18. "Mark Their Territory"

Disclaimer: Not mine in 2014, not mine in 2017. I sense a trend.

Summary: A sequel to "Put Your Foot Down" - summer break is over. Also, I saw a set photo of ECO on a motorcycle. Remembered this was floating around in my drafts.

"Bikes don't leak oil, they mark their territory" - Anonymous

August 4, 2014, 9:25AM

"Mr. Deeks, a moment," Hetty called to him as he was walking back from the gym.

Tan, rested and relaxed - four weeks off did him the world of good. Hetty had some color too - well, color for Hetty. He had prepared for this moment all summer. "How was your boat ride?"

"Mr. Deeks, sailing along from Monaco to Port of Volos is much more than a boat ride, I can assure you. The time spent on the water is not deducted from one's life span."

"As a surfer, I tend to agree," Deeks said with a genuine smile. "What can I do for you?"

"I found out when I returned you got a little good news just as our holiday time began."

Deeks pretended for a second to be confused but her statement but then said "Oh, yeah, the motorcycle. Matthew Bernhart may be a pain in the..." Deeks stopped himself for effect, "a pain but he is diligent when it comes to his undercover operations."

"I don't understand," Hetty told him.

"Oh, you don't know. May I?" he asked, pointing to her guest chair. After Hetty nodded, Deeks sat down and made himself comfortable. "Bernhart was working with a luxury car theft ring. They were looking to expand into motorcycles. The Fraud Unit found out that Malibu Motorcycles was illegally renting the bikes in their storage facility to wealthy wannabe joy-riders. Want to ride Adam Levine's Harley for a night? While Levine's in New York pushing that singing show of his, Malibu Motors would disconnect the odometer and people with money would tool around town on his bike. The disconnected odometers meant the owners would be none the wiser."

"Fascinating, but what does that have to do with Det. Bernhart?"

"Matthew has a friend in Fraud who gave him the heads up on that case. Everyone knew Bernhart was working this luxury auto theft ring. Well, everyone but me because I'm here. Anyway, Bernhart talks to the DA and the Malibu Motorcycle owners and works his case into the fraud deal the DA was cutting. Malibu Motorcycle helps Matthew with his investigation, the owner gets a nice LAPD written letter sent to the judge when he is being sentenced for fraud."

"And with Det. Bernhart's political connections..."

"If the cop son of California's most law and order state senator and his wealthy and generous wife says something nice - judges listen. Anyway, Matthew went through all the motorcycles and their ownership papers in the storage facility and saw mine. The plan was to have the whole burglary crew steal three trucks worth of bikes. The two that got busted at the raid and the one that got away. Matt wanted to make sure nothing happened to my bike so he made sure it was on the truck he knew was getting out of the facility even though there was nobody interested in it being stolen. Too small fry for them. So while Matthew and his crew were dropping those big ticket bikes off at chop shops where stings were planned Friday night, mine stayed on the truck. Matthew actually took it off the truck and said he as keeping it for himself. Once he was finished, he drove it to the evidence garage himself."

"He did, did he?" Even a non-highly trained detective could figure out that Hetty was suspicious.

"Matthew's my boy," Deeks said with a smile. "Started the paperwork on it, he just didn't call me because he wanted to maintain operational integrity. I stopped off at the office Saturday morning to file my vacation plans with them and to get the report about the stolen bike for my insurance company. Bates was there with Bernhart. Matthew started explaining the huge favor I owed him because he stole my bike instead of leaving it in civil and criminal fraud hell."

"So by stealing your vehicle," Hetty started.

"It was returned to me immediately," Deeks finished. "The Fraud Unit is going bike by bike into the garage's finances and miles added to see just how much non-taxed income was made, how many miles were basically stolen from the other owners and how big the civil liability will be. Me, I took the early settlement deal from Malibu Motorcycles - lifetime free repairs at the garage of my choice and maintenance for the bike and I won't sue them for the nearly 700 miles they logged on it without my permission."

"And the motorcycle itself?"

"Perfect now but they admitted it got a little dinged up on one ride. Some idiot boy-band singer decided he liked the numbered handlebar plaque on the bike and tried to pry it off. When he couldn't, he kicked a couple of dents into to the wheel rims. Those were replaced, the plaque cleaned up and made super secure."

"While that's wonderful to hear, Mr. Deeks, I was asking more about the location of the motorcycle."

"Oh, I wouldn't want it stolen again so it's somewhere safe."

"I'm sure it is."

"Well, if we're done," Deeks started to stand.

"Don't you dare move, Mr. Deeks. Where is your motorcycle?"

"Did you know that NCIS does not have a single regulation against agents owning motorcycles for their personal use? Not that I'm even an NCIS Agent ... because I'm not. And I can confirm to you that LAPD doesn't have any regulations against motorcycle ownership either."

"Mr. Deeks..."

"And then there is this unfortunate appearance of a double standard. Agent Blye, a female agent, owns a motorcycle for her own personal use yet you have different rules for a male staffer. Seems like a bit of favoritism there. And besides, there are laws in this country about such gender biases."

"Mr. Deeks..."

"Hetty, I bought it with my money. It was taken from me, used and abused..."

"Mr. Deeks, I have rules and you may want to ask yourself if keeping that motorcycle..."

Deeks interrupted for the final time. "Hetty, did you go to law school?"

"Excuse me, Mr. Deeks?"

"Did you go to law school?"

"No, you know quite well there is only one lawyer involved in our current conversation and it is not me."

"One of the really important things they teach you in law school is about asking questions."

Sighing, Hetty asked, "Mr. Deeks, where is this going?"

"Because if you ask a question in court or during a deposition that you don't know the answer to, it could cause a big problem for your client. You only ask questions you know the answer to. So before you ask me if not telling you my sweet ride's location is worth risking your wrath, even threatening my position here, I have a question for you."

"Which is?"

"Is your motorcycle rule worth a liaison officer? I know my answer to the question about whether the bike is worth my job here but I'm also pretty sure you are wrong about what my answer is going to be," Deeks smiled at Hetty and prayed she did reach for her letter opener.

Hetty stared at him for what seemed like forever. Maybe it would be more comfortable if he turned to stone under her Gorgon stare. Eric's call to Ops, a Caxirola noisemaker from the World Cup, ended the stare.

Deeks took a deep breath. "Did you have a question for me, Hetty?" OK, it was pushing it but he was going to enjoy this. Last summer was full of humiliations, the fall and winter took pieces of his soul. Today, he was Stella getting his groove back. And was keeping his bike, too.

"Not today, Mr. Deeks. Not today"

Deeks stood and smiled. "As part of my settlement with Malibu Motorcycles, I've been provided several anti-theft devices and measures include a GPS installed by a monitoring company and Bates got me this lojack tool used by LAPD for their undercover vehicles. If someone was to, say, remove the bike from the secure location I've found for it, well, LAPD would be on the case, as would Robie Security. As an officer of the court and a police officer, I'd feel it was my obligation to press charges."

As he started to walk away, Hetty said, "Well done, Mr. Deeks. You may have won this round..."

Deeks turned back. "Now that's maybe the difference between you and me, Hetty. You think this is a game to be won. I see it as living my life." Deeks shrugged his shoulders.

"It was about living your life without taking any unnecessary risks," Hetty sighed. "I was just looking out for you," she said sincerely.

"I'm sure you were. Maybe though, if I ever get hurt again, maybe that should be a priority instead of leaving me strapped to my chair in agony with Kensi giving me instructions for what to do before she'd cut me loose." Deeks just walked away. What was coming next she would never want to hear and could likely cost him his position. "And please don't ever hide behind my curtains."

Hetty looked at him. "Noted, Mr. Deeks. The other are waiting."

Deeks bounced up the steps and to Ops. "You still work here?" a visibly relieved Kensi whispered to him as he walked into the room.

"Of course," he said as he took his place with the team.

-30-