Brothers in Arms
Disclaimer: I do not own NCIS:LA, if I did, this would be happening on a TV screen, not a computer
A/N: Thanks for coming back! Thanks to lizard1969, Somnium1, guest, guest m, rebecca taylor, and a guest for leaving notes. They are very appreciated.
Day 17
Too wired to sleep and too sore not to sleep, Callen and Deeks had fallen into the chairs that Alfonso and Deeks had occupied earlier. Callen had poked and prodded himself to find what hurt the most. Deeks had massaged his leg, trying to ease the lingering pain. Exhaustion had taken over quickly and when Alfonso returned from securing their new prisoner, he had found the partners asleep.
"They're going to have sore necks in the morning" he mused to himself. He grabbed two of his men and together they moved the chairs against the wall so that Alfonso could prop up pillows behind their heads. He then returned to the room where Ricardo was tied up. One of the men had come to them from the rodeo circuit and had bound Ricardo's hands and feet in a flash of rope. The man was sitting against the wall sneering at anyone who walked by. Alfonso organized the guard schedule and then retreated to an empty room to make a very important phone call.
The next morning came with a burst of sunshine and not a cloud in the sky. Callen woke up first, stretched, and then spent the next minute doing some quick and shallow breathing. There was definitely a broken if not multiple broken ribs on his right side. Ugly bruises had formed where Ricardo had landed punches and the flash burns had tightened his skin which pulled every time he moved. Over all, he wasn't in the best shape.
Deeks had managed to curl himself up on his chair in some sort of contortionist position and was softly snoring. The sunlight lit the blond in his hair aglow and highlighted the dark circles under his eyes that Callen hadn't noticed before. The stress that had built over the length of this case had taken its toll on both of them, but it seemed that Deeks was holding it in his gut based on how loose his pants and shirt were hanging on him.
"I promise the first night we're back, we're going to a steak house and fatten you up." Callen slid the words out under his breath as he worked his way out of his chair. He limped out of the room, working blood through his stiff muscles and by the time he found Alfonso, he was very stiff, but standing upright. Alfonso handed him a cup of coffee and sipped his own.
"Deeks awake?" Alfonso asked.
"Not yet. What's the plan?" Callen carefully took a drink, knowing that Alfonso like his coffee strong and black. The caffeine coursed through his system and the warmth radiated out, further loosening up his muscles.
Alfonso waved his cup in the direction of the front room and headed there. Deeks was still curled up on his seat, but his eyes were open just a slit. He shifted his head when the two walked in and gazed at them through half-opened lids.
"How does one circle a chair seat like that?" the corner of Alfonso's mouth lifted in a half smile.
"I've slept in worse" Deeks chuckled, and Callen knew it to be true. Deeks untangled himself and stretched. Alfonso handed him a cup of coffee and waited until Deeks had taken a sip and asked "What now?"
"Now, we go for a ride."
The ride was mercifully short. Callen sat propped up by the door, but once the truck left the road, the ride became rough and Deeks pulled him over to lean on him instead. With an arm wrapped around Deeks' shoulder, Callen was able to use his teammate as a cushion for his ribs. Alfonso sat in the last seat of the back bench of the crew cab behind the passenger seat. The man who rode in the front passenger seat was holding a shot-gun in one hand and had two pistols in shoulder holsters. They were followed by a Jeep holding similarly armed men except for one.
The last man in the jeep was different. He carried no guns, but several knives were tucked into his boots, his belt, and one strategically placed in his hat. In the cargo area sat a knapsack holding containers of water, protein bars, and a satellite phone. He sat very still, his eyes half closed as he travelled down the familiar roads.
Finally, both vehicles came to a stop at a spot that looked no different than the vastness they had travelled through. Everyone waited for a moment as the dust settled around them before opening the doors and jumping down to the hard-packed sand. The shot guns were cocked and held at an angle, but still in position to be brought up rapidly. Though it appeared that the guards were at ease, the intelligence in their eyes and the tightness in their muscles were loudly proclaiming that they were not relaxed. A semi-circle formed around the back of the truck and the two drivers moved to the tailgate. The locks on the cap and tailgate were opened, the cap door released, and the tailgate dropped.
A bound and gagged Ricardo lay in the bed fuming. The drivers reached in and yanked him out. The shot guns were raised to shoulder level when Alfonso walked over and cut the ropes holding his feet and hands together. Ricardo was many things, but he was not stupid enough to make a move while being held at multiple gun point. Alfonso turned and walked back to his spot in the circle. Callen and Deeks stood shoulder to shoulder, Deeks had his arms crossed and his feet firmly planted, weight on his good leg. He had positioned himself on Callen's weak side – the one with ribs that had to be broken. Callen's shoulder would sway against Deeks' and rest there for a moment until the pressure on the ribs would subside enough to stand up straight again.
Ricardo tugged the gag out of his mouth and sneered. He spit the fibres from the gag out of his mouth and tried to work some moisture into his dry tongue. His eyes darted around the group, never landing, but always glinting with anger.
Alfonso cleared his throat and brought the focus of Ricardo, Deeks, and Callen to himself. The other men had a job to do, and besides, some of them had already heard this speech multiple times.
"You are guilty of many crimes; some are similar to what the present company has committed and for that we cannot condemn you. However, you have carried out heinous acts against our enemies and our allies and family alike. For this, we sentence you to el valle de la muerte." Alfonso paused and Deeks whispered the translation under his breath – the valley of death.
Alfonso continued, "If God be with you, may he walk beside you through to the other side."
Realization of the situation began to seep through Ricardo's mind. They watched as minute tells of his emotions raged across his face, the anger, the desire to plead, the desire to fight, more anger, and then finally, an uneasy acceptance. He forced his head high and turned to stalk in the direction in which Alfonso pointed. The group moved from their positions to watch as the man walked down the slight hill into the path that lead through the gently sloping valley walls. When he was far enough away that the heat was beginning to distort his body, Alfonso turned towards the man with the backpack and nodded. He returned the nod and set down the same path.
Alfonso moved over to where Callen was sitting on the tailgate while Deeks leaned against the side of the truck.
"That man, we call him el Fantasma, or the Ghost. He was born in this desert and has walked these sands all his life. He will follow Ricardo and report on his decision."
Deeks had to ask, just to be sure, "His decision on what?"
Alfonso looked the blonde square in the eye, took a breath and answered, "On how he decides to kill himself."
The drive back had been done in silence and the mood in the house was difficult to gauge. On one hand, the partners were happy to see that Ricardo had been caught and handed a punishment that would be served out. On the other hand neither one had ever watched such a sentence being handed out.
They had settled in the den and debated back and forth. The discussion had gone in circles and they were becoming frustrated with each other. Lucinda finally stepped in the room and took a seat where both men could see him.
"You are having a difficult time with our method of justice, yes?" The question came out more as a statement. Callen and Deeks caught each other's eyes and slowly nodded. She smoothed her skirt and asked "How would you prefer it?"
Deeks crinkled his nose and frowned; Callen squinted at their host and then took a stab at answering. "A show-down where we're all armed and his heart is double-tapped with our bullets."
"You wish to be responsible for this man's death?" There was a lightness in her voice that did not match the weight of the question.
"I wish to know for certain that he is dead." The force of Callen's statement set Lucinda back a bit in her seat.
She recovered quickly "Why – for revenge or vengeance?"
Deeks took up answering and thoughtfully said "Vengeance. My experience with him…sucked…but others had it much worse. They deserve justice."
Lucinda caught the pause and continued her questions. "I agree, vengeance and justice are the proper reasons. However, why do you want to carry the weight of this death with you if you needn't?" Her eyes cut to Callen, "and don't tell me there is no weight. You have aged since you were first here." A pointed glare silenced any argument.
"We've killed many people." Deeks stated.
"In defense, no? How many have you executed?"
Deeks mouthed none and Callen thought for a moment, wanting to argue, then gave in and shook his head.
Lucinda gestured towards the cross hanging on the wall. "Alfonso has given the same speech to everyone who has entered that valley. We have all done things that exclude us from 'throwing the first stone' at a guilty party because, as guilty people, how are we able to distinguish who is actually guilty? Instead, we send them off into the valley. If God deems that they are undeserving of such punishment, He will carry them through."
"Has anyone come through the valley?" Deeks asked, slightly worried that Ricardo would find his way through.
With a gentle smile, Lucinda eased both his conscience and his worries. "It is possible; the Ghost has done it many times. However, the lack of any other distractions drives men to have their thoughts as their only companions. Let me be clear, we reserve the desert for only the worst of the worst.
She stood and left the men with their thoughts. No sooner had she left the room, a soft knock sounded at the door. The Ghost glided into the room and swiped off his hat.
"He chose Transgression Cliff. It is the highest point in the valley. Ricardo is no more."
"Transgression Cliff?" Callen squinted at the man.
"Every man who enters the valley eventually finds their way there. They recite all the evils they have done and then" the Ghost moved his hand in an upside down U. It was enough, the 'cliff' gave them a good idea what he was referring to.
"So…he's dead?" Deeks asked.
The Ghost nodded and everyone lowered their eyes, reflecting on the journey that brought them to this point. Callen and Deeks ran through the case that started it all, the travelling and the friends that had helped them along the way. The Ghost considered the men in front of him. He had heard of this Ricardo, or Lefty, and what he had done. Peace filled his soul because he was able to bring this closure.
"How did you get here so fast?" Alfonso skidded into the room and looked at his watch. "Either you really are a ghost or he didn't go far into the valley."
"It was Transgression Cliff." Alfonso looked back at his watch again, doing the math. "I'm here so quickly because I caught a passing mule."
The ridiculousness of the statement hung in the air for a moment and then broke the tension that had laid over the group for too long. Callen snorted and Deeks smirked. Alfonso knocked the Ghost in the shoulder and then everyone laughed.
"Come, the time for sadness is over. Now, we eat!" Alfonso announced.
"And tomorrow," Callen glanced over at the grin splitting Deeks' face, "We go home." The grin grew even bigger.