A/N: Thank you, to those, who have sent requests about updates. I promise, I haven't forgotten about any of my stories. Being one of two people that consistently writes Brody/LaSalle and Canon is a tough job. Wish I could write them full-time ;). Thank you again for your support, reviews, alerts and PMs!.

Now, back to the usually scheduled Brody/LaSalle Bad Ass!

Rescue Me!

LaSalle fought to keep his eyes open, trying to gauge the time. At least an hour had passed since he'd had managed to get word to Brody and Pride that he was still alive. Straining, he searched the room for Eddie. He was amazed that man was still here. It was just his luck that he was saddled with the only criminal who was actually loyal to his associates. He'd done such a bang up job on this case that Eddie actually seemed to care about his well-being.

Chris tried to speak, but what came out was a raspy, thin croak. He really didn't have the energy to speak; in fact he didn't have the energy breath. If Pride and Brody didn't get here soon, they were going to have a dead body on their hands. His entire body was swimming in pain and he was pretty certain he was running a fever. Whatever antibiotics Oliver was giving him weren't working.

Briefly, he wondered if this was how Savannah felt when Baitfish had shot her and left her body for him to find. In the days and months following her death, he had often wondered if she had suffered, even though Loretta had assured him that her death had been quick.

Eddie strolled over to the injured agent. "We were gunna leave. But Oliver here was listening to the police scanner, and as it turns out the Feds are looking for a wounded NCIS agent, named LaSalle. You wouldn't happen to know anything about that? Cause, the guy their describing, sounds an awful lot like you."

Chris would have felt the sickening tickle that was forming in his stomach, if he hadn't already been in so much pain. "What if I am?" he tossed out, not certain that Eddie could even hear the minute sound that came out.

"Then we have a problem, a really big problem." Eddie grinned largely before noticing the Saint Christopher medallion around LaSalle's neck. Chris knew that it was stupid to have held onto to something that was so clearly personal and connected to his real life. But he couldn't help it. He couldn't bear to take it off.

In a way, LaSalle wished that Eddie would catch on and preferably kill him quickly. That way he wouldn't have to be around to watch Brody sink into the inevitable hole of guilt that he'd fallen into.

Damn, Messier had been right about that one. He was different now. Taking on this case and becoming Ryan Clayne had proved that. He'd fallen in deep, real deep.

It was high time that Chris LaSalle found a way to crawl out.

Eyes narrowed, Chris reached up and grabbed Eddie's wrist. "Don't touch it."

"Ah, so it's a gift from someone special, is it?" Eddie grinned sadistically as he yanked it off. He was more curious than anything and wasn't expecting the revelation when he turned it over. "Well, well, what do we have here? " His free hand, clamped down on LaSalle's throat as he read the inscription.

To:

CL

Love,

SK

CL, Saint Christopher… It all made sense now.

When the location finally came online, Pride and Brody couldn't get to the warehouse fast enough. Once again, SWAT accompanied them as they surrounded the rundown building, with Pride entering first, Brody on his heels.

Working in sync they covered one another as they moved throughout the main room, making their way to the back towards Oliver's makeshift operating room. Plastic hung from the ceiling creating a false sense of a sterile operating suite.

"I'm getting a bad feelin' about this," Pride commented looking back at Brody. In his mind, he visualized that they would find LaSalle dead, with several of his vital organs missing.

Brody thought the same thing but said nothing. All she wanted was to find her partner still breathing.

A noise echoed off from the back corner, putting the agents on alert. "I'm going to check that out." Pride told Brody. You keep an eye out for LaSalle."

Brody nodded, pushing forward until she came upon Duquesne's henchman yielding a stolen P9. "Federal Agent!" Brody shouted as the man started to fire. She was about to shoot when one of the SWAT operatives, appeared from several feet away taking the man down.

Damn it! A few feet away, Eddie Duquesne swore loudly as the realization that he'd been duped washed over him. He was certain that his so called right hand man, the one he had just saved, had given him up when he'd asked to make that phone call.

"Give me your scalpel!" he shouted at Oliver. Oliver hesitated looking at the man wild eyed.

"Never mind," Eddie raised his weapon, firing. "I'll get it myself." Oliver fell over, with a resounding thud as Brody entered the room, with SWAT at her flank.

"Step away from Agent LaSalle," Brody demanded her weapon ready to fire. Briefly, she glanced at Chris. He was out cold on the table, sweat pouring from his brow. Bloody Bandages were swathed around his torso.

"And why is that?" Duquesne taunted, pressing the muzzle of his weapon into LaSalle's chest. "You want to shoot him again? Tell me, Lady NCIS Agent, how did that feel?"

Brody felt her stomach muscles begin to quiver. "Not as good as it going to feel putting one into you."

"Then why haven't you done it yet?"

Brody kept her composure as she watched Pride slip up behind Duquesne, his weapon trained to the man's head.

"If she doesn't, I will. All I need is a reason."

"Two against one," Brody sneered as Duquesne realized he was outnumbered and out gunned. Slowly, he pulled the gun away from LaSalle's chest, his hands starting to rise. In one swift movement, his hand lunged out, propelling the barrel forward at Brody.

Without missing a beat, Brody fired sending a bullet dead center into his chest. For several moments she stared pensively, lost in her own thoughts as Pride confirmed the kill shot.

Brody holstered her weapon and moved to LaSalle's side. "His pulse is thready and his skin feels like it's on fire." She said, touching the carotid artery in his neck. There was also the appearance of a tiny red rash forming near the sight of the wound. Brody tried not to notice but King beat her to it.

"Most likely sepsis," Pride returned looking around at the less than desirable conditions.

"Pride, there's also bruising on his neck." Brody swallowed. Pride gave her a somber nod before heading out to meet the EMT's, leaving Brody to watch over LaSalle.

Moving closer, Brody felt her shoe connect with something solid.

The Saint Christopher's medallion. Kneeling, she picked it up wrapping the leather of her sister's necklace around her hand before bringing it to her lips.

"I'm so sorry." She breathed inhaling the rich scent of the leather, as she clutched the metal in her hand.