"Alexandria Bella Brandel," He had said with his eyes trained on the floor.

Hold on... Brandel? Why wasn't her last name "Deeks," like her brother? Did they have different fathers? Was this Deeks' way of keeping his sister safe—changing her last name so no one could trace him back to her?

There were too many questions shooting around Callen's head. Not a single one of them could be answered without a very intrusive background check; one he was quite sure Deeks would not appreciate. His only option was to give Deeks the time and space to explain to them himself, when he was ready. He better hurry though, because a confused and hurt Kensi was a very dangerous Kensi.

A small vibration coming from his right pocket alerted Callen to a new text message. As he rose from his chair and walked from the interrogation room, Callen pulled out his phone, only to see a text from Deeks appear on the lock screen.

It's Alex. Marty is acting weird.

Callen quickly swiped on the notification and put in his password, bringing up the text that came from Deeks' phone. As he was drafting out a reply, more texts began to flood in, each one only seconds after the other.

He told me to pack my stuff and enough clothes for a few days

He's in the bathroom rn btw

I saw ur # in his phone and didn't know who else to contact

I think he's planning to leave town for awhile

I don't want him to get in trouble

He won't tell me anything but maybe he'll talk to you

Please make sure he's okay

And I also don't wanna get in trouble either

Isn't there some rule about suspects skipping town or something?

Does it apply if the suspect is underage and her legal guardian is skipping town?

Cause then technically I'm not doing anything wrong

Right?

By the end of Alex' long stream of messages, Callen was on his way out the door and to Deeks' apartment. Deeks clearly knew more about the case itself than he cared to share; especially if he felt the need to leave town with their prime witness. Opting to leave Sam and Kensi out of this small situation, Callen pulled up to a traffic light, grabbing his phone to text back Alex before the light turned green.

Don't leave. I'm on my way.

A simple thumbs-up emoji was all he received in return as he replaced his cellphone and stepped on the gas. In the small amount of time he had known Alex, he was able to deduce that she was not one to admit she needed help. The fact that she had willingly contacted Callen for assistance must have meant that there was something very wrong about the way Deeks was behaving. So odd that his own sister didn't know what the correct course of action should be.

As Callen pulled up to the apartment complex, he could make out Deeks loading his and Alex' bags into the backseat of his car. Alex stood stubbornly with her arms folded across her chest, glaring at her older brother. Callen pulled up in the guest parking only several spots away before jumping out of the car and approaching the two. Alex noticed him first, narrowing her eyes at the agent, but gave no indication of their text exchange. Deeks turned, noticing the slight change in his sister's demeanor.

"Al, get in the car," Deeks mumbled to her as he prepared himself for his conversation with Callen.

Alex huffed with annoyance as she crawled into the backseat and pulled out her cellphone. What she did on that thing 24/7 was a mystery to Deeks, but it seemed to keep her happy and occupied, so he continued to pay the cellphone bills every month. That's all he wanted after all; for her to be happy. If 15 GB of storage and a clear front-view camera made her happy, then he would happily spend as much as it required.

As Callen approached the car, Deeks once again steeled his face, refusing to show any of the spoils of emotions flowing through his body. "I'm not having this conversation with you, Callen."

"Is she okay?" Callen asked, glancing at Alex sprawled out in the backseat.

"Once I finish this, she'll be fine."

"And what is 'this' exactly?" Callen tilted his head at the detective.

"Lucas Roberts," Deeks sighed. "He's been trying to get my attention for years, ever since I was back at LAPD. This time, he's got it."

"You're gonna have to give me a better explanation than that, Deeks."

"Roberts is your killer," Deeks said, placing his palm against the window of the car. "He didn't care about the kids though, he was drawing me out."

"How could the killing of two teenagers be an attempt to draw you out, Deeks?" Callen narrowed his eyes at the detective.

"He must've figured out my connection to Alex. I don't know how he knew that we'd go to that restaurant last night, but he killed those kids to mess with me."

Called looked at Deeks suspiciously, attempting to say his words without voicing them. How did Deeks know that Alex had run into Laurel and Jackson that night? He had left the boatshed for the interview, after all.

"I know a lot more than she gives me credit for," Deeks smirked. "I just don't always push it."

"If you know who this guy is, Deeks, you need to help us bring him in."

Deeks was already shaking his head when Callen finished his statement. "I can't do that, Callen, and you know it."

"Help us bring this guy to justice, Deeks—the right way."

"I'll bring justice to him the same way he has managed to avoid it for years," Deeks sneered. He lowered his voice so as not to alert Alex in the car, but the venom was still very much there. "Lucas Roberts has killed and tortured and murdered innocent people. He has escaped justice by leaving a trail of carnage and suffering wherever he goes. I have tried, for years, to bring him to justice the right way, Callen. It doesn't work, and this time he has come after Alex. I'm not going to sit back and let him hurt her or anyone else I care about."

"Deeks, you don't know that this guy is after Alex for sure." Callen reassured the younger man.

"I am absolutely positive that he is. He killed those teens to show me how easily he could've done the same to Alex if he wanted to. Next, he's gonna come after you and Sam, my friends at the force, Kensi. The asshole just wants to see how much pain I can take before he kills me himself. That's all it's ever bean about for him; making pain a game and seeing who's strong enough to win. I'm not gonna let him win, not this time."

"I understand," Callen said as Deeks scoffed in return. "I really do, Deeks, but the parents of Laurel and Jackson deserve to know that their children's killer is rotting behind a jail cell, not shot in the head somewhere by a detective that went rogue."

"I can't let him hurt anyone else, Callen." Deeks' voice shook with emotion as he tried to keep in the rage and grief that circulated throughout his body.

"Then do it right, Deeks—do it for Jackson and Laurel...do it for Alex."

"I am doing in for Alex!" Deeks yelled, slamming his palm against the window of the car. "She is what this is all about! She can't protect herself like you all can! If Roberts comes after her, she won't be able to take it! I won't be able to take it..."

"Hetty would kill you if she knew what you were planning," Callen pointed out calmly.

"That's why I didn't tell Hetty," Deeks steeled himself once more, standing up straight.

"Sam and Kensi wouldn't approve either."

"I spent eight years looking for their approval...I'm done now." Deeks' eyes held a hint of sadness in them as he made that statement.

"I guess we better keep this between us then," Callen called out as he strolled to his car and grabbed the overnight bag that he kept in the backseat.

"We?" Deeks said with one eyebrow raised when the agent returned.

"Well it doesn't seem I'm going to stop you," Callen pointed out. "And if this guy is as bad as you say he is, you and a sixteen-year-old aren't gonna be able to take him on your own."

"You're...gonna help me?" Deeks asked with confusion.

"I'm not gonna help you kill a man, Deeks," Callen stared into the detective's eyes. "I'm gonna make sure you don't get yourself killed."