Chapter 14-Lost and found

As you can see I'm not from Georgia, and I don't know if I described Ellijay well in the introduction of this chapter. I'm sorry if I have mistakes in that part. However I changed the current Mayor's name.

And about Tanevski, all I can tell is that the next chapter will be all about the way how this thing will unfold, and finally it will be the end of Tanevski's reign. I can't tell however how this op will end. But it will be either by death or arrest. I'll leave that up to your imagination, while I finish the next chapter that I already started.

And again, the story isn't finished yet.

(From chapter 13)

Callen and Sam took the Challenger, while Deeks, Kensi, Hope and Granger took the SRX.

"Notify me on any change of situation Mr. Callen." said Hetty "You find Ray and bring me that sick bastard on silver platter. And remember come home safe and sound. Don't get yourself killed. Do I make myself clear?"

"Yes, all clear Hetty." Said Callen as he closed the door of the car.

All of them knew how dangerous this op was going to be and Hetty's words confirmed that.

But, they were determined to end the hell Kristijan Tanevski created once and for all.

…

"The City of Ellijay is located in the Gilmer County, Georgia. It's called the 'Apple Capital of Georgia' and it's an Appalachian Trail Community. The city holds an annual Apple Festival in October. And the city is the county seat of Gilmer County." Said Callen, as he scrolled down on his tablet, new info about the city they were going to, appearing every second on the screen "It rests between two rivers, the Ellijay and the Cartecay, that come together to form the Coosawattee River. Ellijay is governed by a five member City Council and a Mayor. Currently the Mayor is Anthony Boyle. The area's large 2.7 square miles. It says here that if you visit Ellijay you will have the unforgettable experience to look at the Appalachian foothills, and the mix of forests, streams, historic ambience and Southern charm."

Deeks looked through the window of the plane. He hadn't spoken since they left the Mission and that started the alarm bells to go off in Kensi's head. She tried every trick she knew to pull him out of his shell, but he continued with his silence. She was surprised when he spoke, his voice low with a hint of sadness.

"Ellijay is the anglicized form of the Cherokee name Elatseyi meaning new ground. I guess there is some symbolism to the place where the U.S. Marshal Service relocated Ray."

'If it wasn't for this op, we could have enjoyed this city." Said Sam clearly upset with everything that was done to Deeks since the case begun.

"I guess we'll have to visit it again after this." Said Kensi, hoping that Deeks would respond this time.

"It's a great place Kens." He said "I experienced some bad days after you came back from Afghanistan and I needed a place where I could charge my batteries and Ellijay seemed the right choice. It has some great mountain cabins with a fireplace and with a little magic you could make really romantic stay there."

Kensi held her breath when she heard him speak about the city that now had his childhood friend in it. He was depressed for a long time, but he seemed like he was hit from a stray bullet when he heard that Ray was taken. The fact that Tanevski had him made Deeks feel worse and that worried Kensi. Her happy-go-lucky boyfriend and partner was gone and was replaced by the dark Deeks, scaring her a little.

Oh, if she just knew what he experienced in the hands of Kristijan Tanevski…

Anyway, they sat in the cabin for the longest time before the pilot announced that they were landing Gilmer County Airport. It was well past 11 p.m. They headed immediately to the police station of Gilmer County. They spoke with the Chief of the police who assured them that they were doing their best to find the man that kidnapped two of the citizens of the city of Ellijay. Ellijay had around 1700 citizens and it looked like they were a tight community. Something you couldn't find in L.A. or the bigger cities, unless it was a quarter.

Callen called Hetty to tell her that they arrived in Ellijay and that they will start working the crime scene as soon as the CSU team left Ray's house. She repeated once more for them to be careful.

The NCIS team was provided with two Chevy SUVs and Callen could almost picture Hetty giving orders to the people that owed her favors.

Callen, Sam and Granger took the first SUV and Kensi, Deeks, and Hope took the second SUV. They headed for the house where Ray lived in this past year. At first Callen thought that it would be best they leave Deeks in the police station, but the pleading look on his face made Callen to reconsider his thoughts.

But, when they arrived at the place that was home to Ray, Deeks lost it and Callen once more wanted to kick himself in the ass for letting this happen.

As soon as Deeks saw the picture of Ray, Jena and their little girl on the wall he collapsed on his knees, tears streaming from his eyes. They were all caught up in the moment that they didn't hear Deeks' cell ringing. They hated to see Deeks break in front of their eyes and Hope wrapped herself around Deeks resting her head on his shoulder whispering something that only Deeks could hear. He was finally able to gather himself up and picked up the phone. His face expression gave them all a hint that the call wasn't from a worried Hetty or some friend of Deeks'.

"Hello?"

"Is that the best LAPD detective Marty Deeks?" said Tanevski, teasing Deeks, as he clawed his nails in the flesh of his palm.

"Where is Ray?" Deeks asked anger surging through his body.

"Easy there detective. Your friend is okay. And so is his wife. But I won't tell you our location. At least not yet. It's kinda funny to see you sweat from fear for your best friend's life."

"Listen to me, you son of a bitch…"

"No, no, no detective. You listen to me. You will do everything exactly as I tell you or your friend here dies. Do you understand?"

"Yes."

"Tomorrow at noon, you will come at the address that I will send it to you before the meeting. You will come alone. If I spot any of your lovely colleagues Ray dies. Even if I catch a whiff…"

"Okay, okay, you've made your point."

Deeks closed his eyes and squeezed the phone tight in his hand. He threw the phone into the wall behind him and he was going to lash out again, if it wasn't for Sam that hugged Deeks so tight he took the air out of his lungs. Sam cradled Deeks in his embrace for a while and then drove him out of the house.

Hetty made sure they were staying in the best hotel in Ellijay and she kept her word. Sam took Deeks to his room. He was extremely cautious as he saw him burst through the door of the bathroom and he couldn't say a word afraid that he'll get the longer end of the stick.

…

"He must have had a ruse planned so he could extract the guards out of the house." Said Callen surveying the surroundings of the house.

The street was dimly lit and you couldn't tell a man from a lamp post.

"You can see from the footage that Tanevski opened the gate. He rang the door. One guard appeared. He then told him something and the guard followed Tanevski." Said Hope desperately watching the video for the hundredth time.

"Then he pulled the gun out and threatened the guard. He told him to call his colleagues which he did. But, he must have had a code word that he said during the call that made the fourth guard to stay in the house and request help." Said Kensi.

"After he killed the three guards he entered the house. He wasn't surprised to see a fourth guard and he shot him dead like he was nothing." Said Callen, pure rage pouring out of his words.

"There's a blood trail over there which means that Tanevski must have pistol-whipped Ray on his face." Said Hope.

"Then he moved through the house looking for Jena. When he found her, he forced her to call her friend and tell her they were going on vacation." Said Kensi "But there is one thing bugging me."

"Why hasn't he grabbed Mackenzie, too?" said Hope.

"Exactly."

"Maybe he thought that it was enough if he had Ray and Jena. He knew that would attract Deeks' attention and that he'll come and save his friend. His ultimate high." Said Callen.

"I don't think that Tanevski wants any of them alive." Said Granger. "I think that he is planning something for both Deeks and Ray. And we need to be there to prevent it."

"I hate to see him like this." Said Hope.

"I just hope that this will be the endgame of Tanevski. I don't want to be in Deeks' skin if we fail to catch him this time." Said Callen with determined voice. He knew that the last time they hoped everything was going to end, he got shot and Deeks was taken by a madman. "Let's go to the hotel and get some rest guys. We'll think about Tanevski tomorrow."

…

Deeks showered quickly and when he got out of the bathroom he found Sam sitting in a chair staring at him.

"I thought you went to your room."

"I didn't want to leave you alone Deeks. Not in this moment."

Deeks was touched by Sam's words and he could feel the tears clouding his eyes.

"We were really close back in the day Sam." Deeks said while he dried his hair. "We would play hide-and-seek or walk in the park and talk about nothing in particular. We were happy that we had each other to support ourselves. Our mothers weren't enough strong to take care of us, so we learned to take care of ourselves at young age. Mine defended me from my father in few occasions, but the rest of the time she didn't care."

Sam pictured Deeks' mother as he knew her and he could hardly imagine what it was for them two to fight Gordon John Brandel. He had the opportunity to meet Christine Deeks and he witnessed the change in that woman. But, he was careful not to mention anything to Deeks. This op was still ongoing and the least Deeks needed was a distraction. Sam listened to the story of that brave woman and he was sure if Deeks knew about her reasons why she was so laid back, he would let her in his life again.

"Deeks you don't have to do this to yourself. You don't have to remember the sad things. Think about when we find Ray. What are you going to say to him when we find him?"

"I would tell him that the thing with Wikipedia is official. And that I'm sorry I didn't call sooner."

"That's a start Deeks." Said Sam.

"Thanks Sam."

"For what Deeks?"

"For being there for me. You know I never had anyone so close to me since I left home. I appreciate it."

"Always kid." Said Sam squeezing Deeks' shoulder as to reassure him that they had each other's backs.

He then left the room.

…

Deeks woke to a terrible nightmare with a headache just to see Kensi by his side.

"Hey Kens."

"Hey Deeks."

"How long have you been here?"

"Couple of hours. I was watching you while you were sleeping. You looked like a baby."

Deeks smiled and he let Kensi take him into a hug. They stood like that hugged for a long time.

Kensi started to his shirt. When she started unbuttoning his shirt he rejected her, quickly getting out of bed.

"Deeks what's wrong?"

"Nothing. I just…"

He looked into her mismatched eyes full of questions, but he couldn't tell her. Not yet. He wasn't ready for that and frankly he didn't know what her reaction would be.

"Something is off with you Deeks. And I think that you are holding something back from me."

"I can't talk to you about that Kens."

"Talk about what?"

"About why I can't make love with you."

His words echoed in her head and she wondered what had happened to the old Deeks. His eyes had a dark shadow casted over them and she took a step back at the rage she saw in his eyes.

"What are you talking about Deeks? I can't get the point of this."

"You don't understand."

Deeks was talking seemingly unrelated things and Kensi thought about the concussion he had over a month ago. She was afraid that the trauma had taken its toll on Deeks' mind, but when she saw him flinch from her touch she knew there was more to the time he was taken by Tanevski. Before that day he was the happiest man alive. After that day he was reacting to the world as if it was his everyday routine. He didn't have fun with her or the others like he used to.

She stood by the door observing Deeks as he watched the mountains through the window. He remembered the first time he came in Ellijay and how calming it was for him to just look at the hilltops. Now, he was there a year later, but the feeling of calmness was gone.

"If you need to talk I'm here."

"I know Kensi, I know. But, I can't tell you about it. I'm not ready, yet."

"Okay."

She left his room.

Now, Deeks was all alone. He wanted to sleep, but the sleep just wouldn't come. He was having some trouble with his thoughts and finally a little before sunrise he closed his eyes and fell in a dreamless sleep.

…

Callen, Sam and Kensi were having a late breakfast since they overslept the morning. It was 9 a.m. There were only three hours left to the meeting. They ate in silence, but both Sam and Callen noticed something was wrong with Kensi.

"Kens what's up?"

"Nothing." Kensi replied with mouthful of donuts. She wasn't ready to tell them about last night.

They knew that Kensi attacked the food when she was sad. She noticed both of them staring at her and she choked down on her tears. She told them everything. She told them about last night, and about the previous days when she noticed Deeks wasn't himself anymore and that she suspected that was somehow connected with the time Deeks spent on North Sierra Bonita Avenue.

Just when they were laying out theories, they heard Deeks approach them and they shifted the course of the conversation.

"Good morning Sleeping Beauty." Said Sam to Deeks.

"Good morning Uncle Sam." Deeks replied with a big grin.

For a moment it seemed like it was the old Deeks, but the darkened look he had on his face, never left him. Sam thought to himself, there's definitely something going on with Deeks.

"How are we going to proceed this operation guys?"

"We were thinking, since he told you to come alone, you should go alone. But, we will be watching your back. As soon as Ray and Jena are safe, we move and take Tanevski."

"Sounds like a good plan."

"We have the help from the county police and the FBI branch in Georgia. Tanevski popped up in their radar, too. Don't worry Deeks, we'll get him this time." Said Callen firmly gripping Deeks on the shoulder

"We better do Callen, or else I won't be able to face all of you."

"Why is that?" asked Sam, his chocolate eyes locking on Deeks' ocean blues.

"I've probably said too much." Said Deeks and went to his room.

Kensi stood up, but Callen caught her by the elbow and stopped her.

"Leave him be Kens. He'll be fine. He'll tell us when he is ready."

…

They all had been on edge since it was well past noon and no one appeared on the spot Tanevski made Deeks to come to, alone. There were FBI agents and Gilmer County police all over the place and Callen, Sam and Kensi resided in a van that appeared to be from a local pastry shop, but it was a cover so they could monitor closely what was going on. Hope and Granger were in close proximity of the building. Everything was too quiet, even for Tanevski. He pulled up the Corvette close to the building.

All of them noticed Tanevski approach the building. He knew that there were agents scattered around the place, but he couldn't figure out where they were hidden. But, the blonde detective was alone and he had a chance to take him now or never.

Deeks' phone rang and he picked it up on the second ring.

"I've seen you kept your word detective."

'Where is Ray you asshole?"

"Straight to business, huh? He is with me and so is his beautiful wife."

Deeks closed his eyes when he heard Tanevski breathe heavily and sniff Jena's hair.

"She looks gorgeous. It's a shame, since I'm not interested in women."

"Spare me from your pep talk Tanevski and leave them alone. You wanted me, here I am. Let them go."

"Okay. A deal is a deal."

Deeks watched as Ray and Jena got out of the car and moved towards him.

"Now, you move towards me Deeks." Tanevski ordered.

"Do not do what he says Deeks." Deeks could hear Sam's voice.

"Move you bitch!" Tanevski screamed and Deeks started moving.

"Deeks, no!" Kensi screamed and it took both Sam and Callen to restrain her from blowing their cover.

When Deeks and Ray finally met halfway, after all this time, Ray instead of hugging him whispered "Stop Marty!"

"Why?"

"There is a bomb planted in the car behind me."

Deeks' eyes spread wide open when he heard what Ray said. His heart started beating faster and faster as he thought what he should do to save them all. He motioned for them to move faster and then he whispered in his com. "Guys there's a bomb planted in the car behind Ray and Jena. After Ray came to his side, he hugged him for the longest time before he yelled "Ray run!"

…

The team was in a position to move and they were all scared for the outcome when they heard Deeks telling them about the bomb.

…

Tanevski noticed something was wrong the moment Ray and his wife started running and he took the remote detonator. When the detective was close enough to the car, he detonated the bomb.

The car immediately exploded and knocked Deeks against the wall. All of the agents, and the police moved in unison when they heard the explosion.

Hope and Granger were the closest to Deeks and they moved to help him. Hope searched for a pulse, while Granger took Deeks' limp body in his arms. While he cradled Deeks in his hands, he whispered in his ear. "Don't die on me Alden. Don't die on me."

Hope was stunned to hear Granger compare Deeks with his son, but there wasn't time to think about that. They needed to get out of there quick.

She never noticed Tanevski behind her.

…