Chapter 35- Ghosts
(Warning: Graphic violence/gore. Read with caution)
Deeks' POV
So what she wanted to talk to Christina alone? They obviously had a connection from the minute they met. They had Jack, someone that brought them together. Why is this bothering me so much, though?
I placed my badge and gun on the kitchen table. It was a lonely drive back home. I even played a techno song to try and make it seem like Kensi was there with me. Well, maybe half a song. I still really don't like that kind of music. I don't know why I'm missing her. I saw her a half an hour ago and we were together all day. Maybe I'm missing our usual witty banter and teasing. Today when she knocked on Kelvin's door and called me a dog was the closest to normal we've gotten since she got back from Nicaragua. Whatever happened down there changed her.
Calloused hands closed around my neck suddenly, squeezing tightly. I didn't even have the time to scream. My breathing was quickly running thin, and I needed to do something. I thrashed and threw blind punches, trying to at least see the face of my attacker. Panic rose throughout my entire body. My fist finally made contact with what felt like a nose, and the grip loosened just enough for me to slip out. I turned around, facing the unmasked man. He didn't look familiar, but my time for combing through memories ran short when a sharp pain radiated throughout my abdomen. My hand flew down to the source, and I saw blood flowing out of the new bullet wound. My knees buckled, and black dots danced in front of my eyes. I could see my gun just a few feet away on the table. My hands stretched for it, but a heavy boot interrupted my attempts. I cried out in pain as the bone made a distinct cracking noise, and bent in a way that arms shouldn't bend. The man came very close to my face. With my other hand, I punched him as hard as I could, making him stumble backwards.
"You shouldn't have done that." He growled, and the all too familiar sound of a knife clicking open made my ears perk up.
Not again.
When Riley attacked me awhile back, she was careless and enraged. She hit something inside of me on the first cut that made me pass out real quick. I didn't feel any of her other stabs or slices.
This guy was no amateur. He knew how to enflict the most pain while still keeping me out of the darkness. I subconciously counted seventeen different times the cool blade ripped through my flesh and out again, with every cut it threatened to take my life with it. As the pain grew to the point of unbearable, I became useless: unable to fight back. I just lay there on my carpet, lifeless. The only sounds that came out of my mouth were "please" or muffled groans and whimpers.
"You can't be a real NCIS agent. Just look at you, you're not even trying. This is why you belonged back at LAPD, Marty. NCIS doesn't need lazy bums like you anyways." He sneared as the blade dug into my thigh.
Somehow his words made me snap. A burst of adrenaline and energy surged through me as I grabbed him by the neck, throwing him off of me.
"That's more like it!" He snickered, putting the knife down on the couch and lunging towards me.
My fist met his stomach, but his also hit me square in the face. I tumbled back to the floor, the massive bloodloss taking it's toll.
"Now, Marty." He said, smacking me again and again. "I just need you to know that the King sends his love from hell. He personally told me to end the person that took his majesty from the earth, of course with a little tip for his loyal subject. After you are through, I think I'll go on a little vacation in my new vacation house, or maybe spend some time on my new yacht."
"Glad to know I'm worth so much." I managed to spit out.
"Oh don't get cocky, Marty. I thought I was too good to handle someone as low as you, but a break every once and awhile can be nice too, so I kindly accepted my task. Now if I was going after your little girlfriend... That would be more on my level. Where is she by the way? I would just hate to have witnesses..."
"Don't you dare touch her."
"And who is going to stop me? It sure as hell won't be you once I'm through."
I was hit once again, but this time my vision began to blur.
"You feel that, Marty. That is what it feels like to begin the wonderful process of death." He dipped his fingers into one of my wounds, and began to write something on the wall next to me. I couldn't make it out, but whatever it was, it had to be bad. "I have to go now, but if I see Kensi on the way out, I'll be sure to say hello."
My vision went black after I watched him go out the door, break it down again, and then flee the scene.
Kensi's POV
Everything after I read that message became a blur. Sireons blared throughout the night, people came in and out, and eventually someone pulled me away from Deeks. I wriggled out of the arms of the officer that took me, and ran back to my lifeless partner.
"Miss! You have to let the EMTs do their work. It's the only way to save him." The officer's voice seemed distant and fake. It wasn't until a familiar voice snapped me back into my head.
"Kensi, what happened?" It was Callen talking. Him and Sam must have gotten word about Deeks.
"I-I don't know I just came in and the door was busted and there was blood and I saw him and he was hurt and then the message and the blood and King and-"
"Slow down, Kens, just breathe for a second."
"I don't know how he did this, he's dead isn't he? Did we get the wrong guy, is he still alive, this can't be possible."
"What the hell are you talking about?"
"The message, o-on the wall." I turned back to where I found Deeks. The medics had already taken him out, and all that was left was a dark red puddle in the light carpet. The memory of Deeks lying there flashed in my mind.
"I told you this would never be over." Read Sam outloud. My head snapped up again.
"K-King said that before he almost killed me. I never told anyone besides Nate and Deeks."
"King is dead, Kens. You saw him die with your own two eyes."
"Well then why is Deeks on the way to the hospital with gun shots and stab wounds? This isn't adding up, Sam." I raised my voice, frustration growing.
"Well someone obviously did this, but it couldn't have been King. Don't worry, we'll find whoever did this to Deeks."
Fed up with everything, I stormed outside. The entire parking lot was filled with police and CSI techs. Nosy neighbors were peering out of their windows or chatting up the officers on scene. I got into my car and went to go meet Deeks at the hospital.
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Deeks POV
"Deeks? DEEKS!?" I could hear Kensi screaming, but my eyes refused to open. Cool hands pressed against the bruises on my neck, and I could hear her crying and yelling into a phone. I desperatly wanted to just get up and hug her tightly, but darkness overtook me. The distant sounds of sireons cradled me to my dreams.
"Goddamnnit Marty, get your stupid ass back here, boy." Screamed my dad from the front door as I sprinted as fast as I could down the street. I looked down, and the ground seemed closer. I was back when I was 11 years old.
Gordon John Brandel, my father, was a drunk and my worst nightmare. My eleven year old mind was already made up. Today was the day that all of this pain and abuse would end. Gordon wouldn't hurt me or my mom anymore. After a few hours of wandering around the neighborhood, diving into bushes or into backyards when a car drove by, I snuck into our garage where Gordon has his gun safe. I had memorized the combo when I saw him opening it while I was hiding under his workbench. I knew it would come in handy at some point.
The safe clicked, and the heaby door swung open. There was the shotgun that Gordon takes hunting or to the shooting range. It was similar to my BB gun that my aunt got me a few years back, so shooting it can't be that hard. I shut the door and ran back up to my room, hiding the shotgun under my bed.
At around 8:30 that night, my dad was drunk and about to get very violent. I could already tell the buzz was affecting him.
"Marty, go get me another beer." He slurred.
I took a deep breath, and puffed out my chest. "No dad. You don't need any more alcohol. You're done hurting me and mom."
Suddenly, I was staring down the barrel of a handgun. "What the hell did you just say? Was that backtalk, Marty?"
My mother came running into the room screaming, "PLEASE DON'T HURT HIM, GORDON!"
"SHUT UP, BITCH. HE IS MY SON, AND HE JUST TALKED BACK TO MY FACE." The gun was now aimed at my mother. I sprinted up to my room, panic rising throughout me. I could hear the heavy footsteps of my father pounding through the hallway. "GET BACK HERE, I WASN'T DONE TALKING."
I cocked the loaded gun, and pointed it at the door. Gordon came crashing through the door waving the handgun around. He froze when he saw my weapon, but didn't lower the gun.
"You wouldn't dare. I'll KILL YOU BEFORE YOU EVEN TRY." He screamed, his drunken face bright red with rage. I pulled the trigger and my abusive father went tumbling backwards. I had hit him. My mother came running into the room, a new bruise already forming on her tender cheek.
"Marty!" She cried, pulling me into her arms while also taking the gun out of my tembling hands. "What have you done?"
My visions began to change, and I was out of my old bedroom, and now in the convience store I used to frequent everyday.
"Got a question for you, Frank." I said picking up a bag of Funyuns from the rack. I was well aware of the man standing at the counter with the gun, but had to catch him off guard. "Why are they more expensive than Cheedos? They putting, uh, real fun in there?" I walked up, and punched the man with the gun quickly. He stumbled over and I hit him a few more times.
"Behind you!" Frank yelled, and I whipped around and faced the second man that seemed to come out of nowhere. It was too late. Pain shot through my right side, and I few backwards against the wall. The man with the gun walked closer, aimed, and shot. More pain, and then blackness took me over.
The scene shifted again, and now I was in the hospital after I got shot.
My eyes fluttered open to see Kensi sitting in the chair next to my bed. She was clutching my badge and watch tightly in her hands, a faraway look in her eyes.
"Am I dead?" She jumped up from her seat to be by my side. "Because I feel like I should be dead." I groaned, trying to sit up higher in the bed.
"Hey there. You're not getting rid of me that easily." She smiled.
"Do I know you?" I looked at her curiously, deciding to mess with my partner.
"Deeks..." She doesn't believe me, so I need to try a little harder.
"Not my nurse?" I asked, glancing around.
Her smile disappeared. "I'm serious, Deeks."
"My name is Deeks? Seriously?" I tried as hard as I could to not start laughing at her gulliability. She looked around, searching for a nurse, probably. Okay, maybe I went a little far. "I'm just kidding, I remember you, Fern." I laughed.
"Yeah? You're a funny guy. I'm gonna punch you in your bullet hole."
"That sounded vaguely dirty. I think I'm gonna have to tell Hetty. Ahhh." I winced in pain as I tried to adjust my position a little too quickly. Pain radiated throughout my body, and I could feel Kensi struggling on what to do. So much for looking badass in front of her.
Time seemed to fast forward through the day, and I was suddenly watching Kensi rush out of my hospital room.
"Wait a minute, I'm still thinking here!" Something clicked in my brain as I realized who was the real target. "KENSI!" I screamed, but it was too late.
My mind went into overdrive. Kensi is in deep trouble, and Sam and Callen wont be able to make it in time. I reached behind my pillow and took out the gun that the guys brought me. I pulled off all my needles and monitors, and set my feet on the cool floor. My whole body was aching, but I didn't care. My partner was in danger, and I had to save her. As quickly as my hurt body could, I snuck past the nurses' station, and into the elevator, clicking the button for the lobby. The clicking of the floors seemed to go forever, but the doors finally opened to the bottom floor. I limped across the floor, my stitches tearing apart from the movement. I heard the screetch of a car, and some yelling.
Oh no, I could be too late. I was almost running as I got outside and witnessed Kensi fighting off some big guys. One of them pulls out a gun and aims right for her. I pull the trigger, and he falls down. Kensi whips around to see me leaning against the wall of the hospital, about to pass out from the pain. I watch as my partner shoots the two other man, and then comes rushing to my aid.
This time, my dreams didn't take me to another place. I was now in a dark place, all alone, away from the world. Am I dead? Is this what dying is like? No it can't be, I never saw a light or anything. If only I could see... Suddenly, voices penetrate my quiet darkness.
"We're losing him! We're losing him. Charge... Clear!" And a volt of energy bolts through me.
I don't want to play these games anymore. I just want to stay in this painless place and not have to face whatever is next. Why cant these people just leave me alone?
"No response, Charge... Clear!" The voice yells out again. She should give up now. There's no use in trying anymore.
My darkness becomes gradually lighter, and I see a figure walking towards me. This is it. This is where I die.
I expected to see a man with long flowing robes and long hair, but instead I see Kensi standing before me.
"Kens? What are you doing here?"
"I'm here to tell you not to give up. I need you, Martin Deeks."
"Oh, Kens. I don't want to be in pain anymore. I can't..."
"Shut up, Deeks. I'll punch you in your bullet hole if you say you can't one more time. I'm here asking you to stay for a reason. We are meant to be together, and this isn't the end. Our story together has only begun, and you can't back out now." She whispered, taking my hand.
"I don't know..."
"Please, Deeks. Just come back with me."
I looked into her gorgeous, mismatched eyes, and squeezed her hand.
"Lets go, Fern. I need to live to see some muntant ninja assassins running around my house."
Kensi pulls me into the light, and everything seems to go into a time warp. I am back in the transparent darkness.
"He's back. Good job, doctors. Lets get him stitched up, now."
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I do not own NCIS LA or any of the characters
Sorry if this chapter was a little graphic and gory but i think this is my favorite chapter ive written so because of all the different coponents (ie imagery, flashbacks)
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