Best Served Cold

Chapter 11

a/n: sorry for the wait…had a lot of end of the year school crap to take care of…BUT!-YEAH, "School's Out for the Summer"! - so, hopefully some of these poor babies (stories) that have been languishing for months can finally get finished!

a/n: reminder…everything is fiction…I know nothing of SA cartels or Russian spies!

…..NCIS LA…..

"So you think this could be payback on Sergio's part for his brother's death..." Callen asked.

"It doesn't seem likely but I can't think of who else it might be..." Sam stated.

"Why are you hesitant to consider this Sergio Demitrov as a possible suspect...?" Hetty questioned.

"He came to us...a large portion of our Intel came from Sergio Demitrov," Joe said, "…he wanted out of the game, was willing to give our team Intel on the Ramosa cartel and the rebels in Central America if we got him and his pregnant wife out of Russia..."

"So maybe when it got his brother killed he had a change of heart...where was he relocated...does he work with the DOD...? That could explain how he found out your real name…" Kensi asked.

"That's just it...that part of the mission never got any farther than that...the day of the raid the CIA were supposed to meet up with Sergio, get him and his wife out of the country; only he never showed at the rendezvous point...and once things went sideways, we could never get any information on his wife...they both just disappeared…" Sam explained.

"So Sergio Demitrov has been in the wind for more than six years..." Hetty stated.

"But why now...why at all..." Sam mused, "he wanted out...came to us..."

"He wasn't counting on it costing his brother his life...?" Callen commented.

"Okay, but to wait six years…?" Sam questioned.

Callen shrugged, "his priorities were elsewhere, maybe…trying to make sure his wife and kid stayed safe…"

"Then why miss his rendezvous with his CIA handlers…?" Sam questioned.

"Maybe that's why he's been underground all this time…for some reason he couldn't make it to the meet," Joe surmised, "he certainly couldn't go back to the Russian's or the cartel for help…"

"So, now something has changed for him…" Sam mused.

"That's assuming he wasn't caught and killed…" Hetty stated.

"If that's the case it puts us right back at square one," Kensi commented with frustration, asking, "So, are we totally ruling out the cartel on this...?"

"I don't think we can rule out anything at this point..." Hetty said, "…the Cartel and the Russians lost out significantly in that raid six years ago...if Sergio Demitrov is alive he could just have easily been contacted by the cartel as the other way around."

"So, then we might have a suspect and a motive; but it still doesn't put us any closer to finding him or the guys that took Deeks," Callen stated, turning towards Sam, "and if its revenge for his brother's death, why not just take you out…he knows who you are, had you followed for weeks now? No, there is still something about this that isn't adding up…"

"Maybe we're coming at this from the wrong angle," Kensi said, "just like Hetty said, the cartel lost out on just as much as the Russians…couldn't they be the ones looking or payback?"

"They could be…but not as likely," Nell interjected, "while it isn't above them to seek revenge on their enemies they wouldn't be so subtle about it…and they wouldn't risk their organization for a personal vendetta, especially against a US military team—they'd just wait for an opportune time to strike…or just take it out on the next American team they encountered to send a message…"

"But they sent Catelli...he's a known hit man and go-to guy when the cartels need their dirty work done; maybe someone in the cartel is taking the loss personally…" Kensi stated.

"First we didn't have any suspects…now we have too many…" Callen complained, running a hand down his face in frustration.

The frustrated silence of the bullpen was broken by the ringing of the phone.

"Ops…," Eric answered, listening to the caller for a moment he commented flatly, "oh, hey Nate…what's up?"

The team stood straighter, exchanging guarded looks before focusing on the tech operator who continued his conversation, "really…he is…when, okay, I'll let them know…bye…."

"Eric…was that about Deeks…?" Kensi demanded.

"Yeah, Nate said the detective is waking up…they're gonna do another EEG on him in about an hour to check his brain function…but his latest round of blood tests show that the serums are leaving his system and there doesn't appear to be any permanent damage to his organs…" Eric reported flatly.

Looking directly at her boss, Kensi said a single word, pleading word, "Hetty…?"

Taking in and releasing a deep, relieved breath, Hetty nodded, "by all means, Miss Blye, go to your partner…keep us updated…"

ncis la…

Still under strict orders not to travel anywhere alone, Callen accompanied Kensi back to the hospital, while Sam, Hetty and the captain stayed behind to shift through the mission reports and see if the CIA could offer any clues to Sergio Demitrov's whereabouts.

Callen was hard pressed to keep up with the younger agent as she made her way hurriedly through the hospital to her partners room; surprising the SFA when she slowed a crawl as they got off the elevator.

"Kens…?" Callen questioned in concern.

Kensi had stopped several feet from the elevator and just stood staring down the hall to Deeks room, causing Callen to gently grab her elbow and give it a little shake, asking again, "Kensi…you alright…what's wrong…?"

Looking towards Callen, Kensi said tightly, "what if…what the doctors said…the oxygen deprivation…what if there's something wrong…what if he doesn't remember us…or worse…"

"Don't borrow trouble Kens…the blood tests show the drugs are leaving his system…his other organs are fine…" Callen replied, adding, "we won't know anything if we don't go in…talk to Nate…his doctors…see for ourselves…"

Callen gave his junior agent a minute to pull herself together, get a handle on her fear, and was pleased to note the determined look that crossed her features as she squared her shoulder with a deep sigh, "okay, let's go see my partner…"

In deference to her misgivings, Callen entered the room first, his eyes quickly scanning and cataloguing everything in the room; Nate was standing on the far side of Deeks bed, while a doctor, his back to the door, was holding and scanning the tape feeding from what, Callen could only assume, was an EEG machine.

Looking up at the opening door, Nate caught Callen's eye and nodded for them to go back out into the hallway where he joined the two agents moments later.

"Well, how is he…is he awake…" Kensi demanded.

"He seems to be doing fine, they are drawing blood about every three hours and there has been a significant drop of the drugs in his system and the latest EEG shows active brain waves…" Nate reported with a small smile.

"So he's gonna be alright then…?" Callen asked cautiously.

"Barring any complications he should be fully conscious in the next twelve to twenty-four hours," Nate reported.

Callen's hands went to his hips and he took in and released a heavy breathe, looking away for a moment to reign in his emotions while Kensi's hands carded through her hair as she looked upwards before pinning Nate with a look, "is he awake now…?"

Nate bobbed his head lightly from side to side, a slight frown on his face, "not exactly conscious, he'd drifting in and out…"

"I need to see him…" Kensi demanded.

Nate nodded, "let the doctors finish the test then we can go in…hearing some familiar voices might help to bring him around…"

The next ten minutes were an eternity for the two agents as they paced outside Deeks door, and Nate had to give the passing staff a gentle wave and pointed to the closed door as way of explanation for the agitated behavior.

Coming out of the room, the doctor confirmed Nate's earlier prognosis before going on with his rounds.

Nate opened the door and this time Kensi was the first one in followed closely by Callen. Nate took up a position just inside the door, arms crossed, as he watched both agents move quickly up to the detective's bedside.

Going to the far side, Callen's hands wrapped firmly around the bedrail and even from his distance across the room, Nate could see the SFA's grip was so tight the knuckles were white with the strain: not hard to make a diagnosis there—as the SFA, Callen felt keenly responsible for every member of his team…no matter the circumstance, he took any mishaps and injuries to his team like a personal hit.

Kensi, all pretense aside, reached for Deeks hand and grabbed it up…feeling the comforting warmth in the touch…he was alive…on the mend; now if he would just wake up, "Deeks…hey, Deeks…come on partner…time to wake up now…"

Disappointed that her quiet plea elicited no response, she gently laid his hand back on the bed and began carding her fingers through his unruly curls, "hey, come on…open those eyes…" a grin suddenly crossing her features she said, "hey, partner, if you don't open your eyes soon, let us know you're in there, they'll have to keep running those brain tests…and this shaggy hair is getting in the way…they might have to cut it all off…"

The agents exchanged surprised and hopeful looks when Deeks face scrunched up and a small sigh escaped him followed by movement under his eyelids. With that hopeful sign, Callen took up Kensi's gentle prodding, "hey Deeks, I can only hold them off so long, buddy…come on, Sam won't have anything to be jealous of if they cut off all that surfer hair…"

Like a bolt from the sky…Deeks eyes suddenly flew open, surprising the agents when the injured man began flailing around weakly on the bed, his mouth opening and closing as he hoarsely tried to speak.

Nate turned to find the doctor while Kensi and Callen tried to calm the suddenly agitated and animate man.

Callen grabbed Deeks shoulder and gently held the man down, calling to him urgently, "Deeks…! Deeks…man, ya' gotta settle down; come on man…it's us…it's me, Callen…and Kensi…you're alright, you're in the hospital…Deeks…!"

Meanwhile, Kensi grabbed her partners face and turned it to face her as she took up the plea, "Deeks…come on, you're alright…settle down…look at me…you're alright…!"

Though his breath came rapid and pained Deeks none the less began to settle back into the bed, his dazed, uncomprehending eyes darting back and forth between the two agents; Kensi, ran her hand across his forward, smiling down gently at him as she said softly, "that's it…it's just us…you're safe now…"

Deeks furrowed his brow and again attempted to speak just as Nate and the doctor rushed through the door. Callen's staying hand and pointed look stopped them just inside the door; Nate's hand on the doctor's arm kept the man from rushing to his patient and he sent Nate a disapproving look.

Nate responded quietly to the doctor's look, "if he's gonna come back for anyone, it's gonna be his team; so unless he's in some immediate physical danger, let them be for a minute…"

Though not liking that his patients care was being dictated by outside sources he never the less shook Nate's hand off his arm and gave a curt nod, watching his patient carefully for any further signs of distress.

"You with us now…" Kensi asked quietly, though Deeks glassy, unfocused expression answered the question for them.

Callen had removed his hands from Deeks shoulders and took a step back, Deeks turned his head and looked at the SFA appraisingly, his brow again furrowing as though in thought.

Cocking his head to one side, Callen stepped back up to the bed, asking, "what is it…can you tell us who did this to you…do you know what they want…?"

Deeks sighed heavily, his voice hoarse, and nearly unintelligible, "Saa …m, …s'..i'..sss te 'm…d'…g'r; 'r 'c… ne…x; …ne…'d st…o…pp…fi…l's…"

"Who Deeks…? Who is threatening the team…is it Demitrov…?" Callen pressed, exchanging a worried look with Kensi he pressed, "Eric…are they coming after Eric next? What do we need to stop?…Deeks…do you know how to find Demitrov…?"

Deeks just looked away, energy spent, giving a heavy sigh and closing his eyes, panicking Kensi, "Deeks…Deeks, wait, don't…"

Having seen enough, the doctor broke away from Nate and came up to the bed, demanding, "that's enough, can't you see the poor man is still quite disoriented…he can't tell you anything right now…he barely knows where he is at the moment so I'll kindly ask you to refrain from interrogating my patient…"

Kensi looked to be ready to fight the doctor for her right to be near her partner, before strong arms to her shoulder drew her attention. Looking over her shoulder, she met Nate's gaze as he said, "let's let Deeks get some rest, we can talk to him more later when he's more coherent…"

Meeting Callen's gaze, Nate nodded towards the door and Callen followed as Nate led Kensi from the room.

Rounding on the psychologist, Kensi snapped, "I thought you said he was gonna be alright…what's wrong with him…?"

"Kensi…!" Callen exclaimed, the same time Nate held up a staying hands.

"Kensi, Deeks is doing as well as can be expected at this point in his recovery," Nate explained calmly, adding, "he'll recover, but it will take time…"

Dropping her head in her hand, she sighed, "I know…I'm sorry…it's just hard seeing him like this…"

Placing a hand on her shoulder, Nate said, "I know, but you just have to hang in there…he is getting better…"

Callen nodded towards Nate before turning towards Kensi, "we need to get back to ops…see what Sam and the others have found…Eric is gonna need a 24 hour detail until this is over…"

"The doctor said Deeks was disoriented…you really think he knew what he was saying…" Kensi asked as they rode the elevator the parking garage.

"We already suspected it…Deeks just confirmed it…either Demitrov told him or he overheard something while they had him…" Callen replied.

..NCIS LA….

a/n: thought I'd better get in a Deeks chapter…we hadn't heard from him in a while…& I am a sucker for these "TEAM" bonding moment we don't get so see nearly enough of! So, as our boy slowly comes back to reality he'll fill in more clues for the team…in the meantime did anyone catch the few clues I threw out…hhmmm, is the team really on the right track…? Remember chapter 1….! The bad guys plan is slowly unraveling….(which is the only way I can get this story back in the direction I had intended it to go….)