Let me start out by saying thank you for the reviews! i didnt expect to get such interest in this story! but i loved continuing it. i do apologize though because i searched and searched i just couldnt find a beta reader. i will take my time and do my best with fixing and editing my own story but for any miss spelling or confusion that is left i do apologize for but hope you stick with the story. so i guess consider that a warning

i dont own the characters but i do own this story:

"Mr. Hanna your up first."

Hettys voice called over to the team after she had informed them that the so called interviewer was here. Looking around at all his team mates he nodded, something about being interviewed 3 times in this year didn't send warm feelings to any of them, specially Deeks. This would be his first interview at NCIS and despite his reassured carefree smile they could all see he was nervous.

Sam walked away from the team back to the lounge area, near where Hetty sat. There he saw a man, mid 30s tacky gray suit thin glasses sitting behind the desk pulling papers out and arranging folders as if they are precious and held everything.

Looking up the interviewer saw the agent approaching.

"aw Mr. Hanna" he stood up shaking the mans hand, he had a scary strong grip "please have a seat." the agent Hanna sat down, he was big and intimidating but he was in control here he would not be bullied or intimidated.

"I have a few questions that I need you to answer and then you can be on your way." Sam wanted to roll his eyes but he didn't this man seemed like a tight ass already, he could tell but he would give this man what he wanted, if only to make him leave faster.

"ok" was all he said.

the man nodded . "ok your partner how do you two get along"

"we get along just fine"

"previous questions of your partnership have been solid, perform well with each other, good very good. Anything new happen, specially when he went out on his own any new conflicts arose?"

Sam took a moment to answer, he didn't understand this questioning. He had been questioned many times before but they were more in detail always trying to dissect their partnership trying to pry into their lives but this man hardly seemed interested in them at all. "what's the real questions"

"excuse me?"

"the real question, your glossing over facts trying to make it seem like you care about my partner ship but you don't. so what's your real question." the man smiled at him and nodded.

"ok we will skip that then, I didn't want to ask those questions but Hetty wanted to make sure my list of questions wouldn't put you off so here it goes. How is your partnership with Mr. Deeks?" they were asking about Deeks?

Why? New agent must be trying to get a sense of him he thought.

"Not my partner but were just fine" the man nodded writing something done.

"previous employers have said Deeks is a handful is that true?" Sam smiled but it didn't reach his eyes, he may not get a long with Deeks all the time but this line of questioning from anyone who was an outsider wasn't welcoming. "he met a couple of unfriendly cops a long the way"

"that's not what I asked"

"before I answer your questions I want to know why your asking them" the interviewer nodded and set down his pencil looking at the agent seriously. "I guess that's only fair." Pausing he looked at the man, trying to gauge his next reaction. "Mr. Deeks has had a number of problems with LAPD no one there seems to really like him, they say he's a good cop and that may as well be true but if his performance is jeopardizing this until and your team mates then I would have no choice but to have him fired."

"You want to fire Deeks?" disbelief was clear in his voice.

"if necessary I will. Now questions your going to answer. When was the first time you respected Deeks?"

"what kind of question is that"

"a simple one. When was the first time you respected Deeks" Sam thought about it and then smiled at the memory. "we were working a case back in August, a marine was killed, shot to death at his home, his killer guys name was Vincent Prez, he was best friends with the dead marine he was also a marine and he was in love with the dead marines wife. He stalked her, killed her pets and harassed her. But we got him saved her thanks to Deeks."

"Tell me in detail"

"fine"

They were running Callen and Kensi took one way down the beaten forest but were far behind maybe even lost but Sam and Deeks managed to get through the trees, they were racing through the woods for what seemed like hours trying to find there destination.

The marine, Vincent, had taken her to her favorite spot trying to confess his love for her, but she would fight him and then she would die. Time was running out for the woman and they pushed as fast as they could when they finally came to a clearing. They ran out on a dirt road, dust swirled around them with each step filling there noise clouding their vision. Past the dirt road was a ledge. There were benches and a wooden railing that had only fallen apart.

"were either lost or in OZ but I'm still not sure yet." Sam smiled and looked around guns raised when they heard a car.

A big white van was coming up the road, swearving and weaving like there was a drunk driver behind the wheel. Sam and Deeks stood in front of the cars path guns drawn, ready. "Should we shoot the tires or the driver" Sam asked Deeks, it was a normal him and Callen thing to ask.

"Tires, don't want to risk shooting the girl" Sam nodded and just as the car came close enough to fire at, a gun appeared from the open window on the drivers side firing in all directions. Standing their ground they kept shooting all the while praying that they wouldnt be hit but Sam was, he felt the bullet the blinding pain as it entered his shoulder, the pain had him kneeling on the ground.

Blood coating his arm.

"Sam" he heard Deeks before he felt the guys hands on him pulling him up and pushing him away. Sam hit the ground at the same time he heard the sound of body verse machine, the sickening crunch of flesh verse glass and the unmistakable grunt of pain that followed.

Sam turned just in time to see Deeks roll of the hood of the car hitting the ground and continue rolling until he was to close to the edge for comfort. The car kept going for another 20 feet before it stopped the brakes screeching in protest.

The drivers door began opening making Sam pull himself together and do the one thing he hated to do most, hide.

He scrambled towards the woods behind some tree but kept the clearing insight. He may be wounded but he wasn't out of the game just yet. The marine got out wielding a gun screaming and cursing at something but nothing in particular.

Vincent walked over to Deeks even from a distance Sam could see his friend was still breathing. Thank god for that at least.

Vincent ran up and kicked Deeks again and again and again.

Sam wanted to shot the man but his weapon lay somewhere off in the distance and if he ran into the open to look he would be seen, that wouldn't help anyone. Deeks grunted in pain before the man kicked again bringing a scream to his friends lips. The way he tired to bring his legs to his chest told him that a rib had been broken. Sam felt so useless right now, his friend was being kicked to death and he sat there doing nothing about it.

"Stupid cops" the man kicked again hitting Deeks head snapping his neck back, blood flowed from the open wound but Deeks laid there taking it.

"your pathetic, you and your friend wherever he is" before Deeks could even reply Vincent kicked Deeks again and again till Deeks lay there panting dragging in raw breaths past the searing pain that would be going on in his chest. It was a wonder that he was even concious.

Vincent spit on him, making Sam see red before placing his foot on Deeks hip and without much effort, no hesitation, no flinching he pushed Deeks over the ledge. Sam stared in horror as his friend went over the ledge trying to grasp anything to keep him up but failing. Sam looked away from the edge, looked away from that scene that was seared into his mind forever. He couldnt believe that it had just happened. Glancing back he saw the man turn and walk away a smile on his face, not the scary sadistic smile that he expected but the kind of smile like saying it's a beautiful day lets go for a strool, Sam wanted nothing more than to go over there and smack that smile right off of his ugly face for what he had just done.

A scream sounded from inside the car before Sam saw the man drag her out of the car pushing the crying woman towards a bench that faced away from Sam. Now was his chance to kill the man, shaking out of his thoughts he ran out into the open feeling uncomfortable being in the open practically naked without his gun. Looking around there lay his gun but it had been run over, destroyed beyond repair. Great.

He looked towards the end spotting Deeks gun about 7 ft from where Deeks had gone over but his eyes were drawn to the very edge where a pale hand was holding on to the biggest root he had ever seen.

Deeks!

Sam ran towards the hand, dropping down on to his stomach he looked over the edge. "Deeks" he said it softly relief was clear in his voice as he reached down grabbing his friends forearm with his good arm. (right arm)

Deeks looked up blood covered the left side of his face, he was sweating profoundly as he clung to Sam's arm releasing the edge. Deeks other arm dangled uselessly at his side, out of place he thought.

Deeks smiled at him a true but visibly strained smile. "my hero" his voice was filled with pain but a laugh bubbled at Deeks lips.

Moving fast was not an option, they couldn't risk startling the not so cute couple that sat only 20 ft away but it was necessary the edge was giving out. Rock slide out from where Sam was, dirt shifted ground fell away. Below Deeks was a slant in the hill covered by trees and then a true drop off. If he let go, Deeks would fall/slide down the hill and then fall over the true edge.

The girl screamed as Vincent yelled at her hitting the woman to the ground he was screaming again, cursing at her his gun was raised above his head waving drastically around before it was aimed at her heart. She was moments away from death.

Deeks looked at Sam both sharing the same fear that if they didn't move now they would be to late.

The girl screamed again sealing off the decision for Deeks. "let go"

"what are you crazy"

"Sam you have to help her let go now" Sam glanced from Deeks to the girl he couldn't make that decision Deeks had grown on him he was part of the team but he wasn't willing to let an innocent die. He pulled harder with his good arm while his wounded arm reached for the gun. It was to far away the strain of just trying to reach for his gun caused shooting pains into his body.

"Sam" Deeks voice sharp and loud causing Sam to pause and look at him. Deeks hand went limp on his arm letting go, giving Sam's only good hand to much weight to bare. "Deeks' he grunted as he tried to get a good hold of him.

"Remember that scene in Titanic where the girl lets go of Jack, well guess what your Rose I'm Jack now let go" Sam trembled still holding on, Deeks arm sliding more from his grasp. "SAM let go! save the girl" she screamed again and Sam looked at Deeks. Truly looked at him. There was no confusion no second guessing, no I'm sorry to leave this world look, only determination and courage. Sam nodded slowly. "sorry Deeks" then he let go.

Sam didn't pause to watch his friend drop, he didn't waste a moment of his last wishes for his own selfish last look, no he immediatly rolled towards Deeks fallen gun and took aim. "Freeze" he screamed finally catching sight of Kensi and Callen running through the woods out in the open. Vincent looked around realizing that he was surrounded there was no place to go. Panicking he raised the gun and Sam took complete pleasure in pulling the trigger on the man responsible for his friends death and even more pleassure as he fell onto the ground, he was nothing, nothing more then a bad memory.

Sam watched as Callen ran towards the victim trying to calm her down trying to stop the tears, he was smiling though relieved that his team was still here. That was Callen for you looking to the brighter side of things he guessed.

Standing took more effort than Sam thought it would, both arms were sore from the bullet and the dead weight he had held. Had held. That thought burned him when Sam's eyes rested on Kensi. Deeks real partner. She smiled and looked around the clearing looking for the shaggy blonde cop.

"Deeks" she called he could see how she was anxiously a waiting a stupid juvenile reply that would never come. Pain set in, not the shoulder pain from the wound but the pain of loss. Their eyes met and she could see the pain there, the truth of what happened but hopefully just for now she couldnt see the truth of what how this was all his fault.

"Deeks?" softly this time she sounded so vulnerable, he had never heard Kensi like that and it killed him inside to tell her anything to tell her this! But words wouldn't form so he looked towards the edge shuffling over to it instead.

Hearing Kensi gasp made Sam turn towards the best and strongest agent he had ever worked with, her hand was covering her mouth as if to fight off a scream, her head shook in denial as her eyes sparkled from unwanted tears.

Determination shone in her eyes as she ran over next to him looking down needing to see for herself. "DEEKS" Sam looked down as well, he saw the cop sprawled out in front of a tree his back to them, he seemed wrapped around the tree as if it was a sudden stop, the tree was close to the end. But he didn't stir at Kensi's call.

"Kensi get some rope" she did as he wanted tears still in her eyes she was fighting them not wanting them to fall, to be strong, she always had to be so strong she could never lose control. Callen joined them looking over at the fallen comrade, the smile had long since faded as grief crawled through him, he had lost another agent.

"we cant leave him there and its my fault I'm getting him"

"Sam your hurt"

"I'm getting him G!" without a second argument Sam climbed down the hill. He could see the marks where Deeks had rolled down, body impressions making a clear path.

Finally closing in on his friend rope tide to his waste he ended up just staring at him. Sam could feel the pain ripping through him, the guilt, this was his fault.

He was close enough to touch him now but instead Sam just stopped just sitting down taking even breaths trying not to let his emotions out of control, how could he have let him go. "I had a dream that I was falling down a hill of candy corn then I was stopped by a lollipop" the softest he had ever heard his voice was full of wonder and pain.

"Deeks" rolling Deeks over laughing all the while he couldn't believe it.

"Turns out it wasn't a lollipop but a big ass tree" his voice was soft a mix of awe and confusion. Sam laughed and wiped his face collecting tears that he hadn't known had been falling. "After this I'll get you a lollipop" he looked up to see the two other agents waiting.

"he's alive, we need an ambulance" Callen took off towards his phone probably while Kensi just grabbed her head, even from a distance it looked like she was ripping out her hair. "DEEKS" they heard Kensi's voice it was full of relief tinged with a bit of anger.

"you really thought I was dead?" his voice was so quiet and weak frightened him taking the smile off his face, Deeks might be alive but he was hurt bad. Deeks continues. " Please some tree isn't gonna be the death of me" he paused a smile played on his battered lips as he glanced up at his partner. "however I think fern will be"

Sam smiled as the memory was replayed in thought and to some guy who didn't think Deeks was worthy of a badge.

The man nodded and took a few more notes. "That's all I need for now. Thank you Mr. Hanna. And I would prefer that you not say anything to any one else. I want them to be honest about Mr. Deeks" Sam nodded and stood heading out before anger got the best of him.

Sam turned back to face the stuck up man who knew nothing about being a good cop. "Deeks is annoying, he's like a kid with a shiny toy most of the time. Always with a childish remark really but he is one of the best agents I know and I wouldn't want to have anyone else on our team then him. So ya his kind of a kid at heart but when it count he's one of the bravest men I know"

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