A/T: Thank you all so much for the support.
tessinciucy & blue dogs rock loyal as always!
Katie, IHTFS and my dear guest, I was really touched by your comments. Some of the greatest compliments I have ever received!
As always special thanks to my Beta Callen37. I wish you a speedy recovery girl!
Can't wait to read your reviews on this one. Enjoy...
Kensi slowly regains consciousness. Is it consciousness or is it her spirit finding its way to the beyond? Is she dead? Is she alive? She doesn't know. Then, she feels it. The burning pain across her shoulder right where she was shot. She is still alive but not well. She tries to find the strength and open her eyes but they are not listening to her commands. Actually her whole body is refusing to perform any kind of operation right now.
Is she at a hospital? No! There is no comfy mattress supporting her back. She is sitting on the cold concrete floor, her aching back pushed back at the wall. She tries to move but soon feels the cuffs cutting through the skin of her hands. She is bound, freezing and in pain. Obviously she's been kept captive and somehow, this feels worse than death. She tries to fight back her panic and slowly open her eyes. Even though her vision is blurry she tries to concentrate on her surroundings. She is hoping to see or hear something that could clue her in as to where she is.
She looks down at herself.
To her relief she is still dressed. Her jacket has been removed and she is only wearing a tank top and her military trousers, but still that's something. She takes a look at her shoulder and notices the bandage. Someone patched her up.
Who? Why?
How long has she been unconscious? She desperately tries to recall her last memory before this captivity and it all comes back to her. The failed mission, the ambush, the phone call...
Why is she still alive? If they planned on killing her they wouldn't have treated her wound. What is their sick plan?
Her mind lures into dark territories and suddenly she feels a tight knot in her stomach. If they have worse plans for her than death, then she will surely find a way to put an end to her life herself. No! Someone will find her.
Deeks will find her.
Someone must have informed them about her abduction. After all she called him. He knows what happened and he probably suspects she is dead but that won't stop him from looking for her. She has faith in him. No matter what, he always finds her. He always gets her back.
She tries to focus on the room. Her prison. It looks like an abandoned house. No furniture, just a chair placed near the entrance. Dust is spread all over the floor covering several red marks. Blood. Either a fight took place here or this is used as their interrogation room. Or more likely, their torture chamber.
The windows are broken but they have roughly covered them with wooden boards while bullet holes are spread over the walls.
Apart from the chain in the wall that she is obviously cuffed to, there is one more hanging from the ceiling. She has a strange feeling she will get acquainted with that one soon enough.
She swallows hard and pulls the chains bounding her in frustration again and again unsuccessfully. She only manages to harm herself as the blood from her wounded wrists starts dripping through her fingers. That was a pretty bold and stupid move. Self inflicting injuries isn't the smartest plan she could come up with. She lets out a breath trying to pull herself together. Feeling so weak and helpless is nearly driving her insane. Where the hell is everyone?
Where is this famous ghost?
Did he just leave her here to die?
God, all her frustration is rapidly boiling up.
Then, the door opens and in walks Deeks' doppelganger.
Her mind plays tricks on her and for a few seconds she thinks this is her partner coming to her rescue. To her disappointment though, he is not. This is the enemy. This is her captor.
She is scared but she won't let him see through her. She puts on her fearless mask and looks at him straight in the eyes to prove that she is not intimidated by him.
He drags the chair across the room and places it right in front of her before sitting down. "So, sleeping Kensi decided to wake up."
Suppressing her urge to attack him is impossible and she lunches forward in another failed attempt to free herself from the bounds that restrain her. The cuffs dig into her skin once again as the blood drips down on the floor. It hurts like hell but she doesn't let the pain reach her face.
Her captor looks at her clearly enjoying her distress and smirks in satisfaction. "You are staying here. Get used to it."
"No! There are people out there looking for me. They are going to find me. They are going to find you, but they are going to let ME kill you.
"Really?" he laughs. "Well, right now sweetheart, you are MY prisoner and I make the rules. So do yourself a favor and play along."
He takes his phone out of his pocket and turns it on. "Who is this?" he asks showing the same picture of Deeks again.
She keeps her gaze blank and her mouth sealed.
"I ditched your phone out in the desert. I wouldn't want your friends to track me down so don't get any false hopes. No one is coming for you. But, I am willing to let you if you tell me the name of this man and how you know him."
"You really expect me to believe you? I've seen your face. I could easily recognize you among hundreds of men, and you are simply going to let me go? Please, don't insult my intelligence."
"I always get what I want, so please co-operate before this turns ugly," he calmly warns her.
"I never give what I don't want to give, so bring it on," she stares at him defiantly.
His face becomes hard and before she realizes it he hits her hard across the cheekbone. "I've killed people for a lot less, so chose your words wisely," he growls.
She can taste the blood of her cut lip and feel the pain on her already bruised face, but she refuses to let it show.
"So, you are the Ghost!" she exclaims.
"My reputation proceeds me," he proudly confirms." I suppose you already know what happened to everyone who came after me, so save yourself from the pain and start talking. Who is this man?"
"I don't know. I found the picture online and thought he was cute. I assume he is just a male model."
Her answer results into another hit across her face. "Don't mock me girl."
"I am not your girl."
"Well, soon enough you'll be a dead girl unless you tell me who this is."
Kensi shrugs her shoulders. "I don't know."
The Ghost grabs her throat, shoving her head hard against the wall. "I could do this all day, but lucky you, I don't have the time for this."
As soon as he lets go of her throat she coughs violently trying to breath. The Ghost takes a syringe out of his pocket and demonstrates it to Kensi. "Do you know what this is?"
She looks at it scared, her eyes red from the sudden asphyxiation. "Nothing good I assume," she whispers.
"Well, this is a trick I learnt in Israel. I mixture of Sodium Pentothal with a hint of LSD. Do you know what this will do to you?"
"I've heard a story about it. It didn't end well for the bad guy," she cockily smiles.
"What makes you think I am the bad guy?"
"Apparently, you are an American, but you are assisting the terrorists. You've brutally murdered US marines. How does that not make you a bad guy?"
"You are so naive. All of you people believe the filthy lies the government serves you. They send us here to die. And if we don't die, they treat us like stray dogs."
"You're a marine?" Kensi asks surprised. They always thought the Ghost would be a private contractor. Not a marine gone rogue.
"I was. Up until the shrinks proved me incapable of serving another round. Anger issues caused by PTSD." he puffs in frustration.
"That's not an excuse for teaming up with the enemy."
"We are the enemies here! You want to chat but I don't have all day. I need certain answers and I need them now," he plunges the syringe violently into her upper arm and Kensi gasps in pain.
She feels the liquids run deep into her veins, and as much as she fights to maintain her composure, she knows she will lose this fight. Her heart starts racing, he breathing becomes rapid and she starts trembling. She knows too well what these drugs do and she fears the worst. In a few minutes she won't be able to hide the truth from him.
What the hell does he want with Deeks anyway. Why is he so interested in him? Why not just kill her and get it over with? Why is he so obsessed to find his name?
The Ghost waits for a few minutes for the drugs to take effect, and smiles sadistically at Kensi's distressed figure.
"So, let me ask you again now. Who is this man?" he once again shows her Deek's photo.
She bites her already bleeding lips, desperately struggling to remain silent. There's an inner battle going on inside her mind as she soon feels like she is losing the leverage. The drugs quickly take over every inch of her body and mind depriving her any form of volition. She can't take this. She can't allow herself to surrender to this man. What if Deeks is already here looking for her? Why is the Ghost so interested in him? Does he plan on killing him?
Too many questions cloud her mind but she doesn't have a single answer. She fights for control over her mind but soon tears threaten as she realizes she's lost the battle. Her lips are trebling. She is terrified, not of the Ghost, but of herself!Truth will inevitably escape her lips and she will put everyone's life in danger. What if she compromises her team? What if she reveals the locations of the OSP? What if she gives away passwords, safehouses, armories...?The Ghost will be surely interested in selling this kind of intel to USA enemies.
No! She would rather die than betray them.
"Who is he?" he asks again impatiently, grasping her throat again and thrusting her head once again against the wall. The impact is so strong, that she can feel a wave of dizziness numbing her body.
He lets go and sits on the chair again crossing his arms together. "I'm waiting..."
She picks up what's little left of her composure and glares at him. "Kill me, or I will kill you."
He laughs in amusement. "Don't make idle threats sweetheart. I am going to ask you one last time. Who the fuck is he?"
"Why do you even care?"
"Who is he?" he yells louder than ever.
Every inch of her body stiffens. She can feels the veins in her throat and hands pop out, ready to explode.
Finally she gives in.
"Max Gentry," she whispers smiling bitterly in defeat. "My boyfriend."
The Ghost's eyes widen in shock at the sound of that name. Then, he leans forward until he is just a breath away from her mouth and whispers caressing her cheek. "You see, that's impossible because...I am Max Gentry!"
Her jaw drops and lump begins to form in her throat as she looks at him straight in the eyes trying to understand the meaning of his words.
"What do you mean you are Max Gentry?" she manages to ask.
He lays back on the chair comfortably. "You do realize that I'll have to kill you now that you know."
"I've been dead all along," she calmly states and an evil grin escapes the Ghost's mouth.
"I introduced myself, so it's time for you to do the same. What's your name and who do you work for?"
Kensi tries remain quiet or come up with another white lie, but the drugs have conquered her mind. "Kensi Marie Blye, NCIS."
"So, you are an NCIS Agent. And it this man? Is he an agent too? What's his real name?"
She hates feeling restrained, she hates losing control of her own mind, she hates this man. She tries to shift around in a failed attempt to wake up her will, but all cause is lost and she breaks down in sobs.
"Marty Deeks, LAPD."
The Ghost looks at her satisfied but confused. "How did NCIS pair with LAPD? Is he your boyfriend or something?"
"My partner," she whispers, never taking her gaze off the floor. "He is our liaison."
"Well, well, well. Marty Deeks. I never thought he'd pick that name," the Ghost mutters.
Kensi stares at him trying to understand the meaning of those words. "You know him?"
His features soften a bit. "Of course I know him. He is my little brother."
Suddenly it all makes sense.
His resemblance to Deeks, his obsession to find out about him...But then again, nothing makes sense at all. Deeks never mentioned a brother.
Actually, Deeks hardly mentions any family member. But why would he hide the fact that he has an older brother? When was the last time Deeks talked to him? Does he know he's gone rogue? Does he know he is in Afghanistan? No! No way he knows. He would have said something. He would have warned her.
"Judging by the surprised expression on your face I assume he's never spoken about me."
Kensi shakes her head swallowing hard. "Never."
"Well I don't blame him. I haven't exactly been an ideal brother," he lights on a cigarette.
"What happened to you?"
"You know, the usual. Drugs, alcohol, petty thefts, bar fights...Deeks was our mother's son, but I was always like our father. When he got in jail, and mom died we were separated. Marty grew up with our grandfather, but I was sent to Juvi after I got arrested for the 100th time."
"I don't understand! How is your name Gentry and not Brandel. Was it your mother's name?"
"Our mother's last name was Mace. Deeks refused to use Brandel and went by Marty Mace until college. But my grandfather disowned me. He called me a disgrace to the family and that I should be in jail with our father. I was forbidden from using that name again. So, I chose Gentry."
Kensi tries to concentrate and put all the pieces of the puzzle together, but are always pieces missing.
"Why Deeks? Why did he choose Deeks?"
"You ask too much you know that? This drugs are supposed to make you answer to questions, not ask them. But you'll soon be dead so..."he lets out a deep breath. Marty's favorite comic hero was Dennis Burton; the Laughing Mask. An Assistant District Attorney by day, vigilante by night. Deeks was the name of the first criminal he killed. Now, don't ask me why he didn't chose Burton. I guess you'll never know," he throws the cigarette on the floor and immediately lights another one.
Kensi tries to process all these new information but it's just too much. Honestly, she feels quite disappointed and hurt. Why did Deeks never share his past with her? Why did he keep this brother a secret? Was he ashamed of him? Why did he never tell her his real name? Why didn't he trust her with his secrets?
Deeks speaks a lot, but says nothing! She has shared all her fears, her dreams, she trusts him with her life but still...he holds himself back. Why? It's too late now. She will never find out.
"What are you doing here in Afghanistan?"
"I volunteered," exhales the smoke from the cigarette. "I got out of Juvi, I was bored and in need of a thrill. War sounded like a good idea. I joined the marines and pretty soon I got deployed here. I was good at killing!"
"And when did you switch sides?"
"Enough!" he shouts. "You're done with making questions. Now it's my turn. Is he here?"
"I don't know."
"Don't lie to me," he growls as he holds his cigarette a few inches away from her face.
"I can't lie, remember? I don't know if he's here. I was the only one assigned."
"Do you think he'll come for you?"
"Yes," she says without thinking but soon regrets it. "What do you want with him?"
"Reunite with my little brother. I bet he has skills otherwise he wouldn't be working with you guys.I'll show him the light and soon, he'll be working with me," he cockily smiles.
"He would never do that. He would never betray his country, his team...me. He is not like you."
Without any warning he grabs her throat and burns her with his cigarette in the chest. She lets out a cry of pain but bites her lips refusing to show her agony.
"He is my brother, my blood and he will do whatever I want him to do. He will listen to me like he always did," he removes his hands off her and drags the chair near the entrance again. "I'll see you in a while sweetheart."
She coughs as she tries to catch a breath. The burning hurts like hell, but she is used to enduring pain. She has to find a way out. There has to be an escape. She looks around in panic but all she sees is...nothing. Just an empty room. Helpless, scared and alone she lets out a cry of defeat and starts crying.