A/N: Thanks again to everyone who has reviewed, favoured and followed this story. I always look forward to reading them so please keep them coming. Oh I apologise in advance for the cliffhanger!

Chapter 37

On hearing the news from Nell, Sam, Kensi and Deeks raced to their cars. Sam jumped into his Challenger and gunned it into life as Kensi and Deeks got into Kensi's SUV. The Challenger's engine roared and gravel shot out from under the tyres as it wheel spun before getting purchase on the road. Kensi followed Sam's car in the dash across town and Deeks clung to the handle above the door as frantic drive continued. Their faces were grim although every now and then Deeks glanced at this partner as she manoeuvred the vehicle around cars in their path. It was still relatively early but the LA traffic had started to build but that was not going to stop the agents.

"Err, Kensi" spoke Deeks with a bit of a laugh in his voice which reflected more nervousness than humour. "I think Sam would like us to get there in one piece."

Kensi turned her head towards him and narrowed her eyes. "What are you trying to say Deeks? That I'm a bad driver?" she asked her voice incredulous at his suggestion.

"Please keep your eyes on the road! Watch out!" he said urgently as Kensi narrowly missed a vehicle that had slowed down. "Not at all Kensalina" he said still hanging on for dear life. "It's just that we won't be any help if we crash."

"I've never crashed!" Kensi said indignantly.

"Well actually you have, several times" Deeks countered.

"They don't count" she said now concentrating on the road ahead and keeping her eye on the Challenger a few cars ahead of her. "They weren't my fault."

Deeks raised his eyebrows and let out a single bark of a laugh. "Okay you got me there, some of them weren't your fault as you were being shot at" he said. "But some were. What about that time you just pulled out into the traffic without looking?"

"Really Deeks? You want to discuss this now?" she asked. "We think Hendricks is going after Callen to kill him and you've got an issue with my driving?" she said shaking her head in disbelief.

"Okay" said Deeks conceding the argument. "You've got a point." However he could not resist adding "Just be careful, okay?" and was pleased to receive one of Kensi's bright smiles.

Immediately after hanging up from Sam, Nell contacted Hetty. When Hetty picked up her phone, without preamble the urgency evident in her voice, Nell said "Hendricks took a nurse hostage and forced her to treat him. She wasn't hurt but he left her tied up and stole her car, which has now been located. It's outside the rented property."

"Is there any sign of Hendricks?" asked Hetty. If Hetty was worried she did not show it in her voice.

"No" answered Eric who had patched himself into the call. "Now we've located the car, I'm checking on traffic cam footage in the area to see if I can determine when he arrived and where he went."

"Sam, Kensi and Deeks are on their way to you as we speak" added Nell. "I don't have an ETA."

"Thank you Miss Jones, Mr Beale. Good work" said Hetty. "We'll check it out. Please keep me updated with anything else you find."

"Of course Hetty. Be careful" answered Nell.

"Thank you for your concern, my dear. We'll take every precaution" Hetty answered before she disconnected.

Gibbs was looking at Hetty quizzically. "What's up?" he asked.

"As Sam suspected, Hendricks went to the hospital for treatment and took a nurse hostage, forcing her to deal with his wound. She was unharmed but he left her bound. He took her car which is now outside the rented beach house" explained Hetty.

"I'll go and check it out" offered Gibbs.

"It could be a trap" said Hetty.

"No doubt about it" stated Gibbs "but we've got an advantage."

"And what, may I ask, would that be?" said Hetty.

"He doesn't know we know about the car" surmised Gibbs.

"Jethro, Hendricks is anything but a fool" answered Hetty. "He must be aware that we know by now that he escaped and that we've got the means to track his movements. It would be idiotic to assume that we won't find out sooner or later about the nurse's car."

"Exactly Hetty" answered Gibbs. "I think he's betting it'll take us some time to find him. Let me go and check. We've got nothing to lose."

Hetty nodded. "Please be careful, Jethro" she said. "And I pray that's not famous last words."

Jethro gave her one of his characteristic flashes of a smile before his features turned serious. "I will. Keep him safe" he said and he turned and went out of the door.

Tom had been in the room listening and he picked up on Hetty's concern. "Should I go with him?" he asked.

"No" she answered. "It'll be safer for you here."

Tom nodded. "As long as you're sure."

"I am. Thank you for offering but Jethro's quite capable of taking care of himself" she said, turning to look at the young doctor. "This must be strange for you, Tom."

"A little" he answered. "We do get involved in dangerous incidents in the emergency department from time to time but nothing like you guys face every day. It reminds me of my days in the military. I was proud to serve my country but I must admit I was pleased to see the back of the conflicts."

While they were speaking a loud explosion shook the property, followed by the sound of car alarms going off. "Jethro!" Hetty shouted and they both ran to the door and looked out towards the rented beach property. What they saw sent chills down their spines. The house was engulfed in flames and they could see Gibbs' motionless body lying in the sand by the beach side gate.

Before Hetty could stop him Tom grabbed his medical kit and dashed over to Gibbs' prone figure. As he bent over to tend to him, a figure dashed over and knocked him unconscious. The figure then started to walk purposely towards Hetty's beach house.

"Oh bugger!" thought Hetty as she disappeared inside and locked the door. She checked her gun and thought about the best place to conceal herself and be the most effective in protecting her boy. She grabbed her phone and called Ops. She spoke calmly but the urgency was evident. "Miss Jones, please tell Mr Hanna and the others to hurry. Hendricks set off an explosive device of some sort in the rented property and both Jethro and Tom are out of action. Hendricks is approaching my house as we speak. I'm the only one standing between him and Mr Callen."

Back in Ops, Nell's face drained of colour as Hetty spoke to her. "What's happened Nell?" asked Eric, frightened by the look on his friend's face. Nell, shaken out of her reverie recounted what Hetty had said. Eric immediately pulled up footage from cameras in the area and could see the conflagration that was the rented beach property. "Crap!" exclaimed Eric. "The area's going to be crawling with emergency vehicles and police soon and our guys won't be allowed through."

"We've got to warn them" said Nell. "They'll have to park further away and approach from the beach. I'll contact them. You'd best let Granger know what's happening."

Callen was woken by the explosion and the cacophony of the car alarms. He looked around him groggily and realised he was alone. He could hear a woman's voice speaking quietly but could not distinguish what was being said. He reached over and grabbed his gun, checking it. He then heard the distinctive sound of someone breaking down the front door and entering the house. There was a moments silence before sounds of a struggle and then he heard a woman voice cry out in pain followed by more silence.

Quickly Callen pulled out the IV and urine catheter, wincing in pain and hastily arranged the pillows in the bed to resemble a person sleeping. He took his gun as he heard the sound of footsteps on the stairs. He was extremely weak and found it difficult to walk even the few steps to where he hid behind the open door, having no time to find better concealment.

Hendricks stood at the door, gun at the ready and peered into the room. The light in the room was dim but he could make out the sleeping body of his target. As Hendricks stepped into the room, Callen put all his weight against the door catching Hendricks' hand and he dropped his gun. He pushed the door back and was gratified to hear a grunt of pain and saw another gun drop to the floor. Stepping into the room, Hendricks kicked the gun out of reach before grabbing Callen, pulled him into the room and attempted to throw him across the room.

Normally with his high level of training and fighting skills, Callen would have no difficulties fending off and defeating anyone with lesser training. However, in his weakened condition he knew the outcome would be a whole lot different if he allowed space to develop between them. It would give his attacker ample opportunity to draw his gun, which Callen was in no doubt he had. Callen, therefore, grabbed hold of Hendricks' left arm, pulling him into the room as well. The pair brawled, wrestling to gain the upper hand but they were evenly matched as both sported injuries.

Callen remembered that Gibbs had mentioned that Hetty had shot Hendricks in the right shoulder and he tried to focus his punches on that side. Hendricks knew from Tom and his hospital records that Callen had been shot in the abdomen and right shoulder as well as being stabbed in the right thigh. He knew he had also undergone further surgery on the abdomen wound and although he was hitting any area of Callen that he could reach, he tried to focus his attention on his stomach.

Callen was holding his own against Hendricks but was tiring rapidly. Hendricks managed to land a hard punch in his abdomen, which caused Callen to double over in pain but he still managed to cling onto Hendricks preventing him from breaking free. Recovering Callen came up quickly and head butted Hendricks in the face causing him to grunt in pain and stagger backward. Callen lunged and retrieved his gun but Hendricks came at him wildly before he had the chance to get the upper hand. The two men struggled in close proximity for control of the weapon.

Hetty, having regained consciousness, heard the commotion upstairs and unsteadily made her way up the stairs. Grabbing the door frame to stop herself from falling, she watched in horror the desperate struggle for supremacy that raged before her eyes. Suddenly there was the sound of a gunshot. A look of stunned surprise crossed Callen's face and both men fall to the ground in a heap. Hetty screamed Callen's name, her heart breaking as her thoughts turned to the fact that all their efforts to keep her boy safe had failed.