Sam, Callen, and Tiffany were in interrogation one at the boat shed, while Granger and Kensi watched on the plasma.

"Boyle like to get rough. Only desperate girls went there." Tiffany said.

"So you were desperate?" Sam asked.

"No. I stayed away from that until Quinn asked me to help set him up." Tiffany said.

When Tiffany said Quinn, this got Callen attention. "Detective John Quinn?" Callen asked.

"Yeah. He told me that Internal Affairs was setting up a sting and all I had to do was let Boyle pick me up, and they were going to arrest him." Tiffany said.

"So, what happened?" Sam asked.

"Nothing. Boyle picked me up, took me to a motel. I kept waiting for Quinn and the cops to come bursting through the door, but they never did. Boyle left after we had sex. I called Quinn, but he never answered." Tiffany said. When Tiffany said that she had sex with Boyle, both Callen and Sam reacted by moving their head either backwards or tilting it to the side.

"So Boyle left the motel?" Callen asked, trying to track the story.

"Yeah. But he came back. I waited for Quinn and kept calling for at least a couple hours, and that is when Boyle returned. He was out of his mind, and he accused me of setting him up." Tiffany said.

"Which you did." Sam said, nonchalantly.

"To be arrested. Not ripped off. He beat the hell out of me. He asked me where his stuff was. I had no idea what he was talking about. And he threatened to kill me if I didn't tell him who I working with." Tiffany said.

"Did you give him John Quinn's name?" Sam asked.

"Yeah. That really set him off. He called his partner. I made a run for it." Tiffany said.

"You're saying you didn't kill Boyle?" Callen asked.

"Seriously? I weigh a hundred pounds soaking wet. The guy was easy two fifty with a couple of guns. I got out of there the first chance I had." Tiffany said.

"You didn't report any of this to the police?" Sam asked.

"He was the police. So was Quinn. I was a seventeen-year-old hooker with a criminal record." Tiffany said.

"So where do MacLeod come in?" Sam asked.

"MacLeod?" Tiffany asked.

"The L.A.P.D. detective who you used to be an informant for." Callen said, jogging Tiffany's memory.

"Oh, you mean Deeks. He told me his real name. But to your question: you tell me. He was always good to me and the other girls." Tiffany said, fondly remembering my treatment of her and the other prostitutes. Callen raised an eyebrow at the admission. "Not in that way. He was very kind." Tiffany corrected.

"And you were his informant." Callen said.

"He was the one guy and the only cop I could trust. He helped me get back on my feet." Tiffany said.

"Still does." Sam said.

"Yeah." Tiffany said.

"So if you didn't kill Boyle, who did?" Sam asked.

"Had to have been Quinn." Tiffany said, after a moments pause.

"Do you trust her?" Kensi asked, after Tiffany blamed Quinn.

"I don't trust anybody." Granger said.

"Do you think she's telling the truth?" Kensi asked.

"As an IA investigator, Quinn knew Boyle was dirty and had an ongoing investigation against him. He must have figure out where they kept the money, drugs, guns and everything else they'd stolen." Granger said. Halfway through his statement, Sam and Callen joined the conversation.

"And since Quinn was an IA, he could kill Boyle himself without fear of being found out." Kensi said.

"Well, pretty easy to cover up the murder you committed when you're the primary investigator." Sam said.

"We find Quinn's stash, we find Quinn." Callen said.

"If he hasn't beaten us to it." Kensi said.

The conversation ended there. Even after Granger and Kensi left, Callen didn't move from his spot.

"What's wrong partner?" Sam asked.

"I learn earlier how Deeks ended up at L.A.P.D." Callen said.

"How did that happened?" Sam asked, intrigued to learn about my history.

"He join N.C.I.S. in ninety-eight, but his paperwork didn't go through until oh-four. And for some reason, Director Shepard thought it was a good idea to have Deeks undercover in L.A.P.D. tracking sailors and marines that got picked by the L.A.P.D." Callen said.

"So, why wasn't he brought on board when OPS was up and running?" Sam asked.

"In the three years since Director Vance took over, Deeks was forgotten about. I have my doubts, but I'm pretty certain he was written off long before Shepard's death." Callen said.

"Wow. Here I was hating on the guy because he was different." Sam said.

N.C.I.S. L.A.

L.A.P.D. holding-

I was laying on my bed when I heard the door buzz and then watch officer said. "Deeks you got company."

"Not again." I said.

I heard a woman let out a breath, and then I heard a familiar voice ask. "Am I disturbing you?"

I sit up to see my beautiful partner standing in front of my cell. "It took you long enough. You have any idea what being in the clink does to a man, huh? Alone and desperate with nothing to hold onto but the cold steel of the prison bars." I said as I stood up and approached my cell door.

"Hmm. It's been two days." she said, nonchalantly.

"Yeah, but time stops in the slammer, Kens." I said.

"I'm very sorry. My partner was arrested for murder. And I have been spending all my time trying to clear his name." she said.

"Oh, wow, touché. Well done." I said.

"My partner has also been sending money to a prostitute every month." she said.

I'm not exactly sure if Kensi was accusing me with that last statement, but my face, none the less, adopted a fearful expression. "You found Tiffany." I said.

"Yeah." she said.

"That's not good." I said. If N.C.I.S found Tiffany, how long until L.A.P.D. finds her?

"Not, it's not good at all." she said, upset that I hid something like this from her.

"I'm not talking about me. I'm talking about her. She's a good person who got stuck in a bad spot. I helped her out." I said.

"By hiding a fugitive?" she asked.

"Tiffany was fourteen when she was first arrested on prostitution charges. And until she turned seventeen, the L.A.P.D. just used her as they saw fit. Did I use her? Yeah, but unlike the bozos that work here I kept tabs on her because of my skills that I developed while I was in CIA.I did what I could to shield her from the LA.P.D." I said. Kensi's face had a mixture of angry and upset, but I continue. "Kensi, trust me, she didn't kill anybody. Listen you need to understand that this may not be going away."

"Don't be a drama queen right now." she said.

"If I don't confess, I'm going to county." I said.

"You're not going to county, Deeks. This is gonna be fine. We're be figure it out." she said.

I tried to explain something to Kensi, but the only words that she heard were. "Hold on. Just hold—Can you—?"

"I gotta get back. Guard." Kensi said, and then left.

I head the buzz of the lock being released, and that was the last that time I saw Kensi.

N.C.I.S. L.A.

OPS: Hetty's office-

"Boyle and Steadman skimmed hot weapons and drugs and resold them for a profit." Callen said, as he, Sam and Granger briefed Hetty on what they had learned so far.

"Internal Affairs Detective Quinn sees and opportunity to rip off the dirty cops he's been investigating." Sam said.

"Boyle finds out, and it's sayonara, Boyle." Granger said.

"Before Quinn can make a getaway, we bust him for working with the arms dealers." Callen said.

At that moment, Kensi joined the party and she was upset.

"This isn't working, Hetty. This is not working. You have us chasing hunches, and dead ends, while Deeks is in jail and IA pins a murder on him." Kensi said.

"Everything we're doing has a purpose." Hetty said, calmly.

"But it's not working, Hetty. It is not enough. We know Deeks isn't guilty. What is this Machiavellian you're working on?" Kensi asked.

"I understand your frustration, Agent Blye." Hetty said, still in a calm voice.

"I am not frustrated, Hetty. I am pissed. They're sending Deeks to county jail if he doesn't confess. Do you have any idea what'll happen to Deeks in county jail with gang members and criminal that he helped put away as a cop? I guess I should work it form a different angle, do you want the world to know that your kind, immortals, exist? Because I can guarantee that the world is going to find out after someone attempts to kill Deeks and he survives." Kensi said.

It never dawned on Hetty the consequences of this case if it went south, and I ended up in jail.

"Nothing? Is all this just a part of your master plan maybe?" Kensi asked.

"Kensi—" Sam began, but Kensi just ignore him.

"You owe me, Hetty. You said that you were in my debt once. I'm calling in that marker now. Get Deeks out of this. I don't care how you do it." Kensi continued.

"Go home and take a shower. Try and eat something and get some sleep." Hetty ordered Kensi.

Callen tried to walk Kensi out, but she waved him off and then left.

N.C.I.S. L.A.

L.A.P.D. station: Interrogation-

"I can't protect you if you leave this room without a confession." Whiting said.

"You really don't care who killed Boyle, do you?" I asked.

"We both know you killed Boyle. I'm just trying to make the best of a crappy situation." she said, after a moment's pause.

"Hmm." I said. I paused for a moment, as I choice my words, and then I say. "Okay. I'll confess to self-defense manslaughter."

"He was a police officer." she said.

"I'm a law enforcement officer, and you can't prove malice." I said.

At that moment the door opened, and the officer said. "Detective Whiting?"

"I'm in the middle of an interrogation." Whiting said.

"Sorry, the commissioner's office is on the phone say it's urgent." The officer said.

Whiting and I shared a look, and then she said. "We are so far from being done here."

As she was exiting the room, I quipped. "Let me know if you find that French press."

After the door shuts, I hang my head and let out a sigh. I didn't get to contemplate my future because the door opens, and in walks Bates. "You're a son of a bitch. But Boyle was a bigger one. So you need to get out of here and prove it. L.A.P.D. doesn't like a scandal." Bates said.

As Bates was unlocking my cuffs, I said. "L.A.P.D. doesn't like a scandal. Uh, you're helping a federal agent accused of murder escape custody. You do understand the definition of a scandal, right?" I asked.

"Shut up, Deeks. You've got three minutes before Whiting gets sick of being on hold. You go out this door, down the stairs, you head for the east exit, and then you run like hell." Bates said, using my real name.

I get up from my chair, leave a note to Whiting. Just before leaving the room, I crack a few jokes at Bates expense. "I wish I could quit you. I love that mustache." I said, and then take off running.

"What a piece of work." Bates says, as shuts the door and makes himself scarce.

About five minutes later, Whiting comes back to an empty interrogation room. She sees something written on the pad.

DON'T

WAIT

UP!

XOXO

-DEEKS

"Lock down the exits. No one in or out until we get MacLeod." Whiting said. Whiting heard the officer leave to carry out her orders.

Out on the street, I make a sharp left as soon as I get off of the steps. I'm not even twenty feet from the stairs and I hear a siren wail. I look away, and scratch my head, and act as if I'm supposed to be out here. But the officer in the car didn't stop me. But what got my attention is what happened next. "Hey! MacLeod!" Steadman shouted, and then started to chase after me.

I led Steadman on a chase through traffic, and then lose him in a parking lot.

N.C.I.S. L.A.

OPS: bull pen-

The next morning, Nell came down from Ops to inform Callen and Sam of my escape.

"Hey, guys. Deeks is out." Nell said, entering the bull pen.

"Good." Sam said.

"Actually he escaped a few hours ago." Nell corrected.

"What?" Sam asked.

"If Deeks is a fugitive, it's gonna make him look guilty. He should have stayed in police custody." Callen said.

"I would have done the same thing." Sam said.

"You have done the same thing." Callen said, reminding Sam of his actions during the Sidorov case.

"We have any way to find him?" Sam asked.

"He left all his personal belongings, meaning no phone, no money, nothing." Nell said.

"And every cop in L.A. looking for him thinking he's a cop killer. Have Kensi met us downtown." Callen said, as he and Sam were leaving.

"Yeah." Nell said.

N.C.I.S. L.A.

Downtown L.A.-

"Anything?" Callen asked, meeting up with Sam.

"No. Eric are you sure this is the last place you saw him?" Sam asked, as he and Callen met up with Kensi and Granger.

"Yeah. He was moving fast. Haven't seen him since he crossed Flower." Eric said.

"Maybe they caught him." Granger said.

"We're monitoring L.A.P.D. transmissions. Nothing has shown up yet." Nell said.

"Why hasn't he contacted us?" Kensi asked.

"He doesn't have a phone." Sam said.

"Okay, so he lifts one, or he goes to the library and sends an e-mail." Kensi said.

"There." Eric said.

"We got him. He got on a bus at six fifteen this morning, corner of Fifth and Hill Street, Bus Number twelve-three-zero-nine, its first run of the day." Nell said.

"Send us its route. See if you spot him getting off." Callen said.

"Where's that bus now? And what's the quickest path to intercept it?" Sam asked.

The group caught up to the bus. Kensi and Granger questioned the driver, and then walked back over to where Sam and Callen where waiting.

"Thank you. Driver didn't see Deeks get on or off the bus. It's a busy route." Kensi said.

"Security footage, I'm sending it to Ops." Granger said.

"Okay. So, what's between her and downtown?" Sam asked.

Sam looked one way, and Callen looked another and figured out the destination. "Monica Lee. Eric we need eyes on Monica Lee's house. I think that's where he's headed." Callen said, and then four of them ran to their vehicles.

"Closet we have is a traffic cam on Wilshire and an ATM on the corner of Olympic, which—" Eric stopped talking.

"We found him. Deeks is in the boatshed with Monica Lee and Detective Steadman, who has them both in handcuffs." Nell said.

"Smart boy." Sam said, as he and Callen got in the challenger.

"Okay. Get L.A.P.D. to send a tactical team to the boatshed." Kensi said.

The challengers' engine turned over, as Granger started talking.

"Absolutely not. The cops will listen to Steadman before the listen to us. Have our people secure a silent perimeter until we're on the scene." Granger said.

"Got it." Eric said.

At that moment, Sam peeled out. They were two blocks from the bus stop when Sam realized that Callen was staring at him.

"What?" Sam asked, looking at Callen.

"Boy?" Callen said.

"What?" Sam asked.

"You called Deeks a boy. You do realize that Deeks is older than everybody at OPS, save for Hetty." Callen said.

"Seriously? We're having this conversation? Sam asked.

"I'm just saying. Deeks is older than you and I combined." Callen said.

"Shut up, G." Sam said, as the partner's bickered all the way to the boatshed.

N.C.I.S. LA.

Boatshed-

Callen and Sam were the first to the boatshed, but had to take cover because Steadman fired on them. Kensi was the first to confront Steadman.

"Just give me a reason." Kensi said.

"You're out of your league, honey, just like your partner was." Steadman said.

At that moment, Steadman was surrounded by on both side. Kensi and Granger to his front, and Sam and Callen to his back.

"It's over, detective." Granger said.

"Or you can try to make a run for it." Kensi said, inching her way forward.

"Agent Blye." Granger ordered.

"Stand down, Kensi." Callen ordered.

Granger got close enough to lower Kensi gun, and then Sam moved in cuff Steadman.

"Move in." Callen said, and then the axillary came out of hiding.

"Deeks? Deeks?" Kensi said. When Kensi turned to see that I was fine, so she took off running shouting. "Deeks!"

Sam handed Steadman over to one of the axillary agents, and then Callen watch was Kensi practically threw herself at me, hugging me. I wrap my arms around her shoulder and low back. Sam and Callen watch the scene for a bit, and then Callen asks. "How come you're never that excited to see me?"

Sam paused for a moment, not believing what he just heard. Sam scoffed, and then said. "I carry my joy on the inside."

"The hell does that even mean?" Callen asked.

"It means you won't be getting a hug anytime soon." Sam said, and then walked away.

Callen chuckles as Sam walked away, and then asked. "Nothing? No hug?"

Ten minutes later, L.A.P.D. showed up and took custody of their suspect: Steadman. Bates and Whiting showed up as well.

"I don't know how you do it, Deeks. But you always manage to come out of the manure pile smelling like a rose." Bates said.

"Stop it. You're making me blush." I said.

"So, we good here?" Callen asked, looking at Detective Whiting.

"For now." Whiting said, and then walked away.

"He's all yours." Bates said, following Whiting.

"Lucky us." Sam said.

"You know what this seems like?" I asked.

"Hmm?" Callen grunted.

"Good opportunity for a group hug." I said.

"Not even with a gun to my head." Granger quipped.

"All right." I said.

"How about a drink?" Kensi asked.

"I'm in." Sam said.

"Callen, you?" Kensi asked.

"He's in too." Sam answered for Callen.

"Apparently, I'm in." Callen said.

"Unless you got a couch date." Sam quipped.

"Sounds like a party." I said.

"Come on. First round's on me." Granger said.

The group broke up, and then got into the vehicles to go to the usually watering hole. I thanked Sam for helping me, but didn't move at first.

Kensi walked back over to me and asked. "Coming?"

"Yeah. Just gonna make a stop on the way. I'll meet you there." I said.

Kensi kiss me on the cheek, but I return the kiss in kind, kissing her cheek as well. Kensi smiled at me, and then said. "Bye."

"You're cute." I said, as Kensi was walking away.

N.C.I.S. L.A.

OPS: Main hall-

I find myself back at OPS in the main hall. I had to talk to Hetty because the only thing I couldn't square was Quinn's escape. I had been sitting on the stairs for about an hour just taking it all in, and then I finally said. "You could've lost all of this."

I heard Hetty's footsteps, and then she asked. "You or me?"

I turned to look at Hetty, and then I looked back and said. "Both of us. You know where Quinn?"

Hetty walked down the rest of the stairs as she said. "Yes."

And then I realized the ploy that was played. "He never escaped, did he?"

"No, but it was made to look like that way." she said.

"So you faked Quinn's escape to draw out Steadman?" I asked.

"It was all I could think of to make this mess go away once and for all. I had him transferred to a medium-security facility in Pennsylvania under a new name." she said.

"In exchange for what?" I asked.

"His cooperation and the whereabouts of Detective Boyle and Steadman's ill-gotten goods." she said.

"So you found the stash?" I asked.

"Yes. As will Internal Affairs, in Steadman's garage." she said.

I smiled at the outcome that Steadman was finally going to go to prison, where he should have been years ago, but my face morphs when I have to face the facts: Hetty interfered, and Whiting could still come after us. "Why'd you do this?" I asked, and then looked at Hetty.

"Why did you kill Boyle?" she asked.

I didn't want to say anything, but I had to answer. I look away from Hetty, and after a moment's pause I say. "He was going to kill Tiffany." There was a moment of silence, and I could hear Hetty sigh—whether out of relief or being upset—and then I asked. "Why didn't you tell the others?" I asked.

"It's not my story to tell. Then again, I'm not sure that it should be yours either." she said.

"Even if it's the truth?" I asked. Hetty just stared at me. "Hmm." I grunted, and then I said. "How do I not tell Kensi? I mean, I just—I can't keep this secret from her."

"Ultimately, that's your decision, Mr. Deeks. But I've always found that secrets are much easier to keep when you have no one to share them with." Hetty said.

And with that Hetty went home for the night.