Chapter Nine:
Stonebridge: "So does that mean you're staying."
Scott: "Of course I am, buddy. I'm not this good at anything else."
Stonebridge: "And you're not that good at this."
- "Strike Back: Shadow Warfare" episode 10.
As the team finished their after-action reports, building the case against Master Sergeant Anderson for the theft of semtex from the China Beach Naval Station, Eric and Nell made their way into the bullpen area.
"The esteemed Henrietta Lange and Assistant Director Owen Granger respectfully request your presence in the armory at this time," Eric announced.
"What did we do now?" Deeks asked as he, and the rest of the team, closed their laptops.
"I did nothing more than my job," Sam replied. "And I did it with my usual level of excellence."
"Of course," Callen agreed as they start to make their way to the armory.
"We all kicked some ass on this case," Kensi said with some pride.
"Right here guys," Deeks said. He was largely marginalized in this case – Sam was in the field as Chief Hanna, Kensi undercover as a Lieutenant and Callen as a Lt. Commander all assigned to China Lake. Deeks was assigned as a private contractor. He never got near Anderson or the missing semtex.
"You wound up finding that Petty Officers Shepard and Samuels were stealing supplies from the motor pool and selling them to a local chop shop," Nell said. "That is something."
"When you're tired of us, you can go back to the auto theft division. Maybe you can find out what happened to my 1984 Toyota Celica GTS," Eric said to Deeks.
"I'm not going back," Deeks mumbled.
"You had a Celica?" Kensi asked, a little surprised.
"My step dad had a Celica. I wound up with it when he traded it in for an Acura Integra. A year later, he traded my Mom in for his secretary," Eric said with a shrug.
"And that just turned uncomfortable," Nell added as they walked into the armory.
Hetty was standing with several envelopes in her hand in the back of the armory with Granger standing beside her. There were several large boxes next to the armory's worktables.
"What's up?" Sam asked.
"Yesterday, David Nolan agreed to a 15-year to life sentence for his involvement in the Kamali terror cell's planned small pox attack on Los Angeles. He is the final member of the cell to agree to a deal. As promised, Honos was able to get long sentences for all the participants without a single case going to trial."
"Genevieve's specialty," Deeks noted.
"Yes, Detective Deeks," Hetty nodded. "As is her other practice, the Director has sent a thank you offering for this office's involvement in the case." Hetty pointed to the large boxes on the floor.
"Oh, presents!" Eric said, excited.
"The items in the boxes are for Agents Callen, Hanna and Blye. Detective Deeks, your item is in a box inside one of the boxes."
Sam opened the box closest to him and pulled out a new sapphire blue Kevlar vest. "Nice," Sam said he held it up. The white lettering of NCIS was slightly larger than the team's current vest. While lighter in weight, Kevlar plates in both the front and back of the vest while a Kevlar flap secured with velcro provided protection on the wearer's sides. There were holders for both knives and handguns designed in the underside of the vest.
"Detective Deeks's friend Detective Matt Bernhart wrote a rather an impassioned letter to Director Fitzgerald stating his concern about the team's Kevlar vests," Hetty explained.
Deeks opened a box with his his name on it. Pulling the contents out, he said, "Cool!" Deeks's vest was a midnight blue, more in line with the LAPD Kevlar vests, with NCIS/LAPD LIAISON emblazoned on the organizational nameplate.
"There will be a second round of vests being sent in the next week or so for when these are out at the dry cleaners," Granger said. "The Director has written glowing letters to Leon Vance - and in your case Deeks, Leon Vance and Charlie Beck - about your work with Honos. These will be part of your permanent jacket."
Hetty nodded in approval. "She has also petitioned the Department of Defense to bestow the Navy Meritorious Civilian Service Award for your work on this case."
"That's great," Nell said.
"As for you Mr. Beale, Miss Jones, Commander Rehme was impressed with your work in the crib. He admits a preference for NCIS and the Office of Special Projects because of his daughter but even his staff not aware of this team's involvement with the Amanda Rehme's rescue were impressed with your work."
"Go Team Bones," Eric said as he high-fived Nell.
"Bones?" Granger asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Yeah, like Brangelina or Bennifer," Eric said with some pride. "B from Beale…"
"Moving on," Hetty said after clearing her throat. "The Commander and his team in Honos have created a new system that incorporates all current surveillance programs, most modern security cameras, facial recognition, government and financial records. In its testing stage, BACKGROUND is currently ten times faster than the programs we are using in Ops."
"Wow," Nell was impressed.
"The Commander wants an agency outside of Honos to start employing it when it goes live in their offices next month. He would like that agency to be NCIS's Office of Special Projects," Hetty said.
"Leon Vance has already signed off on you two spending a week in New York for training and supervising the installation of BACKGROUND on our systems," Granger added.
Hetty handed Eric and Nell envelopes. "Do not get too comfortable with Director Fitzgerald's budget for travel."
"Wow," both Eric and Nell said. First class plane tickets and a week at Ritz-Carlton at Battery Park.
"And this is a personal gift from the Director for all your hard work." Hetty handed the envelope in her hand to Nell.
"Oh, wow," Nell said showing the envelope contents to Eric.
"Awesome!" Eric said with a big smile.
"Come on guys, share," Kensi asked.
"These are orchestra seats to 'Hamilton' – seventh row, center, orchestra," Eric told the group.
"Those are the best seats in the house," Deeks said. As the entire team turned to look at him, he added, "I like quality seats. Seventh row is eye level with the stage in most Broadway theatres."
"Detective Deeks is correct," Hetty agreed.
Taking the conversation back to Los Angeles, Granger addressed the group. "You all did great work on this case. The Director also wants to invite the team, Michelle Hanna and Matt Bernhart for a night of dinner and drinks at Bourbon Steak tomorrow. She's reserved the terrace for us starting at seven. She'd like Michelle and Matt there because of their involvement with the team."
"Nice." Callen said.
"Michelle isn't going to mind a fun Saturday night out," Sam said.
"And Detective Deeks can reassure Detective Bernhart that he is now properly protected when he's in the field," Hetty said. "It's been a busy week, please, finish up and go home."
"Don't need to tell me twice," Callen said.
"Michelle wanted to try a new place for date night," Sam was smiling. "Bourbon Steak sounds like a good start."
"How do you think the Director knew we were fans of 'Hamilton'?" Eric asked.
"You two were singing or humming "The Room Where It Happens" on and off the whole time you were in the crib," Deeks noted.
"And everyone in that room is based in New York," Nell said.
"But not everyone is a 'Hamilton' fan," Eric protested.
"Enough probably are," Deeks said. "Enjoy the tickets. I'll wait until it finally makes it way out here." Deeks turned to Kensi, "I need to pick up Monty at the groomers."
"I'll see you at home," she said. "Hey, the groomers are near…"
"Brooklyn Johnny's," Deeks was already planning a stop. "Meatball Parm?"
"Please," she said with a grin. "You know me so well."
Kensi returned to her desk and found a large envelope. She picked it up and looked at it.
Deeks was putting his messenger bag strap over his shoulder. "Kensi?"
"It's from the office of The Commandant of the Marine Corps."
"Why would the Marines be sending you a package?" Callen asked as he shut down his computer.
"I asked them to reconsider the circumstances around my father's death. It wasn't an accident. It was…"
"Line of duty," Sam said. "Your father was murdered because of the illicit actions of a fellow Marine. He was doing the right thing and that should be recognized."
"They're just getting to this now?" Callen asked.
"I didn't think to apply until the summer after when…" Kensi waved her hand. Her mother suggested asking the Marines to change her father's status during a night of ice cream and "Four Weddings and a Funeral" after she learned about his long undercover with Monica Davis. She filled out all the paperwork alone a night Deeks didn't answer the phone and wasn't replying to her texts. "They wanted more information and set a deadline but those requests came while I was in Afghanistan. I started again after Inspector Wallace left and…"
"Open it Kens. Everyone here knows he died doing the right thing," Deeks said. "If the brass doesn't understand it now, we'll help them understand with you."
"Hoo-rah," Sam said. "I'm in."
"We're a team," Callen said.
Kensi took a deep breath and opened the envelope. Pulling out the top sheet of paper, Kensi started to read. Her eyes filled with tears.
"Kens?" Deeks asked softly.
"It is the opinion of this office that Master Sergeant Donald Blye died as a result of actions to protect the reputation of the Marines and to bring justice to the family of an American citizen. Master Sergeant Blye's death is considered in the line of duty with all honors and benefits bestowed in accordance to the Marine regulations."
Sam walked over and gave Kensi a hug. "The Marines take care of their own. There was never a doubt."
Wiping away a tear, Kensi nodded yes.
"It's good we're having a team night out tomorrow. Now we have more to celebrate than just new Kevlar vests and some fancy new computer programs," Callen said as he gave Kensi a hug. "So glad for you."
"Maybe I'll stop off at Magnolia," Deeks told Kensi as he kissed her on the forehead. "You deserve a red velvet."
"Who deserves a red velvet?" Hetty asked. "I'm quite taken with Magnolia's cupcakes."
"I'll pick one up for you too," Deeks said to Hetty. "I'll bring it to dinner tomorrow."
"Thank you Detective but I am quite satisfied with tomorrow's dinner plans sans cupcake."
As Deeks left, Kensi told Hetty, "The Marines reclassified my father's death as being in the line of duty."
"As well they should," Hetty said. "I'm surprised it took this long."
Not wanting to get into the some of the reason for the delay, Kensi agreed. "I was in paperwork hell."
"Perhaps on Monday I'll make a call to the SecNav and see if any other worthy families are in paperwork hell. See you tomorrow evening, Miss Blye."
"Thanks Hetty," Kensi said as she watched her boss walk away.
Kensi took two forms from the large envelope that needed to be faxed to the VA. A small white envelope fell from the larger one. The white Connor stationery felt good in her hands – and something far too pricy for the Marines. Opening the envelope, the notecard had the name Genevieve Fitzgerald-Jefferson on the top.
"Dear Kensi,
I would like to open this note by saying I had nothing to do with the resolution of your father's case before the Marines. Instead, that hard work was done by an outraged Commander Rehme and an equally pissed off General Keith Jefferson, U.S Army Retired and my husband. Nothing like a retired General with hours to kill discussing the proper treatment of the surviving families of fallen heroes with fellow Generals, one powerful Senator and a still outraged Commander Rehme.
The Commander found your paperwork sitting in bureaucratic limbo while doing a background check on your team. The more he read, the angrier he got. Since I was in Los Angeles, he found my rather bored husband and the two of them mounted a campaign. Expect a call soon from Senator Dan Lockhart. Both Commander Rehme and Senator Lockhart believe NCIS's Office of Special Projects saved their daughters – I think so too. The Senator wants to make sure no other daughter has to go through the hoops you've been forced to jump through. He wants to speak about the time spent getting what your father and what your family rightly deserved.
It was a pleasure working with you and your team - a skilled group of operators that make Hetty the envy of every law enforcement agency. If you are in New York, I'd love to have dinner with you or with you and Detective Deeks. Perhaps discuss the future as the past becomes more settled. And you can assure the Detective that I will have "Hamilton" tickets. I have gotten more done with "Hamilton" tickets in the last 18-months than I ever thought possible. Over 200 years after his death, Alexander Hamilton is still doing so much for his country.
Your friend in New York – G
P.S. If Hetty still has that burn room – this note would be an excellent candidate for a trip!"
Kensi smiled. Deeks probably wasn't ever leaving LAPD, she was never leaving Deeks. She had her father's reputation restored, her relationship with her mother repaired and a career with options. What started as a nightmare with her work family when Damien Scott invaded Sam's home turned out just right.
Thinking of Damien Scott, she whispered "Fuck yeah" before packing up her paperwork – including Genevieve's note to show Deeks – and started home.
Their home.
-30-
Thank you so much for reading. This was fun – every summer is fun here with all of you. There really aren't the right words to thank you all for your feedback, likes and support. Every summer is just an honor.
Looking forward to a great season eight!
Tess
