Chapter Text
Chapter 1.
italics are flashbacks
In a dark warehouse, a figure sat propped up again the wall with a shoulder wound that dripped blood down his arm and torso gash that seeped with blood and other liquid that seemed days old because of the rings of fluid on the grey T-shirt the figure was wearing. He pushed his head against the wall and groaned blinking his dark brown eyes shut as pain coursed through his body. Unknown wounds seemed to flare up as he struggled to stay quiet but also maintain his hiding spot. In his hand was a rusted 9 mm lay in his hand. Enough bullets were left to ward off danger but not protect him from his captors which were pursuing him through the warehouse where for the past seven days he was captive.
Nick Torres bit back a gasp. His brown eyes searched the concrete prison looking for anything such as a glimmer of sunshine, or water trickling, a horn, or any sounds of life nearby where he was. Nick breathed a ragged breath, the ice pick wound in his side flared as he tried to gasp for air, his shoulder stab wound was numb and He was pretty sure his left ankle was broken. Nick had been in North Korea for 4 months tracking a very important operative. Former NCIS agent Eleanor Bishop.
Ellie Bishop the love of his life, his anchor, and the one person who kept him stable was missing.
Before she left, months before she left, in the comfort of her cozy living room she broached the topic of if something happened where one of them had to go rogue.
“So what happens if one of us has to go rogue?” Ellie was sitting on the couch, With Nick’s arm draped around her shoulders. They were watching a Marvel film, one he missed while he was undercover.
Nick glanced at her and again had to remind himself how lucky he was to have her.
“What are you talking about?” Nick asked the movie forgotten.
“What if we have to go rogue?” Ellie stated again leaning forward and uncurling her feet to sit forward on the couch and stare at him.
“ Both of us together or separately?” Nick’s brain trying to keep up with the brilliant person next to him.
“Separately!” Ellie responded her hazel eyes probing the depths of his soul.
“Well if it is a dangerous situation where we are separated, I would leave you codes to let you know I am alright. It would probably be something like a code. Like a lost pet. If I were a Dog probably a German Shepherd Named Brutus.” Nick explained and pulled her back into his arms. Ellie settled back on the couch some of the panic waning away as Nick played with her long blonde hair.
“I would be Masie, a golden doodle,” Ellie said, and Nick smirked at her and kissed her forehead. “If we got separated I would move heaven and earth to find you Babe” Nick whispered as they went back to the movie.
Ellie’s laughter echoed in Nick’s brain, the tinkling caused him to again close his eyes and take a ragged breath. He needed to find Ellie. Soon after she left, Nick started to pay attention to the personals.
About 3 weeks after she left, there was a personal ad: Found a golden doodle, responds to Masie, owner please call this number to claim. Nick immediately called this number and waited until he heard breathing on the other end.
“Elle?” Not using her real name in case it wasn’t a secure line, Nick whispered into the phone.
“Nick. I am okay, but I need to go away for a while. I just wanted to say goodbye and I’m sorry. Don’t track me down Nick, move on. Fall in love, have a family, and a dog named Brutus.” Ellie said on and gasped as if she was crying.
“Elle, listen I’m going to wait for you. I love you B. We will be together again soon.” Nick whispered into the phone. A sob rang out from Ellie and then the line went dead.
There were no more ads for weeks. Until a week ago, Lost Dog Masie. Golden Doodle. Nick’s heart stopped. Then there was chatter on the news network that an American Agent was being tracked down by terrorists, In North Korea. McGee approved going to track her down and Vance gave him his blessing. Nick disappeared checking in every few weeks getting closer to where Ellie was. That was until a week ago. A week ago, Nick stumbled on the terrorist group that was named the Lotus vipers. He had been kidnapped and tortured.
Now he was making his way of their base. “Come on Torres Think,” Nick growled at himself as he craned his head to look past the wall where his captors were chasing after him.
“Agent Torres!!!! We are going to find you!!!. Search the warehouse till you find him.” Khang Bora shouted to his men who all had machine guns.
The voice echoed through the warehouse. 12 men besides Khang Bora fanned out through the warehouse and suddenly Nick was cornered. His hiding spot was blocked. Nick glanced at the gun he stole and there were 3 bullets left. His left hand was already bloody from fighting his way out of the torture room. Nick knew there was still a knife in his boot. Nick blinked as his wounds flared up as he shuffled to stand. Khang Bora’s specialty was ice picks laced with scorpion venom which made his side numb. Nick steeled his features and moved forward as a bullet ripped through his shoulder. Nick switched his gun to his other hand and raised a non-dominant hand to aim at his captors. He would go down fighting!
A bazooka blasted through the wall, throwing Nick back on the concrete floor. Khang’s men scattered and suddenly the world erupted into chaos.
Smoke from bullets blazed through, 3 people with Scarves wrapped around their faces took out the men who were running through the now gaping wall. Nick blinked as the sunlight blinded him. His shoulder from the bullet wound screamed at him.
A masked figure ran over to him and helped him up firmly grasping his arm by the elbow and hoisting him to his feet. Another masked figure wrapped an arm around his waist and helped him walk out to the helicopter that was waiting for them. As they entered the helicopter, the final figure stopped shooting the Lotus gang and closed the door. The masked figures pulled down their scarves revealing Tony DiNozzo, Ziva David-DiNozzo, and Ellie Bishop.
Before Nick could say anything the world tilted as the helicopter took off and everything went black.