Los Angeles-
Hetty was sitting at her desk when her phone started to ring.
"Hello." Hetty answered.
"Your people are safe." The man on the end said.
"One last thing before to you go." Hetty said.
"What's that?" He asked.
"Make sure they get the information to bring Mr. Khan down before you send them back stateside." Hetty said.
"That shouldn't be a problem." The man said.
"So long." Hetty said, as her team was walking into her office.
"What was that about?" Callen asked.
"Mr. Deeks and Miss. Khan have been saved, and are being move to a safe location to recover." Hetty said, as she hung up her phone.
"How soon until Deeks returns?" Kensi asked.
"Depends on how long it takes to repair the damage done by the Taliban." Hetty said.
"Back to work." Callen said.
Whistling.
The group turned and looked up to the balcony, and saw Eric pointing to ops. The three agents climbed the stairs in record time. Hetty made her way up to ops, just at her leisure.
"What do you have Eric?" Callen asked.
"All the information that we have links back to the ambassador." Eric said.
"How so?" Kensi asks.
"Everything that has occurred to date: the set up with the Taliban in Afghanistan, the contract with the Chechen rebels, the death of Senator Swanson, the theft of the organs; it all leads back to the ambassador." Nell said.
"How sure are you of this information?" Sam asked.
Nell brought all of the information that her and Eric dug up, and it was either signed off by the ambassador, or it originate from his office. The ambassador was neck deep in this scandal.
"Does the state department know?" Kensi asked.
"At this moment the Ambassador Khan is scheduled to leave the country heading for a conference in Paris, France." Hetty said entering ops.
"So he's just going to walk?" Sam asked.
"No he's not Mr. Hanna. Everything that the ambassador has done has a paper trail. The rebels have information that incriminates the ambassador; along with the information that Mr. Beale, and Miss. Jones dug up we can serve the Ambassador up on a silver platter for Interpol." Hetty said.
"To bad we won't be there to see it." Callen said
"Anything else?" Kensi asked.
"We caught a case." Nell said. "Dead marines with possible ties to a smuggling group, and a forgery ring out of Camp Pendleton."
"This ought to be an interesting case." Callen said.
"Get to it folks." Hetty said, and then exited ops; followed by her agents.
N.C.I.S. L.A.
I'm coming to when I hear a familiar voice. A voice I've only heard once before, and that was last year when I was at another low point in my life. Funny how that man shows up when I least expect it.
"Jack Simon." I say, looking up at both Tali and Jack.
"Deeks." Jack said.
"To what do I owe the pleasure of your assistance?" I ask.
"Hetty called in a favor." Jack said.
"It's dangerous to be in her debt." I say.
"Tell me about it, but it got you out alive." Jack said.
"I'm in this whole mess because of you." I say.
"What do you mean by that?" Jack asked.
"I'm not blaming you, but you were in contact with Hetty, and asked for help." I say, laying my head back down.
"I had the C.I.A. breathing down my neck, I didn't want to die." Jack said.
"I'm not blaming you for wanting to survive. You were expecting Hetty to send a team of sorts to extract you from the situation, but instead she sends Kensi to give you a running start." I say.
"She knew that Kensi wouldn't kill me. I bet she didn't count on the fact of Kensi to come and find either." Jack said.
"The Taliban took pictures of both you and Kensi that look like you had both been killed. Most likely to deter anybody from following them." I say.
"I remember them taking those photos." Jack said. "I'm guessing the others that were with you sent them to Hetty?"
"And Hetty sent it to me to get information out of the man I was babysitting." I say.
"So what happened that landed you in this position?" Jack asked.
"I tried to waterboard the man I was babysitting." I say.
Jack winced, and Tali gasped. I just laid there, staring at the ceiling.
"I'm to blame for your current disposition." Jack said.
"Only if you asked Hetty to send Kensi." I say.
"No, never." Jack said.
"Then you are off the hook." I say.
I continue to stare at the ceiling, not wanting to exist. I'd rather slowly die, and return to the abyss that has slowly consuming me ever since I became an undercover cop.
"I hate to interrupt your drift into nothingness, but you have work to do. Not only that Kensi would never forgive if I let you slip away." Jack said.
I give Jack a questioning glance.
"I was a marine at one time. I know that look all too well." Jack said.
"What you do have?" Tali asked.
"Hetty's team dug up a lot of information that will bury the ambassador." Jack said.
"How soon until I'm able to move without assistance?" I ask.
"Deeks." Tali said.
"You're in this mess because of him too." I say.
Tali concedes to my point.
"A week, two tops." Jack said. "But a full recovery will take longer."
"I just need to be mobile. I'll recover later." I say
Jack just shrugs his shoulders, and exits.
"What's the plan?" Tali asked.
"Bring your father to justice." I say.
Tali walks over, and sits down next to me. I sit up, and look Tali in her face, and I can see the tears that are coming. I pull Tali into a hug, and let her cry the tears.
"If my father goes to prison, I will have no one left. My mother died when I was young." Tali said through the tears.
"We'll figure something out." I say.
Tali continues to cry, and I hold her; cradling her neck in one hand, and massaging her back with the other.
N.C.I.S. L.A.
The dead marines involved in the smuggling/forgery ring turned up more marines that were involved. Two of the marines escaped, while the other four were taken in to custody and sent back to the boat shed for questioning. It was twelve o'clock in the morning by the time Callen, Sam, and Kensi had rounded up all the marines, so they decided to let the marines stew overnight and go home and get some rest. Eric and Nell woke up earlier and got back to Ops to see if there were any leads on the two escaped marines. By nine thirty when the rest of the team showed up they hadn't found them.
"Anything on the escaped marines?" Kensi asked.
"No." Nell said, without looking up from her computer.
"We had them on P.C.H., but they disappeared from there." Eric said without looking up from his tablet.
"Is there anything that you do know?" Callen asked.
"One of four marines wants to cut a deal." Hetty said walking into ops.
"Let's go see what he has to offer." Sam said.
The three agents exited ops, and then headed over to boat shed to see what information was being offered in exchange for a reduced sentenced.
N.C.I.S. L.A.
Afghanistan, two weeks later-
My recovery was coming along nicely, but I'm not able to fight or chase suspects; albeit, my healing was more the ninety percent complete. Jack came by with a folder in his hand. I look at the folder as Jack was handing it to me.
"What's this for?" I ask.
"A parting gift from the rebels. Hetty asked me to give this to you." Jack said.
"Do you know where my father is?" Tali asked.
"He was last in Paris, but now he is heading to London." Jack said.
"Drop us off at the airport, and we'll take it for there." I say.
Jack said something in Pashtu, and then rebels get a caravan together to escort us to the capitol. From there the long trip to London, and then home.
N.C.I.S. L.A.
Nell was running standard checks for people involved in the smuggling/ forgery ring when a trace she was running came back. Nell exited ops, and headed to the bull pen where Kensi, Sam, and Callen were currently working. Before stepping into the bull pen Nell brought the picture up on the plasma that she had found. Callen looked up when he saw the plasma turn on.
"Where was this taken?" Callen asked, both Sam and Kensi looked at what Callen was talking about.
It was of Deeks and Tail at an airport about to board their flight.
"Kabul, Afghanistan." Nell said.
"Do you have a lead on where they are going?" Kensi asked.
"Eric got a look at the passenger manifest, and they're heading to the London." Nell said.
"What's in London?" Sam asked.
"I'll give you two guess, but you're only going need one." Nell said.
"I'm guessing it has something to do with a man by the name of Khan." Callen said.
"How soon can we get tickets to London?" Kensi asked.
"Next month." Hetty said, walking into the bull pen.
"This going to be an Interpol take down?" Sam asked.
"Yes." Hetty said.
Kensi visibly deflated; she wanted to see Deeks again. Hetty exited the bull pen, heading to her office to make a phone call.
.S. L.A.
Tali and I were landing in London; after we disembarked I see a few people in suits waiting for us. Tali and I approach the suits.
"And you are." I ask.
"Interpol Agent Jack Bronson." Bronson said. "Do you have the information we need?"
I pull folder out and hand it to the Bronson. Bronson flipped the folder, and when he was satisfied with what he saw he closed the folder.
"Contact N.C.I.S. Operations Manager Henrietta Lange, and she can get you more information you need to bury the ambassador." I say.
"I will do that." Bronson said.
Bronson and his men escorted Tali, and I to their headquarters to round up the last bit of information before we bring Khan down. It took three days for them to vet the information given to them by N.C.I.S.; while we were waiting, Tali and I were sitting in an office when one of Bronson agents came for me.
"Deeks, you have a phone call." The agent said.
"I'll be right back." I said to Tali.
Tali nods her head, and then I walk away to take the call. The person on the other end of the line didn't surprise me.
"Hello." I say answering the phone.
"How are you feeling Mr. Deeks?" Hetty asked.
"Looking forward to some R&R after this mission." I say.
"Director Vance wants to talk to you after the job is done." Hetty said.
"I'll be there." I say.
"Before you go, when you come back to America bring Tali with you." Hetty said.
"Roger that." I say, and then hang up the phone.
I head back to tell Tali about what Hetty said, but Bronson and his team were ready to go. We exit the office building and get into a fleet of black suv. We head to the Capitol building, or the equivalent of a Capitol building, to arrest Ambassador Khan. The ride over to the building was tense, and silent. I lean in and whisper in Tali's ear.
"My boss asked me to bring you back stateside when this whole escapade is done."
"Thanks for the heads up." Tali whispered back.
We ride the rest of the trip to the Capitol building in silence. It was another ten minutes before we arrived at the building. We all get out, and then make our way into the building. When we enter the atrium I hear an agent ask the receptionist where the meeting was taking place. After we get the room number, we head up to the third floor. As we were approaching the conference hall we could hear that a meeting was in session.
Awkward. I thought just as were about to enter the door.
N.C.I.S. L.A.
Los Angeles
Hetty and her team were in ops watching the ambassador give a speech on the big screen.
"Hetty, is there a reason why we are watching this boring-" Sam cut himself off when he saw the hall doors open.
He could see a bunch of people in suits, and two familiar faces: Deeks and Tali.
"This has got to one of the best take downs I have ever seen." Sam said.
"Easy there big guy." Callen said, enthralled by what he was watching on the big screen.
"What is the meaning of this?" The moderator on the screen ask.
"We've come to detain one of your guest in attendance here today." I say.
Khan head whipped around real quickly when he heard my voice.
"Surprise!" Tali said
"Wasn't expect us to come back did you?" I ask.
"What do you mean by that?" One of the guest in the crowd asked.
"Ambassador Khan had a side deal with the Taliban, while brokering the deal with the rebels." Agent Bronson said.
"This is an outrage! You have no proof!" Khan said.
"Careful Ambassador, last time you said that there was proof. And again there is proof, and this time it's enough to sink you." I say.
"You're persistent, I'll give you that." Khan said.
"After we were rescued from Taliban, the rebels gave us information on to the ambassador's dealings with the Taliban." Tali said, stepping back in.
"On top of that N.C.I.S. Operations Manager Henrietta Lange had her tech engineer and intel analyst dig up all the information of his actions the state while was he there; I would like to point out that he was two months early for." I say.
"Showing up two months early for a conference isn't a bad thing." One of the members of the crowd said.
"Yeah, but it is a bad thing if he is contracting Chechen rebels to abduct the both of us." Tali said.
"Why would I contract Chechen rebels to kidnap my own daughter?" Khan asked.
"Dedication." Bronson said. "Who would question your dedication to the cause if you gave them your daughter to prove your loyalty?"
"Wow if I ever wind up in trouble I want Deeks as my advocate." Kensi said
"Wait, what?" Callen asked.
"Deeks is a lawyer?" Sam asked.
"I always thought he look good in a suit." Nell said.
"Easy there Nell." Kensi said.
"Guys, they're still talking." Eric snapped.
"This is absurd!" Khan shriek.
"At least have the dignity to go quietly father." Tali said.
Everybody in ops jaw hit the floor when Tali told her father to have some dignity. Bronson and his men arrested Khan, and then escorted the man out. Tali walked over to me and gave me a hug me. Kensi lowers her head, to hide the jealousy that was coloring her face. I beak the hug, and then we exit the conference room.
"I have to say, besides not being there in person that was pretty sweet." Sam said.
"That it was." Nell said.
"When will Deeks be home?" Callen asked.
"Twenty-four to forty-eight hours from now." Hetty said.
Kensi exited ops, heading for the armory. Nell exited ops behind her.
"What's the latest on the smuggling/forgery ring?" Hetty asked.
"That was handed over to MP's at Pendleton for processing." Callen said.
"Any ties to our infamous Mr. Khan?" Hetty asked.
"Not that we can tell, but the way things have played out it wouldn't have surprised us in the least." Sam said.
"As you were gentlemen." Hetty said exiting ops.
N.C.I.S. L.A.
"Missing Deeks?" Nell asked.
"Yeah." Kensi said.
"What's the cause for concern?" Nell asked.
"When Deeks left he was pretty upset with me." Kensi said.
"Wondering if he will still want to be partnered with you?" Nell asked.
Kensi nodded her head.
"Think how he feels about Hetty." Nell said.
Nell was rewarded with a chuckle.
"What's the worst that could happen?" Nell asked.
"He walks away from all of this." Kensi said. "From us."
"Maybe, but I think Deeks is going to need some time before he makes a decision, even one like that." Nell says.
"You think he will return?" Kensi asked.
"It's all Deeks knows: to serve and protect. I think he will return here over going back to being a cop." Nell said.
"Touché." Kensi says.
"Deeks will be back, I don't see him going anywhere else." Nell said.
N.C.I.S. L.A.
London-
Tali and I were about to board our plane back to the states when Bronson stopped us.
"Thank you for your support." Bronson said, offering his hand.
"Thank you for letting us come along." I say, shanking Bronson's hand.
"Any chance we could steal you away from N.C.I.S.? We could use a man of your caliber." Bronson said.
"I appreciate the offer, but I'm going to have to pass. I was already offered a position that I'm seriously considering." I say.
"Can't blame a man for trying." Bronson said.
"No I can't. Until next time Bronson." I say.
We shake hands one last time, and then we board the plane.
N.C.I.S. L.A.
Washington D.C.-
When Tali and I get off the plane in D.C., someone from the state department was waiting for us.
"Talitha Khan?" The woman asked.
"That's me." Tali said.
"We were informed that your father was recently relieved of duty as ambassador to the United States." The representative said.
"Yes, we just came from his arrest." Tali said.
"We were wondering if you wanted to fill that position." She said.
Tali looked at me, and I nodded my head.
"Yes. I'll take it." Tali said.
"It's been fun." I say to Tali.
"Thank you for the adventure, Tim." Tali says.
"Until next time Jess." I tell Tali.
Tali gives me a hug, and then follows the state department representative to fill out the necessary paper work. My plane leaves in twenty minutes so I go to make my connection.
N.C.I.S. L.A.
Los Angeles-
I head to Ops after my flight landed. It's three o'clock in the morning when I get to Ops. I haven't been here in almost two months, but it still feels like home. Even after the betrayals by both Hetty and Kensi I still can't stay away. I look at the drawer holding the folder that Hetty gave me. I open the drawer and pull the folder out. I open it, and flip to the last page. I grab a pen, and sign on the dotted line. I shut the folder, and put the pen back in my drawer.
"How long were you planning on holding onto that?" A voice behind from me asks.
"Until it was necessary." I say. "How did you know that I had it?"
I knew the voice, I looked up to see Granger standing next to my desk.
"I knew Hetty had her eyes on you; it was only a matter of time before she offered it to you, or you made it known that you wanted to join." Granger said.
I hand Granger the folder, and he accepts it.
"Director Vance wanted me to tell you that by the time you come off your mandated leave that there will be an opening in Glynco, Georgia. Give them this number, and they will handle the rest." Granger said, handing me a pass card.
"How did you know that I was going to join after this op?" I ask.
"We didn't, but given the depths that you have sunk to in the past seven months it wasn't a bit of a stretch to believe that you would." Granger said.
"All right." I say. "Until next time."
"See you then." Granger says.
I grab my keys, and then leave. I head to Kensi house, she will want to know what's happened. She deserves to know what's happening.
N.C.I.S. L.A.
Kensi was waking up at four in the morning to go to the bathroom. As she was exiting the bathroom she saw that she had an intruder. Just as she was about to run for her gun she heard the man speak.
"Hello, Fern." I say.
Kensi almost fainted. She turned a light on to see that it was me standing in her living room. Kensi ran, and jump into my embrace wrapping her legs around my waist. We kiss for a time, and then Kensi breaks the kiss resting her head on my shoulder. I set Kensi down, and we just stand there for a time holding each other.
"How long have you been back?" Kensi asked.
"About an hour, hour and a half." I say.
"When do you come back?" Kensi asked.
"About that." I say.
"What's wrong?" Kensi asked.
"I won't be back for a least six months maybe." I say.
"Why?" Kensi asks, with tears in her eyes.
"I'm on leave for three months, and then after that I have to head to Georgia." I say.
"Why Georgia?" Kensi asks.
"Glynco, Georgia to be exact." I say.
"Glynco that's the headquarters of FLETC." Kensi says.
I see the lightbulb turn on Kensi head, and she kisses me.
"Took you long enough." She said.
"Just needed the right reason." I say.
"When do you leave?" Kensi asks.
"Leave starts today. Where I'll go, I have no clue." I say.
"Come back to me." Kensi pleads.
"Don't worry Fern. I'll be back." I say with my trademark smile.
Kensi and I go to her bedroom and sleep. In the morning I see that Kensi has already left for work, so I go and resign from L.A.P.D. and then pack my things. I have no decision, or plan. I leave the city, and disappear for a time. I head to a cabin that belongs to a friend, and stay there until I feel it's time to move on to the next site, or when my three months are up. I'm not even there a day when someone comes looking for me. I hear a knock at the door, and when I answer it I'm face to face with an old friend.
"Deeks." The man said.
My visitor was Nate.
A/N: This is the final chapter. When things pick up in the epilogue, after the chat with Nate, Deeks will be getting his assignment, and has to do a stent at the Naval Yard in D.C. before head back out west. I haven't started it yet, but my sci-fi story will be thrown into the mix soon.