NCIS: LOS ANGELES HIATUS FIC CHALLENGE: Theme 3: Crossover: The challenge is to write a fic that involves the NCISLA characters with one from another fandom.
This can be in the form of a shared universe. We already know that Hawaii Five-0, Scorpion, and NCIS exist in the same universe as NCIS: Los Angeles. You can choose one of these or a completely different fandom and write a story about the characters interacting with each other.
"As Smart As All of Us"
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"None of us is as smart as all of us." –Ken Blanchard
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"Do you come from large people?" Toby asked. "Or did you start working out extensively as a younger man because you're remarkably graceful for a person of your size."
Sam looked at the doctor. "That hat, what does that make you, some sort of hipster? I thought doctors had more sense than that?"
"A classic diversion," Toby addressed Callen. "We're in the middle of a tense situation and your partner is uncomfortable not being able use his brawn…." at Sam's glare, Toby added, "as well as his training and intelligence to rescue your team members."
"Yeah, something like that," Sam said.
"The epicenter being in Franklin Canyon Park probably caused more violent movement from the shifting plates under the hill," Sylvester said. "That is a common happening closer to the center of the quake. But the chances of Nell and Eric standing over an abandoned gold mine under a hill six miles away….."
"Walter knows what he's doing," Toby assured Callen and Sam, glaring at Sylvester.
"He better. She only has limited field experience and he's a tech," Sam explained. "They mostly sit in an office all day. This is supposed to be a quiet Sunday at some drone event and they get swallowed up by an earthquake."
"The earth split opened and they fell into an abandoned mine shaft. Nobody has any experience in something like that," Callen said curtly.
"We actually have experience in this," Happy said, running past the three men carrying a bundle of straps, belts and carabiners.
"Happy Quinn gets things done," Toby said more to himself than the group. The men watched Happy tie her bundle to a rope that was quickly pulled to the hilltop chasm by Walter and Deeks. Kensi was flat on her stomach, yelling down updates the trapped Eric and Nell.
"Hetty filled Walter in about the two in the mineshaft. Your people up there can keep the two trapped calm while Walter talks geek with them," Cabe Gallo said as he walked up. "Your people couldn't be in better hands. Walter himself was rescued by his team."
"You helped, big fella," Toby said, patting Cabe on the cheek.
"We're ready to go," Happy stated as she joined the men, pulling out a Windows Surface and passing it to Sylvester.
"Are we ready?" Cabe asked. "The ambulances are lined up at the bottom of hill."
"Kensi and Deeks will get them off the hill," Sam muttered. "Even though I don't know how my being there to help would hurt."
"The ground up the hill is stable under Walter, Kensi and Deeks for now. The ladder from the fire truck parked on the solid ground along with the hook and rope acting as a pulley." Happy said before giving Birdroni II, Sylvester's new drone, a toss. Sylvester controlled the drone as it made its way to the hilltop. "Not to be mean but you're too heavy, Sam. It's still going to be slow going getting them off the hill once they're out of the chasm.
"OK," Walter yelled from the top of the hill, "we're ready to go."
Birdroni II flew alongside the rescue rig down about fifty feet into the chasm. Sylvester's latest addition to the drone, a light under the HD camera lens sent back quality video of the dark space to the Surface. Eric's right arm was obviously broken. Nell had a pretty significant cut on her head though she wasn't so badly injured that she lost her own Surface/drone controller. When the rescue rig got to them, Nell needed to help Eric into the harness before belting herself in. The hook on the ladder started to pull the rig to safety.
A short aftershock startled them all. Dust and dirt fell around Eric, who tried to cover Nell's head using his broken right arm. It hurt but Eric didn't regret the move.
"How does this change the solid path down the hill?" Sam asked. "Kensi and Deeks got up there safely by sheer luck. Your man got there with maps and hacking into a thermal imaging satellite. How do they get down now without the ground around them collapsing?"
"We'll know if they fall into an offshoot of the shaft," Happy said bluntly.
"Not helping," Toby noted.
"What, and lying to them that the aftershock wasn't a problem is better?" Happy replied.
"Yes," Callen and Sam answered in tandem.
Eric and Nell were finally out of the chasm. It took a few minutes to free them from the rescue rig. In the lead, Walter and Kensi carried Nell in a two-person rescue lift while Deeks put Eric in a fireman's hold, allowing the injured man's broken arm to hang untouched as they followed. It took just short of forever to get them away from chasm and down the hill. Once they were about ten feet from Sam, Callen and the rest of Team Scorpion, Cabe called for the ambulances to ride in.
Callen and Sam took Nell from Walter and Kensi. Toby looked at her head wound and started asking her some basic questions. Cabe, Walter and Kensi helped ease Eric to solid ground. It was simpler to put him in the fireman's hold than to get him out, Deeks thought. Toby made his way to Eric as the EMTs started working on Nell.
"You two good?" Callen asked an obviously concerned Kensi and Deeks.
"Yeah," Kensi answered. "Nell was part of this drone exhibition and was flying hers from that hill. The earthquake hit. Mr. Califron-i-a here didn't think much of it until we couldn't see Nell or Eric."
"We ran up and saw the big hole," Deeks shook his head. "It's a miracle they weren't killed."
"It's a miracle you all weren't killed," Sam commented.
"No, the miracle was Sylvester was here," Nell said as she was being helped on the gurney. Eric was walking under his own power to his ambulance. "And he brought his team."
Holding Birdroni II, Sylvester smiled. "I was only here to see Droneto Jones fly."
The teams started moving to the ambulances. "You named your drone 'Droneto' and gave it your last name?" Callen asked Nell.
"No," Nell started to explain as Walter showed Nell he had her drone.
"Droneto Jones, Ianto Jones," Sylvester said. "Come on, that's clever."
"Ianto Jones?" Callen asked.
"It's a character on Torchwood," Sam said.
"Excuse me," Toby stopped dead in his tracks. "You look like a brick wall with arms and you're a sci-fi fan."
"Mathlete," Callen said, pointing to Sam.
"Junior math olympian," Sam corrected for what felt like the thousandth time.
"I was one at seven," Happy commented.
"I stopped math classes at eight. The teachers just gave up," Walter told the group.
"But I can't thank you enough for not giving up on Mr. Beale and Miss Jones," Hetty walked up to the ambulance, her Jaguar just off on the side of the road. "Mr. O'Brien, Agent Gallo, Miss Quinn, Mr. Dodd and Dr. Curtis, your expertise saved the day and my people."
"We owed you one," Cabe said.
"And is Miss Dineen still with your group?"
"She's at the picnic tables on the other side of the park. We probably should go back," Walter said.
"Ralph, her son, loves drones," Sylvester added.
"And a good mother is always encouraging a smart son. Are you still in the garage, Mr. O'Brien?" Hetty asked.
"Yes," Walter said, seeing the ambulance doors close, surprised by the sense of overwhelming relief.
"Look for a package from me. I take care of those who take care of my team."
Walter hoped it was flowers. Paige liked flowers and he couldn't find a logical reason to have them in the office that wouldn't have Toby Curtis back at his romance whiteboard. Not that he was buying flowers for Paige. No, he was just trying to make a more inviting work environment for all of them. And mask the smell of mouse urine.
"Mr. Callen, Mr. Hanna, Miss Blye, Mr. Deeks, since telling you to go home because Mr. Beale and Miss Jones are going to get the best of care at Cedars is futile, I will see you in the E.R."
"Thank you," Deeks said shaking Walter's hand. "Friday night, we'll take you all out for a beer." Deeks took custody of Droneto.
"Sounds like a plan," Walter shook Deeks's hand, quickly doing the same with Hetty, Kensi, Callen and Sam.
As the teams said their goodbyes, Paige walked up with Ralph. "I think we probably should take the cookout back to the garage. They're using the picnic tables as a family meeting center."
Walter smiled. "Can't imagine a better place to be."
Paige smiled back. The ground shook a little with Walter noticing how Deeks and Kensi immediately reached for each other.
"They seem to be making the office romance work," Toby noted as he walked along side Walter. "And while they're brighter than most, you're still smarter."
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