Hello my darlings. I would like to thank Malecwolf, Dief09, heyjode, Beepmybanana, Guest, amywegner16, Beststoriesever and PirateGinge for the wonderful reviews. I would also like to thank those of you who have followed and favoured since my last update.
So here is the next chapter I hope you like it.
Disclaimer: I don't own NCIS: LA.
Frank and Henry were at the local market, bickering as they usually did over what to buy. Though their debates had changed from what they wanted to what they both thought Deeks would like best. They were just considering the merits of chicken over steak when Frank's phone rang. Pulling it from his pocket he frowned when he saw who was calling.
"Deeks, what's up?" He asked turning away from Henry to look towards the bar, as if he could see it from where he was, which he really couldn't.
"You need to come back. Now. Please." Deeks replied not being able to say anything else, he was still breathless even if his conversation with Callen had helped. He was still worried and scared and alone, and he didn't want to be, not any of it. Plus this is what G told him to do, so he was doing it. He trusted G with his life, always had, he had no reason to question his orders now.
Frank frowned when he heard not just Deeks' words but also his tone of voice. There was no question about what they would do. "We're on our way." He replied turning to Henry to tell him they were leaving only to find his husband already handing their half-filled basket to a member of staff with an apology on his lips siting a family emergency. Good. With that he turned back to Deeks to try and find out what situation they would be walking back into.
"Talk to me, Deeks. What's going on?" He asked as they rushed out of the doors towards their car which was luckily parked close by.
"Hetty's here." Deeks replied as if that explained everything. And to him it did. It was all he'd needed to tell Callen for him to understand, his mind forgot that it wouldn't have the same effect on the man he was talking to now.
"Who's Hetty?" Frank asked, but Frank found himself greeted by only silence that made him break into a run towards their car. "Marty, talk to me, kid." He said with a tone of urgency but not panic. He tried to use the voice he'd used when he was once a detective. He knew it was a tone Deeks would respond to, just as he himself always had.
"I can't. I just…" Deeks replied feeling his breathing accelerating again as he considered the situation he was in. But then he closed his eyes and pulled up the one image that would calm him. He thought of Callen. Taking an even breath he carried on talking, as if he was giving a sit-rep of a situation to his team. "I called Callen. He told me to stay in the kitchen. Please hurry. I don't want to be alone." His voice broke at the final sentence, not being able to keep up the facade any longer.
At those words Frank's worry increased tenfold. If this Hetty person was someone Callen was worried about Marty seeing, then it was bad. And that was all Frank needed to pass the phone to Henry as they jumped in the car and slam his foot down. He didn't care if he broke every speed limit in the state, he was getting to his son as soon as was humanly possible. Because he needed him and that was all that mattered to Frank right then.
Henry on the other hand grabbed the phone and started talking to the man on the other end. He didn't know what was going on, but he didn't ask. Instead he used his most calming voice telling Deeks where they were, and giving him an estimated time of arrival, one he had to revise when he noticed how Frank was driving, not that he questioned it. If it had been him at the wheel he would be doing the same. So it was probably good the one with the advanced driving qualifications was doing the driving right then.
They got back to the bar in a record time of 12 minutes. They both jumped out of the car and Frank scanned the area, but he could see nothing unusual there. But that did not mean there wasn't danger inside. As such he directed Henry to go round the back and go to Deeks in the kitchen, while he himself took the front. If anyone was in his bar that shouldn't be, that had upset his son, well they were going to have face him. And he was not in a good mood.
Henry entered through the back door and went straight into the kitchen and Deeks. When he saw him he felt his heart go out to the kid. He was as white as a sheet and was holding onto the serving area as if his life depended upon it.
"Deeks, Marty. It's okay, we're here now." He said softly as he approached the young man carefully. He was like a wounded animal and he would prefer not to get bitten while he was trying to help him. He reminded him of how Frank had been back in the early days after the other cops had found out he was gay. He'd hated that look on his husband then, and he hated seeing it on his son now.
"Henry?" Deeks whispered as relief flooded through him. He had been waiting for Hetty to barge in and demand to know what was going on. But it hadn't happened. No instead Henry was here, and where Henry was so was Frank. Thank god. With that thought he practically collapsed into the older man's open arms, not being able to stop the tears of relief that poured from his eyes at knowing it was over, that he was safe once more. At knowing he was no longer alone.
"It's alright, son. I've got you. Nothing's going to hurt you now." Henry murmured as he held Deeks tightly, running one of hands soothingly through his hair. He was never leaving the kid alone again, it was as simple as that. He never ever wanted to see Deeks like this. He didn't care why or who had caused this, well he did because he was going to kill them, but right then all he cared about was looking after the boy who'd found a place in his and his husbands heart.
Frank enter the bar cautiously, but he found it empty expect for Monty standing guard by the door to the back areas of the bar. There was also a whiskey glass on the bar top and a couple of notes at its side. He didn't touch either, they were not his concern. No the only thing that was, was that whoever this Hetty person was, she was gone now. His son was safe. Therefore walking towards the door to the back of house he signalled Monty that it was safe, before ruffling his head. "Good boy." He muttered. Because he knew Monty had stopped Hetty from going after Deeks. That was the only reason the dog would still be on guard and not with his master, he knew that.
Making his way quickly into the kitchen he was greeted by the sight of their son in his husband's arms as he cried. It broke his heart to see Deeks so destressed, and if he hadn't known the kid had already called Callen he would be on the phone to right now. But as it was, he was pretty sure that the agent would be turning up at some point that night. He didn't think for a moment Callen wouldn't want to be with Deeks, want to make sure he was okay. Even if their relationship hadn't evolved in the last few days he knew the other man would come.
"Deeks. Hetty's gone." He said making his way over to the other two men.
At those words Deeks head shot up and he looked at Frank with disbelief in his eyes. "You sure?" He asked hope starting to enter his voice at the idea it was really over. That he didn't need to face his past, didn't need to face her.
"There's no one here, no cars in the lot." Frank confirmed.
"Why?" Deeks asked a frown coming on to his face as he pulled away from Henry, able to now stand alone. He was glad Hetty had gone, but it didn't make any sense… unless "Callen." He whispered making both the other men frown at him.
"What about him?" Frank asked wondering what Callen had to do with the mysterious Hetty leaving.
"It had to be. He had to have called her." Deeks continued awe entering his voice now at the idea that whatever his boyfriend had said had caused his boss to leave. He knew, just as everyone at NCIS did that Callen and Hetty were close, but he never thought he'd be able to somehow get her to leave him alone. His boyfriend never cessed to amaze him lately.
"That doesn't matter now, she is gone. Why don't we go upstairs and you can relax, maybe call Callen again, yeah?" Henry said. The only thing that mattered to him was looking after Deeks right then, the rest could wait.
"But the bar-" Deeks started to say. I means his shift didn't finish for another 20 minutes and they couldn't leave it unmanned any longer.
"I'll deal with that. You go with Henry." Frank interrupted him. The kid needed someone with him, and he knew Henry would mother him in the way he needed right then. Not to mention he had his own phone call he wanted to make to a certain special agent. He needed to know who this Hetty was and how dangerous she was to his son. He needed to make sure Deeks was protected.
"Okay, yeah." Deeks nodded. He was feeling really drained from all the emotion he'd been put through seeing Hetty. He wasn't sure if it was because it had been so unexpected, or if he would have felt the same if he'd known she was coming. If fact he hadn't even anticipated he would react the way he had upon seeing her. Not to mention he was starting to feel embarrassed about his behaviour. I mean he'd collapsed into Henry's arms and cried on his shoulder after hiding in the kitchen. Really not a good look, that was for sure.
"Come on then." Henry replied guiding the young man out of the kitchen and collecting Monty who was waiting outside the door. With his two charges firming in tow he made his way up to his and Franks apartment, guiding the younger man to the couch in the living room before going about helping him return to his normal happy self.
Frank waited until they were out of hearing range before he called Callen, he couldn't help but smile when it was answered after the first ring. A smile that grew at the greeting Callen gave him.
"How's Deeks?" Callen asked. He had desperately wanted to call Deeks back once he'd spoken to Hetty, but he also wanted to keep the line free so that he could be contacted if it was needed.
"As well as can be expected. Henry is with him upstairs. Who's Hetty?" Frank replied cutting right to the point.
At that Callen sighed. He had expected that question, but he had hoped to be there before he got it. But it seemed that wasn't going to be the case, and well he knew he could trust Frank. Knew he would protect Marty from everyone, including the woman who was the closest thing he had to a mother. And to do that, Frank needed to know. "She's the operations manager of our branch of NCIS." He answered even if he knew that barely scratched the surface of who Hetty truly was. But it was all he could say right then. I mean he didn't think there were really any words that could describe the woman properly, and surely that was enough for Frank to understand something of the woman they were up against.
"Why she here?" Frank asked with a frown wondering what the operation manager of the unit of NCIS Deeks used to work for was in his bar.
"I have no idea, but I promise I will find out. I'm meeting her tomorrow at her hotel." Callen replied with a determined voice. Oh yes, that was one of the many questions he would be asking her when they met.
"Oh? And what hotel would that be?" Frank asked in a deceptively causal tone, though he didn't fool Callen for a second. For a moment the other man debated whether to answer that or not, but in the end he decided this wasn't about him or keeping secrets, this was about Marty's protection, and the man who'd become his father deserved to know.
"The Sunset. She booked in under Matilda Hunt." He replied simply.
"I'll see you when you get here later, then." Frank responded not commenting on the information he'd just been told.
"Yeah see you then." Callen agreed before he hung up. He felt better now knowing Frank and Henry were there for Marty. He just wished he was there with him too, but he would be soon. Yes that was all he needed to think, he would see him soon. And with that thought on his mind Callen pushed his car through the LA traffic determined to reach Marty in the quickest time possible.