Chapter 2

Medically, the flight to the Pacific Medical Center went perfectly. Kensi showed no signs of deterioration, but there were also no signs of improvement either. The EMTs would be the first to tell you it worried them somewhat.

Emotionally, it crashed and burned. Marty Deeks went from a good point, knowing that the woman in the back was getting good, sound medical attention, to an area of darkest despair knowing that he could lose her at any moment. This too created a bit of concern for the EMTs considering the warning Sam had given them in the basement. One kept an eye on the patient the other on her protector.

Hetty waited on the hospital helipad for the agents and the EMTs. She wanted to see Miss Blye for herself. Dr. Anderson, the physician for NCIS, stood next to her, ready at a moment's notice to take care of Kensi.

Once Hetty knew that Kensi had been given into good hands her focus turned to her liaison. Hetty had watched as he climbed from the front of the helicopter and helped the EMTs unload her agent from the rear. The look on his face was solemn, bordering on grim, probably the most solemn she'd ever seen on his handsome face. He usually was the most jovial of the team wearing the big smile that had endeared him to her so long ago. The tiny woman's heart went out to him.

Dr. Anderson met the gurney with Kensi and moved with it to the Emergency Room to begin her evaluation of the patient.

Deeks followed the gurney to the doorway, passing his boss without a glance. His eyes only followed the woman on the stretcher in front of him. The world around the two of them had ceased to exist for him. He only saw Kensi.

Hetty needed to know about his mental capabilities right now. "Mr. Deeks, a moment please?"

The detective turned his gaze towards the diminutive woman as if he'd never seen her before and as if it were a complete bother for him now. "No Hetty, not now, maybe later." He continued into the building with Kensi, disappearing from the sight of the little ninja woman. Hetty shook her head and knew she had the answer she craved. Mr. Deeks would not be available to assist in the apprehension of the man who did this to his partner and perhaps Kensi needed him more.

Hetty followed the group to the emergency room and gave the insurance paper work to the nurses at the desk. Deeks had already given Dr. Anderson permission to do whatever she needed to do for Kensi. Hetty sat in the waiting room in hopes that Mr. Deeks came to wait the team as well. It would be another hour before anyone from the team came and when they did it wasn't Marty Deeks.

At 4:30 Sam and Callen entered the Emergency Room waiting area, glanced around and found their Operations Manager sitting looking at a book. Neither man really entertained the idea of her reading at a moment like this. She seemed to sense their presence as she looked up and put her book away. Hetty knew what their gazes asked and shook her head to say she hadn't heard anything yet.

Sam went in to sit with Hetty. He felt the need to tell her what they'd found and report about how the FBI had usurped the case.

Callen stepped back into the hallway to get coffee for him and Sam and a tea for Hetty. She'd just have to deal with the paper taste. As he turned around he found a mop haired detective waiting for him. Callen opened his mouth to question Deeks but the detective motioned for quiet and for him to follow. Callen made sure that no one had seen Deeks and then followed him. Callen had questions but sensed that the detective needed privacy before he would speak. Once they reached a point much further down the hall Callen touched the sleeve of the detective. "Deeks, how's Kensi? What can you tell us?"

Deeks never smiled so Callen knew it wasn't good. "They just took her to surgery. Dr. Anderson thinks there's some internal bleeding and possibly a punctured lung." He stopped speaking and let out a sigh like he needed to before he started to cry. "She hasn't come to yet so the doctors have ordered a cat scan for when she's out of surgery." Again he stopped speaking and looked around at the hospital corridors. All the while he bit at his bottom lip. "I don't want to talk to anyone else right now. I need to be alone but I don't know where to go. I just can't leave the hospital."

Callen sensed Deek's need almost as if it were another being standing there with them. "Callen tapped Deeks on his arm and started down the hallway. "Come with me."

The detective trailed Callen to the Chapel. He was surprised and let it show with a raised eyebrow when the lead Agent led him inside. "I'm not overly religious and I didn't think you were either.

Callen gave a signature smirk and motioned for Marty to sit. "I'm not usually but this is a quiet place where no one will bother you. Stay here and if we hear anything I'll come and get you. Promise you'll do the same?"

Deeks nodded and looked around the chapel. Besides his worries he felt a calming feeling. Maybe this was the right place to be at this precise moment.

Callen sensed his worry and in turn worried about the detective and how he'd deal with the aftermath if it didn't go well. "I was just heading for coffee…do you want one?" When he returned Deeks and he would talk, maybe.

Deeks nodded and Callen left for the coffee shop down the street.

Ten minutes later Callen returned with his coffee and a bagel. Deeks tried to refuse the bagel but Callen wouldn't hear it. "Eat it. You need to keep up your strength. You won't be able to help Kensi if you're not ready physically. She's going to need you and you never know how long this will take. I'm bringing Sam and Hetty their coffee and tea and run a little interference for you. If you need me…call. Don't make me come looking for you."

Deeks said his thanks and turned back to the inside of the chapel and the cross on the wall. Callen felt Deek's need to be alone and to talk with a higher being. He also had to go and answer to a higher being, his boss.