Disclaimer: The characters of N.C.I.S. Los Angeles are property of CBS
A/N: Sorry for the delay. I was trying to make this feel legitimate, and in dire straights.
Five hours later-
The L.A. team landed at Dulles. When they got off the plane McGee and DiNozzo were waiting to take them to the safe house.
"Why are we going to the safe house?" Kensi asked.
"Orders." McGee said.
"Who's?" Callen asked.
"Director Vance's." DiNozzo said.
Kensi kept quiet, although she wanted to go to Deeks side and go rescue Hetty and their son, but she decided not to take it out and the D.C. team. Sam and Callen took the sight of Kensi backing off and wondered what that was about, but they decided to leave it be for the time being. So the four L.A. agents got into suv, and made their way to the safe house.
N.C.I.S. L.A.
Later that evening Kensi was sitting in the living room working on her laptop when Sam and Callen approached here. Noa was in the kitchen working on dinner.
"I'm surprised you didn't put up more of a fight." Sam said
"It's not going to do me any good; albeit, I'm not happy about this delay." Kensi said.
"We have no idea what we're getting into, so we need to be briefed before we go in." Callen said.
It was at this point dinner was ready, and Noa was coming in to inform the rest of the group.
"You didn't think of much of a plan when you put Deeks with Thapa and sent him in without proper backup." Kensi said.
Callen was about to respond to Kensi accusation, but shut his mouth. The junior agent was correct, and there isn't a darn thing Callen could say to refute it.
"Didn't think so." Kensi said.
"Hate to interrupt a stroll down memory lane, but dinner is ready." Noa said.
"Thanks Noa." Kensi said.
Kensi got up from the couch and went to get food, followed by Sam, then Callen with Noa bringing up the rear. The group ate dinner in silence, and when they were finished Kensi went back to what every document she had on her laptop, Callen went and sat on the porch swing, while Sam and Noa cleaned the dishes.
"So; what's the story behind that argument?" Noa asked.
"About five years ago we had Pakistani agents roaming the city because their nuclear weapons program had a flaw that was documented, and it was on a flash drive." Sam said. "Kensi and Deeks were off, from an operational standpoint, that day so Callen decided to separate them to help clear their heads. Deeks was sent with in an outsider, by himself; while Kensi, Callen and I were all in overwatch watching it play out."
"And Kensi is on some kind of vendetta to save her husband?" Noa asked.
"That and we, even Kensi included, didn't really give Deeks the benefit of the doubt when he first came on the team. But it's more her wanting to protect her family." Sam said.
"You got this?" Noa asked, talking about the dishes.
"Yeah." Sam said.
"Okay." Noa said, and then left to go be with her boyfriend.
After Sam finished the last few dishes he went to talk to Kensi.
"Baby." Noa said as she approached Callen.
"She's right you know." Callen said, and then made room for Noa on the swing.
"I'm not here to pass judgment, but I'm here to listen if you need an ear to unload on." Noa said, as she sat down and snuggled into Callen.
"Aside from using Janvier to broker the deal five years ago, it wasn't one of my better orders I gave." Callen said.
"Who was Janvier?" Noa asked
"Janvier was a French terrorist that the team chase for a few years. We used his services to broker a deal between an Iranian agent and a Russian arms dealer. Janvier ousted Sam, and Deeks went into to save him; both Sam and Deeks were captured and tortured." Callen said.
"Bad things happen to good people: both leaders and those under their leadership." Noa said.
"That's putting it mildly." Callen said.
"But both Deeks and Sam pulled through and are better for it." Noa said.
"Wasn't sure if Deeks was going to pull through." Callen said.
"Kensi helped out?" Noa asked.
"That would be my best guess." Callen said.
"Just keep operating as you have to date: keep Deeks and Kensi together and you want have any issues." Noa said.
"No arguments there." Callen said, as he kiss Noa.
As the parted from the kiss, Noa rested her head on Callen's shoulder and the couple watched the sun set. Back inside Sam had decided to let Kensi stew for a bit before questioning Kensi.
"How long are you going to sit there and stare at me?" Kensi asked.
"Still trying to formulate the discussion so it doesn't descend into a shouting match." Sam said.
"Sam I understand, and I know Callen's right." Kensi said as she got comfortable on the couch. "But Deeks is my partner, my friend, my husband, and the father of my child; there isn't a chance in Hades that I want to sit here and wait for news about the massacre at that supply depot in Germany."
"I heard Gibbs tell somebody a week ago to send a military squad: Echo to be exact; so Deeks and Sasha are in trouble, but backup is on the way." Sam said.
"Thank you." Kensi said.
It was getting late, the sun had already set when Kensi looked at the time. The clock read that it was nine o'clock at night. Kensi felt a yawn coming on, but didn't do anything to stop it from coming.
"Go to bed. We can have a civilized conversation in the morning." Sam said.
Kensi didn't even argue. She went upstairs, took a shower, and then jumped in bed. Sam went out on the porch and told Callen and Noa to turn in early because it was going to be a boring day tomorrow. Noa and Callen went to bed, while keeping their antics to a minimum, and Sam did a cursory sweep before going to bed himself.
N.C.I.S. L.A.
Somewhere over Saudi Arabia-
"So, how long until Germany?" Deeks asked.
"Twelve hours." Tanner said.
Deeks thought about something and then grabbed a map. Deeks spent the better part of the next twelve hours studying the map. Something seemed off about the next stop.
N.C.I.S. L.A.
Washington D.C.-
The L.A. team went out for breakfast compliments of their D.C. counterparts. After their impromptu breakfast outing they finally made their way to the Navy Yard for the official mission briefing. Just as they we're stepping off the elevator Kensi stepped off towards one of the side hallways and called her mother to see how the dogs were treating her. Just as Kensi finished her call Director Vance was approaching the bull pen. All the director did was motion for the L.A. team to follow him up to M.T.A.C. where they would hold the briefing in private.
As they all filed in they were told that they could stand or they could be seated; which the L.A. team decided to take a seat. It took Director Vance a minute to get situated, but when he finally did he stared at west coast team; taking in their response. Noa, being the new comer, was thoughtfully waiting and looking about. Callen and Sam were shooting the breeze about sports; their body language relaxed. Kensi was staring at the screen waiting for the briefing to begin; her body language radiating tension.
Just as Director Vance was about to speak the door opened. Everybody turned their head to see the head to see who the new comer was; Kensi, Sam and Callen mouths just about hit the floor.
"I'll take it from here Leon." The man said.
"The floor is yours Owen." Leon said.
Director Vance stepped aside and let Assistant Director Owen Granger run the briefing.
N.C.I.S. L.A.
Germany-
"This doesn't feel right." Deeks said.
"What doesn't feel right?" Sasha asked.
"I have yet to see an establishment of Koza's in Germany, let alone this far off in the sticks." Deeks said.
"What do you think?" Sasha asked Tanner.
"I've watched Deeks stare at a map practically the entire trip here. If I had to venture a guess, the depot was nothing more than a rouse." Tanner said.
"Well, what do we do?" Quintus asked approaching the group.
"We proceed carefully, and cautiously." Sasha said.
N.C.I.S. L.A.
"Welcome back." Callen said to Granger.
"Thank you." Granger said.
"If you don't mind my asking sir, what have you been doing this entire time?" Sam asked.
"I've been here biding my time and waiting." Granger said.
"Here; as in Washington, here?" Kensi asked.
"Yes." Granger said.
"Why?" Kensi asked
"I think that is obvious don't you think." Granger stated flatly.
"After his death was faked he was flown to Washington so he wouldn't have been seen by Koza and his men." Director Vance said
"Understandable." Sam said. "Now do you want to get on with the briefing?"
Granger cleared his throat and then started the briefing.
"It started three months before Deeks and Sasha shot me, a message was intercepted from Koza to one of his men here in the states. It read that they were going to execute me, and kidnap Hetty and Conor." Granger said, rubbing his chest at the memory; Sam snickered at Granger action.
"Who intercepted the message first?" Noa asked.
"You are?" Granger asked.
"Special Agent Noa Vega, formerly employed by D.E.A. now working for N.C.I.S. out of the Office of Special Projects." Noa said.
"Welcome to the company." Granger said.
"Thank you." Noa said.
"The answer to your question is Tanner, an associate that works with Sasha." Granger said.
"Question." Sam said.
"Yes." Granger said.
"This is a silly question, but how did Deeks get you to legitimize the operation?" Sam asked.
"Deeks would love this, but he made me an offer I couldn't be refused." Granger said.
Kensi, Callen and Sam all stared Granger like he was an alien. Noa just stared at her new co-workers, and wondered what was wrong.
"Do tell." Callen said.
"Basically he said that if I didn't make his little operation legal he would leave my fate in the hands of Koza and his goons." Granger said.
"Nice guy." Noa said.
"I actually deserved it; seeing as how I was not exactly friendly with him when I first came on, so I walked into that one." Granger said defending Deeks.
Kensi nodded her acceptance of Grangers defense of Deeks.
"We saw how it all got started." Callen said.
"Actually I'm just joining the game." Noa said.
"Okay: Four months ago Deeks approached me with a mission to protect the integrity of the agency, and the citizens of Los Angeles." Granger said.
"Okay so Deeks and Sasha decided to execute you; how does that wind up in front of Koza?" Sam asked.
"Compliments of the mole that Beale's had ousted, we had sent the video to a fake address at Sec Nav's office. Then they put Hetty and Conor in a place where civilians wouldn't be in the way." Granger said. Then he looked at Kensi and said. "Leaving Conor behind, even with Hetty, was a hard decision for Deeks to make."
"Why did Deeks take this on by himself? Why didn't he include the whole team?" Kensi asked, emotional at hearing how hard this operation was for Deeks.
"Deeks thought that if a small band of men that had gone rogue, but had help on the down low, it would keep Koza from going underground. Look at what happened in Los Angeles these past four months: You took down a known terrorist financer. It has its risk; there is a trap set at their next destination, but Koza keep going on about his business." Granger said.
"New comer again: where does that leave us? We take down Koza's operation, where do we go from there?" Noa asked.
"Well when we bail the ground team out, we will be heading to Greece." Granger said.
"Why Greece?" Noa asked
"Our boss is currently being held there." Callen said.
"And my son." Kensi said.
"Granger, I heard Gibbs name a military squad a few weeks back. Who is Echo squad?" Sam asked.
"Remember when Deeks became an agent four years ago and went off on assignment?" Granger asked.
"Yeah." Sam asked.
"He went on assignment with Echo squad; what makes up the composition of the squad?" Callen asked.
"The squad is comprised mostly of marines." Granger said.
"Makes sense given the fact that Deeks was training on a marine base." Sam said.
"So where do we go from here?" Kensi asked.
"For the time being we wait. When the problem in Germany blows over, and Deeks and Sasha regroup then we will head out." Granger said.
As soon as Granger finished speaking the group saw Director Vance get a message. He nodded his head, and then turned to the big screen; the screen went live, but it was blank; albeit, there was audio.
"This Director Leon Vance of N.C.I.S., who am I speaking to?"
"This Echo leader." The man said, shouting to be heard over the air whipping through helicopter cabin.
"What is the word?" Vance said.
"We received about twenty minutes ago a S.O.S. coming out of depot nearing Ulm, Germany. They said that it was a massacre." The leader said.
"Who has died?" Director Vance asked.
The room went dead silent upon the words "massacre" and "died", they were hoping and praying that their family members haven't been killed.
"As of right now it's mostly support members that have been killed, but it's only a matter of time before they are overrun and killed." The leader said.
"Look at that mess!" Another marine in the cabin shouted.
"Director Vance we have sight of the depot, and it's one sided battle. We'll call back when we have the situation under control. Mount up!" The leader shouted.
The line went dead, and the room was electrified from the fact that Deeks and Sasha's group might not make it. Kensi got up and walked out of the room and went to find a place to hide.
"Let her be Assistant Director." Sam said. "She'll come around when she's ready."
Granger nodded his understanding. The group got up and took a break and awaited for Echo squad to call back.
N.C.I.S. L.A.
Outskirts of Ulm, Germany: twenty minutes earlier-
"Man down!" Deeks heard a voice yelled, but it was drowned out.
Deeks picked himself up off the ground, but then hit the ground when he saw another person go down. Deeks saw Sasha, Quintus, and Tanner next to the closes building. Deeks was about to make his way over to them, but was force to the ground. Deeks felt extreme pain in his left shoulder. The pain was so extreme that he was unable to move. Deeks slowly crawled towards them, but then he heard the gun fire and hit the dirt, but what happened next was something he was expecting. Just as Deeks was five feet from where he regained consciousness he felt a boot in his gut.
Quintus was about to go after Deeks, but a bullet grazed his arm.
"Ow!" Quintus yelled.
Tanner broke out the med kit and attended to Quintus arm, while Sasha prepped to shot the man that was beating Deeks. The man had drawn a knife and was about to stab Deeks, but was shot and neutralized. Deeks was moving, but it was minimal. Sasha was wondering if Deeks was on the verge of passing from this world.
{Oh man; Kensi is going to kill me if I let her husband die here.} Sasha thought.
"Tanner has that S.O.S. been sent yet?" Sasha asked.
"Been there! Done that!" Tanner shouted.
"Quintus, how bad is that arm?" Sasha asked.
"Need me in overwatch?" Quintus asked.
"Only if your arm can handle the aftershocks." Sasha said.
"Thank you God I can use both hands." Quintus said.
"That can be misconstrued." Sasha said, with a grin plastered across his face.
Both Tanner and Quintus smirked at Sasha' jab. Quintus grabbed the rifle and went for higher ground; Sasha turned and spotted Deeks who had stopped moving.
"Quintus get me an update on Deeks. I don't want to give a report of Deeks fall." Sasha said.
Sasha back away from his position just in time to miss being hit by a bullet. Next thing Sasha heard was Quintus over the radio.
"Deeks is in trouble, but I can see a helicopter off in the distance, approaching the tango's from the south." Quintus said
Sasha looked over his shoulder and saw another helicopter, and this one was familiar; it was the same model helicopter that he rode years ago.
"Quintus take that helicopter down approaching form the south!" Sasha yelled.
Within seconds the helicopter was down; the helicopter coming in behind Sasha was strafing Koza's men as the marines were off loading to assist the cleanup. With forty five minutes of the massacre beginning it was ending with mass causalities and wounded on both sides. Just as Deeks was regaining consciousness he was being placed on a cot, and then loaded onto the helicopter that brought in the marines.
"You're going to be just fine Sir." Echo leader said.
"I thought I told you not to sir me marine." Deeks moaned.
"You also said that you work for a living." Echo two said.
Deeks grinned at the memory of working with Echo squad four years ago. Just as the helicopter was lifting off three more helicopter were coming in to get the wounded and deceased out of the depot. The next time Deeks wakes up it will be in a hospital in Berlin, Germany; surrounded by his team.
T.B.C.