Just checked…nope…still not mine. My minions and I have been dancing with joy at the follows, favs, reviews and views this story has received. Thanks so much.

I promise we'll give them back in the same shape we found them in.

Enjoy.

July 16th.

Everyone was in OPS for the briefing. Hetty began by outlining the undercover operation to bring down the Contreras cartel which Deeks would be part of. Before anyone could protest, she informed them that they would be backing him up while he was under as Max. Details regarding how the rest of the team would provide needed backup were provided along with burn phones and distress codes, just in case they were needed. She described the members of the task force they would be working with, then asked Eric and Nell to inform the team about the additional backstopping they had performed for Max.

Nell began "We used the time Deeks was shot as the reason he has been out of contact as Max. We changed quite a few of the details about the situation making it appear he was shot while working with a different client. We also made the wounds appear more serious. He's been recovering out of town but is now back and looking for a new job."

Eric continued "Since Max worked with the Contreras cartel before, they've been asking around to see if he's available."

"It will make it easy for you to go back in as Max" Nell interjected.

"Yeah, I worked with them a few years ago. When the bust went down, I was arrested with everyone else. I didn't have to appear in court so no one was the wiser. Do you know who's been asking around for Max?"

After bringing the information up on her computer, Nell continued "It's Riccardo Contreras". He put word out on the street that he's looking for Max. Working with Lt. Bates, we've set up an apartment for Max and quietly let it be known that he's back in LA."

"If no one has any questions, we'll let Mr. Deeks meet with Lt. Bates before he sets up the initial meet with Riccardo." No one had any questions, so Hetty concluded with "Mr. Deeks, please be assured that we're with you all the way. We've put a GPS tracker in your boots, your watch and your vehicle. The apartment is wired for sound and picture even though we don't think we'll need it. Your leather jacket has a button cam and a microphone in the right lapel of the jacket. You can turn the mic off if necessary by grabbing the lapel and pressing on the spot where the mic is. Try it now and we'll see if it works. Your phone has been set up with several numbers you can use to call the team if necessary. Is there anything else you would like us to do before you leave?"

"I don't think so. I'll let you know if I think of anything else." With that Deeks tried out the mic and to everyone's relief it worked the way it was supposed to. He said goodbye and walked out of OPS. Kensi jumped up and followed him, "I'll walk you to your car."

As soon as the door to OPS closed, she reached over and took Marty's hand in hers "I don't want you to go…but I know you have to so be careful and remember your promise. I can't lose you" she whispered while a lone tear rolled down her cheek. "Dammit, I'm not going to cry. I'm not crying! I'm stronger than this!" she angrily told herself. But just thinking about him leaving again to go under cover as Max was killing her and she wanted him to know how she felt. "You know I love you, right? So you better come back, or I'll…I'll wash your cloths and turn them all purple again. You know I can do it!"

Seeing Kensi cry, even if it was just one tear, tore him up but he knew he had to leave so giving her a kiss he whispered back "Don't worry Fern, I'll be back" as he opened the car door and slid in. "I love you too. Take care of Monty for me. And I know you'd turn my clothes purple, you wouldn't be able to help yourself." he chuckled.

"I'll take care of Monty. And I'll be waiting for you. I'll try to be patient for you like you were for me when I was gone."

~,~,~

Deeks met with Bates to go over the details of the case. Once done, he gathered his thoughts and informed the lieutenant this assignment would be his last for LAPD.

"What do you mean, this is your last assignment Deeks? You work for LAPD. We need you."

"I've signed the papers to become an NCIS agent."

"What! If you've already signed the papers, where is your signed resignation from LAPD?"

"I have it right here." handing Lt. Bates the required resignation forms. "I've signed them but did't date them. I don't want the resignation to take affect until this last operation is completed. I can't leave without finishing this assignment."

"Thanks for that kid. I can't say I haven't been expecting it, but for a moment there, I thought you were backing out of this operation."

"Really…did you just call me 'kid'? Are you channeling Han Solo? Deeks smirked "I would never do that. I have too much respect for what we do as policemen but I wanted to give you some time to get used to the idea before I'm actually gone It's taken me a long time to realize where I truly fit is with NCIS, and as much as it surprises me, they want me as an agent."

Laughing at Marty's antics, Lt. Bates continued "Why are you surprised? You're the best undercover detective I've ever worked with."

"Wow…thanks" Marty was flattered and grateful to hear that from his LAPD boss. "You know there are several other really good undercover detectives available. I'm sure they're up to the task".

"Yeah, but they're not as good as you. You have a real gift for undercover work. We'll manage, but I'll miss you. Keep in touch."

~,~,~

Marty left for the apartment. It was in a slightly seedy part of town that fit in with Max's persona perfectly. Once there, he changed into Max's clothes and began the slow process of becoming his alias. He combed his hair back like he always did as Max. He stood in front of the mirror and worked on his face and posture to begin to sink into the alias. He began to adjust his speech patterns to sound like Max. He could feel himself becoming harder, rougher, meaner. Max just didn't give a shit what anyone thought. If he wanted something he took it. If he got angry, Max would hit something or someone. Everyone stayed out of his way. When he felt like Max again, he knew it was time to get started so he spoke out loud for the coms to pick up "Here we go. I'm going out to hit a couple of bars and let everyone know I'm back in town."

Over the next week, Max looked up old contacts all while being the asshole he was known to be. He collected some old debts owed him while effectively terrorizing the men and anyone they were with. He leered at the women who looked at him. Word soon got around that Max was back and just as mean as ever. When several of Max's contacts let him know Riccardo was looking for him, Marty knew it was time to meet the man.

~,~,~

July 22rd

Joe Cantor, the bartender at Riley's looked up in surprise when he heard the request for whiskey. "Max, when did you get back in town?"

After downing the whiskey he rasped "None of your fucking business, Joe. Pour another shot, man. I hear Riccardo's been asking for me. Where I can find him this fine day?"

"He's set up in the old warehouse on Elm Street. I hear he's talking about 'renovating' the building and opening up a nightclub." Joe watched as Max left with a backward wave of his hand after dropping a couple of bills on the counter. Once Max was gone, Joe picked up his cell phone and made a quick call. "Tell Riccardo that Max is on his way over and he doesn't look happy."

After leaving the bar, Marty let OPS know that he was on his way to meet Riccardo.

~,~,~

Walking up to the warehouse where Riccardo was reported to be, Deeks whispered into the mic indicating he was turning it off for a few minutes to be safe when he first met with Riccardo. "As soon as it's clear, I'll turn it back on so you can hear what's being said."

The reassuring voice of Kensi replied "We're watching your back, we're close in case you need us." Before he reached the door, Riccardo come outside and waved. "Max, it's been a long time. How the hell are you?"

"Fine you asshole. Why are you looking for me?"

"A job Max. I have a job for you and I've been trying to find you. I haven't seen or heard from you since the end of our last job together. We had good times back then, didn't we? Where you been man?"

"Doing a job for one of my customers. Didn't end well for me but ended worse for the assholes that set me up. I ended up shot, they ended up dead. I've been laying low recovering from two bullets to the chest."

"Are you healthy? I can't use you if you can't handle yourself."

"Listen you fuck! If I wasn't able to 'handle' myself, I wouldn't be here." So don't mess with me or you just might not live to regret it. Do you have a job for me or not?"

"Yeah, I have a job. Come on inside and I'll tell you all about it."

They proceeded into the warehouse where Max was checked for wires. There were five men lounging around. Riccardo introduced four of them as his bodyguards and the fifth as his second in command, Harvey Gold. All the bodyguards had semi-automatic weapons on them. Harvey looked slightly familiar to Deeks but he couldn't place him. Maybe it was his imagination, but just to be sure, he shifted slightly so that the button cam could get a good look at the guy's face. He knew Eric and Nell would run him through facial rec to find out everything about him. He decided to think of the bodyguards as Things 1 through 4 just to give himself a chuckle.

Harvey had the same feeling about Marty when Riccardo introduced them. He too felt like he had seen him somewhere before, but couldn't place it. "It was probably nothing" he thought. "It doesn't matter anyway, he won't be around much longer."

"So Riccardo, what's the job" Max snarled as he rubbed his lapel to turn the mic back on so that OPS would hear the information on the buyers and anything else discussed.

"We have a shipment of weapons arriving in a couple of weeks and I'm here to set up the delivery. We haven't worked with these buyers before and I'm supposed to make sure that they're the right people for us to do business with"

"Why aren't you using your regular buyers?"

"We've had problems with our regular buyers. Someone has been selling them out to the Feds." he growled.

"Who are these yahoos? I'll check them out for you if that's what you want. Usual rates."

"I've been dealing with their front man so far. His name is James Eggleton, a lawyer that works down on Clement Ave. He has his own law office there."

"Fine, I'll be back once I get the info you want. What number can I reach you at?"

Max left the warehouse with Riccardo's contact number and returned to his apartment. He felt like someone was watching him, but couldn't see any tails. Making sure that nothing had been touched in the apartment, he called OPS and asked to speak to everyone including Bates. Once Lt. Bates was conferenced in, Deeks proceeded to tell them everything he had seen of the layout and the entrances and exits to the warehouse.

"Nell, what did you find using facial rec on the men standing behind Riccardo. I think I may have run into one of them, the one on the right, sometime in the past. He seems familiar to me but I can't place the face. Riccardo said his name was Harvey Gold and he's Riccardo's right hand man. Also find out everything you can on the lawyer James Eggleton. He's the front man for the buyers. I have to be able to go back to Riccardo with full information on them as soon as possible."

"Will do, Eric and I will get the information to you right away. Someone will drop it by the apartment."

"Not a good idea Nell. Max doesn't bring people to where he lives. He goes to them or meets them in bars. Why don't you have Callen bring it to me at Riley's tomorrow night. He can bring me money he 'owes' me for a job I did since he's heard I'm back in town. He can pass me the information along with the money and no one will be the wiser."

"Good plan Deeks" Callen interjected. "How do you want me to play it?"

"Act like you know Max is volatile but you're okay with that because you've dealt with him enough that you know how to get along with him, that is as well as anyone gets along with Max. Just play along with whatever I say or do."

"Yeah, right…like I don't know how to handle myself undercover" Callen snorted.

"Oh, I don't know…don't you think you're getting a little old for all of this cloak and dagger crap Callen." They could all hear the amusement in Deeks tone and it relieved some of the tension permeating OPS. It's what he aimed for whenever he got 'cheeky' as Hetty called it.

"Just wait Deeks, you'll pay for that" Callen grumbled.

"Seriously, did you just threaten your favorite liaison officer, really? Hetty, he's picking on me."

"That's enough Mr. Deeks. We get the picture. Get some sleep and you and Mr. Callen can meet tomorrow night at Riley's. Okay people, let's call it a wrap."

~,~,~