Disclaimer: The characters of N.C.I.S. Los Angeles are property of CBS

A/N: Chapter is rated M for a scene of nudity.

"So when it comes time to take down Devereux, you want us to spray you with Overwatch and then track you from there?" Hetty asked, and Deeks nodded his agreement.

"You know what they say about being the bait?" Hetty asked.

"That it doesn't usually end well for them, but do we have a choice?" Deeks asked.

"No." Hetty said. "Good night Mr. Deeks. I will see you in the morning."

Hetty said her good byes, and then left. Deeks looked at the clock and saw that it was nine o'clock. He picked up his phone to call his girlfriend.

"Hey, babe." Kensi said as she answered the phone.

"You busy?" Deeks asked.

"Actually I was just leaving work. Do you want me to come by?" She asked.

"The question is: do you want to come by?" He asked.

"Don't have to ask me twice. I'll drop by after I grab a fresh pair of clothes." Kensi said.

"See you soon, Fern." He said, and then hung up the phone.

Deeks was about to take a shower, but was distracted. He heard some music playing. It had a hard rock beat to it. He followed the music it to his bathroom, or what was thought to be coming from his bathroom. When he got there it was silent, but it was getting louder. He checked the closet, but didn't find the source of the music. So he checked his bedroom and found that it was really loud, but muffled. He walked over to the bed and check under it. Deeks saw an envelope under his bed, but still hasn't found the source of the music, but he felt the air change. Not so much the air, but the atmosphere.

"I was beginning to wonder when you would show up." Deeks said.

"I'm honored that you were expecting me Agent Deeks." Said a familiar voice.

"Really how stupid are you? You're going to be dropping in and out of my life as you please until this case is over." Deeks said. He stood up and turned towards his door. His uninvited guest was none other than Aramis Devereux.

N.C.I.S. L.A.

Kensi was late getting to Deeks because she decided to pick up Yummy, Yummy, Heart Attack, and another pint of Rocky Road ice cream. By the time she made it home it was nine forty-five. She grabbed a fresh pair of clothes, some toiletries to leave at Deeks' place. She also rounded up Monty and his things to take back to Deeks, and then made her way out to her suv. As she was making her way over to Deeks' apartment, Kensi called Nell.

"What's up, Kens?" Nell asked.

"I'm going to be honest with Deeks." Kensi said.

"Don't you think it's a bit soon for that?" Nell asked.

"True, but that doesn't mean we can't broach the subject as least." Kensi said.

"I wish you the best." Nell said.

"And the same to you, too." Kensi said as she hung up the phone.

N.C.I.S. L.A.

The two men stood in silence staring at each other. Daring each other with their eyes to make the first move, but all the while Deeks was absorbing the song and listening to the lyrics. The words were very thought provoking given the situation Deeks found himself in.

I'm not your sacrifice

I'm not your shelter in the storm

I am determinately man

Just who do you think I am?

I'm not your child

I'm not your paragon of just

I am by other means damned

Just who do you think I am?

I am Death

I am Death

I am Death

I am Death

"Seriously; you have a theme song now?!" Deeks asked sarcastically.

"Maybe, maybe not; but with the game we are playing now you will never know." Devereux said.

"You want tell me what's going are, or are you going to continue staring at me like I'm a piece of meat?" Deeks asked.

"You're precious partner will not be the first to die." Devereux said.

"Um; my partner won't be dying. My partner is on the over here right now." Deeks said.

"She's not your partner. When this is all said and done Kensi Blye will become your wife; that's if you can take me down." Devereux said with a devious smile on his face.

"Hailey Jackson won't be the first to die. That's nice to know; so how many people will be killed before this is charade is finished?" Deeks asked.

"Seventeen people, and if you really good you will arrest the dirty cop too." Devereux said.

Deeks and Devereux had another standoff that stretched on for some time. The men were like statues, but then Deeks phone rang, and he broke eye contact. Had it been any other situation Deeks wouldn't have broken contact, but as strange as it would seem Deeks and Devereux had a gentlemen's deal together. So when Deeks' looked back up before he was answered his phone, Devereux had left the apartment. Deeks looked back at his phone and saw that it was Kensi.

"What can I do for you Light of my Life?" Deeks asked.

"I made a run for dinner, and picked up a pint of Rocky Road." She said.

"Let me guess: Yummy, Yummy, Heat Attack." He asked.

"Yep. I should be arriving soon." She said.

"Alright see you then." He said.

"See you then." She said and then hung up. Deeks walked out to the living room and put the envelope on the counter next to his gear and put his phone on top of it. Kensi would be arriving in the next ten minutes.

N.C.I.S. L.A.

When Deeks opened the door, he was attacked by his faithful, furry friend. Deeks stepped out of the way so Kensi could put some of her thing down in his apartment, and head back to her vehicle for another load. Deeks followed after her, with Monty hot on his heels, to help finish unloading her gear, Monty's things, and dinner plus a snack. After everything was settled and put away the couple pulled their dinner out and found their way over to his couch. Half way through dinner Deeks notice that Kensi was quieter than usual.

"Penny for your thoughts babe?" Deeks asked.

"This may be ahead of the game, but what about after this case has been close we consider more than what we have." Kensi said.

"When this case is closed, and the dirty cop has been arrested then we can consider marriage." Deeks said.

Deeks was a little taken back by the thought that he just had a conversation pertaining to marriage with Devereux, but given the circumstances of the past year and a half he's more than comfortable with having the conversation. Deeks notice that Kensi was extremely quiet and really nervous.

"Sugar bear, what's wrong?! Deeks asked with fear in his voice.

"It's nothing, really." She said.

"Nothing; I'm not buying it. What's wrong sweetie?" Deeks asked putting his food on the coffee table giving Kensi his full attention. "You have my attention."

"I was afraid that you would shy away from the idea of marriage, or any facsimile there." Kensi said putting her dinner on coffee table next to Deeks'.

"Look marriage is a big step, requires a lot faith from both parties, but given the circumstances of the past eighteen months I'm ready to consider anything with you." Deeks said and then leaned in and placed a kiss Kensi full on the lips. It was a sweet and tender kiss. Both of them could feel their lips becoming soft to the touch.

"Sorry to be a jerk, but I want to finish my dinner. I'm haven't eaten in over twenty hours. So let's finish up, and then maybe I could be… your dessert." Deeks said. To which Kensi smiled brightly and the couple picked up their dinner and continued eating. After the finished eating the cracked open the pint of ice cream and ate a few spoonfuls each. After the ice cream was put back into the freezer, the started to make out on the way to his bedroom; Deeks broke the session long enough to shout.

"Monty out!"

Next thing the couple sees is the family pet walk out and take his usual place in his bed by the couch. As they resumed their make out session, Kensi leaped up into Deeks arms and wrapped her legs around his waist. Deeks steadied himself to accommodate the added weight, but was moving along like it was nothing. Probably those six months he spent with the gear was assisting. Deeks shut the door with his foot and made his way over to the bed. Deeks set Kensi down, and then the couple proceeds to undress each other. Deeks had broken the kiss to make a move, but Kensi grabbed Deeks arm and spun him around switching positions with him. Then she pushed him backwards onto the bed. Kensi reached into Deeks beside dresser and pulled out a condom. She applied it and then mounted Deeks, but before the couple started Kensi leaned down and whispered.

"Are we in agreement that after Devereux is killed and the cop has been arrested that we can stop using protection?" Kensi asked.

"Agreed; I accept the fact that at that point Devereux won't be able to hurt us, so we can bring a child in without hesitation." Deeks said.

Kensi smiled and then kissed Deeks. The couple made love until the earlier hours of the morning.

N.C.I.S. L.A.

At six in the morning a phone started to ring; Deeks was extremely unhappy about it. As he was getting up to get dressed he heard.

"Clothes are optional." Said a sleepy Kensi. Deeks shot her a smile over his shoulder and then proceeded to go answer his phone.

"Still enjoying yourself?" Deeks asked. Kensi laughed as she watched Deeks leave, his butt cheeks bouncing as he walked out. Kensi laughed at the question, remembering Deeks asking that same question their first morning together in the cover house last year, she laughed while trying to hide the blush on her face. Kensi waited for Deeks to come back so they could cuddle.

N.C.I.S. L.A.

Deeks walked into the kitchen to see who was calling at the inhumane hour. As he picked up his phone he saw the caller id.

{Nell.} Deeks thought.

"What do you have Nell?" Deeks asked.

"Am I interrupting?" Nell asked.

"IF you are, you will be making it up to Kensi." Deeks threatened.

"Could you meet me at the boat shed at eight o'clock? I have an interesting theory I want to discuss with you." Nell said.

"Okay, but we better keep it short because the L.A.P.D. goons are coming over at nine to set up a command post." Deeks said.

"I'll see you at eight." Nell said.

"See you then." Deeks said, and then hung the phone. Deeks head back into the bedroom and got back in bed with Kensi, spooning with her.

"What was so important that she had to call at this time of day?" Kensi asked.

"Not sure. Nell said that she had an interesting theory she wanted to discuss with me. I have to meet her at the boat shed in." Deeks said, then turned and look at the clock. It read six fifteen. "An hour and forty-five minutes."

"Knowing our sessions we better just cuddle for a bit." Kensi said.

"As I said: Any time with you is time well spent: cuddling, or otherwise." Deeks said.

N.C.I.S. L.A.

"What do you have Nell?" Deeks asked as he entered the main room of the boat shed.

"Company." Nell almost squeaked.

"What no theme song?" Deeks asked before he saw him.

"What theme song?" Asked a voice.

"Oh it's you." Deeks said as he realized that the company was Granger. "What do you want, sir?"

"I've been called back to Washington to oversee a few upcoming operations." Granger said

"And you're telling me this, why?" Deeks asked with the confusion on his face.

"It seems that you convinced the Director with that tirade in ops yesterday to let you run the show." Granger said.

"When you see the director tell him I'm taking the lead on the investigation front, Hetty is still in control of the house." Deeks said still confused. Granger looked at the agent and the tech analyst, and then exited the boat shed.

"I wish Director Vance would just transfer him to another department." Deeks said.

"That would be too easy." Nell said. Deeks look at his watch and saw that they wasted twenty minutes talking to that man.

"Let's make it fast; the L.A.P.D liaison officer, and her people, should be here at nine." Deeks said.

N.C.I.S. L.A.

As it was hitting the nine o'clock hour, Deeks and Nell finished up their meeting. Nell was heading back to O.S.P. when she heard.

"Not a word to anybody except me. Hetty will know soon enough, being that she knows everything, Eric can help, but the fewer people that know the better our chances of our search being found." Deeks said.

Nell nodded her head and walked out the back door, as the side door was opening. Deeks turned to look in the direction of the door. Deeks heard soft footsteps, and thought Kensi might have showed; but he was wrong. First he saw Hetty, which didn't surprise him seeing as how that ninja never wears shoes that would give her away, and then he saw his partner. His partner when he was still working out of the precinct. Tall, shoulder length blonde hair, white female wearing blue jeans, a graphic band tee, and a pair of tennis shoes. They stared at each other for a time, but in Deeks chest he didn't feel anything for the woman; whether it's because of his relationship with Kensi, which it the main reason, or because of the five year disappearance without contact; whatever the reason, Deeks feels nothing in his chest for Hailey Jackson.

{Kensi will be happy to know that I am all hers.} Deeks thought.

Next thing Deeks realized was that more people from L.A.P.D. and their techs walked in to set up gear, and then some N.C.I.S. techs came in to set up with them. Then he heard Hetty speak to him.

"Agent Deeks these people will get started, but I think they need a briefing on the subject at hand." Hetty said. Deeks nodded and approached the plasma as people from both departments approached the table.

"I'll keep it short." Deeks said, and then brought a picture of the target. Everybody took in the picture: some reacted to it, others just stared at it.

"The target's name is Aramis Devereux; French national with military training. He also has Special Forces training, so if you can tell the troops to get away do so. We don't need any hero; Devereux is coming for me. So if they encounter him, tell them not to engage if at all possible." Deeks said.

"Then what should say if they encounter him?" Asked an L.A.P.D tech.

"Contact either myself, I'm Special Agent Deeks, or Detective Jackson; and we take it from there." Deeks said.

"Do we have any idea what he plans to do?" Asked Nell as she entered the room, Deeks nodded at her.

"Last time I had contact he said that he was going to murder seventeen people." Deeks said.

"When was the last time you had contact with Devereux?" Hailey asked.

"About nine twenty last night." Deeks said.

"That's really specific." Hetty said.

"Well when you're dealing with that man, you get specific." Deeks said.

"And more importantly if they see Devereux before he sees them tell not to pursue, or anything like that. Devereux has already made numerous death threats to my team at O.S.P. for investigation without my presence, he want hesitate to make the same to L.A.P.D; any questions?" Deeks asked. It was quiet, a few of the techs returned to setting up the computers and finish setting up the outpost in the boat shed.

"Then get too it. I want this man found before sunset." Said a voice from the back of the group; Deeks and Hailey turn to see who it was. Brock Spears decided to join the party, to which both Deeks and Hailey both shook their heads in disgust.

{If he's here he might try to report back to Devereux.} Deeks thought.

"What do you need Capt.?" Hailey asked.

"Just coming to see how things are coming along here?" Captain Spears asked.

"They just got set up and started to compile data to start tracking the target." Deeks said.

"Okay, I'll return after you two start hunting the Devereux." Spears said.

Deeks look at him questioningly, and in his peripheral vision he saw Nell looked at him. After Spears left Nell approached Deeks and asked.

"What do we do about him?"

"Make sure ops stay disconnected." Deeks said.

"What?" Nell asked.

"Make sure the command center does not hook into ops at all. This outpost will be fully autonomous, do you get me?" Deeks asked. Nell nodded her head and then went to going about the disconnect procedure. Hailey stood ten feet away and question Deeks decision, but decided to ask him about it later.

"Deeks, if you and Hailey are going into the field I want the two of you wired." Hetty said, handing an earwig to Deeks and Hailey.

"You better not lose that, or I will charge you for it." Deeks said to Hailey, to which she just stared at Deeks. They tested the equipment and the left. They took Deeks suv, and the headed for a quick bite to eat.

N.C.I.S. L.A.

On the way to grab some food Deeks signal to Hailey to turn off her ear piece; both of them turned off the wire.

"We are going to be on speaker all day so if we have speak privately, just signal like I just did." Deeks said.

"Why is ops not bring hooked into that command post in the boat shed?" Hailey asked.

"Captain Spears has been acting suspicious for a while now, and I don't want him having access to the whole set up." Deeks said.

"Prove it." Hailey said.

"How else do you explain Devereux getting access to the alias Selena Carter?" Deeks asked.

"I'll get back to you on that." Hailey said, and then activated her earwig. Deeks follow suit and activated his. Hailey Kept quiet for a time, until Deeks asked what lunch should be.

"Why not the usual?" Hailey asked.

"Like that food truck right there?" Deeks asked.

Hailey looked up and saw the food truck that she and Deeks went to a lot when they were partners. As they were getting out to go get food Deeks got a call on his phone. He pulled out his phone and saw that it was coming from ops. Deeks signaled to cut the wire and then put in on speaker.

"What do you have Eric?" Deeks asked.

"That picture you gave me isn't a code of any type. I tried a lot of computer algorithms and I coming up with nothing." Eric said.

"It's a picture Eric run it against rooms, or sites that could have a resemblance to it." Deeks said.

"That is a brilliant idea Deeks; I'll get back to when I have something." Eric said, and then hung up. Deeks motioned that it was clear to turn the earpiece back on, and then they walked over to the food truck. They ordered their food and headed over to the table and sat down to eat. They ate their meal in peace, but Hailey had a questioning look on her face.

"I know that look. My partner makes that look a lot." Deeks said

"Do you hear something?" Hailey asked. Deeks listened and heard a song; a familiar song, one with a hard rock beat that he heard last night.

"We're about to have company." Deeks said.

"Company; what company?" Hailey asked.

"You can come out now." Deeks said.

Next thing that happens is Deeks and Hailey are joined at the table by another person.

"Jackson, Deeks." Said the man nodding at both Deeks and Hailey as he took a seat at the table.

"Devereux." Jackson gasped.

Deeks held a hand up to Hailey to keep her calm, though he was having a hard time keeping calm himself. Devereux smiled to himself about the game they would be playing.

T.B.C.

A/N: The hard rock song that was mention is called Death by Demon Hunter.