Sam and Callen were in the bull pen—Sam was at his desk working on his laptop and Callen was getting coffee—when Kensi came in massage her arm.
"You okay?" Sam asked.
"Yeah. Last night got a little rough." Kensi said, as she sat her bag down on her desk.
"Oh, really? Who?" Sam asked.
"Joshie." Kensi said.
"Joshie. Joshie. Is that the one who made your legs shake?" Sam asked.
Callen was a little intrigued by the conversation he was overhearing.
"No, that was Griff." Kensi said, pulling her laptop out of her bag.
"All right, so tell me about Joshie." Sam said.
Callen was walking away from the coffee maker, giving Sam and Kensi's conversation his undivided attention.
"Joshie. Joshie." Kensi sighed, and then said. "Kind of over Joshie."
"That quick? For one night only?" Sam asked.
"Well, it's supposed to be fun and make you feel good, not wake up sore." Kensi said.
What? Callen thought, not believing what he just heard. In his defense Callen had no idea that Sam and Kensi were talking about workout routines. And it was made worse by Kensi's next statement.
"It's different for girls." Kensi said.
Sam and Callen shared a look. As Callen walked over to his desk, Sam said. "Maybe you should go crawling back to Griff."
"I will if he comes back around. I haven't had a repeat in six months." Kensi said.
"I'm sorry did I miss something? Who are these guys?" Callen asked.
"They're not guys, they're WODs." Kensi said.
Callen just stared at Kensi like she was an alien who just landed from outer space.
"W-O-Ds." Kensi said.
"What's that? A BFF with and STD?" Callen asked.
Sam chuckled at Callen's question.
"W-O-D is "workout of the day." I started doing CrossFit." Kensi said.
Callen stopped a beat and then asked. "Why?"
"You gotta try it. It's addictive." Sam said.
"So is meth." Callen quipped, and then sat down at his desk.
"Okay, listen. You are tired, you are sore, you are miserable. You are stretching muscles you didn't even know you had. You are in a pool of sweat and yet all you can think about is doing it again as soon as possible." Kensi said, as she turn to explain CrossFit to Callen. By the time Kensi finished explaining, she had a crazed look in her eye.
"Hmm, and they name all these workouts after random guys?" Callen asked.
"No. Actually, the hero WODs are named after firefighters, soldiers, police officers, fallen heroes killed in the line of duty. But, actually, you know what? The toughest ones are named after women. Helen, Fran." Kensi said.
"Fran, now that's a tough broad. For real." Sam said, joining the conversation.
"Fight Gone Bad. Filthy Fifty." Kensi said.
"How about Lazy Sunday Morning? Watching a Football Game With a Cold Beer?" Callen asked.
"Heh, no pain, no gain." Sam said, his eyebrows rise up to his forehead.
"If I'm gonna pay someone to hurt me, it better be a dominatrix." Callen said.
Sam couldn't say anything. Sam's had a What? expression on his face. Even his eyebrows dropped back to their resting position, as Kensi said. "Oh, do tell."
"That was a joke. That was a joke." Callen said, defending his last statement.
"I have noticed some unexplained bruising in the past." Sam said.
"Thank you." Callen said.
"Yo, man, I don't judge." Sam said, raising both of his hands.
"Thank you." Callen said.
"But whatever you wanna do in your spare time is your business." Sam said, keeping the grin from turning into a smile.
"Uh-huh." Callen said, waiting for the punchline.
"As long as you don't ask me to spank you, we're all good." Sam said.
Kensi had a What? expression on her face when Sam mention spanking.
"Great." Callen said.
"Ah, you like that?" Kensi asked, as she slapped Callen's knee.
What the group did not see was Eric come down the stairs during their banter session, and he wanted to get in on the fun.
Eric whistled, and then, in a German accent, said. "Mistress Henrietta awaits your arrival in the operations center. Those who are tardy will be subject to severe punishment. Unless punishment is something you desire."
"No, not you." Callen said, as the three of them approached the stairs.
"Sorry. Just role-playing. Oh, I get it. The, uh, tech nerd can't play with the cool kids. What?" Eric asked, after Kensi stared at him as she passed him on the way up to Ops. "Oh, man." Eric said, and fell in line behind Kensi.
"Good morning, all. Ms. Jones." Hetty said, when her agents and tech operator entered Ops.
Nell brought a rap sheet, driver's license, and camera footage as she said. "An hour ago, Monica Davis was the intended target of a shooter in Hollywood."
They watched as the shooter fired on Monica, who in turn zig-zagged her way through the crowd.
"Nice little serpentine move" Callen said.
"Yeah, she's bobbing and weaving like she's used to getting shot at." Sam said.
Kensi had a grin on her face, and then asked. "Who is she?"
"Ms. Davis is a hostess at the Afrobeat nightclub N'Kosi." Eric said, and then brought up the homepage of the nightclub.
"Why is someone trying to kill her?" Callen asked.
"We don't know. And we weren't able to get a clear angle of his face." Nell said.
"We're not sure, but he may be involved with this man." Hetty said, and then Eric brought a picture of the man in question.
"Johannes Waaldt. He's the owner of N'Kosi, where Monica works. He's also the face of several charities that build water-purifications systems in Africa." Nell said.
"Am I missing something?" Callen asked. Normally a man who runs charities is someone they wouldn't investigate.
Hetty pointed at Eric, as he said. "Back in the day, Waaldt was quite the international arms dealer." Eric brought up a picture of Africa, and a list of terrorist cell leaders that bought goods from Johannes.
"And that would be it." Callen said.
One man jumped out at Sam. "That's Abdul Habaza. The man who killed Moe." Sam said. The group remembered the young man that Sam recued years ago, only to be killed by Abdul two years ago.
"From helicopters, to rocket launchers, JoJo was a one-stop shop until he became a legitimate business man." Hetty said.
"So what happened, Monica Davis saw something she wasn't supposed to see?" Callen asked.
"We're not sure. And we lost contact with our man inside." Hetty said.
"Who's that?" Callen asked.
Everybody turned their attention to the screen. Eric zoomed in, cleared the picture, and froze it when my face came into the frame. Nell turned at looked at the group's reaction. Kensi was the first to speak, but it took her a moment. "Deeks?" Kensi asked.
"Not Deeks. Max Gentry." Eric said.
"How long's he been working on this?" Kensi asked, upset about being kept in the dark about this assignment.
"This a question for Assistant Director Granger. Apparently, he set this up." Hetty said.
"What is Deeks saying?" Sam asked.
Hetty looked at Callen, and then Nell said. "He hasn't checked in yet. We're still waiting for his call." Nell said.
Nell could tell that Kensi was upset about this whole mess.
N.C.I.S. L.A.
Cover house-
On the drive back to the cover house, Monica told me that she stole the diamonds, and made a break for it. I wasn't about to be caught on anymore cameras than I already have, so I kept to back streets on the drive back.
Monica was stilled hopped-up on adrenaline from the brush with death a mere twenty minutes ago that she was having a hard time getting the key in the door, and I was furious that my perfectly laid plan was ruined by some kid who was looking for an adventure. But when she finally got the door open, I say. "Get in the door."
"Oh, my God. That was crazy. That dude could've killed me." Monica said as she crossed the living room, still giddy over stealing the diamonds and surviving getting shot at.
"Oh, you got that part, did you?" I asked, as I shut and locked the door.
"And then you squeal in like freaking Steve McQueen from Bullit. And I'm like, "Get me the hell out of here." And you're like bang, bang, bang, Rrr! Getting all Fast Five with it. Was that, like, insane or what?" she asked.
I was peeking through the blinds making sure we weren't follow, but I turned to her and said. "No, that wasn't like insane, that was actually insane."
"I know, right? Just feel my heart. Seriously, babe, feel my heart." she said, grabbing hand and placing it on her chest.
"No," I said, and then walked away towards the door.
"Why are you so mad?" she asked.
"Because you almost got yourself killed." I said
"But you saved me. You are such a bad-ass. Come on, baby. Come here." she said, trying to give me a hug.
Monica's celebratory mood is throwing me off my game, so I try to reign it in. "Don't stop. Just stop." I said, as I walked away.
"Just relax, Max. We got away, we're home free." she said.
"Are you kidding me? Do you have any idea how much trouble you're in?" I asked.
"I'm not afraid of JoJo." she said.
And that's how it all starts. I've seen this before. I thought. "You should be. Honestly, I can't believe you did this"
"What did you expect me to do?" she asked.
"Ah, maybe what I told you. You go in, take some pictures. It was that simple." I said.
"When opportunity knocks…" she said.
"Yeah, well opportunity's about to kick open that door and shoot us both in the head." I said.
"Yeah, well opportunity's about to kick open that door and shoot us both in the head." she said, imitating me.
"Really? You joking?" I asked, incensed by this display of stupidity.
"You joking?" she continued.
"Are you done?" I asked.
Monica smile, and then said in her own voice. "Max, chill out. Wanna see them?"
"No, I don't." I said.
Monica produced the pouch that held the diamonds, and said. "Yes, you do."
"I don't. Put them back. I don't wanna see them. Don't—" I said, when Monica started to pour the diamonds out into her hand.
Monica started trilling, and then said as a few diamonds spilled out onto the floor. "Oh, I dropped a Bentley."
"Can you please just give those to me?" I asked.
"Yeah." Monica said, hold out her hand.
"Just give—Don't put them down your—Are you—? Don't—You're gonna drop—" I began, but Monica put the diamonds down her shirt and into her bra.
As Monica walked away, the diamonds fell onto the floor. "Oh. Oh. Ooh." Monica said, as she took her over shirt off.
"Are you serious right now? You're dropping diamonds." I said.
Monica tossed her over shirt on the floor, and then disappeared into bedroom.
I take a deep breath, shake my head at the mess that I found myself in, and then let it out as I said. "This was a terrible idea."
N.C.I.S. L.A.
OPS: bullpen-
"Deeks' phone is still at his cover house." Eric said.
"All right, so why hasn't checked in?" Kensi asked, unable to sit still.
"Maybe he didn't have the chance." Sam said.
"He's gotta know we saw the shooting." Kensi said.
"If he was in trouble, he would've sent a distress." Callen said, in his usual calm demeanor.
"Not if he's injured or dead." Kensi said, hesitating before saying dead.
"You think Waaldt?" Sam asked.
"Doubtful, but it's not impossible." Callen said.
"Not helping." Kensi said.
"You're the one who brought up Deeks death in the first place." Sam said.
"I got him. Deeks sent an encrypted text." Nell said, entering the bull pen.
"Did he say what the hell happened?" Callen asked.
"There's been a complication." Nell said.
"Yeah, we've gathered that." Sam said.
"What else?" Callen asked.
"That's it." Nell said.
"That's it?" Kensi asked.
"It was a short text. More of a tweet." Nell said.
"He doesn't have a plan." Sam said.
"So what are we supposed to sit around until he comes up with one?" Kensi said.
"No. Sam and I are going to head down to Waaldt's club, and we're going to find out who we're dealing with." Callen said.
"Okay, and what am I supposed to do?" Kensi asked, still chomping at the bit to be doing something.
"Back up your partner." Sam said.
Kensi stared at Sam a moment, the last thing she wanted to be doing is backing me up after I left her in the dark these last few months, but Kensi looked at Eric and Nell as she asked. "Are there surveillance cameras at the cover house?"
"No. But he's got an earwig. We can send him a message, tell him to put it in." Eric said.
"Do it. Send the address to my phone." Kensi said, and then left.
There was a moment of silence before Callen said. "Keep an eye on her?"
"Will do." Nell said.
N.C.I.S. L.A.
Monica's apartment-
I'm chilling on the couch with my phone in my hand, waiting for Granger to contact me, but I'm still waiting. I hear the door open, and Monica chuckles as she walks out wearing nothing but a t-shirt and under wear.
"Maybe I'll have the two biggest one made into earrings. What do you think?" Monica asks, holding a diamond up to her ear.
"I think you should put them back in the bag before you lose them. Give them to me." I said, get up from the couch.
Monica holds the diamonds out in her cupped hand. I reach out to grab the diamonds, but Monica's slaps my hand and then says. "Oh, gotcha. Just like Richard Gere in Pretty Woman. Remember with the jewelry box that he snaps shut? Chomp. I love that movie."
"Yeah, it was a classic." I said.
"You want to take a shower with me?" she asked.
"No. No, I don't." I said deliberately.
"Well, suit yourself." Monica say, and then walks as she takes her top off revealing that she was not wearing a bra. Monica drops the shirt drops outside the bedroom door.
"Oh, my God. That's okay. I'll just get that, that's fine. I'm here to clean. Oh, my God." I said, walking over to pick the shirt up off the floor.
As I'm walking back to the couch, my phone dings. I pull it out to see a message instructing me to put my earwig in. Just as I get the device in place, Monica leans out and asks. "You're not going to run off with my diamonds?"
I turn to see that Monica is wearing nothing but a towel. "Just take your shower." I said.
"Last chance to join me." she said.
"Yeah, no, I'm more of a bath guy myself, but thank you." I said.
"Oh, that's romantic. I like that." Monica said, and then shut the door.
I wait a few seconds, making sure Monica was heading for the shower, and then turn my wig on, saying. "Are you there, God? It's me, Margaret."
"Judy Blume? Really?" Kensi asked.
"I got a softer side." I said.
"Yeah, it's called your head." she said.
"I've missed you too." I said.
"Not from what I've seen." she said.
"Oh, my God, are you jealous?" I asked.
"Oh, please, if you wanna keep an operation secret, that's your business." she said.
"It wasn't a secret. It wasn't even an operation, all right? Granger wanted me to find something of Waaldt's, and he wanted me to do it through his hostess. So I went Waaldt's club, I picked up his hostess and got her to look around for me, that's it." I said walking around the living, checking the bedroom door, and then walked over to the window.
"And just like that she agreed to spy on her boss for you?" she asked.
"No, it took a little bit of persuading; that, and the fact that I told her that my boss wanted something that Waaldt had in his possession." I said.
"I hoped you used protection." she said.
"Jealous much? Or much too much." I said.
"Stay on track." she said.
"Whatever, but it wasn't like that. The truth of the matter is that Max Gentry can be incredibly charming when he wants to be." I said, as I made my way over to the couch and sat down. I made the mistake of turning my back to the door.
"Maybe I should be partnered up with Max." she said.
"I didn't know she was gonna go all Bonnie and Clyde on me." I said.
"So where is Bonnie?" she asked.
"She's in the bedroom." I said.
"I'm surprised you're not with her." she said.
"You sound like her." I said, tiring of Kensi's jealousy.
"What?" she asked.
"Nothing." I said.
"What the hell is going on?" she asked.
"So, I asked her to snoop around Waaldt's office. Guess what she found." I said.
"Her panties?" she asked.
Screw you, Kensi! But thanks for the visual. I thought, but said. "Meow. No, not her panties. She found ten million dollars in diamonds"
"Who are you talking to?" Monica said, exiting the bedroom wearing nothing but a towel.
"I wasn't." I said.
"I heard you." Monica said.
"No, no, I have a habit of talking to myself when things go south. That's how I work things out." I said.
"Really! That's news to me." Kensi said in my ear.
"You're so wound up." Monica said, and then walked over to me.
"I'm fine." I said.
"You are so not fine!" Kensi said in my ear.
I have to hide a smile because Monica starts chuckling when Kensi said her statement. I did not have to say a thing because Monica said. "Everything is going to be okay. I promise. You… You just need someone to take care of you. And baby. I'm gonna take care of you."
Sorry Kensi. I thought as Monica leaned in to kiss me.
N.C.I.S. L.A.
OPS-
Back at OPS, Callen, Sam and Nell are in the bull pen looking at the picture I just sent them.
"How much are we thinking?" Callen asked.
"Well, it's hard to tell from the photos Deeks sent us, but if these are real, and there's no real reason to believe they're not, I'm guessing ten million, maybe more." Nell said.
"That's a lot of bling." Callen said.
"NCIS in Washington has seen a recent influx in blood diamonds. They're untraceable, won't set off any metal detectors, and you can carry millions' worth in your pocket." Nell said.
"As long as they're real, no one cares where they came from." Sam said.
"Our Red Team has tracked blood diamonds from Sierra Leone to Antwerp, where their county-of-origin papers are often forged. Other than Afghani heroin, blood diamonds have been the most consistent form of terrorist funding." Nell said.
"So the big question is, what is Waaldt funding?" Callen said.
"Ten million can fund a nice little coup." Sam said.
"I thought he's out of the business." Callen said.
"Granger must have had some suspicions to send Deeks in." Nell said.
"Where's Granger?" Sam asked.
"Oh, his office says he is unreachable." Nell said.
"You told them what happened?" Callen asked.
"Absolutely. They said they would pass it along." Nell said.
Sam and Callen shared look, and then Callen said. "We got nothing on this guy."
"Well, his man Smit tried to kill Monica Davis in broad daylight." Nell said, bringing up a picture of Smit discharging his gun this morning.
"Some jump-off tried to steal ten million in diamonds from me, I'd off her in broad daylight too." Sam said with a smile, which gets a chuckle out of Callen.
"Wow. That's good to know." Nell said with a smile, as she looked at Sam.
"Hypothetically speaking. If I were a bad guy." Sam said.
Nell just nodded her, and then said. "Uh-huh." Sam nodded his head putting an end to the subject. Sam didn't realize that Nell was going to take that seriously. Nell continues speaking. "It's attempted murder. You bring him in, maybe he gives up his boss up."
"He's a violent dude. He's not the cooperative type." Sam said.
"Which means we take a different tack." Callen said.
"Which would be…?" Nell asked.
"Something you don't need to know about." Sam said.
From the feeling that Nell was getting, and the looks she was getting from her coworkers, she definitely did not want to know.
"Hypothetically." Callen said.
A/N: I had to make a few changes to make it line up with the episode.