Judgement: Chapter 12
...
Deeks knew Hetty was speaking to him, but he didn't hear the words and couldn't make any sense out of what she was saying. All he heard was a roaring in his ears, blocking out everything, his eyes narrowing into a tunnel of grey fog that held only a vague light at the end. He could feel his heart beating, but it felt slow and lethargic and his breathing was so shallow he wasn't even sure he was getting enough air. A sheen of cold sweat coated his body and face and he felt himself quiver with chills. He momentarily looked down at his hands and saw the raw marks that circled his wrists where the cuffs had been and his stomach began to churn. He tried to say something, but nothing came out, so he sat quietly, unmoving as Hetty pulled into the emergency bay at the hospital. He felt hands pulling him out of the car and he didn't resist, walking calmly into the ER and obeying what he thought they wanted him to do. He felt no pain as they put new stitches in the wound in his leg, but didn't answer the questions asked by the doctor, staring uncomprehendingly back at the man until he saw him shake his head and leave. He lay unmoving on the gurney, letting his mind wander, nothing staying for long in his thoughts, and he wondered if he was going insane. He felt so exhausted he couldn't make even the smallest attempt to sit up, so he just lay still, staring blankly at the ceiling until he felt someone lift his arm and then a tiny prick of pain and then blessed darkness.
...
Hetty sat solemnly next to his bed, listening to Deeks breathe. It was almost four in the morning now and she ignored every one of the three phone calls and the two demanding text messages from Director Vance. She was much too angry to even give him the time of day, let alone have a long conversation with him. She blamed him for what Granger had just done, and she wouldn't let him off the hook easily. Her anger spiked just thinking about it.
"Hello Ms. Lange," Marcie said as she entered the dimly lit room. "I heard he was here and I wanted to see how he was doing."
"It's good to see you, Marcie," Hetty said, glad for the company.
"I talked to the doctor who admitted him. He sedated him pretty heavily." Marcie said as she stepped up to the bed to get a closer look at him and check his IV. "What the hell happened to make him shut down like that?"
"I think it was the proverbial 'last straw'," Hetty said sadly. "He's been running on pure adrenaline for a week, was wounded and almost killed last night and today received an unwarranted shock that pushed him over the edge."
"It's hard to see him hit rock bottom like this. He was always so intense every time I saw him," Marcie said softly as she took his pulse. "But, his body is telling him he needs the rest."
"Yes. He's been carrying a lot on his shoulders and he's completely exhausted, in body, mind and in spirit." Hetty said quietly.
"His colleagues have been asking about him, especially Miss Blye, but I didn't tell them what happened," Marcie said, turning to look kindly at the older woman. "They're all making good progress, especially Mr. Callen. He'd like to see you. I'll stay with Marty if you want to go visit him."
"Thanks, Marcie," Hetty stood then and walked over and stared down at her former agent and suddenly her eyes filled with tears. He didn't deserve this, and she had no words to comfort him with when he woke, only a pledge to fight for his reinstatement and a vow that she would not stop fighting for him until he was exonerated and back where he belonged. She gripped his arm briefly before turning and walking out, leaving him with a stranger, a caring one, but still a stranger.
...
Hetty wasn't surprised Callen was awake at this early hour. It was actually rather comforting to her, because it was something so normal for him and she appreciated that sense of normalcy right now. She didn't plan on telling him what Granger had done, because she was afraid it would agitate him and she knew he would want to be involved in the solution and it was way too soon for that. But Callen knew her too well and she couldn't escape his probing look as she entered his room. He had always had a sixth sense about people, especially people he was close to and it was working overtime as he watched her closely.
"What's wrong Hetty?" Callen asked knowingly.
"I'm not in the mood to be interrogated, Mr. Callen," Hetty said stiffly.
"Then just tell me what's wrong." Callen's ice blue eyes locked her in a stare and she knew she didn't have the energy to resist him, especially not now.
"You look terrible," Callen said softly, a hint of worry in his tone of voice.
"Thank you for the astute but unkind observation, Mr. Callen," Hetty said as she sat down in the chair by his bed.
"Is Sam okay?" Callen asked and she heard the touch of fear in his voice.
"Mr. Hanna is doing better, Mr. Callen," Hetty said, chastising herself for forgetting he would think first of his partner.
"And Kensi?" Callen asked.
"She spoke a few words last night," Hetty said with a smile, "So the doctor is encouraged."
"That leaves Deeks," Callen's eyes sharpened as he spoke.
Hetty fought to control the sudden anger that rose from deep within her and she realized she couldn't keep it bottled up or she would explode. She needed someone to talk to, someone who would understand and who would give her knowledgeable opinions and a fresh point of view. She needed her Senior Agent, even if he was only operating at twenty-five percent, he was still a sympathetic sounding board and she could use that right now.
"Granger fired Mr. Deeks," Hetty said softly.
"What?" Why? What possible reason could he have for doing that?" Callen swallowed hard as he watched Hetty look away and he knew there was more. "Where is he, Hetty? Where's Deeks?"
"He was admitted to the hospital last night," Hetty said, letting out a long sigh.
"What happened?" Callen's voice was rough and she saw anger and concern flash in his eyes.
"I shouldn't be burdening you with this," Hetty said as she shook her head, worried that she had made a mistake in telling him, knowing that he wouldn't let it go. Deeks had been the last member of the team still standing, and to see him go down might be too much for Callen to handle. It might be too much for all of them to handle. He was their symbol that they were still a functioning team, but now that had been taken away from them and she wasn't sure what that would do to them.
"Hetty, I need to know. It's still my team," he said firmly.
"He shut down, Mr. Callen. After I got him out of there, his face just went blank," Hetty shivered as she recalled that look on his face. "He didn't say anything. He wasn't angry, he was completely devastated."
"That isn't the only reason you brought him to the hospital, is it?" Callen asked and she could tell he knew there was something she was holding back.
"They roughed him up a bit while they had him in custody," she said. "They had him handcuffed and one of the agents had him pinned to the floor when I arrived and the wound in his leg was bleeding badly."
Hetty saw such raw anger on Callen's face that she stood and went to him, gently putting her hand on his arm, hoping to calm him. They both took a moment and she watched as Callen slowly got control of himself.
"Is he okay, Hetty?" Callen asked softly.
"He's been sedated, Mr. Callen," Hetty replied. "He's been carrying so much anger and rage that it kept him going for awhile. He wasn't sleeping or eating either. He worked the case in spite of being deeply afraid that you all might die. What happened to all of you almost shattered him, Callen. We are the people he is closest to in this world and he was in agony watching you fight for your lives. Then, when he saw you wake up and then Sam and finally Kensi, he thought he had gotten his family back."
"And then Granger fired him," Callen said as he stared solemnly at the far wall.
"Yes. In an instant you were all taken away from him," she said. "Granger separated him from all of you and it was the one thing he couldn't handle and it finally overwhelmed him."
"He needs to know we won't let this happen to him, Hetty," Callen said. "He needs to know we won't let him go without a fight."
She saw the steely resolved she had always prized in him and she was suddenly buoyed with hope. Her team might be wounded, but all animals are most dangerous when they are wounded and backed into a corner. Granger will have a fight on his hands that he isn't expecting. He thought he had gotten rid of the weakest link, but he would be surprised to know her team didn't think of Mr. Deeks that way. They cared about him and they would defend him because he was one of their own.
"Is Granger trying to destroy this team, Hetty?" Callen asked.
"I know he wants to take me out, Mr. Callen," Hetty replied. "But, I think he wants to keep your team because you are the best and he knows it. You will make him look good."
"But not Deeks," Callen said sadly. "He doesn't get it, does he Hetty? Deeks made us a better team. Even Sam believes that, even though it took him a while to admit it."
"Granger never wanted Deeks on your team, remember?" Hetty said. "And when Director Vance overruled his recommendation, I think he started looking for any excuse he could find to get rid of him."
"And Lee Chao gave it to him," Callen said. "Hetty, does Director Vance approve of what Granger did?"
"I'm afraid I haven't spoken to the director," Hetty said, "I'm still too angry to answer his calls."
Callen finally smiled at that.
"Do you think he'll talk to me about it?" Callen asked.
"I'll let you know, after I talk to him, Mr. Callen," Hetty said.
"Will you tell Sam, or should I send him a note?" he asked.
"Sam needs to recover and I don't think hearing what happened to Mr. Deeks will help him do that," Hetty said. "No, this will take some time, Mr. Callen, so please be patient."
"You know I'm not good at that," he answered.
"Think of it as lying in wait," she said. "We'll pounce on Granger when we have the proper ammunition."
"Let Deeks know I'm not going to let this be, Hetty," Callen said. "I still consider him one of my team and that I will do anything it takes to get him back."
She patted his arm and then left the room, stopping to see how Sam and Kensi were along the way, before heading back toward Deeks' room. She thought about the FBI agent Granger had put in place to monitor Deeks during his assignment, remembering that Deeks had spoken warmly about the agent. She thought they might have made a connection during their brief working relationship and she began to wonder if he might shed some light on the situation. She decided to make some calls and turned toward the cafeteria for a quick cup of tea.
She settled quietly at a table in the far corner of the room and nursed her tea as she let the events of the past twenty-four hours run through her mind. She knew a lot of people in most of the federal agencies and she knew just who owed her a favor and who was the most likely to pay up. One of those people was the Executive Assistant Director of the National Security Branch of the FBI. He owed her and he owed her big time and she was about to collect.
"Hello Roger," she said settling back with a small smile on her face.
"I can hear you smiling, Hetty," Roger Stinson said with a laugh. "What can I do for you?"
"I want to collect, Roger," she answered.
"Shit, Hetty, that was a long time ago. I thought you would have forgotten by now," he said with a deep sigh.
"How's your family, Roger?" Hetty asked. "Surely they haven't forgotten."
"None of us have, Hetty," he replied softly. "Whatever you need, you've got it."
"I need to talk to a certain FBI undercover agent that you loaned to Owen Granger," Hetty said.
"You two still at each other's throats?" he asked.
"Some things never change, Roger. But this time he has hurt one of my agents to get at me, and I don't take kindly to that," Hetty said and her anger was palpable.
"He always was an asshole, Hetty," Roger Stinson said. "I'll debrief the agent myself and send him to you so you can interview him personally. Just let my secretary know where you are."
"Thank you, Roger," Hetty said quietly. "Consider your debt paid."
"Hetty, that debt will never be paid," he replied.
Hetty silently finished her tea and took a deep breath as she prepared to do battle for her agent. Owen Granger would discover he didn't have as many friends as he thought he did.
...
