Why are Kensi and Deeks not answering? Are they okay? This chapter has some Densi in it. No Nallen, but they'll be make soon.

I only own my own characters which include Stefan Badžo in this story.

Anything in italics within single quotes is a quote from my one-shot "Can't Stay Away". Anything in italics and double quotes is thoughts.

Nope…no matter how hard I wish, NCIS LA nor any of the characters on the show are mine. And sadly, they never will be. I'm just borrowing them for a while.

Reviews are always welcome. If you are enjoying this story, especially this chapter, or even if you aren't, leave a review on your way out and tell me why.

Enjoy.

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CHAPTER 19: Explosion's Aftermath

Sam and Callen were about to sprint for the back of the warehouse when they heard some static over coms. Next came a breathy voice "We're out, we're okay" followed by the sound of harsh coughing. Neither Sam nor G could tell who had spoken.

"What's your status?" Callen was really starting to worry since no further information had been received. "Come on, talk to me. Where are you two?"

"We're in…the…alley behind…the…warehouse." Kensi reported between continuing bouts of harsh coughing. "Deeks…took the brunt of…the explosion. I'm...worried about...him Callen. He says...he's fine but he's got...a bad head wound and…" Kensi was interrupted by Deeks before she could finish her sentence.

"Seriously...we both…took in some smoke, but…I'm fine" he rasped. He continued between his own bouts of coughing. "Fern here...hurt me more than...the explosion did. She's heavier...than she looks. She knocked the breath...right out of me...when she landed on top. Not...that I minded of course, I'll let her...be on top any day" He quipped while giving Kensi a smile that looked more like a grimace of pain.

"Shut up Deeks." Kensi snarled. "In your dreams, you...pervert." Kensi sucked in some deep breaths and coughed a few more times before she continued. "You do realize you're bleeding all over your shirt, right; and not just from your head either? I think you're more hurt than you realize. You're not fine. I can tell you're in pain so just shut it, okay?"

"Anything you say baby girl...anything you say." Deeks gave up trying to hide how he felt and leaned his head back against the wall trying to keep his breathing under control. He was positive his entire left side was at the very least bruised and several ribs felt cracked as well. He hadn't told Kensi, but he had also hit his head pretty hard when they landed on the ground leading to a killer headache which was getting worse by the moment. He currently rated it a 5 on the pain meter but he knew it was going to get a whole lot worse soon since he was pretty sure he had a concussion. He also couldn't see out of one eye because blood from his head wound kept getting in it.

Kensi was trying to staunch the flow of blood from his forehead, but wasn't having much luck. She knew head wounds bled like crazy, but she didn't like the fact that Deeks was getting paler by the minute. She could see other contusions, scrapes and lacerations that were also bleeding. He would whine about a paper cut, but let something really be wrong and he would just blow it off and say everything was fine. She smiled at him and brushed his hair back from his forehead while asking "Callen, call an ambulance, will you? Just to be on the safe side. Deeks is bleeding like a stuck pig from his head wound and from some shrapnel wounds on his arms and legs."

"I'm fine Fern. All I need is some bandaids." Before he could protest that he didn't need an ambulance, all four of them heard Hetty over coms.

"The ambulance is on its way for Mr. Deeks and the rest of you to be checked out."

"But Hetty, I'm fine, really." Deeks whined.

"You will be checked out at the hospital Mr. Deeks, is that clear? Or do I have to get my letter opener? I don't want to see you in OPS until you've been cleared by the doctor."

"Yes, Hetty." Deeks gave in with what grace he could muster. "God that woman scares me. I still don't understand how she does it, but one look or word from her and I feel like a child again in the principal's office. And I know it's the same for all of us. She truly is the 'Duchess of Deception' only I would also add, she's a Mistress of Mayhem, a master spy, a lethal lady, a nasty ninja and Hetty the Hun all rolled up in a tiny terrifying package. And I'm too tired and sore to give her any of my usual lip. And here comes the drums on the inside of my skull, didn't I tell myself the pain would be getting worse? Shit!"

Sam and Callen arrived in the alley behind the warehouse while Marty was still thinking of nicknames for Hetty. They took one look at Deeks, glanced at each other and nodded to Kensi, agreeing with her that he definitely wasn't 'fine'.

"Deeks, you still with us?" Sam was looking into Deeks eyes and was sure he definitely had a concussion. What other injuries he had would have to wait for the doctors."

"I'm okay Sam. I don't know what everyone is making such a fuss about" he grumbled.

"Maybe its because you're white as a sheet and you're bleeding from at least 10 places."

Hetty continued issuing orders "Getting cleared by a doctor goes for the rest of you as well. I expect each of you to do so before returning to work."

"But Hetty" came three identical whines.

"The warning I gave Mr. Deeks applies to the rest of you as well. Do I have to repeat myself?" They could almost feel Hetty's glare through the coms.

"No, Hetty." The three remaining members of the team looked at each other with disgust while Deeks' sat there and smirked to himself.

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Stephan went into a rage when he saw Sam and Callen race from the building and run toward the alley behind it. "Damn it! Does that man have an angel watching over him? Why can't he just die! I want him to die! He's got to die for killing my family. I'm not going to stop until one of us is dead." Looking around, he didn't see the other two members of Callen's team. "Maybe those two other agents are dead at least. I know that will hurt Callen. He'll feel the guilt and remorse over their deaths. Before I'm done, he's going to be begging me for death. This is just the beginning."

He turned away and exited the building he had been watching from. He knew additional resources would be arriving soon to help Callen and he didn't want to be anywhere near this place when that happened.

As he left the area, he began thinking of other ways to achieve his goal.

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Deeks continued leaning against the wall and thinking "At least I'm not the only one going to get checked out, not this time. They don't look much better than I feel. Callen's face is bleeding and so is Sam's head. I'm not sure of Kens, but I'm positive she's plenty bruised. Man, we were flying out that door when everything exploded around us. I'm not sure how we survived that. God, my head is pounding, it already feels like 10 and it's getting worse by the minute! I know I have a concussion, but it isn't the first and probably won't be the last." Marty decided he had been sitting around long enough. "Come on man, quit lying around and get your butt up off the ground. It's not that bad, you know head wounds look worse than they are."

He used his hands against the wall to steady himself as he stood up but would have gone down again in a graceless heap if Sam hadn't grabbed his arms to keep him on his feet and upright. "Oops! Why is everything spinning? Come on Deeks, it can't be that bad! I must have stood up too fast and got a head rush, that's all. Come on man, take it slow and easy."

Sam took a good long look at Deeks and didn't like what he was seeing. "Whoa there. Take it easy Deeks before you fall flat on your ass again. Like I said before, you're white as a ghost and that head wound looks nasty. Are you sure you should be standing up?"

"I'm fine Sam, quit fussing over me." he hissed. "You know how head wounds bleed. It's nothing." When Deeks was really hurt, he hated being fussed over. It made him feel like he wasn't good enough to be part of the team. It wasn't true, but sometimes his insecurities reared their ugly heads and made him question his own competency. "I'm okay, really. I just stood up too fast is all. Give me a minute and I'll be good to go."

Sam knew Deeks was trying to divert attention from himself, but didn't want to upset him by more questions. He and Deeks were getting closer since Siderov, but they were still learning things about each other. He really wasn't looking good and Sam was sure he was going to go down again real soon. He resolved to stay close just in case Deeks needed him before the ambulance arrived.

"Go where Deeks?" Kensi was glaring at him daring him to say anything other than going to the hospital. Deeks took one look at her and knew he had better not make so much as a single quip. She was in full-on protective mode at the moment. Besides, he knew he had already lost the battle with Hetty about going to the hospital, so just smiled at Kensi as he replied.

"To the hospital to get checked out of course. You did hear Hetty, didn't you? I don't want to get on the wrong side of her letter opener myself, but if you think you're up for it, go right ahead. I'll just do what she told me to…for once." He snickered at the look on not only Kensi's face, but Sam's and Callen's as well. Laughing slightly, he continued "She scares you just as much as she scares me, doesn't she?"

When no one answered him, he raised an eyebrow "Come on! Admit it. We're all a little afraid of her. She may be tinny… oops…I mean tiny, but she's a terror and she keeps us in line whether we like it or not." Deeks was beginning to feel like the world was a merry go round spinning at 100 mph with him on it. "Whoa...I'm not feeling so good. Every time I move my head, I feel like part of it is being left behind and it takes minutes before it catches up with my body. Maybe I should have stayed down against the wall of the alley, but I don't want them thinking I can't handle myself. Come on asshole, pull yourself together! All you have to do is walk to the ambulance when it gets here. How hard is that?" He was feeling decidedly light-headed now, but kept his mouth shut because he didn't want Kensi worrying about him or teasing him. He wasn't in any shape to handle either option at the moment.

"That she does" Callen agreed. He took another good look at Deeks and silently urged the ambulance to get there and fast. Deeks looked like he was going to pass out at any minute so Callen casually moved a little closer to him just in case.

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The ambulance arriving was a welcome sound to all four agents. It stopped at the end of the alley with the paramedics climbing out of the front. "Someone here need an ambulance?" one of them asked. The team began walking toward it as Callen nodded his head and called out "Yes, we do."

Sam had grabbed hold of one of Deeks' arms trying to keep him upright as he walked drunkenly toward the paramedics getting their equipment out. About half way there, Deeks' knees gave out on him without warning and down he went. The only thing that kept him from sprawling out on the ground in a graceless heap and hitting his head…again…was Sam keeping hold of one arm and Callen grabbing his other arm to gently guide him down to a sitting position.

"Shorry…I mean sorry…guys, din know that was gonna happen. I guess I'm getting a lil wobbly." Deeks was beginning to slur his words while he continued to get even paler.

"No shit Deeks. You look like hell. You're so white you're practically glowing. You do realize your head's still bleeding don't you?" Callen inquired.

"Really? I thought it….ow!" Deeks put his hand to his head and looked surprised when he pulled it back covered with blood. He sounded drunk as he continued talking while staring at his hand. "Ahhh, wow…ummm…guess I don look s'good. 'M headsss…killing me." He looked confused and started trying to stand up again, but Callen and Sam were holding him down.

"Le…mm…up. M..okay." Deeks struggled ineffectively against Callen and Sam trying to regain his feet.

"No you're not okay, you idiot. Just stay there Deeks, okay?" Kensi was staring into his eyes as she spoke and could tell he wasn't all there at the moment. "Let the paramedics take care of you, please."

"Mmm not n id…id…dumb, Fern. But kay, I…cn do tha…" he grinned up at her not realizing he was almost cross-eyed. "You're mmy wndrwoman,…you've got gor…gor…pretty eyes, and take such g…good care of me."

Kensi was really beginning to worry. His face was ashen now and it was getting harder to understand him the longer he sat there. She knew he had a concussion by looking in his eyes, and thought maybe he was also slipping into shock. She knew how dangerous that could be. She looked at Sam and Callen in hopes they would reassure her that Deeks would be fine, but all she saw were two more worried looks.

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