Took me a little longer than expected to edit this one, but here it is. Hope you all continue to enjoy.
Chapter 21: More Than a Name
Time seemed to slow down when the bullets started flying and as Kensi dodged to the side, her heart stopped as she saw Deeks slump to the ground. She tried to find cover and shoot at the bad guys at the same time, while focusing on her boyfriend out of the corner of her eye. At first she had thought he had gone down willingly in an attempt to protect himself, but as the minutes ticked by and he didn't move, she realized he had probably been hit. She concentrated on his unmoving body and quickly noticed the crimson spot for the first time, making her own blood turn to ice as she wondered if he was already dead.
-x-x-x-
Callen felt his arm sting as soon as the bullets started coming in their direction and instantly knew he had been grazed by a bullet. He jumped to the side and found cover behind some old barrels and groaned as his injured ribs protested in pain and the burning in his arm increased even more. Still, he pushed past the discomfort and focused on taking out as many enemies as possible.
-x-x-x-
One moment Sam had focused on Deeks kneeling on the ground with a gun to his head, the other he found himself ducking to the side as a hail of bullets started coming towards them. He felt a couple whistle near his ear and quietly thanked his guardian angel for protecting him and not leaving his children without their second parent. Hearing his partner grunt beside him, Sam turned to see his arm bleeding slightly and felt his concern rising as he thought G had been shot. But as soon as Callen straightened and started shooting at the other men, he realized it was only a graze. Following his brother's lead, he started shooting, first at the men that were closer to Deeks, who was now lying on the ground, and from his spot, the senior agent couldn't know if the position was voluntary or if his younger teammate had been hit.
-x-x-x-
Gordon Brandel was lying on the floor as he remembered the last five minutes of his life. He had been holding the gun to this son's temple and found himself unable to pull the trigger. Somehow Martin's words had filtered into the part of his brain and heart that was still able to process and feel empathy as he had been involuntarily reminded of the past and all that had been lost. He had been trying to decide what to do when the doors had busted open at the front and back of the building and seconds later the gunshots sounded and bullets started flying in every direction. That's how he now found himself cowering on the ground as he desperately tried to avoid being hit while he looked for a way out.
He then focused on his son, who was slumped on the ground in front of him and, from the corner of his eye, saw Louie holding a gun and still pointing it at his boy with a satisfied smirk on his face. Turning back to Martin, he saw the blood for the first time and felt an incomprehensible anger rising inside of him as he realized the third triplet had disobeyed his orders and shot his own son. It wasn't the defiance that caused the strange sensation but the fact that someone else had hurt the son he had brought into the world to love and protect. He had always explained his treatment of Martin as a way to teach him lessons and prepare him for the real world, but, he now realized, no one else was entitled to that and he felt anger at himself as he remembered allowing the triplets to waterboard his own son. Deciding against self-preservation he stretched his hand trying to grab the gun he had dropped when he ducked to the ground but was surprised to find another hand already reaching for the weapon before him…
-x-x-x-
Calming his breathing and heart, Deeks focused on drawing his body and mind back from the verge of a full blown panic attack. He took slow deep breaths as he concentrated on the new pain in his body and tried to decipher where it was coming from. He could feel pain and dampness on his side but also on his back and he quickly came to the conclusion that the bullet had most likely gone through and through. Good, he thought as he prayed that it had missed any important organs and tissue as it passed through his side.
Feeling more in control of his emotions and his body, he moved to get his first look at the chaos around him. He could see his NCIS team still at the front of the building trying to protect themselves and shot at the bad guys who kept returning fire. He then saw the triplets and his sight zeroed on the third one, the one who had killed Franc and who was still pointing a gun to him with a hateful smirk on his face. At that moment, and even with all that had happened in the last week, he felt an inexplicable peace at the realization he had been shot by Louie and he sighed in twisted content at knowing it hadn't been Brandel.
As soon as he thought of his father, he looked for the man and found him cowering on the ground close to him, trying to avoid the bullets. He then saw the abandoned gun and, taking a deep breath, painfully stretched his body trying to reach the weapon. While he moved to the gun, he noticed Brandel also reaching for it and decided to push a little harder to reach the firearm before his father. As soon as his hand closed on the handle of the gun, Deeks gingerly lifted himself off the ground while his other hand held tightly to his side where he now knew he had been shot.
-x-x-x-
Gordon Brandel's eye widened when his son's hand closed on the weapon. And at that moment he was certain his son would shot him as he had done 29 years ago. But unlike that time, he was no longer a young and terrified boy, but an adult man and trained detective. He wouldn't miss this time and the realization that he was about to die startled the man as he closed his eyes and prepared for the pain or nothingness to follow.
-x-x-x-
Callen, Sam and Kensi had finally been able to converge back together when the bullets started to die down and the LAPD support team moved to arrest the men who were still alive. All three agents instantly turning to look for their teammate who they had last seen slumped on the ground.
With wide eyes, hearts racing and their breaths catching in their throats, they saw Deeks lift himself from the ground, while holding to his side with one hand and to a loaded gun with the other. They all thought he was about to shot his father who was on the ground in front of him, and none of them could really fault him for wanting to put the bastard down once and for all. After all, they all had wanted to do just that but had individually decided that the man was still Deeks' father and it wasn't up to them to take him out of the world of the living unless it came to a life or death situation.
They all silently considered stopping their teammate but knew he needed to find closure in his own way, and if that came by shooting the man who had destroyed his childhood and tried to do the same to his adulthood, they were not going to take that away from him, and would gladly do their best to twist it to look as self-defense.
-x-x-x-
After a few seconds passed and no gunshot sounded or pain started, Brandel opened his eyes and found Martin looking down at him while he pointed the loaded gun in his general direction. The pain and anguish in his son's blue eyes were unmistakable, along with his clear struggle trying to decide what to do. Gordon Brandel didn't dare speak as he was aware the wrong words could push his son past the edge and end up with him shot and dead. Seeing his bicep tighten made him realize how close he was to pulling the trigger, but at the last second Martin turned around and pointed the gun at the triplets instead.
-x-x-x-
Kensi wanted to run to her boyfriend but knew he needed to end this on his terms. As much as she wanted to hug him and take his pain away, she forced herself to stay calm and watch, while still holding to her weapon and ready to shoot anyone that meant her partner any harm. She had been wondering what Deeks was waiting for, when he turned around and moved the gun towards the triplets who were now being rounded by some LAPD guys.
She saw his sight zero on the third triplet and realized for the first time, and thanks to the little information she actually knew, that he was probably the man who had shot Franc. Seeing also the way the man in question looked at her boyfriend, she concluded that he was also the one that had just shot him, Brandel's angle making it impossible for him to have been the shooter. If her suspicions were true, she understood why Deeks was pointing the gun at the man but she still considered stopping him from darkening his soul any further or getting himself into more trouble with internal affairs. Eventually, while slowly moving closer to the action, she decided she couldn't fight this battle for him and he had to make his own choice.
-x-x-x-
Deeks tentatively stood up from the ground and pointed the gun at Brandel, the whole world around him disappearing and his reality being reduced to just himself and his father. His ears were ringing and his heart was racing and just as when it preceded one's death, he saw parts of his life flash back behind his eyes. From his earlier memories to his adult days, before this disaster had begun. He felt his eyes mist at the remembered images of his childhood and almost pulled the trigger to end the life of the miserable bastard who had been the source of all his nightmares, the real ones, but also the ones that lived only on his head.
Even with all the darkness the LAPD detective had witnessed and the dark acts, he himself, had committed, he still believed in forgiveness and the goodness of men. But at this moment, he wondered if he could do that with his own father, the man who had terrorized his childhood and came back from the grave to snuff his future before it even had a chance to begin. He thought back to the last three nights and everything his father did to him and the anger he felt almost prompted him to pull the trigger again. But eventually, his mind settled on what he had said that same morning to Brandel and he knew he couldn't shot his own father. Not in cold blood and when it wasn't a matter of life or death as it had been 29 years ago…
Reaching that decision, he then turned the weapon towards the triplets and pointed it straight at the third one, Louie, the man who had shot Franc and, most likely, himself. He remembered the video of the way the man had murdered his old friend without giving it a second thought, and felt a burst of anger at the memory. As he started slowly walking towards the man, his mind again got caught in the past.
-x-x-x-
"Undercover operation's set to start next month, we need you to come up with a new alias and meet with the tech people for backstopping." Lieutenant Bates said to his young and newest UC detective as they together prepared for what would be the man's third UC op. "Remember this people won't play nice and they don't hesitate beating up… or killing, anyone that stands in their way. They're angry bastards that despise authority and this particular gang is known for their… excesses."
The young detective shifted uncomfortably and grimaced at the reminder of his upcoming operation and the type of man he would need to become. "Yeah… I get it." He eventually said as he looked at his new boss straight in the eyes. The strength and confidence of his words completely betraying the nerves and doubts he felt inside.
"You sure, boy?" The lieutenant asked as he turned a confused stare at his detective after the man seemingly winced after his question. "This people are not playing, this is not a game." He eventually continued.
The young man's thoughts flashed back to his past and the way his long lost father had used to call him "his boy" in a mocking and humiliating manner, but he eventually schooled his features and returned to the present conversation once again. "I know… I've got it, and I already know the alias I'm becoming."
Lieutenant Bates felt his concern rising at the way the young man's blue eyes had darkened and his jaw had tightened when he said the alias was ready but before he could say anything else, detective Marty Deeks turned around and started walking towards LAPD's tech room.
-x-x-x-
"Okay, we have a driver's license, and some false medical history. We need some personal and work background?" The technical operator of LAPD's undercover unit asked as he sat on his computer and diligently typed on his keyboard.
"No known family, dropped out freshman year of college, had a juvenile record for shoplifting and underage drinking. Started working as a salesman until he was fired for supposedly drinking on the job." The young man recited the story he knew from personal experience, with a few changes of course. "He was left with a lot of skills and no place to use them, started dealing on the streets and rediscovered a new purpose in life. Eventually decided weapons was much more profitable than dope and wanted to avoid the junkies." He stopped allowing for the young tech to update the information that was needed to create the short backstory.
"Done. What else?"
"Add a formal complaint against his former employer and a defamation claim as he argued he wasn't drunk when he was fired…" His previous law knowledge coming in handy as he continued to build his new life. "Couldn't go further with it as he didn't have money to pay a lawyer and the state didn't want to provide one given his juvy record for underage drinking. That only added to his anger and dislike of the government and any authority figure…"
Lieutenant Bates nodded in content as he heard the detailed story the young man was creating and how he was successfully combining it with the "values" they knew that particular gang upheld. The backstopping took another 30 minutes as the tech operator and detective went back and forth on all the information they needed for the new alias.
"Okay man, I have everything ready… We just need a name." The techy said looking at the detective as soon as he finished typing the last bit of information he had been told.
Taking a deep breath and thinking of the father he hadn't seen in more than 15 years, detective Marty Deeks, finished creating the alias he couldn't at the time foresee would follow him his whole career. "Max Gentry." He eventually said before leaving the room, desperately needing some fresh air.
-x-x-x-
His knuckles hurt as he viciously punched the man over and over again. Taking notice of how blood had already started running from the beaten man's broken nose, and how his breathing had turned erratic as a result of his injured ribs, the young man took a second to compose himself, before starting on the attack once again.
After 15 minutes he eventually stopped, and the man slumped to the ground in a pool of blood and groans. He cleaned his bleeding knuckles in a napkin that he then dropped on top of his victim, adding insult to injury as he smiled down on the broken man.
The blonde man, then drank the last of his whiskey in a single swig and after setting the glass loudly on the counter, pulled on his leather jacket and walked out of the bar. Leaving behind a startled crowd and whispered rumors of the new legend in town.
-x-x-x-
The man with the blue eyes and dirty blonde hair threw the bottle across the open space as he prepared to fight the two men approaching him. He had been sent to collect a payment when the debtors had decided to jump him instead.
Feeling the alcohol flow freely through his bloodstream and feeling stronger than ever, the blonde man closed the distance with the men in two quick strides and started on the fight. It took him 10 minutes before both men ended up in a pile on the ground.
"You have two days to come up with the money… or I'll be back." The man ordered in a dark and angry tone, as he straightened his leather jacket and walked away from the alley. Leaving behind two broken men and a myth in the making.
-x-x-x-
The undercover operation had just ended and detective Marty Deeks laid on his couch as he absently switch between channels in his small TV. Seeing the empty glass and bottle of whiskey next to him on the living room table, the young man sighed as he wondered what was becoming of his life.
He eventually turned off the TV and walked into his bedroom, where he picked up the leather jacket that was on his bed and hanged it at the back of his closest. He then grabbed Max's driver license and other documents and secured them in his safe.
Taking a deep breath, he walked back into the living room where he picked the whiskey bottle and dumped its contents in the sink, but not before taking one last, long swig and letting it burn down his throat, hoping it would burn along the memories of the man he had just become.
-x-x-x-
Deeks returned to the present, his thoughts darker and the world that had previously disappeared around him turning dim and shadowy. At this moment, he wasn't Marty Deeks anymore, but Max Gentry, as he imagined himself beating the guy to hell and ultimately putting a bullet in the middle of his forehead and ridding the world of the bastard forever. His pale blue eyes turned a darker shade and the familiar smirk vanished from his face, leaving only an angry scowl as he stopped a few feet away from the third triplet.
Among the fog in his mind, the ringing in his ears and the slight grasp he still had on reality, he was able to hear the muttered words of his teammates who spoke loudly to him from what felt like a million miles away… It's not worth it, man… You're not like that, brother… Please Deeks, think of our future… Still, his focus was only on himself and the man in front of him… This was his life and the choice, finally, was his.
Countless undercover operations in which he had been Max Gentry kept flashing in his mind, and he let the memories mix with the pain of his childhood and anger for Franc. The rage he felt was close to overpowering his remaining inner light and he wanted to shoot the man with all of his heart. He remembered the night he had killed Francis Boyle, and thought that if he had done it once, he could easily do it again. Just then, his mental recount of the past landed on a different undercover operation around 13 years ago and the repercussions of said op.
-x-x-x-
The blonde man ran through back alleys and darkened streets as the men kept closing in on him. He felt weak, and could sense the blood pouring down his recently acquired stab wound. As his eyes began to close, he saw a store in the street in front of him and, praying for the best, decided to take his chances and go in.
An older looking man stepped from behind the counter and stared in clear surprise at the injured young man who had just stumbled into his store. From years living in the neighborhood he imagined he belonged to one of the local gangs, and knew very well what could be the consequences of getting involved. Still, as he focused on the man's pain-stricken gaze, he could see goodness and an unfamiliar depth in his ocean blue eyes. One which was not common in gang bangers like he had first assumed he was, so throwing self-preservation out the window, he moved to the young man and ushered him towards the back of the store.
Just after passing the threshold of what was considered the public area of the store and feeling strangely safe in the presence of the new man, the blonde man collapsed as he had no more strength and the pain of his wound became too much.
Hours later, the injured man woke up sprawled on the floor of the store, with a fresh bandage covering his wound. He looked up at the old man who had seemingly taken care of him and smiled before muttering an honest thank you.
"You're welcome, son." The old man responded with a somewhat warry, but sincere and concerned tone. "Name's Franco. Pleasure to meet you." He smirked at the current situation he found himself in.
"Max. Max Gentry." The blonde man in the leader jacket said as he stretched his hand at his new… friend, and was surprised when he was drawn into a quick hug instead.
-x-x-x-
His phone rang as he was leaving his precinct one Friday night and he frowned when he recognized the number that was calling. "Max." He said after picking up the call when he was far enough from the building.
"Max. Thank god you responded, I need help. Please." Franc's scared and rushed voice sounded from the other end, instantly setting his nerves on edge and forcing him into action.
"Franc, what's wrong?"
"Come to the store, please." The call was then ended and the young man was left with no choice but to go to the store that had already been his safe haven more times than he cared to admit in the six months he had known the man that had saved his life on that first meeting.
Reaching the store 30 minutes later he found a frantic Franc bleeding from his forehead and with a black eye already forming on his face. Still, he had brushed any concern, explaining only that his son was in danger. He had been caught in a gang dispute and was now being forced to shot another man who had been witness to a crime, if he wanted to safe his own life.
The young man had asked for all the information he could get and had then headed out to confront the gang in question. After taking a bad beating and a lot of rambling on his part, he had managed to convince the gang to let him do the kill instead, and eventually had been able to safe both their lives by telling one man to leave LA for good and the latter by making it look as if he had killed the former.
That night, inadvertently, he had made Max Gentry's legend and myth grow even larger, and, against his better judgement, had also made a friend for life.
-x-x-x-
As Deeks remembered the night he met Franc and the day he had help save his son's life, instead of being overtaken by anger for the loss of a man who had meant so much to him, he felt only shame at what he was about to do. He remembered that Franc had died knowing the real him, maybe not from his own explanation, but from what his team had told the old man about him, and he couldn't darken his soul even further.
Wondering where Marty ended and Max began, he felt his hand start to shake as part of him still wanted to shoot the man but the other repeatedly told him that we was not Max Gentry, Martin Brandel or any other man he had played undercover. He was Marty Deeks, and he had his future in his own hands. He closed his eyes, still debating between the goodness and values instilled in him by his mother or giving in to the darkness inherited from his father.
Opening his eyes back again, he turned around for a second to look at his team, who were now closer to the action and staring worriedly at him. He realized then, they were giving him the choice to do whatever he wanted and to end this on his terms. The gratitude he felt as his friends in this moment was like nothing else he had experienced, because for once in his life, he was truly in control of his own destiny.
Ultimately, realizing that he was a lot more than just a name, and thinking back to his family and friends, he made up his mind and lowered the weapon and uncocked the hammer of the gun. He opened the chamber and took out the bullets, discarding both the weapon and ammunition to the side, at the same time as his body lost all his remaining strength and he collapsed onto the ground.
-x-x-x-
Kensi saw Deeks slump to the dusty floor of the old warehouse and knowing that Callen and Sam were already moving to handcuff Brandel and the third of the triplets, she instantly closed the space between them and fell to her knees at her partner's side. As soon as she saw the bruises on his face and his dirty shirt covered in crimson, she started tearing up as she hugged the broken body of the man who meant the most to her in the world.
For the next few minutes the female agent only hugged her boyfriend while rocking their bodies back and forth, so enclosed in the moment that she never heard the weak voice coming from deep within the embrace until her name was whispered for the third time.
"Deeks…" Kensi breathed out, pulling away and instantly getting lost in the depth of his pain-stricken blue eyes. She had wanted nothing more than to see them open again, and hear his familiar voice, so now she couldn't stop the happy tears that streamed down her sparkling mismatched eyes.
"Kens? Is that really you?" Deeks asked groggily as he snuggled in closer and lifted a bloody hand to hers, squeezing tightly, or as much as his weakened state allowed.
Tears still rolling down her face, Kensi responded by leaning in closer and kissing him as if the world was about the end, when in reality it was the opposite, her world having just started spinning again. "Yes, baby. I'm here, and I'm never letting go." She eventually responded as one of her hands was glued to his and the other drew comforting patterns on his shaggy curls.
The reunited couple remained in the same position, closely pressed together, and whispering comforting nothings only for the other to hear, until a siren echoed on the open space, and a minute later a couple of paramedics came into the building. Reluctantly, Kensi released Deeks' body and moved to the side as they started working on the man she couldn't imagine losing.
Kensi held her breath for the next few minutes as her boyfriend was stabilized and her heart continued to break as he flinched every time one of the paramedics touched him and at the way his eyes closed tightly as the IV needle was inserted on his hand. It didn't take long for Deeks to be lifted and securely strapped to a stretcher and she only needed to share a look with her senior partners to know she was meant to go with him to the hospital and they would meet them there as soon as possible.
Holding tight to his hand, the female agent moved quickly, staying close to the stretcher carrying her partner as they walked out of the warehouse, towards the waiting ambulance. "Kens?" Deeks' voice came again, sounding equally tired and uncertain.
"Still here, Deeks. And not going anywhere." Kensi repeated, wanting to keep the moment simple and to avoid confusing him any further, and then clasped his hand in a gentle reminder that she was really there.
"I know… know you're here." He whispered in between partly muttered groans. "Just wanted to say… I love you, and thank you, princess." He then squeezed her hand, more tightly than before, and closed his eyes, allowing his body, and mind, the rest they needed.
Kensi squeezed back and whispered a silent I love you, as she looked up at the blue sky of the LA day and used her other hand to brush her tears away, not wanting to think past this moment, and just content in enjoying the closeness to the person that brought peace to her soul and joy to her previously fragmented heart. Tomorrow would still come, and they would be ready to fight, but today was just theirs.
I'm really curious to know how everyone feels about this chapter. Just know, that Brandel staying alive was my intention all along. His purpose in this story is not over yet, and I'm excited to share with you the rest of this journey. Infinite thanks to everyone that continues to read and for all your comments, they always make my day.