White Ghost Red Mist

Chapter 7

Deeks came to, the metallic taste of blood still in his mouth. He tried opening his eyes, one was swollen shut but the other he managed to open a crack, he wasn't in his home as he had thought, and he was in a darkened room. This he was slightly grateful for, as he was sure the light would be giving him a lot of grief right now. He slowly and painfully turned his head to the left as he heard a groan.

Sabatino? He was shocked as far as he knew, as far as he had been told Sabatino was still dealing with the CIA in Afghanistan, he was supposed to be keeping his daughter safe, not sitting here….wherever here was…beside him.

He tried to say his name, but he ended up coughing.

Sabatino's head move and looked over at him.

"I'm sorry." He said to Deeks, "I'm so sorry, I tried."

Deeks spat out a mouthful of blood.

"'hat hap'ned?" he managed to get out.

"The Russians, they were in Afghanistan, they knew of my dealings with Jack Simon and tried to get Casper's whereabouts from me."

"…gave her up?" Deeks asked anger radiating off him.

Sabatino looked ashamed at the floor…no not at the floor, but at a bloody stump where his hand had been, "I tried, they've had me for a month…they…sawed off my hand…" he choked back a sob.

Even Deeks felt for him at that point, Sabatino's career was over, there was no way, without a hand he could continue with the CIA, or any other law enforcement agency, not on the front line anyway, which to Sabatino would be the same as not working.

Deeks wanted to sympathize with him, but the man had given up his daughter, his wife and month old son were on the run and he didn't know if he'd live to see them again, the pain in his chest at that thought flared.

"I wouldn't have given them up." Deeks spat, his words becoming clearer as more blood left his mouth.

"That is a pity….Mr. Jackson….Or should we call you Mr. Deeks, because if you don't tell us where Casper is, we will kill you." A heavily accented Russian voice came from behind him.

Deeks tried to twist but couldn't see anything.

"She's a child, let her be!" Deeks argued, "Your Intel was wrong, the kid can't even hold a gun, it was just misinformation."

The voice behind him laughed, "So your friend here tried to tell me, we took weeks to get the location out of him, in the end we sawed off his arm at the wrist….slowly and without anesthetic he screamed like a baby, it was quite entertaining. But I digress, that child is being hunted by the CIA and that makes her an asset, if she is an asset to you she will be an asset to us."

"Who are you?" Deeks asked.

"You will see," Deeks heard a door open and close. He let out a deep breath and sent prayers to whichever Deity that was listening that they would keep his wife and children safe.

Kensi cursed as the truck died.

Cassie was staring out of the window, her face haunted and tear stained. Cal was grizzling in his car seat.

"Momma?" Cassie asked as a dark cloud of smoke came out from under the hood.

"I think we are going to have to walk baby." Kensi said trying to sound light hearted, she got out of the truck and mentally assessed what she needed to take with her.

Cassie climbed out grabbing her rucksack and putting it back on and clipping Bella's leash to her collar.

"Momma, is Daddy gonna find us?" she asked her voice wavering.