Thanks so much for the overwhelming support for the last chapter. I can't tell you how much I appreciate it. I tried to update fast (the bitter cold New England weather this weekend definitely helped), but this chapter ends much worse than the other one did (in my opinion). Also, this was a super hard one for me to write and I'm very unsure of the results, but I did the best I could with it. And sorry for the cliffhanger once again.

xxxxx

Callen sighed as he considered what Sam said. His eyes went to Kensi and Deeks and he couldn't help but think about the possibility of one of them surviving and the other being left alone. He knew that whoever was left would be utterly devastated. Even worse would be if he himself ended up drinking from the harmless vial. He was pretty sure he would never be able to move past the deaths of both junior team members if they died because of a decision that he had made.

"You can't do it, can you?" Sam asked softly, looking at his partner with an unwavering gaze. He then turned toward each of his teammates in turn. "Look…I understand and appreciate what you're trying to do for me…and for my children, but the three of you are important to me. I would never be okay with two of you losing your lives, not to him, not like this…"

There was a long silence which was finally broken by Callen. "Fine. We'll do it your way," Callen said resignedly. He prayed that it would work. He couldn't even imagine having to face Aiden and Kam if something were to happen to their father. He could picture the hatred and accusation in their eyes, and knew it would be well deserved. If this didn't work, he would never be able to forgive himself.

"Thank you, G," Sam said. "I truly think it's the best chance that we have."

Callen turned his gaze to Kensi and Deeks. "Are the two of you okay with this?" he asked.

Kensi nodded silently and Deeks seemed to consider the question for a few moments before saying, "Whatever you think…we've got your back, Callen."

Callen smiled, his eyes full of emotion. "Thanks," he said gruffly. At that moment, he knew without a doubt that this decision was the right one. How could he even have considered acquiescing to Bart's insane demands in his game of death? He loved his team members. They were family and each of them had a right to fight for their life. He would never be able to take that away from any one of them.

xxxxx

"Okay, we need to come up with some kind of a game plan," Sam said once the decision to fight had been made. He turned toward Kensi. "I think it obviously makes sense for you to take control of the weapon, Kens," he said. "Also, it goes without saying that you just need to take as many down as quickly as you can."

Kensi nodded, her eyes deadly serious. "Of course." She would do everything in her power to do what Sam wanted. She knew it was the only way for them to have a hope of surviving this situation.

Sam's gaze then traveled to Callen who appeared to be losing his battle to stay awake. He was sitting up, but his eyes kept closing and it was obvious that he was no longer paying attention. Deciding to leave him alone for the time being, he directed his attention to Deeks. "Do you think you can handle a gun?" He eyed Deeks' shoulder dubiously, knowing the amount of pain the younger man had to be in, but was managing to somehow keep in the background.

Deeks nodded quickly. "I can handle a gun, Sam. Once I get one in my hands, I'll be good to go." He looked over at Callen who had finally succumbed to sleep, his head bowed with his chin resting on his chest. "What are you going to do about him?"

Sam's eyes went to Callen and he sighed softly. "For now, I'm going to make sure he doesn't hurt his neck." He got up and went over to his partner then gently laid him down, adding another blanket to keep him warm. Callen murmured something soft and unintelligible, but he didn't awaken. Once Sam deemed him comfortable, he returned to Kensi and Deeks. "I'll try to wake him a few minutes before the hour is up. Maybe a little more sleep will rejuvenate him." He really didn't think that would be the case, but maybe they would have some luck and a jolt of adrenaline would get his partner through the battle which was to come.

xxxxx

The minutes slowly ticked by as Sam, Kensi and Deeks waited in tense anticipation. Now that the decision was made and they knew they would be bringing this whole thing to a head shortly, they just wanted it to happen. The waiting was excruciating.

"I guess I should wake him," Sam said reluctantly, looking over at G. He wished there was a place he could just hide his partner away where he would be safe until this was over, but if such a place existed, they would all be there right now and none of this would even be happening. He went over to Callen and gently shook his shoulder. "G?"

This time, unlike before, Callen awoke more easily which helped give Sam a bit more peace of mind. "Is it time?" Callen asked, blinking as he tried to fully clear his drowsiness.

"A few more minutes," Sam replied. "You hanging in there?"

Callen nodded as he slowly sat up. "I'm good," he said. "So, what's the plan?"

"Kensi will handle the gun. The rest of us will try to gather weapons from Bart's fallen men and then take down more of them." Sam outlined the plan simply and didn't emphasize any sort of physical contact, knowing that Callen wouldn't stand a chance up against anyone in his condition. "And G…there's no shame in taking cover if you have to."

Callen nodded, not particularly looking like he agreed, but keeping his thoughts to himself on that matter.

Kensi and Deeks watched the two senior partners, both looking relieved that Callen was at least lucid for the time being. Kensi then decided to redo her ponytail, which was a mess, wanting to keep her hair out of the way. She didn't need any distractions. "Are you okay with this?" Deeks asked softly as he watched her. He found everything she did to be fascinating, even something as simple as fixing her hair.

"Of course," Kensi said, looking back at him. "Are you?"

"All-in-all I'd rather be safe at home, cuddled on the couch, watching t.v.," Deeks said, "but this is the next best thing, right?" His attempt at light-hearted humor fell flat and Kensi leaned in and hugged him.

"I love you, Deeks," she said. "I love you so much."

"I love you too," he said, a catch in his voice. He returned her embrace as well as he could without hurting her. He hoped and prayed this wouldn't be the last opportunity they would ever have to hold each other. "This…this may not go the way we want it to…"

"I know…but we can't think like that," Kensi rested her hand on his cheek and gazed into his eyes. "We have to believe we're going to get through this, Deeks."

"And if we don't?" He knew he was thinking overly pessimistically but the thought of losing her was killing him inside.

Kensi sighed softly, not answering him. Instead, they embraced each other one more time and just held each other. After a few moments, Sam cleared his throat. "I'm sorry," he said gruffly, I hate to interrupt, but we need to get a look at the camp, see what our exact game plan will be."

Kensi nodded as she gently pulled herself out of Deeks' arms. She and Sam then walked over to the tent opening and peered outside. There were more men posted on the east side of the camp than the west. "You guys go towards the west," she whispered to the men. "I'll start shooting on the east side to cover you."

Sam cast a doubtful look at his partner. "G, you wait here until Kensi has brought some of them down, then try to go and grab a weapon."

"I can fight, Sam," Callen said. "Anyway, we need to protect Kensi. The tent provides cover but no real protection. We can't have them shooting back at her."

Sam shook his head. "I just don't think…"

"Let him, Sam," Deeks interrupted, offering his support to Callen. "He has the right to try." He also knew that Callen's point about Kensi was a valid one. There was nothing inside the tent for her to hide behind except some bundled up sleeping bags which was far from ideal.

Sam nodded his assent although it was still evident from his expression that he did not agree.

"It's decision time, Agent Callen!" Bart's sing-song voice sounded exuberant as he called to them from outside. "Come along, my little contestants. Come and tell Uncle Bart who wins the grand prize!"

"Take him down first if you can," Callen stated to Kensi who nodded.

"You good, G?" Sam asked his partner.

Callen nodded. "I'm good, you?"

Sam nodded and drew Callen in for a hug. He released him after a few moments and then turned to Kensi and Deeks. "Come on…we've got this…"

xxxxx

Callen, Sam and Deeks left the tent and slowly made their way towards the table via the western side of the camp. As they neared the first group of men, Kensi began shooting over at the eastern side of the camp. Sam immediately jumped one assailant and put him into a choke hold. When he was unconscious, he took his gun and began shooting. Deeks was able to grab a gun from the clenched hand of one of Sam's victims and set his aim at anyone who tried to shoot in the direction of their tent.

xxxxx

Once Kensi started shooting, the first thing she realized was that the weapon she had been given was perfect for her. She had been a little worried beforehand that somehow it wouldn't be or that god forbid it was a setup or a trick by Bart and that the gun wouldn't even fire, but it was no trick. She was able to take down a number of Bart's men in only mere seconds. She didn't see Bart or Burke though so Callen's wish of her taking down Bart was, for the time being, unfulfilled.

xxxxx

Unfortunately for Callen, he was brought down by a larger stronger man, almost immediately, and the wind was knocked out of him. As he lay dazed on the ground he couldn't help but think that Sam had been right, he just didn't have the strength to be of any help. Suddenly, he felt himself being grabbed and pulled roughly off the ground. Seeing Sam and Deeks off in the distance, shooting, he knew he wasn't being grabbed by one of his teammates and he struggled to escape the hold of the unknown assailant who was dragging him towards the outskirts of the camp. "Agent Callen, stop! I'm trying to help you." He hesitated, then realized it was Gary, the guy who had given Sam the weapon. Gary set him up behind a tree and handed him a gun. "Stay here. You're in no shape to be out there. You can shoot from here just as easily." With that, he was gone. Suddenly, they had another gun on their side.

xxxxx

Burke stood outside behind the tent where Kensi was holed up. He was going to teach that bitch a lesson once and for all. An ugly sneer on his face, he took the knife he was holding and began to slice down through the material of the tent. When the long slice was completed, he silently managed to maneuver his large body inside.

Focused on her shooting, Kensi never heard a thing until Burke grabbed her from behind. "You won't be needing this anymore," he snarled as he grappled the weapon away from her and tossed it aside. He then grabbed her. Kensi immediately went on the offense and kicked Burke viciously in his right calf. He momentarily lost his grip and Kensi kicked him again, this time aiming for his left leg. "You bitch," he shouted and grabbed her tighter this time. Kensi sagged against him and then straightened up, ramming the top of her head into the bottom of his chin.

"Aargh!" he shouted as he lunged at her once again.

xxxxx

The combatants in the camp battle had been drastically reduced in number. Some of Bart's men were lying wounded on the ground. A greater number were dead. Deeks couldn't help but notice that no shots had been coming from the tent nor had Kensi emerged. The feeling in his gut told him something was very wrong. "Kensi?!" He ran over to the tent and entered it only to see Kensi who was pinned face down on the ground, Burke was sitting on top of her, grinning lecherously forcing her arms behind her.

"Get off her!" Deeks leapt on top of Burke, pulling him to the ground, ignoring the pain shooting through his arm and shoulder.

Burke grinned at this new obstacle and immediately focused on Deeks' wounded shoulder, aiming a violent punch at it, putting all of his body weight into the blow. The sudden burst of red hot, intense pain entering his shoulder caused Deeks to feel sick to his stomach. Pale, he sunk to the ground, unprepared for the savage hit by Burke.

"Deeks!" Kensi tried to go to him, but Burke grabbed her weapon from the ground and swung it at Kensi's head. She managed to duck away, but not entirely and he managed to still hit her, although with not as much force as he'd intended. Kensi fell to the ground, stunned and Burke went at Deeks again, using the rifle as a weapon and lining up Deeks' shoulder, striking it brutally and repeatedly.

At that moment, Sam entered the tent, his eyes wild as he grabbed Burke and flung him as hard as he could out of the tent. "You want to pick on someone? Try me on for size. Let's go!"

Licking his lips, Burke measured up his new opponent and grinned oafishly as he lunged at Sam. Sam was ready for him though and Burke didn't fare as well against a more evenly matched opponent. Sam was able to get in several unrelenting blows, releasing all the frustrations he had been holding in, ever since Bart had put his plans against them into action. Having Burke in his clutches was almost, although not quite as good as having Bart.

xxxxx

Callen watched the battle between Sam and Burke, ready to shoot if Sam appeared to be in any real danger, but so far his partner was more than holding his own against his foe. Most of Bart's men were dead and Gary had a gun aimed at a group of five men, three who were wounded and two who had surrendered. He had no idea where Bart had gone off to and the thought worried him, but at that moment he needed to focus on Sam. Thus, he had no warning at all when Bart silently approached him from behind and jammed a gun butt into his back. "Drop your weapon, Agent Callen or you're dead."

Callen froze and Bart spoke again. "Drop it now and if you make a sound, I'm going to shoot your partner in the head. I may not be a physical fighter, but I'm an expert shot."

Callen let his gun drop to the ground.

"Good, very good. Now start walking. Head over to the table. Move!" Bart said, keeping the gun harshly buried against Callen's back. Callen was pretty sure the weapon was placed directly on one of the lashes he had sustained as it hurt quite a bit.

Callen shot an anguished look in Sam's direction, but the fight was still going on fast and furiously and Sam was solely focused on Burke.

"Your partner won't be helping you, Agent Callen."

Bart led Callen back to the table. "Sit down," he ordered. The three vials were still sitting there, looking more menacing than ever. "Pick one and drink it."

"What?" Callen shook his head. "No…I'm not going to do that."

"You've got a thirty three percent chance that you'll live," Bart said with a sneer. "Do it or you've got a zero percent chance. You'll get a bullet in the head right now."

As Callen stared at the vials, he couldn't help but think about the Spiral virus and the time he had been forced to drink cyanide. Somehow, he didn't think he was going to be as lucky this time. There would be no miracle cure if he chose wrong. No one even knew where they were. Hetty hadn't given him an antidote to inject himself with.

"Do it now! And don't look to me for any help from my expression. I don't know which one is safe either. When I had these concoctions made up, I made sure to tell my chemist to surprise me. I wanted the anticipation of the game as well."

Callen cast one more desperate look at his partner, mentally trying to get his attention, but it was in vain. He stared at the vials and finally chose the emerald liquid. He picked it up and drank it down in one gulp. He almost gagged at the taste of the bitter liquid as he swallowed it and he knew that he had made a very wrong choice.