Meet the Defense

Hospital Visit

Because Names aren't used that often
Nathan Hamilton- CoastGuard
Jared Raleigh - NCIS
Gaz Clarke - GreenBeret
Jameson Macer - Navy

Nathan scribbled over a word on the word bank- well it wasn't really a word. He'd seen this mental crossword on tumblr and decided to print it up and try it out. All the words consisted of keyboard smashes, titled "Frustration". One hour, two "words".

"What kind of crossword is that?"

Nathan jumped before realizing it was just Gaz. He looked behind him to see Gaz standing behind him, looking over his shoulder. He looked to him with a smile. "Where'd you find that?"

"Internet. Thought it'd be interesting." He looked back to the puzzle, continuing his search.

"Well, if anyone can complete, you can."

Nathan smiled to himself. He looked back over the crossword, trying to get back into it. He didn't manage to before a familiar ring came from his pocket, disturbing him yet again. He put his pencil down and reached into his pocket for the device. Seeing no ID on the screen, he answered and put the device to his ear. "Hello?"

A feminine voice came on. "Hello. Can I speak to Nathan Hamilton?"

"Speaking."

"This is Mercy Hospital. We have a patient here by the name of Thomas Raleigh. You were his emergency contact."

Thomas? He didn't know anyone by that name- wait. "What happened?"

"Mr. Raleigh was shot. He checked himself in here and he's stabilized now. He's been unconscious since surgery, though, and we don't know what's happened, yet."

He heaved a sigh. "Okay. Thank you." He hung up, sliding the device back into his pocket and standing, his chair screeching against the wood floor.

"Who was that?" Gaz asked.

"No one. A ship was damaged coming into port. I've gotta go see to it." He grabbed his keys and wallet and headed for the door.

"All right," he heard Gaz say uncertainly. "Well, I'll see you later, then?"

"Yep." He looked back to Gaz before heading out the door and tried for a smile. "See you later." He closed the door behind him and got to his car.

It wasn't a long drive to Mercy Hospital, but all the way he couldn't quit wondering what Jared had been doing. It had to be Jared. He didn't know anyone else by the last name Raleigh. If he's been working a case and gotten into trouble, he would've had his creds with him and the hospital've called NCIS- he should've had his creds with him anyway even if he hadn't been on a case- at least from what he understood. If he had gone by Thomas though- He shook his head. What had he gotten himself into?

At the hospital he was directed to a room number and found it devoid of anyone else but Jared, lying unconscious in a hospital bed. He sat down in the chair against the wall opposite the bed. Two minutes later he was still left to the not to silent silence of the room and the hospital beyond. He stood up, walking to the bed and looking over the drip and monitors that he had no idea how to read.

"Should've brought that crossword," he mused aloud.

"Nathan," a quiet voice said.

He looked down at the bed to see Jared's eyes open.

"Hi, Thomas. What happened to you?"

"Sorry. It's nothing." He pushed himself up with a small grimace to sit up.

"And since when am your emergency contact?" he asked bemused with a smile.

Jared returned the smile. "I thought you'd be the best person in any situation. I mean, thanks for actually coming. Nice to know I have at least one person to count on."

Nathan pulled over the chair to sit at the bedside. "I would've expected you to have someone like Macer or Sawyers."

He frowned. "Why them?"

"Well, they both care about you."

Jared laughed. "Right."

"Jared-"

"Jameson, maybe. Sawyers can go to hell."

"So you'd probably be mad if I told you I'd called him on the way here."

"Please tell me you didn't."

Nathan didn't respond, just waited for Jared's response.

His head fell to his chest. "I don't need his crap right now," he muttered.

"Okay," he said after a long second of silence. "Well, I did call Macer instead." Jared let out a slow, deep breath while Nathan heard rushed footsteps nearing the room. "Speaking of the devil." The next moment, Jameson came in and looked to the two of them.

Jared gave him a weak wave. "Hey, man."

"What happened?"

"I got shot," Jared replied, leaning back and adjusting the bed. "Nothing to worry about."

"You're gonna kill yourself one of these days if you're not more careful."

"Yeah. Well, that can't actually happen so you have nothing to worry about."

"If you keep putting yourself in danger," Jameson said, his voice gaining volume.

Jared stared straight back at him. "Yeah. Tell me what'll happen."

"Your body's going to tap out, and that can happen."

Jared just shrugged his shoulders- more like only the one, considering the other was bandaged and seemed to cause him pain whenever moved. "That's my problem, not yours." His hand went to his hip before his shoulder fell. He looked around a bit before asking, "Where's my phone?"

"I can ask a nurse for your personal effects," Nathan offered.

Jared nodded. "Thanks, Nathan."

Nathan left to do just that, and left Jared with Jameson. He wasn't sure what he hoped would happen- whether Jameson would talk some sense into him, or whether they'd be able to work something out. He knew the latter wouldn't be possible, though.

Also I was watching Hercules 'cause I needed something familiar, and "I can go the distance" I thought is good for NCIS like- but imagine little kid Jared always trying to make his elders proud and stuff.