(AN) Hello and welcome to the next chapter of Recovery. I hope you all enjoy, and remember to Read and Review.

In this chapter, we'll see Audrey starting to crack under the pressure of keeping her emotions bottled up and the family's attempts to help. Meanwhile Emma just gets better.

Credit to DS2010 for some of the dialogue and nightmare scenes.

Disclaimer; I don't own NCIS. All characters and locations are owned by CBS, Bellisario Productions and Paramount Pictures.


Chapter Five

Falling Apart


Over the next few weeks, Audrey and Emma continued their physical therapy. Emma continued her sessions with Dr. Benson, and much to everyone's delight she was making strong progress, to the point that Kevin no longer needed to stay with her, and she had opened up about everything, the home invasion, the abduction, the nearly four days of torture and terror she'd endured and the nightmares which were thankfully becoming less frequent.

Audrey on the other hand was starting to get worse. She barely slept, her nightmares were becoming much, much worse and more frequent, and she was on edge, any time Kevin or anybody else attempted to make her see reason, she would snap at them. This new version of Audrey was beginning to scare Kevin and the kids.


One day, Emma went to one of her therapy sessions feeling slightly tired. The night before she'd had a horrible nightmare and wanted to discuss it.

"So, Emma, how are you doing today?" asked Dr. Benson as the young girl sat down.

"Fine, I guess," replied Emma, "I had a bad nightmare last night."

"Do you want to talk about it?" asked Benson gently.

Emma shuffled her feet uncomfortably before gulping. "Yes," she answered, "I-I was sitting with Mom on the sofa, we were watching Frozen. Then there was a loud bang and these men wearing masks charged in with guns. I tried to run, but they knocked me out. When I came to I was tied to a bed, a-and there were men hurting Mom."

Emma then began to cry slightly causing Benson to pat her on the shoulder and give the girl a hug. "I-I wanted to hurt them, make them suffer like how they made me and Mom suffer," she sniffled, "I wanted to stop them hurting Mom during the whole thing, but I couldn't. I always wanted to be brave just like Dad or Uncle Tim, b-but I couldn't do anything."

"Oh Emma, you don't have to stand up to anyone or fight someone to be brave," explained Jennifer, "Being brave is admiting when you're afraid or need help. Tell me something, did your dad do tour duty?"

Emma simply nodded. "Yeah, he used to be a Navy Lieutenant and used to go out to different countries," answered Emma, "Then about six Christmas' ago I fell ill. I don't remember much about it, but the day Dad was supposed to come home, I got a low fever and had to go to bed, I eventually went to sleep and the next thing I knew I woke up in the hospital and both my mom and dad were there. Dad was pretty shaken by what happened so he stepped down from tour duty and became a Navy Analyst."

"Well I'm sure your dad will say the same thing I've said." informed Benson in a comforting manner.

"You really think so?" asked the blonde.

"I really do." assured the redhead.

"Can I ask you something else?" asked Emma.

"Of course." replied Benson.

"Is it possible to start seeing things like people who you know are dead?" questioned Emma.

"Dead people?" cried Dr. Benson in surprise, "Well maybe, but only in extreme cases, when your mental health starts to really slip. Why do you ask?"

"When I was leaving with Dad after my first appointment, I thought I saw someone I once knew, someone that worked with my Uncle Tim," explained the young girl, "But it couldn't have been her, she died in a farmhouse fire nearly four years ago."

"Hmmm, that's strange. It could've been someone that looked like her." suggested Jennifer.

"It's a pretty scary resemblance then." remarked Emma.


A bit later, Emma was riding in the car with Kevin.

"Dad, I want to tell you something," began Emma.

"What is it, sweetie?" answered Kevin curiously.

"When me and Mom were kidnapped, I felt humiliated and disappointed in myself." said Emma.

"Whatever for?" cried the Analyst in shock.

"Because I felt like I should've tried to protect Mom," answered the blonde in frustration, "She was being tortured, but I couldn't do a thing about it. I wanted to be brave like you, and you always told Tommy to look after Mom and me, so I felt I had to do the same."

"Oh, peanut," sighed Kevin in a comforting tone, "You don't have to stand up to people to be brave, you opening up is true bravery. And I know I always used to say that to Tommy and you, but here's the thing, we Navy parents always use that to make our kids feel less upset about us leaving. But I would never ask you or Tommy to put yourselves in actual harms way, those men were armed and dangerous and your still too young to take on men like that. It's me and your mom's job to protect you and Tommy, not the other way around."

"Okay." replied Emma.

Kevin then chuckled and lightly ruffled his daughter's hair.


Later on at the house, Audrey's parents had come over to visit.

"How are you, sweetheart?" asked Mathew as he hugged his daughter.

"Fine, honestly I'm fine," insisted Audrey, "Look, Mom, Dad, I appreciate the concern, but I'm alright."

"Honey, I know you're trying to put on a brave face, but you really need to talk with somebody," argued Mathew firmly, "As I'm sure Kevin's told you, these nightmares won't just go away, and Kevin's just trying to help."

"I know!" snapped the brunette before clapping her hands to her mouth in shock, "Oh I'm sorry, I know you're all trying to help."

"It's okay, dear." replied Chloe.

She and her daughter then hugged.


Audrey was so tired that she went to bed earlier than usual. She had the worst day ever, nothing went right at work, Randy made her go home early yet again, he insisted that she take it slow, to continue to ease back into her routine. All she wanted to do was work, all she wanted to do was forget and all she wanted to do was sleep.

Every time she closed her eyes, she saw Thomas, or she saw Moose, or she saw both. She couldn't take it anymore. The nightmares would not go away, no matter how hard she tried to think of something else, her children, her wedding day, the first date with Kevin. Her dreams always started off pleasant enough, and then they turned evil and torturous. Tonight, she prayed for pleasant dreams, she prayed for dreams of warm beaches, unicorns and pink elephants, she prayed for a night where she would sleep all night and not awaken in terror. Tonight, however would be the worst of all.


The dream started off pleasant enough. She was walking in the park with Kevin, they were holding hands and flirting. He would steal a kiss every so often from her, making her giggle like a schoolgirl. As they walked through the rose garden path, the air suddenly got colder, the sky was turning grey and thunderous. Audrey turned towards her husband.

"Kevin, honey, it looks like it's going to rain, let's head for the car," said Audrey before noticing that Kevin was suddenly gone, "Kevin? Kevin?"

Audrey then started running around, calling Kevin's name. She then tripped over a small rock and rolled down a hill.


Audrey was now lying flat on her back, and when she opened her eyes, they widened in terror and she screamed in fear at the sight of Thomas Jackson leering down at her.

No! No! It can't be, No! "You're dead, how can you be here, no!" cried Audrey, screaming and crying, "Help, help!"

Looking around, she realised she was back in the basement of the farmhouse. Lying on the floor was her Kevin, dead from a gunshot to the head. "NO!" she screamed, "NO! NO!"

Turning to Thomas, she started hitting him as he made a grab for her.

"No one can help you, Audrey," said the man seductively, "no one can hear you."

The young woman attempted to shove Jackson away, but he simply tightened his grip on her arm.

"It's just you and me, sweetheart." declared Thomas, moving in for a kiss.

Audrey slapped him in the face. "Oh, feisty, I like it!" he cheered, moving in to kiss her again, this time holding both her hands tightly, "We're going to have some fun."

Thomas then planted a large kiss on Audrey's lips, causing her eyes to widen and for her to try and shove him off, but it was no use.

There was a knock at the door as Thomas moved in to rip her clothes off. "Enter." he called out.

The door opened and Moose came in.

"Looking good, Audrey," said Moose, ogling her, "I can just eat you."

"Not sharing, Moose, come back later." retorted Thomas.

"But she looks so damn hot, I want her, can't I have her? Look at those breasts, they are so full and perky," hissed the man wickedly, "Please, can't I have her first? She looks so wet, and I could warm her up. Tell him Audrey, tell him you want me."

"No, no, no, I don't want either of you! I want Kevin!" shouted Audrey in a fearful manner.

Shoving Jackson away, Audrey quickly sidestepped Moose and raced to the open door. She almost made it to the door, but Moose grabbed her from behind and threw her against a wall. He then began kissing the brunette, ignoring her mortified whimpers.

"Yeah," he said smugly, "you want me."

Thomas watching the whole scene play out decided it would be more fun to have Moose there with him taking turns. Thomas then turned to Moose.

"put her on the bed, we'll both take her." suggested Thomas seductively.

Moose then lifted Audrey up before throwing her on to the bed.

"You ready?" asked Thomas wickedly.

"Yeah! I am so ready!" yelled Moose in excitement as he unzipped and dropped his pants.

Moose rolled Audrey on to her stomach.

Soon, Audrey was crying helplessly, she lay there and let them have at it. She had no fight left in her, Kevin was dead, why did it matter anymore.

Audrey then began to cry and whimper. "Kevin, please don't be dead, don't be dead." she pleaded.

Audrey felt someone touching her shoulder, thinking it was Thomas or Moose she began trying to hit them with her fist only to have someone holding them and shaking her.

"Audrey, Audrey, wake up! Please wake up." pleaded Kevin's voice.


Opening her eyes, she saw her husband looking at her, eyes filled with concern. He held her gently and she started to cry.

Kevin took Audrey into his arms and hugged her tightly. "What happened?" he whispered.

"I-I was walking in the park with you, then it started to rain and you vanished," began Audrey shakily, "I went to look for you when suddenly I found myself in Thomas' basement with him and Moose. They then, they then-

The young woman simply broke down into loud sobs.

"Audrey, sweetie, please tell me more about the dream, don't bottle it up again please. Please, Audrey tell me, I want to help." begged her husband in a small whisper.

"You can't help Kevin, you can't help, they won't go away, they keep coming back. I know they're dead, I know they're dead, I saw the bodies, they're dead," cried Audrey repeatedly, "they keep coming back. Why? why? why! Why! why do they keep coming back."

"Shush, baby, it's okay," assured the Navy Analyst, gently taking her in his arms again, "It's okay, they're just dreams. Maybe you should get help baby."

"NO! NO! NO! I'm not crazy, I don't need a shrink," shouted the brunette, "NO!"

"But Audrey, you can't go on like this, not sleeping, constant nightmares, you're scaring me and the kids," argued Kevin in an almost pleading manner, trying to bring the kids into the argument they've been having since the nightmares started, "Audrey, look at Emma, she's doing so much better since seeing Dr. Benson. Don't you want to get better?"

"Better? better? better! GET OUT! GET OUT! I'm fine!" yelled the young woman waking up both Emma and Tommy, who were now standing in the door to their bedroom, stunned at the fight their parents were having.

"Mom?" said Tommy, "Mom, are you okay?"

"I'M FINE! NOW GET OUT! GET OUT ALL OF YOU, LEAVE ME ALONE!" Shouted Audrey at her family.

Kevin sat there, stunned for a few moments. He then gently got out of bed and walked over to Tommy and Emma, who looked startled.

"she didn't mean it kids, your mom just had a bad dream, that's all." whispered Kevin gently, hugging Emma, who started to cry and putting an arm around his son leading them back to their rooms.

A few minutes later, the middle aged man came back through and climbed into bed next to his wife.

"Oh, K-Kevin, what's happening to me?" stuttered Audrey before sobbing loudly into her husband's shoulder.

Kevin hugged Audrey and gently rubbed her back.


The next morning, Audrey woke up feeling guilt-ridden over yelling at her kids last night. She then slipped out of bed without waking Kevin, put on her bathrobe and slippers, before heading downstairs, where she became aware of the smell of something cooking.


Upon entering the kitchen, she found Tommy cooking breakfast.

"Hey, Mom," greeted Tommy cheerfully, "I figured since you had a rough night that I'd cook breakfast for you."

"Oh, thank you, sweetie," replied Audrey before hugging her son, "I'm so sorry I yelled at you and Emma last night."

"That's alright, I forgive you." replied Tommy.


After he'd finished getting breakfast ready, Audrey helped Tommy bring it through to the dining room where Emma was sitting.

"I'm so sorry for yelling, Emma." apologised Audrey as she hugged her daughter.

"That's alright," replied the blonde, "I just want you to get better, and Dr. Benson is really good."

"I'm sure she is," replied the brunette, "And I know you're all concerned, but you don't need to worry."

The family then sat down and ate the scrambled eggs and omelet that Tommy had made. Soon, they were joined by Kevin, who gave his wife a hug and a peck on the cheek, causing her to smile.

"Would you like some coffee, Audrey?" asked Kevin.

"No thanks, I've got to run." answered Audrey, wanting to get out of the house as she felt the walls were closing in.

After breakfast, Audrey got dressed, brushed her teeth and rushed off to work.

"What's that all about?" asked Tommy in confusion, watching his mom race out the door.

"Hurricane denial." snarked Emma.

"Emma! That's not very nice." scolded Kevin sternly.

"But it's true." argued the girl.

"She has got a point Dad." added Tommy.

"That's beside the point!" barked Kevin before sighing, "But I don't know what else to do. That isn't the woman I fell in love with."


An hour later, Audrey was settling in at her desk. Turning the computer on, Audrey started to check her emails and voice mails. There were dozens to go through. Grabbing a pen and paper, she started making notes of the calls and phone numbers to call back. As she was answering her emails, she felt her eyes get heavy and since the office was still sparsely populated, she started some stretching at her desk to loosen the tension in her neck. She was so tired, feeling relaxed she sat back in her chair and closed her eyes for just a moment. However, after a few minutes she was so relaxed and exhausted from lack of sleep that it didn't take long for her to doze off and she started to dream.

Hearing whimpering from the main office area, Randy found Audrey asleep at her desk and could see that she was caught in a nightmare, due to her crying and whimpering.

"No, no, no." whimpered Audrey in fear.

Randy ran over to Audrey and tried to wake her up. "Audrey, Audrey wake up," he said, "Audrey?"

Randy then began to gently shake her shoulder. Audrey's eyes then fluttered open.

"Hey, are you okay?" asked her boss in concern.

Unfortunately, the brunette was still lost in her dream. She then began to flap her hands about, clearly panicking.

"no, no, get away from me." pleaded Audrey, getting up and trying to find a place to hide. (Not seeing the office but the basement of the farmhouse and Moose chasing her around the room).

"Get away from me, get away from me." begged the woman, "need to hide, can't let them find me again, no, no!"

Randy concerned and a little freaked out slowly approached her. "Audrey, nobody is chasing you," assured Randy, walking slowly toward her as she hid under one of the nearby desks, "Audrey, come on out, it's okay, really."

Breathing hard and shaking, she slowly came out and looked around stunned, it wasn't the farmhouse, she was at work.

"Oh God, oh God." whispered Audrey, shaking and panicking and looking around wildly as more people entered the office area.

"Folks, give us some space, nothing to see here," stated Randy calmly, trying to break up the crowd, "Come on show's over."

After shooing the curious crowd off back to their desks, Randy turned back to Audrey.

"Are you okay now, Audrey?" asked her boss in concern, "come on let's go to my office."

Randy then attempted to take Audrey's arm, only for her to shove him away and step back, eyes widening in fear.

"No, please don't hurt me," pleaded Audrey, panicking again seeing Moose coming toward her again and not Randy, "No, no, no…."

Audrey then swayed alarmingly before toppling backwards on to the floor, Randy quickly rushed over and knelt by her side.

"Someone please call 9-1-1!" yelled Randy before gently shaking the brunette's shoulder in an attempt to wake her, "Come on Audrey, wake up."

Randy switched tactics and started tapping her gently on the face, but got no response. Everyone who was in the office tried to crowd around when Mitchell, a tall, dark skinned man from accounting came over.

"back to work people!" shouted Mitchell loud enough for everyone to hear as two balding EMT's came into the office and started working on Audrey.

"Mrs Daly?" began Richie the first EMT in concern, "Can you hear me?"

"Audrey? can you hear me?" asked Bill the second EMT, watching to see if she opened her eyes, "No response."

"Can anyone tell me what happened?" asked Richie.

Randy filled him in on what he knew and the state he had found Audrey in.

"Thanks, we'll take it from here." informed Bill, Moving the gurney toward the door and loading Audrey into the ambulance.

"What hospital are you taking her to?" asked Randy, thinking he needed to call Kevin.

"Washington General." called out Bill over his shoulder as he closed the doors to the ambulance, and Richie drove off with sirens blaring.

The chatter in the office resumed trying to figure out what was going on. Meanwhile Randy went to his office to call Kevin.

"Damn, straight to voice mail" sighed Randy, "Kevin it's Randy. You need to get to Washington General ASAP. Audrey had some kind of attack and passed out, I'm heading there now, call me!"

"Jenny." called out Randy looking at his assistant, a young blonde haired woman, "I'm going to the hospital to check on Audrey. If you hear from Kevin, tell him to head to Washington General."

"Got it," answered Jenny, sounding concerned, "hope she's going to be okay"

"Me too." replied her boss, grabbing his things and heading out.


It was hours later that Kevin finally checked his voice mail to find two frantic calls from Randy and one from a Dr. Schwartz at Washington General.

"Emma, sweetie, we need to pick up your brother, your mom is in the hospital." cried Kevin in alarm, turning with a panicky expression to face his daughter who just got in the car from her meeting with Mrs. Jones. "Get back in the car, I'm going to go and get your brother."

Kevin then raced off towards the local university where he went inside and after a few minutes managed to get Tommy out.

Minutes later, they raced to the hospital. Kevin ran straight to the emergency department, asking for his wife, only to be told they took her for an MRI and other tests as she hit her head when she passed out. The Nurse directed him to the 6th floor waiting room, where the Doctor would see him soon. The kids pulling out their books and sat down, while Kevin paced around the room like a caged animal. A minute later, he saw Randy walk in with a cup of coffee in hand.

"Kevin, finally." cried Randy in relief before heading over to him. They then shook hands.

"Randy, what happened?" asked Kevin.

"She was working one moment and the next she seemed to be sleeping at her desk. I was going to wake her when she seemed to be trapped in some kind of waking nightmare," explained Randy, "she was completely freaking out, then out of nowhere she passed out."

"Damn." uttered the Navy Analyst in fear.

"Yeah." replied Randy.

Kevin was going to say more when a grey-haired man wearing a Doctor's coat came in.

"Family of Audrey Daly?" asked the man.

"I'm her husband, Kevin." stated Kevin, now sounding terrified.

"Dr. George Schwartz, I'll be treating your wife," informed the Doctor, "First, she came in unconscious and unresponsive, due to a slight bump on the head, she has a mild concussion. Secondly, she is awake now, and seems to only remember going to work and ending up here. From what her boss has said, she had a panic attack. Has she had them before?"

"Yes, since the kidnapping, she has had them along with terrible nightmares." lamented the former Lieutenant.

"I see, well I would like to keep her overnight at least and have her evaluated by one of our psychiatrists with your permission of course." explained Dr. Schwartz.

"Please, I've been trying to get her help since she came home," said Kevin, "can I see her?"

"Yes, of course, come this way." stated the Doctor.

"Randy, Tommy, can you keep an eye on Emma?" asked Kevin.

"Of course." answered Randy.


Walking into the hospital room, he saw his wife dressed in a hospital gown and hooked up to an IV drip and other monitors, she looked as if she were sleeping. Approaching the bed, Kevin took her hand in his and rubbed it gently.

Audrey then groaned softly, her eyes fluttered open and she lifted her head to look at Kevin.

"Hey." said Kevin gently.

"Hey." said Audrey gravely, "Sorry, sweetie, I'm so sorry."

She then started to cry.

"I can't do this anymore, Kevin, I can't." sobbed the brunette, tears streaming down her face.

"Oh, sweetie." sighed the former Lieutenant, hugging her and letting her weep into his shoulder. He then made gentle hushing noises while gently rubbing her back.


(AN) And that concludes this latest chapter of Recovery. I hope you all enjoyed, and remember to Read and Review.

Once again thanks so much to DS2010 for helping with the nightmare scenes, and some other dialogue.

And in case anybody's wondering, most of this story takes place before the coronavirus hit America hard, speaking of which, stay safe fellow writers, stay isolated, I'm still going to continue writing.

In the next chapter, Audrey finally goes to see Dr. Benson and we continue the stuff with Ziva.

Until then, this is TimeLordMaster108 signing out.