Rhythm of Silence
Chapter 1
"Clear," Sam's voice rang out.
"Clear," Deeks called out only moments later, after kicking the gun of one of their targets out of a motionless hand.
Both men waited for the third member of their group on the ground to chime up as well, echoing their previous statements.
Still standing over his fallen target, Deeks briefly glanced up when Sam returned to the opulent living room before returning his attention to the man and kneeling down while staying away from the blood pooling on the decorative - and expensive - carpet.
Sam's hand went to his ear. "G?" the question was posed in an even tone and both men waited while they took a look around the room.
Nothing.
Deeks frowned, glancing up at Callen's regular partner.
"G?" Sam asked again and this time there was a note of worry creeping into his voice. "G, talk to me."
After checking that the man he had shot was really dead, Deeks pushed up from his crouch. "Kensi?" he asked the fourth member of the team, less so she checked in and told them that she was fine and more to get her input on their silent leader.
They had split up for the raid. Deeks and Callen had gone to the back of the property while Sam had stayed at the front. Instead of sweeping the house together though, Callen had gone to check the pool house while Deeks had taken the back entrance to the lavish mansion to meet up with Sam inside. Kensi had been placed on overwatch at the east side of the property, where she could see most of the happenings from the rise she had selected as her sniper's nest.
"I don't see him," came the slow reply and Deeks knew she would be sweeping the area through the scope of her rifle while relaying the information to them. "He checked the pool house, came back out and went around the corner at the far end. Maybe he went into the woods behind the property. His coms might be spotty there."
They shared another glance and then both Sam and Deeks moved in synch, striding into the hallway that would lead them back the way Deeks had come in. Callen was an experienced agent who could take care of himself, but he might still need backup. And since there was nothing left for them to do inside of the main building, it was only natural to head to where Callen was and offer a helping hand. Moving through the corridor, they kept their guns up even though the house had been cleared.
The frame of the backdoor was splintered from where Deeks had delivered a hard kick to gain entry and the door was half ajar. Nudging it open, Sam took point, leading them down the concrete steps, past the white statue of a scantily clad Greek woman holding a bowl, her hair done up in a complicated swirl. They followed the stone path towards the pool house and around the pool where several more statues of Greek women in even less clothing were positioned in a flagrant display of money and wealth.
"Anything, Kens?"
"Nothing new. No movement, no visual of Callen," she reported, "I'm packing up. I'll be more help on the ground with you." When neither man disagreed for a few moments, faint sounds of a gun being disassembled could be heard through their com.-system.
Reaching the pool house, both men slowed down. Kensi had reported that Callen had cleared the pool house and had then left to check around the corner. After that, they didn't know where he'd gone, and the two men knew to be cautious when they didn't know what to expect and if this part of the property had been cleared or not.
They followed the line of the house to where Kensi had said Callen had gone.
There was a soft sound over their earwigs, a subvocalized whisper that nearly didn't get picked up by their com.-system.
Sam stilled and tilted his head to the side. "G?" he asked in a quiet murmur, his finger at his ear even though that wouldn't improve the sound pickup.
Only silence greeted them this time and Sam glanced over his shoulder at Deeks. When Deeks nodded his readiness, Sam gave the signal to proceed, ducking his head forward and around the corner before meaning to draw back, the brief glimpse meant to give him enough time to take a mental snapshot of the area so they would know how to proceed.
Instead of drawing back though, Sam froze for a second.
After that, he rushed forward, abandoning all pretense of stealth.
Despite being surprised by the reckless move, Deeks pushed off and rounded the corner after him only to skid to a stop at the sight. "Oh my God."