Operating Room- Room 2 Level B
Dr. Andrews sits with his back against the door that leads to the hospital's twenty year old operating room, the only out-of-use operating room in the building. Usually a room reserved for residents to practice faux surgery, it's now officially a hiding spot for his blonde haired patient, his girlfriend and a pair of an odd redhead and short haired blonde in glasses. It's the farthest the ex- detective can be in case of an emergency due to his fragile state.
"My partner is in danger and I know that we can't leave….is there anywhere I can take him where he can still get us help and be safe?"
It was Deeks who had suggested the room in the basement and Andrews had no real choice but to comply. Two hours was all they needed to move from the ICU before Kensi had turned to him without missing a beat and stated, "You don't have to stay here, doctor. If you don't feel comfortable staying here, you can go."
He's my patient. Of course I'm staying was the only thought that flashed across his mind in response. I'm a man without a wife or kids and my patient needs me.
"Dr. Andrews?"
Andrews doesn't look up and only lets out a, "Hmm?"
By the tone of the soft voice above him, he can immediately tell it's Agent Blye. The woman kneels down in front of him where he can see a better view of her- she's wearing what he recognizes to be a bulletproof vest. The brunette brushes back a strand of loose hair and repeats, "Dr. Andrews, how are you holding up?"
"I'm- I don't know what I'm doing, Agent Blye," Andrews sighs. He shakes his head a few times before resting his forehead on his knees once again. "I can't decide what to do next. Mr. Deeks is my patient and I can't leave him while he's still in his state. But the injuries that he had have me scared about the danger you people get yourself in- I don't have a wife and kids, but if I'm being honest, agent, I don't want to be in danger."
"I completely understand." The softness in the agent's voice calms him only slightly. Kensi continues, "We've attracted so much danger throughout our lifestyle and after a while, it starts to become a part of us. If you want to go, I completely understand."
"How do you do it? I can see that you care for him deeply."
Kensi lowers herself into a crossed leg sitting position in front of Andrews. "Love. Just simply love."
Andrews smiles for a brief moment and then states, "I'm going to stay. If I can help keep someone as good as you describe alive, then I'll take the risk." He pushes himself onto his feet and then nods in the direction of the elevator doors at the end of the hallway. "Let me grab a few things and then I guess….hunker down with you guys."
Five minutes later, Andrews steps out of the elevator doors and onto the hospital's fifth floor. On the floor reserved for doctor's offices, Andrews walks slowly with the intent to reach his office at the end of the hallway. He observes his nonchalant co-workers busy in their offices and fights an urge to yell out- I wish you all could know even half of the danger that's sitting in the basement!
When he reaches his office, Andrews shuts the door behind him and lets out a painful sigh. He hasn't the slightest clue of what he needs to 'get' from office- maybe, it's more to get a minute away from the brunette agent's exhausted, pain filled brown eyes. The man takes a minute before deciding that he'll lean back in his chair and take five minutes or so to really make sure he wants to put himself to risk.
My patient is a good, brave man. If I don't stay and help, he'll die before anything could happen. I have to- wait, what was that? Andrews lifts his head up at the sound of knocking on his office door. He blows out a huff of air and yells out, "I'm busy!"
The quick rapping noise continues louder and louder until Andrews snaps and marches across the door. He yells, "What the hell is your problem?" as he turns the door knob. He expects to see one of the nurse's from the ICU or one of the doctor's from one of the nearby offices, but instead finds an unrecognizable man in blue surgical scrubs. Blood drips from the man's left hand where he holds a manila case file with a blood stained logo on the cover.
"No one will know anything if you make a sound," the man states in a heavy accent. "All you need to do is to tell me where Cole Bennett is."
Afghanistan
"Wake up, little ninja. I am not yet done with you."
The deep throbbing headache isn't the worst thing for the operations manager at the moment; it's the neurotic, arrogant voice from the tall, broad shoulder man standing above her. From her guestimate, she had been passed out for a few hours at the most, hopefully a few hours where the world's most wanted man wasn't staring her down as he is now. Just as before, Granger lies almost perfect still a few feet away on the hard, dirt covered ground.
The White Ghost lights a cigarette and then kneels in front of Hetty. He pulls the cigarette from his lips and blows out a puff of air in Hetty's face. "Tell me about Cole Bennett," he states, "And don't lie to me, Henrietta because you know that I have eyes everywhere."
Hetty scoffs. "Then you know who he truly is and I would appreciate if you would stop patronizing me."
"Martin Andrews Deeks, Detective to the LAPD and liaison to the Naval Criminal Investigative Services. He lied to me by calling himself Cole Bennet," The White Ghost finishes quietly. He cocks his head slightly and then smiles broadly, "Of course I can patronize you, Henrietta. I am in control of the situation and for once in your life, you are not."
"You were never like this when we first met," Hetty replies sharply, "Actually now that I think about it, you always did try to prove yourself better than you actually are."
The White Ghost blinks before his expression darkens slightly. "You're right. You are absolutely right in saying that. I do want to prove myself to you Henrietta so I want you to know that I had sent men to California to find him and I did. See, I knew you would come looking for yourself because you can't trust anyone. You left your prized puppy out in the open because of your ego and now I've found him and then I'll get back what's mine."
Hetty flinches as she realizes that she's been holding her breath for nearly two minutes. The man she had met many years ago is much more than the man from before. She screwed up- she screwed up so bad that it left her young detective in a vulnerability.
And The White Ghost's next sentence doesn't help. "Henrietta, I've won. Are you impressed yet?"