Title of the chapter comes from "The Sound of Silence" by Simon & Garfunkel. Obviously not mine, just paying tribute to a song I like very much. Enjoy!


Chapter 9: Hello Darkness, My Old Friend

The watcher had been surprised when one of his followers informed him his target had left LA. When he had watched Deeks next to his car the day before, looking so desperate and lost, he had been sure the man was deciding between staying and leaving LA. And knowing what he did now, he had been right in his assumption. But he had been sure that the man would choose the same option he did as a young boy, to stay and fight, instead, this time he had decided to run. Maybe the years had turned the boy soft?

He was angry, really annoyed and irritated, and that wasn't a good thing for anyone close to him, and much less for his enemies. All the time spent following the team and studying their actions, just for the detective to run away and turn all that information useless. He had wanted to grab him during one of the team's cases but now that wouldn't be possible and this was just another reason he would have to make the man pay for. He hadn't taken all that time for research and waited so long to put his plan in motion, for all his ideas to be thrown out the window in the last stages.

The watcher couldn't be sure if Deeks was choosing to leave permanently or come back soon. His instincts told him he wouldn't abandon his team and the woman he spent all his time with, but still he couldn't be completely sure. He had to contact the hated detective and let him know he existed. Making the decision to slightly alter his plans, the man sent a group of his minions to the store his target had been followed to the day before, hoping to find out where the detective had gone or how to contact him.

-x-x-x-

Huey, Dewey, and Louie, as the watcher called his main three subjects, left their house early Saturday morning after receiving a call from their boss with the next steps of the plan. They were to make their way into a rundown store in a shady part of town and through whatever means find out where their target could be located. Entering the store, they saw an old man working the register and approached him from three different sides.

Franco looked warily at the three man, who appeared to be triplets, and as inconspicuously as possible moved his hand to the gun he always kept hidden below the counter. "What can I do for you this fine morning?"

"For how long it remains a fine morning depends entirely on you old man…" The first man said. "Tells us what we want to know and we leave peacefully…" The second continued. "Or not, and I can assure this will stop being a fine morning really soon…" The third one finished as he took out a gun from his back, while his brothers followed with similar actions.

"No need to get violent, and no need to pull out three guns against one old man. What do you want to know?" Franc had a bad feeling and he thought what the man would want to know, or rather who would they ask about. And if he was certain, this will surely end badly, because he would never betray his friend.

"Yesterday a man came to your store," again the first man started talking and Franc closed his eyes as his worst fears were becoming a living nightmare. "Tall, blonde, blue eyes…" The second continued just as they had done before. "How do we contact him?" The third one, who evidently was the leader, finished, again lifting his gun for emphasis.

Max what did you get yourself into? Franc thought to himself as he tried looking for a way out. This was not the first time undesirable men came to his store looking for the young man he secretly loved as a son, but this was the first time he saw no way out. Deeks which now he knew was Max's real name was nowhere around, neither his federal agents' friends… He was alone and outnumbered against three armed and clearly unstable men. Protecting that young man had costed him a lot in the past, stabbed once, almost shot another time, and his store trashed a third time... Still, he would take any of those things again if it meant keeping him save.

When he had first met him, he had already heard of all the stories of the supposedly violent and crazy Max. And even then, he had believed there was more to the man, and had just seen him as a survivor like himself, and a young man that had instantly reminded him of his younger brother gunned down by a rival gang at just 30… And now, after the meeting with the federal agents the night before, he knew his feelings had been true, and even though his friend had lied, he understood and was still willing to protect him with his life. As the agent had said, the name didn't matter, just what he had done, and what they had shared, he silently added in his head.

"Hey, old man, we're not playing here." The third man and leader spoke, signaling for his companions to move to either side of Franco while he kept approaching from the front.

"I get many customers daily, I'm sorry but I can't help you." The first hit caught him near his left eye and he stumbled against the counter. The second and third punches went into his stomach, knocking the air out of his lungs. The fourth, and last one, sent him to the floor with blood running down his face.

Staring up at the three man from his position laying on the ground, Franc wondered if this was the end, because there was no way he would betray Max… Or Deeks, he corrected himself. Many would argue his actions were foolish but if there was one value to which he had abided his whole life, it was loyalty, and he didn't want to stop now. He remembered their first meeting, and the way the young man had sacrificed himself to save him and his son. He remembered the friendship that followed and felt clarity in his heart that regardless of the lies, that part had been all true. He also felt peace within himself that he finally knew the truth, and the innocent part of his heart still hoped he would live long enough to someday meet the real Marty Deeks without the mask. A kick to his back brought his mind back to the present, and after seeing the guns pointed at him, he started to pray.

"Last chance old man, how do we contact him?"

-x-x-x-

Saturday came and with it a whole new level of sorrow, Deeks was missing Kensi more than he thought possible and he couldn't stop thinking about her. It was Saturday morning and they would usually be together at home, cooking breakfast together and ready to leave for the beach or whatever other plans they had. Instead, he was alone, on a little hotel in Mexico, and with an unknown bad guy still behind him.

More than anything, he hated the indecisiveness he still felt and the doubts that plagued his mind. A voice at the back of his head told him he had made a mistake, had allowed the envelopes to rattle him, taking away his ability to think rationally and rushing him into the decision to run away. But the other voice in his head said that this had been the only choice, and the best way to protect his family back in LA.

After eating some cereal and milk, and changing into shorts and a t-shirt, he decided to walk towards the beach, hoping to find the peace he so desperately needed.

Following the directions from the owner of the hotel, he made his way into the beach and the surf shop where he could rent a board. At any other time, he would have been totally excited to be surfing in Mexico but now he just felt numb and miserable. He wanted Kensi to be with him, and even more he wanted to be home with Kensi. The years together with her had settled him down, and he didn't enjoy going out and traveling so much; he much preferred their domestic bliss and the comfortable way in which they lived.

He surfed for some time but wasn't feeling it, and ended up wiping out more times than the ones he remained standing. Settling back on the sand, he again went back to the last week and the envelopes. The first three pictures had been completely personal and dealing with his childhood, making him think it was someone from his past. But his father was dead, and he had no other family. So it left a family member he wasn't aware existed, or maybe an old friend or cellmate of his father. Lastly, he thought whoever was behind the pictures might have been trying to set him up, making him think of the distant past, when maybe the enemy was much more recent.

After 2 hours of sitting on the sand, and being no close to figuring out who was behind the envelopes, he started thinking instead of what to do next. Contacting his team was the choice that made the most sense, but now he would need to not only explain the envelopes but why he had run away. He thought that would be easier if he returned sooner rather than later, but that still left open having to explain the worst part of all… the pictures of his battered young self and mother.

Feeling hungry, he decided to return the board and walk back to the hotel. He thought to cook the rest of the chicken as he didn't feel like going out, but his plans were changed as soon as he entered the main area of the building and sniffed the deliciousness coming from what he imagined was the kitchen.

"Mijo, aqui estas! My husband told me we had a nice, young American guest, so I decided to cook something local for you and the other few guests we have." A nice looking old woman dressed in typical Mexican attire walked out of the kitchen wiping her hands on a towel, before moving towards Deeks and grabbing one of his cheeks. "Now come boy, I cooked some delicious Mole that I'm sure will send you to heaven."

Deeks felt a little uncomfortable at the woman's attention but seeing no other option he decided to follow, while thanking her for the meal she had cooked. He had to admit it was really delicious, but that only made his heart hurt even more, as he thought of Kensi and how much she would have loved it. Finishing his food and thanking the woman again he went back into his room and settled back down on the balcony.

The rest of the day was spent in between watching some bad Mexican shows and again wondering how much better they would be if he could be with his Kensi, hanging by the small pool of the hotel and sitting on the balcony trying to gather his thoughts. It was still early when he decided to go to bed, not having anything to do, and feeling like his thoughts were not getting any better, only darker and more frantic.

-x-x-x-

As soon as Deeks opened his eyes on Sunday morning, he stretched out his hand looking for Kensi's and his heart broke a little more when he remembered where he was and that Kensi was back in LA. Not by her choice, but by his stupid mistake. Not a mistake, he reminded himself; after all, keeping Kensi safe was always his main job and concern.

While he was eating another simple cereal breakfast, he remembered that he had been keeping his burner phone off, and decided to turn it on and check for any messages from Franc. Finding none, he started getting ready so he could go to the beach again. There wasn't a lot to do on the tiny village and honestly he didn't felt he deserved any fun. He was certain this was the way the world was charging him for his mistakes and he had no choice but to pay and keep trying to figure out who was behind this, so he could hopefully move forward with his life.

Just as he was about to leave the room his cellphone rang and after seeing the area code for LA, he was sure his team had somehow found him.

"Hi?" Not wanting to answer as Deeks, Max or Samuel, he decided to go for a plain old greeting that wouldn't incriminate any of his identities.

"Hello Martin..." He would recognize that voice anywhere and anytime.

Deeks heart began beating erratically, his breath caught in his throat and his body started shaking uncontrollably.

It couldn't be. The bastard was supposed to be dead…


So, I'm really curious to know what everyone thinks… Thanks as usual for reading and know your reviews always make me happy and I love reading what you have to say.