The following morning in Deeks' apartment…
Kensi wok up in Deeks' bed fidgeting at the feeling of being alone and cold and not knowing what to do. The confrontation they'd all had with Eric in the bullpen following Deeks' departure left all of them apart barely speaking to each other. It was hardest for Kensi because she knew she was the real reason for his resignation, and, after she'd kicked Jack out of her apartment and life, she'd realized what she wanted… what she'd always wanted. She couldn't leave Deeks' apartment before she talked to him, though she knew he would be gone for a long time, and she couldn't go back to hers and remember what she did there and how she'd betrayed Deeks. She needed to stay in his and cling to the small hope that he would come back soon so she could talk to him and see him, but she knew that what she'd done had broken and crushed him' she knew the he would never take her back, that she'd ruined whatever chance they had to be together and that he would never be hers again. She was okay with that because she deserved it and more for what she'd done, but she needed to apologize to him and tell him that she was sorry, and she would do her best to make sure that happened
She got out of the bed wearing one of Deeks' shirts and walked to the bathroom, where she brushed her teeth, before walking into the living room. She put food and water down for Monty, her only constant companion through these tough times. Eric had come to take Monty and care for him at his place but Kensi had refused: she couldn't give up the only thing reminding her of her partner… she insisted on taking care of him herself and Eric didn't have a chance against her, especially when it seemed like he wanted to stay with Kensi, his Dad's partner.
Eric didn't want to bother with prolonged conversation—he was still mad—so he just gave her the spare key that Deeks had given him after the hospital, and left.
Time passed and now almost two months had gone by since the Op had started.
Deeks completed the job Merko had asked him to do, and now they were having a meeting to discuss a plan for the next operation, which was a big one—as Merko had mentioned before.
"So what's our next move here?" Deeks asked.
"Well, seeing as you've proven yourself as the best at what you do—as I have been told—now there are three shipments I need you to get me buyers for… but not just any buyers, these shipments need sharks, not just anyone can handle them."
"Okay, what cargo are we talking about here?" Deeks asked, masking his concern, wanting to finally get the information they needed to put Merko and his people behind bars for life.
"I have quite a few Russian arms—and I'm talking about heavy weapons—that I got my hands on. The stash is worth at least one hundred million dollars. If you get the deal done you will get five million for yourself."
This pulled a long whistle from Deeks. "Wow. That's a lot of arms. But as long as you pay me then I don't have a complaint."
"And that's not all. My brother back in Serbia is working on collecting some girls from Serbia, Russia, and Croatia, and he is getting ready to ship them here. I will need high class club owners, businessmen who run prostitution all over the country, who will pay me high prices for these high class girls." Merko said, sharing what he felt to be the more important operation for him.
Deeks was getting angrier and angrier the more Merko spoke. He wanted to flip the desk and throw Merko to the ground and punch the son of a bitch until the end of that bastard life; Merko was talking about these girls as if they were toys to sell, like they were just one more way to get more money than he already had. Unfortunately Deeks could not let his fantasy become a reality, and instead all he could do was smile. "That's what I'm talking about! Yeah! How old are they?" He laughed… but inside he was disgusted with himself for doing that.
"They're from thirteen to sixteen and they are the finest. He sent me some samples and whoa!" Merko let out a breath, indicating they were beyond description.
"Wow. And they're the required age too. I'll find you a buyer for them, probably faster than I get you buyers for the arms. Give me a week and I'll get you some meetings and you can settle for the highest bidder… but you know they're gonna want to check the shipments at the meetings."
"Yeah, I know. Don't worry about it, in a couple of days the shipments should be here and they can check them to their hearts content." Merko replied.
"Okay then, that should settle everything." Deeks said before standing to leave. "I'll call you as soon as I have the meetings set." He left the office.
Deeks drove to the safe house, thinking and hoping that the operation was almost finished now that all they had to do was set the plan for these meetings and trap Merko and his gang there. Given that it had only taken him only two and a half months so far he was impressed with himself, though he didn't want to celebrate until the end. One never knows how things were going to go… he hoped nothing would go wrong.
He arrived at the safe house where he met with Agent Sean Brad, who was aiding Deeks when he could, and Deeks passed along the new information. Agent Brad quickly got out the safe house phone and called D.C. to update them on what was happening and to set a plan on how the operation should go.
The following day agent Brad flew to D.C. to settle the plans in person and Deeks was left alone in the safe house. He was wondering what to do when he pulled out his phone and brought up Eric's number on the screen. His finger moved between calling and or not, but after ten minutes he dropped the phone without pressing the green button. He walked to the fridge, took out a beer, and sat on the couch, flipping through TV channels. When he saw a channel playing the Titanic his thoughts immediately wandered to Kensi and before he knew it he was lost in his thoughts: thoughts of how they used to watch it together, how she used to cuddle up against him and he would wrap his arms around her, pulling her close and losing himself in the scent of her hair. A tear escaped his eye and rolled down his face at the thoughts. He loved her so damn much, but he needed to get her out of his mind; she was in someone else's arms and if he cared about her at all he would look for her happiness, even if it was with someone else and not with him… even if it meant stepping on his heart and living in pain, because her happiness was his first priority even over his own happiness.
He stayed like that most of the day, thinking about everything that had happened between the two of them through all of the years they'd worked together. He drank beer aft beer, trying to comfort himself, but everything he did, every thought he had, just hurt him emotionally. Although he was physically healed—the bruises were gone, the ribs were healed, he had even begun light workouts and the cuts on his chest were healing too, though they would leave scars behind them—his emotional inner self that still hurt. He was drunk at the end of the day but he wasn't able to move from the couch. He blacked out and didn't wake up until Agent Brad walked in the next day and saw what a state he was in.
"Shit man, what did you do?" Brad murmured to himself while taking in the view of Deeks lying on the couch, a dozen beer bottles on the coffee table. The Agent walked in and started to gather the empty bottles but one of them slipped out of his hand and fell on the ground.
Deeks snapped awake. "What… what… what's going on?" Deeks mumbled, trying to stand. The dizziness and headache made him fall back onto the couch.
"Easy there Deeks, you have a hangover now, you need to rest. I'll make you some coffee." The Agent soothed before walking towards the kitchen. He came back with a glass of water and some aspirin. "Here . Take these." He handed the water and aspirin to the Detective.
"Oh my God." Deeks moaned, rubbing his head.
"Well that's what happens after you drink twelve beers." Brad laughed in good humor.
"Sorry about that man. I was exhausted and I needed something to relieve me." Deeks explained.
The Agent didn't buy it. He knew there was something wrong with the Detective. "Hey. Is there something going on with you? What's up?" The Agent asked, sounding like he was interrogating him.
"Nothing, I just had a rough night that's all." Deeks said before standing up and heading to his room.
"You know you can tell me anything." Brad shouted after him, but there was no response.
After half an hour Deeks walked out. He was wet from the shower he had taken. He found a coffee mug waiting for him and he grabbed it and took a long, satisfying sip. "So what happened in D.C.?" Deeks asked the Agent.
"Well we settled on a plan. We're going to bring in men of ours and post them as human trafficking and arms Lords, and when the meetings are settled and we have the evidence we need, will bust in and arrest everybody."
"Okay, then all I have to do now is set up the meetings with Merko and we're ready." Deeks confirmed.
"Yup. Pretty much, and, if it goes like we plan, all of this will be over soon."
"Yeah, but your men should be fully in the roles they're going to play, because any mistake will get us in trouble and all we've done will have been for nothing." Deeks warned.
"I know. That's why we are working with them twenty four seven to get them ready for this."
"Okay then. Tomorrow I'll call Merko and set up the meetings for this weekend."
They spent the day at the safe house—they didn't want to be seen together because the case was ongoing—and they ordered pizza and watched TV.
The next day Deeks called Merko and told him that he had clients for both of the shipments and said the buyers would be in L.A. this weekend. They both agreed a meeting on the weekend would work since Merko informed Deeks that the shipments had already arrived. Merko also ordered Deeks to find a location for the meeting. Deeks was relieved because it would allow him to choose a place that would work for a trap to be set.
Deeks told Agent Brad what he and Merko had agreed to, and both of them began looking for the right place. They looked until they found the perfect place. It was a warehouse that had five empty rooms that could be turned into offices, and was surrounded by high buildings ideal for snipers. The building would allow the teams that were to make the arrest to hide without being overly suspicious.
Deeks went to the bar and sat on a table, waiting for Merko to show up. When he did, the Boss approached the undercover Detective and sat beside him. After a minute of silence Merko asked, "So Max. How'd you do?"
"I found a hidden warehouse that has a few rooms designed as offices and a large storeroom at the back so you can keep the samples there, and when the deal is done you can deliver the rest of the shipments. I already rented the place; I watched it and didn't find anything suspicious but you'll need to send some of your men to check it out for a couple of days before the weekend." Deeks explained.
"Nice job Max, I'm truly impressed with your skills. There's no doubt about it: you are the best. I'll send two of my men to stake out the warehouse and then…" Merko didn't finish.
"And then we're gonna be rich." Deeks cut him off.
Merko smiled in agreement. "That's right."
They drank a toast to the money they'd have.
