Sylvia

/Chapter 10/

a/n: as you continue to read, keep in mind that I, like TV writers, am bending laws and regulations in regards to mental health incarcerations/legalities to fit within the story parameters...also, don't know if I'm confusing anyone but up to this point all the action has been within the same day. My timeline is a little off, but bear in mind chapter one started first thing in the morning and the characters have been working through this over the course of one day so far (like the episode Human Traffic)

/ NCIS LA /

Sam and Callen escorted Chis to the hospital. Checking in with the desk they found that Lanni was due to be in surgery for another hour at least, so the headed up to Deeks room.

They entered the room quietly and found Kensi sitting in the semi-darkened room, a deep frown on her face, as she watched her partner sleep restlessly. When she saw the guys she ushered them back out of the room.

"What's up," Sam asked with concern.

"He just got back to sleep, I don't want to wake him," Kensi replied.

The agents just nodded, before Callen made quick introductions.

"So how is he...really," Chris asked pointedly.

Kensi looked at the ADA, the man she knew Deeks considered a friend; a man who knew from personal experience what her partner had been through previously, and finally answered, "Honestly, not good; he's blaming himself for everything-and...he's..."

"What Kens," Callen demanded with concern, "did the doctor's say something..."

"No, nothing like that; it's just..." Kensi hedged, "he's afraid...I mean, not adrenalin pumping before an op afraid—I mean, he's really afraid: The look on his face when he woke up and that moment when you're trying to remember where you are..."

"PTSD," Sam questioned, looking towards Chris; who nodded slowly.

"He, uh...he saw a shrink for about six months after the kidnapping," Chris said hesitantly.

"Understandable," Sam said, "Callen and I, we read through some of the trial transcripts..."

"Then you know how bad it could get...will get, it we can't find a way to get Sylvia Gray back where she belongs," Chris said, warning, "you said she's already been out for two weeks; and no doubt the first thing she did was pick up on Marty's trail..."

"So, she didn't waste any time taking up right where she left off..." Sam commented.

"And if she's been following him...then there is a good chance she knows about all of you by now..." Chris warned, adding, "So, it won't be long before she sees you as the obstacles between herself and Marty."

"And she obviously still sees Lanni and the rest of you as a threat..." Kensi commented.

"That or just a need for revenge," Chris countered.

"Well, whatever the case, she's not going to get another chance with any of you..." Callen commented, adding purposely, "when we're done here we'll take you to the safe house."

Chris shook his head, "Don't worry, I'm not gonna argue with you...I'd feel better seeing Paula myself, and I need to be the one to tell her what's happened. I don't want anything distracting you from protecting Marty and finding Sylvia...but I do insist on doing my job: so, first thing in the morning I'm going to look into Sylvia's release...my office should have been notified immediately. I am well aware that one of the stipulations of her release, should that eventuality ever occur, was that she was to have absolutely no contact with any of the victims-if nothing else I can get a warrant on those grounds."

"Shreeves said that it was a panel that recommended Gray's release; it would be helpful to be able to talk to those doc's and get their opinions," Sam commented.

"Not a problem," Chris said.

Further conversation was halted by a sudden crashing sound coming from Deeks room, followed by agitated mumbling. The four entered the room quickly to find the detective had knocked the rolling tray away from his bed and into the wall as he flailed around in the throes of a nightmare.

Rushing to his bedside, Chris was half a step ahead of Kensi and reached out to gently grasp the flailing arms

"Hey, Marty...come on man...it's me, it's Chris: come on, wake up...you're having a nightmare," Chris coaxed gently but firmly, "come on man, listen to my voice and come back...you're gonna be okay, but ya' gotta wake up first..."

The coaxing voice penetrated the fog and Deeks slowly settled down, opening his eyes in a squint, "Chris?"

Smiling broadly, Chris said, "Yeah, man, it's me...you back with us now?"

Giving a small huff, and opening his eyes further to take in the room he attempted to straighten up in his bed, "Uh, yeah, man...I'm, uh...I'm fine..."

"Yeah, don't even start with that shit man...we both know better..." Chris stated pointedly.

Deeks just frowned as he pushed himself up into a sitting position, "You hear anything about Lanni?"

"Still in surgery; should hear something within the hour," Chris replied, "as soon as we know something, you'll know something," he then rested his hands on the side of Deeks bed and looked at the detective pointedly, "for right now, how 'bout you?"

Deeks shrugged, but the stern look he got from his friend caused him to sigh, "Okay...I feel like shit okay...I promised her man...I promised her...and now...I knew she would come after everyone..."

"Really, we're gonna start this already?" Chris asked with annoyance.

While the agents were startled by the annoyed frustration in Chris's tone, Deeks seemed to take it as a matter of course as he looked at his friend, his tone soft and earnest, "But it's me she wants...she doesn't care who she has to go through either...and now Lanni..."

"Did you hit Lanni with that car..." Chris demanded, as he continued he pointed to Deeks then at the agents, "Are you doing everything-has your team, done everything in their power to keep everyone as safe as humanly possible- and find Sylvia?"

When Deeks didn't answer immediately, Chris pressed, "Well...answer me..."

"I...uhm...I should have..." Deeks hedged.

"Should have; should have...what," Chris continued to push, demanding, "look at me Marty: you know what you're responsible for and what Sylvia is responsible for...you know what happens when you forget that...and if you don't get it together more people will end up like Lanni...you focus on finding answers—not in what ifs...you got me?"

While Deeks merely met his friends eyes and nodded slowly, causing Chris to give him a small nod, the agents were growing uncomfortable and angry with Chris's harsh attitude toward the upset man in the bed.

"What the hell..." Sam exclaimed, exchanging a look with Callen.

"That's enough, you're done," Callen said as he grabbed Chris's arm and he and Sam hustled the ADA out of the room and into the hallway.

Kensi moved up to stand by Deeks, putting a comforting hand on his shoulder; only to be met with a startled and confused look from Deeks as he watched to two agents hustle his friend from the room.

Once in the hallway, Sam loomed over the smaller man, demanding, "What the hell was that...ease up man..."

Holding up his hands to stave off the angry agents, Chris explained, "You don't understand...he's got to hold onto the anger, he's got to feel in control; if he lets the fear and guilt overtake him, he'll give up, give Sylvia want she wants...and we'll lose him," he then turned away with a deep sigh and ran his hands down his face before turning back to the two agents.

"Look, I know you think I was hard on him..." Chris explained, "after he'd been to the shrink for a few months he finally admitted; he admitted he had a chance to get away from Sylvia...but he was afraid; not for himself, but for the rest of us...and what Sylvia might do—by that point she had experienced a full psychotic break..."

"So, what, you think if this drags on long enough he might do something stupid..." Callen asked, not liking the direction this conversation was heading.

Chris nodded, "To protect us...to protect you guys-if he thought walking back into that nightmare would protect us, he'd do it-and I guarantee you, he won't survive round two with her. She's beyond obsessed with Marty...now she's the spurned lover...and if you think her revenge against Lanni was bad...imagine what she'll do to him this time..."

The agents nodded as Chris continued, "whatever happens...he's got to hold onto who he is...remember he can be in control...if he starts thinking like a victim...just don't let him dwell on what ifs or waste time with self-deprecations...that's how she got him last time: used his guilt an insecurities against him."

"That's not gonna happen," Callen stated firmly, "she won't get the chance to get that close to him."

The three men turned when the door opened and Kensi peeked out tentatively, "Ah, Deeks wants to know if everything is all right—make sure Sam's not thinkin' of hidin' a body..."

Chris smiled and Sam just shook his head, "we're good..."

Nodding, Kensi said, "Chris, Deeks wants to talk to you..."

"Okay," he acknowledged, turning to the two agents, "we squared...all on the same page?"

"We're good man," Sam said.

...ncis la...

Chris slipped back into the room, "Hey...what's up?"

Deeks turned from gazing out the window and gave a small grin, "Glad to see you're still in one piece..."

Chris returned the smile, "You have a good bunch of people watching your back, Marty—don't forget that."

"I won't," the detective promised, he then pushed himself up to sit straighter and pointed to the locker holding his clothes, "...jacket pocket; there's a flash drive..."

As Chris moved to retrieve the drive, Deeks continued, "Lanni was workin' on a big story...she had just met with a source right before...before the accident..."

Chris turned and held up the drive and Deeks nodded, "She said she had proof that a pharmaceutical company was doing illegal testing and then running the reports through legitimate testing companies..."

"I swear, isn't laundering money enough; now crooks are laundering research," Chris grumbled.

"Keeps us on our toes," Deeks smirked, "anyway, this stuff—it's worth millions when a drug is approved and marketed..."

"Which it wouldn't be if the research is called into question," Chris said as he fingered the drive, "and Lanni thinks she had the proof in this drive?"

"That's what she said..." Deeks said.

Chris looked thoughtful for a moment, asking, "Did you get a look at the driver of the car? Are you sure it was Sylvia?"

"I...I don't know for sure; it happened so fast," Deeks replied, adding, "Our tech guy, Eric, is analyzing the traffic cam footage to see if there's a clear shot of the driver."

Seeing Chris's look, Deeks asked, "What...are you thinking that Sylvia didn't do this...that it was tied to her story?"

"Think about it...the company is looking at losing billions of dollars if they can't market a drug due to questionable research practices...loss of reputation; maybe even jail time..." Chris said knowingly, "I'll definitely look into it."

Deeks nodded with a sigh, first Sylvia...and now a possible case...things were getting complicated.

Seeing his friend's tight look, Chris said, "hey, we'll figure it out...you just rest up, doc says you're free to leave tomorrow..."

Deeks gave his friend a small wave as he left the room.

...NCIS LA...NCIS LA...NCIS LA...NCIS LA...

a/n; as I want a chris/deeks scene and a scene with the agents in the hallway...I needed to divide the chapter...next chapter will contain another flashback !