I'm so sorry about how long it took to post this chapter but I got stuck and started working on other things until I finally got an idea on how to push through the next chapter. The first few chapters are always the hardest but I'll get through it. I also have noticed that slow moment that have little action in them I honestly suck at until something inspires me. Well on with the story.


The evening sunlight seeps through the curtains of my hospital room casting shadows across the room as steady beeps echo around me and light chatter making its way into my room through the cracked door. I shift onto my right side and look over the edge of my bed dragging my gaze across the floor until my eyes land on my bag which sits at the foot of my bed. I hear my door open and I lift my head to see a nurse standing in my doorway watching me. She's a tall woman probably around six foot three with pixie cut red hair and almond shaped grey eyes that look like a storm. "Can you hand me my bag?" I ask softly. She looks over at my bag and nods her head before coming in and handing it over to me. "Thank you." I offer gaining a smile from her before she turns away from me and leaving the room. I unzip the biggest pocket of my bag and slip my hand into the small phone pocket at the top grasping my phone and ear buds. After I'd walked away from the NCIS agent and his ME I walked over to Thomas Baker, a trainee and friend from school, who quickly told me my grandfather was not going to let me avoid the hospital. Begrudgingly I agreed to head to the hospital asking him to gather my phone, ear buds, and a change of clothes from my grandparents house.

I plug in my ear buds and power on my phone as I pop the buds into my ears. Once the home screen is up I type in my password and head to my music looking through everything I've downloaded. When I reach the E's I stop and tap the screen before I turn the volume all the way up and press the power button turning the front screen off as the music starts.

"Oh, where have we gone? Cause something down here's going wrong. You told me a night ride would be worth it. But I didn't know it'd take us 'til dawn." I pause as the beat runs through me then continue along with Pierce Fulton as I stare up at the ceiling. "I got a morale, I don't want anything. You got me on my own, I wasn't listening. Just spare me this last time, please now, for my own sake." I close my eyes as I take a breathe and continue. "There's two ways to echo lake." Everything seems to fade away and I feel my lips twitch up a little as the music calms me lulling me away. "There's two ways to echo lake." I hear the air conditioning click and feel a breeze enter my room. "Show me what's new. I know who's under [?] Do you take me for a fool, or just don't care? I'm in a back road date where I don't belong. I got a morale, I don't want anything. You got me on my own, I wasn't listening. Just spare me this last time, please now, for my own sake. There's two ways to echo lake." The beat carries on and I open my eyes before turning them to the break in the curtains to look outside. "There's two ways to echo lake." The news of my father's death had stung, and still does for that fact, but it was dulled by determination to uncover who and why. He was strong, loving, and always understood me like no one else. Whenever I needed someone to listen he'd be there. Whenever I needed advice he'd be ready to try and offer his opinion. Whenever I needed comfort... He was there and now...

I let out a sigh as the next song starts. "Go row the boat to safer grounds. But don't you know we're stronger now. My heart still beats and my skin still feels. My lungs still breathe, my mind still fears. But we're running out of time. Oh, all the echoes in my mind cry. There's blood on your lies. The sky's open wide. There is nowhere for you to hide. The hunter's moon is shining. I'm running with the wolves tonight. I'm running with the wolves. I'm running with the wolves tonight. I'm running with the wolves. I'm running with the." Was it my fault he was killed? Was the person who ran me off the road the one who killed him or was it a coincidence? "Trick or treat, what would it be? I walk alone, I'm everything. My ears can hear and my mouth can speak. My spirit talks, I know my soul believes. But we're running out of time. Oh, all the echoes in my mind cry. There's blood on your lies. The sky's open wide. There is nowhere for you to hide. The hunter's moon is shining. I'm running with the wolves tonight. I'm running with the wolves. I'm running with the wolves tonight. I'm running with the wolves. I'm running with the wolves tonight. I'm running with the wolves. I'm running with the wolves tonight. I'm running with the wolves." I stop and take a breath closing my eyes as a doctor runs by as I begin to sink into the depths of everything I can make out the ticking of the clock on the wall. "It's been cause betrayal in hearts. They can in dream tonight deceives us. A million voices, silent dreams. Where hope is left so incomplete. I'm running with the... I'm running with the wolves." Tick. "I'm running with the... I'm running with the... I'm running with the... I'm running with the wolves." Tick "I'm running with the wolves tonight." Tick. "I'm running with the wolves." Tick. "I'm running with the wolves tonight." Tick. "I'm running with the wolves." Tick. "I'm running with the wolves tonight." Tick. "I'm running with the wolves." Tick. "I'm running with the wolves tonight." Tick. "I'm running with the wolves." Tick. "I'm running with the..." I slowly open my eyes and look over at the clock to see it's only four forty seven. I close my eyes again and let my music continue but I no longer sing along until one song catches my attention causing me to tense up. "Take a breath. Take it deep 'Calm yourself', He says to me. If you play, you play for keeps. Take the gun and count to three. I'm sweating now. Moving slow

No time to think. My turn to go." I slowly let a breathe out as I remember everything. I wasn't scared... Not at first not until I saw the tree. Everything went by so fast. When they got out of the car and came to shoot me. "And then I get a scary thought. That he's here - means he's never lost. And you can see my heart beating." I murmur as I push myself up into a sitting position. "No, You can see it through my chest. Said I'm terrified but I'm not leaving. Know that I must pass this test. So, just pull the trigger." It was a woman. The hands, face, structure of her body... Definitely a woman. "As my life flashes before my eyes. I'm wondering will I ever see another sunrise?" That never happened. I never saw every precious moment of my life flash before my eyes. I didn't wonder I just gave in. "So many won't get the chance to say good-bye. But its too late to think of the value of my life." Now it's just a robotic act. My mind, of its own accord, telling me to sing as everything runs through my head. "And you can see my heart beating. No, You can see it through my chest. Said I'm terrified but I'm not leaving no." I didn't fight back. I didn't try to see who it was I just gave in. Part of me wanted what was to come, for the gun to be cocked. "Know that I must pass this test. You can see my heart beating." For the barrel to be pressed against my skull. "Oh, you can see it through my chest. I'm terrified but I'm not leaving no." For the trigger to be pulled. "Know that I must pass this test. So, just pull the trigger" For the bullet to pierce my head and kill me.

I let out a choked gasp as I rip the buds from my ears and throw my phone across the room at nothing in particular before I curl up pulling my knees to my chest arms wrapped around my legs. Two things happen after this 1) two voices yell at me and 2) someone walks over to me.

"Hey Taylor it's okay." I hear someone run over to me then a familiar hand land on my back. I turn my head to my left to see Fred Mead a short boy with olive skin deep, warm brown eyes and short, stiff black hair standing next to my bed confusion written across his face. Over his shoulder I see Atlanta Spencer a tall girl a few months older than me with pale skin long straight brown hair and wide blue eyes. I lean into him and he wraps me in a hug as she walks over to us. "Hey what's wrong?" He whispers.

I don't answer till I feel Atlanta sit down on my bed. "I wanted to die." I whisper into the silent air.
I feel Fred tense up before I feel Atlanta grab my hand and take it into both of hers. "It's okay. You'll make it through this. I'll help you but you have to cooperate with me this time. Okay?" She asks and I nod my head as she scoots over and wraps her arms around me. Squeezing me to her. "What happened to you?" She whispers. I'm not sure if she's just thinking out loud or wants me to hear this but I chose to answer her.

"I was driving to work singing... singing Russian Roulette when I pulled onto Irish Potato rd. While I was on Irish Potato I got a call. I didn't bother looking at the caller ID. When I answered it wasn't my father, that much I'm sure of. After the call a four door red Chevy came speeding up to my back end. I slammed down on the gas and flew down the road and turned right onto Gold Hill rd almost losing control of my car. Whoever they were they kept up, ramming into me every once and awhile. I called the cops and told them to call someone from NCIS because my father doesn't just hand his phone to random strangers. Suddenly the other car was at my back corner in the left lane." I pause as I look down at my hands and breath. "They slammed into me before I flew into a ditch and a tree on my side of the road. After everything settled down I heard them get out and make there way over to me. When they reached my window they pointed a gun at me" Fred tenses up and Atlanta lets out a gasp. "I just looked at them. It was a woman for sure. The build, the hands, the eyes. Definitely a woman. Her finger twitched. She was going to kill me. The song was stuck in my head and I think I sorta went back to old thoughts and I... I told her... I told her to pull the trigger. And she did, but she didn't kill me." I whisper before I look over at Atlanta.

"Wait what do you mean 'You sorta went back to old thoughts'?" Fred demands looking from Atlanta to me. I brush my hair behind my shoulder as I turn my entire body to him.

I consider lying to him but in the end I decide against it. "A few years back things weren't to good for me but I wasn't brave enough to take it to court and in the end I started to have... have suicidal thoughts." I admit softly.

I look away from him and get up and walk around my bed and to the windows. I send one of the curtains up and sit down. "Why didn't you tell me?" He asks his voice filled with hurt.

I pause for a second as I stare up at the clouds. "It's not that I didn't trust you. I didn't want even more people to know the truth. Atlanta has been my friend since second grade. She noticed it all on her own. She was the only one who listened to me before I was aloud to see my grandparents again. She would listen when I came to school after things happened and it made everything easier." I admit my voice soft.

"You mean, the things you started to say in class three years ago weren't just an attempt to get attention like everyone thought?" He asks and I look down at the window sill.

"Sometimes when you say something people don't want to believe it because they can't imagine it. I mean look at the Holocaust." I point out.

"I'm sorry." He whispers and I shake my head.

"I don't need pity I need my..." I break down tears jumping into my eyes before I fall to the floor shaking like mad.

"Taylor!"

"He's gone. He's gone and I never got to say I loved him." I sob as I feel two bodies wrap around me arms tangling into my hair. No one speaks as I cry my heart out. As my tears ease off I begin to speak. "Once he found out my mom and step father had died he came straight home. He told his commanding officer that he could fire him for all he cared but he was leaving. He came straight to me here, at the hospital, all the way from Albany, Georgia." I admit with a smile. "He drove as fast as he could till he got here. The next day, when I was let out, he'd already cleared everything making it to where I'd stay with him and no one could change that. He left the Marine's and started to work with my grandfather at the police station in Mt. Pleasant."

"He did a lot for you." Fred agrees and I smile.

"He loved you Taylor don't doubt that." A deep voice rumbles from behind us. We all jump up and spin around to see my grandfather standing on the other side of my bed with sad eyes. Tears jump up into my eyes again and I run over to him as I begin to cry again. "I know it stings now Taylor but it'll dull after awhile." He promises and I nod my head as I calm down taking deep breaths. "Just like with Daisy." He offers and I feel my throat close up. My great grandmother had died four spring breaks ago but it still hurt to think about her. After a second I let out a hick up and everyone laughs.

There's a knock on the door but I don't move I just let the silence sit for a few more seconds not wanting to pull away from my grandfather until I feel as if I'm done crying. "I need to speak with Ms. Harper." I hear Gibbs state.

"Can't you wait a minute?" Jerry, my grandfather, asks sharply.

I pull away and shake my head. "No it's okay. He has to make sure I wasn't the one who killed dad. You guys should go any way once I'm done talking to Gibbs I'll need to lay down I'm already feeling tired." I explain softly.

He turns to me and looks down. "Are you sure?" He asks and I nod my head.

"Yeah we wouldn't mind staying here with you." Atlanta admits.

"Yeah I'm sure. You have work and you two, I'm sure, left home without telling your parents anything because you didn't know anything." I smile at the all. "Go on I promise I'll have a nurse call if some thing changes."

"Alright." My grandfather sighs s he leans over and kisses my forehead. "I'll see you later tonight and I'll bring you some real food." He whispers before he leaves.

"I'll be coming back later today to check on you even if the nurses DON'T call us I want to make sure your not alone." Atlanta offers before giving me a hug.

"Everything will be fine you'll see." Then she's gone with Fred right behind her after he gives my shoulder a squeeze. After a second I turn to Gibbs and wave him in before I walk over to my bed and climb into it.

"You know why I'm here." He states but I nod my head.

"To go over where I was when my father was murdered to make sure I didn't kill him." I state blankly.

He nods his head as he walks in even farther and closes the door. "Alright. I'm going to ask you some questions and I need you to answer them to the best of your ability." I nod my head and he begins. "Where were you at three fifty seven this morning?"

"Atlanta's house. Her mother, father, sisters, and grandmother can vouch for me if you don't trust her to." I state firmly and he nods his head.

"Do you know anyone who would want to kill your father?"

I shake my head. "Not really. He kept work at work unless we were eating but even then he would just sum everything up with a 'it was okay' or a 'I don't want to talk about it' if something bad happened." I admit with a shrug lightly. "To be honest I think it was good that way, it helped me not worry about him."

"What about any problems away from work? Did your father go out?" He asks and I shake my head again.

"Not really. Whenever he does go out I'm usually with him." I admit as I sit down on my bed.

"What about people that have problems with you?" He asks and I look away as I begin to bite down on my lower lip. "Who?"

I let out a sigh before I stop chewing on my lip and answer. "You can check out my step fathers parents and family. Some of them had a problem with me and my mother when he married her and had my brothers. A few girls from school but I don't think it's kill my father worthy. Other than that not really. I mean my father had quite a few ex's but I don't know most of them." I admit as I look back over at him.

"From being apart from him." He offers and I nod my head.

"Yeah. You can ask Rose. Gramma, I'm pretty sure, met every girlfriend. My Aunt Laura might know also." I offer.

"Alright. That's it. You should rest and if anything strange happens while your here I want you to call for a nurse or doctor they'll call me and I'll be here as soon as I can, later today one of my agents should get her to watch over you Just as a precaution." He informs me before he turns to leave and I feel myself at the fact that he could tell I was about to object.

"Thank you Gibbs." I call out as I start to feel drowsy. "And please... find who did this."


Songs

Echo Lake - Pierce Fulton

Running With The Wolves - AURORA

Russian Roulette - Rhianna


I don't know the next time I'll be updating but I hope it'll be soon so just hang in there for me.