A/N: So, while I am excited to see where this Arkady business is going, I was kind of disappointed that the IA storyline doesn't seem to be moving forward. So this is my take on it. I imagine people won't be too happy with the way I gave Rivera's allegations a strong basis in fact, so be warned, but I figure its believable both that Rivera would not go around making unfounded accusations, and that it would be easy for Deeks to go along to get along as the new guy and go along a lot further than he ever intended.

The title for the story is from Folk Bloodbath by Josh Ritter.

"I know we weren't supposed to be in Russia, but you'd think the least the MVD could do was give us upgrades. I mean, we did take out a whole section of the Bratva." Kensi and Deeks were climbing the stairs up to his apartment, their apartment, the way they shambled up the stairs, an observer would think that they were drunk. In reality it was a twelve-hour flight from Moscow to LA, in coach, surrounded by every screaming child on the plane.

"Well, let's face it, they probably were close friends with some of those guys and their economy's in the toilet right now."

"That might explain the screaming childr-." Detective Rivera was standing in front of their apartment door.

"Martin Deeks."

"What do you want, Detective?"

"You are under arrest." Two more detectives stepped out of Deeks' apartment. One was carrying an evidence bag, which contained money, documents, and a laptop. Another two came out of the neighbouring apartment. Two black and whites pulled into the parking lot below.

Deeks raised his hands above his head.

"You can't just-."

"It's okay Kens."

One of the Detectives stepped up behind him and gently placed he cuffs on. "Detective, are you carrying any weapons or sharp objects. Sorry I've got to ask." Kensi watched it happen, but it was like there was a pane of glass between her and what was happening.

"Pistol on my lower back, backup in an ankle holster, knife at my left hip, and another knife in the sole of my shoe." Rivera quirked an eyebrow. "It pays to be prepared."

Kensi came back to the world. "What are the charges?"

"Corrupt activity. Theft. Murder."

"Do you have a warrant?"

"Signed by a judge." Rivera held it up.

"Let me read it."

"You aren't entitled to a copy."

"No, but I am," said Deeks.

Rivera placed the warrant in Deeks' pocket. Deeks immediately turned to Kensi who took it.

"Hey."

"It's my document; I can do what I want with it." One of the other Detectives behind Rivera smirked. "I think you forget that I used to be a lawyer."

Rivera glared at Deeks. "Take him." Kensi watched as they led Deeks away. Then she called Callen.

Eric, Nell and Granger were waiting when Kensi, Callen and Sam walked into OSP.

"What do we know?"

"Deeks has been arrested for corrupt activity, theft and murder."

"We knew that thirty minutes ago."

"IA operates behind another layer of security and mainly on paper, there's almost nothing on their computer network." Eric said.

Nell turned to Granger. "You may want to cover your ears for this part."

Granger remained still.

Eric continued. "I hacked the LAPD phone network and IA's personal cells and I'm searching the files for Deeks's name now. I also hacked Rivera's personal computer. Nothing on the case, but there is an application for the FBI. It's been sent and is being processed."

"So this is a job interview?"

"I don't know."

"There are people at the FBI who we've pissed off over the years, Agent Callen. Some of them might have the juice to smooth the way for an applicant and a few might be willing to require a favour in order to so. I'll see what I can find out. In the meantime Agent Callen, we're going to need as much information as we can get."

"Nell, go through Deeks' financials, if there's anything that suggests he was taking bribes, then we need to get all the facts and an alternate explanation. Eric, send a third of the calls to me and a third to Sam. Kensi, get down to LAPD headquarters right now. Keep tabs on Deeks and the investigation."

Callen pulled out a phone.

"Who are you calling?"

"Bates. Let's see what he knows." The phone started to ring. Callen realised that there was someone inconspicuously absent from the meeting. "Where's Hetty?"

"I called her, told her what happened." Eric answered. "She said thanks and hung up."

Sam and G shared a look. Their boss had been MIA during the mission to Moscow, but she had enough contacts to know this was coming and yet she hadn't let slip one word. Now she appeared to be off pursuing her own agenda.

Deeks was resting his arms on the table. Not only was it the most comfortable position to keep his cuffed hands, but it also meant he didn't have to worry about falling out his chair while he slept. He had a feeling there wouldn't be much to be had in the near future.

"Good morning sleeping beauty."

"Rivera. I wish I could say it was a pleasure to see you, but it's, you know, really not."

"You want coffee, water, something to eat maybe. I offer because I know you had a long flight and I didn't want you to be diminished in any way when you make your statement."

"I wouldn't mind the cuffs off."

"Not happening. Criminals stay in cuffs."

"When did I become a criminal?"

"Around the same time you started stealing money." She placed the evidence bag with the money on the table.

"You have proof that the money's stolen. I do keep a go bag in my closet."

"And another in your car and at least another three in lockers in bus stations around the city."

"If you looked into any of the people I work with, you'd find exactly the same thing. Our boss requires it, one of her unwritten rules."

"We also have the testimony of two drug dealers you ripped off." The past coming back around. It wasn't something he was proud of, going along with other members of his squad. Especially given where it led. But he didn't want to go to jail and he certainly wasn't going to give Rivera the satisfaction of getting what she wanted.

"Drug dealers huh. Upstanding members of the community no doubt. Very reliable"

"They distinctly recall a tall blonde haired man, and they picked you out of a line up."

"After nearly ten years, how many times did you have to give them the fat finger?"

"You also made extra deposits into your bank account, for a six month period beginning not long after you started working undercover narcotics."

"That was almost ten years ago."

"Time changes nothing."

"Maybe I was working an extra job to help pay for my mother's cancer treatment."

"You didn't declare it on your taxes."

"What are you the IRS? It was ten years ago, how am I supposed to remember."

"There's also the matter of the 42nd Street Boys."

"I don't recall them, but then there are 450 gangs in this City of Angels."

"Shortly before you transferred from Narcotics to the Undercover Unit, four of their dealers were shot to death in their stash house. At the time, a witness heard someone yell 'Police', but it never went anywhere. Now, it looks considerably more suspicious."

"Well, thank you for that disclosure. Now I want a lawyer."

"You really want to play it that way?"

"I'm not playing anything. I'm exercising my rights under the sixth amendment."

In the observation room, Bates smiled. "Smart, he got Rivera to lay out her whole case before he lawyered up." He turned to Kensi. "You want to go in and see him?"

Kensi said nothing.

Less than a quarter hour later, a man in a suit arrived. He immediately handed over a card. Mickey Haller, Attorney. No esquire, but Deeks had always found that a little pretentious.

"That was fast."

"A guy named Bates called me an hour ago."

"Well in that case, what took you so long?"

"I live in Hollywood Hills, and then LAPD pulled their usual tricks until a very helpful Detective named Bernhart gave me excellent directions."

Deeks smiled. Bates still had his back. Though it was starting to look like NCIS didn't.

"I understand you used to be a lawyer."

"Public defender."

"Then that makes this simpler. I trust you didn't say anything."

"Other than variations on the theme of I know nothing."

"Good."

"And Rivera laid out at least part of her case

"Even better." Deeks briefly sketched out what Rivera had told him.

"Are you aware of anything that's not in that list that might hurt you?"

"The other people who were there, but I doubt they're going to just confess."

"Anything else?"

"The guns from that night all went down a storm drain. I wore gloves. Rivera already has the money, but I'm sure that doesn't prove anything."

"It just looks really bad. If this goes to trial, then I don't give you better than a 50/50 shot of escaping prison. And win or lose, this is not something your career will recover from."

"I know."

"I think we should make a deal."

"Not yet."

"I strongly recommend we make a deal as soon as possible before they find something more.."

"I know, and I politely reject your advice."

"May I ask why?"

"Have you met Rivera?"

"The detective on your case."

"She won't accept anything less than some jail time. A deal means I go to prison, which means I'm dead within a month."

"Fair enough. If I could get you a deal that didn't include prison."

"I'd consider it." Haller nodded.

There was a knock at the door. Rivera and another detective were outside. "Time's up."

"Time's up? Are you crazy?"

"Is your client going to make a statement?"

"Not at this time."

"Then he has to be processed."

Haller sighed. Deeks knew that while they could probably stand on their right to continue meeting, by the time they found someone to support them on it, it would be irrelevant. He rose from his chair. The other detective, Brown, re-locked Deeks' cuffs behind his back and guided him into the hallway.

Bates and Kensi were standing not far from the door. Kensi looked him in the eye and gave him a small nod. Bates had eyes only for Rivera. "You're gen-dening him?" Oh no.

"Deeks has no special reason not to be placed in the general population."

Bates was shaking with anger. "Up until now, I've accepted that you are doing this with good intentions. Trying to take down bad guys; even if you picked on a good one. But now, after this, I want you understand that one day, when the time is right. You will suffer for this." Rivera took an involuntary step back, while Brown moved as far away from his boss as he possibly could. A supervisor threatening another officer, in front of a half dozen witnesses was surely a sign of the apocalyptic hell that would rain down upon said officer and anyone who got too close.

Brown led Deeks down a series of all hallways but as they neared Central Holding, he pulled him up short.

"Listen, as far as anyone in there concerned, you're Max Gentry." Deeks turned and looked at him. "Rivera may be willing to take the risk, but your boss certainly isn't.

"Bates?"

"Henrietta Lange."

"You know Hetty?" It was disconcerting, that he hadn't heard a word from Hetty

"I do now. Anyone asks, you didn't get this from me," said Brown, as he pressed a shiv into Deeks' hand. Deeks slid it up his sleeve. Then he was led through the gate into Central Holding.

"Deeks has been gen den'd," said Bates into the speakerphone that connected them to the Mission.

"What?" Callen asked.

"Placed in general detention, it's commonly used to soften defendants up for a plea. I'm going to make sure it blows up in Rivera's face.

"Much good that will do word gets out that Deeks is a detective and they kill him," said Kensi.

"Mr Deeks is in the LAPD computers as Max Gentry. It is by far his best cover. Only Internal Affairs believes that he is Martin Deeks," said Hetty. Kensi turned to see her diminutive boss standing in the now open door.

"Is that you, Hetty?"

"You believed that I would not protect one of my agents, Mr Callen." Callen said nothing but it had been something every one of them had been thinking.

"And if there's someone in there who recognises him?" Sam asked.

Bates spoke up. "All we can do is pray that there isn't. And get him out of there as fast as we can."