The Bad Guys Never Forgive & Never Forget

Chapter 3

As it was, the best Hetty could accomplish was one agent being allowed on the prisoner transfer convey.

"As Agent Callen was a 'guest' of Mr. Harkins for that short while, they have agreed somewhat reluctantly that NCIS also has a stake in the safe transfer of the prisoner; and so have 'graciously' allowed Mr. Callen to accompany the convey."

"Graciously allow," Sam questioned with sarcasm, adding, "...they do know we're all on the same team right?"

"And you know how territorial agencies are with their cases..." Hetty intoned.

"Yeah, except it wasn't their case—it belongs to LAPD; it was Deeks case first," Kensi interjected.

To stave off any further (verbal) grumbling by her team, Hetty said, "In any case, it is now in the Marshall's purview...Mr. Callen, briefing is at 2 with the rest of the transfer team, I suggest you not be late."

As he gathered his belongings, Sam laid a hand on Callen's shoulder, "We'll have you on screen in ops..."

"Yeah, but I'd rather have you right there in the car," Callen replied, adding darkly, "I'm not getting a good feeling about this...something's going on..."

Sam just nodded, "watch yourself...and shaggy...we know he'll have your back out there."

Callen nodded to his partner before giving a wave and exiting the building.

...NCIS LA...

Callen had always been rather ambivalent towards other agencies, other agents. It's not that he particularly disliked any agent or agency that wasn't his own, they had their own jobs, own area of expertise; and in an ideal world they would (being on the same side and all) come together to achieve the common goal of bringing down the bad guys.

With a heavy sigh, Callen admitted to himself that this wasn't an ideal world and that in the real world you had clashing ego's and agency agenda's to contend with: so much for the common goal.

He didn't have a chance to speak with Deeks before the meeting started, but noted the detective seemed tense; and it quickly got off to a bad start when Lt. Phillip Masterson of the Marshall Service did little to engender team cohesiveness...instead swooping in and doling out assignments without discussion or even explanation.

"Is there some reason you have Detective Deeks riding in the transport with Harkins," Callen was quick to demand when he noted how edgy Deeks was with the assignment he was given, "Deeks was the one that brought him down..."

"And you are," Masterson shot back snidely.

"Agent Callen, NCIS..." Callen replied without missing a beat, pressing his earlier point, "you think it wise to put detective Deeks in with Harkins?"

"The man will be cuffed and chained in the van...you think he's in any position to harm the detective," Masterson shot back impatiently, "and what's it to you anyway?"

Sidestepping the question of how he and Deeks knew one and other, Callen continued, "I thought the detective was on this run as a precaution-to keep his eyes peeled for any tells that Harkin's or his people were planning anything: kind of hard to do in the back of the van."

"The detective is where he needs to be on this operation...and you're here strictly as a courtesy extended from my boss to yours, Agent Callen...your input is neither needed nor required," Masterson shot back snidely, "we know how to run a prison transport."

Feeling the resentment rolling off the Marshall, Callen held up his hands defensively and replied evenly, "I'm sure you do."

...NCIS LA...

Looking down at the parking lot, Masterson frowned as he saw the NCIS agent meet up with the LAPD detective in the lot below; confirming his suspicions.

A rap on his door, got his attention and he momentarily looked over to the door, "What?"

Taking that as permission to enter his boss's office, the Marshall John Craig crossed the room, holding out a file, "it wasn't easy, I couldn't find anything on agent Callen outright—when the guy shows up at all its tagged as classified: so I dug a little deeper into the cops files, made a few phone calls...you were right: that NCIS agent, Callen, he is the one who's cover was blown on the op that brought Harkins down-and it was the detective that pulled him out..."

Scanning the file his subordinate had handed him, the Lt commented, "I knew there had to be a reason an agent would take an interest in a cop...there are gaps in the cop's file for the last two years..."

"The source I talked to at LAPD says that the detective actually works with that agents team from time to time as, get this, a liaison officer, or somthhing," the man offered, "if they know each other that well—we might have a problem."

"No, we won't...it's our case—not LAPD and certainly not NCIS," Masterson replied, throwing the file on his desk before turning to stare back down into the parking lot. "We're not losing this chance because of some navy cop..."

Masterson was slightly unnerved as the agent watched the detective climb into his car and drive off before turning cold eyes to the building: and though it couldn't be possible at this distance, Masterson could almost feel those cold eyes boring into him.

...NCIS LA...

a/n: I know—short—but important to the set up...