Bates, knowing Marty's sense of justice, righteousness, and guilt wanted to play on the same and turn it into his weakness to make him stay on LAPD payroll. Both Granger and Hetty blackmailed him into accepting the Detective's resignation but if Deeks doesn't turn in his resignation, he would be in the safe. Even though Bates knows that all his skeletons are tightly locked up, he is also aware that his closets cannot withstand the pressure Hetty and Granger can bring down on them. Most of his skeletons have been to advance his political career which thanks to his blind trust in Albert Driscoll has gone bleak. The only way he can salvage some of it is if he can keep his best undercover detective, Marty Deeks in the department.

Bates expected Deeks to be alone when he arrived to speak to the younger man but he was met with stony faced Hetty, physically intimidating Sam, keenly observing Nate, and a fierce Kensi. Swallowing hard, he entered the room. He tried to start with small talk.

"How are you doing now, Deeks?" Bates asked.

"Better." Marty's voice was clipped.

"I was hoping to talk to you." Bates said eyeing everyone in the room.

"You can talk to me." Deeks responded to the point. The discomfort Bates was feeling was heightened with the closed-mouth behavior from the Detective.

"I was hoping we could do it alone." Bates brought forth his wish.

"You mean you want to talk to me in the absence of my friends." Deeks gestured to the NCIS people surrounding them. Bates gulped before nodding his head in the affirmative.

Deeks was conflicted in his emotions and thoughts. He needs to do this by himself but at the same time he cannot push away his friends who have stood by him when he needed them the most. He made eye contact with his friends' one at a time. Nate's eyes held understanding while Sam's eyes held trust. Hetty broke her glare towards Bates to meet Marty's gaze and her eyes held respect for him. When he met Kensi's eyes, he was stunned at the love and desperation her eyes held. There was no way he could ask her to leave the room.

Just as Deeks was mulling over his decision, Callen and Gibbs walked in. As soon as he took in the tense atmosphere, Gibbs instinctively knew that the new person in the room is Lieutenant Bates. The knowledge was enough to make his blood boil. This man is the reason his friend Callen went through an emotional roller coaster and doubted his abilities as the Team Leader, his new confidant Marty Deeks went through hell to bring a drug cartel down. But seeing that Hetty has reigned in her anger, he knew he has to bide his time.

"Hi, I'm Special Agent Jethro Gibbs, NCIS Head Quarters." Gibbs introduced himself to Bates and offered a handshake. Everyone looked at Gibbs with some degree of surprise. Both Hetty and Callen smiled internally at the obvious intimidation. By announcing himself and his workplace, Gibbs made sure that Bates knew that NCIS HQ is backing Deeks.

Bates looked at Deeks with a raised eyebrow before taking the pro-offered hand and introducing himself, "Lieutenant Roger Bates, LAPD. I'm Deeks's Boss."

"I've heard about you." Gibbs tightened his grip on Bates's hand. More than the grip on his hand, it was Gibbs's piercing blue eyes that disturbed Bates. Gibbs was blatantly assessing the LAPD Lieutenant.

"All good I hope." Bates tried to smile but it came more as a grimace.

"I don't assume anything from what I hear. I like to double-check." Gibbs replied as he shook Roger's hand one last time and released it.

"Are you in LA for a case?" Bates asked conversationally, even though he is irritated by the intrusion from this new character, he was still confident about retaining Deeks.

Making sure that he's holding Marty's gaze, Gibbs replied, "No, I'm here to aid Hetty. I have some experience in hiring Detectives from Local PDs." Deeks held Gibbs gaze throughout his reply to Bates and Gibbs wondered if he crossed a line when there was a hint of rebellion in Marty's eyes. Roger's confidence waned with Gibbs's announcement.

"So you decided to leave LAPD?" Bates turned to look at Deeks with accusation in his glare. Deeks held the Lieutenant's gaze for a long time before responding.

"Before I can make a decision, I have a few questions for you and don't even try to dodge the questions with lies." The fierceness in Marty's voice frightened Bates but he didn't show any traces of fear on his face. He didn't become a Lieutenant in LAPD by fearing every Detective that uncovered some unsavory facts about him.

"Why was I not informed that Driscoll was a part of the investigation?" Deeks questioned. His voice was still clipped and controlled.

"Who I use and what information I give to my Detectives is solely up to my discretion. I don't have to justify myself to someone like you." Bates replied arrogantly.

"You have the authority to do that but why was he still a part of investigation even after I reported his presence on the Cartel's payroll?" Deeks questioned.

Bates winced internally as he considered the answers. He realized he didn't have one and as he was considering saying something to squirm his way out, his thoughts were interrupted by Marty's voice, "Have you even taken some time out to read through the undercover reports I was sending you?" Bates didn't have an answer to that either.

"I was out there working 24*7. During the day I had to work as NCIS LAPD Liaison Officer to make sure that no one in LAPD would know about the undercover operation. During the nights I was masquerading as a muscle for hire and a drug dealer on Perez Cartel's payroll. I never even complained about what I was going through and you didn't even have the courtesy to listen to what I had to say before your shut down the investigation." Marty's voice was gaining decibels and he tried hard to reign in his anger. "Are you even aware that Albert Driscoll was helping Perez Cartel under duress? His family was threatened when he went after the Perez Cartel seven years ago and since then every operation against the Perez Cartel failed. Have you considered that track record before you brought him into the picture?"

Bates had the sense to look contrite as everyone in the room digested what Marty confessed. Deeks held his hand out towards Kensi and Kensi handed him the NCIS Application file. Kensi placed her hand on her partner's shoulder and squeezed in support as Gibbs met Marty's eyes with pride. Deeks sighed and took a few deep breaths to control his anger. Bates was surprised at the outburst. The normally laid back cop had a lot of pent up anger and frustration that Bates didn't account for when he thought he could keep him on the force. But now it is clear that he's lost the battle.

"Since the day I began undercover work for you, I have pissed off several Detectives, Detectives under your command and you've never done anything to dispel their notions about me. You let it got so far that no one on LAPD payroll is ready to be my back-up. Do you honestly believe that I should stay on LAPD payroll where the possibility of me getting killed in a friendly fire is a lot higher than being killed by a bullet from the other side?" Marty's voice held acceptance, a clear sign that he believed what he just said.

"Here it is Bates. I am signing the NCIS application right in front of you. It's my good-bye to LAPD." Deeks shot a venomous look at Bates and signed the NCIS application.

Bates sighed as he looked at Marty as he signed the papers before muttering something intelligibly and left the room as the NCIS people present in the room crowded Marty to congratulate him.