A/N: Happy Holidays!
A/N2: In case it isn't clear, UAE is short for the United Arab Emirates.
"I found her."
Sam has to hold himself from cheering aloud when he finally gets a phone call back from Daniels two hours after his conversation with Callen. Sam is sitting at the edge of the bed watching Deeks mindlessly scribble on his communication board on his own bed. He's just told Deeks about everything that's happened since they were kidnapped from the mansion- the torture, the lying, the failed meeting, the team going overseas, and his missing wife. Deeks hasn't said a word since and it's starting to worry Sam again.
"Where?" Sam exclaims as calmly as he can. His reaction causes Deeks to flinch and look over to Sam. He turns the phone onto speakerphone and repeats, "Where?"
"The UAE.I caught her on an airport security camera and the entrance camera to the Dubai World Trade Center this morning," Daniels yells over the roar of helicopter blades on the other end. " This is why I don't want to get married- a woman thinks irrationally and goes off and does her own thing. Why the hell is she at the World Trade Center?"
"Like I'm supposed to know!" Sam exclaims, "You think she mentioned that building before she took off to another country without telling me?"
"Hey, don't get snappy at me because you didn't put a leash on her!"
"Daniels, I swear to God-" Sam stops short when he hears a grunt from across the room. Deeks is holding up his communication board with the question- He's a douche. Does Khalid have money at that building?
"Damn, that's a good question…." Sam mutters. He turns his attention back to the phone call, " Does Khalid own anything there with money?"
Daniels pauses before saying, "He might be associated with someone there- I'll check on it. Impressive thinking for a SEAL."
"Don't thank me. Thank my partner," Sam states. He takes a quick glance to see if his compliment sparked anything in Deeks. As also expected, Deeks is staring back at him suspiciously.
Daniels snorts in annoyance and Sam's sure he's rolling his eyes in disgust. " Stop trying to make me like your pet cop. Anyway, I can try to get information about any stakes he might have. There's no famous Nahili's in oil or whatever so he might have a cousin or second cousin, probably in Dubai. Ah, crap!"
"What?" Sam calls. He hears the sound of shuffling and yells over the phone before Daniels growls, " I just got a message that the CIA, the FBI, and every other agency you can think of has news about Khalid and are sending everyone down to the UAE like he'll be caught easily with his pants down. I have to go!"
"Daniels, this conversation isn't over!"
"It is over, Hanna. This is a simple problem- your wife is missing and by the sound of it, you're in perfect condition to find her without my help. There's too much on the line right now for me to look for her."
Sam stands up and begins yelling into the phone, " Daniels, I can't leave Deeks. He's my partner and –"
"Is he more important than your wife?"
Sam closes his eyes and grimaces at the truth. "Keep in touch," he says before he ends the call and looks over to Deeks. The detective quickly scribbles onto the communication- He's right. Go.
"I'm not leaving you," Sam replies. "Deeks, I'm your partner. I told you that I was going to have your back."
Deeks furiously writes- Please- don't do this to clear your conscious. Go find Michelle. I'll be fine.
"Hey, stop it!" Sam slides off the bed and steps towards Deeks, " I made a promise that I'd have your back and I will stick to it."
I'm not more important than Michelle or anyone else in your life for a matter of fact. Go. Deeks drops the communication board onto the bed before sliding off of his bed and weakly making his way over to the small one toilet bathroom at the corner of the room. Sam watches Deeks struggle through his sluggish walk into the doorway and slowly close the door. He barely truly knows Deeks at all, but knows that pushing the detective will make things worse.
"Ditch the cop," Sam repeats out loud to himself. "Ditch the cop- this is coming from the man with two restraining orders under his belt. If I leave him, who the hell is going to watch him? However, if I don't go, who's going to protect my wife?"
He rubs his eyes in frustration and looks over to his duffel bag next to the door. There's a backup cellphone, his wallet and badge, and two pairs of clothes. It's enough to get him to the airport and to the UAE without a problem. Sam's beginning to consider leaving until he notices that there's a duffel bag under the detective's bed as well.
"That's it," Sam gasps. He quickly makes it to the doorway and waves down the first nurse he can see. It's a short, redheaded woman with a mousey voice that tried and failed to check Sam's vital the day before.
"Yes, Mr. Hanna?" the woman answers. She walks up to his side and has to look way up to catch Sam's eye. "Sorry, I'm not in any pain or trouble," Sam says, "I just have a question…..about being discharged."
"About yourself or your partner?" the nurse asks. She picks up the first chart that hangs from the door and quickly scans over it, nodding a few times as she goes along. "Your vitals have been steady for the past few days and you said that your chest pain is all gone. You can be discharged by the morning at the latest."
Sam glances back to the doorway and asks in a lower voice, "Between you and me….how long would it be for my partner to be discharged at the earliest?"
The nurse's eyes widen as she stammers, "I can't really say- Dr. Yentz can take a look today to see if the wires can be taken out tonight. And if they are taken out, 24 hours and that's only in a life or death emergency-"
"That's all I need to know," Sam states while holding up a hand. 24 hours and I'm out of here with Deeks.