Author's note: I do not own NCIS:LA or its characters.
I don't know much about California law, so I was hoping this would seem realistic. It's fiction, it's for fun, deal with it lol
Rountree walked up to the lab and pulled the door. When it didn't open, he knocked loudly. Lisa looked up and went to open it.
"Can I help you?" she asked.
"Hi, Special Agent Rountree. I was wondering if I could speak to your guy Herman," he said calmly.
"Um, sure, but I have to warn you-"
"I know. Miranda told me," he said quietly.
"Okay, Agent, would it be alright if I bring him out here?" she asked.
"I don't see why not," he said. He leaned against the wall and waited for Herman to come out.
"What do you want?" Herman asked exasperatedly.
"An apology. But not to me, you need to apologize to my partner," he said.
"Why? I was right," he said simply.
"Not about her being a fed. You know damn well what you need to apologize for. You had no right to tell her to take off her clothes," he snapped.
"I didn't. I told her to take off that thing on her head," Herman said defensively.
"Her hijab. You had no right to do that, and you're going to apologize," Devin snapped.
"For what? It's not like I told her to take off her clothes and walk around naked, I told her to take that stupid scarf off her head."
"Shut up!" Devin yelled. He was pissed. "I don't give a damn if you disagree with her religion, hell, I do too. That doesn't mean I get to walk around telling her what she's allowed to wear. Now look at me. You're gonna apologize to her or I'll rip that stupid antennae out of your head and shove it up your ass," he snarled.
"Fine. Whatever. Where is she?" Herman asked, rolling his eyes. Rountree pulled out his phone and texted her, and soon she was there.
"What's up?" she asked.
"Herman here has something he would like to say to you," he said simply. Fatima nodded and looked up at Herman.
"You know what? You're right, I was wrong. Would you mind letting me apologize in person?" he asked. Rountree smiled.
"Sure. I'll be waiting in the car, okay?" he said. Fatima nodded. Once Rountree was around the corner, Herman grabbed Fatima's arm and put a hand on her mouth.
"Why the fuck did you snitch?" he snarled. Fatima whimpered and tried to kick, but he had her pinned to the wall. "You're gonna pay, you little bitch," he hissed. He touched her cheek and smiled. "Take it off. Now." Fatima tried to get free but she couldn't. She shook her head desperately and tried to say no as he ripped her hijab off. She was finally able to kick his leg and run away.
"Help me!" she screamed as she sprinted down the hall. Rountree heard her and turned around, and ran to her as fast as he could. He put his arms around her protectively. Rountree put himself between them and tried to grab the blue tie dye scarf from him. Herman grinned and dangled it above Fatima's head. She couldn't get it. She wanted to cry.
"Get on your knees and beg me for it," he said sweetly. Without thinking about it, Rountree socked Herman in the face. He grabbed i.the scarf and gave it to Fatima. She gratefully accepted and turned away from them.
"You're under arrest for attempted assault. Hope you enjoy doing jail time for a hate crime," he snarled.
"I didn't kill her, so it wasn't a hate crime," he said simply.
"You attacked her based on religion. Let's go," he said, cuffing Herman. He leaned him against the pillar and got on the ground next to Fatima. "You're okay, come on," he murmured. Fatima got up and held his arm as they walked out.
Two weeks later, Herman was serving five years in a state prison. The team had tried to get him more, but they all accepted that they were lucky he was serving any time at all. Devin was pissed. He knew deep down that if Fatima hadn't been able to get free, it probably would have turned into sexual assault. He wished they would have sentenced him harsher. He wished he hadn't left her alone.