Chapter Four: "Put Your Foot Down"
Assuming that all's well that ends well after "Deep Trouble" - this is a tumblr NCIS: Los Angeles summer hiatus story.
Disclaimer: Not Mine

"Motorcycles teach us about balance. Sometimes you have to put your foot down." - Liz Jansen

June 27, 2014 - 5:30PM
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"Mr. Deeks, a moment."

"I'm sorry, Hetty. Can it wait? Lt. Bates just called; he needs to see me about something." Deeks was putting his messenger bag strap over his head as he made his way to the exit. "He said it's urgent."

"It will just take a moment and I'll personally call the Lieutenant," Hetty said as she pointed to her guest chair.

"OK," Deeks walked to her office. "What's up?" he asked as he sat down.

"I received a distressing call a few hours ago from Malibu Motorcycles," she began. "There was a robbery last night from their off-site storage facility in Lancaster. Security cameras were disabled. While LAPD was able to raid the facility just as the bikes were being loaded on a series of stolen tractor trailer trucks, one truck - the first one loaded - was able to get past the police dragnet."

"Does LAPD need Eric to run a Kaleidoscope trace?"

"I already asked Mr. Beale to do that. The truck stopped several times and was emptied along the way. It was found empty underneath the Sixth Street Bridge, on fire."

"That's some ride from Lancaster."

"Yes is it."

"Do you need me to coordinate something with LAPD?"

"No, I've been speaking with Lt. Webster of the grand theft auto division. They have a handle on what happened and are looking for the contents of missing truck."

"So what do you need from me?"

"One of the motorcycles stolen was ..."

"No, Hetty, no."

"I'm sorry, Mr. Deeks. It was considered one of the most secure facilities in the area."

"So secure that my motorcycle, the one you took from me for my own good, the one I'm still making payments on, that one, is gone. Hetty, this is..."

"Outrageous. Mr. Deeks," she said, finding a more G-rated word for his emotions. "I've been assured by Lt. Webster that LAPD is working diligently to find..."

"The bike is in a million pieces and being sold for parts. You know that and so do I."

"I don't know that but I suspect it is the truth. It is probably why Lt. Bates wants to see you." Hetty sighed. "Once we return from our summer break, if your motorcycle is not recovered, you will be reimbursed."

"Book value. Great. I had it for a weekend. Three rides are probably going to run me three grand. Awesome."

"I will personally make up any difference between the price you paid and whatever the insurance settlement is with the assurance that you won't purchase another ..."

"So I won't get the money for a personal item you removed from my possession, taking custody over my objections, assuring me it would be returned..."

"Mr. Deeks, you're beginning to sound like a lawyer."

"Or maybe not wanting a fool as a client, I should hire one."

"Mr. Deeks, my intentions were good. You shall be reimbursed in full. I'm sorry this is happening so close to our break but please don't let it ruin your time in Del Mar."

"You weren't involved in stealing the bike, were you Hetty? This isn't some trick to permanently remove…"

"No Mr. Deeks, no trick. Again, I am sorry."

Deeks was livid. "I'm going to see Lt. Bates now if that's alright with you."

"As tomorrow is our last day before the summer break, I expect all your paperwork complete."

"Night, Hetty," Deeks said as he walked off. He saw Kensi take a step toward him from where she was watching in the bullpen but he just shook his head no. He saw her walking to Hetty's office as he made his way down the hall.

The usual 25-minute ride from NCIS to LAPD took almost an hour due to rush hour traffic. Deeks walked into Bates's office, finding the Lieutenant and Matt Bernhart waiting for him. "Where the hell were you?" was Bates's greeting.

"Rush hour traffic after a chat with Hetty."

"Anything I should know?" Bates asked.

"There was a break in out in Lancaster. High end motorcycle storage facility. LAPD got there in time to arrest almost everyone. One truck got out and my bike was on it."

"I loaded it myself," Matt said with pride. "It's sweet."

Bates continued. "The info about the eye in the sky was helpful. We swapped trucks in Palmdale - same ID number on the roof, same plates, even the matching bumper-stickers and door damage. The stolen bikes are now in the evidence garage. I put an extra guard on them."

"When are you moving the lojacked bikes?" Deeks asked.

"Tomorrow, once I get confirmation that the 6:35PM flight from LAX to Nice, with a stopover in Paris is out of US air space. We're looking at zero one thirty Saturday morning with Bernhart's suspects. Just make sure you stop in Saturday morning so you can accidentally find out about the bust." Bates was smiling ear to ear.

"Speaking of which, you need anyone around for the fun? I don't leave until Monday."

"No, kid, you stay home. Plausible deniability and all that."

"Good point."

"Won't the pocket-sized puppet master be well and truly pissed by you doing this?"

"She's never going to learn that I tipped off Matthew and his undercover crew about the warehouse and the cooperation of the Malibu Motorcycles"

"Cooperation - they were renting out bikes without the owners' permission and disconnecting the odometers."

"You know that, I know that, the sealed deal they signed with the DA's Office means nobody else knows that. But they were good enough to call Hetty with the bad news that the bikes were gone. By the time she's back from her three week sail from Monte Carlo to Port of Volos in Greece, I will have that bike very well hidden."

"Is that bike worth the trouble she's going to make for you?" Bates asked.

"Hetty's had a few professional setbacks, recently. I'm taking my shot."

"If you take a shot at the king, or in this case the queen..." Matt noted.

"I think she's going to be picking her battles for the near future. This is a battle I can win."

Bates shook his head. "The bike is already out of her control - you're not."

"No. But every man needs to take a stand. I've spent the last thirteen months with other people making decisions for me. Starting now, I'm planting my flag."

"Just make sure I don't get speared by the pole. Enjoy your time off kid, you've earned it."

Deeks saw Kensi leaning on his car as he walked across the parking lot. "You still have a job?" she asked.

He smiled at her. "Not a job, a career."

"So you're not in trouble."

"Nope."

"Hetty told me about the bike. She feels awful."

"Good."

"Deeks."

"I'm not discussing this," he said, though he figured at some point he'd have to mention he got the bike back. Maybe over the summer break. Of 2017 or so. "How did you get here?" he asked, looking around the parking lot for her SUV.

"Drove home, Uber'd here."

"You want to get something to eat?"

She nodded her head enthusiastically. "Blue Cow?"

Deeks smiled. "So, no car. Any plans for getting home after dinner?"

"Who said I was going home after dinner?"

Maybe he'd tell her about the bike while they were in Del Mar, whoops, she was visiting friends in Camp Pendleton and he was vacationing in Del Mar. Keeping all these secrets was becoming a second career. As he pulled out of the lot, she gave him a glorious smile - it was a rewarding second career.

-30-

Still not happy about Hetty or Hetty and the motorcycle.