Requiem for the boy

Chapter 8

"KENSI!" Deeks screamed he felt his hold starting to slip and Carl tried with his other hand to reach for the branch.

The back door to the house opened and Sarah screamed, "Dad!...Kensi, grab a blanket and call 911!" She moved as fast as she could towards the tree. "We're coming just hold on." She called.

Deeks looked down into Carl's eyes expecting to see disappointment or fear in his face, he saw neither of those things.

"It's ok Marty, if I am meant to fall then I will, it will not be your fault and I don't blame you."

"I'm not gonna let you fall." Deeks said gritting his teeth as the pain washed over him, there was a grating and a sickening crunch as his shoulder separated and his facial features changed for a second. "Not now!" Deeks growled to himself through the pain. "Just hold on Grandpa, Kensi will be here in a second."

Carl gave a small smile, "That's the third time you've called me Grandpa." He said.

"Sorry," Deeks said

"I expect many more when we are out of this." Carl grunted trying again to reach the branch behind him.

Kensi and Sarah arrived under the tree and threw down a mattress, pillows and held out the blanket between them. "OK, Carl…we're ready, just fall we'll catch you…you'll be fine." Kensi called.

"Do you trust her?" Carl asked looking Deeks in the eyes as his grandsons' grip hadn't lessened.

"With all that I am." Deeks said sincerely.

"Then let me go son, I'll be fine." Carl said softly.

Deeks looked scared but nodded and let go closing his eyes not wanting to watch if the worst happened.

Carl landed safely and got up and helped grab the blanket again.

"Deeks….your turn," Carl called, he had heard the crunch and knew he was hurt and needed to get down and was now unable to climb down.

Try as he might, Deeks wouldn't let go; the second he got down there he knew that they would turn on him for putting Carl in danger.

"Come on shaggy, I've got you." Kensi said and smiled as Deeks relaxed his grip and fell.

He landed with a thump looked at her and passed out.

They gently lowered him to the ground as an ambulance came into view.

"Deeks?" Kensi asked she brushed his face with her hand as he groaned.

"No…" Deeks shied away from her touch, "Don't touch me…please…I'll be good…hurts…." He moaned.

"The paramedics are here, will you let them help?" Kensi said softly.

"Hurts…Fern?" Deeks said still incoherent with the pain.

The paramedic bent down, "What happened?"

Kensi filled him in as the paramedic checked him out…

"He got all these injuries from falling out of a tree….some of these look years old, this man's been beaten, a lot as from childhood by the looks of it?" Giving Carl a filthy look.

The paramedic took a needle out and loaded it with a sedative so they could pass Deeks from the blanket to the gurney.

He touched Deeks who instinctively moved away. "Mr. Deeks, I'm a paramedic, my name is Jason, I'm not here to hurt you, will you let me touch you, I just want to take the pain away and get you some help."

"No pain…" Deeks moaned and allowed the paramedic to inject him. As quickly allowed the darkness to claim him his hand moved out and grabbed Carl's hand as he went under, "Don't leave Grandpa…" he said as he fell asleep.