AN1- So here is chapter two of what was supposed to be a one-shot.
Arriving at the address Lasalle had given them Pride parked the car up and looked across at Brody.
"You ready for this?" Undoing his seatbelt and turning to face her.
"Ready, Let's go roll the guy up." Getting out the car and heading to the trunk.
Standing at the trunk Brody tightened her Kevlar and looked at Pride as he did his up. When she was finished she stepped back and looked up at the house and instantly reached around to draw her weapon. Instinct kicked in and Pride reached around for his, coming to stand level with Brody as he followed her gaze. He couldn't work out what had made her react so quickly till he saw the open door and blood on the white paintwork. Reaching up he closed the trunk and stepped forward a little, Brody stepping to his side as they tagged their way up the path to the door. Taking a stance one either side of the door Pride nodded at Brody who nodded in return.
"NCIS anyone home?" Nudging the door open with her arm as Pride came to stand in front of it, weapon raised aiming into the house.
Slowly making their way inside the house they cleared all the rooms till they reached the back porch. Looking through the screen door Pride caught a glimpse of the pool of blood on the floor and looked up at Brody. He could tell she had seen it as well and was waiting for him to move. Pushing the screen door too, Brody stepped out onto the porch and was greeted with a sight that turned her stomach.
"It's safe out here." Holstering her weapon and looking at Pride as he stepped up beside her.
"I'll call Loretta and the clean up team, tell them to bring scrapers. There's more of his brain on the walls than in his head." Moving away and back into the house.
Brody followed behind and watched as Pride pulled his phone out and sent a message to Loretta. Looking around Pride made his way through the house and out the front door. Dropping down to a seating position he sat on the steps of the house and started to undo the Velcro on his Kevlar. Brody followed him but instead of sitting down she stayed standing up and moved to the foot of the stairs. Reaching her hand out, she asked for the keys as he lifted his Kevlar over his head. Once his Kevlar was off he stood up and pulled the keys out his pocket. Brody looked him over as she saw his shirt where his Kevlar had been.
"Someone's all hot and sweaty, didn't think it was that warm today." Popping the trunk on the car and grabbing her bag before throwing her Kevlar in.
Pride looked down at his shirt and saw the wet sticky shirt and just shook his head. The problem with Kevlar and the dry heat was they didn't go together. Putting his Kevlar in the trunk he pulled at his shirt and loosened it from his chest. It was sticking to him and no matter how he moved, it moved and stuck. Letting Brody shut the truck he followed her up the path to the house and was just about to enter when he saw her do a sort of jump roll towards him. As he saw her move he heard the gunshot ring out but couldn't do anything as he was now caught in a free fall motion.
When his back hit the ground he felt his chest being impacted with Brody's body as she followed him down. He had no idea why but his instincts kicked in and he rolled them both sideways, tucking Brody under him as best as he could. He had reached around for his weapon as soon as he felt the holster free from his body weight. He had no idea where to take aim as he had no idea where the shot came from. The angle they fell at put them sideways to the house so he could at least see the house and stay covering Brody as he looked around. Looking between the house and then back down at Brody he made to move when he saw movement to the right of the house. Without thinking, he took aim, firing off three rounds as he pushed himself to a more upright position.
Finally getting himself into a position where he could see, Pride scanned the house. He looked over to the right-hand side of the house where he saw movement and where he had taken aim and fired. Due to the fact it was sunny he could see through the boarding that went around the underside of the house and caught sight of someone moving. He took it due to the fact they were dragging themselves along the ground that at least one of his shots had hit home. Watching the person drag themselves along the ground he looked between Brody and then back, making sure they never left his sight. It took his brain a few seconds to process what he had just seen as he looked at Brody. It wasn't till he was looking back at the person still trying to drag themselves out the way did he realised what he had just seen.
Whipping back around he looked back at Brody and his whole world stopped dead. His breath caught in his chest and he felt like he couldn't breath. He saw blood on the path, seeping its way into the grass beside her. He looked at her leg where the blood was oozing through her jeans and then up at her face. Her face was contorted in pain as she lay with a bullet wound in her leg. Looking up at Pride she reached into her pocket and pulled her phone out, bring it to her ear.
"Go after him, I would but I seem to be bleeding a little. Go, I will phone for help." Pressing a button on her phone and closing her eyes.
Pride was torn between her lying bleeding and their shooter attempting to make his getaway. Looking across he saw their shooter starting to drag himself towards a car and a possible means of escape. He heard Brody speaking into her phone calling for EMT trucks so he knew she would be taken care of. Giving her one last look, he ran off in the direction of their fugitive to make sure he didn't actually get to make his escape.
Coming to a skidding halt at the feet of the crawling man Pride squared his weapon and dropped down onto one knee. Resting the muzzle of the weapon in the centre of the man's back he used his knee to pin him still.
"Stay still, EMT trucks are on the way. Stay still and I may not apply to much pressure to that leg as I cuff you." Feeling the man trying to struggle away.
When he had the man cuffed he rolled him and pulled him to sitting up against the car, letting him drop back and support himself. Pride looked up as he heard the sirens on the EMT trucks roll up. He stayed standing beside the car as he watched two men stop and stand beside Brody as he motioned for the others to come join him as he stepped away from the car. Standing where he was, he could see everything that was going on with Brody as she was checked over and then carried off to the waiting ambulance. He was standing wrestling with his overpowering urge to go see Brody in the ambulance as she was getting ready to be transported to hospital, and his need to stay with the suspect who was now being treated and getting transported to an ambulance.
He knew his place was with the fugitive, but it didn't take away his sudden and overpowering urge to be with Brody. He couldn't do anything as he watched from a distance as the ambulance doors were shut and Brody disappeared from view. He was so preoccupied watching the ambulance pull away he didn't see Lasalle and Percy pull up along with Loretta in the autopsy van. It wasn't until he felt a hand on his shoulder he was brought back to the present. Seeing his friends look at him he gave them a weak attempt at a smile before giving them the rundown on what had happened.
Leading Loretta to the body in the back porch he told her to let him know as soon as she could if it was self-inflicted or if it was murder. Giving Lasalle and Percy the exact details from start to find he of how they ended up in a shootout, he gave them instructions to check out the outer building as that is where he now presumed their shooter was hiding when they arrived. Stepping back he watched as his team set to work yet his mind was somewhere else. He was watching Lasalle and Percy when his phone beeped in his pocket. Taking it out he flicked the screen and couldn't suppress the smile that tugged at the corner of his mouth.
"Hey babe, don't worry about me. Do what needs doing there and I will keep you updated about what's happening with me. It doesn't look as bad as I first thought it was, seems to have nicked the side of my leg instead of going right through it. Don't feel guilty, there was nothing either of us could have done, we should have both checked the out buildings. Do what you do best and I will see you when I get out of here. Our man is under armed guard so he isn't going anywhere, nice shooting by the way, he would have been gone had you not got him. See you soon, and again it was not your fault, love M xx." Reading the text message twice to make sure she was okay.
He was not surprised at the fact she has told him twice that none of this was his fault, she knew he would be second guessing himself and putting the blame squarely on his own shoulders. She was fine and it wasn't as bad as they first thought, which was a good thing. He saw Lasalle pass him on the way to the car with bags of evidence and Loretta loading the body on to her gurney to take to autopsy. The sooner the scene was processed they could leave and he would be on a one-way fast track to the hospital. He knew she was going to be fine, but he needed to see her, touch her, let his eyes and brain see for themselves. Putting the phone back in his pocket he walked towards Percy who was shouldering her rucksack and picking up the last couple of bags of evidence.
"All done?" Not being able to keep the sound of hope out his voice.
"All done here. Lasalle is just snapping where Brody was shot then that's us done. Will drop this all off with Sebastian on the way back and see you when you get back from the hospital." Giving him a ' don't say that's not where you were going with this conversation' look.
"Thanks, Percy, tell Christopher I will text him when I get to the hospital. I'll see when we can questions the suspect at the hospital and let him know that as well." Watching her give him a backward wave as she walked toward Lasalle and the car.
Standing looking around he made sure there was nothing left behind and started to make his way back to his car. He walked up the path and passed the blood from where Brody had been lying. His gut twisted as he recalled every detail clearly and his pace quickened as he went. Arriving at his car he saw the ME truck and Lasalle's car drive away before he got in his car. Starting the car he put it in drive and headed to the hospital, he needed to see her and he wasn't waiting now the scene was done.
Getting out the car at the hospital he headed straight into trauma and flashed his badge. Giving Brody's name he stood strumming his fingers on the counter as he waited for details on where she was. He was about to ask her what was taking so long when he felt a hand on his shoulder.
"No point checking there, they discharged me." Giving the lady on the desk, a curt thank you nod and slotting her hand in Prides.
Turning to face her he let his eyes take in her full body, letting his gaze linger on her leg. Her jeans were missing from the knee on the left leg, letting him see the crisp clean dressing on her calf. Squeezing her hand, he thanked the lady on the desk and started to walk away with Brody in tow just behind him. Leading them both to the nearest seats he sat down and got Brody to sit beside him. Looking at her leg he gave it a good look from all angles, look to see how much was covered by the dressing. When he was satisfied he looked at her face and he saw her smile at him.
"See, told you it wasn't too bad. A couple of stitches and I am all better. Can we go now since I don't have to be here, you know I hate hospitals." Standing up and tugging at his hand which was still wrapped tightly around hers.
Once he was standing up Brody stood beside him and took a step forward towards the doors. She stopped as she felt Pride was still rooted to the spot. Turning she saw he was looking at her deep in thought. She stood watching him as he thought over whatever it was that had him occupied.
"I thought we were leaving, what's got you so deep in thought?" Seeing him finally process his thoughts.
"That thing we talked about earlier, did you find out an answer to that when you were here?" Looking between her face and down to her abdomen.
Brody was a little perplexed what he was on about till she followed his gaze and thought back to earlier.
"I forgot all about that, my mind was a little caught up in the pain in my leg and the blood. I never mentioned it, but I suppose I should have. Given the pain meds I am on maybe we should find out sooner rather than later. Come on, we can get a test on the way back to the office." Getting him to finally move as she lead him towards the door.
Before leaving he checked how the suspect was doing before walking to the car, or in Brody's case limpin. Pride's thoughts were divided between her leg and the impending thoughts that she could be pregnant. Up until she was injured he had to say that since she told him what was bothering her, he had thought about nothing else. Soon they would find out one way or the other and he was admittedly a little nervous. Finally reaching the car he pulled the keys out his pocket and opened the doors. Feeling Brody let go of his hand he quickly reached out and took it back.
"Wait, I needed to do this before we get caught up in other things." Using her hand to pull her to him.
Once she was in front of him he wrapped his arms around her and buried his face in her neck. He needed to hold her and feel her against him again. He has seen for himself she was fine, now he needed to hold her and finally let his brain process what had happened. Feeling him bury his face in her neck she slid one hand up his back while the other went up to his head. Holding him close she knew he needed the closeness as a reassurance that she was actually fine. Running her fingers through his hair she placed a few light kisses to the side of his head, letting her lips linger on the piece of soft warm skin near his temple. She felt him kiss her neck as they stood still and if she was honest she needed this as much as he did.
"You still awake there? We really should be getting a move on. We need to stop at the drugs store before it shuts." Feeling him shift against her neck as he both kissed and nipped the skin at the same time.
"Let's go then, we haven't got much time to catch the store." Lifting his head up from her neck and kissing her forehand.
Reaching behind her he opened the door before letting her go completely. He let her get in the car and get comfortable before he shut the door. Walking around he climbed in the car and looked across at her as she did her seatbelt up. Seeing she was ready, he put his belt on before starting the car and heading in the direction of the drug store and the office.
When they arrived at the drugstore he parked the car and looked at Brody. Taking in the sight of her half cut jeans and her scuffed top he shook his head.
"Maybe I should go in and get what we need, you don't look in the slightest bit dressed to be walking into a store for anything, never mind a pregnancy test." Pointing at her jeans.
"Fair point, I do look like I have been dragged through a hedge backwards. You have any idea what you're going for?" Seeing him undo his seatbelt and rest his hand on the door handle.
"Can't be that difficult can it, it's only a simple pregnancy test." Opening the car door and getting out.
Brody sat laughing as she watched him disappear into the drug store. He had no idea, but he would find out soon enough. Walking into the drugs store he smiled at the cashier as he entered and scanned the store for what he needed. After wandering up and down a few aisles, he found what he needed. Well, he found the section he needed and was now at a total loss. There were more types of test kits than flavours of gum. He stood staring at the different brands and was a little lost till he heard a voice coming from his right.
"Anything I can help you with sir?" The cashier asked as she saw the confused look on Prides face.
"I need a..., well my girlfriend needs a..." Not being able to finish the sentence but inclining his head towards all the test kits.
"It's okay sir, you're not the first and won't be the last. Let me ask a few questions and hopefully we can pick the test that will give you the quickest result." Stepping up to the shelves where the various tests sat.
After asking Pride a couple of questions the cashier reached out and took a kit of the shelf, passing it to Pride as he stood feeling a little overwhelmed and embarrassed at the same time.
"Anything else you need sir or is that it?" Looking at Pride as he stood looking at the box in his hand.
"No this is definitely enough." Looking at the cashier and trying to smile.
The cashier smiled back and headed over to the cash register with Pride following behind, still in a slight daze. After paying for the test, he mumbled his thanks as he made a quick exit from the store. Walking to the car he climbed in and sat down with the drug store bag still in his hand. Brody saw the look of total confusion and embarrassment on his face and couldn't help burst out laughing. Hearing her laugh, he turned to look at her as he passed her the bag in his hand.
"That was not funny, I swear I will never ever do that again. I would rather be interrogated than face down a shelf of pregnancy tests, I didn't have a clue." Trying not to laugh at the sound of her laughing.
He watched as she took the bag from his hand and sat with it on her knee. Giving his head a shake he started the car up and pulled away from the drug store, he needed to know now she had the test in her hand what the future had in store for them.