A/N: Hi this is my first time uploading here. This is the first part of what I hope to be a one-shot alphabet series between these two. Sorry if the chemistry is a little off. I do personally ship these characters but not that much. Hope yall enjoy anyway. Let me know of your feedback
I don't own any of these characters. They belong to Donald P Bellasario.
Trigger Warning: Rated M just in case. Mild swearing and themes of sexual assault. Don't read if this may trigger panic attacks.
Ellie's POV
The bright lights of the club making everyone seem flushed with joy. The noise pumps through my body and I relish the feeling of the hot and sticky club. I smile as I take a sip of my drink. I look over at Nick, wondering if he's enjoying himself. He looks a little tense and I can tell he doesn't want to be here. Why did he insist on coming then? I bring my eyes back to Kasie who's telling me about this dog she saw on the way over here. I smile at the end; I hadn't been focusing on it too much and I felt slightly guilty so I brightened my smile a little more.
I excuse myself and go and get a refill of my drink at the bar, the club that we're at is packed. There are around about 8 of us, although we only take up two booths. I slide into one of the booths and take my phone out; smiling at the photo my mum's sent me of my whole family at dinner with the caption "Miss you lots." I can't help but sigh a little. While the job is great and all, I wish I got to go home to my family more often.
I feel the sofa dip slightly and I look up, expecting one of my colleagues to have sat next to me. Instead, I'm met with a strangers eyes. A good-looking stranger at that, he has tousled brown hair, dark blue eyes, and a slightly mischievous glint in his eyes that draws you in while making you feel a little uneasy. I must admit I'm a little curious as to why this stranger would take a seat here when I'm clearly a part of a group but I shrug of the feeling of anxiety. Instead, I smile and speak:
"Hi, I'm Ellie."
Nick's POV
I feel myself stiffen when I hear Ellie introducing herself to a stranger. My smile becomes more forced and tighter and I know Jack can tell. Her eyes flick over to Ellie before back to me and I can see the understanding flash across her face. She continues to speak to me even though I know she knows that something is up. I turn my body a little to try and avoid watching and I focus on listening to what Jack is saying.
When I hear her laugh my neck whips around, almost giving me whiplash. I rub it gently as I watch them with a frown on my face. When Jack puts a hand on my shoulder, I jump a little, awoken from my daydream of ripping that guy's head off his shoulders. She smiles in a knowing way.
"Is everything alright Nick?" she asks me gently, not wanting to push the subject too much but still intrigued by what I had to say.
"Yeah, um I'm all good. Just a little distracted. Sorry, what were you saying again?" I ask trying to shift the focus back onto her. She smiles at me sadly and I know she was hoping that I would open up and spill my deepest, darkest secrets to her but that wasn't happening any time soon. I tense up again when I catch him touching her arm in the corner of my eye. Jack sees and hand me a beer that I wasn't planning on touching anytime soon.
"You need to relax a little Nick" She adds before she takes a sip of her own beer. I force a smile; I didn't really want to be here. The club was loud and busy, the music was giving me a headache and it stank of alcohol. I would much rather be at the gym or out running rather than being stuck in a cramped room full of drunk people.
The only reason I agreed to come was so that I could keep an eye on the girls, aka Jack, Ellie and Kasie and ensure that nothing happened to them. Afterall, this was the perfect place to sexually assault/kidnap someone. The music was so loud that you wouldn't be able to hear them scream and it's so busy you wouldn't notice them being missing for ages. God, if the girls knew I was only staying for this reason they would beat me themselves but I couldn't help but worry about them. Plus, I offered to be the designated driver for them so I put the beer back down and pick up my water.
I think I'll try and relax for a little bit, if I can get up onto that balcony bit, I can keep a better eye on everyone instead of having to flit my eyes around the room every few seconds. I know that they're all very capable of taking care of themselves but they could still be overpowered by someone if they weren't expecting it. I know Ellie can handle herself well, Jack as well but I'm not too sure if Kasie would be able to fight of an attacker. I'm think I'll relax better if I can see them all.
After I finally manage to escape Jack and her long speech about feelings and how important it is to express them. I'm quietly confident that she was referring to Ellie and I but I wasn't going to say that in case she was talking about herself and Gibbs. I manage to get up onto the balcony and I feel myself relax a little as I look around the club, keeping an eye out for my friends.
I look around the club to where all the girls are. I frown slightly when I can't place Ellie. Kasie's flirting to a girl at the bar, I'm gonna make sure I vet her just in case Kasie wants to go home with her. I don't want Kasie to get kidnapped by a serial killer, Jack and Gibbs are snuggled up in the booth, how she managed to get over to him that quick I'll never know. But Ellie is nowhere to be seen. I feel my stomach knot slightly. I knew I shouldn't have relaxed, screw Jack's advice. That was the last time I try and relax at a club. They're basically just a rapist's hunting ground. I swiftly move down from the balcony and over to McGee.
"Hey McGee, have you seen Ellie anywhere." I ask McGee who looks a little disappointed at me for interrupting his conversation with Vance.
"Um, I think she left with that mystery man she was hanging out with a little while ago." He replies before resuming his conversation with Vance. I curse silently, I knew I should've kept a better eye on her. She'd had a bit to drink and I really didn't want her to do something she regrets. I scanned the club once more before sighing and getting my phone and dialling her number.
Ellie's POV
"I'm Derick." He says to me and extends his hand. He passes the drink he bought me and I take a sip. The slightly warm liquid quenches my thirst. I should probably have some water or I'll get a killer hangover.
"Very gentlemanly of you" I laugh slightly and he flashes me a charming smile.
"So, what brings you to this club?" he asks as he shuffles a little closer. I resist the urge to shuffle away from him, not wanting to seem too rude.
"I'm here with some work friends. What about you?" I reply, he smiles again and inches a little closer. God, we've been speaking for about a minute and he's already making a move to get closer.
"I'm just blowing off some steam, I was about to leave but then the most beautiful girl I'd seen caught my eye from across the room. You know you're gorgeous right?" He replies, dragging out the last word. Instead of blushing like he's probably expecting me to I laugh.
"I know" I mentally slap myself. I forgot I wasn't with Nick. We have this dumb joke where we give each other compliments but instead of blushing you have to agree. It's stupid and now this guy is gonna think I'm super overconfident, which is true but not a great first impression. The guy grins at me and puts a hand on my arm.
"I like girls who know they're beauty." He says, flashing that smile again. There's something a little off about it. His smile says he's happy but his eyes say otherwise. The music continues to pump out of the speakers and he leans a little closer to me.
"Why don't we head somewhere a little quieter?" he asks me. I think about it, my thoughts are starting to go a little cloudy and my vision a little blurry. I should not have had this much to drink. I nod, maybe the noise was making me go a little funny.
He grabs my hand, it's weird. Maybe I'm just used to Nick's hand. We had held hands before, when we were undercover, he was forever taking my hand in his; after that, if he noticed I was looking sad or anxious he would do the same movement knowing it would cheer me up.
Nick's hand fits in my perfectly and he holds it loosely. Derick's hand is clammy and he's holding my hand tightly.
When I try to pull it back, he holds it tighter. I start to panic a little, where's he taking me. The panic sobers me up but as I try to think straight my thoughts don't formulate in their usual way. More like a fuzzy, blurry way that reminds of what its like to not be wearing my contacts.
Hopefully, it's just near the door or somewhere still in the club. He leads me out the emergency exit and I manage to slip off the bracelet I'm wearing and drop it. Hopefully, someone will come looking for me and recognise the bracelet. He pushes me against a wall and starts kissing me roughly.
"Stop" I say to him, trying to push him off me. He pushes my wrists against the wall. He continues and this time I say it louder. He continues and shoves his tongue in my mouth.
"Stop it Derick, please" I beg. He moves his hands down to my waist and pushes his body flush against mine. I start to feel dizzier than before and I recognise the symptoms. He'd drugged my drink; I knew exactly how this was going to play out unless I tried to do something before, I succumbed to the drug. I wriggled and kicked and screamed as much as I could. He start to unzip my dress. The panic makes me use the little remaining energy I have to scream louder than before. He rushes to put his hand over his mouth. He pulls out a gun and puts it to my head. I swallow slowly as he whispers a threat that if I live, I'll never forget.
"Scream once more, and I'll take you inside and turn the gun on everyone on the club before shooting you." He resumes kissing me and continues with the zip of my dress. I wriggle a little more trying to free myself. His face contorts when I manage to knee him in the crothc. He takes the gun and hits me on the side of head. That's when I lose consciousness completely. Being sexually assaulted by some vile man in the alleyway behind a club was not how I planned to go.
Nick's POV
I've been looking around the club for about five minutes and I can't find her anywhere. I've called her phone multiple times but it's gone to voicemail every time. I'm standing by the girls toilets and waiting to see if she comes out when I hear a sound that instils fear in me.
My heart drops and I rush to the emergency door. Something sparkly catches my eye and I look down; noticing a bracelet. When I pick it up, I feel my stomach turn when I realize that it's the bracelet that I gave Ellie for her birthday.
I open the emergency exit slowly, and that's when I see the most heart-breaking thing, I think I've ever seen. I see Ellie unconscious, being held up by some repulsive man whose kissing her and trying to undress her.
I feel a rage inside of that I haven't felt since my sister was in trouble. I storm over to this man and pull him off her, I throw a right hook and hit him square in the jaw. I start to beat him up more when I feel Ellie fall against me.
I notice the blood on her head and recognise how it looks like the butt of a gun did that. I feel a wave of guilt flood over me; not only had I forgot she was still with me but she had a head injury. Shit. This isn't good.
I lay her on the floor gently and check her breathing, she's still breathing and I let out the breath I hadn't realised I'd been holding. I check her ABC's before choosing my next move. I dial 911 and let them know of the situation. They let me know that two paramedics will be over in about ten minutes and that I should sit tight. I take off my jacket and wrap it around her. I take out my handcuffs and handcuff the knocked-out man on the floor next to me. I take hold of her hand and hold it tightly as I stroke her hair gently. Please be alright Ellie.