Last man standing Chapter 1, a ncis: los angeles fanfic

AN: This story is at first not chronological, it sort of follows the main character's confusion after a concussion. But everything will be clear as the story progress. (As long as there's no new date indicated – even after a dotted line – it's still the same day.)

I like stories where details or some information about a city / a country play a role or just create an interesting background. A masterful example is knirbenrots' story Detour. I took the opportunity the canon has so generously offered us and have set a part of the story in Prague.

Disclaimer: I don't own any of the recognizable characters. They all belong to Shane Brennan.

I would like to thank ClaudiaRain for beta-reading.

Chapter 1: Introduction

Wednesday 17th, afternoon

''Suction, please,'' said a man behind a mask in operation room 2.

''Hey, he's waking up. Increase the dose,'' he instructed the anesthesiologist.

''I'd rather not do that. We can't be sure whether he's allergic to some components of the anesthesia or not. He didn't have any documents with him, when the paramedics brought him in. And we didn't have any time to do the tests. If you hurry up, we won't need to increase the dose,'' the anesthesiologist explained.

''So because of your laziness I have to race like Usain Bolt, perfect,'' the surgeon replied grumpily.

The anesthesiologist recognized a playful tone behind the grumpiness but he still felt the need to defend himself. ''He really didn't have anything with him. No ID, not a single card. We don't even know his name. We couldn't find him in our patients' database... Actually he had something. A completely useless, wet and broken flash drive.''

''We are closing the wound,'' the surgeon announced.

''In a few weeks, you'll be fine, Mr. Flash drive,'' he softly said to his unconscious patient.

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Monday 15th, in the night

''Ladies and gentlemen, enjoy the holidays,'' stated Hetty Lange.

''Mr Deeks, I trust you that you won't drown in the ocean while trying to impress Miss Blye with your surfing skills.''

Deeks and Kensi blushed simultaneously.

''Enjoy the precious time with your families,'' Hetty adressed Sam, Nell and Eric.

''And come back safely,'' now she looked first at Callen then at the others.

''Enjoy the holidays, Hetty,'' Callen said.

''See you in one week, exactly,'' Hetty stated

''It's Sunday, Hetty, you sure you want to see us next Sunday? I've always thought that work begins on Monday,'' Callen grinned.

''Technically, Mr. Callen, it's Monday,'' Hetty corrected him.

''Yeah, sure, on the other side of the world.'' The others started laughing because it usually didn't happen that Callen lost track of time during investigations.

''It's after midnight, Mr. Callen,'' Hetty said innocently and Callen looked at his watch surprised.

''I hope you won't blame me for your snail's pace during the investigation,'' Hetty added with a small, almost mischievous smile.

''Come on, G, you can't win against her,'' Sam advised him smiling.

''G, you really don't want to go with us? I'm offering for the last time,'' Sam was trying to convince his partner.

''Sam, I'll be fine. Alone. Go home, be with Michelle and Kam, enjoy the free time.''

''OK, if you need anything, call me,'' Sam gave up. ''I'm a big boy, I don't need a mother,'' Callen groaned.

''Behave, G. Don't make me come to rescue you again, in my free time,'' Sam warned.

''It's holidays, Sam. Means no work. Means no risks. It's logic like one plus one. As a mathlete you should understand that,'' Callen grinned.

''Junior math olympian,'' Sam corrected his partner needlessly. ''See you in a week, G.'' The holidays came at the right time. They would spend some time together as a family again and then they'd visit Aiden. And in the meantime, maybe, his partner would manage to stay safe.

Callen lightheartedly convinced Sam that everything would be fine, but in fact he felt restless. Something was about to happen. He just didn't know whether it would be good or bad. Given that he had always been the glass half empty guy, Callen expected something bad to happen.

When he lost a third game of chess on his computer, Callen grabbed his gun and went to the beach. It was tempting to swim in the ocean alone in the moonlight.

The man calmly sipped his coffee. He, again, enjoyed the unique panorama of the city: the castle, the bridge with statues from the Middle Ages, the calmly flowing river, the baroque church with a green cupola, the lights...

He was prepared. Four years ago he wasn't. Since then he had come a long way. He had done everything he could. He planned this mission to perfection. Today was the beginning.

Then he looked at a photo lying on the table. The photo showed a tall muscular man who was lifting a little girl in the air. The man in the photo was smiling at the girl and you could clearly see dimples in his face.

He carefully placed the photo into his pocket and looked at the panorama again. He was ready to kill, he was ready to die. He was a Comescu.

Thursday 18th, 3:00 a.m.

''Doctor,'' a nurse gently placed her hand on the shoulder of a man sleeping in the on call room.

''Doctor Nemec, wake up,'' she said hesitantly.

''I'm really sure it's not morning yet,'' was the sleepy reply.

''It's not,'' she smiled at him, ''but we need you in the ICU.''

He was already getting up, because regardless of how tired they are that's what doctors always do whenever a nurse wakes them up. Priorities, quick reactions, patients - med school and fifteen years of practice taught him well.

After a moment he slowed his quick pace. ''Wait. ICU? No surgery? You have no doctors in the ICU?'' the surgeon asked needlessly.

The nurse didn't say anything.

''Is something wrong with one of the patients I operated on?'' he asked slightly alarmed.

''Everything's alright. I just, .. we just thought... You are a Czech, right? You do speak Czech?'' she wanted to make sure.

''It's 3 am! And you want to talk about … Ok, I am Czech and I dared to penetrate the ancient institution, St. Mark's hospital in London,'' Doctor Antony Nemec finished his sarcastic speech. He was usually a kind and cheerful person but no-one can expect this at 3 am.

''No, it's just this patient. I thought... He's screaming. He woke up after the anesthesia had worn off. And he won't let us touch him. And we don't understand him... Do you remember when you were talking in Czech with us? You told us about the letter you have only in Czech and nobody else can pronounce it? I think this is it... I have a good music ear, so I remember it...'' nurse Amanda explained in one breath.

''You mean 'ř'. Třistatřicettři stříbrných stříkaček,'' he smiled and recited a Czech tongue-twister.

''Why didn't you tell me earlier? Who is he anyway, the patient?'' Antony asked.

''A man, around forty, short brown hair, he was brought in here yesterday,'' nurse Amanda trailed off because he didn't seem to recognize the man in question. Unlike Amanda, who was so young and saw the patients as people, he saw them as cases first.

''Multiple fractures of the right calf bone, open fracture of the left femur, stab wound to the right shoulder, concussion,'' she recited.

This time he immediately recognized the patient. ''Our Mr. Flash drive may be a Czech. Who would have thought...'' He quickened his pace again.

Nurse Amanda and Dr. Antony Nemec entered together the ICU.

''Pomoc. Nechte mě. Řekněte mi, kde jsem. Kde jsem?'' the patient shouted.

''You were right,'' Antony swiftly informed the nurses.

''Calm down. You are in a hospital. You were injured. Nobody will hurt you. Calm down,'' Antony tried. He used a pen light to check the patient's pupils.

… green cupola … smell like at a river … pain … the green cupo... he can't think … pain ...he needs to escape … a photo, it's unclear … he doesn't understand what is going on … he is sooo tired … he needs to -

The injured man didn't respond. So Antony shifted into Czech. Before he could finish his soothing speech, the residual effects of anesthesia won over their unknown patient and he fell asleep again. The nurses released their breath.

''It's for the best now. He's stressed. Have an analgesic ready, just in case,'' Antony instructed them.

''He didn't even tell me his name... Strange. Maybe it's just the anesthesia...'' the doctor said somewhat sceptically.

''Schedule a neuro check tomorrow or the day after tomorrow,'' he instructed nurse Amanda. ''Either way we should find out who he is, our Mr. Flash drive,'' Antony decided.

Thursday 18th

''He's not answering. It's Thursday and he hasn't called one single time,'' Sam sighed.

''Callen? I'd be more worried if he did,'' Michelle smiled. ''But you'll still be trying to contact him.''

''I just don't understand why he has to turn off the phone completely,'' Sam complained.

''You say this every time and then you almost cancel holidays and want to return to LA,'' Michelle reminded him. ''Callen can take care of himself, he's alright. And you can tell him off on Monday,'' she reassured him.