I got through customs with little trouble. Hetty told me that there would be back up waiting at out our safe house, and they would have a layout of the place where we're going to and how many people we would have to deal with. I get to the safe house, and speak the safe word. When I entered I saw four men. Actually, three men and teenager. The three men were Caucasian, Hispanic, and Black. The teenager was Asian. They were all gather around a table.
"What do we have?" I asked.
"Hetty wasn't lying. Down to business." the Caucasian man said.
"I have other business to attend to, also." the Hispanic man said
"Come on Tuhon. Don't be like that." the black man said.
"Hetty left me a long list, and I have to get back to. This is what I learn on your flight here. It's four men and one woman, and they work out of this club here." Tuhon said, pointing to the building on a map in front of us.
"How many stories? Is there a basement or rooftop access?" I asked.
"No basement, or rooftop access. But there are a lot of office space behind the dance floor." the teen said.
I took what the teen in stride, and devised a plan. I do an imperceptible double take because the teen looks familiar, but I was back to the task at hand. "What do you have in mind?" the Caucasian man asked.
"They're probably holding my partner in the office space. In case that isn't the scenario, what are on the other four floors?" I asked.
"I was following this group from Los Angeles. They aren't as inconspicuous as they think. They took the woman into the club, and to the back of the office space. Here." The teen said, bring up a holographic image of the club.
"The guards are the red dots, and Kensi is green dot here?" I asked.
"Yes." the Caucasian man said.
"When does the club open?" I asked.
"The club never closes." Tuhon says.
"What's the plan?" the black man asked.
"They expect me to come marching through the front door. I suggest we don't disappoint them." I said.
"Seeing as how this is club, we are going to need a soundtrack." the teen said.
"I have just the song. And it's going to fit the situation perfectly." the Caucasian man said.
"I don't really care, but knock yourselves out. Where are our targets?" I asked.
"One is going to be in the DJ booth, three will be near the entrance to the office space, and the last one plus five bodyguards will be in the back of the office space." Tuhon said.
"Gear up. I want to be out of this frozen wasteland within the hour." I said.
We get to the club, but we keep our coats. We get to the dance floor without any problems either. I learn the names of the other three associates with are Shai Yota, the Asian teen, the Black man's name is Fidel Lawson, and the Caucasian man is Wade Emmerson. Tuhon said that the four out of the five group don't usually show up until five o'clock. I looked at my watch and saw that five o'clock is in ten minutes. I told the group to make themselves scarce. Wade made his way over to the DJ booth, and asked the man to follow him. Wade didn't get back into the booth until after the other four had shown up. I fell in line behind them, while Tuhon, Fidel and Shai were following me.
"Are they here?" Wade asked.
"Yeah, they just walked in." Shai said.
"Cue the music DJ." Tuhon said.
"One funky beat coming up." Wade said.
"That's up for debate." Fidel shot back.
"Just wait for it." Wade said, as he was looking for the track. "Dropping the track in three, two, one."
The first thing I heard coming from the speakers was either one, or it could have been more, male's voice saying ah in rapid succession. Then there was a man that came on that said something about another person trying to make a comeback. I noticed the group had stopped and back towards the DJ booth, but they hadn't noticed us yet. I pulled my coat off and dropped it on the ground just as the music kicked in.
"Wow. Momma Said Knock You Out. That somehow seems mildly appropriate." Fidel said.
"He's here!" one of the men exclaimed, and if I had to guess he was the leader. He turned and ran off.
I grabbed one of my kukris, and gave chase. Tuhon, Fidel, and Shai kept the other three busy. I could hear the screams from the panicking and fleeing patrons, but I had drowned that out as I was approaching the door. There are a lot doors in here, most of them closed, a few of them are open. I feel my senses going through the roof again. I can hear talking, but I couldn't make out what was being said. I can hear Kensi voice, and given the tone of her voice she was very sure that the person was about to die.
I sneak through the office space until I was at the office with a light coming from it. I peeked inside and I could see Kensi, just barely though because the man that I came here for was blocking my view. I crawled into the room, and was able to keep from giving myself away. I thought it was strange that all the lights are off, but the man was going to pay dearly for this costly mistake. It was at this moment that I could hear the discharge of energy when the over three people went down, but I could still hear Momma Said Knock You Out playing out in the main room. The man turned around to leave, but I punched in his face. Before he could react, I grabbed him by his hair, stabilizing his body, and then cut his head off.
It took me a few moments to regain my senses, the first thing I heard was Kensi saying my name over and over again.
"Deeks. Deeks. Deeks, are you okay?" she asked.
"Yeah, I'm good. Come on." I said getting back to my feet.
"Where are we going? There's at least four more." she said.
"They have been taken care of. Let's get you a coat." I said.
"I have to ask. Was it your idea, or one of theirs to play Momma Said Knock You Out?" she asked.
"Theirs. Definitely theirs." I said. I pulled out a coat, which happened to woman's coat, and gave it to Kensi. She tried on, and to our surprised it fit her perfectly. "Keep it. The owner won't be needing it again."
"Of all rescues I've seen, or been a part of, I give it top marks in the soundtrack department. Sam is going to be so pissed that he missed this." Kensi said.
"We should not mention this to Sam. Like, ever. Come on." I said, grabbing Kensi hand and then pulled her back out into the main hall.
"I think we closed this place down for good." Shai said
"Where is the rest of the party?" I asked.
"They went their separates ways, as am I. This is yours, and tell Hetty that we'll be in touch." Shai said handing me my coat.
The three of us left. Kensi and I head back to the airport, while Shai exited the country by other means.
N.C.I.S. L.A.
OPS, two days later-
"What do we have Miss Jones?" Hetty asked entering ops.
"I have both Kensi and Deeks entering the country ten minutes ago, but they haven't clear customs yet." Nell said.
"Come, Miss Jones. We have to pick up our wayward agents." Hetty said.
As Hetty was exiting the ops she called after Nell. "Come on Miss Jones. Mr. Beale can hold down the fort while we're gone."
Nell placed the tablet on the console, and ran after Hetty. Eric was entering ops as Nell was leaving. Eric gave her a sideway glance, but remembered that he was expecting a call from Sam and Callen.
N.C.I.S. L.A.
L.A.X.-
Kensi and I were stepping out to the curb as Hetty and Nell were pulling up. "Talk about service with a smile." I said, and then opened the door for Kensi to get in. Kensi slid to the other side of the vehicle and I got in.
"Any messages?" Hetty asked.
"Shai Yota said that everybody would be in touch." I said.
"Uhuh." Hetty said, and we spent the rest of the ride back to OPS in silence.
When we get back to OPS, there's a party waiting for us. There was a round of applause for Kensi safe return, and another round of applause for me bring her home. Sam and Callen welcome Kensi home, and thanked me for bringing her home safely. I could sense that Sam was pissed that I went alone, but kept it to himself because I brought Kensi home safely. I know for a fact that this will drive the wedge even further between us, and I don't care. Over the next few cases I sense that Kensi was no longer trying to gage me abilities, or trying to one up me like she did when we first started working together. She trusts me implicitly, and we spend late nights hanging out. Either at a bar, or at either of our homes.
It's weird two months have passed since I rescued Kensi, and she is willing to follow my lead. Even if we have to be a couple, Kensi will follow my lead. It reminds me of the time we were pretending to be a couple for the first time. We were chasing priceless artifacts that were stolen from Iraq when we invaded in two thousand three. We enter a jewelry store of a person of interest. What I remembered with clarity is the conversation when we got back to OPS later.
N.C.I.S. L.A.
Four months ago-
I was fidgeting, like I usually do, and Kensi had enough of it.
"Would you mind being quiet?" she said.
This outburst was something I had never experienced before, so I was a bit baffle at first. "Are you mad at me?" I asked.
"Dogs go mad. People, people get angry." she shot back.
And then I realized the problem. "Is this about the jewelry store?" When she didn't answer right away, I knew this was the crux of the problem. How I was getting all touchy feely, and cuddling up to her, and she had no idea I was going to do any of that. "I was just trying to sell the fact that we were a couple." I said.
"Yeah, whatever, like anybody would believe that we're a couple." she countered.
Kensi lie, not knowing that I was married or who I was married to, stuck a nerve. I shot back without even thinking. "Right, you are so not my type."
This got Kensi attention. It was as if I slapped her in the face. I fidgeted ever so slightly, and returned to my paper work. I could see the wheels in Kensi heard turning, wondering what my statement could mean. If I meant it literally, that the scene earlier was nothing more than a job, or was I trying to get under her skin. "Would you care to explain—" Kensi began, but I cut her off.
"Found something." I said.
I could sense Kensi was still angry with me, but not because of my actions at the jewelry store. When she leaned in to look at what I found, I gave her a sideways look for getting close.
N.C.I.S. L.A.
The morning after Kensi and I returned, Nell asked me to meet her for coffee. I gave her the address of the shop that I'm scheduled to use that day, and then made my way there. As I was pulling into parking lot I clocked Nell's car. Nell approached me when I stepped in the door. She positioned herself to see that door that I had entered when we sat down, and I was in position to see that door that was behind her.
"What did you want to talk about?" I asked.
"I wanted to ask you your opinion." she said.
"Shoot." I said, as I was taking a sip of my coffee.
"What are your thoughts about Eric?" she asked, taking a sip of her coffee.
"Thoughts, how?" I asked. Nell didn't say anything. She gave me a look as she took another sip of her coffee, and I knew that look very well from my time when I was a married. "He's a little eccentric, which leaves a lot of room for desired, but umm… yeah. If you think it's worth a shot, then go for it." I said.
"Alright." she said.
"Why do you ask?" I asked.
"Eric reminds me of a boy that worked with me back in London all those years ago." she said.
"If it's any consolation, Kensi looks, sounds, and acts like my wife." I said.
"You were married?" she gasped.
"That was a long time ago." I said.
"Kensi has warmed up to you. A lot. She even told me that you laid the smack down to L.L. Cool J's Momma Said Knock You Out when you rescued her." She said.
"Oh, geez." I said.
"You're an instant celebrity for being able pull that off. You have to tell Sam about that. He loves LL Cool J." she continued.
"I'll tell Sam once he no longer hates me." I promised, and then took another sip.
"We need to get to work." Nell said.
We got up and left. Nell followed me to work, and it was a slow trek there. We got there in time, but it was slow. When we get there, and make our way in. Nell pats my arm, and then makes her way up to ops.
"What was that all about?" Callen asked.
"She wanted to ask my opinion on a personal matter." I said.
"Of all the people to ask their personal advice, and she came to you. That's a little strange in my opinion." Sam said.
"Seeing as how she asked Deeks, I'm guessing it doesn't matter." Kensi said.
"That, and Deeks called her Johanna. So there is that." Callen said.
There was a whistle coming from the balcony, and I didn't get a chance to sit down. The case was cut and dry, it last us three days to clear. For the next two months we caught case after case. At the month mark we caught a small break, but it was only for a week and then we were back at it. When the two months had ended we finally caught a break from the onslaught of cases, Hetty gave us three days off. The first week back after the long string of cases, I noticed that I had a tail. No matter what I did, or what I changed, the tail continued to follow me. I checked my equipment, and other things, but I didn't find a bug. The two men drove a gray mustang.
One day I got so fed up them with following that I decided to engage them. I did something that I would usually never do. I went back to the same place. Three. In the same week. Sam is going rip me a new one, and I could really care less. One particular route I run, takes to a thrift store. When I stop in the store, I usually get coffee and a donut. Before I enter the shop, I take a quick spin to see if I spot the mustang, and it was parked behind the store.
I did a quick lap around the block, and then go back into the store. As I entered I saw the clerk, who I knew by name, standing behind the counter. One of the people who was following me was standing in front of the counter with a gun in his hand.
"Hey, Frank. I ran five miles today buddy." I say, picking up a newspaper. I read the paper as I make my way back to get some coffee. "That's a lie, I did three. But I could have done five." I put the paper on the counter, and grab a pot of coffee and a cup to fill. "Is the coffee just like I like? Cold and stale?"
I play it cool, and pretend to notice the gun in the man's hand. I know his partner is in the back. I could easily take them both down, even if one of them gets a shot off. But I need to see who is staking me out. I put the coffee pot back on the warmer, and walk back to the chip rack.
"Got a question for you, Frank. What's the deal with these Funyuns? Why are they more expensive than Cheetos?" I ask grabbing the bag off the rack. "They putting, uh, real fun in there?"
The guy standing at the counter raises his gun to take a shot, but I redirect his gun away from me, and from Frank. I slam the guy's head into the counter, and then I throw a palm strike into his right shoulder, sending him flying into the nearby display. When he hits the ground I'm on him before he can react.
"Turn over!" I scream. I've been through numerous of these arrests, so I help the man go through the motions. I pin his arm behind his back with enough force to make him grunt in pain. "Stay down!" I ordered.
At this time the partner comes running up behind me, and Frank exclaims. "Behind you."
I turn around just in time to see the second guy raise his gun and pull the trigger. I feel the bullet hit just beneath the rib cage on my left side. I feel myself fall to the ground in slow motion. I'm lying on the ground in excruciating pain, I hate being shot! I think, and I'm beginning to wonder when this idiot is going to come over, and attempt to finish the job. I see him approach me with his gun drawn. He has it aimed at my head, and we're both staring each other down for what seems like an eternity. The next thing that happened was the guy hesitate ever so slightly, and then pull the trigger. I felt the bullet enter my right shoulder, and then I blacked out.