Callen had done some crazy things in his professional life. The incident in Budapest with the embassy? Wasn't planned that way. The thing with the Canadian intelligence agency in Chile? Not his fault (so much for friendly Canadians!) The one incident with Hetty's- okay, maybe that had been his fault, but it definitely had been planned another way.
Callen thought that his plans were elaborate every time. He regarded every detail and it wasn't his fault that everything every time ended in something like chaos. Nevertheless he wondered why he thought Brian's plan good. Somehow chaos was a solid element already there. And that caused an excited tingle in his stomach, but it also caused run-throughs of the plan with Brian ad nauseam.
Callen couldn't imagine that everything went over smoothly. There were too many unknown variables: Markham, Verone's men, the street racers.
"Are you sure your friends tag along?" he asked as they went to their cars. Brian looked at him with a lifted eye. He smirked. Callen wondered why the man wasn't rolling his eyes annoyed. After all he'd asked this question for the twelfth time.
"Somehow you were less worried when I first told you about it. Or when Tej showed us the facility. Or when Rome laughed at us because of this."
"Somehow this idea didn't appear that crazy to me."
"I don't understand you" Brian leant against the Evo, "you surely must have done some crazy things. I mean, I remember my own undercover time and I often risked something. You don't seem like someone dodging the adrenaline rush. So what's up?"
Callen played with the car keys. Brian was right. Normally he like hyphy things, that's why he loved his job. It never became boring. Internally Callen knew why he played it safe. Why he didn't take any chances.
He looked up to Brian, who looked with blue eyes questioningly at him. Damn!
Callen bit his lip. Then, with a dart, he was at Brian's side, pressed him against the Evo and devoured him. Brian responded immediately. Callen lost himself in the feeling. His fingers clawed at Brian's shirt. He didn't want to let the man go, but he had to.
"If it becomes too dangerous, we'll abort" he uttered breathless. He pressed an ear wig into Brian's hand, "Eric will monitor us the whole time."
Brian grinned, "Don't worry. Believe me: I did completely other things already. This race is nothing. I should tell you about the time I jumped onto a driving truck."
Callen laughed, "I almost believed you?"
Brian just lifted a brow and got into his car. Callen's laugh wore off. A lump slumped into his stomach and he leant down to Brian, "Was that a joke?"
"See you at the café!" then Brian's tires squealed and he was gone.
Sighing Callen sat behind the wheel. He pushed the plug into his ear and started the car.
"So, Eric. There something new from Verone?" he asked.
"One moment, Callen, I'll hook up O'Conner."
The line cracked and Callen detected more background noises.
"Okay, now we're all on air!" why did Eric sound so cheerful?
"Kensi just reported that she'll drive off with Verone and this Fuentes from customs in five minutes. She can't answer for a while, but I track her cell through GPS. You both will reach the meeting point with Verone's men in about ten minutes. Markham still behaves and Sam and Pearce are ready."
Callen thanked Eric for the update and drove on the street for a while. He kept his eyes on Brian's Evo. His thoughts gnawed on Brian's words.
"Eric?" he then asked, "On the case with Toretto: What placed the last trucker on record?"
"Really now?" asked Brian laughing. Eric typed some moments, before he answered, "So the man said that Toretto's crew were circled him. The one-"
"Vince," helped Brian.
"Yes, this one. He'd jumped onto the truck. With a steel rope. And then he got entangled in the steel rope. Ugh, surely not a nice wound."
"Bled copiously," agreed Brian.
"And then came another sports car and- shit! Really?"
"Eric, what's up?" asked Callen worried.
"I'll read it aloud: … and then came another car. It was loud. Orange. And on that stood a guy, who jumped over onto the truck. To the other guy. He did something there. He somehow got the guy loose. Then he threw the guy onto the car or something like that. I didn't see it right in the mirror. Then I tried, with a shotgun, to get rid of him, but I didn't hit him and then he'd jumped onto the other car."
That's like Need for Speed! Just crazier!"
After that there was some silence. Callen's thoughts rushed. Okay, he'd done some crazy things, but even he hadn't jumped on a driving truck and back at sixty.
"I did tell you," announced Brian after some time. They were some meters short of their goal, "I did some crazier things."
Callen just grumbled and didn't answer. Brian better not try such a stunt today! Then he'd cuff him to the bed after that. Which maybe wasn't such a bad idea.
Callen licked his lips, but his fantasies flew off as soon as he spotted Enrique and Roberto.
"Callen, O'Conner?" Eric spoke to them, while they got out and greeted Verone's men, "Verone's on the airfield. Markham's team gets ready."
They hardly exchanged words with the two Latinos. They were just instructed to follow their cars. The men led them to a trailer park, then they got out. Callen and Brian followed. Enrique and Roberto produced two sledgehammers from their cars, which they used to chase a man out a bungalow and thrashed the money out of the wall. Hastily they put everything in two black gym bags.
Callen had rarely seen that much cash huddled up. Overall it were six bags.
Callen and Brian were supposed to respectively put three in their trunks. Just when they were ready police sirens could be heard in the distance. It seemed like Whitworth didn't stick to the plan, which was unfortunate. Brian and Callen couldn't openly communicate with each other or Eric, too.
Fortunately the geek knew how to do his work, "The police is on the way to you. With a large force. You have to get immediately away, otherwise you're trapped. Who knows how many undercover cops are around you."
Callen let his gaze roam the area and he noticed at least four. Now there was even a chopper advancing.
They got into the cars. Roberto sat on Callen's passenger seat. Brian already started his car. Only Callen searched hastily for a heavy stone. This one he put on the gas pedal of the Latino's car. He turned the key, released the handbrake and the car started rolling. Directly into the cops.
Then he jumped into his car and started the engine, He followed Brian out of the trailer park. The houses sped past them until they were on the interstate, but they couldn't simply shake off the police. With blue lights and horns they threaded through the other cars.
It didn't help Callen's nerves that his passenger turned around every now and then. Callen concentrated on the Evo in front of him. He followed Briand and tried to keep as close as possible to him. The man knew these streets. He knew the shortest way to their change point. Seemed as if their contingency plan had to work.
Suddenly a chopper flew over their heads.
"Callen, I listened to the police's radio" shouted Eric excited, "They are to put jammers on your cars. If they catch, you'll be gone."
Callen cursed. The chopper was now in front of their cars. Two men in SWAT uniforms aimed at them with big canons. Brian slowed down. Callen did the same. He'd difficulty not losing control. Brian's Evo slid in front of Callen's Spyder and he caught one of the two missiles.
Behind them the police cars slowed down to not crash into them and cause a smashup.
Callen slowed his speed and drove beside Brian. The man leant far out of the window and tried to reach the jammer.
Callen could hardly see anything. Worried he just observed how Brian's Evo now drove on the grassy strip.
These damn cops destroyed their plans!
Then Brian did it! He threw the jammer into the direction of their pursuers. In the rear view mirror Callen saw that the first police car got hit. It got out of control and crashed into the following.
Callen's heart beat returned slowly to normal when Brian climbed back into his seat and took the wheel over from Enrique. Callen laughed relieved and winked at Brian, who grinned brightly back. Then he speed up.
While they took the next exit, Eric brought them up to date, "Markham's team reported just now that Verone's car reached the airport about now. They'll wait with the seizure until you're there."
"Mr. Hanna and Mr. Pearce are ready," Hetty chimed in, "You can keep going."
Callen caught up with Brian and they nodded at each other. Some police cars were still on their tail. Callen so wanted to see their faces as their plan proved successful.
They drove through Miami's streets to the factory premises. There were no cars at all on the streets. The police must have blocked it long-range. Already the cops tried to circle them. By this time there were two choppers above them.
Brian drove ahead onto the premises. Some cruisers followed them.
Tej's men had opened two gates and closed them as soon as he and Brian were through.
Callen turned off the engine and got out. He breathed deeply. Adrenaline burned in his veins. From outside horns got through to them. Around them the street racers chattered with each other.
"Ey, man, bro!" Rome went up to Brian and patted his shoulder, "What crazy things you doing now?"
"You know me," Brian played it down, "are the cars ready?"
"Course, man," Tej greeted him and Callen with a hand shake.
"What's up with this?" asked Roberto furious, "What are you doing?"
"Ey, man, cool down. We just ensure that you're not getting caught," laughed Rome, "and now let my bro and his mate put the bags quickly into the new cars and you can keep going."
Roberto and Enrique exchanged looks. They nodded and at each other and Callen breathed relieved. Would have been stupid, if their plan would have failed because of the two.
"Hey, you want something to drink?" asked Rome both men and pressed beer bottles in their hands. Then he babbled without interruption.
Sam stepped to Callen and Brian. He looked to the blonde, "Your friend's quite a chatterbox."
Brian grinned, "That's an understatement, man."
The three began putting the gym bags into the won cars.
"Do you think, Verone will really fall for it?" asked Sam as he stowed away the last bag with fake money.
"Some minutes are enough for us to arrest them," answered Callen, "and until then you and Rome'll have carried the money away. Are you ready?"
Sam rolled his eyes, then he threw a look at the Spyder, "I looked forward to it for the whole day."
Callen laughed. He waved at Rome and gave the signal. Rome nodded and released both Latinos, who were completely confused, but got into the muscle cars without grumbling.
Brian said goodbye to Tej with a hand shake and a hug, "Thanks, man. I owe you."
"It's okay, Brian. No worries!"
Then he got into Suki's car. She gave Brian an air-kiss and then everyone got into position.
"Okay, guys!" shouted Brian through the hall, "Into the cars. When the first group blocks the way for the cops, we'll start. And don't get caught!"
The people laughed and jumped into the cars. Impatiently the engines sounded simultaneously. Some helpers ran to the gates.
Brian and Callen got behind the wheels and waited.
Like one man the people opened the gates and the first cars drove outside. They were pick-ups, big enough and with reinforced bumpers to put themselves in the police's way and obstruct their access to the others. They directly drove onto the cruisers and the cops bolted.
Then more gates opened and the street racers came out. It was a huge crowd. Tej had told Callen that these weren't even all from Miami. Just some had fitted into the warehouse. Everyone had been immediately ready to put one over the police and help Bullitt - their big hero.
Sam and Rome drove in the row in front of Callen and quickly disappeared in the crowd, but with the help f GPS the first chopper was on their trail.
So Callen and Brian used the opportunity and got of the premises. Not one police car followed them.
"I congratulate you, Mr. O'Conner," Hetty's voice got through them, "your plan succeeded. Now arrest Verone!"
Callen laughed and steered the car onto the interstate. Time to make the homerun.
With a wide grin Brian rode on his high. He loved a succeeding plan. It was excellent that so many street racers had the opportunity to get one over the police. And because the NCIS was involved, all drivers would get, if anything, just minimal punishments. They were just guilty of speeding.
Hah, it was marvelous!
Now the just had to drive to the airport and arrest Verone.
"Shit!" it suddenly rang through their ear wigs. Brian bit his cheek to not react to the exclamation. His gaze darted to his passenger, who just stared relaxed out of the window.
Brian hoped Eric would give them an update without them asking for it, otherwise it'd get critical.
"I accessed the observation cameras just now. Markham learned that you're not in your original cars anymore and now he's doing the seizure. This prick spoils everything!"
"Mr. Beale, I won't tolerate such parlance!"
Well, if Ms. Lange didn't have any other problems!
"Sorry, Hetty."
Brian looked at Enrique. Internally he vibrated with nervousness, but he schooled his mien. The case surely shouldn't fail because of him.
"Damn!" now Hetty cursed, "Verone wasn't on the air strip. And no one of the agents."
That meant Verone set the police up. But where was he? And could the expect support now?
"Mr. Callen, Mr. O'Conner: keep driving. Sam and Mr. Pearce are on their way to your GPS signal.
Brian's heart throbbed. Not joyful anymore, but worried and nervous. Well, maybe he could accommodate Sam and Rome a little, "Hey, man. Where are we going?"
Enrique pointed with his head at the next exit, "To Tarpon Point."
In front of them Callen turned first.
"Sam and Mr. Pearce are on their way," Hetty passed through immediately, "they'll need around ten minutes."
Brian prayed, that they, if need be, could stall for time. Tarpon Point was in five minute distance from their current position. Callen just crossed the last junction and turned into the drive way. Then he disappeared.
Before he followed him, Brian noticed a dark shadow out of his eye's corner. He decelerated, but the car dashed at high speed at them. It crashed into their side and pushed the off the street.
Brian cursed and steered around it. It clattered. He had to have hit a stone or something.
The car rolled over. Brian dashed with chest and left shoulder against the wheel. The car remained on its roof.
"Ah, damn!" cursed Brian. He tried to move his shoulder, but a fierce pain made him pause. He breathed deeply.
"Mr. O'Conner, what happened?" shouted Eric into his ear. God, his head hurt!
"Brian? Brian!" now Callen's voice attended them.
"Somebody rammed us," uttered Brian. He looked at Enrique, who hung unconsciously in his belt, but still breathed.
"My passenger is without conscious and I have to have contused my shoulder. And my head is hammering, so please, don't scream."
"I'll send an ambulance. Sam and Rome are right there."
"But without sirens. Verone's in close proximity."
Brian stemmed his legs against the panel. Then he braced himself with his hurting arm against the roof. With the right hand he opened his belt. Quickly he stemmed his right arm against the plate, too, when his weight was pressed down.
"O'Conner! You damn scumbag!"
Oh man, that was Markham!
"What's Markham doing here?" he asked his listeners loud.
"That can't be," Eric objected, "Markham is- not at the airfield anymore."
Brian meanwhile climbed out of the car and stood slowly up.
"Hands up, traitor!" shouted Markham at him, "I knew you'd try to flee! You can't be trusted!"
"Listen! This thing is arranged by the OSP," Brian only lifted his not-hurting arm, "call Ms. Lange and ask her."
"This stupid NCIS. It ruins everything. I spent years putting Verone behind bars. But as soon as two worthless marines die, the NCIS takes the case from me and hires an obscure dirty cop, who has not a spark of honor."
§Do you expect me to argue with you?" asked Brian, "If you arrest me now and I don't appear soon at Verone's, he'll get leery and no one will arrest him."
"Shut your mouth!" Markham cocked his gun, "Just give me one reason and I'll do it with pleasure."
Brian gulped, but he just stared coldly at Markham. He wouldn't say that he'd been in riskier situations, but he'd faced men, who were more dangerous and more terrifying. He hadn't shown them fear, too.
Behind Markham the Evo arrived, followed by two patrol cars- and an ambulance. The Evo stopped and Sam Hanna jumped out with a lifted gun.
"Put the gun down, Markham! You shouldn't be here!"
"O'Conner tried to flee!" Markham didn't lower the weapon one inch.
"Don't be silly. The whole thing was arranged. Now let him go. You're obstructing our investigation."
Extremely reluctantly Markham put the weapon down. Immediately Brian run up to Sam and stretched out his hand, "I need the Evo. I have to go, otherwise they'll shoot Callen."
"He's already at Verone's," Sam threw the keys at him, "hurry!"
Brian got behind the wheel. Fortunately he could drive with just one arm. He started the engine and speed up. At least he hadn't heard a shot through the transmission.