NCIS: LOS ANGELES HIATUS FIC CHALLENGE: Theme 2: Season Seven Speculation - The challenge is to write a drabble, one-shot, or multi-chapter story about something you think might happen in season seven. A second try at this challenge.
"Code to Live By"
SUMMARY: Couple of cops, current and former, talking.
"You got a rule for everything?"
"Working on it. Everyone needs a code they can live by." – NCIS, "Heartland"
The case ended well. Who knew NCIS not only had an expert on the plague but actually survived the plague. Well, technically it was "Yersinia Pestis," according to Special Agent Tony DiNozzo but the plague sounded cooler to Deeks. And more badass. "Yersinia Pestis" sounded like the third female lead in an indie, art-house film. Or a bad garage band. "I was a fan of Yersinia Pestis before they sold out and went commercial."
When Deeks saw DiNozzo's background included being a detective with the Baltimore PD, he expected, well, someone less fashion model-y. "Very Special Agent Anthony DiNozzo" was wearing an Ermenegildo Zegna suit that had Hetty asking about his tailor and a shirt he had custom made. Add in a haircut that probably cost more than what Deeks spent in a year on hair product and well, Agent DiNozzo was an agent who spent some time being a cop, not a cop turned agent.
Deeks still liked him. He was funny, he was properly afraid of Kensi and absolutely terrified of both Hetty and Nell. Sam made him jumpy, too. Callen knowing DiNozzo's boss had the D.C. visitor interrogating Callen about his time with Gibbs. It always ended with Callen shaking his head and walking away. Seems DiNozzo, who has worked with his boss for closing in on two decades, knows less about his boss than OSP knows about Hetty. So if DiNozzo wanted to talk, and he seemed to enjoy talking, Deeks found himself the regular audience.
With the help of DiNozzo, OSP was able to track two rogue CDC doctors, both educated by the Navy and reservists, looking to sell a vial of the plague bacteria to an anti-immigration whack-job named Joseph Anderson. Anderson's plan included infecting some migrant farm workers in Leona Valley to force the government's hand on immigration. The CDC doctors, through some foreign accounts, were heavily invested in Zanlo Pharmaceuticals, a company with a cocktail of medications ready to fight the deadly disease.
OSP's undercover work - Callen as another anti-immigration whack-job; Kensi as a migrant worker at one of the local farms; Sam as paid muscle for the CDC doctors, who were terrified of the their buyer - all worked. Deeks wound working with everyone. He was a local yelling at Callen and Anderson's group as they protested, a homeless man who bumped into Sam during his bodyguard duties and a driver for Kensi's employer picking up migrant workers. DiNozzo worked with Nell and Eric, hid from Hetty according to Nell, and seemed to be given a wide berth by Granger.
Case over, the CDC doctors, the anti-immigration whack-job and two farm managers who were abusing the female migrant workers - Kensi sent one to the hospital when he tried that with her - were all locked up. A job well done according to Leon Vance, who ordered Tony back to the Navy Yard immediately. He was flying out at 5AM local time.
Hetty insisted on a team celebration that night before Tony's departure - attendance mandatory. She said was going to speak with Director Vance and Special Agent Gibbs so the team was off to the Bar Marmont for some good old fashion Hollywood glam. As the team took over the bar - Hetty of course had the ability to rent it out in a moment's notice - Michelle Hanna and Jo Taylor appeared as did some forty-something blonde who took Granger away after a quick glass of wine and air kisses with Hetty.
With everyone chatting and having a good time - Kensi was on her second Chocolate Pot de Creme, deciding she preferred chocolate to the Bar Marmont's beautifully crafted cocktails - Deeks again found himself sitting at a table with formerly Baltimore's finest.
"How did you wind up as NCIS's plague expert?"
"I'd like to say a lifelong love of learning," Tony replied with an easy smile, "but you have a lot of time to learn about infectious diseases, their origins, their transmission patterns, possible vaccines and terrorist delivery systems when you're sitting alone in an isolation unit and they can't even get you a TV to watch the Final Four or my George Roy Hill DVDs."
Deeks was startled by the answer. "Remind me not to become NCIS's expert on anything."
"As much as your boss seems to run the agency from her desk and booster seat in that aesthetically pleasing office space you all share, until you join NCIS you won't be their expert in anything," Tony took a sip of his Johnnie Walker Blue. "So tell me, they all seem to like you, you do a good job. Your grooming habits and fashion choices leave a lot to be desired but seem to work with the whole California casual vibe. So why is your badge different than your team's."
"Maybe I like being a cop," Deeks took a sip of his Havana mojito.
"Without knowing a single thing about your squad at LAPD, I bet you like working with them," Tony picked up his glass and pointed to Nell, Eric, Kensi listing to a very animated Michelle tell a story, "more than you like working with LAPD."
Kensi, of course, chose that moment to lean back, laugh and catch Deeks's eye. She gave him a smile before turning her attention back to Michelle.
"Yep," Tony said, "guessing your partner at LAPD did not look anything like the fair Agent Blye."
"Why did you walk away from the BPD? Just biding your time as a local LEO, awful term by the way, until you got your big break?"
Tony got quiet for a second before answering. "People aren't always what you think they are. Spend hours with them every day and then one day, they're pretty much everything you thought they weren't. And not in a good way."
"Sorry to hear that," Deeks thought about Frank Scarli, who was now five years into a twenty-five years to life sentence. Scarli was always good to him, until he wasn't.
Suddenly cheerful, Tony said, "It worked out for the best. Met Gibbs and got recruited."
"If he barely talks..."
"..functional mute, really..."
"How did he recruit you?"
"Brought me to the Navy Yard, dropped me off at Human Resources. Didn't say much else."
"And you've been working for him ever since."
"Well, there were a few months on the USS Seahawk."
"How was that?"
"Five-thousand sailors and me there to break up card games and fights. Made me appreciate a lot of what I have in D.C."
"The Baltimore P.D., LAPD, no agent afloating."
"You're a specialist. You're not going anywhere."
"And a career with LAPD guarantees that."
Tony smiled at his drinking companion. "Sooner or later, Deeks, you'll join. If fact you've already joined, you just don't know that yet. God knows that's what happened to my team. Twice. We had a liaison officer for a long time and then we had an NSA Analyst for about a week before they both became agents. Rule Number Five."
"Rule number what?"
"Gibbs, has all these rules he uses to run the team, run his life, run America if you think about it," Tony seemed lost for a second but bounced right back. "And he needs them since in most other ways, he really is a functional mute. He can just drop a rule number and move on."
"Rule number?"
"You guys here are Rule Fifteen but you're breaking Rule Twelve. You being on the team breaks Rule Thirteen but you not being on the team breaks Rule Five."
"What the hell?"
"Rule Fifteen: Always works as a team. You're an odd assortment of people here and it is obvious Callen took his hair styling tips from Gibbs but you're a team, and a good one."
"We are. So how am I breaking Rules Twelve and Thirteen but not being on the team breaks rule, what?
"Five. Look, Rule Twelve is don't date a co-worker. You and Kensi hide it well but you look to her right away when something's off and vice versa. Callen looks at Hetty, who is the boss, then Sam, who is larger than your average bear, when things are going south. Sam looks at the team then Callen. But you have something very, very special with very, very Special Agent Blye."
"I take the fifth."
"Which brings us to Rule Thirteen - never, ever involve lawyers. Gibbs had a lawyer on the team once. Once. Didn't work out."
"I'm more cop than lawyer."
"Well, you should be more agent than cop."
"Because of Rule Five."
"Yes."
"Which is?"
"Mr. DiNozzo," Hetty walked up to Tony carrying a glass and the bottle of Johnny Walker Blue she ordered for the group. "I just called an old friend at Warner Brothers. You're expected tomorrow at Studio Gate Three at 8AM. A Mrs. Charlotte Holloway will be waiting for you. She's the head of public relations for the movie studio and my god daughter. She'll be happy to give you a tour of the sound stages. They're begun filming the new "Wonder Woman" movie on the lot and Mrs. Holloway is sure you'll enjoy a stop by the set."
"Hetty, I would love to but I've been..."
"I had a delightful discussion with Director Vance after I spoke to my god daughter. I probably should mention that her father is Tom Morrow. You are expected at your desk Monday morning. What you do after your Warner Brothers tour and before Monday morning is really up to you."
"Thank you, Hetty."
"No, thank you Mr. DiNozzo. While I have complete faith in my people, your expertise was greatly appreciated." Hetty topped off Tony's drink. "One must always follow Rule Five," she said before taking a step towards Callen's table with Jo and Sam.
"You know the Rules?" Tony asked.
"Who do you think told Mr. Gibbs that there should be a Rule Five. It is how I have always recruited my teams," she said as she drifted away.
"Rule Five?" Deeks asked Tony as Hetty settled in with Callen.
"You don't waste good," Tony lifted his glass in a toast
Deeks happily met Tony's toast. "And I'm the good."
"You're the good and you have it good. So don't waste good people and don't waste good situations. Liaison programs are canceled, people move on," Tony was as serious as Deeks had seen him all week. "Take the good Deeks. 'The future's not set. There's no fate but what we make for ourselves.'"
"Another Gibbs-rule?"
"God no, he'd never say that many words. 'Terminator 2: Judgment Day.' Hey, maybe Arnie's working at Warner Brothers. He's amazing."
Deeks listened to Tony launch into a dissertation on the Schwarzenegger oeuvre as he looked at Kensi, realizing he didn't have the good – he had the great. And he knew protecting that was his Rule One.
-30-