KING'S RETURN

/Chapter 4/

Colby and Deeks watched the door to their prison open slowly, both relieved to finally, perhaps, be getting answers; yet apprehensive of what was still to come from their as yet, unknown captors.

They had to squint at the back light pouring in through the open door; while the room that they were being held was not pitch dark it was very dim.

"'Bout time you introduce yourselves...I have a thing or two to say about the hospitality..." Deeks grumbled.

"Still the smart ass I see..." a voice said.

The voice registered in the back of Deeks mind...sounded familiar...he knew it from somewhere...; his internal musings were quickly answered when two men entered the room: the one that spoke moving immediately to Deeks and slapping him across the face.

"What the hell..." Colby cried out, trying to look behind him to see what was going on.

Deeks just shook his head before looking up at the man who hit him, spitting out the name like venom, "King."

"Detective...so glad you didn't forget me," King said smugly, "Because I certainly haven't forgotten you...or your partner..."

"You lay one hand on her..." Deeks threatened, fighting against his bonds.

"I have to say, you and your team weren't part of my plans; but like that proverbial 'bad penny', you just keep showing up." King said. "So, who am I to question providence, when you just fall right in my lap...I guess I get my vengeance after all."

"How in the hell did you get out," Deeks ground out angrily, "they should have locked you up and thrown away the key."

"I have as many friends in 'high' places as enemies...and in case I ever find myself needing their services again, I think I'll keep that little piece of information to myself," King answered.

Finally cutting into the conversation, Colby demanded of either man, "You know each other?"

"Yeah, had the pleasure of arresting the son of a bitch after he kidnapped my partner," Deeks shot out.

"So that your specialty...kidnapping...and, sounds like someone wants a little payback. But you said it yourself, he wasn't your target, I was; so what the hell do you want," Colby demanded, both wanting answers and to take some of the focus off the detective.

Deeks interjected curiously, eyes never leaving King as he addressed Colby, "That's just it...King's a high-end specialty thief, not a kidnapper..."

"Stealing...kidnapping, believe it or not they are not that dissimilar..." King said.

"So, you've taken to stealing 'people' now," Deeks said sarcastically. "No matter what you want to call it, it's a federal offense to steal people."

Colby just stared at King coldly, a fear slowly creeping over him as he asked a simple question, "Who?"

King smiled and went to stand over the agent, "You my friend have been very busy boy the last few years...really pissing off the wrong kind of people...did you really think that the people Lancer answered to would take his loss lightly...they apparently had a lot of time and money invested in him.

Seeing Colby visibly pale at Lancer's name caused Deeks to ask slowly, "Who's Lancer?"

"See our little FBI agent here has been a very busy boy...had his fingers in everyone's pie, so to speak," King answered, looking over at Deeks he asked, "Did you know you're in the company of an honest to goodness spy...a triple agent...and I'm being paid a king's ransom to deliver him to his former associates: I hear China is lovely this time of year."

Deeks suddenly remembered why he recognized the agent—though not directly involved—NCIS, along with all the federal agencies had been put on alert when Colby had escaped custody, "Wait, last year, the FBI agent accused of spying...that escaped custody...that was you..."

Colby's lowered his head in defeat, would he ever truly escape the nightmare of that assignment; the obvious answer, as he again fought against his bonds, was a resounding no; and what's worse is now someone else was caught up in it with him.

"You know they'll kill him if you turn him over to the Chinese," Deeks said slowly. "It's one thing to steal someone's property and sell it to the highest bidder...but you're talking about sending a man to his death."

King looked intently from one man to the other, before finally giving a shrug, "Don't worry, he won't be alone...Agent Granger won't be the only one dyeing before this is all over."

"You're right about that one King," Deeks shot back angrily.

King just gave an amused chuckle before leaving the room with the other man.

Deeks watched them go, waiting to hear the lock click and the men's footsteps to recede before turning to the Colby, who had yet to raise his head.

"Hey, man, you alright..." Deeks questioned, growing concerned with the agents defeated demeanor.

Colby never looked up as he shook his head, and Deeks knew that there was a whole lot more to the whole "spy" thing that he was not aware...something more than just being 'undercover', and it had left the young agent haunted.

"Look, we just have to keep it together...our teams will find us man," Deeks cajoled the man, "Don't give up yet."

Colby never looked up, just whispered hoarsely, "It doesn't matter...it's never gonna be over..."

...ncis la...numb3rs...ncis la...numb3rs...

A/N: let's see about getting out boys "rescued"...