DISCLAIMER:For this chapter and throughout the remainder of this story... let it be know that I DO NOT own any of the characters mentioned throughout this story... WITH THE EXCEPTION OF TWO... "THE GHOST" and Aiden McDaniel are ALLLLLLLLLLLL mine. As for the lovely characters of NCIS LA... I am merely borrowing them for my own amusement. As always, I promise to return them none the worse for wear.
AUTHOR'S NOTE: HELLO! Just a bit of welcome and how do you do... As always, this is a continuation of... well... my version of the series. I'm more than a wee bit tired of the skip and jump game they play on the show. ANYWAY, if you are new to my stories... They ALLLLLLLL run in order. Most can be read as a stand lone but for the last four... they need to be read in the proper order. I do hope you enjoy my latest story. These characters are so much fun to write for. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE REVIEW when you get to the end of the chapter... While my story is completely written out, I have been known to make changes from time to time dependent on what I hear from the readers... I do take your ideas into consideration for the story of the moment or one in the future. One can always use new ideas. Thanks in advance for you kind and constructive reviews. Carry on...
Hetty sat her desk with her tea cup in hand. She had never been one to look back with regret and mourning but this day she found herself doing both. Maybe she was getting too old for this rat race. She was tired… and once again she found herself worrying over her team.
Six weeks ago, the LAPD had ordered Marty Deeks back to reprise his alias, Max Gentry, for a deep undercover operation in a co-op assignment with the ATF.
Callen had not been happy with the news. He'd warned her it was a bad idea. Deeks was always on the short end of the stick with LAPD, especially now with Ellen Whiting. Deeks was unaware that Callen knew about Whiting's little blackmail game she had started. That wasn't all Callen knew. Callen was well aware of the fact that Max was one of the aliases that would take root if you let them. It was the type of persona that could change you and not for the better. He, personally, knew that all too well. There was no one to help Callen when he started out. He wasn't at all sure it would have mattered. Callen seldom needed to 'create' those particular personas. He had carried those demons inside him from childhood. "Ghost" was his Renegade persona. The worst of the worst. His guess was that 'Max Gentry' was Deeks's demon. A mixture of personal history and creation of necessity. Living in that skin for even a few days was dangerous. Six weeks was a disastrous mistake in the making. The op wasn't supposed to have been more than a few weeks though.
Despite his warning, the truth was that her hands were tied. Deeks was first and foremost, LAPD and then NCIS. Callen was determined to have a talk with Deeks, when he returned, about the unsigned paperwork that would allow him to be an NCIS agent.
NCIS LA - NCIS LA - NCIS LA - NCIS LA - NCIS LA - NCIS LA - NCIS LA - NCIS LA
Callen stretched his aching muscles. Hetty hadn't been kidding when she said he wasn't getting any younger. The many beatings his body had taken over the year were starting to haunt him, not unlike the many memories of those cases now haunting his dreams.
He'd been in the apartment above the bar now for nearly three months and though he tried, he had yet to be able to stay in the bed they had purchased for his use. He could only imagine the psychological reasoning Nate would have used to explain it. Callen chuckled as he holstered his gun at his back and grabbed his keys before heading down the steps to the bar area to grab a cup of coffee he knew would be waiting.
He was just headed for the door when the now familiar voice called him to a halt from behind.
"Just where do you think you are going?"
Callen smiled, "Good morning, Roberta. I was just heading to work, thanks for the coffee!" he answered preparing to continue exiting the building.
"Not before you eat breakfast," she scolded.
"I'm late." He threw back.
"Should have come down sooner. Park your butt on a stool and I'll get your plate."
"I'll grab something on the way. Hetty doesn't take to tardiness." Callen stated.
"I CAN give her a call!" Roberta offered, not giving an inch.
With a heavy sigh, his eyes narrowed, "That won't be necessary. So, what are we talking about here… oatmeal?" he asked, turning to face her with a smirk.
"Scrambled eggs with a nice side of bacon." she grinned, knowing she'd already won.
With a mock sigh of resignation, Callen headed over to the bar, "I guess I could eat."
"Yeah, I thought you might." Roberta chuckled, quickly returning with his plate of food.
In the short time he'd lived there, Roberta was quick to take notice of the foods he liked and made sure he ate each morning before heading out. This argument had become a game they played out frequently.
As he finished the last of his eggs, Callen picked up the offered glass of juice to clear his throat before speaking, "You know, you don't have to do this. I've managed for a very long time on my own."
"Darlin' from the looks of you, just barely," Roberta replied as she dried the tray of glasses she'd just washed.
Callen instinctively looked down at himself in question.
Roberta smiled, "Look, maybe it's time you let someone do something for you for a change. You want to fill yourself with all that garbage truck food during the day, that's your business but you eat a homecooked meal to start the day. Deal?" she stated adamantly.
Callen watched her for a moment, "You sure Marty is okay with this?" He didn't want to cause trouble between the two.
"Why wouldn't he be? He's a big boy and he's married. He has his own life," she swished her hand in the air for affect.
Callen glanced at his watch as he got up to leave. "Okay, deal… but don't feel pressured…" Roberta put a hand on her hip and rolled her eyes as he grabbed up the last piece of bacon and with a small grin, he left.
- NCIS LA - NCIS LA - NCIS LA - NCIS LA - NCIS LA - NCIS LA - NCIS LA - NCIS LA -
Callen walked in to find the remaining two members of the team sitting at their desks finishing up the final details on their latest case. "You're late." Sam scolded, "See? This is why I should be picking you up."
"and your coffee is now cold." Kensi added.
"Yeah, sorry about that. Thanks though." He took a sip before setting the cold cup aside. He had just began removing his laptop from his bag when Hetty called him to her office.
"Getting called to the principal's office... what did you do now?" Sam grinned.
"Never grows old, Sam." Callen threw back over his shoulder as Sam and Kensi shared a grin.
Truth was, he was debating that very thought during the short walk to her office. He had seen her on the phone when he first walked in and whomever she was talking to was getting an ear full.
"Mr. Callen," Hetty greeted, motioning to the chair in front of her desk.
"What's going on, Hetty?" Callen asked, already on alert.
"I just got off the phone with Miss Whiting. It would appear that the mission with Mr. Deeks is finally beginning to wind down and they need to extricate Mr. Deeks from the field prior to the close. However, this is proving to be a challenge, as he is well embedded in his character at this point, as you may have guessed. They are asking us to clean up their mess and talk him out. I do not believe Miss Blye would be the proper choice in this case."
"What is it you are asking me?" Callen asked, fearing her answer.
Hetty could see the man tensing.
"They are in want of one of your darker aliases, Mr. Callen." Hetty answered, "One, Mr. Aiden McDaniel".
"What? Why? How did they even know about him?" Callen demanded. He had made sure that he had buried anything and everything to do with himself from public record. He was tired of his past coming back to haunt him… even in the ABC agencies… especially in the ABC agencies. "I've retired that alias and for good reason, you know that!" Callen fumed.
"Yes, Mr. Callen, I am well aware of Aiden McDaniel's history," Hetty remarked, already concerned by the agitated state of her boy. "That is the very reason you were chosen. Max Gentry has become very volatile. They are concerned he has usurped our Mr. Deeks and is becoming more dangerous and unreachable. They feel your Aiden McDaniel might just be able to reach him and possibly take the case over from here to the end so that Mr. Deeks might come home."
"I warned you Hetty. Max Gentry needed retired ages ago. He has become too much a part of Marty. He's been under too long. Didn't he request an out?" Callen demanded.
"Mhm. Yes, it appears he did. They were more interested in finishing the case than protecting Mr. Deeks."
"And the case? What exactly is it and how close to done are they?"
Hetty cringed inwardly at having to divulge the basics of the case, "Human trafficking."
"Damn it, Hetty." Callen leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees.
"I would understand, Mr. Callen, should you choose to decline." Hetty offered him the out. Callen hated the human trafficking cases… evil preying on innocence… she knew he still had nightmares from many of the cases he was involved in where the outcome had ended less than ideally in his opinion. What he hated even more was when the aliases he had to take up in order to address the case were one of the members involved in the trafficking… having to cause the victims further pain and anguish just to save their lives never settled well with him. The LAST thing she wanted was to put him through anymore of that… but their own Martin Deeks was at risk and she couldn't have that either.
Shaking his head, he looked up and Hetty knew his answer without him speaking a word.
"Very well, this is all you need to know. Max Gentry's present where a bouts are being sent to your phone. Everything you need is waiting for you in the locker room and here are the keys to that infernal bike of yours. Try not to wreck it." Hetty warned with a smirk.
Callen stood and returned the look, his blue eyes sparkling. The only bright spot in the deal was having his bike back.
Callen headed back towards the locker room only to return twenty minutes later dressed as one Aiden McDaniel. Hetty could already see the changes taking place in his stance. His visage darkening in preparation. It was frightening how quickly he could change his persona. She was glad he was on their side.
"Mr. Callen," Hetty called out to the retreating figure, garnering the attention of the bullpen. "Stay safe, Grisha." She stated as she walked up to the man, "Bring our Mr. Deeks home."
"Yes, Ma'am." Callen replied as he turned and headed out of the building, leaving Hetty to deal with the men's partners. With a sigh she cast a glance towards the landing above the bullpen where the dynamic duo now stood returning her concerned gaze.
NOT TO HARP BUT THE BOX IS RIGHT DOWN THERE... JUST SAYIN'