Sylvia
Chapter 18
The alarm startled Eric from his restless dozing and he slammed his feet to the floor, eying his surroundings dazedly as he attempted to remember where he was. The claxon alarm quickly drew his attention to his computer and he swiftly rolled his chair up to his terminal…eyes darting across multi-split screens, it took him a few precious seconds to figure out what he was looking at.
He finally zeroed in on the screen that had set off the alarm. His hand was reaching for the phone before he realized what he was seeing. Facial rec had identified a woman crossing the street towards Deeks apartment building as Sylvia Gray…Eric noted with some concern that the woman seemed confident in her stride, not attempting to hide in shadows or from any traffic cameras that were in the area.
"Come on, come on, come on…" he mumbled, waiting as the number he dialed rang and rang…finally being picked up on the fourth ring.
"Eric…?" came Kensi's sleepy but concerned voice.
Without preamble, Eric immediately began the sit-rep," Kens, she's there…Gray is there. She's heading your way…angles bad, can't tell if she has any weapons…she's just going inside the lobby of the apartment building…"
"What…wait…?" Kensi said, coming to full wakefulness, "Sylvia is here…at Deeks apartment…? How do…never mind…call Sam and Callen…."
Kensi had barely hung up the phone before Eric was dialing the other agents…
….ncis la….
"Deeks. Deeks….get up…we got company…" Kensi said urgently as she shook the sleeping man. She hated having to wake him knowing that this was the first real sleep he had gotten in weeks, but Sylvia was too dangerous and unpredictable to handle on her own; and she was not about to let her partner out of her sight with the woman this close.
"Company…?" Deeks questioned sleepily, but came more fully awake when he saw the tight look on his partners face, "She's here isn't she…how…?"
"Eric…" Kensi replied.
"Eric…" Deeks began to question before shaking his head…he really didn't want to know how Eric knew what was going on outside his building at five in the morning… 'Hadn't Hetty sent them all home…?' he wondered.
Deeks threw on some clothes as he watched Kensi eye the back of the building from the bedroom window…she shook her head at his questioning look, "I don't see anything out the back…"
Kensi's phone ringing moments later startled them both.
"Eric…what have you got…?" Kensi asked the tech.
"Sam and Callen are on the way…" Eric reported, adding tightly, "Kensi, she's inside the building…I've lost visual…"
"We know where she's heading…we're ready for her…" Kensi said determinedly, glancing over at Deeks, who stood with a strange look on his face as he simple stared at the front door of his apartment: an odd mixture of fear, relief and curiosity.
The seconds ticked off…the clock came around to a full minute…then two, then three and still nothing; Kensi and Deeks exchanged confused looks.
"The elevator isn't this slow…" Kensi commented.
Deeks shrugged, "only seven floors…even if she walked it she should be here by now…"
"What's she waiting for…?" Kensi grumbled, anxious for a showdown with the woman that was causing her team…her partner, so much grief.
"Good question…she obviously has a plan…she wouldn't know that Eric would have eyes on the building; by the way, what's up with that…?" Deeks asked.
Kensi just shrugged, "its Eric…" as if that explained everything.
"So obviously coming straight to the apartment was not the plan…" Deeks continued, heading to the door to open it a crack and peer down the hallway.
"Deeks…" Kensi hissed pushing him away from the door and taking the point position herself, opening the door marginally wider to peer both ways in the hallway.
"Nothing…" she commented, closing the door and facing her partner, "you know her best…what's she waiting for…?"
Deeks shook his head, at a loss as to what Sylvia could be doing…what she could be waiting for… "I'd say she was waiting to follow me when I left for work…but that wouldn't explain why she's in the building…you'd think she'd be in a car…"
"Waiting for you in the lobby maybe…?" Kensi mused.
"Maybe," Deeks said, unconvinced, "that would be taking a risk that I would see her too soon or that one of you would be here to pick me up for work…"
"So what's in the building that she'd want…that would get her close to you before you could suspect anything…?" Kensi asked.
Deeks continued to shake his head as he wracked his brain to find some logic in Sylvia's plan…his eyes suddenly coming to rest on the squeaky toy under the coffee table…Monty's toy… "Monty…!"
"What…Monty…?" Kensi repeated, "Deeks, what do you mean Monty…he's not even here…"
"No, he's not in the apartment…but he is in the building…with the dog walker…" Deeks explained as he opened the door to again peer out, "Sylvia had a thing for killing pets…I've had Monty staying with the dog walker…so she wouldn't be able to hurt him if she had eyes on the building…"
"So then, she wouldn't know about Monty then…" Kensi hissed as she followed Deeks down the hall.
"She was out a full two weeks before she called me the first time…she could have seen me walking Monty anytime…recognized him with the dog walker…" Deeks replied tightly.
"So…she might kill Monty…" Kensi gasped, horrified at the thought of an innocent animal being killed to further the woman's sick fantasy. 'And damn it, Monty was part of the team…no one messed with the team…'
"Or just take him…to draw me out…honestly, at this point, it's a crap shoot what's going on in that woman's mind…" Deeks said in frustration.
Kensi nodded, "so how do you want to handle this…shouldn't we wait for Sam and Callen…?"
Stopping at the elevator, Deeks shook his head, as he pushed the button, "if she is after Monty, she's not going to let Jennifer stand in the way of getting him…we need to get down there now. No one else is getting hurt because of this, Jenny certainly didn't sign up for a psychopath to come knocking on her door when she took Monty as a client…and if Sylvia gets out of here with Monty…"
He let the implication hang, as Kensi slowly nodded, "so what do you want to do…?"
"We don't know what she's planning…" Deeks mused aloud, "We need to cover the inside and hope to hell Sam and Callen get here soon to cover the outside. I'm gonna take the elevator…you take the stairs in case she tries to circle around…"
She grabbed his arm, "what…no, I don't like it…we shouldn't separate…she's too dangerous…"
"You're right about that last part…that's why we can't let her get away…"Deeks said as he turned to his partner, "believe me I don't want either of us to meet up with her alone…but we don't have much of a choice…"
She nodded reluctantly, and with a stern warning to 'be careful', she make her way to the stairs... Deeks watched a moment more as the door closed and he stepped into the elevator…no, he didn't want anyone else to meet up with Sylvia…including Kensi. He would easily make it to the dog walker's apartment a good minute or more ahead of Kensi…maybe be able to confront Sylvia once and for all.
Deeks peered out of the elevator and saw nothing untoward in the hall, carefully stepping out and making his way to the dog walker's apartment. He stopped at the door and listened…hearing nothing, which sent off alarm bells in his head…Jennifer should be up by now…getting ready for her early morning clients, and Monty would definitely be wide eyed and bushy tailed excitedly bounding after the young woman in anticipation of his morning run.
Deeks huffed out a steadying breath or two and slowly tried the door…more alarmed to find it unlocked. He slowly turned the knob and pushed the door so it swung open widely while he raised his gun, his eyes quickly scanning the room. Stepping into the apartment, he was stopped dead in his tracks, fear momentarily overtaking him as he saw legs behind the kitchen island.
Suddenly coming to himself, he darted around the island and dropped to the floor, hesitantly reaching to fell for a pulse and relieved beyond comprehension to feel a strong, steady beat. He looked around for Monty, even calling out hoarsely for the dog, but there was no answering bark.
"Jennifer…hey, Jen…come on, wake up for me…" Deeks gently cajoled the young, dark haired woman.
The woman weakly batted his hands away before suddenly coming back to awareness with a start, "no…leave me alone…"
"Whoa…whoa, it's just me…you're alright now…it's me…Marty…" the detective said quietly. "Are you alright…what happened…?"
"Some woman…a woman, thought it was strange to get someone at the door so early…" the woman started to explain as her hand went to her head.
"This woman…what did she look like…?"
"About my height…blonde, shoulder length hair…" She looked at Deeks oddly for a moment, "I don't understand, she said she knew you…was here to pick up Monty: but you never said anything…I wasn't going to let her have him…told her I needed to call you…"
"She attacked you…?" Deeks said, getting a nod from the dog walker.
"Detective…what's going on…why did that woman take Monty…?"
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Kensi wasn't taking any chances on what might be going through Sylvia's mind…for all the team knew, the woman may have finally had a total break...they couldn't be certain anymore if she was still physically after Deeks or just wanted to make him suffer. It was a long shot, but the agent just had to be sure; so before she made her way down the stairwell she decided to check out the roof, terrified that Sylvia might, after all this time, decide if she couldn't have Deeks then no one could…murder/suicides in these kind of cases were prevalent and Deeks was not about to become another statistic on her watch. They already knew the woman had gained access to a weapon when she killed their earlier suspect; perhaps, even now, could be hiding on the roof, waiting for the detective to leave the building.
To her relief the rooftop was empty…so she made her way back down the stairwell; clearing one stairwell and the sixth floor hallway.
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"Sam, can't you go any faster…" Callen cajoled from the passenger seat of the Challenger.
"G, I'm going as fast as I can…and Eric is changing the lights…" Sam replied tightly.
"I knew we should have put his ass in a safe house…there's no way we can get to his place in time…." Callen complained.
"Yeah, right…you planning on sitting on the boy to keep him there…" Sam countered. "No, he's got Kensi…they won't do anything stupid…"
The look of sheer surprise that crossed Callen's features at Sam's remark caused the man to press the accelerator just a little harder.
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It was almost going to plan…the cabin was nearly ready…just needed its guest of honor to make it complete. She knew he would be surprised…maybe a little angry at her presumptuousness; but she knew he would also need a little incentive so finally see it her way.
She really didn't like dogs…thought them dirty and smelly; but Marty seemed to love his animal companion, and if it helped to ease his transition to his new life she was willing to put up with the mangy little beast…at least for a little while.
She yanked harder than necessary on the lead, causing Monty to whine and try to pull away.
"Stop squirming, you little beast…we need to go surprise you master…" she threatened, pulling the reluctant animal after her.
Sylvia had just rounded on the fourth floor stairwell when she heard a noise above her. At first she paid it little head, thinking it to be one of the residence of the building, but a flash like light catching metal caught her attention. As she was debating the merits of continuing up the stairs or slipping through the fire door, Monty suddenly caught a familiar scent and bucked against his leash, barking furiously.
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"She hasn't left the building…" the tech reported to the detective.
"Okay…look, I'm gonna have Jennifer lock herself in her apartment and go find Kensi…" Deeks replied.
"LAPD and an ambulance is on its way…and Sam and Callen are about ten minutes out…" Eric said expectantly.
"Sorry, can't wait that long…Sylvia is up to something…she's not ready to leave the building yet.
"Be careful…" Eric warned unnecessarily.
Despite the fact Eric couldn't see him, Deeks just nodded absently and pocketed his phone. Turning to the young woman, he ordered, "Stay put…don't open up that door for anyone but LAPD or NCIS…"
Jennifer just nodded after the quickly retreating detective.
He wanted so much to know if his partner was alright…wanted to know where in the building she was, but was afraid to distract her with a call…afraid it might attract Sylvia's attention. So, he made his way into the stairwell…hoping to meet Kensi on the way down...what echoed down the stairwell when he opened the door sent a bolt of fear through him…
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"Monty…?" Kensi called.
Fighting to restrain the excited animal, Sylvia yanked the dog nearly off its feet, causing Monty's barking to choke off, "be quiet you beast…stop fighting me…"
In a fit of rage she yanked with all her might, pulling the hapless dog off its feet to slam into the wall. Monty lay in a heap, stunned by the violent hit against the wall and whined in fear and pain…
Hearing Kensi making her way down the stairs and hearing Marty's shout from below, Sylvia knew her plans were ruined and in another fit, kicked the dog, causing him to yelp in pain.
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Kensi reached the stairwell landing first and after a quick look around knelt down to check on the dog's injuries.
Stroking his head she spoke quietly and gently to the animal, "sshh, it's alright…you're gonna be fine, boy…sshh…"
"Kensi…?" Deeks voice echoed up the stairwell.
"Deeks, up here…its Monty, he's hurt…" Kensi called down to him, "no sign of Gray…."
The next several seconds played out in slow motion as Deeks rounded the last set of stairs before making his way up to the landing where Kensi still knelt by the whimpering dog he looked up to see the fire door suddenly fly open, hitting Kensi square in the back, knocking her off balance and falling headfirst down the flight of stairs.
To startled to do anything but dive for his partner before she was seriously injured, Deeks only caught a glimpse of Sylvia's expectant face before the fire door closed…and Sylvia was gone again.
He grabbed Kensi by the shoulders before her forward momentum landed her face first into the stairs, but not before her ribs make contact with the hard stairs and her hands and wrists took the brunt of her fall.
"Kens…god, Kensi, are you alright…" Deeks gasped out, plopping down on the stairs and gently turning his partner over so she was half laying on his lap.
"I'm fine…" she gasped out, wincing as her ribs protested the air needed to get out even those few words. "Monty…he's hurt…Gray, was it Gray…go after her…don't let her get away…I'm fine…"
"No," Deeks protested, "I'm not leaving you, not again…"
A commotion below them drew their attention and hearing the frantic calls of his team, Deeks called down to them…"Guys, we need help up here…Kensi's hurt…Sylvia took off down the fourth floor hall…she has to be coming down the elevator…"
The two partners heard Sam's voice as he directed, what was obviously the LAPD officers, to the elevators and towards the back of the building.
As Callen made it to their position, they noted he was on the phone, to ops by the sound of his demands to the person on the other end, "…let Sam know, he's starting the perimeter sweep as we speak…she can't get away this time…"
…NCIS LA….
a/n: now, to some this chapter may seem a little contrived…but you've to really think about how long it takes to do certain things…and as a gamer, my mind thinks in rounds, actions and who has initiative…a round in AD&D in approx. 6 seconds…so see the action unfolding in 6-10 second intervals, then think how many seconds/minutes it would take you to walk up/down 7 flights of stairs if you were moving cautiously.
Also, I know they showed Deeks apartment in "Personal" and it only looked to be 2-3 stories, but I'm thinking after his shooting Hetty might have "strongly" encouraged our detective to move to a more secure building…and I just needed a bigger building to make this chapter work…
(shaking head and sighing in frustration) Do you know it was easier to work in Monty than it is to work Eric into the plot/action…thank god for delusional behaviours….