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// UNDISCLOSED LOCATION // UNDETERMINED TIME //
“Kate, you ran towards a .50 cal for me. That’s more than just a Team. That’s family.”
“Pathetic.” Kate Whistler stared straight ahead as her body coughed and revolted against the water being flooded into her mouth and nose. The metal chair clanged loudly as a boot kicked it backwards yet again. Two sets of hands held her shoulders down as the damp towel was pressed tightly against her face. She couldn’t even thrash as the water poured again. All the other words from her captors were drowned out by the pulsing in her ears and burning of her lungs as she was flooded with water yet again.
“Maggie was personal for me. Thank you for your help, Whistler.” There was something troubled in Jane’s expression as she spoke those words. Kate couldn’t quite put a finger on why the felt wrong. The sun was too bright shining in from the windows. She couldn’t feel a shred of warmth from those rays, and as Kate brought the glass of scotch to her lips, she couldn’t taste it. “You’re going to die, Kate.” Jane’s voice still had the same melody of calm reassurance as always, but her face was twisted in concern. Kate didn’t understand why.
She started to choke. The scotch she just drank began to sputter from her throat, but Kate couldn’t expel the liquid. The burning flared as she tried desperately to take gulps of air, but couldn’t. Jane stared with a pitying smile. “You’re going to die for us.” Kate struggled, but her body wouldn’t move anymore. She saw Jesse, Kia, and Ernie standing behind Jane now. They all shared that sorrowful acceptance. Kate couldn’t speak, she couldn’t move, she couldn’t even breathe. She was drowning.
“Just a little longer, baby. Then, it’ll all be over. I promise.” Lucy’s voice was right in Kate’s ear, sounding like a far off song on an ocean breeze. The burning… the pain… it began to recede. “Protect us, Kate.”
SMACK
“We’re not done with you yet, Whistler.” Kate coughed, water spewing from her lungs as she bent forwards again. The hands on her shoulders disappeared, holding the chair steady so Kate didn’t knock it over in her thrashing. The sudden suffocating flux between death and oxygen made the FBI agent sick. She vomited water and bile, her chest burning and heavy as gulps and gasp of air involuntarily became the only reaction Kate could muster. Her body slumped in exhaustion. “You saw the files before they got sent. You wrote the damn report. I want names, Whistler. Give me their names, and I will let you die in peace.”
“No.” Kate rasped. Her wrists were rubbed raw from the damp ropes, blood seeping into the tough, braided material. The man leaned in close, staring into her eyes with his deep set blues as he smirked. Kate hated that smile. She hated it when the torture moved from simple punches to water boarding. She hated it when she woke up from being drugged and told that they were going to have some fun before she gave him all the information she wanted. And she hated that stupid, narcissistic smirk when she first started DIA and he clapped her on the shoulder and said he couldn’t wait to work side-by-side together. She never trusted that smirk for the entire six years she knew him.
“I really hate you. So damn paranoid. So fucking uptight.” Lewis Frost growled with a sneer, taking his knife and calmly using the razor sharp tip to leave a line of blood from the side of Kate’s elbow down to the ropes that wrapped around her wrist. It wasn’t a deep cut as he continued talking. “So by the book.” She didn’t respond, annoying Lewis further. He took the point of the knife and pressed it just to the right of the vein atop her left hand. “Everyone else, I know like the…” He pressed the knife down, the feel and sound of muscles and bone being penetrated by metal accompanied his words. “..the back of my hand.” The knife went through her palm, blood dripping from the tip of the blade onto the wet floor. Kate could hear the drain still slurping water from the torture. “Who worked for Maggie Shaw? And who knows about her assets?”
“Fuck. You.” Kate grimaced. The knife roughly yanked from her hand, blood smattering and the wound tearing from the force of the pull. The red blade was against her throat as Lewis clutched the front of Kate’s red blouse and pulled her as close to him as the restraints would allow.
“I will get that information from you. And I will kill you.” He muttered into her ear, the blade starting to slice into the skin of her throat. “It’s up to you how much pain you want to endure before that happens though.” He shoved her back against the chair, standing up straight as he looked to someone that Kate couldn’t see. “Bring in the battery. Agent Whistler needs some more convincing.”
// NCIS SUPERVISORY-AGENT-IN-CHARGE JANE TENNANT’S RESIDENCE, HAWAII // FRIDAY; 0955 //
“Hey Lucy, welcome home.” Jane Tennant smiled as she answered the phone. “The Welcome Home party isn’t until tomorrow, right? We were giving you and Kate some time to yourselves.” Jane was in the kitchen, smiling at Alex as he worked on homework. It was Friday morning, and he’d been so motivated recently.
“Did Kate get called into work? She was supposed to pick me up from the airport, but I can’t get a hold of her.” Lucy’s voice was a mixture of exhaustion, annoyance, and worry. Jane paused.
“We just finished an intense case on Wednesday.” It had been nearly two straight weeks of working with only enough time to get a few hours of sleep at odd times. “We’re going back in on Monday, and Curtis told Kate the same for her.” Jane informed, although something might’ve changed on the FBI’s end. While they were a team, Kate did have FBI responsibilities that differed from NCIS.
“I guess I’ll get a taxi.” Lucy muttered, even though her stomach curled in distress.
“No. I’ll pick you up and call Curtis on the way. We’ll figure this out.” Jane went into immediate action. Lucy hadn’t been privy to how excited the blonde was for her girlfriend’s return. There was no realm of possibility where Kate lost track of time. Something had to be wrong.
“Okay.” Lucy conceded. “Tennant, her phone keeps going straight to voicemail. And she never responded to my texts when I first got on the plane.” Lucy’s voice quivered. The Agent Afloat wanted nothing more than for her girlfriend to have been so engrossed in her work that she merely forgot, but all of Lucy’s instincts and logic pointed in a different direction.
“When’s the last time you had contact with her?” Jane asked, already putting her badge and gun on her hip.
“Tuesday.” Lucy admitted. Jane nodded, humming in response.
“We had to pull an all-nighter and I think Whistler napped in the office before we found the location we were looking for. I last saw Whistler Wednesday afternoon after the arrest was all done. She was heading back to the FBI.” That closed the time gap by one day. “I’ll pick you up at Arrivals.”
“See you soon.” Lucy whispered, her voice wavering. Tennant dialed Curtis’ cellphone.
“ASAC Curtis.” He answered briefly. “Tennant? I thought you and your team were off until Monday?”
“We are. Is Whistler there?” Tennant was in the car already driving to the airport.
“Uh… no. I told her not to be back until Monday. Actually, I told her to take off until at least Wednesday, because I know her girl is coming home today. But, Whistler was insistent on coming in to at least finish some reports on Monday.” Curtis answered with an exasperated but jovial tone.
“Whistler never showed up at the airport.” Jane told her colleague. There was a heavy, pulsating pause. “She hadn’t responded to Lucy’s messages from the last couple days. I last saw Whistler on Wednesday after the arrest.”
“She went home around 1800 on Wednesday. Kate said she was going to sleep, and then she needed to do a grocery run. She said Lucy would be mad if she saw how empty the fridge had gotten without her there.” Curtis was standing, having set his paperwork aside as he grabbed his sunglasses and keys. Jane held her tongue, remembering how Lucy would complain that Kate preferred home cooked meals but would forget to eat way too often for how active the blonde was. “I’ll meet you at her house.”
“We’ll see you there.” Jane respected the ASACs instant action at the notion one of his people was missing. When Jane arrived at the airport, she spotted Lucy sitting on one of her duffles at the curb, staring at her cellphone. As Jane pulled her car up to the curb, she saw her young agent look up with tears in her eyes. With a soft smile, Jane helped Lucy put the duffle bags and backpack into the back. Before they went to get into the front, Lucy looked at her boss and mentor.
“This is really bad, isn’t it?” Lucy’s voice cracked, the tears blurring her vision. Jane stepped closer and wrapped her arms around the small frame. Lucy clutched onto Jane, still keeping the tears at bay.
“Curtis is meeting us at your place. We’ll know more after we get there.” Jane soothed, logic the only thing keeping Lucy from spiraling. They headed to the beautiful small condo that Lucy and Kate called home. The drive was quiet, both women deep in thought of the possibilities. It wasn’t until they walked up to the apartment that Jane gave Lucy a reassuring smile.
“Her car is in the parking lot.” Curtis announced as he met them outside the condo’s door. His face was screwed with worry. “She didn’t answer when I knocked.” He supplied. Lucy took out her key and turned the lock. It clicked, revealing an oddly peaceful condo. Jane pulled her gun, and she and Curtis began the process of clearing the home. There was nothing. No signs of a struggle, no signs that Kate had been there at all. Curtis opened the refrigerator, frowning at the condiments and beer being the only contents. “She didn’t go grocery shopping.”
“She didn’t return from grocery shopping at least.” Jane answered,analyzing the situation. Lucy stared in horror. The condo was like a snapshot of their lives, but it looked barely lived in. It looked like the occupants just… stepped out. It felt like a time capsule. “She came home from work.” Jane’s voice broke the tense silence, knocking Lucy back into reality. Coming out from the bedroom, Jane held up a dark navy blouse. “She was wearing it Wednesday.”
“That’s her go-bag shirt.” Lucy answered, perking up. “Any time she has to use her go-bag, the first thing she does when she gets home is replace the dirty clothes with clean ones.” Lucy headed for the bedroom. Curtis and Jane gave Lucy an odd stare. “Ok. Fine. Kate showers and then she repacks her go-bag and puts it in her car. She says it’s just a habit in case she gets called back to work right away.”
“Okay. I don’t see a go-bag in here.” Jane said as she joined Lucy in the bedroom.
“Nothing out here.” Curtis responded from the living room. Lucy went to the clothes hamper.
“She definitely repacked it. There’s no way Kate would’ve just left this many dirty clothes in the hamper all week. Most of these must’ve come from her bag.” Lucy knew little nuances about her girlfriend that were both odd and adorable, but right now, it was allowing Lucy to develop a timetable on her whereabouts.
“I’m going to call Ernie and have him track her cell phone.” Jane answered, already stepping aside to make the call. Lucy went to Kate’s bedside drawer. Opening it, she saw an empty space where Kate’s gun and badge usually went whenever she was home. Instead, Lucy grabbed out the spare key to her girlfriend’s car.
“If her car is here, then the repacked bag should be inside.” Lucy told Curtis, and all three of them took the trek back out to the parking lot. Jane was still on the phone with Ernie. As Lucy clicked the key fob to unlock the car, she pressed the button to have the truck pop up. The trunk was empty.
“Ernie said that the last ping from the phone was right here on Wednesday.” Jane answered, looking around the parking lot. It had decent lighting, and at least one security camera. “We’ll get the property manager to pull the video.” Jane said, pointing to the camera.
“I found her bag. Backseat.” Curtis said, opening the car door.
“That’s not right. Kate never puts it in the backseat.” Lucy stated firmly, frowning at the partially unzipped bag. “The lock is missing.”
“She locks her go-bag?” Curtis asked, confused.
“It’s her habit.” Lucy answered offhandedly, frustrated by the odd behavior. She unzipped the bag to reveal fresh clothes, car keys, cell phone, and Kate’s service weapon. The floor felt like it opened up and swallowed Lucy whole.
“We need to get that video.” Jane frowned. Curtis knelt down to look under the car. Just behind one of the rear tires was a bifold. It was Kate’s FBI badge. And when Curtis pulled the badge out from underneath the car, he saw the dried blood. There was more evidence of blood under the car.
“The rain must’ve washed away blood from the parking lot. I need to call this in.” Curtis frowned with a gruff, serious expression. Jane pulled her phone out to call Ernie. Lucy… Lucy trembled at the sight of blood on Kate’s badge. It was official Kate Whistler was missing.
// UNDISCLOSED LOCATION // UNDETERMINED TIME //
“Get the information, or get rid of the body.” A higher, colder voice buffeted against the thrumming eardrums of a barely conscious Kate Whistler.
“I can break Agent Whistler.” Lewis snarled over Kate’s shoulder.
“You’re losing your touch.” The woman’s voice sounded again, clearer as the shock began to subside. In the quiet pause between torture, the pain was beginning to settle in her bones and joints. Her bare feet burned as blistered, raw skin reacted to the sudden exposure to high voltage. “And this is wasting my time.” Lewis stepped back several steps, glowering at Kate. Suddenly, warmth landed on her shoulders and nimble fingers began to explore over her collarbones and cross at her sternum. A hot puff of air tingled next to her ear. “Kate, darling, let’s have a conversation… just us girls.” The cold voice was sultry, vaguely familiar. Instinctively, Kate leaned into the warmth of the body behind her, a low rumble coming from her captor’s throat. The FBI agent heard heavy boot falls go out the back of the room, and Lewis gave one last glare before he stormed out as well. “Come on, Kate. Now let’s talk about what you’ve really been up to since you moved from D.C.”
“Kate! Babe, it’s been way too long. I missed you so much.” Cara chirped energetically, pushing her way into Kate’s apartment with a suitcase rolling behind in tow. Kate sputtered, frowning at the sight of the woman in person. “This place is cute. So… local.” Cara complimented in a backhanded way.
“Cara, you’re… really here.” Kate stepped back from the woman. It felt uncomfortable and wrong.
“I know you left on kind of bad terms, and I was mad at you for that, but I forgive you.” Cara assured, a smile on her face. “I’ll always forgive you, babe.”
“I… we’re still together?” Kate was so confused. Cara said yesterday that she had work in the area, and that was the reason for the visit.
“Of course, silly. We never really broke up.” Cara laughed, rolling her eyes in a placating sort of way. “I mean, no one can understand you or your job the way I can.”
“I… I started seeing someone else.” Kate told Cara. The woman didn’t immediately react. Instead, she pat Whistler on the collarbone in an overly familiar manner. With a pasted smile and a sultry tone, Cara leaned in to Kate.
“I forgive you. Let’s just forget about it.” Cara assured, ignoring the way Kate froze. “I ordered us pizza. Then you can tell me all about what you’ve really been up to since you moved from D.C.”
“Cara–” The doorbell rang… and it wasn’t the pizza.
“Cara?” Kate whispered in a cracked voice, her throat aching. The heels clipped as the woman came into view, standing in front of Kate with a placating smile. “You… you work for the S-State Department.”
“I work for a few people.” Cara smiled coyly. “You look good, babe.”
// NCIS WAR ROOM, HAWAII // FRIDAY; 1340 //
“Ernie, do you have anything from the cases Whistler has been working?” Tennant asked as she walked into the war room. Ernie frowned, a broken keyboard ignored as he typed on one of his backup keyboards. Curtis and Carter–one of Whistler’s colleagues–were staring at files. Jesse, Kai, and Lucy walked in after Tennant.
“No.” Ernie growled. “Nothing. I mean, not nothing, but nothing that left anyone with a grudge an opportunity to take Whistler.” Ernie brought up footage. “After Kate parks, a black luxury sedan pulled up next to it. Plates are blocked, and the driver gets out of the car. He’s wearing a black suit with gloves and a mask. He waits there.” Ernie points under a tree that’s mostly out of view. “Kate comes out twenty minutes later with a new go-bag.”
“This is who took Kate.” Tennant stated.
“Watch.” Ernie urged. Kate walks towards her car, and glances at the car parked next to hers. She looks around before tossing her bag on the ground. Pulling her gun, she turns towards the car’s driver’s side. The figure walks around the other side. Kate lowered her gun and glanced nervously around the parking lot.
“What is she doing?” Jesse wondered when a file was dropped at Kate’s feet by the masked person. The figure gestured to Kate, but the FBI agent wasn’t fooled. Instead, she raised her gun again and pushed the figure behind her. The masked figure ducked as Kate was hit by a taser. The figure scooped up the files, starting to pull Kate when a truck backed into view and multiple figures jumped out in black. The figure jumped back into his car and slammed on reverse, narrowly missing hitting Kate. He did hit one of the other black figures before speeding off camera. “What the hell?” Jesse leaned closer, watching two of the figures come up to Kate and hold her up by her shoulders. She appeared to be slumped, but her head glared at a figure approaching from the center.
“Lucy, maybe you should go for a walk.” Kai suggested just as the first hit came. Kate’s head snapped to the side, but she turned back towards the figure and said something. They couldn’t make out what the words were but it caused the man to redouble his efforts with another punch. And another. And another. Kate was leaned over as the two holding her began to take her gun and badge and cell phone. It was in that moment that Kate thrashed, catching one of them by surprise as she landed a hard hit. The struggle continued onto the pavement, and they saw Whistler toss her badge with the last of her strength before the main figure used a taser to stab her in the back until she was unconscious. A black SUV pulled up and her body was dragged inside while the main figure put her gun and cell phone into the duffle bag, clicked the car keys with a gloved hand, and tossed the whole duffle case in the backseat with the keys. “Lucy…”
“We have to find her.” Lucy hissed harshly, her eyes unable to leave the screen.
“We will.” Curtis was the one to reassure the feisty NCIS agent. “We need to find out who those people are, and who was the first person in the car.”
“Can I see Whistler’s badge?” Jane asked. There was something desperate about the way Kate threw it under her car. Something protective in the action.
“I’ll grab it.” Carter offered, leaving the room.
“She lowered her guard. Something set her off, but she lowered her guard.” Jesse muttered, brow furrowed.
“Why would she do that? She knows better than to–” Lucy began to rant but was cut off by Tennant placing a hand on her shoulder. “She knows better…” Lucy whispered again.
“Which means Kate knew who it was. It looks like she and this person were meeting. And it looks like they were both ambushed.” Jane surmised.
“And that person… or that file was important enough for Kate to protect at the expense of getting captured.” Curtis frowned. “How deep can you look into her career with the DIA?” Curtis asked abruptly. Ernie blinked owlishly. “FBI and FBI informants don’t act that way. But–”
“CIA and DIA does.” Jane filled in, her mind thinking the same. “Our mystery person may have been an asset Whistler knows from when she worked with the DIA.” Jane sent a tentative glance at Lucy. The woman stared at the screen, her eyes swimming with tears. “Lucy, did Kate mention anything–”
“No. Never.” Lucy snapped. “She would never compromise intelligence like that.”
“I know.”
“They must know that too.” Curtis muttered, gaining varying reactions. He held his hands up in surrender. “If the kidnappers thought Kate’s girlfriend might have information, Lucy would’ve been next. She was off the island before but now…”
“She might still be a target. We don’t know.” Jane admitted. “I’ll need you to stay here, Lucy.”
“What? No! My girlfriend–”
“Exactly, Lucy.” Jane interrupted sternly. This was not a debate. “Your girlfriend. I shouldn’t even be letting you work this, but you are. Whistler would kill me if she ever found out I let you into the field when you might be the next target for this group. You will stay here with Ernie.” Silence followed the order.
“I’ve got a hit on the rental car.” Ernie cleared his throat. His expression twisted. “Wow… Senior Assistant Attorney for the DIA.” Ernie kept typing.
“And his cases? Any of them linked to Whistler?” Jane asked. Ernie kept typing. And typing. And, he finally paused. “Ernie?”
“Maggie Shaw.”
“What?” Everyone said at once. The NCIS team said it with shock while Curtis said it with confusion.
“Assistant Attorney Matthew Glavin transferred shortly after the capture and transfer of Maggie Shaw. He returned to the island Wednesday afternoon.” Ernie pulled up his records.
“And his first stop was Whistler?” Curtis grumbled.
“His only stop. His car was found off the road Thursday afternoon. HPD report filed it as an accident. Car went off the road and down a cliffside.” Ernie answered. Pictures of the crash popped up on the screen. “ Report says they found a lighter and ash, but no mention of files found in the car..”
“I think you’ve found enough.” A man in a tailored suit entered the war room. He didn’t carry a gun, and he wore a serious expression.
“DIA interested in this case?” Tennant crossed her arms.
“Agent Whistler had access to information that could endanger national security. That is who you’re looking for, correct? Or are you working to solve an unfortunate car accident that lost the nation a bright young attorney?” The DIA officer had no humor in his voice, only judgment.
“If you know something, I suggest you share it.” Curtis demanded, his approach far less tactful than Jane’s. Carter entered the room with the badge in hand.
“Agent Carter, the badge.” The DIA officer commanded, holding his hand out. Agent Carter looked from the DIA officer to his boss and back at DIA. He sensed the tension building in the room. With careful steps, Carter held the badge out to Jane.
“Special Agent in Charge Tennant requested this piece of evidence. Chain of evidence custody protocol states that I must deliver this to the SAC of the investigation. Are you in charge of the investigation, Officer…?” Carter trailed off, waiting for the DIA agent’s name. The man frowned when Tennant took the badge.
“There’s a lot of conflict of interest here.” The DIA officer threatened, but Tennant called his bluff.
“Either help us, or get out of our way.” The options laid out before the officer were stated clearly. He had two choices.
“The badge is heavy.” He deadpanned without emotion.
“What?” Kai responded, confused.
“The badge, it should feel heavy.” The DIA officer clarified. Tennant held the badge in her hand, and it did have extra weight. She removed the credentials, but there was still weight in the bifold. “It’s sewn inside.” Jane kept her eyes on the DIA officer, handing the badge to Curtis who used his knife to open the stitching. Inside, there was a thick keycard.
“What is it?” Curtis asked, holding the keycard out to Tennant. The officer frowned, crossing his arms.
“Is this the reason Whistler was kidnapped?” Jane demanded. The DIA officer scowled before he gave a single nod. “Maggie Shaw has something to do with this.” It wasn’t a question.
“Yes, and no. Whistler took a lot of heat for that case. Namely, that all intelligence went through her, the attorney, and the Director in DC. No one else was privy to the actual hardcopies of the case files.” The DIA officer informed. “It was favoritism, at best…”
“Signs of a mole, at worst.” Tennant supplied.
“When Whistler transferred to the FBI, there were quite a few DIA officers pissed off. The Director was mad, but he understood. He, however, did not reassign the Maggie Shaw file. And things got complicated.”
“Whistler still had access?” That was against protocol, Jane knew it. The DIA officer nodded. “We have reason to believe that Mr. Glavin came to Hawaii with new information. He needed Whistler to access the case files to archive it.”
“That’s redundant.” Ernie frowned. “The files are all electronic.”
“Not all of them.” DIA officer spoke. Looking at each of them, he cleared his throat before looking away. “My name is Ian Blake. I liked Whistler. She was good at her job.”
“We know that.” Jane stated, glaring at the man. “What did you mean not all the files are electronic?”
One thing worth protecting… One reason that Mr. Glavin would fly all the way out here to bring a file to Whistler. One reason Whistler would protect him.” Blake motioned to the keycard in Jane’s hands. “There’s one thing every intelligence community wants: American, allies, and enemies.”
“Names.” Jane answered. “The file had names from the investigation.”
“And the names Maggie Shaw gave during her interrogation. But it was mostly bait. Glavin and Whistler had been looking for a mole, or moles, in the DIA.” Blake cleared his throat, holding out his badge. “Glavin told me to meet him here. He said he had the names and the evidence we’d been working on for six years. My plane arrived this morning. When I found out about Glavin’s car accident, and I couldn’t get ahold of Whistler, I began to hunt the trail myself. Quite frankly, I’m not sure who to trust here.” Defense of Intelligence Agency - Director Ian Blake wasn’t just another officer, he was the damn Director of the DIA.
“Sir?” Curtis frowned, the gravity of the situation setting in and Jane hid her surprise in an emotionless mask.
“I think we need to look at that archive box together.” Blake nodded to the keycard again. Jane held it tightly, keeping it close. It wasn’t that she didn’t trust the Director, but she didn’t know him.
“You just want those files. You’re going to leave after you get what you want.” Lucy blocked the man’s way, her face hardened. Blake quirked a brow. “You don’t care about Kate.” It wasn’t a question. Blake opened his mouth, but words didn’t leave. He tried again, but nothing. “The DIA isn’t exactly known for protecting anything except intelligence.”
“You’re right. And I don’t think I have any way to convince you otherwise of my intentions.” Blake conceded. He continued. “If you know all that, then know that I want Kate back alive just as much as I want the intelligence she’s spent years gathering and protecting. She’s the only one left that knows who the mole is.”
“How do we even know if she’s still alive?” Carter was the one with his big mouth. They all glared at him, but the Director answered that question much easier.
“Because she has the names of Maggie’s assets, and of those involved in Maggie’s arrest. There’s a pretty decent bounty against those that made the arrest.” It all came down to names. The names of those that helped Maggie commit her crimes, the names of Maggie’s assets from the Company, and… the names of the people who brought her to justice for betraying her country. Lucy knew that Kate would die to protect those names.
“Maggie Shaw was one of the biggest DIA cases in the last few years.” Jane confirmed. The Director agreed.
“And only Whistler, Glavin, and myself were privy to all the details. Since Glavin is dead, he’s not an option.” Blake answered.
“And you are the Director of the DIA, so they couldn’t exactly abduct you.” Curtis scowled. “The mole took Whistler.”
“Most likely.”
// UNDISCLOSED LOCATION // UNDETERMINED TIME //
“You moving to Hawaii really threw a wrench in my plans.” Cara scoffed. “Always keeping me on my toes, babe.”
“Is that why you studied law? So you could figure out how to break it?” Kate growled, weak from Lewis’ torture. Cara tsked, bringing a hand to Kate’s cheek gently. “And all this time you told me you didn’t work for your dad.” Kate said it tauntingly. Cara gasped, slapping Kate across the face.
“How dare you! I don’t work for him, he works for me!” Cara snapped. “Now look, you made me hurt you, baby.”
“So, treason is a family business, then?” Kate winced as Cara took her nails and began to rake them across her cheek slowly.
“You remind me of my father. Stubborn. Hard headed. Always having to be right. Obsessed with intelligence.” Cara rolled her eyes. “He liked you. Thought you might be able to take over for him one day. He even offered you that promotion.”
“DC?” Kate’s mind was racing.
“Who do you think you pissed off when you said ‘no’ and joined the FBI?” Cara scoffed. “Making the Deputy Director mad was not a smart career move. My dad was so sure we’d get back together after you came back to DC. His need for control is only matched by yours. Keeping files with such limited access? Daddy dearest was annoyed when Director Blake told him that. I mean, how could Blake possibly keep secrets from his closest friend?”
“What do you want, Cara?” Kate hissed. Her ex-girlfriend had a different approach to interrogation than Lewis; however, Cara’s strategy may be the most deadly.
“I want you to give me those names… You know the ones… If I can’t get that file, because Glavin burned his copy with our names and you have your files locked somewhere not even I can find, then I’ll just need to hear it from you. You’ve got it all memorized. I know you do.” Cara smiled, walking her fingers up Kate’s arm. “And if you’re good, maybe we can make my dad’s dream a reality?”
“You might as well kill me.” Kate told Cara. Kate always knew how dangerous intelligence in the wrong hands could be to the American people, and to those that serve to protect the people. Kate would never do that to strangers, let alone to people she loved. She’d take those answers to the grave.
“That’s unfortunate. I’m running out of time, and that was your last chance.” Cara shrugged apathetically. Her feigned sweetness flipped back to the apathy that Kate was used to seeing in her ex-girlfriend’s eyes. “Consider this a gift.” Cara pulled a gun from her waistband and shot Kate in the chest. “I should pay that tiny girlfriend of yours a visit after this.” Cara whispered into Kate’s ear, the gun casually caressing Kate’s temple. Blood gushed from her chest. “What was her name…? Lori? Lauren?” Kate didn’t take the bait. She didn’t utter a single name.
// NCIS WAR ROOM, HAWAII // FRIDAY; 1520 //
“This is the box?” It was a file box, about a 2ft cube with a biometric pad and a keycard. They brought it up to the War Room after the Director signed it out from the Evidence Archives.
“Yes.” Director Blake answered.
“Logs into the armored evidence archive show a DIA officer Lewis Frost signed in Wednesday night. That’s the last person before you, Director.” Ernie answered. The group watched as Director Blake touched his thumb to the biometric, then the keycard. The box beeped before the internal lock turned. Opening the case, a bloodied file sat haphazardly atop the stack. In pen, a note was written directly on the file folder.
Director,
We found it. The intel leaks. Lewis Frost took Kate. He had a team. Kate didn’t know. She couldn’t have. I’m burning copies of this file. I will never make it to the airport.
VR
Matthew P. Glavin
Blake opened the folder after reading it. Inside, he found on top a list of names paperclipped to pages and pages of evidence. Pictures, testimonies, CDs of footage. But what drew the Director’s attention, and the attention of everyone in the room was the list of names. The names that people kill for… and people die for.
Officer Lewis Frost - DIA
Officer Martin Gomez - DIA
Supervisory Chief Sabastian Little - DIA
Operative Lauren Richards - CIA
Legal Council Elana Tro - DIA
Assistant Advisor Cara Hill - State Department
Deputy Director Adam Hill - DIA
“Fuck.” Director Blake dropped the list in shock. He expected a couple names, but even he was shocked by how deep the rot went into the system.
“Wait… Cara?” Lucy frowned at that name. “Whistler’s ex-girlfriend?”
“That’s why Glavin wrote ‘Kate didn’t know’ in his note.” Jane frowned.
“Cara is also the Deputy Director’s daughter. Only child, actually. Mother died in a car accident when Cara was five.” Blake informed with a heavy heart, shaking his head at his own hubris. “I only kept such a close circle because I didn’t know if I trusted Adam’s contacts. I never thought… It just…” Blake rubbed his temples, looking at the names again.
“Kate was kidnapped and Glavin died for those names. The evidence is right there.” Lucy felt her heart wrung out like three day old wet laundry.
“No, it’s not that, Agent Tara. It just… it makes a lot of sense now.” Blake conceded, pointing to the names on the list. “I suspected Officer Martin Gomez, and potentially Chief Little. That’s why I took an initial interest in Whistler’s assignment to Hawaii. I knew her through Cara at a dinner with Adam. I did a little research and found out about Whistler’s brother, and vetted her myself.” Blake explained.
“You fed her to a pack of wolves.” Jesse crossed his arms.
“I thought I put her in a position with one or two wolves… not the whole damn pack.” Blake retaliated harshly. Taking a few deep breaths, he pointed to Lewis Frost. “Whistler suspected him. He had a habit of targeting Whistler, and Chief Little would always back him. Could’ve been a boy’s club thing, but it didn’t sit right. I don’t think Whistler would’ve expected anyone else on this list though.” With a frustration fueled by his own shattered circle of trust, Blake looked to Ernie. “Find them. Any indication that any of these people are in Hawaii. ASAC Curtis: mobilize a team to arrest Chief Little and Officer Frost. SAC Tennant: please do whatever it takes to bring my asset home.”
“Understood, Director.” The teams broke off into their assignments. Blake contacted the United States Inspector General to arrange the Deputy Director’s arrest, as well as Attorney Elana Tro, CIA Operative Lauren Richards, and State Department Assistant Advisor Cara Hill.
“What are the odds we catch all of them?” Jesse whispered to his boss, circling up with Jane, Kai, Lucy, and Ernie. Carter and Curtis left the room in a whirlwind.
“They’ll run once they know their cover is blown.” Kai pointed out in annoyance.
“That has to be the Director’s and Curtis’s focus. Ours needs to be on finding Whistler.” Jane Tennant hated the idea of any of these treasonous bastards getting away with essentially murder. But, they had to prioritize their mission. They had to find their family member. Ernie was violently typing onto his keyboard. “Ernie, any luck?”
“Keep talking. Distract me.” He muttered, his brow furrowed in irritation.
“About what?” Kai asked, looking at the others.
“What do you want to do now that you’re back home?” Jane asked Lucy, knowing that if the tiny agent starts talking then Ernie will relax. Lucy frowned, glancing at Ernie and catching what Jane was alluding to with her question. A memory of her and Kate distracting Ernie with talk about their relationship popped into her head, bringing a smile to her lips.
“Kate and I were going to order from my favorite delivery place and have a quiet night in. We were going to–” Lucy blushed, flushing as nobody needed clarification on the reunion the two were going to share. Clearing her throat, Lucy continued. “I wanted to surprise Kate tomorrow morning. It would be Saturday, and I know she’d love to go surfing. I was going to go with her–NOT to surf–and just sit on the sand and watch her be happy. I told her our love is strong, but not surfboard strong … I think it might be and I want to show her that. We would go back home, shower, and have breakfast in bed. I would tell Kate all about my Agent Afloat experience.” Lucy smiled, not even noticing Director Blake had hung up from his phone call and was staring at the brunette. “I would tell her that it was the hardest thing I’d ever done. But she made it easier. Knowing that she supports me through it all, it makes everything so much easier…”
“Got it!” Ernie sighed in relief. “Director Blake, you’ll want to hear this.”
“Roger.” Blake cleared his throat, breaking his stare from Lucy.
“Officer Lewis Frost is still on the island. He called into work Thursday and today. Chief Sabastian Little filed Frost’s absence under “personal time” for family. Frost doesn’t have any family in the area and no one flew into Hawaii. Chief Little used his computer twenty minutes ago at the DIA office. DIA Officer Gomez was also absent with “personal time” but returned to the office this morning. He should be in a briefing with Navy Intelligence right now. I don’t have an exact location on Operative Richards, but her assignment puts her in the field in the middle east. Legal Council Elana Tro is in DC, but has a flight booked to Germany for an International Rights and Law Panel leaving in three hours. Deputy Director Hill is in DC from what I can tell.” Ernie sighed, bringing a picture of Cara onto the big screen. “Assistant Advisor Cara Hill flew into Hawaii Wednesday. She has an international flight leaving in five hours to Thailand. One way, no return scheduled.”
“Cara is on the island?” Lucy swallowed thickly.
“I’ll update the IG. If Cara booked a flight, she knows that you know Whistler is missing.” Blake paused as he lifted his phone to his ear. “Cara is cunning. She didn’t just get to her position because of her father. She can out negotiate anyone, but she knows when to walk away. She knows when to cut ties.”
“She’ll kill Kate.” Lucy squeezed her eyes shut as the image forced its way into the forefront of her mind.
“We got a location on Frost!” Carter ran into the room, panting heavily. “ASAC Curtis is assembling the team. Frost is at an old safehouse near the North of the island.”
“How did you find that out?” Ernie frowned, taking pride in being the best tech in the building.
“We asked Gomez nicely.” Carter quirked an eyebrow. “Sabastian Little is claiming innocence. He’s throwing Frost and Gomez under the bus. Gomez has bruises and scratch marks on his arms, and a nasty black eye.”
“That’s my girl.” Lucy smiled slightly.
“We have reason to believe Cara Hill is with Frost and Kate.” Jane Tennant informed Carter.
“Then let’s go.” Carter turned, leaving the NCIS team to follow. Jane put a hand out to stop Lucy.
“What? No, I need to be there.” Lucy demanded, and Jane shook her head.
“You’re not reinstated yet. Kate is your girlfriend. And Cara… Cara knows who you are, remember? You two met. She knows exactly who you are and what you mean to Kate. We need you to stay here with Ernie and Director Blake. Lucy…” Jane saw the resentment in her agent’s eyes. They flared with anger but Jane could read behind that emotion. She could see the fear Lucy was desperately trying to smother. “Kate took care of us while you were gone. She looked out for each of us, and went above and beyond to make sure we were okay. She has trusted us every time to bring you home. We need you to trust us, Lucy. Let us take care of Kate, and of you.”
“I love her.” Lucy stated painfully. “I miss her so much.” Jane hugged Lucy before she stepped back and rubbed the shorter woman’s arms. “Bring her home.”
“We will.” Jane smiled, nodding to Jesse and Kai that it was time to gear up.
// UNDISCLOSED LOCATION // UNDETERMINED TIME //
“Cara! We’ve got to go!” Lewis shouted from somewhere outside the room. Kate swayed in her seat, her head thrumming like she caught a bad wave and crashed into the ocean floor. Cara rolled her eyes at Lewis’ panic. She used a towel to wipe the gun down, pulling on two gloves calmly.
“Oh babe, you’re going to die a hero. You’re going to kill the mole that took you hostage and leaked so much intelligence to so many bad people.” Cara cooed in delight, using a knife to cut the rope crusted with blood to release Kate’s right hand. “This is almost romantic, isn’t it?” Cara whispered in Kate’s ear from behind, placing the gun in the blonde’s hand and lifting it to the side, aiming at the door.
“Cara, Little sent an SOS–” Cara pulled the trigger, hitting Lewis square in the chest.
“Good shot, babe.” Cara whispered, releasing her hold on Kate’s arm and tossing the gun on the floor. “I’ll cry when they tell me you died. I’ll call you brave. A hero. And your parents will know you were just as brave as Noah.” Cara pat Kate’s shoulder as she left her ex-girlfriend bleeding out and tied to the chair. “Although, I always thought you were too good for him and his idealistic view of the world. He was such a child.” Cara wiped down any surface she may have touched, calmly looking over her shoulder to delight in Kate’s barely conscious reactions. “Heroes are just a child’s fantasy.”
“Heroes are so overrated.” Cara hissed as she leaned into Kate’s embrace.
“I don’t know. If anyone can will them into existence, it’d be my brother.” Kate smiled fondly as she looked across the room at her brother talking adamantly to one of his college friends. “He’s my best friend. I wish you’d get along.” Cara hummed from Kate’s side.
“It’s not that I don’t like him, I just… I think he has too much control over your life. You’re going to be a lawyer, Kate. And he keeps warning you of losing your morals or telling you that money isn’t everything.” Cara sighed.
“That’s not a bad thing. I don’t want to lose myself just to play a game of politics, or forget why I’m becoming a lawyer in the first place. I want to help people.” Kate pulled away from her girlfriend.
“Okay, yes, duh. That’s why I want to be a lawyer too.” Cara tried to soothe Kate, but the blonde put more distance between them. “You’re right. This is Noah’s going away party. I should give you two time together, anyways. I’m sorry, I just… I’m protective of you too.” Cara put her coat over her shoulders, leaning in and giving Kate a light kiss on the cheek. “I’ll see you in class Monday?”
“Yeah.” Kate confirmed, watching her girlfriend leave.
“You could do better.” Noah whispered as he instantly appeared at Kate’s side. The door closed, and Cara was gone.
“Noah…” Kate felt frustration build. Her brother smiled charmingly, bumping her shoulder with his muscled frame.
“Sorry. I just always pictured you being with someone… nice.” Noah shrugged. “Someone with a soul.”
“You don’t know Cara.”
“Neither do you.” Noah was suddenly serious. “Kate, I have a bad feeling about her. She’s too focused on your career.”
“She wants me to succeed.” Kate defended weakly.
“She wants you to do whatever she says and not to ask questions.” Noah reiterated.
“Can we not fight before you leave for a year?” Kate pleaded. Noah gave his charming smile again, patting her shoulder.
“I’m sorry, Katie. I should’ve pushed harder. I shouldn’t have let this go.” Noah apologized. It was different. This is where the memory diverged into something else. Kate looked around, and there were no other people. They were in her apartment, and it was empty and clean. On the table were two mason jars with a mostly empty bottle of wine between them. Noah walked around the bright, well lit space. “Hawaii looks good on you, kiddo.”
“Why are we in my condo?” Kate frowned, looking out at the ocean view.
“Protein shake. Oh my god, this is authentic Texas BBQ sauce. Your girlfriend has excellent taste.” Noah grinned, snooping around the kitchen. He pulled a picture off the front of the fridge. “Ohana, huh?” He smirked.
“Noah, I can’t die.” Kate swallowed thickly. The picture he held was the going away party the NCIS team had for Lucy before she left for Agent Afloat. Kate and Lucy were wrapped up in a hug in the middle of the photograph.
“As far as going away parties go, this looks like a pretty good one.” Noah smiled at the picture.
“I was so tired, I didn’t even text her goodnight. She’s coming home soon, Noah.” Kate felt a cold chill enter her body. Her big brother tripped over a boot, picking it up in confusion.
“Why’s there only one boot?” He frowned.
“It’s a spare.” Kate answered automatically, her attention returning to the bellowed laughter from her best friend. “Noah, I want to stay with you. I’ve missed you so much, but… I can’t leave her. I just got her back.”
“She sounds special.” Noah walked out to the balcony. “Amazing view.” He leaned against the railing. Kate eyed him hesitantly. “What am I going to do? Fall?” He had a point. Kate figured this applied to her as well. She leaned against the railing, staring out at the sunset over the waves. “Tell me about her. Lucy.”
“Noah, I have no doubt that you would love her.” Kate smiled.
“Don’t keep secrets from your favorite brother! I need details!” He teased, earning an eye roll.
“Well, we met while I was interviewing for a job in Hawaii. She’s part of NCIS with an amazing team. At first…”
// UNDISCLOSED LOCATION // FRIDAY; 1759 //
“NCIS!” Jane announced as they entered the dark, stone basement. Hawaii didn’t have many basements, and this one was built with the intention to conceal. Jesse fanned in from her left and Kai from her right. There was a body on the floor. Across the room, they could see Kate battered and beaten slumped on the chair.
“I got him.” Jesse informed, having Kai cover him as he patted down Lewis and removed any weapons. The agent was dead, a pool of blood surrounding his body. Tennant ran to Whistler. “Kate?” She tried to get the blonde’s attention, but there was no response. Her pulse was barely present. Seeing the cuts and bruises and blood all over Kate was overwhelming. Jane schooled her composure, taking a deep breath as she began searching for the source of the dripping blood. Lifting Kate’s head up, Jane saw the gunshot to her chest.
“We have an Agent down and a suspect dead.” Jesse informed into his radio. “We need a MEDEVAC now.”
“Kate? Kate, can you hear me?” Jane tried again, holding pressure on the wound. Kate lulled her head to the side, and Jane leaned forwards to use her body to support the blonde’s head. “Kai, undo the ropes.” Kai nodded, pulling out his knife and cutting away the bindings. There was a murmur. “Kate?” Jane asked in a mixture of hope and shock.
“C-Cara traitor.” It was garbled, but Jane understood.
“We got it. Curtis and his team are searching for her. You did good. You did so good, Kate. Now open your eyes.” Jane reassured, gently. Kate opened her blurry eyes. “Just like that. Stay awake for me, Kate.”
“N-Noah is right.” Kate leaned further into Jane’s warmth. “It’s worth it.”
“All the pain is worth it in the end, Katie.” Noah smiled, the sun barely a glimpse on the horizon. “I wasn’t alone when I died. They were part of my family too. None of us want to die, but I think… I think when we find those people worth dying for, we can find peace. Instead of spinning in circles trying to watch your back, you can focus on what’s in front of you. All the pain and betrayal we face up to that moment, the journey to find our ohana, is worth it.”
“They found me.” Kate smiled, the coldness in her body being replaced with a warmth.
“Kate, Lucy is waiting for you at the hospital. You need to hold on.” Jane ordered when the stretcher finally arrived and the paramedics moved Kate off the chair.
“Lucy… I missed her plane.” Kate frowned, her head starting to hurt.
“I think she’ll forgive you this time.” Noah smirked, but Kate huffed.
“You’d be surprised. She can hold a grudge.” Kate muttered, but her brother didn’t laugh.
“She’s got a lot of love in her heart. She’s waiting for you.” Noah turned away from the dark, ocean scenery. “Time works different here. A moment can feel like forever, and… forever is just a moment. We’ll see each other again, Kate. When it’s the right time.” Noah opened the balcony door. “Don’t stay out here too long. Your family needs you.”
“I won’t be long. Just another moment.”
“Ms. Lucy Tara?” A doctor stepped into the waiting room, looking around at the various law enforcement agents looking in his direction. “Ms. Tara?” Lucy had stepped forwards with Jane at her side. It’d been seven hours since Kate went into surgery to remove the bullet. It’d been eight hours since Kate got to the hospital. And it had been 4 months and one day since she’d seen her girlfriend.
“Agent Tara. Now tell me about Kate.” She demanded, glaring at the young man that she didn’t recognize. He wasn’t the first doctor that came out, nor the surgeon that spoke to them before rushing back up to the operating room. This young, scrawny boy in a lab coat smiled nervously at the intimidating stare of the agents.
“R-Right. Agent Tara, uh Miss.. I mean, Agent Whistler is out of surgery now. Dr. Roseland removed the bullet and bone fragments from her chest. There’s a metal plate and screws, but Agent Whistler made it out of surgery. We won’t know the extent of any nerve damage until she wakes up and Dr. Roseland runs some tests.” The young man swallowed thickly.
“Nerve damage?” Lucy asked, confused.
“The bullet went through uh…” He poked himself in the chest near his heart… right about his heart and just below the collarbone. “It tore through here and hit the rib, but also the muscles and nerves for her left arm. Typically a trauma like that will take extensive physical therapy to return the functioning to normal.” He cleared his throat, nervously tapping his own collarbone. “Dr. Roseland is one of the best, and if my boyfriend got shot, I’d want Dr. Roseland to be his doctor.” He gave a nervous smile, looking down at his shoes.
“Thank you, Dr…?” Jane looked to him, seeing his name badge. “Thank you, Dr. Wu. When can we see Kate?”
“She’s being taken to the ICU right now, but Dr. Roseland will be out to fully debrief you afterwards.” He nodded, taking his leave.
“Dr. Wu.” Lucy called after him, releasing a shaky breath. “Thank you.” He gave a comforting smile and returned behind the double doors of the ER.
“This is good. She made it through surgery. This is a good sign, Luce.” Jesse comforted his friend, resting a reassuring hand on her shoulder.
“I know, I know.” Lucy sighed, the tears threatening to escape. “I hate waiting.”
// TRIPLER HOSPITAL, HAWAII // THURSDAY; 1130 //
“How’s our favorite FBI agent, Lucy?” Jane Tennant walked into the hospital room holding a couple coffees. “No offense.” Jane teased as she handed one coffee to Curtis and one to Lucy.
“None taken. I have to agree with you on that. Kate has always and will always be my favorite DIA officer too. Jeez they are a drag to work with. I don’t know how you worked for them for five years, Whistler.” Curtis talked to his unconscious agent. Lucy appreciated his steady, comforting presence. He had Carter step up and run the team after putting Gomez and Little behind bars. Director Blake was handling the arrest of the Deputy Director, CIA operative, and Legal Council member. Unfortunately, Cara Hill managed to escape the island by boat somehow… or small plane. The only thing everyone was sure of was that Cara was in the wind. As soon as that was wrapped, Curtis took some time to spend at the hospital, and keeping Lucy company. It’d been six days since Kate’s surgery. “Bunch of stuffy, arrogant jerks.”
“My badass warrior lady girlfriend is a superspy. Those assholes didn’t stand a chance.” Lucy held Kate’s hand at the fingers, the wrists still wrapped and bandaged from the damage caused by the ropes. Kate's left hand was stitched and bandaged due to a knife wound that penetrated the palm. The bruises were molting, no longer only black and blue, some turning an angry green. “She needs to wake up soon.” Lucy’s voice cracked, holding onto those fingers even tighter.
“She will. Her body is just recharging. I’m not sure if there’s a force possible that would keep Kate from seeing you.” Jane soothed, taking a drink of her own coffee. Jane walked forwards and pat Kate’s knee gently. “I’m so proud of you, Kate.” Lucy felt the fingers in her hand twitch, and a blurry eye hesitantly opened. Kate groaned as the world peered in through her eyelids like an explosion of light and color. Her left eye was far more blurry than her right, but they did flutter open. Lucy winced, forgetting for a second the blood pooled in Kate’s left eye from the abuse, but she recovered.
“D–....” Kate tried to speak, but her words were a jumble of coughs and immediate groans. Curtis was right to Kate’s side with a small cup of water.
“Drink.” He instructed, gently helping the injured agent sip water. When Kate was able to feel like her throat was cracking in a hot desert sun, the blonde tried again.
“Did T-Tennant just s-say she’s proud of me?” Kate asked slowly, dizzy and delirious. Jane twisted her smirk in bemusement, and Lucy released a relieved laugh. Curtis scoffed.
“I’m proud of you too.” He muttered indignantly. Kate seemed to just realize his presence, and the fact that Tennant was still in the room. A lazy smile slid over Kate’s face.
“Noah, said you were waiting.” Jane and Curtis looked concerned as Kate stared dazed directly into Lucy’s eyes. Lucy felt the dam break and she cried as she held Kate’s hand, afraid of injuring the blonde. “He said my family needed me.”
“Damn straight we do.” Lucy laughed a watery, tearfilled laugh. “Your brother really had to be the one to get that through your thick skull?” Lucy hiccuped. Jane understood now who Noah was, and it seemed by Curtis’s awkward frown, he also knew.
“I missed you, babe.” Kate croaked tiredly.
“I missed you too. So much.” Lucy smiled up at her warrior lady girlfriend. “I love you.”