Note: As I told you before, I'm no medical expert, so this may or may not be medically right.

Note II: Because there was a question in the reviews regarding the case and whether or not there would be more about it in the story… no, there won't. I didn't manage to prod the muse into divulging more details about the case and the suspects. Instead, the muse was merely interested in the h/c aspect of the story. Sorry.

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Rhythm of Silence

Chapter 4

When the helicopter was gone from his sight, Sam stood frozen to the spot for a moment longer, uncertain what he was supposed to do now.

The need to go to the hospital was nearly overwhelming, but at the same time he knew he wouldn't be of any help there. By the time he made it to the hospital, his partner would be in surgery and judging from the injury, Sam suspected that it would be a long one to get the arrow out and repair the damage. He ignored the niggling worry that the damage might not be repairable, that his partner might not make it.

In all the years, Callen had faced several life-threatening injuries and his partner had a way of fighting the odds, of cheating death out of claiming its prize, so Sam could only hope that today wouldn't be any different.

"Just hang on," he whispered under his breath, his eyes still on where the helicopter had disappeared into the bright blue Californian sky.

Shaking his head, Sam turned away from the cloudless blue he was watching, tuning back in on the chatter over his earwig.

"Down, on the ground!" Deeks' order was the first thing he heard, the other man's voice harsh and clipped. Anger was clearly audible in the usually laid-back blonde, letting Sam know that he wasn't the only one feeling furious and out of sorts after what had happened.

Sam started moving towards the main house, away from the open area in front of the mansion where the chopper had been placed to take in the injured agent fighting for his life.

Glancing down at his hands, shuddering when he took in the blood - his partner's blood - Sam stopped to heave a breath, his stomach turning and making him hunch over, trying to control the bile that tried to crawl up his esophagus.

"Down! Don't move!" Kensi reiterated.

Sounds of movement and the rustling of fabric followed, before Deeks' voice came on again, this time pitched low, vibrating with tension. "Just give me a damn reason," he hissed.

Sam knew how the other man felt, knew it was probably a good thing he wasn't there to make the arrest or there would be no living, breathing person to be taken in anymore. He slowly straightened from his crouch, taking slow breaths while still trying to get the cramping of his stomach under control.

"Suspect's secure," Kensi's voice came over their com.-system moments later.

"Please hand him over to the QRF team, Mrs. Blye, Mr. Deeks," Hetty ordered, her voice calm once more, projecting strength where Sam knew the rest of the team was frayed at the edges.

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Sam was leaning against the car when Kensi, Deeks, part of the QRF team and their suspect made it back to the mansion.

He had watched the rest of the team that Hetty had sent as they started to secure the perimeter. Within a little while, the coroner would be here for the suspects they had taken down during the initial raid. The forensics team had arrived several minutes ago, turning the area around him into a busy jigsaw puzzle that was crawling with different people, seamlessly working together with the routine of people who frequently worked in chaotic environments.

Moments before the coroner, another NCIS team had arrived, also sent by Hetty. Sam had handed the scene over to Castor, glad to be rid of it.

"Sam," Kensi called, and he glanced up from where he was studying his shoes. "What are you still doing here?"

Sam shrugged, "no room on the chopper," he muttered.

Kensi and Deeks shared a glance between them. "You could have taken the car," Deeks said evenly.

Sam gave a slight shake of his head. "Couldn't leave you stranded," he shrugged, knowing it was a flimsy argument at best. Kensi and Deeks could have caught a ride with the QRF team or one of Castor's guys. Fact was though, that Sam didn't trust himself behind the wheel right now and he didn't want to drive alone. Standing here, even though isolated from the chaos of the scene being worked by law enforcement, he wasn't alone. Inside of the car, he would have been. Reaching for the keys in his pocket, he threw them over to Kensi who caught them easily. "Let's go," Sam suggested calmly.

Another glance was shared between the partners before they silently agreed not to prod. Sam was grateful for their restraint.

"How was he?" Deeks asked quietly once they were inside of the vehicle, doors closed to the ruckus outside. Kensi's hand stilled before she had a chance of turning over the ignition.

"Bad," Sam replied quietly, not voicing that he worried that his partner wouldn't make it.

Judging from the silence inside the vehicle, everyone knew it anyway.

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