A.N.: A big thank you to my followers. It's great to read your comments and knowing that you're enjoying the ride. I can't write faster, sorry!

Chapter 25

Sat alone on the beach Deeks was feeling like crap. Another night haunted by nightmares and another day trying to cheer everyone up, exhausting exercise. In the distance he saw Eric surfing, the man was amazing and the waves perfect. Sun, surf, friends, holidays, love, everything he could dream and he was just unable to enjoy it.

- "Something is eating you."- a voice said at his side.

- "Hey Sam. No, no, I'm fine."

- "Deeks… you're not fine, I'm not fine, none of us is fine. We're just coping with the situation. But sometimes is better to talk about it."

- "Sam… I can't…"

- "What? Do you think that I can't take it? that you should protect me? C'mon Deeks!"

- "Ok, I think that I need to say you something, but you don't have to do anything and I'd understand if you get mad and you won't talk to me anymore."- he said looking at the horizon.

- "Just say it."

- "That day, the day Michelle was kidnapped, I talked to the guard and I thought something was off and I didn't stop to think about it. It was just an impression, but I'll never forgive me for not following my gut."

At this point tears were falling from Deek's eyes. He needed to free himself of the burden he was carrying even if it would be the end of his friendship with Sam.

- "Then when we found Michelle, I was slow, maybe if I've be quicker, maybe if I'd run faster… it was my fault, Sam, and I'm not asking you to forgive me."

- "I'm nothing to forgive you, pal, believe me. I only can thank you, and my whole life would not be enough to thank you for being there for Michelle, for trying, for fighting, for founding her, and now for being here for my kids and for me."

The two friends hugged, deeply moved.

- "You need to know something, Deeks. G sent me Rose's report; the toxicological test in the autopsy showed traces of the botulinum toxin. Even if you had been faster or you found her before, she couldn't have been saved."

- "Oh God! I'm sorry, Sam, I'm so sorry!"

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After two days of investigation and hard work Callen had completely invaded the boat house where he was even passing the nights. Although nightmares never allowed him to sleep more than three hours in a row he was feeling better, stronger little by little and even the vertigo seemed to be in remission. Regularly Hetty called from Washington just to remind him to take his pills or the hated drops or his appointment at the hospital.

A story board full of causes, facts and consequences was hanging on a big board, the pictures that Anna had been taking these days were the center of all his paperwork and the screen showed a map of Los Angeles divided in quartiers.

- "This is a crazy theory."- said Anna. She had just brought two glass of apple juice and some fruit hoping that G ate something.

- "And that's precisely why it can works. Listen, we know that the Sudanese are asking around to get a massive shipment of weapons; Aran Mafur wants just to prove his superiors that he's able to provide, using us, with the intention of being promoted in the organization. On the other hand there's a connection between the Molina cartel and the Sudanese, not only at lower level but at a high one. "

- "That's a very long shot, Callen."

- "No, not so long" -he said smiling and putting in the top of the papers the picture with the mysterious guys in the car. - "and it was you the one to prove it. I've done my homework and this is Mario Alberto Suarez"- he said signaling the Mexican guy of the picture with the two men in the car –"a big fish of the Molina cartel; his presence at Little Ethiopia isn't due to Ramón Hernández, there's something bigger going on."

- "Ok, let's say that effectively is something going on. So what?"

- "So we introduce a variable, an X factor. A new Russian network able to provide drugs, weapons and what the client wishes before the Molina cartel does. If we block the little deals the cartel has, the connections with the Sudanese cellule will weaken and we'll be perceived as the only alternative."

- "A crazy theory and a crazier plan; that would be like rustling a wasp's nest and the only thing that you're going to provoke for sure is the cartel's rage."

- "That's the idea. We force them to make a move, if the cartel goes for us we send the agencies and L.A.P.D. will have less to worry about. On the contrary if the Sudanese cellule looks for us then I'm not going to stop until I wipe them out of the map.

- "Even if we want to start it we don't have nor the people nor the weapons or drugs or whatever to do it; and even with drugs and weapons, are you telling me that you want to be the boss of the new mafia?" - she asked smiling approaching G.

- "Lately I'm thinking about a career change, and this one I can do it!"

- "Oh really, agent Callen?" - she said sitting in his lap.

- "It would be a quick way to fill my piggybank" - sighed Callen- "We can't do it alone, but we know who is able to lend us some goons speaking Russian."

- "He's going to kill us."

- "It depends on the benefices, believe me."- he said kissing Anna.

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After hundreds of hall talks, veiled insinuations, open accusations and three unproductive hearings. Hetty knew that her career was over. She only hoped to be able to save Callen and Nell from the debacle and all her energy was focused on that task.

- "No, Michael, I told you that this is not negotiable."

- "But Hetty if they testify, I could have something to put on and maybe to gain some time. Don't you realize that we have nothing?"

- "Neither them, at this point is my word against the word of some obscure agent."

- "International terrorism, Hetty"- sighed the lawyer.

- "And the terrorist is dead. So…"

A new murmur ran the hall. Little groups of people were forming and the whispering was getting loud.

- "I'm going to find out what is going on"- Michael said.

- "Not need"- affirmed Director Vance approaching.- "Hetty, gentleman"- he saluted.

- "Good morning Leon. So what is the last gossip?"

- "A bad one, Henrietta. And I really hope you have an ace in your sleeve. The conversation between you, Callen and Jones was recorded and they got the record."

Hetty expression changed. Suddenly she seemed old and fragile.

- "Hetty …

- "I give a damn about my career, my dear, but my head is the only one that will roll. You only have to concentrate in saving Miss Jones and Mr. Callen's career."

- "Give me something then, the last hearing is in three days!"- exclaimed the poor guy at lost.