"Callen, where the hell have you been?"
Almost four days after his partner had left, Callen finally calls in.
"Sam, I'm sorry," Callen apologizes. By the tone of his voice, he sounds exhausted. " It's been a hellish four days-"
"Michelle isn't in D.C!" Sam exclaims. For the first time since being admitted, Sam isn't in his room- he's standing on the hospital walkway between the wing Deeks and he stay in and the Cardiology wing. Sam leans against his arm on the glass window and continues on, " She was never going to D.C-"
"I know that."
Sam takes his gaze off of the orange hues in the sky as the sun sets. He rubs his forehead with one hand while remembering every Yoga, Buddhist- any relaxation tip to stop him from screaming at his partner over the phone. "You knew Michelle wasn't heading to D.C from the start, didn't you?"
Callen pauses and Sam can hear him suck in his breath through his teeth. It's a rarity for Callen and tell-tale sign that the agent is running out of patience fast. "Yes, I knew, but it was for the best. You need to stay with-"
"You say that again and I will kick your ass when you come back!" Sam hisses. He looks over his shoulder to see a couple staring at him in concern. After mustering a smile and waving to them, he turns his attention back to Callen. "Watch Deeks. Watch Deeks. Watch Deeks. Why is everyone so adamant that I watch and protect Deeks?"
"Because I'd hope you two would have time-"
"Callen!" Sam suddenly yells out angrily and catches everyone on the walkway's attention. The cautious couple react first with the wife letting out a cry and the husband glaring and shaking his head as he leads his wife off the walkway. A scrawny security guard takes a few steps towards Sam and soon backs off when he takes in the agent's physique. Sam is too busy trying not to throw the phone at the window to notice.
"She's fine- she's a talented CIA agent who can handle herself," Callen explains, " Wh-"
"I damn near assaulted a cop the last time I wasn't there to back her up- what made you think I'd do any better now?" Sam explains. He takes the NCIS badge off the table next to him and holds it up towards the timid security guard without even looking at him. "Where is she?"
"I don't know," Callen sighs.
"You don't know?! I'm going to kill you," Sam stops suddenly when he begins a coughing fit that last nearly thirty seconds. When he finishes and catches his breath, his partner asks quietly, " How are you?"
"Don't change the subject. I want to know everything- about Khalid, Michelle, and whatever you and Kensi are up to."
"Fine- tell me about you guys first. How's Deeks?"
Sam looks up to see his reflection in the window he's leaning on. He had left the room twenty minutes ago to get some air and last saw Deeks to be staring off into space as he had done so during the three hours since his phone call to Daniels. Sam feels a ping of guilt- he's had four days alone with Deeks and he's no closer to figuring out how deep the detective's PTSD really is.
"He's still in wires," Sam states. He turns and starts the short trek back to the room. He doesn't forget to give the timid and now very antsy security guard a nod on the way. "One of the nurses finally delivered a communication board but I've been too out of sorts to start using it with him. Now out with it- and that includes explaining why everyone keeps telling me to 'protect' Deeks."
"Fine- we believe that Khalid is likely heading to the nukes to the United Arab Emirates. If the rumors are true, he has family and a lot of money to back himself up. Deeks would call him a legal terrorist, if that makes any sense. He's also like Sidarov in terms of making sure there are no loose ends so there's the possibility he may come after you two- Michelle's associate and his dirty cop."
"And that's for the reason of-" Sam stops suddenly at a confusing sight in the middle of the hallway. Deeks is sitting in a conference room chair next to their room entrance. Sam can't tell if the detective doesn't realize that a grown man in a long hospital gown and a mouth brace staring down passing staff isn't the least bit normal or if he realizes that he's doing it at all.
"Callen, call me back in a few," Sam says half-hazardly, "Nothing is wrong- I just need you to call me back and actually call me back sometime relatively soon." He hangs up before his partner responds back and starts his way down towards Deeks.
"Deeks, why are you out here?" Sam asks hesitantly. Deeks slowly lifts his head and holds out the communication board towards Sam that says-What's going on? Where's Kensi?
"You don't remember? She's with Callen…" Sam holds out his hand and adds, " It's for the nukes and Khalid Nahili- come on, let's go back in the room."
Everything's fuzzy. Where's Kensi? What about Sidarov-Deeks writes on the communication board and holds it up towards Sam. Sam ignores the board and pulls Deeks to his feet, ignoring the moans of protests from Deeks and the judging eyes from the doctor standing at the entrance of the room two doors over. Sam leads Deeks towards the chair near the window that Sam's been pretty much been living in for the past four days.
"Ok, let's talk," Sam states. As Deeks slides down into the chair, Sam pulls up the other chair in the room up to the window. "I remember that the doctor started pulling back on your meds. That's probably why things are a little fuzzy right now.
I remember getting rescued and that's it. Deeks pulls out the pendant from under his gown and holds out the pendant now dangling from a necklace chain. With his other hand, he writes-Where did this come from?
"I gave it to you. It saved me while overseas and I want it to protect you now," Sam replies. Deeks raises an eyebrow before looking down to the pendant between his fingers. He quickly scribbles down-Stop lying to me. Just because we were tortured together doesn't make us best friends. You can have your pendant back.
"Whoa, wait Deeks- stop," Sam holds up his hand before Deeks can reach for his pendant, "Deeks, I'm not doing this out of some quick way to make things up between us. I screwed up so bad, so bad with you, Deeks. I will fix this- I promise."
I don't trust you.
"Good- I want to earn your trust." Sam watches Deeks' gaze travel up to the window. It feels like the longest moment of Sam's life as Deeks ponders Sam's words. After a minute, Deeks writes slowly- We'll see.
Sam smiles, thinking, Challenge accepted, detective.