Brothers in Arms

Disclaimer: I do not own NCIS:LA, if I did, I would.
A/N: Yesterday was Canadian Thanksgiving and I would like to say thanks to everyone who has been leaving reviews over the last 13 chapters, including beverlie4055, Katy Cooper, and Bindi-fox on the last one.

Day 14

"If I'm reading this map right, we have a long drive in front of us." Deeks squinted at the paper on his lap and tried to make out the words in the fading light. "Am I to understand that there is actually a place called Chihuahua?"

Callen looped his wrist around the steering wheel and grinned. "Yep, and it's a pretty big town too." He steered around a pothole and kept the nose of the car pointed north.

"Could you explain to me why we're driving to this border town instead of flying? It's going to be a full day of driving."

"I figure we'll stop in Chihuahua for a quick rest, it's about three-quarters of the way there, so it'll be a bit more than a day."

Deeks rolled his head towards Callen, "You didn't answer my question."

Callen quirked a smile, "Very astute, you are."

"And you are not Yoda."

"But I am wise" a cough that covered up some mumbling sounded from the passenger seat. "I'll take that as heartfelt agreement. The answer that you so desire is that flying regional in Mexico is...a delicate operation. It requires lots of green pieces of paper that we don't have. But we do have a car."

"So we drive."

"Until we hit Chihuahua, then we eat the best tacos you've ever had."

Callen sat up from the reclined passenger seat. He rubbed his eyes and hit the lever to get the chair back upright. He looked over at Deeks who was staring out the windshield.

"Do you want to switch again?"

Deeks looked over and nodded. They drove until the spotted a bar on the side of the road. Deeks pulled to the side of the road and they switched places by the neon light spilling out of the windows. They settled back into the seats and Callen pulled back onto the road.

"How's your leg?"

Deeks massaged around the wound and tapped the gauze under his pants. "Feels good, considering I've been using it to drive. I think I owe Jorge a Thank You card because his glue job is holding tight."

"That's good. If we keep this pace we should be in Chihuahua for lunch and then Juarez for dinner."

"Are the tacos that good?"

Callen barked a laugh, "Never had any better, except in a little restaurant in Tucson but it turns out the chef is from Chihuahua."

"Wake me up when we get there, wouldn't want to miss the magic."

"I think that was the town limit sign for Juarez. Can't really tell because of all the bullet holes in it."

Callen laughed, "I think some of those were aimed at me."

"You going to tell me what happened here?"

"I'll give you the post-it note version. Back when I was CIA there was a cartel down here that was gearing up to do an attack on the United States. They decided that they wanted to take control of the area on the other side of the border, much like how they would go into a little rural town and clean it out. They would change the town into a sort of fort or camp to create tactical advantages against the other cartels. This group decided that in order to better get their product into America, they would do the same thing; straddle the border and control the flow of product."

"That would be like declaring war on the States."

"Exactly. The borders would lock down, nothing would move in or out and they would control the only access point. They were ready, there was enough ammunition to hold out for at least a few months."

"So what did you do?"

"There was another cartel in the city that was constantly fighting with the one that wanted to attack. When I explained to them the significance of the plan, they aided in the removal of the cartel. The surviving cartel has taken the name of Juarez Cartel to signify that they own the town. That bandana is from them and it's their colours."

"So they're just going to let you in after all these years? Why would they want to help you?"

"Two reasons, Lefty's been terrorizing them for the last three years and they owe me."

"How do they owe you? They helped you."

Callen smiled, "That story is too long to fit on a post-it note and besides, we're here." He pulled the car up to a gate and rolled down the window. The muzzle of the AK-47 found its way into Callen's face. The sound of guns being cocked reverberated through the car.

With slow movements, Callen dug the bandana out from underneath his leg. He pulled it up and waggled it. Some rapid Spanish was exchanged and then the gate slid open. Callen took his foot off the break and drove the car to the front walkway. He jerked his head at Deeks and they stepped out of the car. There was a minor ruckus coming from the house but due to the sun they couldn't see what was happening. They stood on the edge of the driveway and saw people breaking off the pack that formed in the shade.

One such person stalked up to Callen and without warning slapped him across the face.

Deeks, stunned, reacted like he normally would. "Woah! Dude, you just got smoked. That'll leave a mark. Heh, heh, heh..."

Callen, with a hand resting on the welt that was forming, turned his head towards his partner. "I'll poke you in your bullet hole if you ever mention this."

"What is it about you people threatening to further harm me when I've been shot?"

With a shake of his head, Callen turned back to the person who had just slapped him. "Lucinda, good to see you again."

"You don't call, you don't write, how do we know you're not dead?"

Callen held his hands up and appeared to be trying to calm her like a horse. "Didn't you get the message I sent?"

Lucinda raised her hand, "It said 'He's not dead.' That's it...you could have been injured, especially with all the lead following you as you left."

Callen sighed, "I had to go to Bosnia. I figured the note would be enough."

Deeks loped over to the twosome and raised his hand. "Can I ask what is going on?"

"Who's he?" Lucinda looked Deeks up and down. "And why are his pants bleeding?"

Callen and Deeks glanced at the patch of blood on the pant leg. Deeks sighed, "It's old blood, I ran out of clean pants."

"So you chose to put on the pants you were shot in?"

Deeks shrugged, "They're comfortable, I've got them worked in the way I like them." They stared at each other for a moment. "I realize this is the moment where you roll your eyes. Don't make yourself dizzy, I got it."

Lucinda held out her hand, "Give me your pants, I'll get the stain out." She wiggled her fingers.

"Now?" Deeks mouth gaped open a bit and his hands travelled to cover his belt buckle. "My other pants are in the trunk, it'll only take a minute to get them and if you could just show me the bathroom because I'd rather not drop my drawers in the middle of a driveway."

Callen rolled his head to face Deeks, "She's messing with you; she doesn't know how to work the washing machine. You need to talk to Delores."

Lucinda swung her head between the two, and then decided to go with it. She laughed and then waved for them to follow her. "Obviously you're here for business. Come, let's sit and talk."

Once they were settled into their chairs, Lucinda introduced Deeks to herself and to her brother Alfonso. They were officially in the lions' den, but presently the lions were not hungry. Deeks shifted in his seat, trying to get comfortable, as he peered around the room. The house, if you excluded all the security measures, seemed like your average mansion. Expensive art, high-end appliances, and carefully chosen decor signified the money that flowed through the owners' hands.

"Now, why have you come back after all these years?" Lucinda pierced Callen with a glare.

Callen sheepishly smiled, "We were in the area." A snort sounded from Deeks. "Well, kind of in the area. Within a day's drive."

Alfonso sighed, "Always the difficult one when answering questions."

"You don't have to tell me." Deeks chimed in.

Callen huffed. "Fine. We have some information and would like to reach a solution that is mutually beneficial."

Lucinda placed her tea cup down on the table beside her. She folded her hands and cleared her throat. "Senor Callen, when we first met many years ago, our group was young and brash. Over the years we have grown older and more dignified in our dealings. What happened then will never happen again."

"I hoped not. No, this problem is a single person."

"We are not assassins."

"But he is."

Gasping, Lucinda and Alfonso traded looks. Rapid Spanish filled the air punctuated by hand gestures. Deeks and Callen looked on as the conversation ping ponged between the siblings.

Finally Alfonso spoke, "Have you found him? The devil's man?"

Callen nodded.

Hesitant, Lucinda asked "Is he close?"

Callen bit his lip, "Very close, but it will be a challenge to get to him."

In unison Lucinda and Alfonso said "He's at the Ortega's."

Alfonso rubbed his chin, "A challenge, si, but we have resources. What do you want done with him?"

Callen looked to Deeks, who took a breath and answered "End his career by whatever measures necessary."