Interagency Cooperation
/Chapter 10/
A/N: yes, this is it...final chapter...and I'm sorry, I've had terrible writers block, so the wrap up probably sucks—it's typical TV...this story absolutely did not go in the direction I originally intended...and quite frankly...I quit! Now I'm gonna focus on a few other stories...
...
The hours crawled by like years for all the agents...
...In the rest of the house the four men took turns dozing...
...In the van the agents took two hour shifts in an attempt to rest...
...In Ops, Hetty too made the tech's take short breaks to refresh and rest...
...David had demanded and gotten some analgesics to try to take the edge off the pain and peroxide to help clean the wound and forestall infection. David and Kensi also took turns soaking towels in cold water and laying them over Colby in an attempt to keep his fever down.
"How ya' holding up partner," David asked.
"...'m f'ne..." Colby answered tiredly.
"Agent Sinclair how is he," Hetty asked quietly.
"Wound's stopped bleeding...but, it's starting to look inflamed," David reported, popping the thermometer in his partners ear, "...fever is steady at 100.4"
"Its three hours until Cooper meets with his buyer..." Hetty said.
Giving a tired sigh, and running his hands down his face, David replied to the unspoken question, "We've gone this long...not gonna let everything Colby's been through be in vain; he wants these guys taken down...that's what we're gonna do..."
Cracking open heavy lids, Colby gave a lopsided grin, "thanks partner."
...
Before dawn, Cooper roused the sleeping men, "get up...Stryker—go make sure the merchandise is secure in the van...Deeks, you and Frank go get our guests up and in the SUV..."
Once everything and everyone was loaded, Cooper directed, "Stryker, you and Frank take the van; Deeks, you drive our guests in the SUV..."
"What about you..." Sam asked suspiciously.
"I have a stop to make, and Feds to throw off the trail...I'll meet you at the docks...pier 37...in about an hour." Cooper said.
...
"We've got a location..." Callen stated, putting the van in gear. "Tactical will be in place when you arrive."
...
They gave nods of understanding, before going to their respective vehicles to carry out their assignments.
Cooper pulled out first followed by Deeks, and then the van...down the road, Cooper pulled into the convenience story while the SUV and the van continued towards town...and the buy.
...
"Okay, there is a small hospital about six blocks from the pier; I'm gonna hang back try to get caught at the light and get lost in traffic...I should be able to drop Colby off at the hospital and still be back with you before Frank gets suspicious," Deeks reported.
"That's risky, if Cooper gets to the meet and you're not there..." Hetty said.
"Hey, he's got to drop the tracker then go pick up the pathogens where ever he has them stashed...the only one we have to worry about is Frank," Deeks countered, looking in the rear view mirror at the semi-conscious agent, "He's held on long enough, he needs that hospital..."
"Precede, Mr. Deeks..." Hetty interjected. "We'll call and inform them of your arrival."
The early morning rush hour traffic was just starting when they hit town and soon, Deeks was several cars behind the van.
Sam looked in the rear view mirror, and gave a chuckle, "He drives like an old lady...that's the second light he's got caught at..."
Looking back at the SUV, Frank snorted, "Not like he don't know where we're goin'...he'll catch up."
Sam just nodded.
When the van was two lights ahead, Deeks made the turn to the hospital...and as promised, medical personnel were waiting outside the ER doors with a gurney.
David jumped out of the back and began giving the doctors the run- down of Colby's injuries while they moved him from the car to the gurney.
When David jumped back in the SUV, Kensi protested, "David, you should stay with your partner...we've got this covered."
"Deeks shows up without us in the backseat, Cooper will know some things up," David said. "It will be over soon, it's in the doctor's hands now...I can't just sit around and wait..."
Deeks just nodded his understanding and peeled out of the lot, "If I take the side streets, I should be able to catch back up with the van right before it hits the pier."
The light traffic on the side streets soon had them pulling in a right behind the van. Ten minutes later, they were parked, side by side at the pier.
"So how long before Cooper gets here," Sam demanded, when he Frank and Deeks meet up at the back of the van.
...
"Sam, tactical is in place and we have eyes on you...take down on your mark..." Callen said.
...
Sam turned in a circle, surveying the area, giving several nods to let Callen know he understood.
"You sure you should leave them alone like that," Frank asked, waving towards the SUV.
"Where they gonna go, we're right here, they get out of the car, we shoot 'em," Deeks said with a shrug, "besides, that army code of theirs...the commander is not about to leave a soldier behind."
"Anyone know who we're meeting with...it they show up before Cooper does..." Sam trailed off.
"Nah, Coop always gives himself leeway...he'll be here in plenty of time, don't sweat it..." Frank replied, leaning casually against the side of the van.
After several tense minutes, Sam finally said, "I'm gonna walk the perimeter...don't like this location...to many places to hide, to many blind spots..."
Frank just shrugged, "whatever man...just don't go far, Cooper will freak if we're not all here waiting on him; and you don't want to know what Cooper does if he feels he's not in control..."
"Yeah, copy that...I'll stay in sight," Sam said, moving off.
Once out of ear shot Sam asked, "Anyone got eyes on Cooper or the buyers?"
It was Eric who replied, "So far nothing...wait...just got eyes on Cooper's car; he pulled into the west gate...should be on your location in less than five minutes."
"Roger that," Sam replied, sauntering back to the group, he gave a subtle nod towards Deeks.
Cooper pulled up beside the van and got out of this car, a small box in his hands.
"So that they rest of your merchandise," Sam asked, nodding towards the box.
Cooper ignored Sam and opened the back of the van and laid the box near the crates; he then turned towards the three men, "The buyers should be here in less than thirty...Frank, move the SUV and our guests out of sight; these guys aren't going to want any spectators."
"Yeah, sure Coop," Frank replied, going to the SUV.
Sam and Deeks exchanged grim looks, when Frank opened the door he'd see Colby missing and alert Cooper...
"Hey, hey, let me do that Coop...I never got to finish my party earlier," Deeks interjected quickly as he stepped between Frank and the driver's door.
"We don't have time for your dalliances, Deeks..." Cooper shot back.
"Both of you move...I'll secure the prisoners..." Sam cut in, pushing both men out of the way and climbing into the SUV before anyone could protest further.
Cooper nodded, instructing Sam, "Just hide the car a few containers over...make sure they're not going anywhere..."
"I know how to do my job," Sam shot back.
...
Parking the SUV out of sight, Sam turned to Kensi and David, "He just played it in our favor...you're both back in the game; you both got a piece?"
Kensi pulled out the .38 Deeks had given her earlier, while David lifted his pant leg to reveal his back-up weapon; Sam nodded, "The windows are tinted enough, Cooper or Frank would have to get right up on the car to see it was empty...so you two can take up position with Callen and the tac squad."
As Sam headed back towards the meet, Kensi and David melted into the maze of shipping containers to take their place with the assault team.
...
"Everything is secure," Sam reported as he jogged up to the van.
"Good, now I suggest you two," pointing to Deeks and Frank, "find cover positions; like I said, these guys don't like a lot of company—but they will expect muscle," Cooper nodded towards Sam.
The two men drew their weapons and moved off in opposite directions to find cover.
"These guys must not be some run of the mill buyers..." Sam commented.
"These guys make the mob look like choir boys...and for continued good business and good health...you play by their rules and keep them happy," Cooper replied, nodding towards a car and a van approaching, "...and here they are, let's get this over as quickly as possible."
Sam just nodded, as he moved to stand near the van doors.
Cooper took several steps towards the now stopped vehicles and waited while three men exited the car.
"Mr. Cooper..." a man of obvious middle-eastern descent addressed the two men somewhat skeptically, "you have actually procured the entire order?"
"Yes, the entire order..." Cooper said evenly, "... the extra Intel and logistics required cost me a pretty penny, I might add."
"You're being paid quite well for your work...your 'expenses' are not our concern," the man replied. "So, where is the merchandise?"
"Stryker, open it up," Cooper demanded.
Sam nodded and opened the van doors to reveal the crates, handing the smaller box to Cooper who in turn handed it to the buyer. He then turned back to the crates and pried off one of the lids to reveal what was inside.
The two other men moved forward to inspect what was in the crate, one turning to nod at his boss; before closing the lid and beginning the task of loading it to the other van.
"Satisfied," Cooper said impatiently, adding expectantly, "You have your merchandise..."
"Certainly," the man replied, waving towards the car. Another man exited the car carrying a briefcase, and handed it off to his boss.
"You'll find that it is all there..." the man said smugly.
Having moved off to set the case on the trunk of his car, Cooper looked up from the money, "Our business is concluded then..."
"Uh, not quite..." Sam said with a shake of his head. "You're all under arrest."
On the signal, the tactical team poured out of hiding, sending everyone in the open diving for cover and pulling their weapons.
Sam skirted to the side of the van for cover as the 'terrorists' began shooting...losing sight of Cooper, who had slammed the briefcase shut, and quickly ducked behind a container.
"Cooper's rabbiting towards the SUV..." Sam said.
As the gunfight raged on the pier, Cooper made his way through the maze of containers to the SUV...he had his money and if the Feds managed to take down Amal Hamat; he would still need the hostages.
He huffed in relief when he saw the SUV and rushed over and pulled open the door, falling back against the rear door, startled, when he was met with a gun to his face.
"Hi, ya Coop. Goin' somewhere," a grinning Deeks said, as he slid from the driver's seat, his gun never wavering from his suspect, "...'cause it looks like your trying to skip out of the party...and after all the trouble we went through to surprise you."
In the distance the gunfire was lessening and voices could be heard shouting orders.
Cooper cocked his head for a moment in confusion, the meaning of Deeks words slowing registering, "You? You're a Fed...?"
"What, why would that be surprising..." Deeks said in exasperation, "but really, just a lowly LAPD cop..."
"...and Stryker," Cooper asked.
"Well, he is a Fed...well, a type of Fed, anyway...he's not FBI like Granger; who, by the way is safely tucked away at the hospital..." Deeks replied off-handedly.
Cooper turned and yanked the back door opened, "All of them?"
Deeks just nodded, "Yep, all agents...I play in the big boy sandbox..."
"You set me up..." Cooper's voice was tight and angry.
"Yeah, it's my day job..." Deeks said, his tone turning hard, "time to join the rest of the party...step away from the car."
"Deeks where are you...we've got everyone accounted for except Cooper," Sam asked.
"Cooper tried to make a run for it; caught up to him at the SUV..." Deeks answered as he made a move to shut the car door between himself and Cooper.
Taking the small distraction as his chance, the ex-CIA agent simultaneously drew his weapon and swung the metal case in the direction of Deeks head. The detective stumbled away from the swing but the case still manage a glancing blow to the side of Deeks head.
In the sudden attack, Deeks gun discharged wide, alerting the other agents.
"Deeks? Deeks..." Kensi yelled over the com.
Before Deeks could regain his balance, Cooper gave the detective another forceful shove, sending him to crashing to the ground; then Cooper yanked open the driver's side door.
Deeks scrambled on hands and knees and grabbed Cooper's lower legs under the open door, giving a sharp yank; pulling Cooper off his feet: in return Cooper kicked out with both of his feet, knocking Deeks back several feet to land hard on his back, knocking the breath from him and bouncing his head off the pavement.
Deeks lay momentarily stunned by the force of the fall, while Cooper grabbed up the case and scrambled back to his feet. He had just thrown the case into the car when several overlapping voices halted his actions.
"Federal agents..."
"FBI...freeze..."
Cooper gave a frustrated sigh, his head dropping to his chest, his weight resting on his arms as he leaned into the driver's seat.
"Put your hands where we can see them..."
Cooper slowly made to comply, but as he turned from the car, his hands came up to reveal a gun, that he immediately leveled towards the downed detective.
"Can you take me out before I put a bullet in another one of your agents," Cooper asked as he turned slightly from the SUV to face the several agents, while his weapon remained pointed at Deeks.
"You shoot him, we shoot you," Callen ground out.
"It's over Cooper, put down the gun," Sam ordered.
"Not quite...you want your boy to stay in one piece you let me get in the car and leave," Cooper directed the agents.
"Can't let you do that..." Callen replied.
Suddenly everyone was distracted by a sudden yell..."Hey Cooper..."; having raised up on one elbow, Deeks half lay, half sat, as he fired off two rounds through the car window, dropping the ex-CIA agent.
Kensi and David headed towards Deeks, who had dropped back down to a prone position, bringing a hand to his aching head; as Callen and Sam rushed up to secure Cooper.
"Deeks, you alright," Kensi asked as he dropped down to her partners side, "you're bleeding..."
...
Deeks sat at his desk, his head resting in his hand, his pencil tapping restlessly.
Kensi looked up at her partner, eyeing him with an impatient frown, "Deeks...stop...that; you've spent the last hour on the same report."
"I'm injured...you can't expect me to do paperwork..." the detective pouted.
"How much longer you gonna try to milk it for," Sam asked as he sat back in his seat, "maybe the doc needs reconsider your return to duty if you're that bad off..."
"What...no, I'm fine..." Deeks exclaimed.
"Then I expect that report...and all of these," Hetty said as she appeared in the bullpen, and waved her hand over Deeks in box, "to be completed by the end of the day."
The other agents chuckled lightly as Deeks just sat back in his seat and gave a pout, "You wound me Hetty."
Ignoring her detective's theatrics, Hetty informed the team, "Now, we have some visitors..."
"Hey, Granger, you're looking a lot better than last time we saw you," Sam said, getting up from his chair and going to shake Colby's hand.
"How you feeling, man," Deeks asked, getting up hands also.
"Much better now that I've been sprung," Colby said.
"Gotta keep the arm in a sling for another week and anther week of desk duty, but doc says he's going to be back to a hundred percent in no time," David said.
"Hey," Deeks said, waving his hand around the files piled across the agents desks.
"Hasn't the man suffered enough," Sam said with a laugh.
Hetty stepped back and watched as the younger generation of agents traded friendly barbs and jokes back and forth, content in moment that they mission was complete and everyone came back alive...until the next case put these dedicated young people between innocent bystanders and those that wished to wreak havoc for the sake of greed or country.
...NCIS LA...NUMB3RS...NCIS LA...NUMB3RS...NCIS LA...
A/N #1: sorry if the ending sucks...I have literally rewritten it four times...but every idea I had was leading to an additional chapter that was out in left field and not related to the story...so I just gave it a typical TV ending...
Epilogues not used...
...an ER/ICU scene with theteams (deleted)
...Hetty having a heart to heart scene with Colby in the hospital (kinda like her scene with Deeks in 'Personal' (deleted)
...A Deeks/Granger hospital scene where they both blame themselves for the Op nearly being blown (bringing up that Deeks feels like the weak link in the team because of what happened in "Personal" & Colby's whole "spy" fiasco)—THIS ONE IS ACTUALLY ABOUT HALF WRITTEN, But is really out in left field...and really wasn't a good way to end the story...I can still finish it, and post it if anyone is interested.
A/N #2: I know that probably wasn't the Deeks whump you wanted but I prefer to write Deeks as a competent and skillful cop because they so often portray him as bungling and inept—which ticks me off.