The Family

Chapter 13

…

Deeks heard Kensi scream his name, but he had no energy to even raise his head as they dragged him into the barn. He was completely disoriented, and his body hummed with pain as they tied his wrists above his head to the bars of one of the horse stalls. When he finally looked up, he could barely see her, his vision blurry from the incessant torture. She was tied up across from him. Her hair was a tangled mess, and her lips were bloody. Anger and adrenaline coursed through him as he once again began to struggle as he called out to her. A powerful backhand from Jefferson Hyde stunned him into silence.

"This will be a long night for you and for your sexy wife," Hyde said, roughly gripping his jaw. "If you want her to survive this night, tell me where your Indian friend is."

"Fuck you."

"Oh, someone's getting fucked, but it won't be me," the man growled. "Now tell me about your Indian friend."

"He's Arapaho."

"I don't care what the fuck you call him. He's nothing but a dirty Indian," he replied. "He killed Soji, and I am going to kill him for that."

"Was Soji one of your dysfunctional family members?" Deeks taunted, hoping to distract him from Kensi.

"Soji? Family?"

He acted as if it was something he'd never thought of. "He belonged to me if that's what you're asking."

"It's not."

"Do you think of that Indian as family? An Indian?"

"Yeah…I do. So, ask all you want, but I'm not giving him up."

"Even if the choice is between him and your wife?" The man asked. "Cause Kyle can do things to her that will make her scream, and you fucking crazy. Can you honestly say you can watch that happen to your beautiful wife over there and not give up some fucking Indian to save her?"

Deeks' heart was pounding as the words poured out of Hyde's mouth. Could he? Would he be able to sacrifice Kensi for Elan? Would Elan want him to? Would he forgive him if he did? When he did?

"Deeks…don't do it. I'll be okay. I'm strong, baby," she spoke to him as if there was no one else there. "Elan and Lily are finally together. They deserve happiness as much as we do. Deeks…please don't give them up. They're family, and you know these guys are going kill us whether we talk or not."

"Well, isn't she a tough little wildcat," Hyde drawled with surprise.

"The bravest of the brave," Deeks said, tears choking his voice.

"The question is…are you?"

The sick bastard laughed and slid his hand down to Deeks' belt, and slowly unbuckled it. A low punch took the air out of him, and he slumped against the stall as the man unzipped his pants and shoved them down past his hips. He began panting as the man's hands gripped his ass and yanked him close. The smell of alcohol was overpowering, and Deeks closed his eyes as the man ran his tongue along his cheek, his breath disgusting as he whispered in his ear.

"I'll let you watch Kyle play with your wife a little and then I'm going to ask you again."

When he stepped back, he was smiling, his fingers lingering on the burns that marred Deeks' chest. Kyle was watching with an expression that was hard to read, but Deeks realized there was a deep connection between the two men.

"Do you want to do his wife with me?" Kyle asked. "Or is the hippy the only one on the menu?"

"Fuck off, Kyle."

"That hippy ain't Soji, Jeff."

"And that bitch isn't Tilly."

"No. You're right. Tilly screwed up and got caught, but this hot little thing is right here...waiting," Kyle said as he turned towards Kensi.

"Don't you touch her!" Deeks shouted.

The man laughed and suddenly reached out and ripped her shirt open. "I'm gonna do a lot more than touch her, you hippy fuck."

"We know all about your operations. You're both already wanted under multiple Federal warrants," Deeks said, desperate to stall what was about to happen. "Come on, man. She's a federal agent. Do you really want to add rape and torture to those charges? Because you're going down. No question. It's just a matter of how hard."

"You're not that naive, are you, Agent Deeks? You think this is our first time dealing with punks like you? I'm the head of an extensive crime family. I grew up doing this kind of shit. Kyle too," He gloated. "My father taught me everything I know. He taught me about loyalty…the first commandment of our special family. He also taught me how to get someone to talk…how to bring a man to the edge of sanity and how to make their last breath as painful as possible. Is that something you want your wife to experience?"

"And here I thought my dad was an asshole," Deeks said. "But yours…"

Hyde's hand slammed into his throat. "Watch your mouth. You don't get to talk about my father. Your old man ain't even close. Was he that old cowboy we spooked up on the mountain?"

"No. Not by blood. That old cowboy is a good man…one of the best, most honorable men I've ever known. He took me in…treats me like a son…and you tried to kill him," Deeks replied. "Our family won't let that pass. This isn't our first time either. Others have tried to take us down. They failed, and so will you. They're coming for you and your freaky partner over there, and when they find you…"

He never finished as the stun gun hit him low in the abdomen, cutting off his words and leaving him quivering in pain.

"Watch and learn, Agent Deeks," he whispered against his cheek as he struggled to recover. "Kyle? Do what you do best."

A sickening smile spread across the odd man's gnarled face as he ran his fingers down Kensi's throat to the top of her bra. Deeks stained against the ropes that held him, his heart beating wildly in his chest as Kyle fondled her. Kensi's hands were tied over her head, but she brought her knee up into the man's crouch with such force he screamed and stumbled backwards. Jefferson Hyde laughed out loud along with his men. As proud as he was of her, Deeks was now terrified for her and unnerved by the decision he was being forced to make. He prayed Elan would forgive him for what he was about to do.

"Get out!" Kyle yelled before Deeks could say anything. "All of you…Get out!"

"I'll go clean up. Maybe have another drink," Hyde said. "Try not to embarrass me, Kyle. I'd hate to have to tell the family you got taken out by a woman who was tied up and half your size. When I come back, I'd better hear her and her hippy husband screaming."

Jefferson Hyde gave Deeks a last, long look, his expression disturbing. Then he smiled and walked out a side door. The men who had brought them here backed away from Kyle and then wandered out the back, snickering and laughing. The barn suddenly seemed more forbidding now that they were alone with the man, an obvious and very angry degenerate. Deeks sucked in a much needed breath as he tried to think of what he could do to stave off the inevitable. They were at the mercy of an angry monster…one without mercy. Deeks and Kensi locked eyes with each other and he couldn't stop the tears that blurred his vision.

"I love you," she whispered, and it broke him.

"Don't do this, man…please," he pleaded with the man now walking in slow circles between them. "She didn't do anything to you."

"She kicked me in the fucking balls," he choked out. "What do you call that?"

"Well deserved?"

The man charged him, the blows coming hard and fast and devastating. But he was happy to take whatever he did to him if it kept the sick bastard away from Kensi. The barrage stopped as quickly as it had begun, the man breathing hard as he stared into Deeks' face.

"You're a fucking smart ass, aren't you? You're trying to protect her," He whispered as his hands closed around Deeks' throat.

"You're smarter than you look, asshole."

"Smarter than you, apparently. You're the one tied up and about to be very sorry," Kyle smirked as he shoved Deeks' head back against the stall. "Jefferson Hyde is your worst nightmare. He hates Federal agents. They killed his old man, and now he's gonna do things to you that will have you begging him to kill you. He'll do them slow at first, but then his rage will get the better of him, and when he's satisfied with the results, he'll cut your fucking throat. But before that happens, I'm going to make sure your wife never kicks me or anyone else ever again."

He could barely breathe when Kyle pushed away from him. His head swam and he sucked in much needed air as he struggled to stand.

"Don't…" he choked out as the man turned toward Kensi. "Come on, man. Please. I'll tell you whatever you want to know about Elan. Just don't hurt her…okay?"

"I don't give a fuck about that Indian. That's Jeff's deal. Me? I just want to do sick shit to your wife. I don't like being laughed at. Enjoy the show, Agent Deeks."

He was shouting curses when Agent Foley walked in, his eyes bloodshot and his tie askew. "Tilly loves me, Kyle."

"What the fuck?" Kyle stopped and stared at him.

"She loves me," he said again as Kyle smiled oddly and laughed.

Foley shot him in the head without another word. The explosive sound of the gun and the shock of the unexpected attack stunned Deeks and Kensi into silence. Dark blood spread out around Kyle's crumpled body, as the FBI agent stood dumbly looking down at him. He seemed oblivious to everything around him.

"She hates you, Kyle," he said to the dead man. "She thinks you're pathetic…a sick bastard. She loves me. She told me that. You hear me? She loves me."

"You're right, Agent Foley. You're right. I interviewed her after she was arrested," Kensi lied. "She told me you were the best thing that ever happen to her. She wanted out. She wanted you…to run away with you…to start a new life."

Foley turned to stare at her. "She said that?"

"Yeah…she did."

"Cut us loose, man," Deeks said in a rush. "We gotta go. Now. Unless you want to die here and never see Tilly again."

"Dickerson's coming," he said, still in a fog.

"That's good, but cut us loose, okay?" Kensi asked gently. "You owe us that."

"Yeah…I guess I do."

He holstered his weapon and pulled a knife. He seemed to be in a stupor as he walked slowly over to Kensi and cut her down. She thanked him and shakily tied her shirt together before taking the knife from his hand. Stepping quickly past Foley, she bent down and took Kyle's gun, tucking it behind her back before rushing to cut Deeks free. He almost collapsed, but she held on to him until he wrapped his arms around her, amazed by their sudden reprieve.

"Oh my god, baby…what they did to you…" She murmured in tears, placing her hand gently on his chest. "Can you walk?"

"Yeah, I think so. If you help me pull my pants up," he said with a crooked smile. "I may be a little wobbly, but we can't stay here, so I'm good to go. Are you?"

"I will be as soon as we get the hell out of here," she replied, caressing his cheek.

"I was going to give up Elan, Kens," he whispered. "I couldn't let that guy touch you… I just…"

"I know, baby, and I love you for that. I know how hard that was, but Elan will understand."

"How do I tell him?"

"You don't have to..." she said quietly. "He doesn't have to know."

He pulled her into his arms and held onto her with all the energy he had left. Foley hadn't moved, and Deeks thought the man had suffered a mental break.

"She's never getting out, is she?" Foley asked as he stood over Kyle.

"You don't know that," Deeks said as calmly as he could, afraid he would spook the man. "She didn't kill anyone that we know of."

"I can't go to prison," he replied.

"Then make a deal," Deeks snapped, angry and anxious to get away before anyone showed up.

"You were inside Jefferson Hyde's operation," Kensi said. "You have information that's valuable. Use it."

"But right now, we have to go," Deeks said, and grabbed Kensi's arm, stumbling toward the front of the barn.

Gunfire suddenly erupted as Hyde's men rushed in through the back door of the barn. Foley didn't seem to notice. He just stood there, and they shot him down. He fell in a heap across Kyle's dead body. Kensi immediately returned fire as they backed out of the barn and into the dim light of dawn. They managed to take shelter outside as bullets splintered the wooden doors. With his back pressed against the barn, Deeks noticed the headlights of two oncoming cars tearing up the road. He yelled a warning to Kensi, scared they were being boxed in until the lights and siren signaled that the good guys had arrived. He smiled when he recognized Joe behind the wheel, driving like a maniac. Elan was driving the ranch truck and never slowed as he barreled toward the entrance to the barn. Multiple shooters rushed out firing. Kensi shot down one man as he fired on them, but the others were aiming their firepower at the onrushing truck. It never slowed. Lily bailed out, landing almost at their feet, as the truck slammed into two men unable to jump out of the way. Joe skidded to a stop in front of Kensi and Deeks, who was now sitting on the ground, his energy gone.

"Deeks?" Sam yelled as he jumped out.

"I'm good!"

He nodded before taking off after Callen, Sheriff Sogard, and Elan as they rushed past the truck, taking the intense firefight into the barn.

Lily reached Kensi and wrapped her in a tight hug, speaking rapidly in French, while Joe knelt down next to Deeks. "You okay, dumbass?"

"Am now, brother," he whispered, smiling at the familiar nickname.

Swearing softly, Joe pulled Deeks' head into his shoulder. "It's damn good to see you alive, Marty. I was scared there for a while."

"Me too."

"Where's Foley?" Joe asked. "We know he sold you out and I'm gonna kick his ass for that."

"He's mine, Deputy Atwood," Dickerson said, hovering just behind Joe.

"He's dead. But he did save Kensi," Deeks said wearily. "A bastard named Kyle was about to do God knows what to her. Foley shot him."

"When the shooting started, he just stood there," Kensi said. "He didn't even raise his gun."

"C'est très triste," Lily said. "A sad way to atone for his sins."

"Dammit. Didn't think he'd go out like that," Dickerson said. "But he did the right thing in the end. Guess that might balance the scales somewhat."

The sudden silence as the firefight ended finally allowed Deeks the relief he needed. He felt every bruise and every burn from the stun gun and even though he was exhausted he still had one thing he had to do.

"We need to find Jefferson Hyde," he said, struggling to his feet.

"I'll check inside," Dickerson said.

"He won't be there," Deeks knew that instinctively as he fumbled with the buttons on his shirt.

"Let me do that," Joe said, pausing when he saw the burns on his chest. "The bastards."

The sound of a helicopter revving up jolted Deeks. "He's running."

Kensi and Lily headed toward the house, and Deeks started to follow, but Joe stopped him. "Stay here, Marty. You look like shit, and I know how bad you're hurting."

"No way, Joe," Deeks growled. "I want that sonofabitch. I earned that, so help me or get the hell out of my way."

"Okay, dumbass," Joe said, handing him a weapon. "Let's go nail his ass."

Deeks was limping badly by the time they reached the rest of the team, who came pouring out of the side door of the barn. A layer of morning mist hovered just above the ground behind the massive log house, obscuring all but the rotor blades and canopy of a sleek, black Bell helicopter. The mist swirled around the rotating blades as they beat faster and faster. No one hesitated, firing in unison as the helo lifted off the ground. Deeks and Joe aimed for the tail rotor, while the others fired at the engines and the cockpit, shattering the glass. Smoke began to pour out of one engine and the helicopter suddenly dipped and began to spin. It righted itself briefly and headed for the tree line, but it never made it, slamming into the ground and careening into a small cabin where it exploded, showering the property with shards of metal and glass and sending one of the rotor blades cartwheeling across the far pasture.

"Sonofabitch," Deeks breathed out.

"We got 'im," Joe smiled and ruffled Deeks' hair. "We blew that bastard to hell."

They joined the team as it gathered near the large back porch of the house, watching the fire send heavy black smoke billowing out over the ranch. Deeks eased himself down on the steps and hung his head over his knees. Kensi settled in beside him, hugging his arm as she laid her head on his shoulder. The others slowly came to stand in front of them, and although no one spoke at first, he could see that they were just as relieved as he was that the whole thing was over.

"How you holding up, Cuz?" Elan finally asked as he knelt in front of him.

"Awesome...but tired," Deeks said. "Just glad it's over and that Kensi's okay."

"He needs a hospital," Kensi said.

"I'm okay, Kens."

"No, Deeks, you're not."

"I think you just pissed her off, Cuz," Elan said.

"I called in a medevac chopper before we stormed in here," Sheriff Sogard said. "Should arrive any time now. We'll get you checked out at the hospital. Looks like they roughed you up pretty damn bad."

"Deeks got the worst of it," Kensi said. "Without him…I…"

"It's over, Kens," Deeks said as he put his arm around her. "We both survived…thanks to Foley."

Deeks looked up to see Callen staring at him, his eyes red-rimmed as he reached over and gripped his shoulder.

"Glad we got here when we did," he said. "Guess I better call Hetty. She'll want to know you're both gonna be okay."

"And Eric," Sam added. "He was worried. We all were."

"Guess Dad and Uncle Jim can come back home now," Joe said. "Course they're gonna need a new truck."

"It seemed like a good idea at the time," Elan said with a shrug. "I can always sell a couple of my yearlings to help pay for one."

"You should book a flight home for Di and the kids," Sam said.

"I'm thinking that after all this I might take some vacation time and fly out there and spend a few days," Joe said. "The whole family should come. We can rent a house."

"I do miss the ocean," Deeks said wistfully. "And being someplace where douche bags aren't trying to beat the crap outa me."

They were silenced by a secondary explosion from the burning helicopter, and they all turned to watch as a small shed behind the cabin began to burn.

"Hate to be a doubting Thomas, but are we sure Jefferson Hyde was in that chopper?" Sheriff Sogard asked.

"It is a logical assumption, mon ami," Lily said.

"It was the fastest way out of here," Callen said.

"I'll help y'all search the house," Agent Dickerson offered. "Better to be sure, considering how he slipped his leash in Charleston."

"Good idea," Sam said, following the FBI agent up onto the porch along with Sheriff Sogard and Callen.

Elan never moved. He was watching Deeks and his scrutiny brought back the horror of the decision he'd been willing to make to save Kensi. He stood up, unable to look at him, and started to head back toward the barn. He had almost betrayed a man he called brother and was having trouble reconciling that with his love for the man. Elan caught up with him, reaching out to help him when he stumbled.

"What aren't you telling us, Cuz?" He asked.

Deeks finally found the courage to turn and face him, but still couldn't look him in the eye. Instead, he stared at the magnificent log home of the degenerate who had threatened to have terrible things done to his wife and who promised to do the same to him. How could such a man even appreciate the beauty of this place? Maybe he didn't. Maybe he saw it through different eyes, through the eyes of a man without a soul. That was who he would have surrendered Elan to if Foley hadn't stepped in. How could he forgive himself for that?

"Elan…I have to tell you something…but…"

Tears filled his eyes as he searched for the words, guilt weighing heavily on his own soul. He looked beyond him toward the house. In an open window above the porch, a curtain moved.

"Gun!" He yelled, shoving Elan to the ground just as a high velocity round screamed past their heads.

More bullets kicked up the dirt around them as Elan rolled him over. They were out in the open and completely vulnerable, but Kensi and Lily were already returning fire, and he could hear shouts and gunfire coming from inside the house. A long rifle suddenly fell from the window and shouts to hold fire ended the terrifying moment.

"Are you hit?" Elan asked as he began frantically checking him over.

"No, Elan. I'm good. I'm good," Deeks said breathlessly. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah…thanks to you," Elan replied as he helped Deeks to his feet. "Guess Jefferson Hyde really wanted you dead."

"He wasn't shooting at me, brother. He was shooting at you."

"Why?"

"Because you killed Soji, the man about to skewer me in that elk camp," Deeks said. "Hyde wanted to know where you were so he could make you pay for killing Soji."

"That's why he tortured you," Elan said.

"Yeah," Deeks whispered and turned away.

"He threatened Kensi, didn't he?"

"Yeah, he did…," Deeks said. "They were going to do horrible things to her, Elan, and I couldn't let that happen. Kensi's my whole world. I couldn't watch those bastards touch her like that…I just couldn't. I'll always hate myself for it…but…I was going to give you up, brother."

His confession was met with silence, and it almost crushed him.

"It's unforgivable, I know that..." Deeks eyes blurred with tears over the loss his decision had cost him. "So, I won't ask. I don't deserve it."

Elan's hand felt heavy on the back of his neck. "She's your wife, brother. You love her. I understand how powerful that love is now. If Lily had been threatened like Kensi was, I would have done anything to protect her just like you were forced to do. I don't blame you, Cuz. And you just saved my life. So, that makes us even, don't you think?"

"I don't know what to say…"

"No words necessary, brother. We're still family, and we always will be."

…

…