Sylvia
/Chapter 7/
Chapter modified and reposted
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"It would go faster if we split up the people on Deeks list," Callen complained.
"Maybe, but it's something he needs to do; these people are his friends and what he has to tell them isn't they kind of news you give over the phone...or to be given by a stranger. Kensi will call if they need help," Sam commented, "...besides, we have an appointment with Dr. Shreeves in a couple of hours, we should look thought the trial transcript and see what we're dealing with."
Giving a huff of frustration, Callen sank down in the seat opposite his partner and grabbed a file.
Callen read the words on the pages with a clinical (agent) detachment: much of the beginning trial transcripts lent itself to the misdemeanors he had already become familiar with from the dozens of police reports he and Sam had read through. Only when it began referencing the "kidnapping victim", when it started to describe the scene met by the rescuers upon entering the house, describe in some detail the disturbing injuries of the victim, their team mate and friend, did Callen begin to lose his objectivity; finally slamming the file closed and quickly getting up from his seat to pace in agitation.
Sam looked up, startled at Callen's reaction, and sat back in his seat, watching his partners pacing.
Callen pointed to the file, "and that's just the opening statements...this trial went on for almost two weeks..."
"Hetty warned us it was bad..." Sam said quietly. "If we didn't need it to understand what we're up against I don't think she'd even let us read this—or talk to her doctor."
"And that's why she doesn't want us to read the actual police report..."
"Because this," Sam said waving his hands over the files strewn across the table, "it's all legaleze...and for as bad as it reads, it's steeped in lawyer double talk and clinical jargon; very much sanitized compared to what Deeks own personal re-accounting of events were..."
"How can you be so damn calm about this," Callen shot back angrily, "this isn't some random 'victim', this is Deeks..."
Sam frowned at his partner, "Because one of us needs a clear head in this."
Callen shot him an incredulous, scathing look, causing Sam to rise from his seat and spread his arms out in a sweeping motion, "don't give me that look G, Deeks needs us to keep it together for him; he's already on the edge—he sees you going off like this, or treating him like he's some basket case—he'll likely go right over that edge..."
Sighing heavily, and running his hands down his face Callen nodded, "I know...it's just, how could this happen; how he could go through all this and..."
"...and still manage to turn out to be an okay guy, that is somehow not in his own rubber room..." Sam finished the sentiment, adding, "because he's a strong man, stronger than we give him credit for...and we have to let him hold onto that strength, let him know that he can be in control through all of this; right now we have his back and we give him what he needs—and what he needs is his team thinking and acting with level heads..."
With a shake of his head, Callen turned towards Sam with a smirk, "How'd you get so smart?"
"What...you're just now noticing what a genius your partner is," Sam exclaimed in mock surprise.
Callen just rolled his eyes and sat back down in his seat, eying the scattered files warily before grabbing one up and opening it.
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"I read through her release transcripts...not much detail...just a list the list of charges, an official diagnosis and a listing of in-house treatments, treatment follow-up requirements and basically a lot of doctor double-talk; very general," Callen reported on their drive to the hospital to meet Dr. Shreeves.
Once at Pine Crest Sanitarium the agents were ushered into a rather ostentatious office of the chief psychologist for the facility.
"Gentlemen," the gangly, middle aged and rather non-descript man motioned the two agents towards the chairs in front of his desk, before taking his own seat. "What can I do for, what was it...NCIS; you realize we don't house active military personnel here?"
If the agents' were surprised that the doctor knew what NCIS was they gave no indication, instead Callen said, "It's not a military issue..."
"Then how can I be of any assistance," the doctor asked in confusion.
"We need to ask you about one of your patients...Sylvia Gray..." Sam said.
"I don't understand...what interest would NCIS have in Ms. Gray, she has no military affiliation," the doctor interrupted quickly, adding, "and besides, gentlemen, you know I am not at liberty to discuss my patients..."
"We're aware of that; we don't need a discussion on her diagnosis, Doc; we know what she's capable of..." Callen interjected evenly, causing the doctor to raise an eyebrow in subtle curiosity, "What we need to know is why she was released? As her doctor of record, you are aware of the things she has done; just how dangerous she is?"
"I am quite aware of my patients diagnosis, agent...the question remains—why do you; what business is if of NCIS." Shreeves questioned as he leaned forward in his seat, the doctor continued with anger aimed at putting the agents on the defensive, "...I don't know what it is you think you know, or why you even have any such information—but, I certainly won't have you coming in here questioning my treatment of my patients."
Ignoring he doctor's outburst, Sam pressed, "And you're not concerned a patient like that would take up where they left off..." adding knowingly, "...someone with that diagnosis, there's no cure..."
Eyeing the agents with suspicion, the doctor replied guardedly, "Patients aren't cured, but, somehow I think you already knew that...but with the right combination of therapy and drugs they can lead productive lives."
Callen asked skeptically, "And you're saying Ms. Gray got the right combination of drugs and therapy; that she is no longer a threat to the people she stalked and terrorized?"
"By what right do you come in her and question the judgment of my staff and myself," Shreeves demanded angrily. "You think we would intentionally put someone in danger? Do you have some proof that Ms. Gray is a threat to anyone?"
"And what would you consider proof, doc," Callen asked, adding, "...how for does you patient have to go before it's considered a threat?"
"We monitor our out-patients very closely..." Shreeves remarked.
"And why exactly, if she was deemed mentally competent, was she not remanded over for trial on the charges against her?" Callen shot back.
"Charges, there are no charges pending?" Shreeves answered impatiently, "She was sentenced to the custody of a state mental health facility, rather than to a prison..."
"So, that's it, she serves her sentence here and just gets out: just like that," Callen questioned angrily, "she was put in here for stalking and kidnapping for god's sake...a man nearly died at the hands of your patient, doctor..."
"That was over twelve years ago...and the man didn't die...he suffered some minor injuries..." the doctor started to explain only to be cut off by an angry Callen.
"Minor injuries...minor injuries do not put a man in the hospital for three weeks; he had so many drugs in his system his organs started to shut down—he was on a ventilator for three days. You call torture a minor injury..." Callen growled out angrily as he leaned menacingly across the doctor's desk.
Sam jumped from his seat and grabbed his partner's arm, "G, man, back off..."
Callen shook out of Sam's grasp and moved away from the desk, while Sam turned back to the doctor who demanded, "And you still haven't explained how...or why, this is a matter for NCIS. Government agency or not, a civilians medical records are confidential."
"Not when an agent's life may be in danger," Sam replied bluntly. He really didn't want to show their hand, but he needed the doctor to know, in no uncertain terms, that this wasn't a casual inquiry.
"An agent? I don't understand...Ms. Gray does not know any military personnel; and if memory serves, the young man Sylvia was...'infatuated' with was a law student," the doctor commented.
"Infatuated..." Callen exclaimed incredulously, scowling at the doctor.
Sam held out an arm to stop Callen's angry approach towards the doctor, ""That 'man' is a liaison officer to our office...our team...so convince me he's not in any danger..."
Sighing deeply, the doctor sat back in his chair and explained, "Look, it's a very detailed process...after a patient has served the mandatory sentence handed down by the court, it is a panel of doctors that review the patients history and treatment and determine whether said patient is released...I can assure you, gentlemen, that due diligence is taken in reviewing any patient for release from this facility; and they are given a significant amount of off-sight follow-up care."
"So, more than one doctor has to sign off on it before a patient is released," Sam asked.
"Yes," Shreeves said impatiently.
"We'd like to speak to those other doctors," Sam said.
"To what end, I've already shared more than I should about Ms. Gray...unless; has someone filed an official complaint against my patient; do you have a warrant, " Shreeves asked.
"No," Sam answered.
"So what reason does NCIS have to pursue and harass a woman who has served her time and is a free citizen...just because she knew a man who is now a 'liaison'" the doctor asked, then standing he added, "...no gentlemen, this interview is over until such time as you have some proof of my patients wrong doing..."
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Once back to the car, Callen said, "We need to talk to those other doctors...was it me, it did Shreeves seem just a little more defensive than necessary..."
Sam shrugged, "Well, we did question his ability to do his job..."
"He could have just given us some generalities and sent us on our way...no, there's something off about the good doctor," Callen said.
"We'll have Eric look into him..." Sam said, pulling out of the parking lot.
...NCIS LA...NCIS LA...NCIS LA...NCIS LA...
a/n: damn this chapter was hard...still not what I want but after spending hours just on this one chapter and rewriting it more than a dozen times-I quit...just have to try to make things clearer in later chapters...