Hello my darlings. I would like to thank heyjode, Dief09, amywegner16, Guest and Beepmybanana for the wonderful reviews. I would also like to thank those of you who have followed and favoured since my last update.
So I have been dying to write this chapter for ages. I had it all planned out in my head and everything. But as I was writing it, it became something completely different. So this is not the chapter I thought it was going to be, I think it is even better. I hope you like it.
On a side note I have no idea how readily available scotch whiskey is in America compared to the UK. I imagine here it is more so, as it comes from Scotland. Apologises if this assumption is wrong.
Disclaimer: I don't NCIS: LA.
The late afternoon-early evening emptiness was in full swing as Deeks stood alone behind the bar. Usually this was the time he hated the most about the afternoon shift. There was never enough to keep him completely occupied, after all there were only so many things he could clean behind the bar. But that afternoon he gloried in the time to do nothing but get lost in his own head. Because for the first time in so long he had something amazing to daydream about, namely his boyfriend. The same boyfriend he'd spent an hour on the phone to the previous evening after he had finished work, which meant it was close to midnight before he'd been able to call G, not that the older man seemed to mind at all. Then there was the text he'd come back from surfing to find on his phone that morning. It didn't say anything of importance in words, but the idea that G texted him in the morning, that meant more than Deeks ever thought it could.
He was in fact so far in his mind, so relaxed in his surroundings and himself, he allowed himself to fall so far into not paying attention to his surroundings that he didn't even notice the very recognisable Jaguar that pulled into the parking lot, or the little lady that climbed out of it. In fact it wasn't until someone cleared their throat that he realised he wasn't alone at all. It was a throat clear he knew he would be able to recognise anywhere. It caused him to freeze as his eyes travelled to the door and he saw who was silhouetted against the outdoor sun. Caused his mind to screak to a halt and his eyes to widen as fear coursed through him at the sight of her. Just what the hell was she doing here? How had she found him? Why? Why now?
Hetty had enjoyed a pleasant drive down the coast letting the throttle go as she raced down the winding roads. She did not see the point in not appreciating the journey, even if she had her destination firmly in her sights. She had already arranged a room in the local town, under one of her aliases of course, so there was no reason to try and complete her self-imposed mission in one day. Which was good, because she did not think finding the reason Callen kept coming out to this bar would be easy.
Pulling into the parking lot of the bar she took a good look around her, studying the lay of the cove and the other vehicles in it. One caused her eyebrows to raise but she shook of the coincidence of the similarly of that vehicle to the one Mr Deeks had driven off in. She did not believe for a moment she would find her wayward detective in a place such as this. He would go crazy within a couple of days in such a quiet backwater, she was sure. Therefore putting it out of her mind she approached the bar, noting all the windows and exits as she did so. Always best to be prepared when entering unknown territory after all.
Walking through the door she found herself stopped short at the sight of the barman. It seemed she was wrong. She was indeed going to find her wayward detective in this bar, how… intriguing. And not just because of his new locale, but also because Callen had obviously been coming to visit him here, regularly. Oh yes, this trip had just got a whole lot more interesting in Hetty's mind. Therefore she cleared her throat, wanting to let Mr Deeks know she was there. She watched as he froze and his eyes snapped to her. She saw them widen, and she saw the fear flash through them before the shutters of the mask she knew slammed down.
"Well this certainly answers a few questions, though it does seem to raise some more." She said with a small smile of the young man. She was so glad to see him. So glad that he seemed to being doing okay. And also so glad that Callen had obviously not given up on his team mate. Oh yes, her boy had grown so much from the lone wolf she had once known.
At her words Deeks found himself having to fight a flight response. The sound of her voice, it brought back everything he'd run from. Brought back the memories of LA in such clarity he expected the rest of the team to show up as well. Could almost hear the sarcastic comment Sam would let slip through his lips at him working in a bar, could almost hear Kensi's laugh as she joined in on making him the butt of their jokes, could almost see the smirk on Callen's lips as he egged both of them on - no not Callen. He wouldn't do that. Not now, not after everything that had happened, had changed between them. Callen was his boyfriend, his friend, everything was different. He wasn't in LA, this wasn't the bullpen of NCIS, he was no longer Hetty's to control. Forcing that sentence to the forefront of his mind he took a deep breath before trying to act relaxed, even if he felt anything but.
"Hetty, what can I get you today? I don't think we have a decent single malt, but I could check the cellar." He replied, trying to keep his voice light as if he was talking to any other customer, but he knew he had failed when Monty's head shot up from where he was laying by the bar. It seemed he hadn't been able to keep the waiver from his tone then, damn.
"Please do not go to any trouble, Mr Deeks. I'm sure there you have a perfectly acceptable scotch behind there somewhere." Hetty responded moving into the bar watching Deeks carefully while making it look as if she was taking a look around the place. It was as she studied him getting her drink that she realised she had been wrong yet again. The mask on his face was not the one she was accustomed to him wearing. There were subtle differences, and it had a stiffness about it that even at his lowest he had not had before. It was like he was wearing clothes that he was not comfortable in, rather than those he had worn all his life. There was only one conclusion she could draw from that, and it was that Deeks had changed. How, why, she didn't know. But she was going to find out.
Deeks found his hands shaking as he carefully lifted down the only bottle of scotch they had. In fact they got so bad he had to clench them a couple of times before even considering pouring her a measure of the drink. Finally it was done and he turned to place it on the bar in front of her, only to find she had settled on the bar stool right in front of him.
"Here. I just need to go and… change a barrel." He gulped out. He couldn't do this. Couldn't be this close to her. He needed to get away, and he needed it now. With that, and without waiting for Hetty to reply he fled through the door at the back of the bar his breathing accelerating to the point of almost hyperventilating.
He lent against the wall as soon as the door closed behind him wondering what to do now. Neither Frank nor Henry were there, they'd gone into town. And while he knew they would be back soon, he also knew he couldn't hide back here until they returned. How was he going to get through this? He was starting to find it hard to breathe as he felt a suffocation starting to crush him. It was then, just as he felt like he might pass out that the answer suddenly flashed into his mind. And while if he'd been in his right mind he'd have realised it wasn't exactly logical, right then that did not compute. Instead he pulled his phone from his pocket and fumbling found the number of the only man he could think he that could make this better. Hitting call he raised the phone to his ear and prayed that he answered. Prayed that when he really needed him, Callen would be there.
Callen was just pulling up outside his house. They had finished off the case Kensi and the detective had had, and as Hetty wasn't around they'd all decided to slope off early. He knew Deeks was working the afternoon shift that day, and as such was counting down the minutes until he would be off so he could call him. He knew he was being sappy, just as he knew if Sam had any idea of what he was thinking he would never live it down. But he really couldn't find it in himself to care. He'd agreed to a relationship with Marty, and well, he wasn't going to do that in half measures. Marty deserved more than that, and Callen was determined to give it to him. Determined that while he couldn't be with him as often as either of them would like, he would do whatever he could to make it up to his boyfriend. And if that meant spending hours on the phone to each other every night, well so be it. It seemed a perfectly rational and sensible solution in his mind.
Checking the clock before he turned off the engine Callen realised he had time for a quick shower before the phone call. So with that in mind he climbed out of car, pulling his ringing phone from his pocket as he did so. He wasn't really thinking about who was on the other end, no doubt it was Sam asking him round for dinner or something and as such he was already planning on how to say no.
He answered the call with his usual "Callen," and then waited for the caller to speak. When they didn't he was confused, that confusion went to alarm when he noticed the heavy breathing coming down the line. "Who is this?" He snapped a frown forming on his face as he planned how to deal with… whatever this was.
"G?" Came the gasping sound down the line. And while it wasn't much, it was enough that he knew exactly who was on the other end of the phone.
"Marty? What's wrong? Breathe. Just breathe." He replied trying to keep his voice calm as he turned and climbed back into his car. He didn't care what it would cost him, if Marty needed him he was going, there was no question of that in his mind.
Deeks closed his eyes and found some of the tension leech from him at the sound of the other man's voice. He was so thankful he answered, and hearing him he automatically responded to words, and started to breathe. Finally when he felt calm enough to speak he answered Callen's question. "Hetty… she here, G."
"What?" Callen asked in shock. Why was she there? How had she found him? What had she done to the man he cared for to make his panic as he obviously was? Oh no. He was not going to let her get away with that. No one hurt his Marty, he didn't care who they were. With that in mind he flipped his phone onto speaker and started his car once more. He had a long journey ahead of him, and a lioness to fight when he got there. But there was no question in his mind that he was going to Marty's side.
Hearing Callen's shock strangely soothed Deeks. It was almost as if he'd subconsciously worried that G had been the one to tell her where to find him. But he knew he wouldn't do that, his tone of voice proved it. Therefore in a calmer, more put together tone of voice Deeks answered the unasked questions he knew G had, his detective mind clicking in automatically as he did so, remembering things he barely registered at the time. "I don't know, G. she just appeared. Though she seemed surprised to see me."
"What did she say?" Callen asked cursing to himself as he found himself pulling into LA traffic. Damn he hated it even more then than normal.
"Something about answering questions, and having more. G, I don't want to talk to her. I can't. I'm not ready." Deeks replied desperation seeping into his voice as if he hoped his boyfriend could come up with a solution, even if he was hundreds of miles away.
"Okay. Where are Frank and Henry?" Callen asked, already figuring out they were not there. If they had been he was pretty sure he would be having this conversation with one of them while the other comforted their son. You know that is if they hadn't tried to kill Hetty first for hurting him. Hmm, now that could be something interesting to see. Frank and Henry versus Hetty, he wasn't entirely sure who would win that fight.
"In town. They should be back soon." Deeks answered his palms starting to sweat as he once more realised he was alone with Hetty.
Callen quickly evaluated different ideas and plans when he heard those words before coming up with something he hoped would work, and it was the best he could do for Marty right then. "Right, this is what you are going to do. Hang up the phone and call Frank. Then you stay in the kitchen until they return. Got it?" He asked simply.
"But the bar-" Deeks responded but before he could say anything else Callen interrupted him.
"Will be fine for the 15 minutes it'll take them to get to you. Trust me." He said in a soothing tone, hoping that Marty would do as he asked. He really didn't want him anywhere near Hetty right then. I mean he had only just faced everything he'd been through, was only just starting to get better, he did not need her on top of all that.
Deeks shallowed at that. A large part of him felt really bad at the idea of following Callen's order. He didn't want to leave the bar unattended, Frank and Henry trusted him and if he hid in the kitchen he was breaking that trust. But a larger part, the one that refused to let him breathe when he was in same room as Hetty knew he couldn't go back out there. He just hoped the others understood.
"Okay. Thanks." He finally replied. At least he knew that if Frank or Henry were angry, G would back him on this. He knew G would be there for him, and that removed some of the worry from his mind.
"No need to thank me, Marty. Just take care of yourself. Leave the rest to me." Callen responded his voice darkening as he said the final words. Because Deeks wasn't only one who would be making another call when they hung up. He had one of his own to make, and it was not going to be pleasant, for him or the recipient.
Hetty finished her drink and checked the time on her watch. Mr Deeks had been gone a long time. Much longer than it took to change a barrel, that she was sure. Therefore she carefully climbed off her stool with the intention of going to find the man and make sure he was alright. She did not think Callen would be impressed if she was the cause of any harm coming to the former detective. But as she approached the door marked staff only she was stopped by Monty. He stood in front of the door his hackles raised as he growled at her. She was shocked she had to admit. She never thought the dog had such a protective streak inside him, but she also knew there was no way he was letting her pass. She was just wondering if there was another way to the back of the bar when her mobile rang.
"Henrietta Lange." She said answering the call while not removing her eyes from Monty. She did not want him to attack because her attention was elsewhere.
"You need to leave that bar right now, Hetty." Said the voice down the line. She was startled by who it was, just how many times could she be surprised that day? Though considering she knew Callen was coming here often, she really should have expected this call. And she had, just not this soon.
"Mr Callen, what a pleasant surprise." She responded taking a step back from Monty as she spoke, though still trying to stare him down.
"Trust me, it's not. Leave. Now." Callen growled back. He wasn't playing around here, and when he got there they were going to having some very serious words. But for now his only concern was getting her as far away from his Marty as possible.
Hetty debated for a moment, but knew better than to try and be stubborn about this, not if she wanted answers. And she really did. Therefore moving well away from Monty she collected her things.
"I am leaving now. I have a room booked at the Sunset Hotel under the name Matilda Hunt, I will see you at breakfast tomorrow morning." She answered before hanging up the phone and making her way outside. Because she did not think of a minute that Callen was not on his way here. She did not know the nature of Mr Deeks and Callen's relationship, but it didn't take a genius to realise the younger man had called him. She had heard the protectiveness in his voice, which told her that her presence there had upset Mr Deeks. And she knew her boy, he would already be on his way. Yes she could wait for him to arrive tomorrow before getting answers. And she would get them, she would make sure of it. Callen would not be getting out of this conversation, even if she had to tie him down to have it.