The Favor

Chapter 6

...

Deeks chewed on Jasper's lie as he rode the elevator down to the lobby with Harry, who stood silently beside him. Neither one spoke until they were out of the building.

"I won't ask why you shot your father. I'm sure it was a painful time in your life," he said softly. "I assume you didn't kill him or we wouldn't be standing here, but I am curious as to why I wasn't told."

Deeks stopped and looked at the man. Harry had been straightforward with him during this entire time, and even though he didn't feel he owed him an explanation, he did deserve honesty.

"I was eleven. He had a shotgun. It was aimed at my mother. And me. I shot him. He went to prison. That's all I'm going to say. So if you no longer want to work with me, I'm okay with that."

Deeks didn't wait for an answer, and turned away as quickly as he could. He was too angry to call Eric. Somehow Jasper Price had managed to breach his juvenile files, causing a man he liked and respected to question his character.

"Deeks," Harry called after him. "Please, stop. Talk to me."

He slowed and waited for the man to catch up, but was in no mood to talk about his private horrors.

"Please listen," Harry said. "Jasper's comment shocked me. I don't like the man, and to be honest, I thought he was lying."

"But when I didn't call him on it, you knew it was true."

"Why didn't you say something in there?"

"Because it had nothing to do with why we were there," Deeks said. "And because I won't defend myself to a bastard like Price."

"Unless you think otherwise, I see no reason to keep working with the man," Harry said. "I don't trust him, and right now I don't trust my son either. It's the first I've heard of Kai stealing anything."

"But it rings true," Deeks replied. "Kai has something he wants, or he would have let him disappear. The question is...what did he take that's so important to your son?"

"I hate to say it, but with Ralph, it has to be about money. My son isn't conservative when it comes to spending, so he's always short, or claims to be."

"So he's asked to borrow money in the past?"

"Yes...up until summer of last year," Harry said. "He told me he had a good thing going, but wouldn't say what it was. I was suspicious, but he became pretty damn upbeat for a change, and things seemed to smooth out between him and Kai."

"And that's when you left for Hawaii," Deeks said. "But Kai doesn't understand why you left."

"How do you know that?"

"I saw Kai this morning."

"What? Why didn't you tell me? Is he okay? Where is he?"

"Slow down Harry," Deeks said. "He's okay. At least for now. He was taken in by an old friend of mine, but the situation isn't ideal."

"So Jasper lied about Kai being with this Venice surf gang?"

"Maybe, but we can't discount it," Deeks said. "I'll check it out tonight. But first...I need to see if he's still with my friend up in Topanga Canyon."

"I'm coming with you."

"Yeah...of course. Seeing you might help," Deeks said. "He's really mad at you for leaving."

"I'm a little mad at myself," Harry replied as they started walking toward the parking garage. "I'm just glad he's okay."

Deeks hoped he really was okay. He had no idea what they might be walking into at Phoebe's house, but he needed to find out. Seeing Harry might bring the kid back to reality.

"There are righteous waves in Hawaii," Deeks said as they climbed in his truck.

"Is that your subtle way of suggesting I take the boy back home with me?"

"Just saying it would be tempting for any surfer," Deeks said with a smile. "Oahu's North Shore. The Banzai Pipeline. Waimea Bay. A surfer's paradise, brother."

Harry didn't say anything for a few minutes, but he began to nod, and Deeks hoped the idea was slowly sinking in. "He's in a bad situation, isn't he?"

The comment shook Deeks and he quickly looked into the man's piercing gaze. This former SEAL and commanding officer knew men, and he'd seen right through what Deeks had been trying to hide.

"I'm hoping it's not."

"But you're afraid for him."

"Yeah."

"Want to tell me why?"

"Don't think you need to hear it right now. Trust me."

"I'm trying, but I'm not happy about being kept in the dark," Harry growled.

"One more thing. The person we're going to see doesn't know I'm a Fed. Let's keep it that way unless absolutely necessary."

"Agreed. So who is this guy?"

"It's a woman, and her name is Phoebe."

He could feel Harry's eyes on him as he drove toward the hills that split the city from the San Fernando Valley. The man had questions, but for the moment he kept them to himself, and Deeks was grateful for that.

The drive up into Topanga was filled with silence, except for his brief call to Eric about his juvenile records being hacked. The tech millionaire was both apologetic and seriously pissed. He promised to track down the hacker and make him very sorry he had ever crossed either one of them.

"Give 'em hell, Beale," Deeks laughed.

"Like the breath of fire from the bowels of Smaug," he replied.

"You're weird, brother."

"And dangerous," he said dramatically.

"And awesome."

"Awww...thanks."

...

The part of Topanga Canyon Phoebe lived in was seriously elite. These were million dollar homes, and Deeks couldn't help but be impressed by her success, even though he couldn't quite picture her living here. She'd grown up in Reseda just like he had, and this was a long way from the old neighborhood. The driveway up to her house was long and curved up a hillside covered in live oak and bay laurel. He whistled when her house came into view. It was big and white and ultra modern, with views from the deck down into the canyon. She had done very well, yet after her antics this morning, she somehow still seemed to be unhappy. They pulled in beside a variety of beat up cars and trucks that were parked off to the side under a row of oak trees.

"How do you know this woman?" Harry asked as they got out of the truck.

"She was my high school surf buddy until she went pro."

"I have a feeling she was a little more than that."

"She was. Not now."

"I should hope not," he said. "I've met your wife. She gorgeous and looks like she could kick your ass if you got out of line."

"She already did that...verbally anyway," Deeks said. "She'd probably kick Phoebe's ass too if she were here."

"Why would Kai be with this woman?" Harry asked as he stepped in front of Deeks. "What's going on here?"

"I'm hoping nothing at all," he replied.

"I'm not naive, Deeks," he said. "But Kai's just a kid and I don't want him taken advantage of."

"Neither do I."

"Is he being held against his will?"

"No, Harry. Unfortunately he chose to be here," Deeks said. "When we get inside, stay alert. Her pack is very loyal and her guys don't mind mixing it up if things get out of hand."

"Is that what happened this morning? They mixed it up with you, as you call it?" Harry asked. "I've seen you wince a couple of times. Ribs?"

"Something like that," Deeks said as he walked around the man. "Now let's go see if your grandson is here."

"I can still hold my own if it comes to that." Harry said.

"Looking for some action, Rear Admiral Mayne?" Deeks asked with a grin as they approached the door.

"I was a SEAL, remember? We don't take shit from punks."

"Good to know, sir. Good to know."

It took a while for someone to come to the door. When it wasn't Phoebe he felt a sudden letdown, and a distinct flash of guilt. The guy standing in front of them was one of the guys who took him down that morning, and he had a serious smartass smirk on his face. Deeks had a strong urge to punch him in the face, but Harry put a hand on his shoulder, instinctively knowing what he was feeling.

"We're here to see Phoebe," Deeks said.

"She don't want to see you, dude," the cocky bastard said.

"I don't really care," Deeks said, brushing him aside as he walked into the foyer. "We're here for Kai."

"Too bad. He ain't here."

"Then I want to talk to Phoebe."

"That ain't gonna happen, dude."

"Kai is my grandson, and I need to see him," Harry said.

"Nobody gives a fuck, old man."

Deeks shoved him hard and pointed a finger at him. "Watch your mouth, kook."

"I ain't no kook. I surfed Mavericks, dude," he bragged.

"So have I, but I didn't wipe out like you undoubtedly did. Now take me to Phoebe"

"Fuck you."

Deeks grabbed his wrist, turned him around and forced his arm up high on his back. He clamped his hand down hard on the kid's shoulder and growled in his ear.

"Tell me where Phoebe is right now, douchebag, or I'll break your arm."

"The pool, man. She's in the pool," he whimpered.

"Point with the finger on the hand that isn't going numb right now."

He pointed toward a large open living room and Deeks shoved him forward until they finally came out onto a terrace overlooking a grove of huge oaks. Phoebe was floating naked in the middle of a large swimming pool, surrounded by four young men, also naked. Deeks rushed the tough guy to the edge and shoved him in. That got Phoebe's attention, and the look she gave him was cold and calculating, but then she smiled.

"I knew you couldn't stay away," she said as she slid off the floaty and swam toward him.

"Where's Kai?" He demanded.

"Why?" She asked as she walked up the stairs and out of the pool.

"Because I'm his grandfather and I here to take him out of here," Harry said.

"Even if he doesn't want to go?"

She stood unabashedly before them, and Deeks took a deep breath as he flushed hot. She was enjoying herself and it made him angry, but Harry took her display in stride. He picked up a towel from one of the chaise lounges and calmly handed it to her. She looked briefly surprised, but took it.

"Am I embarrassing you?" She asked him. "Or are you enjoying the show?"

"That would be a no to both questions," he replied. "I've traveled the world, honey. In some of the places I've been, seeing naked women isn't a unique experience and neither are you. Now, is Kai here or not?"

"Maybe he is and maybe he isn't," she replied as the four guys from the pool climbed out to surround her. "He's a member of my pack now, and we take care of our own. He told us his daddy beat the shit out of him all the time, so why would I let you take him back to that? I sure as hell understand how he feels, and so should Marty, but he seems to have forgotten a lot of things from the past."

"This isn't about me or you, Phoebe," Deeks said. "Harry is Kai's grandfather, so we're not leaving till we see him."

"You didn't learn anything this morning, did you babe?" She said and reached out to caress his cheek. "How about a trade? Marty here fucks me in the pool, and I tell you where Kai is. That seems fair, don't you think grandpa?"

"Maybe for a prostitute," he snapped back.

Deeks didn't see the signal, but the guys charged them as soon as Phoebe's eyes went dark. He hit the first guy right between the eyes, shattering his nose, and sending him tumbling back into the pool. After backhanding the second attacker, he looked quickly over at Harry to see one longhaired blond facedown on the concrete, while the other made a quick exit. Before he could react, the surfer who'd let them in tackled him into the pool. He was strong, but Deeks was stronger, a hell of a lot angrier, and well trained. Taking the advantage, he put the kid in a chokehold and held his head underwater until he stopped fighting. He pushed him toward the edge of the pool where he scrambled out, cussing and spitting out pool water.

"Impressive, babe," Phoebe said, suddenly swimming up in front of him.

She grabbed his tee shirt and pulled his head down to her breasts, but he pushed her away. "Stop screwing around, Phoebe. Whatever we once had together was over a long time ago. I love my wife, so fucking you isn't happening. Got it? Now where's the kid?"

She became sullen and glared at him. "He left around noon. Didn't like what me and the boys did to you this morning. Said it wasn't fair. Got his shit and walked out. So go look somewhere else, Marty. He doesn't want me any more than you do."

In a couple of strokes she was up and out of the pool, grabbing a towel as she headed back toward the house. Deeks walked up the pool stairs to watch. Her hips swayed as she walked. She had always been a sensuous woman, and he stared at her bare butt until she disappeared inside. At one time he had loved kissing that smooth skin, but now he felt nothing but sadness.

"Sorry about all this," Deeks said, and grabbed one of the towels.

"Hell kid, it felt like old times," Harry replied, examining his busted knuckles. "Nothing like a good scrap to get the juices flowing."

Deeks laughed, but stopped when Phoebe walked back out with a gun pointed at him. He pushed Harry aside and walked toward her with his hands out, but she kept coming.

"What the hell are you doing, Phoeb?"

She was crying when she fired and pain seared through his left arm, the impact of the bullet spinning him around.

"I hate you!" She screamed, firing wildly. "I fucking hate you."

Harry rushed her, yanking the gun from her hand as he shoved her to the ground. She curled into a fetal position sobbing and laughing.

"You okay?" Harry asked.

"Yeah. It's just a graze."

"You were damn lucky, but you're still bleeding pretty bad," Harry said. "Should I call the cops?"

Deeks was too stunned to answer. He was staring at Phoebe, who was now sitting up and looking at him with haunted eyes wet with tears and a sad smile. He had no idea what to say to her. She was a lost soul, and he felt nothing but pity for her.

"It could have been like old times, Marty," she said. "You used to love me."

"But you never loved me, did you? Or you wouldn't have walked away back then or tried to shoot me just now."

"Get out," she said hoarsely.

"This is the second time you tried to take me out," he said as Harry wrapped a towel around his wounded arm. "I'm a Federal agent, Phoebe. If we ever see each other again and you try something stupid like this, I'll arrest you. Or worse. Don't make me do that."

"Did you tell your wife about me?" She asked as she got to her feet.

"Yeah. I did."

"Did you tell her I made you hard?" She asked, smiling cockily.

"Come on, Harry. I need to get out of here," Deeks said.

"Is she hot?" She called after him as he walked away.

"Honey...I've met his wife, and believe an old navy man who knows...she's a ten in every category you can come up with," Harry said before following Deeks past Phoebe without a backward glance.

Harry drove, glancing occasionally at Deeks who remained silent as they headed down the canyon road. Phoebe's attempt still confused him, making him wonder how he could have missed the signs that she was having psychological problems. Maybe he just didn't want to admit that the girl he'd once loved had fallen so far down a rabbit hole that she couldn't crawl her way back out. Even so, he was finding it hard to understand why she had suddenly come at him with a gun. If Harry hadn't been there, things might have turned out very differently.

The old man had been impressive, and he was surprised he wasn't castigating him for not calling LAPD. Kensi was going to be much less understanding. Turning Phoebe in was something he just couldn't do. The woman was a mess, but she was one of his oldest friends, even if she did try to shoot him.

"How's the arm?" Harry asked.

Deeks grunted and remained quiet about the pain.

"You do know that crazy woman was trying to kill you? Right?"

"Maybe."

"Maybe my ass. She may have been a lousy shot, but the intent was there and you know it. I have her gun, so if you decide to press charges, I'll turn it over. She's dangerous, son."

"Only to me, and I don't intend to ever see her again."

"Well if you do, you better bring a weapon," he said. "That woman is seriously disturbed."

"I think Kai realized that before I did," Deeks said. "I'm glad he left before anything happened to him."

"You think she tried to seduce the boy, don't you?"

"It's what I was afraid of," Deeks said sadly. "Her needs always came first. She never cared how it would affect anyone else. Kai is young. Something she wanted to feel again. I'm guessing he figured that out."

"And he was smart enough to walk away, thank God. I just wish I knew where he went from here."

"Maybe Jasper's intel was good," Deeks said. "I'll check out the old zoo grounds tonight."

"Let's see what your wife has to say about that," Harry laughed. "You better call her. Wives don't like surprises that involve bodily harm. Trust me."

"This from experience?"

"I was a SEAL. I had my share of injuries," Harry replied. "Explosions. Enemy fire. Even got thrown down a mountain once."

"I take it your wife wasn't pleased," Deeks said with a small grin.

"I operated for six years. She left me after three. Couldn't take it," he said soberly. "Whenever I got injured on an op and didn't call or when I would tell her I was fine...mentally...she somehow knew I was hiding something, and she'd call me on it."

"If Kensi says she's fine...I know she isn't."

"Bet she could say the same about you," Harry said. "Call her, son. She'll want to know, even if it will be embarrassing to tell her who shot you."

"Now you're just being mean," Deeks said with a soft grin.

...

Dregs of anger still clung to him as the intern stitched him up. Kensi hadn't said anything when he'd answered her question about who shot him. He wasn't sure what that meant and couldn't ask because she'd ended the call after abruptly saying she was on her way. He didn't think her arrival would be all that pleasant. What he hadn't expected was Admiral Kilbride walking towards him with his typical scowl firmly in place.

"Think you would have learned to duck by now," he said.

"Harry call you?"

"No...that would be Kensi," he replied. "Somehow I got the blame for all this."

"Seriously?"

"Don't I look serious?"

"You always look serious."

"How bad?" He asked.

"I'm fine," Deeks replied.

"I wasn't talking to you, Agent Deeks," he snapped. "Doc? Any long term damage?"

"The wound's superficial, but that doesn't mean it doesn't hurt like hell. But long term, he'll be fine," the young doctor said before turning to Deeks. "You'll experience some weakness in that arm for a few days. You bled quite a lot, so take it easy tonight, eat a good healthy meal and have a sports drink or some orange juice when you get home."

"Told you I was fine," Deeks said, grinning at Kilbride.

"Tell that to Agent Blye," the Admiral growled.

"You know I'm going to have to report this to the police, Mr. Deeks," the intern said. "Any gunshot wound..."

"He's a Federal agent. He'll do the reporting himself. Won't you Agent Deeks?" Kilbride said.

"Thanks, Doc. I'll take it from here," Deeks dismissed the intern, knowing a report would be made despite what the Admiral said.

"Kensi sort of briefed me on the woman who shot you," Kilbride said. "Not a lot of details, but I caught the drift. Let's just say she's not happy with either one of us, but especially you. Want to tell me what the hell you did to cause that woman to pull a gun on you?"

"It's not his fault, Hollace," Harry said as he walked up. "It's mine."

"This ought to be good," Kilbride said, shaking his head.

"She was naked and made a suggestion I didn't like," he said. "I called her a prostitute for it. Her and her boys took exception and a fight started. We won...at least we almost did until she came out firing."

"Was Kai there?"

"No, I'm happy to report. He left before we got there," Harry said.

"Earlier today Jasper Price gave us intel on a possible sighting at the old abandoned zoo up by Griffith Park. I'll check it out tonight," Deeks said as he stood up.

He was suddenly dizzy, and reached out to steady himself on the foot of the gurney. Burning pain shot through his arm leaving him bent over and blowing out his breath to try and control it. When he looked up, Sam and Callen were smiling at him.

"We leave you alone for one minute and this is what happens," Sam said. "I told you, G."

"You made me lose a bet, Deeks," Callen smirked. "What has it been? Two days, and you end up in here all bloody and damp?"

"You get in a swim too?" Sam asked.

"These two part of your team, Deeks?" Harry asked, and he nodded, feeling embarrassed.

"Actually he's part of my team," Callen said.

"Our team," Sam added. "I'm Sam Hanna. This is G Callen, a man that now owes me a very large steak and an expensive bottle of tequila thanks to Deeks' inability to dodge bullets."

"You should have called for backup, Deeks," Callen said with a smirk.

"I was his backup," Harry snapped. "We took on five men and one crazy woman."

"Harry claims they won," Kilbride said.

"Deeks doesn't look like it," Sam said.

"I thought a former SEAL would be more supportive of a team member. Guess not," Harry said. "Come on Deeks. I'll drive you home."

"Who the hell are you, and how do you know I was a SEAL?" Sam asked, bristling at the derisive tone of Harry's criticism.

"Sam. Callen. Meet Rear Admiral Harry Mayne. Former Navy SEAL and recipient of the Navy Cross," Admiral Kilbride informed them. "I believe he has bonded with Deeks here, so don't piss him off, okay? I don't need the aggravation."

"You're Harry Mayne?" Sam said in a hushed tone. "It's an honor to meet you, sir. I heard stories about you all through training."

"And some of them may be true. I've heard stories about you too, Hanna. Most of them good," Harry said with a smile and shook Sam's hand. "Not sure you know, but Deeks is helping me find my grandson. He's fifteen, and a surfer, like Deeks. Hollace asked him for a favor on my behalf. And because of that, he got shot. So I'm feeling a little guilty right now."

"None of what happened today was your fault, Harry," Deeks said.

"Kensi said an old girlfriend shot you," Callen said. "Is that true?"

"Where is Kensi?" Deeks asked, tired of all the questions. "I know she's mad, but..."

"Hetty called her to a private meeting in the boat shed," Sam said. "She's mad about that, too."

"Not sure you should go home, Deeks," Callen said. "Kensi's armed."

"I think I'm done listening to all...whatever this is. I'll drive myself home, Harry. There are some things I need to process."

No one said any more as he walked past them. His mind was racing to catch up with his pounding heart and the pain that pulsed from his arm into his chest. He needed to be alone. He needed to try and understand the emotions he was dealing with. The woman he once loved tried to kill him today, and that was more painful than the gunshot wound. The whole thing made him sad. He wasn't even sure he wanted to see Kensi, so he drove toward Griffith Park and the abandoned zoo where Kai might be. He needed to find the kid and end this. He needed to get on with his life. Looking back and dealing with the past was too painful right now. He'd find Kai and then go home to his wife, and hopefully live happily ever after, unlike Phoebe McKinney. He was happy to put her in his rear view. Somewhere along the way she had lost herself, something he didn't intend to do. Kensi was his future, and he intended to make it a good one.

...

...