A/N – Most of this chapter was suggested by OhBuddy66. So much so, that I feel like I should give co-writer credit for it! Thanks for the great ideas! I left one person out of a scene as that person was otherwise occupied.

A/N 2 – Thanks to honus47 for reviewing all my chapters before they post, looking for all my mistakes. Any left are all mine. Thanks for your encouragement and friendship! They mean the world to me!

A/N 3 – This chapter ended up being longer than most. I just couldn't find a spot to break it where I wouldn't end up with one very short one and a still somewhat long one and I didn't want to pad the short one just for the sake of adding words. So, here it is, as is. Oh, and did I mention this chapter officially makes this story ten times longer than originally planned?

~,~,~,~,~

Chapter 60 (yup, 60!)

Kensi followed Moira up to the surgical recovery unit. She was surprised to find she was nervous. She'd only seen him through the window of his ICU room and now she'd be able to see up close and personal, the damage inflicted on him. She swallowed hard when they entered the room and Moira led her to the curtained off section he was resting behind. When she saw him lying there, all nerves fled and all she wanted to do was touch him, to confirm he was really there and breathing. She looked at Moira, silently asking permission.

The woman smiled back at her and nodded. "He's still under anesthesia but even when it's worn off, you won't see much difference. We're still going to keep him under sedation for a few more days until the wounds on his back heal more. Then we'll start to wean him off it slowly, see how he tolerates it. I'm hoping we'll be able to take him off the ventilator before then. Go ahead and sit with him. Let him know you're here. I'll come back in an hour or so and we'll see about moving him back to ICU."

"I know I keep saying this but, thank you Moira!"

"You're welcome. I'm looking forward to meeting him when he wakes up. He seems like a special man."

"He's the best."

Moira smiled again and took her leave. Kensi walked up to the bed and scanned his body from head to toe. He already looked like he was losing his tan on the few areas of skin that weren't covered with bruises or bandages. It was so strange to see him still and pale. He was always moving, always finding a way to touch her even if it was just a light brush of fingertips in passing. His hair was flat and dirty looking. She had to smile at that, knowing he'd hate it. She took his hand. It was warm but not overly so. His fever really had come down. She laced her fingers with his and leaned over to brush his hair off his forehead so she could kiss him there. She moved down and kissed his temple, his cheek and then the corner of his mouth not covered by the ventilator. She finally sat in the chair next to his bed and started to talk to him quietly.

"Hey baby, I'm here and I'm waiting for you to open those beautiful blue eyes. They've got you sedated and it's killing me to not be able to look into your eyes. To not see the laughter and love in them. I miss you so much. It's too quiet. I never thought I'd hear myself say that. The last time I sat here like this was when you were shot. We'd only been partners for a short time. Even then, I missed your eyes and your voice. If someone had told me then, that we'd be where we are today, I would have laughed on the outside even while I acknowledged on the inside that it could be something magical. And it is. We're alone here and you won't know I said this but I keep thinking of a line in that Elton John song. I can't even remember the name or most of the words but…

She leaned forward, put her mouth close to his ear and sang softly "How wonderful life is while you're in the world." She straightened up and continued softly. "I mean it Deeks. My life with you is wonderful and I can't imagine a world without you in it. You know, I still can't really bring myself to call you Marty. You'll always be Deeks to me. When we're old and grey, our grandchildren will ask why Grandma always calls Grandpa by his last name. I can just hear you coming up with some cheesy answer, making them laugh and earning a punch to the shoulder from yours truly. You heard right, by the way, I just mentioned our future grandchildren. I hear your voice right now, telling me that certain things need to happen before we get to that point. When you're awake and feeling better, I need to let you know that I'm ready. I'm ready to take the next step in our relationship, if you want to."

"The doctor says you're pretty much out of the woods but you still have a lot of healing left to do. They're moving you back to ICU for tonight, just as a precaution, and then tomorrow you're in a regular room where everyone will be able to come see you."

She smiled. "You wouldn't believe how many people were here the night we found you and brought you in. I even met one of your old girlfriends. She was the EMT on scene and she saved your life. I like her. I like her better as an engaged woman. We even met her fiancé. He seems like a nice guy. Tara and Dave. Cassie and Paula. Who knew you were such a matchmaker! Oh, and Talia might just have met someone to take her focus off you. The head ER nurse, who by the way saved your life today, has the hots for her. I think she's returning his interest. She and I…cleared the air between us. If things work out with her and Craig, I could actually see us becoming friends."

She stroked her free hand down his arm, reveling in the ability to actually be able to touch him. "I don't think you realize how many friends you have. Just about everyone at NCIS volunteered to help find you. A few even said they'd go with or without Hetty's permission. In fact, a few showed up at the scene without even bothering to ask. You had the DEA, CIA, Naval Intelligence and eventually the FBI, searching for you. How many people can say that? And yeah, LAPD was looking too. Oh! The FBI agent assigned to this case was partnered with one of the agents Parks had killed after he was acquitted. That's how they got involved in looking for you, they want Robinson. She and Neal really hit it off! Wouldn't it be amazing if this awful situation resulted in two new couples? Good coming out of bad?"

She put her head down on the bed by his hand and finally gave into the tears she had been holding back for so long. Tears of grief for the things he'd had to endure, tears of relief that he was going to make it and not leave her here, alone. There was no one here to see Bad Ass Blye cry and she let it happen.

~,~,~,~

Hetty and Granger walked up the stairs to ops. Once they entered the room, Hetty said to Eric, "Mr. Beale, we need the room."

He and Nell exchanged looks. They knew why and neither was looking forward to it. They were going to have to watch the video. Eric got up and ushered the other analysts from the room until it was only the four of them.

Wanting to give the two time to prepare themselves, Hetty asked "How are the background checks going?"

Nell answered "We're still sifting through a lot of data. We've found a couple of financial anomalies but they've all turned out to be legitimate."

"Such as?" asked Granger.

"Well, Sheila Karle and her husband, Roland, deposited a little over 92 thousand dollars about 8 months ago, into his company's account. Prior to that, their finances were pretty dire. When we dug into it, it turned out that his construction company had entered into a contract with a big name developer. The connection would really have put the company on the map and Roland purchased a lot of the material with his own money. Once the work was done, the developer found a loop hole in the contract and refused to pay Roland back. He ended up taking them to court and won triple damages. Three guesses as to who their lawyer was?"

Hetty smiled. "Mr. Deeks. That explains Sheila's determination to help find him. She hinted that he had helped her and her husband out of a situation and that she felt they owed him. Anyone else?"

"Agent Jim Franklin also had a deposit of just over 30 thousand two months ago. Turns out an aunt in Florida left him her condo. He sold it. Deeks was on record as his lawyer for the transaction."

Granger harrumphed. "Maybe we should start charging him for office space." He said grumpily and then ruined it by smiling.

Nell continued, wishing she had more information to distract their bosses but they hadn't found anything else yet. "That's all we've found so far."

Hetty sighed, knowing the time had come. "Very well. I hate to ask this but would you please pull up the video found at the packing plant?"

Neither analyst moved, each wanting the other to do it. Granger cleared his throat at the inactivity and both went to bring it up, bumping into each other at their computer terminals.

"Nell, Eric. I know this is going to be difficult, but if it can do anything to help us put away the two men who put Mr. Deeks into the hospital, surely it's worth it?' Asked Hetty. Both reluctantly nodded and Eric opened the file on the secure server. He entered the password and started it playing on the big screen.

The room was empty except for a platform in the center of the picture. "I wondered the first time we watched this, what was the purpose of the platform? It didn't seem to be needed for anything. They could just have used longer rope to hold him up or lower the hook. Either way would still have let him touch the floor." Eric was clearly confused by this.

"Psychological. Putting him on display. Making it seem like he was on a stage, that everything that was happening to him was larger than life. Isolating him from the rest of the room." Granger bit out. Hetty nodded at his assessment. They wouldn't know for sure until they had at least one of the men in custody and talking, but it was as good an explanation as any she could come up with. Perhaps Nate would have had a different opinion. Next time she talked with him, she would have to ask.

"Mr. Beale, fast forward please." Hetty was back to using her normal, more formal form of address. Eric complied and fast forwarded to when Deeks was dragged into the room, unconscious and dressed only in his boxers. They watched him manhandled up onto the hook and then the men left him alone. They watched as he slowly awoke and took in his surroundings. When he wildly began to scan the room, Hetty commented softly "He's looking for the rest of his team, worried that they were taken too." When he realized he was alone, the relief was evident on his face. He then turned his attention to the ropes holding him.

He had just gained purchase and was experimenting with raising himself up when the sound of a door opening was heard. They watched as he lowered himself and pretended to still be out. They all watched as Robinson taunted him. Nell and Eric had already seen Deeks attack from his hanging position when Robinson admitted to killing Katie and her husband, breaking the man's nose, but both Hetty and Granger were unprepared. Granger was unwillingly impressed, Hetty was aware once more just how underestimated her detective was.

Eric continued to fast forward through the footage where nothing was happening, bringing it back to normal speed whenever there was activity in the room, until they hit the part where McGonagle started to whip Deeks. Both analysts turned away from the sight but couldn't block out the sound. Neither Hetty nor Granger made any comments, both focused solely on the video.

~,~,~,~

Downstairs, Callen and Sam had silently entered the Mission, on alert for the presence of Granger or Hetty; prepared with excuses should they get caught. Both wanted to talk with Eric and Nell to see what they'd come up with. Hetty wasn't in her office but the sight of so many of the analysts working at auxiliary stations raised their suspicions. The only time this happened is when Hetty commandeered ops. They needed to be up there, orders be damned.

Both headed for the steps only to be stopped by one of the analysts who was heading back to his station from the burn room. "Miss. Lange cleared the room. We were all kicked out. You won't be allowed in."

Sam smiled at the man and lied through his teeth "I know. They're waiting on us right now. Can't keep the bosses waiting!" The analyst frowned but backed off. He knew this team was usually involved in the really sensitive cases and had often been amongst those left behind the few times he had experienced this lock out. He finally nodded and went on his way. Sam and Callen exchanged concerned looks. There was only one case NCIS was working on right now and that was Deeks. If Hetty had cleared the room, they had something they didn't want anyone else to know about. Including them. That had to be why she had sent them both home.

They both took the stairs two at a time, determined that they wouldn't be left out in the dark on this. This was personal and nothing should be kept from them that could lead them to McGonagle and Robinson. They reached the door and when it opened for them, they entered, only to stop short, confronted by the sight on the big screen of Deeks hanging from the hook and being whipped. They had known there was something on the laptop that had been specifically kept from Kensi and, consequentially, from them; they just hadn't been prepared for this.

Hearing the door open behind them, Hetty turned in time to see the two agents enter the room and stop in shock. "Mr. Beale! Take the video down immediately!"

Eric scrambled to do as he was told but only managed to get the picture off the main screen, the sound of the whip hitting flesh continued. He fumbled with the buttons and finally the sound died out. He looked at Hetty in consternation "I'm sorry Hetty!"

"That's quite all right Mr. Beale." Turning to face the two men she continued "Mr. Hanna and Mr. Callen are not supposed to be here. They were ordered to go home and rest for their upcoming assignment. Perhaps they would care to explain why they are here, instead, and have barged into what was obviously a closed briefing?"

Sam said "The door wasn't locked."

Ignoring her Callen said "Put it back up Eric!"

Eric looked at Hetty who shook her head no. Turning to him she said "Mr. Callen, this is not something for you or Mr. Hanna to be watching. I need you both to be able to concentrate on what you should be doing."

Sam spoke up "Bull. We need to see that video as much as you do." He stared her down, not backing off.

She knew these two men, better than just about anyone, and knew there was no way they were going to let this go. She tried one last volley "Do you think we should wait for Miss. Blye then? Perhaps she too, will feel she needs to see this?"

"NO!" both men answered vehemently.

"Then why do you two feel the need?"

Callen answered "If there's anything on that tape that leads us to them, we need to know!"

"Do you think the four of us incapable of determining that?"

"Of course not! But now that we know about it, you can't keep it from us!" Callen held her eyes, pleading with her without saying the words.

Sam vocally added his plea to his partner's silent one. "Hetty, he's our team mate and our friend. I know you think you're protecting us by not wanting us to watch this but we need to do this."

Sighing, she turned back and said "Very well. Mr. Beale, please start the tape again, from the beginning."

Eric turned to do as she requested and Nell started walking towards the door. "I've already seen all I need to. I can't watch it again. Eric, let me know when you've gotten to the part where we stopped. I'll come back then." And with that she left the room. Eric watched her go longingly, wishing he could go with her, wishing he could comfort her and let her comfort him in return. He sighed and turned back to comply with Hetty's request. The video reappeared on the screen. He once again fast forwarded to the vital parts and regretted having to watch the screen so he would know when to stop and what to skip past.

Sam and Callen watched the video as it started. When Deeks kicked Robinson in the face, pushing him off the platform and breaking his nose, both men smiled, proud of him. Sam said "That's our boy! Way to go Deeks! That upper body strength is why he keeps kicking your ass on the climbing wall, G. He put it to good use right then!" Callen nodded in agreement. McGonagle entered and the two men argued, Robinson wanting to make Deeks pay for hurting him. They saw the speculative way McGonagle looked at Deeks as he told Robinson to go get checked out. They braced themselves when Robinson went back up on the platform to confront Deeks. Both grinned when Deeks vomited all over Robinson and the man's sputtering reaction. Sam even huffed out a small laugh that died almost immediately. They knew what was coming, they'd seen the aftermath.

Watching McGonagle take over after Robinson left, hearing Deeks taunt him, seeing the man get more and more frustrated at their detective's refusal to give him what he wanted, the pride all of them felt increased. They all knew from personal experience just how annoying Deeks could be when he set out to be. He played McGonagle throughout. The one time he got a rise from Deeks was when he threatened Kensi.

Meanwhile, they made note of everything Robinson or McGonagle said, about their connection with Parks, about Parks connection with Timmons, the confession to the murder of Deeks's friends and the FBI agents. The fact that Timmons and Parks had entered into a romantic relationship. That confirmed that Deeks's concern about them both being in the same prison, was warranted. Now they had to find out how the two had been in communication and close it down.

They all winced and wanted to turn away as they watched their friend and colleague cut, whipped and beaten. The fact that he had not uttered a word throughout was amazing but totally Deeks. McGonagle had bragged that he liked it when his victims begged and Deeks was just stubborn enough to not give it to him. The video continued even when Deeks was hanging unconscious, alone in the room. Eric quickly bypassed each of these small reprieves that Deeks had gotten.

They heard the cell phone conversation from McGonagle's end when the rescue team had shown up. Watched as he stood in front of the beaten man and taunted him about killing whoever stuck their head in the door first, stating how he, himself, was not going to be taken. Sam froze when he heard him describe the Hanna family, talking about making Michelle a widow. The man had either been following them or this was more information that the mole had leaked.

Everything came to a head as they heard gunshots. Sam, Callen and Granger now had the unique perspective of seeing the situation they had been involved in, playing out in a different area of the plant. They watched as McGonagle raised his gun, pointing it about head height. They couldn't see the door but Sam knew what was coming. He'd been the first one through it and McGonagle had had a bead on where he would shortly be. They watched as Deeks screamed and lifted himself off the floor to push the gunman down, effectively spoiling his aim and saving Sam's life. They watched as he passed out and dropped back to the ground, the sudden dead weight dislocating both his shoulders.

Sam and Callen appeared on screen and Eric looked at Hetty inquiringly. "Turn it off Mr. Beale. We all know what transpired next." Eric stopped the video and realized he'd never called Nell back. He was pretty sure Hetty didn't forget. For that he was grateful to her. He didn't want Nell to have experienced everything they just did. Depending on how things went, she may not be spared if they had to watch it again, but for now, they hopefully had everything they could get from it.

They all turned away from the video screen but no one spoke. It was too soon, too raw. After a few minutes of silence passed, Granger finally broke it. "We have more than enough evidence from this video to put Robinson and McGonagle away for life. When we find them, and we will, I intend to push for the death penalty for both." He paused. "If either one survives their capture that is."

Hetty took over. "We can also add to the charges against Timmons. Parks is already in for life with no chance of parole. There is not much information that we can use against him to make his sentence any longer, life is life. As he did not actually participate in any of the murders committed, just ordered them, we probably wouldn't be able to request the death penalty for him. We now know the reason why Parks was willing to help Timmons, even though the man no longer has the power to help him in return. We need to look into how the two men communicated while in prison. There is no way they could do so without help. Mr. Beale, if you would be so kind as to find Miss. Jones and continue your background research as well as finding out who is helping those two inside the prison system?"

Hetty's request to find Nell confirmed Eric's suspicions that she had deliberately not requested his partner's return for the rest of the video. He nodded his thanks to her and got a knowing smile in return. He swallowed, wondering exactly what it was she knew and then quickly left the room in search of Nell.

"Gentlemen, now that you've both seen the video and we've gotten what we could from it, it's time for our next move. If you would be so kind as to finally comply with my orders to go home and rest, I'll contact the hospital director and put our plan into motion."

Granger added "I'm going to bring Director Vance up to speed. He requested an update from me after we watched the video."

It was a silent group who left ops and split up, each headed their own way, lost in their own thoughts.