensi by her shoulders and forced her to stand, applying pressure when she tried to fight him to let her kneel back down next to Marina.
"No, no, no, no, no…"
"Kensi!" Deeks nearly shouted in Kensi's face, his harsh voice shaking Kensi from the circular thoughts and her mind's refusal to accept what had just happened. She fell silent, staring at Deeks with wide and miserable brown eyes.
Kensi voice was so quiet when she finally whispered brokenly. "It's our fault. She wouldn't have been here if not for us. If not for me."
Deeks shook his head, knowing arguing with Kensi right then wouldn't help. Just as he knew she would take this tragic loss and blame herself for the impossible events set in motion because of her role as an NCIS agent. The loss of Marina still felt raw and painful, but even if he was thinking irrationally, he knew Kensi wasn't to blame. And he had to get her to believe that at least long enough to get to safety.
"Marina didn't blame us, didn't blame you. You need to believe her, Kensi," Deeks said, squeezing Kensi's shoulders and making her look at him when her eyes strayed to Marina. "I know you don't believe her but you need to. You need to believe me, believe me that I would never lie to you. We have to get out of here, Kensi. Your family needs you. Kyle and Hailey need you. I need you. Do you believe me?"
Kensi stared at Deeks, her vision clearing and certainty filling her face. "Yes, I believe you."
"Then we'll figure out the rest. Together," Deeks promised.
Thinking quickly, Deeks tucked Kensi's hands into the long sweater Kensi was wearing, hiding the blood on her hands and adjusting the sweater to cover the blood on her shirt under the sweater. Kensi stood mutely as he kneeled back down over Marina, retrieving her identification and the small bag she'd been carrying, slinging it over Kensi's shoulder. He looked at his own clothing, seeing the dark splotches of blood but thinking the dark fabric might hide the color long enough for them to get away. Realizing they really didn't have a choice, Deeks quickly tugged Kensi against him, guiding her towards the stairwell door exit. He allowed one last glance at Marina, refusing to even look towards the soldier who had killed her. Deeks couldn't be bothered to feel remorse for the man who had shot a woman in the back. A woman who had been so brave and deserved so much more.
Leaving the Arsenal, Deeks and Kensi stepped out into the plaza in front of the building and into a downpour. The rain created the perfect cover as the few remaining visitors to the Kremlin hurried towards the exit, which was only a short distance from the Arsenal. Kensi shivered against Deeks and he drew her closer to him, bending over slightly to hide and blend in with the rest of the tourists. His heart pounded as they passed by several soldiers, their shouts to each other and into radios telling Deeks there was still plenty of confusion around the Kremlin for them to get lost in.
Deeks led Kensi through the arched outer wall that led to the bridge walkway they'd used to enter the Kremlin hours earlier. The rain was cold, hitting his skin like pellets of ice, and soaking into his clothes. Following the crowds of visitors, Deeks saw they were being directed passed the security area to an area loosely cordoned off and guarded by a small contingent of soldiers. Very aware of the gun at his back and their disheveled state that wouldn't stand up to scrutiny, Deeks narrowed his eyes and seeing the guards were distracted by several hysterical tourists, Deeks bodily lifted Kensi over the haphazard metal fencing and hopped the railing after her. Keeping a steady but not hurrying pace, Deeks led Kensi north and away from the entrance to the Kremlin, confidence growing with every step.
By the time they reached the entrance to Red Square, Deeks was able to breathe a little easier. The rain had soaked them through completely and they now had the advantage of crowds of curious onlookers to melt into. Although he would have preferred a taxi since it would have been the fastest method of travel, Deeks opted for where it would be easy for them to disappear and headed towards the Metro.
Guiding Kensi onto a nearly empty Metro car, Deeks pulled Kensi toward the end of the car, gently pushing her to sit down. Kensi was shaking, rubbing her hands together where the rain and blood mingled together. Deeks wiped gently at the blood, the rain causing it to streak and lighten. His hair dripped water into his eyes but Deeks wasn't sure if he could say it was rain or tears.
He didn't know what to feel. The earlier elation at finding Hailey fought with the horror and sadness of losing Marina. And even with Hailey back, she was clearly not unscathed from her ordeal. There was helplessness at how he hadn't been able to protect his sister, over what he'd allowed to happen to her. The singular focus he'd felt over the last week to find the scattered pieces of his family to put them back together again was replaced by a gnawing guilt over what the cost had been.
Lifting his eyes to Kensi's, he saw his regret mirrored in the shadows of her eyes, in the tears pooling and spilling over her cheeks. Wordlessly, Kensi reached for Deeks and clung to him, circling his shoulders with her arms and drawing him close as his arms went around her waist, giving and receiving the comfort they both needed but neither was sure they deserved.
To be continued