"Look, they're coming back."
No-one knew who spoke, but they turned, watching as the door to where Deeks was being held opened, the four men striding through, their faces serene. Not a one of them seemed troubled that another human was tied up in front of them. "How can a father do that to his own son?" The question was asked, yet no answer was given.
The men took their places, the two bodyguards a few steps behind and to the side of Deeks. What for couldn't be figured out, as Deeks was bound to the chair tightly.
Brandel, standing and gazing down at his son, just stood. He hadn't spoken since entering. Pearson, seated to the side, waited, knowing what was about to happen. He was interested as to the detective's reaction.
"We were talking about your teams lack of respect for you. But that's not the worst of it gentlemen. Do you know, Martin has saved each of their lives, at least twice. You would think that would count for something. Some tiny scrap of loyalty, hell, even professional courtesy. But no, you would be wrong. They seem to remind him daily he's not an agent. It almost seems to be fun for them." He turned, moving his chair, sitting down with a heartfelt sigh. "But one of them, did something so cruel, it makes even me cringe."
He passed a picture around, the men exclaiming at the photo. That gentlemen is Martin's partner, his best friend, and his girlfriend, Kensi Marie Blye."
Kensi cringed, her skin crawling as the men commented on her looks, her body. Pearson whistled, playing his part. "No wonder my guy talked," he said softly. "I'm not sure I could have resisted."
"Oh, but after yesterday, that is finished, over and done with." Brandel leaned back, crossing his legs, making himself comfortable. "All the things I said before, your estimation of Martin rose a little, am I right?"
The three men agreed, impressed despite themselves.
Brandel snorted. "Now you find out just how weak he truly is."
"You see, their office had a visitor yesterday. An agent from DC named Agent Dinozzio. He was here to take a prisoner back with him, a prisoner who had escaped and agent Dinozzio needed help. So, he called our merry little team here. Sound simple right? A straightforward capture. Martin's partner, his girlfriend, the woman who claims to love him, only wanted to partner with Dinozzio. Never with the man who has been with her for seven years, not with her best friend, not even her lover for over a year. No, she only wanted to work with an agent from out of town." The disgust could be heard in his voice, growing as he looked at Deeks.
"All day, it was Kensi and Dinozzio, working together. And, it was her idea. Why,
some of the things she said...just seemed meant to hurt Martin."
"Wait," Pearson asked, a perplexed look on his face. "She wanted to partner up with someone else? On purpose?"
"That she did. And just fawned over Dinozzio as well. Telling him how much she admired him. How she appreciated a man who know how to dress, someone who took pride in his appearance. I mean, she was throwing compliments like she had been saving them up, waiting for a man who deserved them." Brandel gestured, "You can see, Martin isn't that person. You look at him, and you think surfer. Or maybe bum, but not a sophisticated, put-together man."
"I have to admit, when I saw his picture, it was difficult for me to believe he was a detective. Seemed...wrong for someone like that to be on the force." Pearson, his eyes full of laughter, glanced at the camera, a slight smile for their audience.
"Apparently, Agent Dinozzio is the opposite of Martin. Looks, dress, mannerisms, everything really. And Kensi, just couldn't get enough of him."
Sam saw it before it happened. Grabbing a chair, he guided Kensi, sitting her down, her knees trembling. A whisper, so soft he barely heard. "No Deeks...it wasn't like...don't listen." The others, unused to seeing their agent this shook looked away, not wanting to intrude any more than they had to. "Kensi, you know he's just..." Sam began, stopping as Brandel continued.
"So all day, Martin had to deal with watching his girlfriend flirt and coo over another man. And his reaction? Silence. He never said a word. Not even when he heard Kensi ask if Dinozzio had ever thought about moving here, to the West Coast. Even after she used a very sexy voice, on Agent Dinozzio's phone, he said nothing!"
"That's not...it didn't," Deeks tried to speak.
"Yes it did boy!" Brandel yelled, grabbing Deeks by the hair, yanking his head back to stare in his eyes. "You stood there, and watched as the woman who claims to love you, threw herself at another man! Where's your pride? Your dignity?"
Releasing him, wiping his hands in disgust, he began to pace, trying to calm himself. "And when it was done, when the fugitive was caught, Kensi gave 'her' agent, a very close, very personal hug."
Pearson raised his eyebrow. "How close a hug?"
"A full body hug, pressing herself against him, then running her hands down his chest, like a woman who knows what she wants. This woman was sending out so many signals, even a blind man could have caught them. Again, Martin...just stood there. Like a child among adults."
Kensi had begun shaking her head, slowly repeating, "It wasn't like that...I didn't mean it," softly, like a mantra to ward off evil. Nobody knew what to do, what to say to help. Many at the Mission had been surprised at her. Having never seen her act like that, not even too Deeks, they couldn't understand where it was coming from. Speculations had begun, rumors and gossip had started. Maybe the relationship everyone thought was so strong, so meant to be, was over. Many of the women who were disappointed by the relationship, had harbored hope. Maybe they had a chance with Deeks.
Hetty, rarely seeing Kensi this upset, began to speak, then stopped. A thought came back to her, one that was fleeting earlier, but now began to make sense. The looks she had believed to have seen on her employee's faces, as she shared the news of the detective's abduction, and Kensi's reaction, they weren't imagined. They were angry at Miss Blye. And, as hard as it was to believe, maybe they thought...were theyglad she was hurting?
"Kensi, you can't listen to him," Callen spoke. "It's a lie and you and Deeks, hell all of us know it. He's just trying to get at Deeks, and all of us. It's a sick, hateful game." She looked up, her eyes widening as she finally noticed who was standing beside Callen. Agent Dinozzio stood, his face full of concern.
"Kensi Deeks doesn't believe that crap and neither should you."
"Now," all eyes turned back to the scene playing out somewhere in the city. Brandel had walked behind Deeks, towering over him. "We can't know what happened between Kensi and Dinozzio when they were alone so many times yesterday. That's an impossibility, only they know that. As men, we have to admit that fact." The others agreed. "And, we can't know what happened last night while Martin was being set up to arrive here." Reluctant agreements again.
"But I think all of us can agree, based on what I've just shared, that we can make some very likely assumptions." Still standing behind Deeks, he winked at Pearson, a signal to 'play along' with what was about to happen. He flashed a huge grin at the camera, full of malice.
"Kensi you need to leave," Nate said, quickly standing beside her as she rose from her chair. "Please, just go outside. You don't want to hear..."
"No," she said, her voice soft, barely heard. "I'm not leaving."
"Miss Blye, as much as I admire your courage, I must agree with Nate. It would be better..." Hetty stopped, Kensi shaking her head.
"I said no." She moved to stand in front of the screen. "I have a feeling what coming. If Deeks...if Marty has to listen, then so do I. This is my fault Hetty, I'm to blame for what's happening, and I'm not leaving." She set herself, daring anyone to try and move her. "I'm not leaving Deeks," she whispered.
Inside the room, Deeks raised his head. "What, you're gonna tell me a story? A bunch of lies, then watch me fall apart? Go ahead, waste your time Gordon, I know Kensi wouldn't..."
"Like she wouldn't flirt with another man in front of you? She wouldn't, again, in front of you, praise everything Dinozzio is, which is the complete opposite of who you are? No, of course she wouldn't ask to partner with an agent who just walked through the door hours earlier, instead of her partner of seven years." Brandel shook his head, casting a glance at Pearson. "You certainly have a lot of trust in her don't you?" He moved to stand so that Deeks could see him, the camera able to catch everything. "After your phone call, the one we set up to lure you out, more than likely this is how the evening played out."
"After you left, I'm sure a few jokes were made at your expense, you know how they just love to do that. Then, maybe Agent Dinozzio mentions that he should be going, prisoner to escort and all that. He walks out the door, and it probably doesn't even close before Kensi is through. Maybe she tells him how wonderful it was to work with him, how she enjoyed the experience. Then, perhaps she asked if he has time for a drink, a celebratory closing of another case. I'm sure he said yes, asking if she knew a place."
'I know just the place,' she probably said. Then Dinozzio, he climbs in her car, in your seat, and off they go. They pull up at her apartment, neither of them speaking as the make their way to the door. Her keys are out, maybe her hands shake a bit, excited, relieved...the door probably barely closes before they're on each other. Hands roaming over bodies, clothes being half ripped, a frenzy of lust. More than likely, they barely make it to the couch, her cries of pleasure loud as Dinozzio takes her. And then, it's over. Quick, bodies spent, lust sated. They might have lain there, covered in the sweat they worked up."
Brandel walked behind Deeks, placing his hands on the slumped shoulders of his son. "After they both recovered, maybe they stare at each other. Then, it happens, Kensi stands, taking Dinozzio's hand, leading him to her bed. There, she undresses him, then steps back, removing what few clothes she has on still. She probably lays down, holding her hand out, reaching for the new man in her life." Leaning down, he begins to whisper, but loud enough for everyone to hear. "And he takes her Martin. Like a man takes a woman, knowing she's his. He begins to thrust, deeper...harder, whispering into her ear. Probably something like...'who's are you'... And she answered him louder each time, trying her best to tell the world that she belongs to Dinozzio now. The last thrust, when they both let go, a final whisper...'and who's Deeks'... Kensi, your former partner, best friend, and girlfriend, as she's brought to the peak of ecstasy, yells you are no-one. She didn't even want to say your name. Didn't want to ruin the moment."
He straightened, another pat on the shoulder. "But again, we don't know if that really happened, we can only speculate."
Pearson having walked out of Deeks' sightline, was fighting laughter. "I agree with Mr. Brandel," fighting the laugh wanting to burst out. "A woman doesn't throw herself at another man, and just let that go. I think she had him, or he had her...maybe they had each other? Any way you look at it Detective Deeks, you are no longer in the picture." The bodyguards agreed, a more vulgar description used.
The room grew silent, each of them silently laughing as they watched Deek's body slump, the life seeming to leave him.
"Face it Martin, you lost her the moment he walked through the door. I mean come on, there's no way you could compete with Agent Dinozzio. He's more of a man than you would ever be. Maybe if he had stayed in DC..."
Brandel froze, his eyes grew wide, a light shining in them. "Wait a minute...just... give me a minute." The silence grew, oppressive as the seconds ticked by. "Oh my God!" Brandel burst out, smacking his hands together. "That's what I was missing!" He turned back to the camera, a wink, then faced his son, a sad look plastered on his face.
"I'm sorry, I don't follow," Pearson said, real confusion this time.
"The reports that I gave you, all the information about yesterday, something kept refusing to click for me. There was one piece of info that didn't make sense. But first, I need to make sure of something." He lifted Deeks' head, noticing the defeat in his eyes. Perfect. "Martin, at any time was there a moment when you and Dinozzio were alone? Just you and him, no-one else around?" A stare was his answer.
"Come on Martin, it's easy to find out the truth, no sense in hiding."
"Yes," said in a dull and lifeless voice.
"And did Dinozzio mention the relationship between you and Kensi?" He waited, eyes boring into Deeks.
"Yes."
"What did he say?" He shook Deeks. "Come on, what did he say!"
A tear formed, barely there, but he saw it. "Tell the truth boy," he demanded.
"He...said...he said Kensi and I would never last."
Brandel flung himself back, triumph on his face. "And that's the proof I need!"
Pearson, now completely entranced, waited for an explanation, as did the group in OPS.
"They set this whole thing up. They ran an OP on Martin here."
"I'm going to need some more, because I don't follow you."
"Now it all makes sense!" Brandel said, excitement radiating from him. "Ok, try and follow me here, and bear with me."
He took a long drink, his throat dry, then winked again at the camera. "This all started with a prisoner being transported from Singapore to Los Angeles. An agent would meet the prisoner and transport him to DC, correct?"
Three head nodded, following so far.
"But why LA? I'm sure you've flown commercially at some time, so wouldn't it be easier, safer, to transport their prisoner to the East Coast? And if no commercial flights were available, why not a military flight. Surely, NCIS could catch a ride for a prisoner that important, sandwiched between two marines, or navy personnel. They have bases all along the coast right?"
Always a quick study, Pearson began to catch on. "True, commercially you have Atlanta, DC, New York, Boston, numerous smaller airports. As for the military...let's see, Florida, Georgia, New York, Virginia. I don't know how many could land a plane, but I'm sure they must be quite a few."
"Exactly! All those airports up and down the coast, and they pick LAX to bring in a supposedly high priority prisoner? This was a set-up from the start."
"Maybe while Martin is on assignment for LAPD, or maybe when Kensi is at a training session, could be dozens of ways really, but Kensi and Dinozzio meet. Maybe they've met before, possible since they both work for NCIS. But this last meeting, sparks fly, and Kensi returns, finally having found her man. Maybe she talks to Callen and Sam, then Henrietta."
He strode to Deeks, staring down. "And Henrietta, not wanting her team disrupted, and maybe a little ashamed about bringing 'just a cop' to her elite federal agency, begins to make plans. A story is cooked up, plans are made, and everyone goes about their business. They're all very good liars, so how hard would it be? That's why Kensi wanted to partner with Agent Dinozzio! Maybe test out how they worked together in the field, then if it was good, they go ahead." He snapped his fingers. "And that's why not a single person said a word when Kensi started in on Dinozzio. They were all in on it. Agents Callen and Hannah, they had to see and hear what was happening, but they said nothing because they wanted it to happen. They get a real agent on the team, Kensi gets an agent for a partner, and a man to share her bed, Henrietta has peace on her team, everyone wins!"
"What about Detective Deeks, would he go away quietly?"
Absolutely he would. You might be able to fight the Federal government, but not
some cop. But this, oh this just helps them in fact. Martin here dies in the line of duty, they pretend to mourn, their problem is solved, and they lives continue, better off than they were. I bet right now, there are people scrubbing his name from every report they have. Hell, in a year, he won't even be spoken of, much less remembered."
Gesturing to one of the guards, Brandel showed Deeks his phone. "No calls, or texts. Not even a plea to be safe. They've written you off boy. Your crack team has abandoned you, left you for dead. I bet they're all just going about their regular weekend plans, Well, Agent Dinozzio and Kensi are having a nice dinner now, lots to discuss now that they're a couple. Pretty sure they'll be 'discussing' some more tonight when they get back to her place."
"And LAPD?" Pearson said, digging the knife deeper.
"Most of them hate his guts, and the others don't care either way. Three months, he''ll be a memory. Soon, just a photo and name on the wall." Brandel stared at Deeks, his face unreadable. "Damn boy, seems as if no-one wants you."
Pearson gestured for Brandels attention, motioning for them to leave, the guards following. "We'll be back Detective. I would say don't go anywhere...but who would want you?"
The door clicked, loud in the silence.