I've been home sick so decided to post this chapter a day early for you. Didn't win the lottery and still don't own NCIS Los Angeles. As usual, thoughts or memories are in italics.
Anything in bold letters are actual quotes from the NCIS LA episode Allegiance.
Enjoy.
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Sometime later, the team met up at the boat shed. It was there that Ehsan found out Hetty had not only arranged for him to become a citizen then and there but also had started the process to get his mother and sisters into the U.S. Once he had taken his citizenship oath, Sam, Callen and Deeks returned to the Mission to write up their after-action reports. As Deeks was writing up his two reports, one for Hetty and one for LAPD, thoughts of Sven kept intruding and the darker his mood became.
Knowing he would need some help to come up with a viable alias, he had called Brian up and asked him to meet him to help him develop the alias he would require for the undercover job that was beginning soon. As usual Brian had asked no questions other than where and when to meet…
"Deeks, you still with us? " Sam asked bringing Deeks out of his thoughts.
"Yeah, I'm here, I was just remembering the first time I used the Sven alias." he replied.
"How the hell did you come up with the alias Sven, anyway" Sam asked in a disgruntled tone of voice. "And don't tell me it's because your buddy was gay. There's got to be more than that to it."
"Wouldn't you like to know" Deeks snarled.
"Well, I'm asking you aren't I?"
"Maybe I don't want you to know all my secrets Sam. Did you ever think of that?" Deeks responded sharply as he put his head down and finished his reports. The minute he was finished, he turned around and without looking at anyone stalked out of the Mission.
Callen and Sam looked at each other. "What just happened Sam" Callen questioned.
"I don't know, he was fine earlier but his mood seemed to deteriorate once I asked him about his Sven alias. He hasn't reacted like that since Siderov. He looked like whatever he was remembering was bad." Sam told Callen.
"Did anything unusual happen today" Callen questioned.
"No, nothing out of the ordinary. In fact, he seemed to have great fun ribbing me in his Sven persona. I didn't know whether to laugh along with him or wring his neck. He was outrageous!"
"Yes he was. I was having fun listening in, but well, something's going on with him now and I don't like it." Callen went to Hetty's office. "Hetty do you know anything about the alias Deeks used today?"
"Why do you ask, Mr. Callen?" Hetty gave him a curious look.
"I'm asking because Deeks just left here in a piss-poor mood and I want to know why. I'm worried about him. We all know he's missing Kensi and it hasn't been that long since Siderov. I don't want to see him going off the rails again." he replied.
"Why would you think he would 'go off the rails' as you so quaintly put it?
"Come on Hetty, you know what I mean. Do you know anything or not?" he was getting rather upset with his tiny boss.
"I think if you want to know what is going on with Mr. Deeks you should ask him. It is his right to either tell you or not."
"Fine!" Callen threw over his shoulder as he headed toward the exit. He decided he was going to find Deeks and get him to talk to him one way or another. Sam gave Callen a look that indicated he would go with him if he needed him as backup but Callen shook his head. "I'll call you if I need you to come."
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Deeks had left the mission without fully realizing how dark his mood was becoming. He went home, fed Monty, took him for a walk and then sprawled out on his couch. The longer he lay there, the darker his mood became and he realized he was heading down a very dark road. A road he had promised Brian he wouldn't travel. He felt the need to run and decided to go to his favorite beach to see if he could get his head straight. He drove to the beach, ran for a while and then found a spot to sit. He had his arms around his knees staring at the waves and the sun slowly lowering into the sea. He loved this time of day, but right now it wasn't doing anything to lighten his mood. He began remembering additional details about using the Sven alias.
When he met with Brian, he started laying out the scope of the undercover assignment and what he had to do. He had determined his alias had to be gay and somewhat outrageous to draw out the suspected perpetrators. He knew Brian could help him get into character and would also be willing to be an extra pair of eyes on him while he was undercover just in case things went sideways. "Brian, don't take this the wrong way, but I need to know how to play a convincing 'fairy'."
"Marty, I've known you for years, I know you wouldn't use that term in a pejorative manner." Brian responded. "Besides, you know I'd kick your ass if you tried, my man!"
"Yeah you would Brian. I can always count on you to keep me on the straight but not narrow path!"
"That't right. You are straight but you're not narrow bro. Give me all the details on what's going on and just how far out there you have to be. When I'm through with you, my brother, you'll be able to channel a fantastic gay man!"
Marty had laid everything out for Brian. "I have to go undercover at Pantaloons as a gay man. I need to make myself very noticeable and somewhat outrageous but not too far out there. We've had some hate crimes occur outside of the bar and we think the perpetrators are picking the victims from the club's clientele. With every attack it's getting worse and if we don't stop it someone is going to die sooner or later."
"God I hate bigots. What's so wrong with live and let live huh? There's not enough love in this world as it is but there is more than enough hate isn't there." Brian responded.
"I don't understand it either Brian…I've never understood it and so matter how hard I try I know I never will…as if I even wanted to/to."
"Back to the case then…Since these guys are getting worse each and every time, and knowing just how little back-up you'll have available from LAPD, you want someone who can handle themselves close by, just in case; am I right?"
"Yup. I figure since you're former special ops and you're even taller and heavier than me, you fit the bill. Marty snarked. "Will you do it?"
"I owe you big time. Of course I'll do it." Brian responded. "I told you that when you rescued my sister when she was almost raped while I was on deployment. Anytime you need me man, I'll be there. You're family."
Marty continued remembering…He and Brian had discussed what he would need to do to be convincing as a gay man. They then began to construct the alias which became Sven Gunderson. Sven was a rather flamboyant gay man but with one with very good taste. He was a lawyer to the stars since Marty was in fact, a lawyer, who just liked to visit the 'wild' side from time to time. Matt helped him with his walk and his overall attitude so he would be able to project an air of sensuality that would appear completely natural to other gay men.
Once the undercover operation was set up and all the players were situated, Marty was feeling pretty confident about his backup. Members of LAPD would be present in the bar in various capacities, one as the bartender, one the bouncer and one bar maid. LAPD stationed an officer as a valet, but he would be at the front of the lot where people dropped their cars off. He and Brian decided it would be best if Brian covered the back parking lot. With Brian in the back and the officer at the front, it would give Marty backup inside and outside of the club if needed.
The night the undercover operation began, Marty decided to enter the bar in a pair of slate gray slacks that were snug but not skin tight along with a white button down shirt and a sky blue sweater he would wear over his shoulders. Black loafers completed his look. Brian had shown him how to walk to be just a little bit 'swish' and how to talk to project the 'come hither, I'm looking for some fun' vibe.
Upon entering Pantaloon's, Sven caught everyone's eyes. Quite a few admiring looks came his way as he sauntered up to the bar practically oozing sex appeal and ordered a drink then turned around and leaned against the bar looking out over the interior of the club. He could tell he had made a good impression. Over the next half hour, he sipped his drink and then requested another while he watched as several people seemed to be trying to get up the nerve to talk to him. He made sure that he didn't single out any one person, but flirted with everyone who looked at him.
Eventually, a man about Marty's height and build came up to him and engaged him in small talk. Marty introduced himself as Sven and asked questions of the man who said his name was Quentin, "But please call me Quen." He played Sven to perfection and regaled Quen with stories of various clients keeping personal details out of it but with enough of the more salacious bits included to get Quen laughing. Quen said he was a stockbroker and came back with stories about people hitting it rich or losing everything playing the stock market and some of the more outrageous requests he would get from clients. After several hours of talking, Quen asked Sven back to his place.
"Never on the first date Quen" Marty remembered replying to Quen watching a quick look of disappointment and maybe anger flash across his face. "Do you come here often? This is the first time I've been here, but I've been hearing about Pantaloon's for a while now and wanted to check it out."
Quen said "I've come here a time or two. Are you sure you don't want to come home with me?"
"Not tonight, but you can walk me to my car and we can discuss a future get-together" Sven suggested. "Here's my number. I do like you so I'm sure we'll see much more of each other." Marty had a feeling that 'Quen' might be one of the perpetrators, but he hadn't been able to pick anyone else out that might be involved so wasn't too worried about anything happening that night. He figured either Quen was checking him out for a future attack after they made arrangements to meet at the club again, or he would follow him after leaving the club and then come back with his buddies at which time the attack, if Quen was involved, would most likely occur.
They had walked out of the bar and after Marty picked up his keys and the 'location' of his car from the valet, they continued toward the back parking lot. He knew that Brian was close by if he needed him, but before they got all the way to the back, Marty began to feel the hair on the back of his neck start to stand up. Before he could react, something heavy hit him on the back of the head and down he went. He struggled to remain conscious and get back to his feet but couldn't and realized there were three men surrounding him with looks of hatred on their faces. He had no idea where the other two men had come from. They hadn't been in the bar earlier. He was sure of that.
"Brian!" he screamed just as the first kick landed in the middle of his back. The agony was unbelievable but he couldn't get away from it. He could hear taunts and jeers coming from all around him but all he could do was try to protect his head and ribs and wait for Brian and LAPD to get to him…
A hand on the back of his neck brought him up from the sand swinging.
"Whoa, Deeks, it's me, Callen! I just came to see if you're okay." he said backing up from Deeks with his hands raised so he wouldn't get punched.
"I'm okay! What the hell are you doing here Callen?" Deeks growled. "Damn, I thought you were a mugger, man!"
"I called your name three times. You looked like you were in another world" came the reply. "You want to talk about what's got you in this frame of mind?"
All Callen heard back was a firm "No" from Deeks, so he just sat down on the sand and pulled Deeks back down beside him. "I brought beer. Want one?"
Giving Callen a confused look, Deeks replied "Sure, I guess".
They sat in the gathering darkness nursing their beers for a while. Callen figured if he was patient long enough Deeks might begin talking. Everyone worried when their very own liaison officer was this quiet. Several times Callen thought Deeks was going to start talking. He would take a deep breath and look at Callen and then just let the breath out and look away to the horizon again. When Deeks still hadn't said anything after about 15 minutes, Callen finally spoke "Deeks, you can tell me anything you want or need to" hoping it might break through his reluctance to talk. Something was clearly bothering him and Callen wanted to help him.
After a few more minutes of silence came a small voice from Deeks asking "Um, did you ever have an undercover assignment that haunted you for years afterward?"
Of all the things Callen expected Deeks to want to talk about, that wasn't one of them. He was totally surprised and paused to try to figure out what to say. Deeks took the silence in the worst possible way and spat out "Never mind, you wouldn't understand".
"Deeks, it's not what you think. Your question just brought back some memories for me. Yes, I've had things happen or things I've done undercover that have haunted me. Why do you ask?"
"Sorry man, it's just that…I don't know how to start…it's been years since I…since it happened…it wasn't that bad. I can't…I don't understand why it's affecting me so much today." Callen could hear frustration, sadness and what he thought might be a little bit of guilt in Deeks voice.
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