This story started with the idea of an unintentionally drugged Danny... and then it evolved into this. I just kept writing and ideas changed, things turned up and needed explaining which led to other things and – well...
No beta, but hopefully I found and deleted most typos and changed missused words. I'm vaguely aware of the concept of English grammar: We wave at each other in passing. I hope the way I use it doesn't make the native speakers cringe too much...
Neither NCIS Los Angeles nor Hawaii Five-0 belong to me. The idea of this friendship between Deeks and Danny belongs to Bee. Eh. Vee (see Fluffy Hair and Nosy Bosses). It's the third time now I am allowed to use it for my own purposes, so I think some brownies and ice cream are due: Thanks, Bee.
To want a beer and need a smile
Hetty frowned at the phone on her desk, trying to recognize the number shown in the display. Hawaii and cell phone, that much she could see. It didn't help her to put a name to the number though. She picked up the receiver, but before she could say something a male voice struck out.
"Hey, where are you, Steve? You promised to be here about half an hour ago and buy me some beer. I'm waiting all alone and its boooooring." a giggle followed the last statement.
The voice with a heavy Jersey accent slurred impressively - sounding for the entire world like some beers had already been in play - and in connection with the name Steve triggered Hetty's memory.
"Detective Williams, is that you?"
"You're not Steve." stated the voice after some confused silence.
"No, I am not Commander McGarrett." Hetty was now amused "This is Henrietta Lange speaking, Detective. I think you…"
"Hetty! Scary old bat. Why are you answering Steve's phone?"
Hetty shook her head still amused despite the name calling while her gaze sought out the detective in her vicinity. Years of training made Mr. Deeks' head immediately go up and seeing her beckoning gesture he stood and went over to her office, Mr. Hanna and Mr. Callen's gazes following him. Ms. Blye was on a week-long training session; even her agents needed some updates once in a while. Hopefully she was more successful than Mr. Deeks with his bomb defusing course. Granted, he had defused the bomb, so not a waste of time and money after all. Making sure no one else was within hearing distance Hetty put the call on speaker.
"Detective Williams, I am afraid you…"
"No, no, no, don't tell me you can't tell me 'cause it's classified. He does that all the time and I don't need someone else to do that, too. I have a right to know why you're answering Steve's phone."
"Wow, Danny. Are you plastered?" Deeks couldn't help the low chuckle.
"Deeks? Et Tu, Brute? I should have known the moment he said he would invite me to a beer after work he's setting me up. Have to admit he's really creative this time. But flying to Los Angeles to avoid buying me a beer is waaay over the top even for him. Definitely beats 'I forgot my wallet' though."
Deeks was fighting the urge to laugh out loud and even Hetty looked like she was having a hard time.
"And no, I am not plastered, as you so eloquently put it. Let me tell you: I had only one bottle and that's not enough to get drunk and you know it. Unfortunately it was enough for me to be unable to get rid of that ridiculous German song about there being no beer on Hawaii. Why would they even think that?"
"You sure it was only one bottle?" Deeks enquired while he scrolled to Chin's number on his cell.
"One bottle, yes, I am sure. At least I think it was one bottle. I don't remember… Whatever, I have you know that I am sooo disappointed! I would never have thought that you…"
"Where are you, Danny?" Deeks cut in before Danny could tell him exactly what he did do to disappoint his friend.
"What do you mean, where are you? I am in Honolulu on Oahu, Hawaii." Danny sounded honestly surprised.
Deeks face palmed with a shake of his head and a smile on his face.
"A bit more detail, Danny? Like, where exactly in Honolulu: at home, a bar, a hotel, a restaurant?"
"And wouldn't youuu wanna know? They have nice restrooms, very clean and restful. The soap smells good." there was some rustling in the background "But it tastes aaawful." Some spitting was to be heard. Hetty and Deeks exchanged a disbelieving look. Trying to eat soap did not sound like Danny at all. Well, to be honest, nothing about him sounded like him right now.
Deeks was interrupted in his pondering by Chin's stressed voice as he answered his phone.
"Deeks, sorry, it's a bad moment, we have lost Danny, he…"
"…is with me on the phone right now." Deeks interrupted. "And it doesn't sound as if he's hurt or in danger." he added, picking up on the stress in Chin's voice.
"He is?" as Deeks' laughter was evident in his voice Chin now sounded relieved and curious.
"Well, to be precise, he called my boss, Hetty, and let me tell you, he sounds totally out of it. He is either drunk or high as a kite."
"Given our recent case probably more high than drunk I'm afraid." Chin sighed.
Deeks and Hetty waved in acknowledgement as Sam and Callen left on their way to do some legwork they had talked about earlier. They hoped to finally get some reliable information to make a breakthrough in their current case. It involved arms dealing, again! Deeks checked if no one else was close by and then put Chin on speakerphone as well.
The lieutenant gave them a very short version of what had happened: Steve and Danny had been chasing some drug dealers they had been after for several weeks and separated to cut off one of the guys when Danny suddenly had vanished, his cell phone smashed on the pavement. Steve was worried and livid so Chin thought it would be better if he met up with some people to question them alone. They would be too scared with the commander on a rampage. Steve and Grover searched another part of Honolulu for any hints regarding their missing team mate. Kono was in the office working on the smart table and coordinating with HPD.
Hetty, while listening with half an ear to Lieutenant Kelly's explanation, tried her luck with Detective Williams again "Detective Williams, are you injured? Do you need help? Can you tell us where you are?"
"Why would I need help? I'm waiting for Steve and him I can handle with my hands tied behind my back. Funny that you ask though, I have some bruises. I don't know why, but they don't hurt. I called, cause I wanted to tell him something, but I forgot… Hey, why am I talking to you? And is that Chin I can hear in the background? Steve took him with him to LA and not me?"
"You called me, Detective, that is why we are talking. Can you tell me where you are?" Hetty asked again patiently. The man clearly was totally out of it, probably drugged as she gathered from Lieutenant Kelly's report, so she didn't hold him responsible for his actions right now.
"I thought you know everything. So you should know exactly where I am. Or you and Deeks and Chin could guess. You have three tries, each for one of you." Danny sounded clearly amused by his wittiness.
Hetty shook her head and decided the police officers could sort out this problem under themselves.
"I have some things to discuss with Ms. Jones. Hopefully you, Detective Williams and Lieutenant Kelly will be finished when I am." she told Deeks and left her desk to go to OPS.
"Don't be a spoilsport, Hetty, you have to guess, too." Luckily the woman was out of hearing range by now. At least, Deeks hoped she was.
"He really sounds high." Chin said in awe. "And why does he think I'm in LA with Steve?" Thanks to the very good equipment on both sides he could hear his team mate as well as Danny could hear him.
"He thought he called Steve and never came to the conclusion that he simply dialed the wrong number when he got Hetty instead. And before you ask: I have no idea at all how he managed to mix up those numbers." Deeks answered mutedly with a chuckle. Then louder he said "You have to give us a hint, Danny. Nice smelling but bad tasting soap in restful restrooms is not enough, I'm afraid." He grinned while Chin disbelievingly echoed "Tasting? Soap?"
"They serve Mehana. I like Longboard better, but it's not bad." Danny stated. "And that German jingle is somehow really catchy." he started humming to emphasize his point.
"That does narrow it down considerably, not…" Chin sighed while he listened rather bewildered to Danny humming. "Hold on, Kono's calling, I have to answer. If you can give me the number Danny is calling from maybe we can track him that way." Deeks told him and ignored the hold-signal on his cell meanwhile listening to a door opening on Hetty's phone.
"Hey Williams, you fell into the toilet? Hope you didn't take my phone with you if you did. Have you reached your partner to tell him where to pick you up?" the unfamiliar voice was loud enough for Deeks to hear.
"Yes, I called, but Steve gave his phone to the scary old bat and now I talk to Deeks, but he ..."
"Just give me the phone, small stuff." The voice interrupted not unkind.
"Don't call me…" whatever else Danny said was cut short when the phone changed owners and the voice said. "Hi, whoever I'm talking to. Williams is at my place and I really would appreciate if someone could pick him up. He's a little deep into Puff the Magic Dragon right now, if you know what I mean." the amusement was plain to hear, even over Danny's impressive ranting in the background.
"What's happening?" Chin asked on the other line, after reconnecting. Deeks ignored him. He was getting rather good at ignoring someone while talking on two phones simultaneously. Instead he spoke with the man on Hetty's phone.
"I'm sorry, but I'm really not close by so I will put you through to his colleague, Lieutenant Kelly. I'm sure he can pick Danny up at your place, so hold on, please." Deeks was loath to lose his connection to Danny, but it would be easier that way. "Chin, you heard that? Don't forget to update me, OK?"
"Sure thing and thanks. I will take over from here."
Deeks stared at the phones after he ended the calls and sighed. He would have to curb his curiosity until later. Bugger. Deeks flinched; his inner Hetty was really intrusive sometimes… And, as a side note: He still wondered how the heck had Danny managed to call Hetty on a phone not his. Did he have the number memorized or what? Deeks wasn't even going to think about the why right now. Hopefully Chin would remember to delete the number, he would send him a text to make sure.
*** Hawaii *** Hawaii *** Hawaii ***
"Lieutenant Kelly, good to see you." the huge Hawaiian man behind the bar gave him a friendly grin and gestured towards a closed door at the other end of the room. "He's back there with some of my guys and the karaoke machine. After he finished ranting he started humming again, so the boys invited him. His Sinatra is quite good, but his Springsteen definitely needs working."
Chin nodded and watched as the man polished some glasses in the typical cliché of a bar tender. There was no one else with them as officially the bar would open in about three hours. After Deeks had put the call through the man had introduced himself as Nui Palakiko and had given Chin the address of his bar. Chin had contacted the others to give them the good news regarding Danny. About twenty minutes later he had reached the bar first. Chin now could see the bar owner lived up to his name, which meant great or large, being easily 6'7 with impressive muscle to show. The police officer was sure to have seen his face in a mug shot once or twice. It must have shown on his face, because Palakiko sighed.
"Listen, we both know I have a history, but I swear I have nothing to do with Williams' state right now."
"I believe you, go on." Chin reassured calmly. His face gave nothing away.
"Good, OK. One of my guys found him wandering around obviously drugged in an area not recommended for a lone police officer so he brought him over before something happened. And believe me, something was bound to happen. He was a bit roughed up already, but nothing serious as far as I could see. I like Williams. I have a daughter who I raise alone after her mother died of cancer some years ago. Kamalei goes to the same school as William's Grace. He is one of the few parents not shunting her for me being her father or discouraging his child to befriend her, quite the contrary."
"Hold on to that thought" Chin interrupted and took Steve's call.
"Are you at the bar? Have you found Danny? Is he OK? I swear if anything…"
"Yes, I found him and he is OK. Well, he is drugged up to the gills and a bit roughed up, but otherwise OK." As the door in the back of the room had opened just that moment and Danny practically sauntered towards him, Chin could say so for sure. There was a wide smile on Danny's face which showed a slight bruise and a split lip while he came at Chin with arms wide open, enveloping him in a hug.
"Chin, hi. I thought you're in LA? Huh, my mistake, sorry. Steve sent you? Is he too afraid to come himself? I have to hit the head, but then you will join me back there. It's sooo much fun." The four men in the backroom laughed and waved, good naturally teasing each other while browsing through a list of karaoke songs.
Before Chin got over his surprise he could hear Steve's disbelieving voice "Was that Danny? What the hell? I…"
"Yes, that was Danny. I really want to know what they gave him, he's, well, not himself…"
"Understatement of the year." Chin heard from Steve as well as Nui, the giant moving surprisingly fast to intercept Danny.
"We'll be there in ten, take care." Steve ended the call, Lou grumbling something indistinguishable in the background.
Chin watched as Danny slammed into the giant who had blocked him on purpose.
"Give me my phone back first, brah."
"You took it to talk to Deeks and Chin."
"Yeah, whatever, and you snooped it out of my pocket again afterwards, pint. Impressive by the way, but, give it back."
"You're calling me pint?"
"I shan't call you short stuff or Puff so I got to be creative. And now: phone."
"Shan't?" Danny looked like he wanted to add something and even raised one hand, but he only blinked owlishly, visibly not firing on all cylinders. Then he searched his pockets and looked confused as his hunt produced a cell.
"That's not mine. Whose is it and where's mine?"
Wow, that must be the attention span of a gold fish, Chin thought to himself.
"Don't know where yours is, brah, but that's mine and I want it back."
"Actually, I'd like to have a short look first." Chin intercepted and snatched the devise out of Danny's hand, stalling any argument by Nui with a friendly "I just need to delete the last number he dialed, nothing more, I promise." Making sure the man could see what he was doing while not being able to have a look at the number, Chin did so and gave the cell to its owner. The curiosity was plain to see, but the man knew better than to ask. As Chin was quite sure the number wouldn't show on the phone records he was certain deleting the number would suffice.
Danny meanwhile took offence at being blocked, but instead of just walking around the giant he tried to shove Nui out of his way. The emphasis lying on tried. It looked rather comical as Danny's feet slid backwards when he put both hands on the man's chest and pushed. He ended with his nose in the man's chest, sliding further and nearly falling facedown to the ground. Nui chuckled, Danny huffed annoyed.
To Danny's luck the man really liked the small spunky detective with the disproportionate attitude and stepped aside after helping him to get vertical again. "There you go, don't take too long." A gentle push made Danny stumble, but suddenly Steve was there and steadied him. True to his ninja fashion no one had noticed him enter the bar.
"I thought you meant ten minutes, not ten seconds." Chin derailed Steve's protective rampage before it even got started. "Lou still alive, brah?"
"Barely" came a voice from the door. Lou shook his head. "Now I know why Danny always complains about Steve driving." Lou entered the bar and took in the presented tableau: a huge Hawaiian man with Chin by his side, no problem, Steve looking suspicious and angry while stabilizing a slightly of kilter Danny, that didn't bode well. Before he could think about a way to stifle the impending explosion Danny took charge.
"Nice of you to finally show up, babe."
Danny took a step back and patted Steve's cheek none too gently. At least that's what Steve hoped. Maybe Danny wanted to slap him, but kept missing? Danny's left hand finally landed on Steve's shoulder, giving him a convenient support to balance his uncoordinated movements, the right raised in an attention seeking gesture.
"You owe me a beer. You promised me a beer and I still want it. So you better order it now so it will be standing there" Danny waved at the bar nearly losing his balance again "when I'm back from there." his ongoing wide and not too well coordinated gesture seemed to indicate the restrooms "And you will pay for it. Pay for it yourself." Danny finished with a grin and a poke at Steve's chest. His turn nearly let him bump into Chin, but he caught himself and continued his way slightly lopsided.
At a loss for words Steve stared after his friend. "Wow" he finally got out, followed by more silence. "He is…" there were just no words to describe Danny's current state. "That was yesterday. Why is he always carrying a grudge against me? "
"Because you never cease to rile him up?" Lou and Chin answered the rhetorical question unison.
Steve glared at their smirking faces and shook his head. Then he folded his arms over his chest and Nui found himself suddenly in the center of the SEAL's famous thousand yard stare. He could admit to himself that he wasn't so sure anymore that he could take the man if the need arose despite his advantage at being taller and more muscular. Not that he wanted to. His small truce with the detective was god sent and he would do a lot to maintain it. If that meant being nice to the detective's partner, he would suck it up. His daughter's wellbeing was worth a few ruffled feathers as long as it was only Five-0 doing the ruffling. He wouldn't allow it anybody else.
"Wasn't me." He made a placating gesture with his hands. "Mickey found him in this state." A thumb pointed at a waving man in the backroom "and thought it better to bring him here where we could have an eye on him. I don't want him hurt. Looks like he was drugged and you should bring him to a hospital in case the comedown isn't as nice as the high fly seems to be."
"You're Nui Palakiko?"
"Yes?" To say Nui was surprised would be an understatement.
"OK then."
Now Chin and Lou joined the surprise. It wasn't like Steve to be reassured that easily.
"What? You think Danny did the research on that guy alone before I allowed Grace anywhere near him? Well, not that Danny would allow Grace to come here, but Kamalei is with them quite often. Lucky for Palakiko his story panned out. There really are or better were two great aunts from Kamalei's mother's side who left the girl some money in their wills. He uses only that money to pay for the school, not the money from some of his other businesses. None of which have to do with drugs last time we checked by the way. There will even be enough later to start college if she wants to. He might be a crook, but he wants better for his girl. Can't find a fault in that."
Steve shrugged after his explanation, having made it low enough that the men in the other room wouldn't have been able to hear it. He was a bit taken aback at the sudden grins spreading over Chin and Lou's faces.
"What?"
"You checked before YOU would allow Grace anywhere near him?" Lou chuckled.
Steve looked a little flustered, but was saved to answer by Danny.
"He's Grace's favorite uncle and though he never ceases to annoy me, he's allowed."
The smaller man had somehow managed to snug up to Steve who stood with his back to the restrooms. He wiggled under Steve's arm like an exuberant puppy, looking up at him with a matching stare. It was disconcerting as well as adorable. Steve would never have guessed that Grace had that particular look from her father.
"Where's my beer?"
"I think you had enough, Danny." Steve chuckled. And he wasn't the only one chuckling. "We have to get you checked out."
"Nooo" Danny whined. "I wanna sing. I…" suddenly his face paled, then it flushed and Nui, ever the attentive bartender, pushed a wastebasked at Danny which he promptly heaved into. Some retching and shuddering later Steve took the offered glass of water with a thankful nod and let his friend rinse and spit. A wet towel followed and he carefully wiped his friend's face. Nui had closed the door to the backroom. His guys had seen Williams high as a kite, which was kind of funny, but this was different. No need to let him lose more of his dignity.
"I don't feel good, Steve. Wanna go home, babe."
"I can see that, Danny, but we have to go to the hospital first. Sorry, buddy."
"Nooo" Danny whined again, but was generally ignored. Steve and Chin frog marched the smaller man to the Camaro after thanking Nui for his help. At a gesture from Nui Lou stayed behind and looked rather bewildered at some plastic bags he suddenly found in his hands.
"Saves some cleaning, it would be a shame if the Camaro gets dirty." the huge man grinned. Lou wasn't used to having to look up to someone. There seldom was the need. He nodded, still a bit thrown with the situation, but then followed his team mates. After a very short discussion - it consisted out of Steve stating "You're with him" - Lou found himself in Chin's car. It definitely beat the Camaro's back seat with a rather sick Danny in front though. They called Kono to let her know they had Danny and would bring him to the hospital.
"Now he doesn't drive like a maniac." Lou groused after a moment of silence.
"With Danny being nauseous the whole time?" Chin gave him a look.
"OK, that's a reason. I just hope Danny will be all right. I still can't believe those guys slipped through our fingers. This whole case was a nightmare from the start. And when we finally have a break through, when we were so close to catch those bastards... If it hadn't been for Danny missing… They did that on purpose so we would be busy looking for him instead of looking for them. I wonder where they're heading."
That's when Chin had an epiphany. There would be only one good reason for Danny to call Hetty even if he forgot he did so: The dealers were headed to Los Angeles. There had been rumors about contacts to Navy personnel and Chin knew about Danny's habit to carry a slip of paper with important numbers with him all the time. That explained how he had been able to call her without having his own phone. But with his drug addled brain he had slipped back in time and thought he was calling Steve. They really had agreed to meet in a bar yesterday and Steve had set Danny up to the man's immense annoyance. Steve hadn't done it on purpose though. His one track mind had hooked into a rumor that ultimately had led to their breakthrough with the case, but made him forget Danny for a while. The apology may be accepted this time, but forgiveness was still pending. Chin realized that Lou was still talking to him.
"Sorry, I just thought about something, but I need to check something else first." He hadn't mentioned Hetty's or Deeks' involvement yet, having thought that it had only been a strange coincidence.
"Well, wasn't that enlightening?"
As they had reached the hospital Chin used looking for a convenient parking spot as excuse to not answer Lou right away. He just smiled enigmatically and shrugged.
The team gathered in the waiting area, Kono arriving only a few minutes later, and, well, waited. Some of the time they used to discuss the case. They decided to take a break and start fresh tomorrow. It took some time for the first medical examination and the bloodwork to be done, but to their immense relieve Danny was going to be OK. He was slightly bruised and battered, suffering some minor symptoms of comedown that had the doctors decide to keep him in until the next day to be on the safe side, but that was it. They had been prepared for the worst, fearing to find a body, this was so much better.
Steve took in the good news, the stress of the last hours visibly falling off of him. The others let out some relieved breaths as well. They watched Steve who suddenly gleefully rubbed his hands. "I have to check if there are any videos of Danny singing." He had noticed the room in the back of the bar and what its occupants had been doing. There was a mean grin on his face that didn't bode well.
"Give the man a break, Steve." Chin tried though he knew it would be futile. Kono snickered and Lou shook his head like he questioned his decision to join this merry band of crazies. The team wanted to catch a glimpse of Danny before they went home and stood now in front of Danny's room waiting for the nurses to settle him in.
"Just in case I need some blackmail." Steve tried with an air of innocence that didn't convince anyone.
"You just want to annoy him enough so he forgets about you letting him down yesterday. You know it won't work." Chin shook his head in fond exasperation.
"I didn't let him down; I was just a little late. And it might work." Steve shrugged and turned. They entered the room to see for themselves that Danny was OK. His eyes lit up when he saw them, but a huge yawn prevented him to say anything and only seconds later he fell asleep. "Well, that decides it, lets go home." Kono laughed quietly and pulled Lou and Chin out of the room.
To no one's surprise Steve sat down on a chair to stay with his friend. He still didn't trust the fact that the dealers they had been chasing left the island for good.
Outside of the hospital Chin told the others that he forgot something in the palace. Lou narrowed his eyes, but didn't say anything. Kono opened her mouth, closed it and shrugged. Her cousin would let them know when he needed a hand. She offered to bring Lou home instead and together they left Chin to do his biddings. He didn't know what had Danny think the dealers would go to Los Angeles, but doubted it was only gut feeling. Maybe he had overheard something while in their none too gentle care. After an hour of digging and prodding he found a tiny trace. With nothing else he still called Deeks. It was high time to hold onto the promise of updating the fellow police officer anyway.
*** LA *** LA *** LA ***
Deeks took the call after the first ring.
"How is he?"
"Danny is fine. We brought him to the hospital as he showed some signs of comedown and the doctors made him stay. So he will be there over night with his faithful SEAL companion, but after that nothing is going to stop him from returning to be as we know and love him: bright, chipper and a joy to all those around him."
Deeks snorted. Chin seldom showed signs of sarcasm, that much he had already learned about the man.
"Any idea why he called Hetty?"
"Yes, actually I have an idea. The drug dealers who escaped? I think they are heading your way. All I have found up to now is a small trace though, not enough to..."
"Send it over, maybe Nell and Eric can help." Deeks was already on the way and gave the wonder twins a short run down, not bothering to inform Hetty. Nell was game immediately and it didn't take much more for Eric to join in as well. They had run into a stalemate with their own case and needed a breather. Their version of a breather that is.
Between the four of them - Chin joined via video conference - they managed to widen the tiny trace to a wide, easy to follow trail and couldn't believe it: Five-0's case and theirs seemed to be the same one. It was the classic case about using drugs or drug money to buy weapons.
"Callen and Sam are going to be ecstatic." Deeks breathed.
"Steve will like to hear this, too." Chin nodded. Then he suddenly fixed his gaze to something behind Deeks.
"Lieutenant Kelly, what a pleasant surprise to see you again. I gather we all made some headway in our cases? Mr. Beale, please inform Mr. Callen and Mr. Hanna accordingly. Ms. Jones, you will make sure the evidence sticks. Mr. Deeks, ..." Hetty stood in their midst as if she had been there the whole time. And maybe she had. She could be very inconspicuous if she wanted to be.
Deeks tried to look as if he wasn't nervous, failing miserably "Yes, Hetty?"
"You are very lucky your impulsive venture into other jurisdictions and unauthorized use of official means was providing such fruitful results. I am willing to pretend you had asked for permission first, not wanted to ask for forgiveness later."
Deeks just nodded open mouthed, for once having no witty comeback.
"What are you waiting for? Go and join Mr. Callen and Mr. Hanna at the airfield. All evidence leads there and it is quite likely our suspects are still to be found at that place."
They said good bye to Chin with the promise to let him know about the outcome.
It took Deeks some time to reach his team mates who had already scouted the area and found their suspects in one of the more secluded hangars of the private airfield. They were lucky: The hangar had a security system with cameras that Eric could hack into. So, while waiting for backup and gearing up, they watched the suspects on a tablet screen. They had partially matching audio via a microphone Callen had slipped to one of the windows earlier, too.
The screen showed them boasting about what they had done to that stupid lone cop. They argued about his exact fate, but were sure that he was dead by now. Sam and Callen could feel the anger coming off of Deeks in waves. Both men stretched out one arm each without even looking and the detective strained against their hold.
"I forgot, you have to fill in that form four times and then three additional to explain the discharge of your weapon and the things that followed?" Callen asked casually, keeping his eyes on the screen in front of them.
"And let's not forget the mandatory visit to the shrink after fatally shooting a suspect." Sam answered deadpan.
They could not only hear Deeks' letting out his breath in a rush of air but feel it under their hands as well. He still pressed against their hold.
"So it would be definitely easier to explain some bruises. Not quite as satisfactory, but not so hard regarding the paperwork?" Callen checked, finally looking at Sam, but in reality checking in on Deeks.
"Yep, definitely easier." Sam agreed equally checking Deeks out of the corner of his eye. The detective now had a wry grin on his face and stopped to fight against their hold. He was still tense though.
"You don't even like him." Sam stated factually.
"What's that got to do with it? He's a fellow police officer who got abducted, drugged and left to fend for himself in an area of Hawaii the department for tourism would always deny to exist. A place where you would be killed for a nice watch…"
Sam's scoff got stuck in his throat at Deeks' glare and the detective continued "… let alone for the fact of being a police officer. There's no way I will let those scum bags get away with something like this."
"None of us will, Deeks, calm down." Callen was vividly reminded of a wounded, shaken and lonely, but nevertheless determined Deeks in a small bar, a cup of tea in front of him, trying to convince Hetty to help him out. She had and this had in a manner of speaking led to Deeks definitely joining their team. They had come a long way since then.
Deeks grumbled something quietly, but as backup arrived that moment they went for the take down. The bust went off without a major hitch. No member of the law enforcement got wounded, only two of the criminals. They got the drugs, the weapons and found enough information leading towards the involved navy personnel that they would be able to take them down as well. Callen and Sam were a little disturbed nevertheless. Deeks was unusually serious and focused. That was not the strangest part though, the missing witty comebacks and inappropriate remarks were. Now he was standing with a solemn expression in the empty hanger, automatic rifle still in his hands and stared at a bloodstain on the floor.
The senior agents exchanged a look. "Thapa." Sam mouthed and Callen nodded in consent. Once in a while Deeks' mood would change and he would close of a bit. It was quite easy though to bring him out of it. Before Callen could say something Deeks' cell rang. The detective gave a start, let go of the rifle which now hung by its straps and looked at the display. At first he frowned then a sweet honest smile showed. With a chuckle he put the phone away and faced his colleagues.
"That must have been some good news." Callen fished for information.
Deeks grinned, but ignored the implied question.
Callen narrowed his eyes at him. "You know we will find out."
"No, you won't."
"Will do."
"Won't"
Chuckling and shaking his head at their antics, Sam followed his team mates to their cars.
"What did you do, Nell?" Eric asked. Together with Hetty they had watched the take down on the large screen and seen the way Deeks behaved. He saw Nell typing on her cell out of the corner of his eye, heard the ping of a message received a little while later followed by her low chuckle. Then he saw her typing again. Only moments later Deeks had received a message that changed his mood visibly. Now Eric was curious. Unlike Nell and Hetty he had no clue about Deeks' and Danny's friendship and the way they used it to lead the rest of their equally unknowing teams a merry dance.
Nell smiled thinking of the rather rambunctious selfie Grace and Mellie had sent after her request for a smile for Deeks. "I just gave Deeks some Grace after pressure."
"I'm sure that's not how this saying goes."
"Oh, it doesn't? My mistake."
Nell looked at Hetty and the operations manager nodded approvingly.
Eric felt like he had missed the point.