OPS Shenanigans

Night Terrors

Nell watched from her lit porch as Kensi and Deeks were forced to put Eric in handcuffs and take him to the boatshed for questioning. Nell just stood there. Thumbing her door frame with nervous tension

"But I still don't understand." Nell said shaking her head and trying to take it all in.

" You found a leak in the NCIS System and it was Eric who leaked the info" Kensi expalined.

"I know that bit" Nell pulled Eric's shoulder towards her but he tryed to turn away refusing to look at her. "Why, Eric. Why"

"I promise you, Nell. I promise you on anyrhing that matters." Kensi and Deeks started to drag Eric away he pushed against their grip, reaching his cuffed hands towards Nell. "I didn't do this, you have to believe me."

"I believe you" Nell said quietly. "I promise too. To get you out of this, no matter what."

Kensi and Deeks sat in the boatshed. It was about midnight but neither of them noticed. Deep in thought. The days events swirling around their heads.

A harsh cry ran through the building. It cut through the wood like wet paper. It made Kensi and Deeks jump out of their skins and turn towards the staircase that led to the lodgings above.

"I'M SORRY, I'M SO SORRY! I WILL DO ANYTHING JUST DON'T HURT HER! SHE IS MY EVERYTHING!" Kensi and Deeks sat rooted to the spot. Not knowing what to do. When all was said and done he was their friend but now he was a criminal too. He could be more dangerous than they ever imagined.

"NELL, I'M SORRY! NELLLLLLLLLLLL!" Eric wailed.

"What should we do, Kens" Deeks asks over Eric's escalating wails.

Kensi crossed the room and pressed some keys on the keyboard attached to the TV screen. Nell's forlorn face appeared on screen.

"What do you two want." She asked despondently.

"We had no choice in what we did tonight, Nell. Direct orders." Kensi argued.

"If you called me to apologise it's not worth it. I'm busy." Nell huffed turning away from them to use another computer.

"We didn't call you to apologise" Deeks begged picking up on Kensi's plan. "We want you to bring up the video feed for the lodgings in the boatshed and listen to the audio."

"Why?" She asked turning back to them intrigued.

"Just do it!" Kensi said impatiently.

"Fine" Nell brought up the feed. Gasping she watched it in awe. It had started with Eric just pacing the room trying to find a way out. An agent had brought him dinner but he had refused to eat. Then something happened any other person would have said he had snapped under the pressure but Nell knew better. He had layed down on the bed at the beginning of the feed and hadn't been awake the entire time and was in fact sleep walking or having a nightmare. It was hard to tell. He bashed his hands against the walls, punched the door and then turned the bed over. Screaming all the while. "NELL, I'M SORRY. NELLLLLLLLLLLL" A small tear ran down Nell's cheek.

"I coming over there" Nell said her voice hitched and pained, grabbing her go bag from somewhere off screen.

"No, Nell you can't. He is in a horrible state. If you go in there he could hurt you" Kensi said pleading with her.

"He won't hurt me" Nell said holding a weak smile in place and switching off the video feed.

Deeks paced the room, and Kensi sat biting her nails as they waited for Nell to arrive. All the while Eric still screamed, crashing and thumbing coming from above.

They heard the screech of tires then the cascade of tiny feet. Nell appearing in the doorway of the boatshed.

"This is the worst I have ever heard it." Nell said putting her hands over her ears in an attempt to block out the sound.

"Wait..." Deeks said.

"This has happened before"Kensi finished.

"Many times, this sort of attack is normally caused by stress and anxiety."

"Well he did just get arrested..."Kensi pointed out.

"For treason" Deeks added.

"I want you two to stay down here and watch the feed." Nell commanded bringing it up on he screen. "Too many people in there will make it worse, but if things do go bad!" Nell sighed looking at the floor. "Restrain him with all means necessary."

She sucked in a breath and raised her head high stalking up the stairs with new found confidence.

"What are you going to do?" Kensi and Deeks asked together.

"I'll do what I always do" She said giving them a walm smile and a cheeky wink. "Surprise everyone."

Nell stepped gingerly into the room. Eric was now curled up in a ball on the floor banging his head against the far wall.

"Eric" Nell questions. Her confidence gone as her heart broke in half.

"Get away from me" Eric yells throwing a pillow at her. "I'm a monster."

"I don't see a monster."

Eric sprang from his spot on the floor and ran at her. Screaming. Nell held out her arm. Her hand making contact with his chest.
"Stop" she whispered.

He held his hands in mid air. mouth open.

"Go back to bed Eric" Nell said forcefully.

Nell pulled the bed back up the right way making back up as best she could. Eric slumped down onto it with a sigh and held out his arms. Nell slipped down next to him. He curved his arms around her waist.

"Safe" He whispered into her ear.

Downstairs Kensi and Deeks stood trying to come to terms with what they were seeing. Eric may not be in the clear yet but he had her and that's all that mattered.