All characters and all rights at 'NCIS: Los Angeles' belong to CBS and Shane Brennan Productions. The following story does not serve any commercial purposes, but was written only for the pleasure of fans. An injury of Copyright is not intended. All further persons belong to the authoress.
English is my second language, if you find any mistakes in my story please send them back to me for correction.
I also would be very glad to get your reviews.
Chapter 7 - Winners And Losers
"Did you really think we won't see through your game?" Melissa Hill looked contemptuously at Sam. "Just because Andrea and I do no armed service currently, we still have had a good education. You and your 'wife' were handed to us a bit too obvious, after our initial target was gone. In addition, our pursuers were easy to detect." She shook her head, grinning. "Always these striking authorities vehicles. If you know what to look for, it's no problem to find these cars."
"But guess what, 'Brad', or whatever you might be called, if you really want to find out what we do, we will gladly show it to you." Andrea Huntington also had only contempt for Sam.
Sam did not let himself get worked up. He was not the first time in a difficult, seemingly hopeless situation. Sam reckoned on his own abilities and his experience, acquired through many years, as well as on his colleagues. Finally he had an ace up his sleeve. While the women insulted him and showered him with contemptuous remarks, Sam looked around attentively. He had no idea where he was and wanted to become familiar with his surroundings.
…
Callen gritted his teeth as he tried to remain calm. Kaleidoscope had found anything yet. Deeks still followed the small car, which apparently had no fixed destination. Kensi and Joann, supported by two other teams, followed Deeks over a wide distance in order not to attract attention. Another followed Jennings. But now it looked as if she would go back to the women's shelter. An uneasy feeling crept over Callen.
"We're busted. Eric, it's time for our emergency plan."
Eric looked over to Hetty, who nodded. "Okay, Callen, I activate the transmitter now."
Kensi and Joann looked at each other in amazement.
"Do you know anything about it, Kensi?"
"Nope, no idea. Why are we chasing that car, if Sam still has a transmitter?"
"Because we were hoping that we won't need this transmitter. If we had found the hiding place of the suspects through them, he would have been superfluous. As soon as the women discover it, Sam will probably be dead." Callen had heard the conversation between the two women.
"Okay, G, and where Sam is now?"
Eric gave the answer. "His signal should appear on your laptops and smart phones any moment."
"Yes, there it is, but pretty faint." Joann looked at her laptop. "Eric, why is it so faint?"
"I can't put my finger on it. Something shields the signal. The room in which he is located, may be isolated or under the earth."
"We can clarify that later, now we have to go there and get Sam out. Team Three, let Jennings escape. But in a way that she thinks it is her own success. Deeks, that applies to you, too. Let yourself lose by the compact car. I want to catch all women, not just a part." Callen gave the team more detailed instructions.
"Then step on the gas, Kensi. Let's free Sam out of the clutches of these beasts."
…
"I slowly lose my patience with you, 'Brad'. How did you find us? What has betrayed us?"
As Sam did not react, Huntington struck again. Not with her hands, because then there would remain traces on herself. In their hideout, there were a lot of things with what one could beat a man. And not only for this purpose, as Sam already had to find out. Huntington and Hill acted quickly and effectively. As soon as they had what they wanted, they would kill him and destroy everything. Then there would be no more evidence against the five women, only circumstantial evidence. And because they all had a good reputation, the case would come to nothing. So he had to hold out until his people had found him.
…
"Agent Callen, Team Three. Jennings is gone. She shook us off in a traffic jam at a red light."
"Copy that, Team Three. Come to the meeting point. Deeks, what about you?"
"I'm working on it, Callen. Finally, it should be unobtrusive, right?"
"Hurry up! Remember what they do with the men they have in their pocket!" Callen was worried about Sam. These women were clearly not to be underestimated.
A few minutes later, Deeks reported. "Okay, the car is gone. And the NCIS owes a citizen the repair of a motorbike."
"What have you done?" Callen was immediately suspicious.
"Faked a fall."
Callen let out a sigh, while Ray could not resist a grin. Kensi and Joann held their breath and exchanged a worried glance.
"What does that mean?"
This time Deeks sighed. "Callen, with a compact car you can escape a motorbike only when the driver runs out of fuel or has an accident. Neither you can follow a bike with a car in L.A.. Not a chance. So I took a curve very close and then let me fall. Got that?"
"All clear." Callen chuckled.
…
By different routes, the agents had approached the hideout. On the basis of building plans and satellite images Eric had highlighted the possible escape routes. Callen told off the agents who should monitor them.
Ray listened thoughtfully to his superiors and shook his head.
"What?" Callen looked blankly at the young man.
"The suspects turned out to be very clever, I'm sure they have more means of escape that Eric could not discover in the shortness of time. We definitely need more people to secure the surrounding area."
Callen smiled. Ray was really gone to a good school. "The L.A.P.D. supports us and has already set up roadblocks."
Deeks looked unbelievingly at Callen. "Then Wolfe knows it! Why then the hide-and-seek with the suspects?"
"It was Sam's idea. We have brought in a trusted helper. All this runs off the record. There are only policemen here, whom he trusts."
Deeks was not convinced, but before he could say anything, a familiar face turned up.
"Hey, guys. We're ready. The roadblocks have been established and we have guards on all agreed positions."
"Matt!" Kensi smiled at the detective. "So you're the trusted helper."
Detective Bernhart returned the smile with a broad grin. "Well, the NCIS figures me for that."
"Anything else?" Callen looked at his colleagues and earned only shaking heads. "Well, then let's go in." Callen waved six other NCIS agents nearer to himself and then looked at Matt. "Are you coming along?"
Matt nodded. "Sure, I'm down."
Joann felt rather unsettled. The complex was fairly large. It consisted of office buildings, laboratories and warehouses. Originally, the research department of a chemical company had been housed. A corporation had gobbled the company up. As a consequence many divisions were closed, including this research department. Sam's faint signal was located in an area with special secured laboratories.
Callen led the way into the unlit building. His task was to discover traps. The others followed in an appropriate distance. Their only sources of light were the cones of their flashlights.
"There are motion detectors. Kensi, your job." Callen's voice was quiet, but calmly and firmly.
During a mission against a master thief Kensi had learned from Eric, how to turn off motion detectors. This ability benefited her time and again.
"All right, I'm ready."
Callen nodded briefly at Kensi and moved on.
They had to pass several motion detectors and pitfalls. All were well camouflaged and only their long experience allowed the agents to discover them in time. Partly they avoided the traps, partly they neutralized them. Slowly but single-minded they approached Sam's location.
"Eric, can you determine how many persons are with Sam?"
"Not exactly, Callen. I am glad that I have not lost Sam's signal. Something keeps jamming it."
"Okay, and what can you ascertain?"
"I get extremely faint heat signatures. There are at least two people, but a short time I had five. So they could all be there."
"Thanks, Eric."
Callen turned to his colleagues. "We go in by twos, as fast as possible. Matt and I secure Sam. As we don't know exactly how many women are with Sam, caution should be exercised. Always two per suspects and don't forget these women are dangerous."
The agents aimed gently for the entrance of the laboratory, the first lighted room in this building, and built up themselves to the right and left of it. Callen silently counted backwards from three, and entered the room, covered by Matt. G completely blocked out the way Sam looked like. His friend lived, the only thing that mattered at that moment.
"Drop it!" Joann and Ray ran straight for Huntington, who was standing behind Sam. It was not clearly visible what she held in her hand, but Joann did not mind. Huntington raised her arm. Joann did not hesitate and fired.
Immediately Huntington went into cover behind Sam, turned around and hit a switch on the wall. A door opened. "Everyone out here! Get out! Immediately!", Huntington called and hastily left the laboratory. All suspects were present and did not ask twice. They promptly followed Huntington.
"Sam?" Joann threw a quick glance to her colleague.
"Get her, Jo!" That sounded not so convincing how Sam had intended. Anyway Joann nodded.
The hunt went through three other laboratories that were not illuminated before they landed in a corridor equipped with emergency lighting. Hill and Huntington ran in one direction, Clarke, Wolfe and Jennings in the other. Joann did not hesitate one second, she wanted to have Huntington. Kensi and Deeks had opted for Hill, so that the four continued to run together. But not for long. Hunter and hunted reached a staircase. Hill ran downstairs, Huntington upstairs.
"When will the idiots finally learn that there is no escape from the roof!" Joann railed while she took two steps simultaneously. Nevertheless, she did not come closer to Huntington. The woman might work as a lawyer, but she definitely kept in shape. Joann stopped to curse and instead increased her pace.
Finally they reached the roof access. Meanwhile Ray and Joann were only slightly behind Huntington. She ran so fast that the gravel, which covered the roof, splashed aside. It was quite dark, only the street lamps and a half full moon donated a little light. Superstructure for air conditioning, exhaust air and skylight threw irregular shadows.
"Where the hell does she want to go? Ahead the roof is at the end." Ray had been close behind Joann.
"No idea, I don't care!" Joann stopped and fired.
Just before Huntington the gravel splashed up. She abruptly changed direction and took cover behind one of the superstructure. Carefully, Joann and Ray moved to Huntington's hiding place. But thanks to the crunching gravel the two could not approach silently. However, the same gravel betrayed Huntington's escape attempt. Joann immediately sprinted after her, ignoring a warning from Ray to stay in cover.
Joann was not deterred. She was sure that Huntington would soon change from escape mode to attack mode. The woman was a Marine. There was no question of 'if', only the 'when'. Nevertheless, Joann slowed her pace, as Huntington disappeared between a group of superstructure. This area of the roof was the furthest away from the road and therefore was rarely considered by the meager light sources. When finally the moon disappeared behind clouds, Joann stopped. Apart of dark shadows she could make out nothing. Only the crunch of gravel told her that Ray approached slowly. Joann grabbed her small flashlight.
"I can hear you on my left side, behind me, Ray, don't shoot me by accident." Joann gave her partner a short light signal.
"All right. Where did she go? I can hardly see anything."
"About ten yards right in front of me, there are some roof structures. Huntington has been running between them. I'm approaching from the right, you left. Use your flashlight only when there is no other possibility. With it you give a good target. Don't forget Andrea Huntington is a Marine."
"Copy that."
The faint sound told Joann that Ray went away from her. As quietly as possible she went to the superstructure. As Joann reached it, she listened attentively to every sound that could betray Huntington. But her opponent was too smart to reveal her hiding place. As Joann had no choice, she ultimately walked between the roof structures. But despite all caution and attention, she was surprised of Huntington at the end. Out of nowhere a hand appeared from the shadows and slapped the weapon out of Joann's hand. Before Huntington was able to bend for it, Joann returned the attack. Huntington had not expected that.
…
Hill did not go down the stairs, she jumped, always several steps at a time. Thereby she indiscriminately fired shots at the top of the staircase. Kensi and Deeks were forced to follow her much slower, if they did not want to be hit. The hunt ended in front of a cellar door.
"Always the same: either they run onto the roof, from where there is no escape, or in the basement, where one can find them only with difficulties." Deeks scolded, but still took his position near the door.
"Can you also do something without to complain?" Kensi grabbed the door handle, exchanged a brief, wordless look with Deeks and then yanked the door open.
While securing his environment, Deeks entered the cellar, Kensi followed him immediately. They stood in a long hallway. Pipes of different sizes, thick cable, and various cable ducts were mounted on the walls and ceiling. At longer intervals emergency lights dimly lit the corridor. The hum of a diesel engine could be heard.
"Where did she go?" Kensi stared down the hall. Hill was not visible, but also no hiding place.
"Maybe anywhere branched off a door." Deeks was just as confused as Kensi.
Extremely tense, the two agents walked down the hall. Deeks could just stop Kensi before more shots were fired at them. From the great hall went off a narrow side passage, which could be seen only when one was almost in front. Deeks had discovered it as the first on the basis of its body length and saved Kensi from playing target for Hill.
"I'm down, you're up." Kensi whispered to her partner.
Deeks grinned. He could not let pass by this fit occasion. "Ts, can you think only of the one? And that's just like you, always you want to have control. But we really should wait until..."
"Shut up, you idiot!" Kensi glared angrily at her friend. "Three, two, one..."
Kensi shot kneeling in the side corridor, while Deeks covered the upper part. The answer came immediately, but very uncoordinated. Hill seemed to fire indiscriminately into the corridor, so as not to leave her cover. Kensi and Deeks retreated back into the main hallway.
"We have a stalemate. What now? "Kensi straightened up again.
Deeks thought for a moment. "Eric?...Eric?...Crap!" Deeks grabbed his cell phone, but it had no more reception in the cellar than his earwig. "Damn!"
"What?" Kensi looked at him annoyed.
"Eric should email me a plan of the basement. Hill has to know a way out, otherwise she wouldn't run into the cellar, and certainly not in this corridor."
"If there is a way out, Hill must stop to shoot at us at some point. Maybe her ammunition will be lacking."
Kensi's sarcasm made Deeks grinning. "We try it again, okay?"
To answer Kensi took her position again.
This time Deeks counted. "Three, two, one…"
…
Callen carefully loosed Sam's fetters. His partner looked really bad. Both eyes were swollen, blood was running from his nose and the split lip, at his chin a pretty big bruise was forming. Wrists and ankles had marks of the fetters, caused by far too narrow handcuffs and shackles. On his arms and torso Sam had cuts. The strangulation marks at his neck looked scary.
"They have really lost no time." Matt was shocked.
Sam tried to get up alone, which he managed with great difficulty. However, he failed to stand still. Callen and Matt grabbed and kept Sam up.
For a moment Sam looked around. "Let's get outta here."
Leaned on Callen and Matt, Sam struggled along from his torture chamber.
…
Joann mercilessly pounced on her opponent. Because it was too narrow between the superstructure to fight with the legs, Joann let patter down a hail of punches and kicks with her elbows on Huntington. She was not uninhibited by that and changed, after she had recovered from her surprise, from defense to attack. Joann conveyed her assailant the feeling to have the control. In fact, she decided about the direction in which she was driven. When they emerged between the superstructure and again stood on the open roof, Joann had achieved her aim. Immediately she attacked Huntington and chased her farther away from the superstructure.
No word was spoken. Ray heard the exchange of blows and kicks, panting, moaning and gasping. He cautiously approached the combat zone, in order to come to Joann's aid. When he finally discovered the women, he could not distinguish between friend and foe, because it was too dark. With clenched teeth he cursed under his breath.
Suddenly the clouds cleared away and gave an opportunity to the moon to illuminate the scene. However, Ray did not get the possibility to participate in the events. Joann and Huntington moved too fast and too close together to provide a clear field of fire to him. Ray could only wait patiently.
As Joann had expected, Huntington was a serious opponent. She punched and kicked both hard and accurate. And she was very determined. Only if Huntington could put Joann out of action, she had a chance to escape. So far the fight was fairly on even terms, but now Huntington drew a knife. Joann was unarmed, as she did not have an opportunity to pick up her Sig-Sauer. A cold grin appeared on Joann's face, she was not even aware of it. Now she stepped up on and showed Huntington what one could learn, if one trained with Seals.
Ray recognized immediately Joann's changed posture and knew that Huntington had lost. But it would surely take a moment before she would recognize that fact as well.
…
Because this time no shots were fired from Hill, Deeks and Kensi ventured into the corridor. There also were pipes and cables at ceilings and walls, although less than in the main hallway. The noise of the diesel engine was approaching. They discovered some doors at the tail end. The first two were closed. The last one could be opened.
They exchanged a quick glance, then Deeks yanked the door open. Slightly crouched, Kensi entered the basement storage room, Deeks directly on her heels. Unlike the rest of the cellar, this room was brightly lit. This was also the source of the engine noise, a generator. With a hazardous construction it was connected to a breaker box. So the women had received electricity for lighting and other things in the laboratory and activated the emergency lights.
"Where is she?" Deeks had actually expected to come under fire immediately, but nothing happened.
Carefully Kensi scrutinized crates, boxes and cabinets, but she also could not make out Hill. "No idea. But she can't be far, the room isn't so big."
Slowly the two agents went through between the objects and looked around the room. Kensi suddenly noticed that Deeks' rather aimless search changed and he started to move thrustful on a target that was non-visible for her.
"Deeks?"
"There is door ahead, Kensi. I think it leads to the outside."
Deeks was not mistaken. Behind some steel cabinets was actually a door that was open. Cool night air blew in.
"Eric?" Deeks took his chance again.
"Yes, Deeks?"
"We are in the basement at a door. Where does it go to?"
"Wait a minute, Deeks, I retrieve the building plans...In a courtyard. From there you get into another building. In addition, two rooms branch off the courtyard. Let me see..."
While Eric checked the plans, Kensi joined in. "Nell, can you see something on the satellite images?"
"The courtyard seems to be empty, Kensi, I have no heat signature."
"Thanks, Nell."
"Deeks, that seems to be a storage and a utility room."
Deeks and Kensi very carefully climbed the stairs to the courtyard. It was pitch dark, because the surrounding buildings kept away each light source and the moon was hidden behind clouds.
"Let's go around it, Kensi. We need to find the door to the other building."
"All right, I take the right side." Kensi did not wait for Deeks' consent, but went off at once.
Deeks grinned. There it was again, Kensi's propensity for control. Then he renewed his focus on his job and went off.
…
"Careful!" Callen grabbed Sam tighter when he staggered. "Ahead is one of the pitfalls that we haven't defused!" He cast a quick glance at Matt.
Matt shrugged his shoulders apologetically and also gripped Sam firmer. "We are almost out of here, Sam."
"Don't worry, Matt, I can make it." Sam clenched his teeth. The women had badly duff him up, because he had not told them what they wanted to know. It was not like Sam to give up, and he fought his way through with Callen's and Matt's help, despite his pain.
When the three men came through the door into the street, already an ambulance was waiting for Sam. He hided his relief, when he laid down on the stretcher. While the paramedics took care of Sam, Eric put Callen on the current state of affairs.
"Clarke and Wolfe have been arrested, the colleagues are on their way out. Jennings has entrenched herself in an office. Backup is on the way. Ray and Joann have followed Huntington up on the roof. Ray has reported a few minutes ago that Joann just has a fight with her. I had lost Deeks and Kensi for a while. However, they also have reported in the meantime. Hill went into the cellar, that's why their signals were gone. They are still looking for Hill." Eric paused. "Callen, what about Sam?"
"The paramedics take care for him. The women have mauled Sam, but he will recover."
"This is good news, Mr. Callen." For a moment, Hetty allowed herself to feel relief. She discovered the same feeling on Nell's and Eric's faces. Hetty then concentrated again on the radio traffic.
Callen stepped up to the ambulance. "I will accompany you to the hospital, Sam, as soon as the paramedics are finished with you."
But his partner shook his head. "I'm not leaving, G, before all women are in custody. In addition, it could be that Deeks and Kensi need your help to find Hill."
Callen hesitated. Sam belonged to the hospital, no doubt about it. But Callen knew his friend and his desire to take care of all the members of his team. As long as they had not returned, Sam would not allow anyone to take him away from this place of action.
"All right, Sam. But you're doing exactly what the medics say, got that?"
That elicited Sam a pained-looking grin. "Yes, boss, copy that."
Callen sighed. The pitheads of his colleagues were sometimes really exhausting.
…
Stunned, Huntington backed off. So far she had felt to be superior to her opponent. But suddenly something changed. The woman in front of her abruptly had a very different posture, she seemed less defensive than before. Along with it was that cold, almost demonic grin. At once Huntington felt not so confident.
It was like Joann was flipping a switch. She stopped playing games and went straight on the attack. Joann refrained from decorative-looking movements, as they were often seen in film and television. Her punches and kicks were powerful, precise and effective. Because Huntington was not an easy opponent, however, Joann also had to take hits.
Finally Joann decided that it was time to end this fight and so she revved up a little more. Huntington got frantically and made mistakes. Fitness was not merely enough. A hard blow dazed Huntington and floored her. Peppy Joann turned her opponent on the belly and handcuffed her. Joann pulled Huntington abruptly to her feet.
"Ray, we need to find my weapon. It lies somewhere over there between the air ducts."
"Sure, no problem." Ray turned on his flashlight. It only took a few moments, then he had discovered Joann's Sig-Sauer. "Here it is."
"Thank you, Ray." Joann sighed with relief. "I would have explained this to Hetty only reluctantly."
"That would have be interesting." Her partner grinned. "You pay the next beer and we're even."
Joann laughed. "Agreed." Then she dragged the struggling Huntington towards the stairs. "Lieutenant, if it must be, I drag you at your hair through the building up to the street. I have no scruples with this. It's your decision."
Andrea Huntington did not want to give up, but after looking at Joann's face, she realized that she had lost. Without resistance she let herself march off.
…
Deeks and Kensi cautiously groped their way through the darkness along the building walls. Kensi reached at first one of the doors.
"Deeks, I found a door and go inside now."
"Wait, Kensi, I come over to you."
"No, stay where you are. I'll do this on my own."
"Copy that." And quietly Deeks added: "Just be careful."
"I've heard that!"
Kensi took a deep breath and pushed open the door. Behind it was nothing but blackness. After she had listened for a moment, Kensi dared to turn on her flashlight. This was only the storage space. Garden tables and garden chairs were standing around, Kensi could also discover a few sunshades and wastebaskets. Nevertheless, she entered to make sure that Hill was not hidden therein.
"This is just the storage space, Deeks, and Hill is not in it."
"Copy that." Deeks had already reached the next corner. Only a few steps further, he found the second door. It was locked. "Of course, not that as well." Sighing Deeks put his gun into the holster, the flashlight in his mouth and pulled out his picklocks. Shortly afterwards, the door was open. Unfortunately, the whole effort was in vain. "Kensi, I have found the supply room."
"I know I'm already in the hallway. Hurry up!" Kensi looked up and down the dark corridor.
Deeks rolled his eyes. "Always the same with the women. Could have said a word."
"I can hear you, Deeks."
Grumbling Deeks found his way through the darkness.
"Finally! What did you take so long?" Kensi glanced at her partner.
Exceptionally, Deeks saved every comment. "Where is Hill?"
"No idea." Kensi was at a loss. "I have neither seen nor heard her. Eric, can you locate Hill?"
"I'm on it...there is a fairly weak signal west of you, that goes away. Damn, it's gone. Sorry, guys, maybe she's back in the cellar."
"Okay, Eric, where do we have to go?" Kensi ran away and Deeks followed her, swearing softly to himself.
Eric's words came true. Again Hill was gone in the basement.
…
When Joann and Ray left the building, they were already expected. Callen registered with relief that both were well. One could see that Andrea Huntington was beaten up. But apparently Joann had pulled herself together and has not overshot.
"How is Sam?" Joann headed straight for the ambulance after she had handed over Huntington.
"I'm good." Sam smiled at her and Ray a little distorted.
"What are you still doing here?" Joann was seriously concerned.
Ray took the same line. "You belong into a hospital."
"I won't listen to a pootbutt who will tell me what to do!"
"Who is a 'pootbutt'?"
"Stop it, both of you!" Callen stepped in. "As long as the medics agree, Sam can stay."
"What about the others?"
"Clarke and Wolfe have been taken quickly. They have hardly resisted. Jennings had entrenched herself and has had a gunfight with our people. Somehow she managed to escape from the building, but Matt's colleagues have caught her. When Jennings was arrested by them, she has quit because she had no more ammunition."
"Did anyone get hurt, G?"
"No, Jennings isn't a very good shooter. What was at yours, Jo?"
"No problems. Huntington went on the roof."
Callen grinned. For some strange reasons Joann's suspects always ran onto the roof.
Joann answered the grin, but a little annoyed. Then she looked around. "Where are Kensi and Marty?"
"They still come after Hill. Apparently she is engaged in a chase through the basement with them." Worried Callen frowned. "We always lose contact with them down there."
Joann looked incredulously at her boyfriend. "And you haven't sent them back-up?"
"Jo, they haven't called for back-up." Calmly Callen looked at her. "I trust them. I have to."
"G, I trust them too. But maybe they can't call for back-up, have you ever thought about that?"
This time it was G, who looked incredulously. "Jo, we have been in contact with them. Neither of them would be so foolish to do without back-up if it's necessary."
"Maybe, G, but Ray and I should go to them. Eric can show us the way."
Callen looked thoughtfully at his girlfriend, then his gaze wandered over her shoulder. "This is probably not necessary."
Joann turned around. Relieved, she saw Kensi and Deeks coming down the stairs, Melissa Hill in their midst.
"Damn, what did you take so long?" Joann tried to hide her relief.
"Hill has tried to play hide and seek with us." Deeks has his mischievous grin in his face. "But we were better than she thought and have found her."
Kensi rolled with the eyes given this self-congratulation. "Shut up, Deeks, and pass our prisoner to our colleagues. Maybe then we can finally call it a day."
Firmly Ray clapped Deeks on the shoulder. "Well, Deeks, once again a woman broke away from you? Did your famous charm failed again?"
All the bystanders laughed. Only Joann had seen how Deeks flinched under Ray's beat.
"Marty?"
"Joann?"
"What happened?"
"Nothing."
Joann's eyes sparkled as she looked penetrating at Deeks.
Surprised Kensi followed this brief exchange of words. "Jo, what's the point?"
"Marty is injured, by the shoulder or arm."
Everyone scrutinized Deeks.
Kensi looked questioningly at her boyfriend and partner. "What happened?"
"Nothing, I'm good."
Both women snorted in disbelief. Matt finally took the initiative and clapped Deeks on the shoulder, as Ray had done it before. This time everyone could see how Deeks winced.
Resolute Kensi went up to him. "Take off your jacket. Right now."
"Kensi, not in the public!" He could not help it.
"Deeks, take your jacket off." Callen left no doubt that he would not accept a 'no'.
Sighing Deeks gave in and slowly took off his leather jacket. The sleeve of his shirt was covered in blood. Because his jacket was black, nobody had ever seen the blood.
"You damned, stupid idiot! Why did you say nothing?" Kensi was torn between sorrow and anger.
"It's just a scratch, Kens, I'm good." The slightly uneasy look contradicted Deeks' statement.
"What happened?" Joann asked fairly sharp.
Deeks rolled his eyes. "Because she was in a hurry Hill has taken the wrong cellar door and came to a dead end. So she tried to shoot her way through." Deeks tried it with his usual cheeky grin. "That was really typical western style. I went in like Gary Cooper, or perhaps like John Wayne, and..."
"Enough, Deeks, show that immediately the paramedics. Kensi, go along." Then Callen turned to all present agents. "Okay, guys, the rest will do the colleagues of the forensics. Thank you for your effort, you have worked well. Now call it a day. Tomorrow Hetty is waiting for your reports." After everyone has said good-bye, Callen turned to his team. "I accompany Sam to the hospital and you go home. We'll see us tomorrow at the headquarters. Matt, thank you for your support and the one of your colleagues. Without you Jennings would have escaped us."
"No problem, Callen, at any time. Call me and tell me how Sam is doing."
"Will do, Matt."
They slapped each others shoulders to say goodbye.
Callen, Ray and Joann then walked to the ambulance. Deeks had a bandage around his arm. One of the paramedics looked at Callen.
"Sir, we really should bring Agent Hanna into hospital now."
Callen nodded. "Sure. What about Detective Deeks?"
"Only a graze, Agent Callen. Never mind. If he keeps the injury clean and dry, it will soon be healed."
"Thank you. Then we can go now. Jo, I'll call you later." Then he got into the ambulance to Sam.
"All right, G."
For a moment they looked after the departing ambulance.
"Okay, let's go home." Joann turned to Kensi. "I only get my laptop out of your car." When her friend nodded, Joann turned to Ray. "Do you carry me home? My car is at the headquarters."
"Of course, Joann."
…
"Good job, really good job. You have deserved your quitting time." Relieved that everything had gone well, Hetty sent every one of the ops back home. She went into her office, brewed a cup of tea and informed on all relevant authorities about the outcome of the operation.