Three vehicles sped down the LA highway, their engines powering the rescue team as fast as they could. In OPS, Eric sat calmly, his emotions now back in control, issuing directions. "Sam, it's an abandoned warehouse, it's," he stopped, not sure what he was reading was right. "it's the...its the set of buildings we all see when leaving the boat- shed."
"Eric your kidding me?" Sam's voice nearly cracking from the frustration.
"Positive, it's the same ones. Looks as if its the building with the pier, the one that's crumbling, set out in the water."
A quick glance, and Kensi's broken heart knew exactly where he was. So close... so damn close all this time. She had wanted to go, wanted to find him, grab him in her arms, just holding him, just for herself. Inside she knew she couldn't. Her nerves frayed to the edge before, had completely fried after Brandel's talk with Deeks. To put a gun in her hand now, would be a disaster. She told herself that was the reason. That Hetty had made the smart tactical decision to keep her behind. She just hoped she could convince herself that was true.
She was terrified of seeing him. All these years of having him next to her, on the job, then in her life personally, now she didn't now how he would react to her. Would he hate her? God, even worse forgive her, then leave? Just walk away? Her emotions were like razors shredding her to the bone.
Noticing Brandel moving to sit beside Deeks, Hetty spoke quickly. "Mr. Hannah please hurry, I believe this might becoming too a close." Hetty's eyes flicked to Kensi, hoping the team could get there in time. Losing Mr. Deeks would devastate her team, and herself as well. Losing Mr. Deeks and Kensi? They would never recover. They watched, hope and prayers being sent out as fast as they could be offered.
"It's just us now Martin, just the two of us. You know, the things I said, believe it or not, they were meant to help you. Those were truths you needed to hear. Sometimes, truth can be painful." He sighed, shaking his head. "Your all alone Martin."
He leaned forward, letting Deeks feel his presence. "You have no-one, you really never did. The team, the one you thought of as your family, well, they never wanted you. You were forced on them, and they made the best of a bad situation. LAPD, they don't care, most of them have no use for you, outside of using you to clear cases. And Kensi? Martin, she was using you to scratch an itch, waiting for a man to come find her. Face it, the only thing in your life is an old dog. And what happens when he goes? You'll be truly alone Martin. No team, no family, no girlfriend. No-one to look out for you. Do you really want to go back to that? Could you? After believing you were a part of something for so long, could you be alone? Would you want to? My guess is no."
Standing, Brandel pulled something from the pocket of his jacket. "Do you
remember this?" He placed the object under Deeks' nose, the slight jerk of his head an indication of his answer. "Yes, it's the gun you used to shoot me all those years ago. Took me a long time to finally track it down. Years actually. This little gun, wielded by you, changed everything for both of us. I went to prison, you went to foster care." While he spoke, he began to untie the restraints holding Deeks. "When I was released from prison, your mother was the one who picked me up." The sentence said quietly, had the force of an anvil crashing down. Deeks looked up, the hollowness of his face unlike anything ever seen on him. "Yeah, that's right, she picked me up, and our life went on."
He sat down, staring at Deeks. "You never wondered why she never came back for you. You shot me, to protect her and yourself true? Yet she chose me. She's dead by the way." He said it flippantly, like casting off a bad idea. "Dies a few years ago. But what was strange, she only mentioned you once. In all that time, just one mention of the son who supposedly saved her."
Deeks throat constricted as Brandel drained the last of his water. "I asked her about you, where you were, stuff like that. She told me, 'I don't know a Martin'. Even she didn't want you. I talked to Mr. Pearson. You're going to die Martin. You won't leave this room alive. Standing outside, one of his bodyguards is waiting." He looked over Deeks.
"Your alone Martin, you really always have been. Kensi, she's now with Dinozzio. She's happy and content now. Sam and Callen, they're happy they have an agent on the team. Henrietta, Eric and Nell, well you were amusing, like a clown to them, all of them really, but people tire of clowns after a time. I'm giving you the chance to end this, on your terms. This gun started you down the road your own, now it can finish it. There's one bullet in the chamber, a squeeze of the trigger, and all the pain, the humiliation will end. No more hurting, no more searching for something that you can't have. You can go out on your terms, or be shot down like a dog, you choose."
Placing the gun on the table, he turned, staring at the excuse he had helped bring into this world. "Let It go boy. You'll be doing the world a favor. You'll be free, finally at peace."
He left, the door standing open.
Hetty had seen viciousness in her life. Cruelty and hatred she had dealt with, and also had to order things done that still haunted her. Even she was taken aback at this level of...darkness. Her small frame trembled, barely surpressing the rage she felt. They watched as Deeks stood, swaying at the sudden rush of movement. Slowly, he shuffled to the table, picking up the gun in a trembling hand.
"Deeks no!" Kensi shouted, her voice cracking. "No Deeks, don't you do it!" Others began calling, yelling for him to stop. With his thumb, he cocked the hammer, shuffling out of view. The shouts became frantic, bordering on hysterical.
The sound of the gunshot was no where near as loud as the sound of Kensi's
screaming his name, her knees buckling as she fell to the floor, his name a mantra on her lips. Those in OPS that could, sat down, others standing there, stunned beyond belief at what they had witnessed. Hetty, her emotions ragged, watched as the tips of a hand, barely discernible on the screen, twitched, the final few moments of life being expended.
Even the building itself seemed to sag, aware of the fact that its resident jokester was gone. Tears and sniffles could be heard down the long halls, the silence gripping the walls. Everyone knew...Deeks was gone. It was like a...
"WE GOT HIM!" Sam's voice cut through the pain, speaking hope. "Kens, we got him! He's not...It wasn't him!"
Having been helped to a chair, Nell holding her tightly, Kensi raised her head, her eyes red. "Sam...wha..."
"Mr. Hannah a sit-rep please." Hetty leaned against the table, her heart hammering in her chest.
"Deeks is alive, I repeat, Deeks is alive. Apparently, what you saw was him going after Brandel. He shot the guard outside the door, then after struggling with the other, he made his way down a corridor, passing out before he could make it very far. Eric, we need an ambulance ten minutes ago. There's no wounds on him, I think he's just exhausted. Hetty, we also have Pearson and Brandel. Both are in custody, and under guard until you decide what to do with them."
"Have they said anything?" Callen asked, the color returning to his face. In DC after hearing the shot, he had bent over, doing all he could not to be sick. Now, he wanted to get home, and salvage his team.
"Both are asking for a lawyer, and Brandel just keeps smiling. Other than that, nothing."
"Mr. Hannah, transport them both to the boat-shed. I want guards on them at all times. And Mr. Hannah, please remind you team to be professional at all times. No mistakes."
"Already done Hetty."
Hetty turned, focusing on Callen. "Mr. Callen, I need you here as soon as possible. Agent Gibbs, please have Leon call me."
"I'm here Henrietta," Director Vance appeared, looking different.
"Leon, what do we do with Pearson?" Brandel we can..."
"Send both of them to the Federal detention center. Process them just like
anyone else. They kidnapped and tortured an LAPD Detective and an employee of the Federal government. No special favors or treatment."
"Pearson will have planned for this. He's too smart not too."
"We'll cross that when it happens. Right bow, I want both of them in holding, and I want Detective Deeks looked after. Let me know if you run int any problems." He walked off screen, his phone already at his ear.
"Eric, the ambulance just pulled up. They're...yeah, I can see them coming down the hallway." His voice focused on the medics. "Here guys, he's right here."
"Sam is he..."
"No Kensi, like I said, I think he's just spent. His body shut down, probably to save itself."
A mumble, then Sam came back. "Their taking him to Pacific Beach Medical. I'm going to drop our boys here at the boat-shed, then head to the hospital."
"Very good Mr. Hannah, we'll meet you there."
Hetty reached over, her fingers pressing a button she seldom used. "Attention," her voice carried throughout the Mission. "For those of you who haven't heard, our detective Deeks has been found and rescued. He's alive," her voice was stopped, drowned out by the cheers and whoops reverberating through the building. She smiled, glancing at Kensi as a small smile slipped on her face, the first sign of life in hours. "Yes, yes, myself, Miss Blye and everyone share your joy. We are headed to the hospital, and as soon as we know anything, you will be told." The mic clicked off, smatterings of applause still being heard.
As they exited the lot, Nate behind the wheel with Hetty, Nell driving Kensi and Eric, they were relieved is was over. Deeks was safe, and Person and Brandel were in custody. They're road ahead, yes it would be tough, but everyone knew Kensi and Deeks belonged together.
After all, they didn't call them 'Densi' for nothing.