Chapter 2-Ghosts from the past

While the team enjoyed themselves, on the other end of town a Lieutenant Colonel was chased. It all begun at work. He noticed a man in a black hood following him, so he took off. He sensed that the same guy was tailing him on his way home. When he got home and he opened the door of the car so he could get out, he noticed green Ford Taurus and his driver. The same man with the hood. So he started running across the pavement. The man started running too. He eventually caught the Lieutenant Colonel off guard and put two 9 mill bullets in his torso. The Lieutenant Colonel died on scene. His killer checked whether he left a trail behind or not and left the place.

Like he never existed.

…

-27.12.2014-

Earlier that day Hetty received a phone call from LAPD for a dead Lieutenant Colonel, two days prior. The LAPD requested their help. Usually Hetty left that for Deeks to handle it, liaise it (as his colleagues would put it), since he was the liaison officer, but now she took care of that case personally. She assured LAPD that she'll do everything in her power for her team to solve the case and asked the LAPD to send her all the information they had on the dead guy.

Eric and Nell were called for work earlier than expected. Their tired faces were the first thing that Hetty saw when she entered OSP.

"Mr. Beale and Ms. Jones, I'm sorry that we had to call you this early, but we've got a case and I think that our plans for the holidays just got drowned in the ocean."

Both Eric and Nell groaned, but started to pile up the information on the dead guy. In between the other members of the team arrived, to be precise the three agents. The LAPD detective was called to attend his work place later that morning. Hetty wanted to discuss the situation in hand with them first.

Nell spoke first.

"Our dead Lieutenant Colonel's name is Daniel Langley. But, that's not his real name. Lieutenant Colonel Daniel Langley died in 2008. I assume the dead guy took his identity and joined the Marines."

"And what's our interest in the case?"

"Mr. Callen, listen to the end."

Now Eric spoke.

"The dead guys' real identity is David Lucas."

"And that's the interesting part, I assume."

"Yes, Mr. Callen. David Lucas is a ghost from Mr. Deeks' past."

"When he worked with the LAPD?"

"Yes. Under the alias of Max Gentry."

At that moment Hetty saw that Deeks left his go bag on the floor and sat on his desk. She sent Eric to call for him.

…

Deeks came at the Mission earlier than usual. He was called to come to work at 11 a.m., but he came at 10:30 a.m. Few agents from the day shift were working on the paperwork, but no one from his colleagues were at work. It was 27th of December, and they were called for a case. Hetty planned a vacation for all of them, but this case ruined the plan. Just when Deeks sat on his desk, Eric whistled for him.

"Hey, everybody is up here. They are waiting for you."

Deeks looked surprised by the fact that everyone were waiting for him and that he was the last one to arrive.

"Hey guys, what's up?"

Deeks stopped for a moment and watched the images plastered on the big screen.

Hetty said "I assume that you know this character well."

Deeks opened his mouth, but nothing came out of it.

Hetty continued. "That's David Lucas. He was one of Max's friends and informants few years ago as I've put earlier. He joined the Marines in 2008."

"He what?" Deeks almost screamed.

"He joined the Marines. But, not legally. He assumed the identity of certain Lieutenant Colonel Daniel Langley."

"Hetty who is this guy?"

"Mr. Callen I think that should be explained by Mr. Deeks."

Callen, Sam and Kensi looked at Deeks who was still stunned by the image he saw and the memories that flooded through his mind.

He looked at them and ran through the door and down the stairs. By the time he left the Mission he was out of breath.

Kensi wanted to follow him, but Callen stopped her and thought it would be better for him to follow Deeks instead.

When Callen got out of the Mission he found Deeks sitting on the concrete and his face looked like he was hit by a truck. Callen opened his mouth and wanted to say something, but Deeks cut him off.

"He was one of my informants and friends as Hetty said."

Callen gave his hand to Deeks and pulled him up.

"Let's go somewhere else if you want."

"No, I'm good. So, this David guy. He was my informant in a case I worked for LAPD, it was deep undercover as Max Gentry. The case was going on for about 6 months when my Chief said that we should break the ties and for me to get out of there. David was so interested in me, I mean Max that he researched Max. One day he came and gave me these papers and my whole life as Max is on them. He said that he found a friend in me and that he wanted to be my friend. Before that only Ray was my friend, friend, you know what I mean?"

Callen nodded.

"So we got out in some bars, got some chicks during my time spent in the operation, and here it comes the command to shut this down. I had to get out as I got in, so LAPD staged my arrest. David almost cried, but he believed it. And the others believed in the story that the LAPD made up. I wanted to go back to David, to say that I'm sorry I played him, but work was coming and going, and poof, the times goes fast, and here we are 8 years later."

Deeks stopped and looked at Callen.

"After Ray and before you guys, David was my true friend. A friend to whom I didn't need to explain myself. I could be just me. And I think I crossed the line between Max and Deeks. Let some of my characteristics influence Max's character."

"I can relate to that."

Deeks saw the sincerity in Callen's eyes. The man himself has gone in deep cover more than once, so he didn't have to explain himself to his superior. Callen knew the drill.

"I never thought that would be the last time I'll see him alive. If I just knew…"

"Stop beating yourself up Deeks. You couldn't have possibly known what'll go wrong. We don't know if he worked clean work after he got out of jail. Look at the facts. He's assumed the name of a dead Marine…"

"He was clean man, I know. I know when someone is doing out of the ordinary work. Maybe he was an asset of the bad guy in the story, but I highly doubt it that he went back on the other side after what happened in 2006."

"Well, we are here to look at all the angles. I'm not saying this just because he was your friend, but sometimes the people that are closest to us, let's just say it that there's always more to people's personalities, than what they let to be seen on the surface."

Deeks looked at Callen and saw his concern.

"Deeks, I need you on this case. I don't care if you are personally involved in this one, because I've seen you before in these types of situations, and you handled yourself perfectly. But, if it turns ugly, I want to know that you are fully with us. No matter what."

"No matter what, you guys come always first."

"Good to hear that. Now, let's go and brief the team on what you just told me and the rest."

Deeks stopped for a moment.

"You know, I should probably play the Max card. To see if someone from the old job knows something."

"If you want to go back I won't stop you. But, are you sure you want to…"

"Well, I'm not excited about going back to that dark place of my past, but if it's worth the try so we can find something, or maybe someone that is connected to this, then I'll have to do it."

"Okay, let's go."

They went back in OSP. Hetty smiled when she saw the two of her fantastic four assets back.

"I assume that you two discussed the case in hand."

"Yes, Hetty. And I believe that Kensi and Sam should hear the explanation about my connection to David Lucas."

He spent the next half an hour explaining his ties to Lucas and the operation that happened in 2006 in short terms. It was 8 years later, but he remembered it like it was yesterday.

"You know Deeks, I don't like this Max character of yours. It's spooky."

"Well, I don't like it either, but he's what kept me alive all those years and what shielded me from revealing the real me when situations got… you know, a little uncomfortable." He was on the edge, you could feel it in his voice.

"Shaggy, you are officially awarded as our unit's philosopher."

"Why?"

"What you just said sounded like Aristotle."

"No, it did not."

"Yes, it did."

"NO, IT DID NOT!"

"Guys, you've finished?"

"Yes G. Deeks needs to sharpen his senses for humor. I was kidding you Deeks." He pronounced the word Deeks.

"Okay, okay don't be mean."

"Deeks, are you becoming Max Gentry as we speak?"

"Nope."

"'Cause I think that you are not the same person that entered the Mission this morning."

"Yeah? You think that? You know what? Maybe I want a break from the entire goofing and laughing thing, don't you think?"

Before Sam could say anything, Deeks ran, again.

"What's wrong with him anyway?"

"Maybe he wants to be alone for a moment Mr. Hanna and not to be bothered."

"Yeah, I know that Hetty, but I think that if he goes on this alone I'm afraid he'll lose his good sides. You were witness what happened to him when we came back from the mission with Sidorov. It took him too long to get back. For a moment I thought that he wouldn't. He was so desperate."

"Every person has its own terms of grieving and coping Mr. Hanna. Certainly, Mr. Deeks has its own, I my own, and you yours. But, at the end it's important what we've learned from that experience. Mr. Deeks has its own demons as well and he has a dark side too. His dark side is in the form of Max Gentry and he tries to balance the two personas in one. Right now, I don't know if he can do that, but that's why you, Mr. Callen, and Ms. Blye are here. To help him and support him. He is one of us."

"Yeah, you're right Hetty. But I'm worried. I feel like he is my little brother and now I can't do anything about that. For God's sake, two days ago he talked about Tom and Jerry and Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2 from Frederic Chopin and he was so happy and joyous."

"Let me correct you Mr. Hanna. The Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2 is from Franz Liszt."

"Whatever. What I meant to say is that Deeks is as vulnerable as we are all, but he has gone through too much ugly stuff that I fear this time won't be easy to bring him from the Max Gentry alias."

"He'll be back in no time Mr. Hanna. No worries. He used that alias too many times and he knows when to cut to the chase. Now, go get Mr. Callen and go to the Coroner's Office for the details of the autopsy. Have Ms. Blye go to the Marine Base in Camp Pendleton to find out everything about our dead Marine. I'll handle Mr. Deeks."

"Okay. And Hetty?"

"Yes, Mr. Hanna?"

"Thank you for your words. Your words always make me feel better."

"Glad to hear that. Now, go."

Hetty stood at the door to OPS and inhaled deeply. She exhaled and spoke quietly, so no one can hear her.

"I hope that he'll come back Mr. Hanna. I hope he'll come back. If he's not consumed by the ghosts of his past."