A/N- Thanks for everyone giving this story a chance. if you are checking it out maybe drop a note- would be great to know who's out there. And a big thanks to Lil Fern for the encouragement. it was as if you knew what was coming next.
Kensi got out of bed. It had been five days since the initiation and she was finally hurting less. Antonio told her that he'd sent many cartel members ahead so there would be fewer there for her initiation, but what was left was more than enough to leave a reminder on her body. Carlos and Rick needed to help her stand the next day, and she hated every bit of it.
It had taken two days to get to the current location, and they'd given Kensi extra pain pills to keep her asleep for much of the journey. A circuitous route, a flight to Costa Rica, a second flight into Mexico, then a long drive. She arrived at her current location in the cover of darkness, with no helpful idea of where she was.
Antonio got her settled in a room that had a bed, a sitting area, and a bathroom. It was nicely furnished and comfortable. There was a cabinet with a microwave and snacks, and some clothes that fit better than the stuff they'd given her to wear in her tiny room in LA. She was grateful for the upgrade.
But just like the building in LA, this door was locked from the outside and she was 'asked' to stay put. It was a first floor room with windows that opened. She figured she would test those boundaries when she had a slightly better lay of the land, but in the end there was no need. On the third morning Carlos knocked on the door.
"Enter," Kensi answered.
"Ma'am, the kitchen is right down the hall. Feel free to have breakfast. If you go outside, stick to the landscaped portions of the grounds. The downstairs is allowable. The upstairs is not."
She nodded that she understood and Carlos left the key to her room on the nightstand before leaving.
So after attempting to stretch out some of the lingering pain Kensi took a hot shower, put on fresh clothes that almost fit her, and began to explore. She started in the kitchen where a house worker gave her a small plate of food and orange juice. Finishing those at a table in a breakfast nook, the woman, who introduced herself as Anna, offered Kensi her first reasonable cup of coffee in four weeks, and she gratefully accepted.
Taking the mug, Kensi decided to explore the grounds. Barefoot she made her way outside through the door in the kitchen and walked slowly and deliberately on the pavers that made up the path. Remembering that she wasn't supposed to be sneaking she tried to put on enough swagger to make it look like she owned the joint. She had almost pulled it off when she rounded a corner and found her first group of people.
"Ahhh. Our mystery guest," a kind voiced woman said with a smile as she approached Kensi. "I am Elena Cardenas. Welcome to my home."
Kensi shook her the hand offered to her and followed as the woman gestured to a nearby patio table. "If you need anything while you are here with us, just ask. Antonio will make technology and strategy decisions. If it's comfort related, ask me, and if it's anything else, my brother-in-law Alejandro will help you."
At that, the man seated at the table stood up and offered his hand.
"Alejandro Cardenas."
Kensi shook it with no words. 'Mysterious is your friend. Silence is your friend.' Deeks voice in her head gave her confidence.
Then three young children bounded around some landscaping hedges and ran towards the table.
"Tejo! Tejo! I want to fly!" They yelled excitedly.
A broad smile spread across the man's face. "Then you shall fly!" he replied and hurried to meet them. The two young boys and even younger girl took their turns having Tejo spin them around in the air, all four of them laughing. It was a heart-warming sight to see this family so happy. Kensi reminded herself it was all built on drug money and violence.
As she sat with Elena at the table, Antonio came and joined them. He greeted Kensi with a head nod, then placed a tender kiss to his wife's head before he joined his brother and children, continuing the game. Kesni said nothing as she watched them. She drank her coffee and waited. She felt the mood change when a black SUV approached the house. A security guard came and whispered something to Tony and Tejo, who nodded in understanding.
"Cristina is here," Tony said to his wife, whose expression changed as well.
Kensi stood when Elena did, although she didn't know why. Tony took his wife's hand and whispered something to her, and she in turn called the children to a nearby bench and spoke to them quietly. Then as he saw Cristina exit the SUV with a man beside her, Tony came to speak to Kensi.
"You are about to meet my sister, Cristina. The man with her is her boy toy, Eric deSoto. That's the man who told me about your federal agent friend."
He called Tejo over.
"Keep her over here. Don't give deSoto a clear look at her."
Tejo nodded and gestured to Kensi to come stand in front of him, turning her back to the arriving pair. She took the best look at deSoto she would get and put the picture in her mind for a later time. Then she stood with her back to danger fighting the urge to turn and face it head on, instead listening as best she could.
"Cristina," Antonio greeted his sister with more formality than warmth. And whether they followed their father's lead or just sensed it on their own, the three children did the same. They all approached, calling her Tia Tina, and gave her some form of greeting. Everyone ignored Cristina's companion. Elena gathered the children and brought them inside.
Tejo acknowledged his sister with a look and a gesture with his chin, his annoyance hard to miss.
"I came to meet your guest, Tony," Cristina purred with fake charm.
"Then you should have come alone," Tony told her.
"Don't be rude to Eric," she chastised.
"He isn't family. He isn't a cartel member. I owe him nothing."
"Nothing?" The boy toy was indignant. "I warned you about Callen from NCIS. I handed you Olivera from DEA, and I got you Nelson from FBI. And then after enough time with Nelson, I gave you his partner, too. Feel like maybe you do owe me something."
"Tina, put your dog back on his leash," Tony said, never directly acknowledging deSoto.
There was silence for a minute and then whispering, and then deSoto kissed Cristina on the cheek and made his way back to the SUV. Kensi could feel the tension come down a notch. She heard the SUV door close in the distance, and then Tejo gestured that it was clear. Kensi turned and faced Cristina.
"So you're the girl causing all this trouble."
"Woman," Kensi offered. "I haven't been a girl for quite some time."
"I'm Cardenas," Tina reminded her coldly. "A little respect."
"Send me the cartel etiquette guide. I'll be sure to read it." Kensi thought she heard Tejo laugh over her shoulder. Then Kensi sat back down at the table and slowly and deliberately sipped her coffee. The siblings spoke in hushed tones. It occasionally got harsh, but nothing over the top. When they were done, Cristina made her way to her SUV.
When the vehicle left Elena and the children returned to the garden. The kids went back to playing and Elena sat with Kensi.
"I hear my husband doesn't know your name."
"I prefer to keep business very business-like," Kensi said. She kept her voice kind, with no edge.
Tejo laughed from where he stood with the kids and bent down to whisper to them. Standing up he smiled.
"Ah, but I have a secret weapon," Tejo said as he touched the children on the shoulder. On his signal, the three kids descended on Kensi with little smiles and pleading eyes, each asking over and over for her name. They asked in Spanish. They switched and asked in English, giving Kensi the first English she'd heard in weeks. The children took her hand and looked with expectation.
And Kensi knew that staying mysterious and silent was going to be nearly impossible.
"Allison. Ally. You can call me Ally," she said to the adoring faces.
Then she glared at Tejo for effect.
