Sylvia
/Chapter 6/
"Kens, what are we doing here...we need to be out there, what are we waiting for," Deeks asked his partner impatiently as he paced the confines of the boathouse.
"We're waiting for Eric to get us the addresses..."
"Why, I know where they all work. Paula's office at the EPA building is the closest...we should go there now..." Deeks shot back, "and if we can't catch them at work, Eric can send their home addresses to our phones ...why are we still here..."
"You're waiting on us..." Callen said, as he and Sam walked into the boathouse.
"Why," Deeks asked.
"Why? Why would you ask, 'why'," Sam questioned.
"This is not NCIS jurisdiction...right now it's not even an LAPD case...if she's out legally...however the hell that could have happened..." Deeks let his reply trail off in frustration, pointing to himself, "It's just me...it's my problem—"
Shaking his head angrily and moving to skirt around his team mates towards the door he continued impatiently, "...and I'd like to get back to trying to deal with it..."
"Not on your own you're not," Callen said, stepping in front of the detective and putting hand on his chest to stop him, "look, you know that anything that threatens one member of this team threatens us all..."
"Then back the hell off..." he yelled taking a step back from Callen, arms waving to emphasize his point, "you don't seem to get it-you're safe; Sylvia doesn't know about you—but, Paula and the others; Sylvia knows about them; I know Sylvia...she will come after them, blames them for testifying against her..."
"Then we'll get to them first...we can have them rounded up and in a safe house before the day's out, someplace safer than whatever LAPD can come up with," Callen replied calmly, "Sylvia will have a much harder time trying to find them if they're in NCIS custody than LAPD."
"Once everyone is safe we can concentrate on finding Sylvia..."Sam said, moving up to Deeks and resting a comforting hand on his shoulder; and catching Deeks eyes, he said confidently, "...and we will find her."
Deeks gave a small nod, his expression tight lipped.
Not removing his hand from Deeks shoulder, Sam continued, "Now, Callen and I have an appointment with a Dr. Samuel Sheaves later this afternoon, he might be able to help us locate her."
"And give us a damn good reason why someone that unstable is out to begin with," Callen ground out angrily.
Deeks sighed heavily, turning away from his team and starting to slide his injured hands through his hair before thinking better of it and dropping them to his side. Dropping his head to his chest, then giving a small nod Deeks finally said, "Fine...can we go, now-please..."
...NCIS LA...
Deeks fidgeted impatiently with the bandages on his hands as they drove across town to the EPA offices of Paula Mullins. Glancing at her distracted partner, Kensi ended her cell call and reached over to gently tap at his hands, "Stop that. So, that was Nell, and the safe house has been set up..."
Deeks hands stilled but he didn't respond to his partner in any other way, just continued to stare out the passenger window.
"So, these were your friends from college..." Kensi hedged, hoping her partner would open up to her, "were you all studying law?"
With his head resting heavily on the head rest, eyes staring out the window, Kensi at first didn't think Deeks was aware she spoken until he said quietly, "Chris, Taylor and I were law; Paula was a few years older, a TA studying environmental law and engineering; Lanni was studying journalism-we all met in an ethics class one semester...Amanda was Taylors younger sister-an art major."
"You keep in touch..." Kensi asked casually.
Deeks gave a shrug, "Some...I see them around, worked with Chris a few times at the DA's office before I became a cop; talk to Amanda once or twice a year, she travels a lot with her job at the museum, and I crossed paths with Lanni a few times over the years when she covered a case or trial I was working on. Haven't really talked to Paula...environmental and criminal law don't really cross paths..."
Silence again reigned in the car, before Deeks said absently; his eyes never leaving the passing scenery out the window, "after everything the happened...Taylor's murder...my time in uh...and, well, the trial; it was just too much...too many bad memories...everyone just wanted to move on—forget..."
Kensi just nodded, she had no words of comfort for her partner and unlike Sam and Callen she had not yet read any of the old reports to know exactly what it was that Deeks had been through.
A few minutes later the pulled up in front of the EPA building and got out of the car.
"So, Paula Mullins works as a consultant to the EPA..." Kensi said as she reviewed the information Eric had provided to her phone.
Deeks just stood their quietly, staring up at the building.
"Deeks...you sure you're up for this...I can go talk to her..." Kensi asked with concern.
"No, I have to do this," he replied, moving towards the building entrance.
Once inside they were directed to Ms. Mullins office on the fourth floor.
"Paula," Deeks said hesitantly as he peered around the door.
"Marty...," the woman at the desk questioned as she looked towards the door.
Deeks stepped further into the office, followed quickly by Kensi; closing the door behind her.
When Deeks just stood there, seemingly at a loss, while Paula looked at him curiously; Kensi took charge...
"Ms. Mullins," Kensi asked and a received an affirmative nod in return, "I'm Agent Blye, NCIS...you know Detective Deeks..."
Nodding again and looking back and forth between Marty and Kensi, Paula asked with concern, as she waved them towards seats, "Marty, what's going on...NCIS...?"
"I've got some bad new Paula," Deeks said declining to sit with a wave of his hand.
"You're hands...what happened to you," Paula exclaimed seeing the heavily bandaged hands. "Marty, what's going on."
"It's, uh...it's Sylvia, Paula—she's out..." Deeks said quietly, not looking at the woman.
"What! You're joking right...there's no way she could be out..." Paula gasped out in disbelief, then growing angry she asked, "Why...they know what she did...how could this happen?"
"I don't know yet...that's what we're going to find out..." Deeks replied.
Paula shook her head, rubbing her hand across her forehead, then through her hair, "its happening all over again isn't it...that's how you know she's out..."
After a moment's hesitation Deeks nodded, "She called me this morning...on a work cell, I have no idea how she could even get the number..."
Folding her arms in front of her Paula asked with concern, "What about Amanda and Lanni...and Chris, surely Chris can do something about this working for the DA's office...?"
"I'm gonna talk to them all next...as soon as you're safe..." Deeks said, adding, "so get your stuff and let's..."
"What...wait, I'm not going anywhere, Marty," Paula said.
"Huh...what, yes you are...I've arranged a safe house for you and the others..." Deeks replied.
"Marty...I can't; I'm right in the middle of a case..."
"Paula, what are you talking about; get a postponement, give it to someone else," Deeks exclaimed, "Paula, you can't be serious; you know what Sylvia is capable of...Please Paula..."
"You're the one in the most danger...are you coming with us..." Paula asked pointedly.
"You know I can't. I have to find her, find out why she's out..." Deeks shot back, looking at her pleadingly, "Please Paula, at least for a couple of days...please...I can't lose anyone else like we lost Taylor..."
With a heavy sigh, Paula turned away from the detective, "God, Marty...she took two years of our lives already...I thought it was over..."
...flashback...
Paula was sitting at a sidewalk table of her favorite little bistro waiting for her friend...they had just been through two weeks of hell (referred to by some as midterms) and were now going to enjoy a day or so just hanging out.
A hand on her should and a quick kiss to her cheek brought a smile to her face, as she turned to look up into Deeks smiling face. "You're late."
"I'm still crippled," He pouted as he hobbled to the opposite chair plopped down.
Shaking her head with a smile she said lightly, "Excuses, excuses...So how was the exam?"
"Oh, god... Professor Clark presented us with such obscure case law I think my client got the chair..." Deeks groaned.
"I thought the exam was on tort laws..." Paula asked with amusement.
"It was..." Deeks groaned, falling back in his seat with a flourish of melodrama.
Paula laughed at Deeks antics, whacking him with the oversized menu, before Deeks yanked it from her hands, "Yeah, laugh at the crippled guy..."
"Oh, with melodrama like that you could always fall back on acting when you flunk out of law school..." Paula laughed.
"Marty...there you are...I've been looking for you for..." a voice suddenly interrupted the conversation, "how's your foot; have you been eating and taking your meds..."
Deeks turned around, surprised to see Sylvia walking towards him, carrying a picnic basket, "Uh, Sylvia, hi...what are you doing here?"
Stopping at the table she said with a light laugh, "Well looking for you of course...since I'm sure you've not been taking care of yourself I made us lunch; I figured since you're midterms are over we could go down to Pier Park this afternoon for a picnic."
Deeks looked from Sylvia to Paula, who just raised a questioning eyebrow in his direction, commenting, "New friend Marty?"
Sylvia looked down at Paula like she was seeing her for the first time; her expression guarded, "Who's this Marty?"
"Ah, Paula this is Sylvia...Sylvia, Paula," Deeks stuttered, further explaining, "Sylvia is the doc that helped patch me up when I broke my foot..."
"And like most men, he refuses to follow doctor's orders..." she scolded lightly, suddenly running her hand through his hair.
Paula raised her eyebrow at the woman's intimate actions, commenting, "Really..."
"Ah, gee that's real sweet of you Sylvia, but Paula and I have plans today," Deeks said, moving away from her caress.
Noting Deeks discomfort at her touch Sylvia looked back and forth between Deeks and Paula, a strange look crossing her features, "Something wrong...you didn't seem to mind my touch before?"
Paula again raised a surprise brow, while Deeks stuttered out, "Oh, well, yeah...you were setting my ankle...that was a good thing...but..."
"But...but, what..." Sylvia asked impatiently. "I took the afternoon off to have a nice lunch with you...now that your mid-terms are over."
"Look, thanks, really..." Deeks said, "I just wish you would have called or something..."
"I called you this morning...really, don't you ever check your messages," Sylvia said in exasperation.
Deeks pulled out his phone and looked at it, "Ah, I saw the clinic number and figured it was about my follow-up appointment; that was you?"
"Yes, it was me," she said with a shake of her head, and a gentle swat to his shoulder; giving a small laugh she continued, "I'll forgive you this time..."
"Yeah, thanks," Deeks returned the laugh, "look, I really am sorry for the mix-up...but maybe next time..."
Sylvia jerked back in surprise, her voice elevating with her anger, "Excuse me, what are you saying...I pack a wonderful picnic lunch, take a day from work to make sure you're doing alright and taking care of yourself and because you're too inconsiderate to check a simple text message..."
Deeks hopped up the best he could on one leg and grabbed Sylvia's shoulders, "Whoa, hold up—just calm down a minute...I told you I thought it was a clinic call for my appointment...I didn't know it was you...I'm sorry you made all these plans, but I didn't know..."
"I didn't think I needed an appointment...you didn't mind me coming to your place to make dinner...I thought we were-friends..." Sylvia pouted accusingly.
Giving an amused snort, Deeks responded, "You showed up at my place and wouldn't take no for an answer..."
Seeing the hurt in her eyes, Deeks back pedaled, "Look, thanks for everything, really..." he tried to meet her gaze with a cocky smile, "and really, I didn't mind; I'm honored that my rugged good looks and roguish charms can elicit a house call from a beautiful woman...really."
Paula rolled her eyes at Deeks dramatics, having been caught up by the same 'boyish charms' herself at one time. "Please, some of us are trying to eat here..."
"Really...you mean that," Sylvia asked.
"Yes, I do..." he said, them wobbled and fell into his seat.
Sylvia looked back and forth between Deeks and Paula for a moment more, "another time then..."
Deeks just nodded, and both he and Paula watched the woman slowly walk away.
"You sure know how to pick 'em..." Paula commented.
"Hey, watch out there, you 'represent' that remark," Deeks said with a laugh, adding, "besides, she's nice enough and all but she's just my doctor..."
"Uh, huh...don't think she got that memo..." Paula commented. "I think she wants to make 'house-calls' regular office procedure..."
Around the corner from the Bistro, cold eyes watched the couple through their lunch; discreetly following the woman when she left the table and hour later.
"See you at six..." Paula called to Deeks as she headed to her car.
...
"I still remember that first time...I still have nightmares, only instead of my tires getting slashed, she..." Paula dropped her head on Deeks shoulder, unable to continue.
Resting his hands on her shoulders gently, he turned her around to face him, "I know Paula, but it won't happen like it did before...I swear it won't get that far again..."
With a nod, Paula said, "Okay, Marty...okay, two days...after that, I have to be in court..."
"Fair enough, two days..." Deeks agreed.
...NCIS LA...NCIS LA...
a/n; sorry it took so long...one I was without power for a couple of days, on (2) separate occasions because of the huge ass storms we got on the East coast (it was awesome—could actually hear the tree limbs cracking and shearing in the dense woods around my house...news reported that it was hurricane force/cat 1/ winds on one of them!
... two I had a hell of a time with the 'flashback' scene...I wanted subtle psycho to start with and was having problems with the subtle part, while still keeping her creepy / and I've been researching stalking behaviors and there is just sooo much material to work with out there...
...three, I feel and bruised my tail bone and haven't been able to sit up and type for a week...