As always, the support you've given this story is wonderful and I appreciate it more than I can say. Please remember that I'm in no way pretending any of this stuff is particularly realistic and it should be taken with a grain of salt. Hopefully, its at least somewhat entertaining. Thanks for reading (and no cliffhanger this time!) :)

xxxxx

"What do you think, Sam?" Kensi asked as she and Deeks watched him walk around the perimeter of the wire structure.

Sam slowly shook his head. "I don't know…it looks simple enough to disarm, but it's the placement that's the problem. He glanced at his partner and didn't even bother to ask him if there was any chance of him getting loose. He was tied up really well and Sam wondered if he was even able to walk at this point. He also knew that he, himself, was much too big to try to get through some of the spaces. He'd blow them up for sure.

"I can get in there, Sam," Kensi said. "I'll be able to. I'm small enough. I can get through it. Once I have, I'll tell you what it looks like and we'll figure out the best way to disarm it."

Deeks really didn't want her to do it, but he knew he had to keep his thoughts to himself. They couldn't just leave Callen here and Kensi was the obvious choice to try. He knew he wasn't in the proper physical shape to try to undertake it himself. It didn't mean he had to like it though. One wrong move…he couldn't let his thoughts go there. He had to believe she'd be fine.

Sam looked over at his partner who was shaking his head with a pleading look in his eyes. "We have to try, G," he said.

"I can do this, Callen," Kensi said to him with a reassuring smile. "Don't worry. It's going to be alright."

"Are you sure about this?" Deeks asked, grabbing her and pulling her towards him. "Maybe…maybe there's another way?"

"What other way, Deeks?" Kensi asked softly as she gazed into his eyes. "It's not like we can get the bomb squad out here. This is what we do. You know I have to do it. I don't want anything to happen to him."

Deeks looked up towards the sky and then back at Kensi. "I know, but…" He pulled her in for a kiss and then released her, but still gazed at her intently. "Please, please, please be careful."

"I will. You're going to need a nurse once we get out of this mess and I'm planning to fill that position. I'll be alright, Deeks, I promise."

xxxxx

As Callen watched Kensi, readying herself for this do or die mission, he wished he could talk to her. He wanted to tell her it was okay for her not to do this. He didn't know what he'd do if she got blown up, but he guessed he wouldn't do much of anything, because he would be blown up as well. If only he'd made the decision sooner to activate the trip wire, but he'd been too wishy washy about it and now…now they might all lose their lives because of it. Sam and Deeks weren't moving away either. That was just wrong. He thought once more about just kicking the wire but they were too close now anyway. He wished Sam and Deeks would move out of harm's way. Sam had Kam and Aiden to think about. He stared at Sam, his eyes filled with anxiety for his friends. "It's going to be okay, G," Sam told him. "It's going to be okay…"

xxxxx

Kensi stripped down to her undergarments. She didn't want to chance that any loose clothing would possibly touch against a wire. She then removed her boots and Sam handed her the small scissors that had been with the first aid supplies. The three men watched with bated breath as she began to take her first step into the maze of wires. She stepped over a low wire and then began to duck under a higher wire. "Just a little bit lower, Kensi," Deeks said, quietly guiding her. She did as he said and was able to stand. She then tried to figure out her best bet to get further inside.

"Over to your right, Kensi," Sam said after he studied the trap for the best angle. "That opening is pretty big."

"Just watch yourself when you get past it," Deeks said. "Some of the wires look pretty tight inside there."

"Wait Kensi," Sam stated, considering what Deeks had just said. "Do you think she's better off to the left? There's less room to maneuver, but once she gets through there, she'll be able to move more."

"I think that's a better idea, Kens," Deeks said, but you've got a different perspective from us. Go with your gut."

Kensi nodded and she went to her left. She was now very close to Callen and to the device beside him. Now that she could see it more clearly, she realized it might not be as simple to disarm as it had appeared from further away. "It's going to be okay," she said softly as their eyes met. He nodded, praying that she was right. For his part, he wanted to talk so badly. It was making him crazy that he had no input at all into what was happening. At the very least, he wanted Kensi to know how much he appreciated what she was doing for him. That he had the complete loyalty and backing of his team…that they would basically do anything for him…it meant the world to him. It was something he never thought he'd have in life.

The next move would be the final one and she would be with Callen. She took a deep breath, recognizing it was tricky. She bent at the waist and then gracefully twisted her body to avoid the place where two wires narrowed towards each other. She then lifted her left foot above a lower wire and then her right foot and she had done it. She then looked down at the device. Some of it she understood, but there was another part which appeared complicated to her. There were some striped wires connected in a way she had never really seen before.

"Kensi? Ungag him!" Sam desperately wanted to hear his partner's voice. Also, G could have knowledge that could be of help to them. Kensi nodded and Callen bowed his head so she could untie the knot behind his head. He breathed a sigh of relief when it was removed.

"Thank you," Callen said, looking up at her gratefully and Kensi knew he wasn't only talking about the gag.

"You're welcome," she replied with a soft smile.

"G?" Sam called over to him and Callen gazed back at his partner. "Did they say anything that might be of help to us?"

Callen shook his head. "Bart had some hotshot M.I.T. graduate make up this contraption, a regular little genius. He knew what he was doing, Sam."

"Don't worry…" Kensi said, placing her hand on his shoulder. "We'll figure it out."

Callen shook his head. "Listen, Kens…if you're not sure, if you're not damn sure…I want you to get out of this mess the same way you got into it. Maneuver your way out and don't look back." He knew there was no way in hell he would be able to do it. He was so weak and his body wracked with pain. He honestly didn't even know if he could walk. He certainly couldn't twist himself into a pretzel to get out of this.

"We're getting out of this together," Kensi said. She couldn't even imagine not doing everything in her power to save him. She knew she would never forgive herself if she was to walk away without trying to help him. She then turned to Sam, after giving Deeks a reassuring smile, and began to explain to him the circuitry she was looking at on the device.

Callen tried to turn his head so that he could get a look at it, but it was a little bit out of his field of vision and he couldn't even catch a glimpse of it. It was just another in a series of frustrations. He listened as Sam and Kensi went back and forth over what was the best strategy, the best chance of success. The striped wires and the way they were connected seemed to be puzzling to Sam which made Callen nervous. He didn't want Kensi to take a chance with her own and the lives of the team just to attempt to save him. Finally, Sam came up with a strategy for Kensi to follow, but he didn't look sure and Kensi's own eyes were apprehensive as she prepared to cut the first wire. "Kens…" Callen said, staring at her, his blue eyes filled with emotion. "Please…please just go. Think of Deeks. Think of your life together."

"Callen…" Kensi said, trying hard to keep her voice calm for his and for her own benefit. "Look at me and tell me that you would leave me here, tied to a tree, that you would walk away and never look back. Tell me that the sound of that explosion taking my life wouldn't haunt you for the rest of your life, that you wouldn't care that I was dead, that it wouldn't bother you that you could have been the one to save me, but you didn't even try."

Callen bowed his head, unable to even conceive of such a notion. He could never leave her that way. He would never be able to leave any member of his team under such circumstances. It was humbling to realize they felt the same way about him.

"It's going to be okay," she said, placing her hand on his shoulder and then turning back to her task as Callen held his breath and wondered what it would feel like to be blown into a million pieces.

xxxxx

Kensi smiled back at Deeks one last time, then went to cut the first wire she and Sam had agreed upon, yellow with blue stripes. The first aid scissors weren't meant for this task and she struggled, but finally managed to saw her way through it. She breathed a sigh of relief when all remained quiet. Then, two more sequential cuts were made to a silver wire, then white with red stripes. She thought she was done, but there were no warning lights or anything like that to really signify that they were safe.

"Now what?" she called over to Sam.

Sam took a deep breath as he approached the crisscrossed wire booby trap. "Now we test it," he said as he stood just on the outside of it. He looked down at his partner and gave him a look of encouragement.

Callen shook his head, his eyes tormented. "No. All of you, listen to me. Please just get out of here," he begged. "Sam, think of your children. They can't lose another parent. Please… If you care about me at all, you'll do this for me." He then turned and looked at Kensi pleadingly. "You've done everything you could to help me, Kens…Now I want you to get out of here…get out of this trap, go with Sam and Deeks and get a safe distance away. Then I will test this out. There's nothing else you can do for me. Sacrificing yourselves makes no sense at all. Think of your futures. Whether or not this works out, I'll forever be grateful that you risked your lives for me. Now please, go…"

Kensi turned around and looked at Deeks who nodded as did Sam. She then looked back down at Callen. "I…I need to untie you," she said with a catch in her voice.

He shook his head. "Please just go. Please?"

"I love you," she said as she leaned down and gave him a gentle hug.

"I love you too," he said. He then watched with great relief as she did what he had asked her to do and began to carefully make her way back out of the maze. Once she had reached safety with Sam and Deeks, he smiled, so grateful that they were doing as he had asked.

"I love you," Kensi repeated, her eyes filled with tears as she quickly dressed and gathered her things together.

Sam stared at his partner, his eyes filled with intense sadness. "G…I…" He didn't want to leave him, couldn't bear the thought of what might possibly happen. "Why didn't you let her untie you?"

Callen shook his head. "There's no way I can do what she did, big guy," he said quietly. "I'm going to need help just to stand up…you can come and help me when this is over with, okay?"

Sam nodded his head, but Callen could see his partner was having a hard time keeping it together. "You did everything you could, Sam," he whispered. "I love you. If…if this doesn't go the way we want it to…tell Hetty…well, you know how I feel…You'll know what to say to her and to the wonder twins." He inhaled deeply and shakily exhaled. "You guys better leave. Let's just get this over with…"

"Alright, G…" Sam said, his eyes beginning to fill with tears. "You know…you know…" He swallowed hard not able to continue.

"I do know, Sam…" Callen said, solemnly. "You're my brother…always will be…"

Sam pounded his chest with his fist and then began walking slowly away, backwards, refusing to take his eyes off his partner. Kensi was openly crying. Deeks kept his arm around her as they walked, trying to keep his own emotions under wrap. Their nerves were heightened, every muscle in their bodies tensed in anticipation of a possible impending explosion that would tell them that this time, Callen really was dead.

xxxxx

Callen watched as his friends walked away, but Sam kept his eyes focused on him. It made him feel somewhat better that if he was to leave this world now, Sam's face would be the last thing he'd see. Once they were far enough away, he focused on what he had to do. His breathing grew faster and heavier as he tried to get up the nerve to do it. He didn't want to die, but he felt like he'd been given no choice in the matter. He slowly began to lift his leg as he stared back at Sam who was now on the other end of the clearing. Finally, with a fast and jerky movement, he forced his leg roughly against the wire, then looked up at the sky and said a silent thank you when nothing happened.

xxxxx

Bart watched the small black and white screen, fascinated by what he had seen. "Very nice, Agent Blye," he said, nodding in approval. "It seems she saved your ass, Agent Callen. You should be very grateful indeed."

"I can't believe she managed to get through that and disarm it," Michael said, watching in dismay.

"It's fine, Michael. Really it is," Bart said with a reassuring smile. This at least shows me that they're worth my time and maybe they will prove to be a challenge after all. Also, the video surveillance you've set up throughout the forest is beyond reproach. I can't tell you how pleasing it is to me that I know where they are at all times and they think they're outwitting me in some way." He laughed uproariously.

"I'm just sorry that the trap wasn't successful," Michael said, his eyes downcast.

"Not to worry my boy. Agent Callen and his team will be taken care of, all in good time…all in good time."

xxxxx

"He did it," Sam was overjoyed as he took off across the clearing in a rush to get to his partner. When he got to the trap he pushed and kicked the wires down to the ground and was quickly at Callen's side. "You did it, buddy. You did it," he said as he began to untie the tight ropes binding his partner to the tree.

"I didn't do anything," Callen said. "It was all Kensi...I never would have gotten out of this if it wasn't for her. Well, maybe you provided a little bit of help as well," he said, smirking at his partner.

Sam finally got Callen freed. By this time, Kensi and Deeks had arrived and were standing close by, their eyes on the other set of partners. Sam watched as Callen slowly bent his legs at the knees grimacing at the stiffness and soreness he felt. He then painstakingly moved his arms. It was when he went to try to stand that he felt the stabbing pain shooting through his side and chest and he paled considerably. "What Is it?" Sam asked.

"Just my ribs," Callen gasped.

"Let me help you," Sam said as he leaned down and gently pulled Callen to his feet, then took him into his arms for a heartfelt but gentle hug. "You can't imagine how glad I am that you're okay, G," he whispered. "I really thought you were dead."

"I'm going to be fine," Callen said, forcing a smile as Sam continued to support him.

Kensi approached Callen and he reached for her. "I don't know how to thank you," he said as she embraced him.

"No thanks necessary," she said. "I'm just so happy we got to you."

"Me too, man," Deeks said, gently clapping Callen's shoulder. "You scared the life out of us."

"Let's get out of here," Sam stated. "It's getting late. We should try to find a place to spend the night. Deeks looked practically asleep on his feet. He was being unnaturally quiet and Sam knew that G wasn't in good shape either.

Sam gently put his arm around Callen as he took his first step and Callen's legs almost went out from under him. "Whoa, G," Sam said as he used both arms to catch and steady his partner. "Do you need to rest more before we head out?"

Callen shook his head. "No, I'm okay. Just give me a sec." He tried to steady himself, fighting against the weakness and rubbery feeling he felt in his legs. Finally, he felt strong enough to try again. "Okay…let's go." He tentatively took one step and then another. Eventually, he was able to go on with a slow, but relatively continuous pace, leaning heavily on Sam as he walked.

"Are you doing okay, Deeks?" Kensi asked. He hadn't said much, ever since she had made her way back out of the booby trap.

Deeks nodded. "I'm good, baby," he said with a faint smile. "Just a bit tired."

"I don't think we'll be going too far," she stated, trying to keep his spirits up. "I don't think Callen has it in him right now."

Deeks nodded. He understood where Callen was coming from. He really didn't really have it in him either.