"It's been an hour, why hasn't anyone told us anything?"
The question came from Nell, her hand clutching the arm of the chair she was fidgeting in. Hetty unable to use her skills to find out anything, silently promised herself, twenty minutes and I start making calls. She stared at Kensi, a kernel of worry beginning to form. Her junior agent had been quiet, barely speaking, doing nothing more than pacing, then sitting, only to jump up again. She would speak, only when forced to.
Sam had arrived thirty minutes later, tired, angry, but happy the ordeal was over. Sitting beside Hetty, his report was brief. After dropping Pearson and Brandel off, both of them smugly walking into their holding cells, he had sent two teams of agents to the boatshed, the hacker and other bodyguard having been taken there for questioning. So far, the same tired song. 'I was just doing my job', the usual excuse that had been given hundreds of times before. Finally the door opened, a red-haired woman of middle age stepping into the room. "Family of Marty Deeks?"
They all stood, eager for news.
"I'm doctor Cynthia Coran, I'll be taking care of Mr. Deeks." She eyed the group in front of her, sensing...something, then put it out of her mind. "Mr. Deeks is sleeping now. He is being treated for exhaustion. There are no internal injuries, no head trauma that we can find, but we will continue to monitor him. Right now, it looks as if he is just need rest, along with food and water. Like I said we will continue to watch him, but within a few days he should be able to go home. We'll know more when he wakes up."
"When will that be?" Sam asked. "Is he...?"
"Oh, no nothing like that. Because of his exhaustion, plus a mild case of dehydration, we started him on fluids, plus broad spectrum antibiotics just to be on the safe side. He's in a medically induced sleep, he's being monitored hourly, and I believe he'll make a full recovery."
Hearing that Kensi sagged, Sam wrapping her in his arms. She began to cry softly, relief and exhaustion mixed.
"Your more than welcome to sit with him, even talking to him would be fine, but I plan on letting him sleep at least until Monday. The fluids for the dehydration should be finished, and removed by Sunday afternoon. His largest problem is the exhaustion. Barring unforeseen complications, your friend will be fine."
Thanking the doctor, they made their way to Deeks' room, softly opening the door. Afterwards, when they had left, none of them could understand why they had been so quiet. Gathered around his bed, they stared at Deeks. He looked nothing like his usual self. Pale, no spark in him, he looked...just there. Existing, rather than living. Kensi linked her hand with his, noticing the lack of grip, the coolness of his skin.
"Everyone, please listen," Hetty began, her eyes never leaving Deeks. "What we
witnessed tonight, I am not sure any of us have ever seen something that mentally cruel before. Not just for Mr. Deeks, and Miss Blye, but for all of us. It will take time to come to terms, and heal from this. Miss Blye, I know you want to stay with Mr. Deeks until Monday, but I have a suggestion. Stay for a few hours tonight, then go home. Eat, rest, all of us need to gather our strength. Monday will come quickly, and we will need all our resolve. We have a lot to process, and we have a lot to do before this is finished."
Amazingly, Kensi agreed, the others filing out, leaving her alone. She sat beside the bed, staring at Deeks, stroking his arm. Her eyes studied his face, pulling every detail into her memory. She sat, staring at her everything, finally, reluctantly she rose, leaning over him, a gentle kiss to his lips. "Baby, if you can hear me, I am so sorry this happened. I swear, I will do anything to make this up to you. I don't care what it takes, or how long it takes." Tears fell on his face, making it look as if he were crying Choking back sobs, she kissed him once more. "I love you Marty Deeks, so you have to come back to me." Straightening, she walked to the bathroom, cold water helping her to wake up. Before she left, she stood in the doorway, hoping when he woke, he would give her the chance she craved.
Arriving home, she walked through the door, freezing when she saw the couch. Their couch, the one that had held so may memories, now seems tainted and soiled. Realizing she couldn't, didn't want to stay here, she ran to her bedroom, barely eyeing the bed, as her hands began to cram as many clothes as she could in a bag. She ran from her apartment, jumping into the car. She drove to Deeks' place, hurrying to his door. As she opened it, a form shot out, Monty making for the nearest bush. Dropping her stuff, she grabbed his leash, clipping his collar and letting him stretch his legs, her mind numb. Closing the door, she fed and watered Monty, sinking into the couch, the smell of Deeks tickling her nose. Monty, sensing something was wrong, nosed his head under her hand, a whimper in his throat. "Mommy screwed up. I screwed up bad baby boy. And I don't know if daddy will ever forgive me." The last words were choked off, the full weight of what happened, ripping sobs from her chest.
Monday morning dawned bright, a pleasurable day, typical for Los Angeles. Hetty, waiting for her team to arrive, stood staring at the Federal courthouse, her thoughts inside the plain building. Sunday had been spent on the phone, her contacts assuring her of the plans to arraign Pearson and Brandel first thing Monday morning. She knew Pearson would make bail. His money, plus his list of people in various governments around the world, virtually assured that. Brandel, well she was looking forward to watching his face as he was remanded, waiting in a cell for his day in court. Hopefully, once this was done, she could turn her attention to her team. Kensi, she knew, was heartbroken. Her actions and her words had allowed Pearson and Brandel too mentally and emotionally crush Mr. Deeks. She had watched as Brandel's words began to have an effect on the detective. And now, the thought of the entire team, actually helping Kensi, yes it was ridiculous, an impossibility. But very little sleep, no food or water, plus the words out of Brandel's mouth, and the picture he had painted... how could he not think they were true.
She sighed, still unsure of how to fix this mess. Her sharp eyes spied Sam and Callen approaching, Callen looking tired, having arrived back home early this morning. A white flash, then Kensi stepped out, looking haggard and tense.
"Looks like we're all here," she spoke softly, hiding the smile from Nate as he approached She would never admit this, but she enjoyed having them jump when she anticipated all of them. It kept them on their toes, plus she always got a laugh out of their reactions.
"Good morning all," making sure to lock eyes with each of them. "Mr. Callen, good to have you back."
He nodded, too busy gulping coffee to answer. Sam laughed. "He's tired Hetty. The old man just isn't what he used to be."
"Leave me alone. Five hours on a cargo flight, God my back is still killing me." "Miss Blye, did you get any sleep?"
"Some Hetty, I just..."
She broke off, words failing to come. Hetty knew she had stayed at Mr. Deeks' apartment, taking care of Monty. She wondered of Miss Blye would ever be able to stay at her apartment again.
Nate glanced at his watch, "It's nearly time, we should get in there."
"Agreed, I was told Mr. Pearson and Brandel would be first up."
They began walking up the wide marble stairs, anticipation growing as their steps brought them closer. Hopefully to justice, then later to healing.
"You have got to be kidding me," Sam swore, his face beyond anger. The others stared, watching as Gordon John Brandel strode to the edge of the steps, a laugh to his lawyer. He looked as if he had won the lottery, smiling as he breathed deeply of the air.
"Hetty..." Kensi's voice stuttered slightly. "How did he..."
"I do not know Miss Blye, but I intend to find out." Her phone was at her ear. "Mr. Beal, find out why Mr. Brandel is out of custody." She hung up, her brusk ending of the call a large sign of her anger. "All of you on your best behavior."
Brandel, having seen the group, began making his way down the steps, his feet nearly dancing. He came to a stop, level with them, enjoying the looks on their faces. "Well if it isn't Martin's little family, how nice to finally meet all of you in person." He snickered at their silence. "I take it you didn't enjoy the father son chat?"
"You bastard!" Hetty spat out, forgetting her earlier warning.
"That I am Henrietta, that I am."
"Why?" It was spoken softly, almost pleading in the tone. Nate, stepping forward, repeated himself. "Why?"
"That's the question isn't it," Brandel responded. "How could I do something like that? Why would I do something like that?" He eyed all of them. "Because I owed the bastard!" His voice dripped with gleeful hate, hellish in his vehemence. "I owed him, and I collected!"
Kensi stared at him, a small part of her wondering how Deeks had turned into the man he had become, with this...thing as his father.
"Twenty-four years ago, that worthless shit took everything from me. My health, my freedom...everything. So I did the same to him. Everything he had when he woke Friday morning, is now ashes. It's gone. And that's all because of me." He smiled. "Besides, its' not as if I lied to the fool. More...bent the truth you could say."
"You accused me," Kensi began, her anger and shame choking her. "You said I..."
"What? I said you threw yourself at another man. Newsflash honey, you did. From what I was told, did a damn good job of it too. You did that, I never made you. That was your decision, not mine." He pointed to Callen and Sam, including Hetty as well. "You three, saw what she was doing, but never said a word. All of you have something to say about everything Martin say or does, some smart remark or putdown, but chose to keep quiet? Gee, wonder why."
He snorted, disgust in his face. "As long as 'the mission' was compete, none of you gave a damn about him. So don't blame me for your screw-up."
"You made us look like..."
"Like assholes, yeah it wasn't that difficult really. All I did, was take your words and actions, seven years of them, and remind Martin of all that. I used what all of you gave me." He laughed, a smile splitting his face. "I'll let all of you in on a secret." He smiled at Kensi, " I know you didn't do anything." His statement shocked the group, Kensi actually taking a step back.
"I know that Dinozzio boarded his plane, even know Callen here made the trip with him. I knew Kensi went home alone, and that her little friend Nell even visited. I know nothing happened like I said. But that doesn't matter, it never did."
Sam, quietly fuming the whole time, erupted. "What does that mean! Of course it
matters! You hurt so many people, just for revenge?"
"Martin, he's broken now. His life is over. And I took it all away. He won't ever fully trust again. No happy endings for him, no family, he's damaged forever. I took the life he built, and with your help, ripped it apart." He stared at them, enjoying the pain and shock on their faces.
"I'll get him back," Kensi said, a fierceness in her voice. "Somehow, we will all get him back."
Brandel laughed, the sound sending chills across Kensi's arms. Even people passing by stared, wondering about the intense scene before hurrying away. "Ok, let's play this out then."
"Let's say, when Martin leaves the hospital, you two talk. Tears are shed, I'm sure you'll say you're sorry, that you didn't mean it, and maybe he forgives you. Everything starts to return to normal. Tell me his reaction the first time he sees your couch? The first time he sees your bed? All the times the both of you spent...those are wiped away by the images I put in he mind. They will never leave him. You believe he'll trust any of you ever again? Not likely, not fully. He's so screwed up now, nothing can help him." He motioned to Hetty. "Another scenario; You send Kensi here too DC, alone. I wonder what we would think of that. All of you had a hand in this. I pulled the trigger, but all of you," he pointed to each of them, "all of you loaded the gun."
Shocked silence, seeming obscene under a bright day, descended on the group, minds racing.
"So I take it Mr. Deeks is safe from you now?"
"I have no use for him, never want to see him again. The damage is done, he's dead to me. I don't care what happens to him now."
"And this," Hetty waved to the courthouse, "this was part of your condition for the information you gave. Bail, just in case."
"You guessed it. But someone already paid it before Pearson could make good on his promise." He shrugged, a nonchalant move. "I guess someone out there does like me." He turned to leave than stopped. "Oh, one more thing. My source, how I gathered all that info? You don't have to worry about another mole, nothing sinister, no grand plan to bring all of you down. No, it was just a person who liked money. They liked Martin, but money was more important to them." He smiled, casually waving as he walked away, whistling a tune.
"Hetty, I need to get back to my office," Nate had listened, studying the man as he spoke. "Deeks is going to need help to deal..."
Kensi sat heavily, her legs weak. A painful laugh split the air. "He's right, Deeks
will never trust me, or any of us again."
"You don't know that Kens, he just needs time to heal and..."
"Callen I've stayed at Deeks' place since Saturday. Even I couldn't stay in my apartment. I destroyed the one good man who ever loved me."
Sam sat beside her, a hand on her back. "Look at me Kens." She met his eyes, hoping for...something.
"I don't know what's going to happen. Maybe you're right, maybe you're wrong. But to give up, before even starting, that's not the Kensi Blye I know. You looked for Jack for almost a year. Is Deeks worth more than that to you?"
She smiled, leaning against him. "Thanks Sam, I needed that." They sat, the others looking on, Hetty's phone bringing them back to the moment. "Mr. Beal...I see... and your sure? When did...I will tell everyone...do your best Mr. Beal. Tell Miss Jones I want a full report on Mr. Pearsons." She hung up, her hand groping for a seat beside Kensi.
"Somehow, early this morning, Mr. Deeks woke up. The doctors and nurses are still trying to figure out how. He signed himself out, reminding all of them that as the patient, his info couldn't be shared. He didn't want us to know what he was up to. Mr. Beal was able to find out who payed bail." They waited, already knowing the answer. "It was paid by cashier's check, delivered by courier. The name on the check was Michael Carson, an old, rarely used alias of Mr. Deeks."
"He's going after Brandel," Callen whispered.
"Yes, Mr. Callen, and I fear what will happen if he finds him. I fear more who Mr. Deeks will be when or if he returns."