Thanks to all who are reading. Special thanks to Stef, Donna and Joni.
I do believe in Ghosts - Part 2
Kensi was working the Nexus machine - hard. The logical agent side of her brain knew her partner was right. The email needed to be vetted for authenticity. It could be a trap for the team. She remembered the guilt she felt when Deeks was shot and it was Vakar trying to find his son that was the cause of that shooting.
But it's the emotional, broken hearted fiancé side of her brain that was causing the problem. She tried so hard to get Jack the help he needed. But it never seemed to be enough. Jack did not like all the smothering from Kensi. There had even been some physical altercations. Jack hoped it would scare Kensi away but it just made her push harder. He finally had enough and stole away in the early hours of Christmas morning and never looked back.
Kensi promised herself she would never let anyone get that close to her again. She poured herself into her classes and then her career. She worked hard and was rewarded with a placement on the elite team at the Office of Special Projects based in Los Angeles. It was tough being the only female on the team at the time but she was used to hard work. She earned the respect of her team and all was well until she walked into a testosterone filled MMA gym and her world was rocked by a shaggy, swaggering, surfer, lawyer, detective. Marty Deeks never met a challenge he couldn't talk his way out of. She was intrigued by his confidence but even more that he wasn't intimidated by her. She could be as bad-ass as she wanted around him. He just kept coming and finally convinced her of the potential of a great forever. They were married over a year ago and she had never been happier. Hence her struggle. Why was Jack affecting her so? She went down this rabbit hole with Talbot and still, here she was. On the cusp of traversing the hole once again.
And she should have realized that her detective husband would question the authenticity of the email. He did it to protect the team. He did it to protect his partner. More importantly, he did it to protect his wife. The words and more importantly the lack of words between them was not normal and upsetting. They promised each other to be honest and for the most part they had honored that commitment. But hearing Marty's truth and concern about Jack was hard. Jack was her past. Deeks was her everything, her life now. She's always had faith in him. He had never let her down. Not once. She decided to let the Twins do their thing and let Deeks call Ira. The logical side of her brain was happy with her decision. Kensi just hoped the emotional side of her brain would not get in the way.
Kensi was brought out of her thoughts by a pair of arms wrapping around her waist from behind. "Good morning Beautiful." Deeks placed a kiss on her cheek as Kensi melted into his embrace. She turned around finding his blue eyes, full of love, looking down at her.
"Morning Handsome." A shy smile crept onto her lips. "I probably owe you an apol…" Deeks stopped his wife with a kiss.
"Nope. None needed. I probably did not handle the surprise of that email well." Deeks pulled his wife into a hug. She was his and that was all that mattered. "We will figure this out. And because I made a promise to you, I wanted you to know I contacted Ira yesterday. He knew of Jack and also Migs was now in Afghanistan and Ira will check in with him. He will call me if there is anything. So between that and whatever Nell finds, we will know what is going on." Deeks braced for Kensi's upset reaction but was stunned when he got a bone crushing hug. Relieved, he returned the hug and let out the breath he was unaware he was holding. They would be fine.
Afghanistan
The morning briefing was more of the same. Still no information on the White Ghost. The locals either never heard of him or were too afraid to share information. Migs sighed. It was looking more and more like he was going to have to make that phone call. He knew that he better have all his ducks in a row for the favor he was going to be asking of his friends. Marty Deeks was not going to just hand over his wife to use as bait. He needed to discuss this with Ira some more.
New York
It was United Nations Week and Ira Weiss was setting up his equipment for the General Assembly Meeting. He was also setting up audio bugs in the rooms the representatives from Iraq, Iran and Saudi Arabia were using for internal meetings. You never know when a nugget of useful information might be collected. Ira felt his pocket vibrate from his SAT phone. "I hope you have something useful?"
Morales sighed. "Not exactly. Simon is living up to his name. I need to run an idea by you."
"Go on. I think I know what you're thinking and I already know I won't like it.
Migs paused. He didn't like it either, but he didn't see another way. "I want to call Deeks and Kensi and see how they feel about Kensi coming over to lure Jack out. Why not take advantage of his reaching out to her. He obviously was trying to get out of the area and if he thinks she might help him, then why not use that to our advantage?"
Ira didn't disagree with his idea. He was just worried about the price their friends may be forced to might pay. "Let me call Henrietta and get her thoughts. They are on her team, so she would have to sanction the trip. I will let you know what she says. Stay safe Gunny." He then disconnected the call. Ira rubbed his hand over this face. He went back to his work while he thought how he would broach Hetty with Migs' plan.
Los Angeles
Hetty sat at her desk, tea cup in hand thinking about what Callen had shared with her.
Callen and Sam strode purposefully to Hetty's desk. The Operations Manager looked up as they approached. "Gentleman. You have the look of impending mayhem. What's wrong?"
Callen shouldn't be surprised that Hetty always seemed to know when something was afoot. "Hetty, Kensi just received an email from Jack Simon." Callen knew Hetty well enough to notice even the most subtle of facial tics and did not miss the quick gasped she made. "You know who he is don't you?"
"I do, Mr. Callen, but what truly has me concerned is how he knew where Mrs. Deeks was. What does he want?" Hetty knew about their engagement years ago and also knew of his ties to the CIA. She heard rumblings that Jack may be playing both sides against the middle in Afghanistan and that the CIA was looking for him.
Callen shared that Jack asked Kensi for help but there were no specifics. He thinks that Simon was feeling out Kensi's receptibility. "Kensi was shocked by the email. Deeks is trying to calm her down. I have Nell and Eric doing a search, but I think we need to widen the net. I know they have kept in contact with Ira Weiss. I'm wondering if we should reach out to him?"
Hetty nodded in agreement with his assessment. "I will contact Ira. If Jack is contacting Kensi, he must be feeling the heat. I will not allow Jack Simon near Mrs. Deeks. I think we also need to keep an eye on Mr. Deeks, he will do whatever it takes to protect his wife." Hetty knows of Deeks' protective instincts where women are concerned. He killed an abusive detective when he was a young detective. He would probably not hesitate to do anything to keep Jack Simon away from Kensi.
Hetty pulled a key out of her pocket and opened a side drawer in her desk. A SAT phone sat at the front of the drawer. She removed the phone and searched the contacts for Ira Weiss. He answered on the second ring.
"Henrietta, how lovely to hear from you. I normally would be happy that you called me, but I have a feeling you are calling about our newlyweds?"
Hetty smiled. Ira was one of a small circle of people who knew her well. "I am Ira and I'm very concerned. How did Mr. Simon find Kensi? And what is his current status with the CIA?"
Ira sighed. "He is not in good standing. In fact, my associate, Miguel Morales, who worked with Marty and Kensi during Nate Getz's rescue, told me that he was tasked in finding and capturing Jack. He had gone rogue and they want him shut down. Migs has a plan, but I'm not sure if it is the right plan. I think you and I need to meet."
"I agree. Do you remember where our boatshed is?"
"The place where I met Granger and Callen?"
"That's the place. Let me know when you can get to L.A. and we'll meet. Ira, I don't want to alarm Mr. & Mrs. Deeks yet."
Ira chuckled. "Oh I'm afraid our Lieutenant has already contacted me. He's on a mission to protect his wife and will stop at nothing to do so."
"Mr. Deeks has many talents and I should have known he would be proactive. No matter let me know when you can get here and I will talk to Mr. Deeks. Thank you, Ira. I look forward to seeing you." With that Hetty disconnected the call. She looked over to the bullpen. Sam and Callen were not there, Kensi was working on an online course and her partner while pretending to be doing the same, was watching his partner but she could tell he was deep in thought.
"Oh Bugger!" This was not going to be easy on any of them. Hetty caught Deeks' eye and motioned him over. Deeks quietly got up from his desk and went over. Kensi was deeply engrossed in her work and didn't notice.
"Have a seat Mr. Deeks, can I offer you a cup of tea?" Hetty knew what his answer would be but was stalling. This was not going to be an easy conversation.
"No, thank you Hetty. What can I do for you?" Deeks knee kept a steady bounce. He had a pretty good idea what this was going to be about, and he was both relieved and anxious. Hopefully, Hetty had a plan or at the very least some thoughts about what to do about Jack Simon.
The Operations Manager set her letter opener down and folded her hands. "I want you to know that we will do everything we can to protect your wife. I spoke with Ira Weiss and he will be coming to Los Angeles to help us with insight into why Mr. Simon possibly contacted her. He also mentioned that Major Morales is currently in the region. Ironically, he was tasked in finding and capturing Mr. Simon. He is very concerned about this latest development and expressed his concern and will do whatever he can to protect your partner."
Deeks sank back in his chair. "What had this guy done? And do either Ira or Migs know why he would contact Kensi?"
"It would seem that Mr. Simon is looking for an exit plan and that Kensi may be the key to that plan. He may be hoping for a sympathetic ear based on their past. Or possibly hoping to act on any residual feelings that may be laying in your partner's head and/or heart from their early years together." Hetty knew the minute Deeks connected the dots. She always admired his intellect and she also knew that he would not be happy with what he figured out.
"NO!" was all he said as he got up and left the area. Hetty just sank back in her chair. Her problems just multiplied. She needed to keep Kensi safe and keep her husband from taking matters into his own hands. Hetty closed her eyes and whispered a silent prayer for all the help she could get.
Deeks storms back to his desk only to find Kensi gone. Sam tells him she went up to ops to talk to Nell. Deeks thinks to himself about all the heartache that Jack Simon has caused her and the walls he had to break down. He won't let him do that to his wife/partner again. He will fight for her with his dying breath. With that, he gets up to find her.
Sam watched his teammate leave the area. His gaze then shifted to Hetty. He hoped to the high heavens she can come up with a plan or the team may fracture again. Sam is not so sure they would recover from this.
- TBC -