Chapter 8- Ray

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Ray watched on with fear ever present in his eyes as the man moved closer to him.

"You know I told them. I told them!" He said as he yelled into the camera. "I told them what would happen to if they didn't hand me Marty Deeks and now look he's dead. "So I'm going to give you 24 hours. Give me Marty Deeks and Ray-Ray here" He said as he squeezed his shoulder causing Ray to shudder. "He can go." He said as he sat down at a desk nearby and started typing instructions and sent the video to NCIS Washington who would soon forward it on to Hetty.

Meanwhile Deeks and Kensi were back at their desks in the bullpen with Deeks working on his list and Kensi trying to follow up on leads relating to Eric Beaty.

Admittedly she hadn't known Deeks long, but to see him so concentrated, focused, desperate to find out who was behind this worried her. He seemed much more the surfer, relaxed type of guy. She got up and walked over to him and put her hand on his shoulder. "Deeks?" She said.

"I'm getting there okay, there's just a lot to go through." He replied, frustrated.

"I just wanted to see if you wanted to some help, that's all." She asked softly.

"Sorry I didn't mean to snap" He said as he tried to apologise

"It's alright I understand." She said as she pulled over Sam's chair and sat down as Deeks smiled and split the pile.

"Alright, so Gordon John Brandel." Said Kensi

"Wait, what name did you say?" Asked Deeks.

"Gordon John Brandel" Repeated Kensi.

"I didn't put that name on the list." Said Deeks.

"But I did Mr Deeks." Said Hetty as she came into view.

"Who Is Gordon John Brandel?" Asked Kensi

"That is a discussion for Mr Deeks and myself Ms Blye. Mr Deeks, please join me in my office." She said as she turned to walk back towards her office with Deeks following behind her. They sat down and simply stared at each other.

"Why would you put his name on that list Hetty?" He asked

"I think that we both know why Mr Deeks." Replied Hetty. "What happened between you and your father? What he did to you I.."

"Don't" Deeks said. (Deeks paused). Just don't Hetty. What he did is not something I'm prepared to talk about."

"And if he is involved in all this Mr Deeks."

"Do you have a reason to think he's involved Hetty?"

"I think that it would be reasonable to assume that he may be involved. "

"Is there something you're not telling me Hetty, because you know I've been a cop for a long time and you're holding something back. What is it?" Is he involved?"

"We have no evidence of that Mr Deeks." She replied.

"Hetty! (Deeks paused) If he is involved. I need to know. If he's back and he's killing, killing people I know and care about I need to keep them safe. "He said as his voice got louder with each word. "I have a daughter that needs to be kept safe!" He said as Nell approached Hetty's office.

"Am I interrupting something?" She asked slowly.

"Not at all Ms Jones. Do you have something?"

"We received the results from the forensic analysis. There was a voice print match to a Gordon John Brandel." Said Nell as Deeks head dropped. "The voice match was confirmed against recordings of him during his prison intake interviews." She finished.

Hetty smiled softly. Thank you Ms Jones." She said as Nell turned and left her office.

"Well I guess now you have your confirmation" Said Deeks.

"Indeed we do Mr Deeks. Now come with me I have something to show you." She said as she headed towards OPS with Deeks in tow.

Kensi watched as Hetty and Deeks headed up to OPS. She got up and out of her chair and followed Deeks up to OPS. As she started to enter OPS Hetty stood in front of her and stopped.

"I'm sorry Ms Blye I must ask that you wait outside." Kensi stared at Hetty.

"What's going on Hetty?"

"You will be briefed shortly Ms Blye. In the meantime please call Mr Callen and Mr Hanna for a status update.

Kensi looked at Hetty and then Deeks who nodded back he was okay.

"Alright" She said as she turned and headed back down the stairs to the bullpen to call Callen and Sam.

"Mr Beale, please clear the operations centre." Said Hetty once she and Deeks were in OPS.

"What's going on Hetty?" Asked Deeks. "And why couldn't Kensi be here."

"We received another video Mr Deeks. Play the video Mr Beale." She said as Eric typed into his tablet and loaded up the video.

Meanwhile down in the bullpen Kensi was calling Callen and Sam.

"Callen, its Kensi. Hetty wants a status update" Said gruffly

"Hetty wants an update?" Queried Callen as he put the phone on speaker for Sam to hear. "Then why isn't she calling?" He asked, confused.

"She's with Deeks in OPS, she told me to check in with you two then I would be briefed."

"You weren't allowed in? Asked Sam

"Nope" She replied

"What the hell is going on?" Asked Callen.

"I don't know, but I mean it's obviously to do with Deeks, personally I mean, otherwise why would Hetty shut me out of OPS, out of the briefing?" Said Kensi. "So anyway, do you have an update for me to pass onto Hetty?"

"Yeah, we came, we saw, we took over the investigation from SDPD and the NCIS office here investigated the crime scene. Didn't reveal anything that the agents here couldn't have handled and we shipped the evidence to Abby and we're heading back on the next flight."

"So why exactly did Hetty send you to San Diego then, seems like a waste of time."

Callen thought for a moment. "To get us out of the way?" He said almost like it was a question.

"That doesn't make any sense G. Why would Hetty want us out the way?" Asked Sam

"Maybe the same reason I was excluded from OPS?"

"When you find out text us and tell Hetty we've done what we can here and we're heading back. See you in a couple of hours" Said Callen as he hung up the phone.

Back in OPS Deeks had finished watching the video and started shaking his head.

"Mr Beale, if could, please exit OPS. I will come and get you when Mr Deeks and I are finished.

Eric nodded and walked out of OPS and down the stairs to Kensi waiting.

"Eric, where's Deeks and Hetty?" She asked

"Still OPS." He replied tablet in hand.

Kensi motioned her head up to OPS. "What's going Eric?"

Eric didn't know whether to tell Kensi. On one side Hetty hadn't told him not to, and on the other side Hetty didn't include Kensi in the briefing but surely he'd want to know.

"Eric?" She queried but Eric didn't respond. "Come on you know I'm gonna be briefed anyway."

Against his better judgement Eric told her about the video.

"And you think Deeks knows this person as well, so this has all been about getting to Deeks?" She said as she put the pieces together.

"I guess, I mean that's what it looks like."

"Guess we just have to wait and find out." Said Kensi as she stared at the locked doors to OPS.

Meanwhile back in OPS. Deeks and Hetty stood in silence, before Deeks yelled, angry, and upset.

"Gordon is the one that's terrorizing these people and you didn't tell me!"

"I didn't know Mr Deeks. Not for certain. I had a feeling he was involved."

"Oh come on Hetty!" He said as he turned to walked away from her. "A feeling! A feeling! Hetty I know I haven't known you very long, but you, (Deeks chuckled) you don't seem like the kind of person that has feelings about this kind of thing."

"I understand your frustration Mr Deeks." She said as he remained calm.

"You, what?" Said Deeks, unsure he heard what Hetty had said. "You understand my frustration!" He yelled. "I lost a friend and I'm about to lose another one! Tell me where he is Hetty."

Hetty stared at Deeks. "Hetty tell me where he is." He repeated.

"I'll have Mr Beale send you the location Mr Deeks." She said as the doors to OPS opened and Hetty and Deeks made their way back down the stairs to Kensi and Eric.

Hetty looked to Eric. "Mr Beale, please send the location of the meeting that Mr Brandel has requested to Mr Deeks and Ms Blye's phone."

"No!" He said quickly. "Kensi's doesn't get involved in this, this is my problem Hetty. It's not a matter for NCIS."

"You don't have to go through this alone Mr Deeks. I believe Mr Beaty would disagree with you Mr Deeks."

"I won't put anyone else in danger to cover my problem."

"Wait Brandel? The guy from the list? You identified him?" She asked.

"Ms Jones identified him matched the voice from the video to recorded prison phone calls." Replied Hetty.

Deeks looked away from Kensi.

"Will someone please fill me in!" She said in a frustrated tone

"Mr Deeks?" Said Hetty as she extended her arm indicating the floor was his.

Deeks tried to speak, he opened his mouth but the words just wouldn't come out, instead he turned walked passed his desk, picked up his jacket and walked out of OPS.

Without hesitation Kensi took off after her partner catching up to him a couple of seconds later.

"Deeks, we're gonna get this guy. But you need to tell me what's going on. Who is Gordon John Brandel? Someone you collared from LAPD looking for revenge?"

"No, nothing like that" He said.

"Whatever it is, I've got your back. We've all got your back Deeks. You said you didn't want to drag me into it, well news flash for you Deeks. I'm already all in. I'm your partner. Now please tell me what is going on. I have a right to know. I have a daughter to protect." She said as he got to his car.

Brandel who had been surveilling Deeks for the last couple of weeks sat in his car nearby and watched as he spoke with Kensi before driving off.

"New target acquired" He smiled as he whispered to himself.

Deeks put his hand on Kensi's shoulder"I know and so do I." He said as he got in his car, shut the door despite Kensi's objection, started the ignition and drove off to meet his father.

Kensi ran back into the mission and walked straight into Hetty's office, where she was sitting and having tea.

"Hetty, Deeks just took off he told me he had to protect Catherine and I'm getting the feeling this is personal, but he's in my daughter's life so I'm going to ask again. Who is Gordon John Brandel and what has this got to do with Deeks."

"Gordon John Brandel is Mr Deeks father."

"Wait what? The animal that killed Eric Beaty, he's Deeks father."

"He never said anything."

"I'm not surprised Take a seat Ms Blye."

"Mr Deeks suffered beatings, abuse regularly at the hands of Mr Brandel. One night Mr Brandel was inebriated and was wielding a shot gun at him and his mother and Mr Deeks shot him."

"Well he obviously didn't kill him." Replied Kensi

"No, Ms Blye, but that night Mr Deeks and his mother left and never returned.

"And what, Deeks father had been stewing in resentment all this time?" She queried.

"It would appear so. He has killed Eric Beaty and had now taken Ray, Deeks childhood friend and informant, hostage. Mr Deeks has gone to meet him."

"Without backup?" She said as she got up and started to walk away. She tapped her comm.

"Eric, forward me the address you sent Deeks for the meet." She said as she grabbed her jacket and rushed out of the mission, jumped in her car and headed out. Kensi pulled out her phone and dialed Callen's number. He answered after a few rings.

"Callen put this call on speaker phone Sam needs to hear this."

"What's going on Kensi?" Asked Sam

"Nell identified the voice on the video to Gordon John Brandel."

"Are we supposed to recognize the name?" Asked Callen

"He's Deeks father." Said Kensi

Callen and Sam looked at each other silently.

Not sure if they were still on the line Kensi spoke. "Callen!"

"Sorry Kens, where's Deeks now."

"He's on his way to meet him, he took another person hostage. Deeks friend Ray."

"He went with no backup?" Said a shocked Callen.

"Eric's sent me the address. I'm on my way to back Deeks up now."

"Alright, be safe Kensi we'll be there soon." Said Sam

"I will guys, see you soon." Said Kensi as she hung up the phone and put it down on the seat.

Brandel had been watching Kensi since she left the mission. "New target acquired" he whispered to himself as he smiled and continued to follow her.

Guys! I apologise about the delay in getting this chapter up. Work, uni, life…. You know the drill please review, let me know your thoughts!