KING'S RETURN

/CHAPTER 14/

A/N: if you're not familiar with the whole "spy" debacle in season four of "Numb3rs", David "loosing" it isn't gonna make much sense to you...those of you that do know, sorry if David seems a little OOC, but I needed someone to be a little off their game to advance the plot...he was a good choice, since this situation would have touched on some raw and painful memories for him...

...and I think I am finally...finally...finishing this story

...NCIS LA...NUMB3RS...NCIS LA...NUMB3RS...NCIS LA...NUMB3RS...NCIS LA...NUMB3RS...NCIS LA...

Relief flooded through them as the first thing their eyes rested on inside the barren room was Marty Deeks...

Followed closely by terror...as Deeks head was bowed, small tremors shook his body and he appeared to be having difficulty breathing...

And finally rage at the man standing behind their detective, his hand holding a syringe, his thumb resting on the plunger that was sticking into an IV line that lead into Deeks arm.

"Surprise..." Chin said.

"Get away from him...NOW..." Kensi barked out, taking several steps closer to the man threatening her partner.

Kensi, her gun aimed at the man menacing her partner left David and Callen the opportunity to turn their weapons on Chin and his two men.

"What the hell did you do to him," Callen demanded, "I swear to god...he dies...you die..."

Lo Chin rolled his eyes, "Such melodrama; you American's watch way to much TV."

With that he waved his arm and several more men came out of hiding, guns drawn on the agents.

"Now, I know what is going through your minds...plans just racing through your minds on how to take me down...am I right" Chin said conversationally, wagging a finger at the two agents, "but if I were you I wouldn't try anything heroic...while it is true you might easily disarm my men, being the well trained American agents that you are," the last part said with flippant sarcasm before he motioned to Deeks, "your agent would be dead before you could say,- 'you're under arrest'."

"Wouldn't be too sure of that Lo Chin," Kensi said evenly.

"Can you shoot my man before he can push the plunger on the syringe he's holding...shall I tell you what will flood the veins of your agent?" Chin said.

Callen cocked his head, "Tetrodotoxin..."

"What..." David asked.

"The poison...its tretodotoxin...from the puffer fish in the tank upstairs..." Callen supplied.

Lo Chin quirked an eyebrow, "I'm impressed agent Callen."

"Callen..." Kensi gasped, "it's lethal..."

"No always..."Callen supplied.

"Quite correct...in small doses it does not kill, but it does produce some very painful and terrifying side effects; all of which can be counteracted with the right treatment..." Lo Chin supplied.

"Then help him...NOW," Kensi growled out, "If anything happens to my partner we have no reason to let you live, Lo Chin."

"Certainly...just hand over your weapons to my men and step into the room...the medication your man needs to lesson his symptoms is on the table," The man explained.

"Why should we believe you," David demanded.

"Because if I had wanted you to find Detective Deeks dead Agent Hannah, he would already be dead..." Lo Chin answered.

"What...wait, you..." David started to correct the man when Callen cut him off.

"Yeah, agent Hannah gets it...we all get it Lo Chin," Callen said with a pointed look towards the FBI agent.

"Callen..." a thousand questions in a single word.

Callen gave Kensi a guarded look before he raised his hands, his gun dangling from his finger...with a shake of his head, David followed suit and with frustration evident in every movement, Kensi did likewise.

"Oh, and your phones..."

With angry sighs the agents turned over their cells, watching as Lo Chin's men stepped from the room and slid the door shut.

The three agents immediately turned to their injured team mate...Kensi attempting to untie his bonds while Callen checked his vitals as best he could; leaving David picking up the syringe and fingering it with trepidation.

"You can't tell me you trust this guy..." David said angrily.

"No, I don't, he plans on killing us—that much is obvious, but he wants us to suffer first...he's not gonna let us off this easy..." Callen said, holding out his hand for the syringe.

Eying Callen's outstretched hand then the syringe in his hand, David ground out angrily, "This easy...this is easy, what is so damn easy about your man being poisoned—maybe dying...what's so easy about trusting that this might be a cure rather than what will kill him..."

Callen shot up from his kneeling position and grabbed David's arm, pulling the syringe from his tight grip, "Sinclair...what's going on with you...you gotta hold it together man..."

David shrugged angrily out of Callen's grasp, stepping away from the agent and running his hands down his face. He looked over to where Kensi was carefully lowering her partner to the floor, then turned and leaned on one arm against the wall, "I can't do this again, can't watch...it's too much like...; too much like when Colby was...they almost killed him...they took him, they took him just like this...out in the middle of nowhere...pumped him full of drugs—tortured him."

David turned to face Callen, his voice tight with ill-suppressed emotion, his eyes dilated and haunted, "We...we lost him, my partner, he was dead...his heart stopped, he wasn't breathin'...but somehow, somehow, he came back...but it was close...too damn close..."

Kensi looked up from her position beside her partner, surprise and understanding on her face, "He's not dead, David—it looks bad, I know, but don't count him out yet."

Callen handed Kensi the syringe, then clasped a firm hand on David's shoulder, "We're gonna get out of this...Deeks and Colby are gonna be okay...but you gotta keep your head in the game...you got that: you with us...?"

Taking in another deep breath, he said more calmly, "I'm sorry...just to close, ya' know...I'm fine. Earlier, you didn't want me to correct Lo Chin...didn't want him to know Sam was still out there..."

"Lo Chin thinks he's secure in his position...that he has us where he wants us..." Callen said with a smirk. "We'll use that against him."

"How; need I point out the obvious—we're locked in here while the rest of our team is out there and our coms our out of range; that doesn't strike me as being on the winning team..." David reminded Callen.

"Eric has been tracking our GPS signals this whole time, the Coast Guard has been notified, and Sam's still out there..." Callen explained.

"He's one man..."

"He's one man with advanced tactical and SEAL training..." Callen said, "right now we just play along until the cavalry arrives."

"So, what, your plan is to sit here...and wait to be rescued..." David asked skeptically.

"More like bidding our time and waiting for a signal..." Callen said absently, reaching down and pulling up his pant leg to reveal a holster, "...and, no, they didn't get all the toys."

David raised his eyebrow in surprise, as Kensi gave a tight smile and she too pulled a gun from an ankle holster.

"You don't carry a back-up weapon," Kensi asked.

David shrugged self-consciously, and slowly raised his pant leg to reveal his back-up revolver, "Lot going on...didn't see a lot of use for a back-up when I was locked in a steel room...and we did have more pressing things on our minds at the time..."

Callen followed David's line of sight to rest of Deeks, "Kens, how is he?"

"He's breathing a little easier, but his heart rate is irregular..." Kensi reported from her position beside her partner.

With a grim look, Callen muttered, "Just hang on buddy...hang on; Sam, what the hell is taking you so long..."

...NCIS LA...NUMB3RS...NCIS LA...NUMB3RS...NCIS LA...

A dark figure slowly emerged from the water, grasping a mooring line hanging from the side of the yacht...the voices on the deck above drifting on the wind...

Lo Chin asked, "Is such an inimical display necessary...my men are unarmed..."

"I doubt that..." Callen shot back with a smirk.

"Then I shall rephrase—these men offer you no threat or resistance...as do I," Lo Chin replied, waving his hand around the boat, "So where do you wish start your search?"

"Whatever we do we are not separating..." David said pointedly.

"Agreed," Callen said, looking to Chin he said, "We'll start on deck and move below...one room at a time, nice and slow..."

Spreading his arms wide he answered, "As you wish."

Hearing the people on deck move off, Sam carefully climbed the rope and pulled himself up and over the rail, to land with a quite thump...his eyes quickly scanning for threat.

The Navy SEAL flattened himself against the deck as he watched Callen and the others move through the top cabin and then make their way down below deck.

Sam waited a few moments more to be sure none of Lo Chin's men doubled back above deck before making his way to the control deck. Peering into the room he saw one man at the helm and another man casually leaning against a chart table.

In seconds the guard was down for the count, succumbing to a classic chock hold; the captain immediately backed away in surrender when Sam scooped up the weapon from the floor, "Not one word."

Turning to the vast control panel, Sam picked up the radio and tuned it to the needed channel, "This is agent Sam Hannah, NCIS, requesting back-up at these co-ordinates...approach with caution, suspects have not been secured, repeat; suspects' are still at large...and our people are not secure..."

"This is Coast Guard Vessel Alpha...we read you loud and clear, we're on our way, damn it's about time...ETA six minutes..." Don's voice said over the radio. "Where are the others...?"

"Creating a diversion..." Sam said.

Sam made quick work securing the captain and downed guard before making his was towards the stairs that led to the lower decks, quickly ducking into a storage room when Lo Chin and several of his men appeared from below deck.

"Destroy the other vessel, then have the captain make way...I want as much distance between us and the mainland as possible before nightfall," Lo Chin ordered.

As his men moved off, Lo Chin went stepped into the main deck cabin; Sam watched from his hidden position as the man poured himself a drink, a satisfied smile crossing his face.

Sam weighed his options...in minutes the coast guard vessels would be in sight of the yacht and Lo Chin would easily recognize the markings, forcing the man to either try to outrun the Coast Guard of stand and fight; either way, he knew he needed to find his people before the fireworks started.

He made his way to the secondary stairwell that led to the below decks and meet with no resistance as he quickly checked all the rooms. He then made his way to the engine room. There were four of Lo Chin's men spread around the room.

He was contemplating how to take out the four guards when the blaring horns of multiple Coast Guard cutters rent the air so loudly it could be heard even in the engine room.

Sam couldn't help a smug grin as the four men exchanged startled looks and scrambling to the upper deck.

The ex-SEAL watched them rush past his position, stepping out when the last man disappeared from sight and giving a shrug, "that was easy," before turning to scan the room for where his team mates were being kept.

...NCIS LA...NUMB3RS...NCIS LA...NUMB3RS...NCIS LA...

Though muffled by the heavy steel door, the agents heard the loud, raucous popping noises that indicated heavy weapons fire, which was followed moments later by a sudden lurching of the yacht, nearly sending them all to their knees as they stumbled about the room trying to maintain their balance

Righting them-selves, David looked to Callen, "that the signal you were waiting for?"

Ear to the door, Callen held up a staying hand, nodding to Kensi and David to get in position.

Kensi pulled her weapon, standing over her downed partner while Callen and David took up positions on either side of the door.

The waited tensely as they heard the lock disengage and the door was slowly pulled open: Sam stumbled back in surprise as two bodies jumped out at him and two weapons appeared in his face.

"Whoa...whoa, whoa; stand down G, it's me..." Sam said quickly, holding his hands up to show he wasn't a threat.

The three agents lowered their weapons and gave audible sighs of relief as Sam quickly stepped into the room, "here I thought you guys needed a rescue."

Callen just smirked, nodding his head to indicate above board, "What's going on up there?"

"Epps and the Coast Guard should be rounding up Lo Chin and his men as we speak..." Sam said as his eyes scanned the agents for injuries, finally coming to rest on Deeks.

Answering the unspoken question, Callen said, "Poisoned...tetrodotoxin...but he's hangin' in there..."

"Let's get the hell out of here," Kensi said, turning to her partner.

David and Kensi hoisted the unconscious man between them and started to follow Sam and Callen out the door, when the two agents stopped and took a few steps back into the room.

"What...guys..."Kensi startled, but tensed when she saw the two men in front of her tense and raise their weapons.

Peering around the two men she saw the reason for their sudden edginess; at the door stood Lo Chin, in his hands an M-16 set on full automatic.

"How the hell did you slip past the Coast Guard," Sam demanded.

"It's my yacht," Chin replied off handedly, his eyes scanning over the group, giving special attention to the two dark-skinned agents, "will the real agent Hannah please stand up."

"It's over Lo Chin," Callen ground out, "the Coast Guard are rounding up you men...you've got no place to go...you're done..."

"Not quite yet, not before I have my revenge...not the way I planned it, too crude in my book," he monologue, giving the weapon in his hand a slight wave, "but efficient none the less, don't you think?"

Suddenly, Lo Chin stiffened...a 9mm suddenly at his temple, "Not as showy as a full spray but still efficient-a bullet to the brain...messy, but it get the job done, don't you think."

The agents breathed a collective sigh of relief as Don Epps took a step into their view, his gun steady at Lo Chin's temple while Megan came around and pulled the M-16 from his grasp and handed it off, before cuffing the man.

As Lo Chin was being led off, Don turned to the assembled group, "You guys alright?"

"We're good, but Deeks need a hospital...now..." Sam said.

...NCIS LA...NUMB3RS...NCIS LA...NUMB3RS...NCIS LA...

EPILOGUE-

I'm forgoing the "usual" hospital scene(s) as they are so overdone and wanted to end the story on a lighter note...

The men stood side by side staring out at the crashing surf, surfboards held tightly in their arms.

"Great swells today..." Colby commented.

"Agreed, can't wait to get out there," Deeks answered.

Colby looked over at Deeks, and down at his ankle, "It's not much, but don't forget to readjust for the weight..."

Giving Colby the same once over, eyes resting on a similar black "bracelet" adorning the FBI agents ankle that was on his he said, "yeah, back ach' ya'"

Continuing to stare out at the inviting surf, Deeks again spoke, "So how long do you think they're gonna keep this up?"

Colby looked behind him at a group of people clustered in a group on the beach, appearing to be setting up a picnic.

When Don saw Colby look up at them he waved a small device his direction and smiled, causing Colby to sigh heavily and grouse, "Don't know about you, but I'm guessing sometime short of retirement."

Both men exchanged put upon looks and headed for the water.

Back at the picnic shelter, Callen came up to Don, who was holding a small tracking device in his hands..."our boys still good?"

Don showed Callen the small screen that had two red blips, "yeah, right where they're supposed to be."

"So how long did you sign the ankle bracelets out for," Callen asked with a smirk.

"Only for the day...but they don't have to know that..."Don replied. "Colby draws trouble like honey draws ants..."

Both men chuckled, each grabbed a beer and rejoined the picnic...secure, for the moment, that they knew their teams...their families, were all safe—and all accounted for...

...NCIS LA...NUMB3RS...NCIS LA...NUMB3RS...NCIS LA...

YEAH...I'm done...I'm done...I'm finally done ! Hope it didn't disappoint...that epilogue was easy to visualize—hard to write...but I hope it got the (amusing) point across...

Now to finish a few others...

Stay tuned for future updates to "Interagency Co-operation" and "Sylvia"...and thanks for reading... ; )