Author's Note:

I'm keeping this brief because this part of my note isn't all that important. I apologize for my extended absence on the story. I lost sight of where it was going and had to revise several chapters I had written in advance to get it right. Anyways.

I had qualms about posting something today. But I also felt the need to say something about it.

I was only two and a half when the U.S. was attacked on September 11th, 2001. I don't remember it. I just remember fleeting emotions of confusion. (I live pretty close to NYC). Every year this impacts me more and more, and I feel as though I'm suffocating when I think about it. My heart, thoughts, and prayers go out to the victims and their families. Hug your friends and family just a little tighter today, everyone.

Stay strong. Never forget. Never surrender.

Nell had finished explaining the security system set up about five minutes ago. Everyone in the room was mulling over the information further, trying to play the captive in the bathroom into the picture.

"Well it's obvious that we can track the Salinas cartel using the security system. The question is do we use the kid to get in?" Xandra Walters spoke first, running a hand through her blond hair.

"I wouldn't be so sure of that," Callen spoke up. "Yes, it's connected to every camera in the city and offers audio, but even with it, tracking them won't be easy. These people are smart. They wouldn't be funding half the terrorist organizations in the nation if they weren't."

"We might not have the time to sift through everything either. Callen and I were playing around with the system earlier. It's massive," Nell added.

"I think we need to set that aside for now. We have a more immediate issue tied up in the bathroom," Sam intervened. "If he doesn't check in soon, then we're going to have the cartel on our asses again."

"We can't let him go- he's seen all of us," Jason Letway said.

"It's not like he can hang around either," Lucas Raymond argued.

"Could we turn him?" Deeks asked.

Sam shook his head. "We don't have time."

"He's a teenager," Callen pointed out. "It may be our only option."

"We could plant a tracker on him. Leave him here and follow him back to their compound when he gets out," Kensi suggested.

"They found Ops? They could spot one of our tails easily. Especially if this kid already knows what to look for," Xandra disagreed.

"Not if we weren't the ones following him. Nell, do you think you could use the system to track somebody?"

Nell paused. "I would have to work with it. There's no guarantee it would be successful."

"We've been here too long anyway. They would suspect something," Sam said.

As everybody sat in silence and thought, Deeks walked out onto the balcony from the hotel room. He leaned over the railing, watching the city lights blink and shine. Suddenly a thought occurred to him.

"Do we have eyes downstairs?" He called back to the group.

"I can go keep a lookout," Jason offered. "They haven't seen me up close yet."

"Text us if anything happens," Sam said as the former police officer left them in the room.

"Look, we can't focus on the kid right now. We're in danger and we should leave," Lucas declared after a good two minutes.

"He might be our only way in," Kensi argued.

"We're federal agents, we can think of something else."

"Not likely when dealing with these guys- not when we have an opportunity such as this," Callen backed his teammate up.

Suddenly all the agents were quieted by the chorus of different buzzing. Nell nearly attacked her phone and read the message out loud:

"'Men with guns in lobby. Get out now.'"

Sam was already by Callen's side helping him up when he said, "Split up, meet at our next safe house as soon as you can."

Xandra and Lucas were halfway out the door when Nell called, "Jason said stairwells A and F are blocked, don't use the elevator!"

Nell shoved everything in her bag, watching how slowly Callen and Sam were moving with desperation. Deeks made a move to help, but Sam waved him away.

"Go! Get out of here! Kensi needs you too!"

Deeks was reluctant to leave his team behind, but seeing Kensi hobble over to retrieve the crutches sent a new determination coursing through his system.

"See you guys on the other side," he nodded at Sam and Callen.

"Be safe," the team leader said. Nell lifted Callen's other arm around her shoulders and walked him the good twenty yards to the door and stopped.

Meanwhile Deeks was doing the same thing for Kensi.

"Leave them, they'll only slow us down," he said. He half dragged her out the door, wincing when he heard her yelp with pain. After a few steps into the hall, she got the proper footing and let herself lean into Deeks as they moved.

His heart was racing. He went for the nearest staircase, but immediately heard the stomping of feet coming in their direction.

"Try that one," Kensi pointed to the one at the other end of the hall.

Deeks followed where Kensi was gesturing and pushed on the door. It was locked.

"Try B, try B!"

Deeks followed the signs and turned the corner, looking for the designated stair. Finally, when he pushed on it, it opened. He separated himself from Kensi and peaked around the corner again. Nell, Sam, and Callen were nowhere in sight. Somehow they had already gotten away- probably down another exit Deeks didn't see that close to the room.

He silently cursed himself for the lost, precious seconds and rejoined Kensi.

"Are they out?"

"They're good. Let's go, princess."

Deeks offered himself as a crutch as they started making their way down the steps. He wished Nell had put them on something lower than the ninth floor. By the time they had reached the sixth, the blond was already out of breath and Kensi was barely putting one leg in front of the other.

Deeks heard a door slam from somewhere far above. Holding his breath, all was silent for a couple of painful seconds. Then he heard movement.

He shared a look with Kensi as they tried to speed up the effort without making any noise.

"Deeks," Kensi warned as she took a sharp intake of breath. He met her eyes. Her face was pale white and shining with sweat. Her lips were twisted in a grimace of pure pain. What worried him more- her bad leg was shaking uncontrollably.

He scooped her up in his arms and battled his way down another two flights that way, all the while listening for the mystery person sharing the staircase with them. In actuality, Deeks wasn't sure if they were still in it.

The detective readjusted Kensi in his arms and started working on the next flight when the doors to the floor they were on opened. A cleaning lady walked in, whistling away, stopping abruptly when she saw Kensi and Deeks.

Confusion flashed across her face, and then concern. She pointed at Kensi. "Is she alright? Is she sick? I call boss."

Deeks shut his eyes in disbelief.

He heard the radio call from several floors down and the running patter of feet that followed. The blond shot down the stairs as fast as he could; jumping a few or tripped over a couple. There was what, one floor left, two at most at this point? They could make it.

Deeks rounded the corner and found a gate barricading them from further access to the stair. He kicked it several times, but the door didn't fly open. He made several more knocks against the locked barrier as the voices drew nearer and nearer…

Praying for those who lost their lives on September 11th, 2001. To all the first responders, victims, and the sung and unsung heroes that rose on that day.