All characters and all rights at 'NCIS: Los Angeles' belong to CBS and Shane Brennan Productions. The following story does not serve any commercial purposes, but was written only for the pleasure of fans. An injury of Copyright is not intended. All further persons belong to the authoress.

English is my second language, if you find any mistakes in my story please send them back to me for correction.

I also would be very glad to get your reviews.

Chapter 3 - First Results

On the surface, everything looked normal. The team got its jobs done, made plenty of overtime, despite the support of Renko and Nate, and did not show the secret investigation. Sleep was a scarce commodity, intake of food a minor matter. Without Scott's help, both practical and emotional, Joann would have gone down. But Scott took care not only of his daughter. He also took care of the rest of the team. After a telephone conversation with Sam and Hetty, he gave Joann every day packed lunch for everyone to take with her. He had called for Kensi to bring her laundry to him. Twice she had also stayed with Scott. Joann had insisted, because it had got extremely late, and shared the guest room with Kensi. At first such assistance had been uncomfortable to her, but now Kensi was grateful. It was nice not to be alone all the time.

"Now I know why Joann can cook so well. Scott, that's fantastic!" Kensi bolted the casserole.

Scott chuckled. Joan had told him that Kensi could demolish decent portions. The last time had shown that Joann's descriptions were rather an understatement. "It's nice to cook properly once again. Do you want seconds, Kensi? Or anyone else?" Scott looked at the group.

Today the whole team was with him. They wanted to discuss a few things without witnesses and, after consultation with her father, Joann had proposed Scott's house. He had made a huge serving of casserole, baked bread himself, and mixed a large bowl of salad. The seven went for it like a swarm of locusts.

"Yes, please, Scott, give me another serving before Kensi leaves nothing more!" Renko grinned at Kensi, as he handed Scott his plate. "You dig in as you had not eaten for days. Thereby I know for sure that today morning you had two burritos and this afternoon you got a whole plate full of donuts."

"I also remember a hamburger and a milkshake, don't I?" Sam chuckled, while he still took some salad.

"Yeah, exactly, for lunch." Renko laughed, he was not intimidated by Kensi's look.

Also everyone else at the table laughed. Finally Kensi joined them, but still she let give her a helping by Scott. The conversation was at ease and relaxed. For a brief moment, all pushed their worries aside and enjoyed the meal and conversation. Finally, the last breadcrumb was eaten, the dishes were in the dishwasher and the kitchen did not look anymore like a battlefield.

"Okay, guys, I'll be off then, so you can commune with each other. Jo is at home in here if you need something. Call me when you have finished." Scott grabbed his jacket and started to leave.

"Where are you going, Scott?" Sam looked stunned at the ex-Seal.

"Well, what ever you want to talk about, I may not hear." Scott was not less stunned than Sam.

But Sam shook his head. "Stay here, we need every shrewd head. And every bit of experience. You are hardly a security risk."

Scott glanced around, and then he hung up his jacket again. "All right, Sam."

Meanwhile, everyone sat at the kitchen table. Eric and Nell had their laptops in front of them.

"Well, guys, what do we have?" Sam nodded to Renko. "Did you hear anything from your contacts?"

"Just rumors. The L.A.P.D. is said to chase a big fish. So big that they are on him with various departments. No one knows who it is. But all the gangs, dealers, arms dealers and other major criminals are currently extremely wary. They suspect treachery around every corner."

Kensi nodded. "My contacts say that, too. Some argue that it is a multi-agency action. But no one knows anything exactly."

"None of your contacts has a clue whom they are chasing? No one knows whether it is about drugs, weapons or human beings or whatever?" Scott asked in amazement.

"More astonishing is the amount of rumors. If the L.A.P.D. plans such a big operation, everything would be top secret. There are always rumors, but this amount is more than unusual, it is striking." Sam was very worried. "What do we have moreover?"

"If there is an inter-agency operation, the FBI has nothing to do with it." Joann earned astonished looks. She just shrugged her shoulders. "After the arrest of Davenport and Rodriguez, the attitude towards me of some FBI employees has changed. I wouldn't say that I have friends there, but one or the other sometimes is helpful."

Sam carried it of well. "Were there anymore 'helpful' information from the FBI?"

Joann hesitated. "There is something going around, that concerns Hetty. It is recommended to distance oneself from her. Apparently she has landed on a blacklist and is harmful to any career."

"This explains why Hetty's own contacts haven't helped her." Nate was thoughtful. "Someone who has the power to put Hetty on a blacklist is dangerous."

"This fits with what I detected." Eric took the floor. "I tried to find the source of Ray's training. The tracks were blurred quite professional, but I found them anyway." Eric paused dramatically. "They have led to office of the SECNAV."

The team exchanged glances on this grave disclosure.

"No doubts?" Nate composed himself first.

"No." Eric was absolutely sure. "I asked Nell to check my results and she confirmed them. Hetty was right with her assumption."

"Do you already know details?"

"Not yet, Joann. I must be very careful, no one shall notice my research."

She nodded. "Yeah, sure, Eric, I know, it's just..." Joann took a moment, then she controlled herself again.

Sam briefly scrutinized Joann, then he turned to Nell. "How far did you get?"

"Callen's commands seem to come from the same source as Ray's. But they are encrypted much more complicated. I was able to discover a hidden algorithm, which functions as an alarm. Unauthorized access is reported immediately, as well as deleting or rewriting the algorithm. I'm still working to find a way to outsmart it."

"How long?"

"How long what, Sam?" Confused, Nell looked at her colleague.

"How long until you have outsmarted it?"

Nell stared piercingly at Sam. Then she rattled off a lot of technical terms that no one understood except Eric. Eventually, Nell noticed this and sighed loudly.

"I don't know, Sam. I can't solve the problem in passing, because my laptop hasn't enough capacity. Only the ops offers me the opportunity to do it. I also shouldn't be noticeable and I have to do my normal work, too. Is this as a sufficient answer for you?"

"No, but I'll probably have to live with it." Sam smiled reassuringly at Nell. "Nate, what did you and Hetty find out?"

Before the psychologist could answer, the doorbell rang. Scott glanced at his guests.

"Do you expected someone else?"

General head-shaking was the reply. Joann stood up and drew her weapon.

"Let's have a look, Pops."

Scott nodded and together they went to the door. While Joann gave her father cover, he opened the door. His posture immediately told her that there was no danger. Joann secured her Sig-Sauer.

Thoughtfully, Hetty flipped through the documents on her desk. She knew about the meeting at Scott's, but had decided against her presence there. Once again, Hetty was thinking about whether she was already too old for the job. It was time to pass on the scepter to younger agents. But as long as her people were not back safe and sound at her team, the retirement was not an option.

Hetty sighed. She was accustomed to rally to her people, to protect them like a lioness her offspring. This time it was different. Her people were dragging an invisible safety net around her and were looking united for the cause of this situation.

A slight smile played around Hetty's lips. Her agents were a bunch of alpha leaders. To herd cats was easier than to take care of them. To this the two computer technicians who were taken up in their world of bits and bytes that they seemed as if they had lost touch with reality. And these eight people still functioned as a unit. What was hard to believe when watching them.

Now Hetty laughed softly. She downright visualized how Sam and Callen teased each other and Deeks let loose stupid comments, which Kensi responded with matching barbs. Joann and Ray could discuss together for hours, about weapons, cars, cases, books or music. The two of them never ran out of arguments. Nell and Eric, who were sitting together in front of a monitor and trying to solve a problem. Thereby they finished the sentences for each other, used alternately one keyboard and they were oblivious of their environment. All of the eight were able to quarrel loud and vivacious. But woe betide anyone who would attack one of them. Then they were as thick as thieves and went through fire and water for each other.

And now for her.

Hetty shook her head and tried to focus on her records again.

"Matt! What are you doing here?" Scott had not seen the detective since the rescue operation in Mexico. And he did not know the older, somewhat fuller man behind Matt. But one could see the police man in him immediately. Before Matt could say anything, Scott stepped aside. "You better come in, we should talk in the house."

"Hello, Scott!" Quickly Matt entered, Peterson followed him. Then Matt discovered Joann, who still held her weapon. In mock horror Matt yanked his arms. "Do not shoot, ma'am! I am innocent!"

Joann laughed. "Don't lie to me! You're a lot, but certainly not innocent!" Then she clasped Matt in her arms. "Good to see you, even though the circumstances are not so great." Joann looked at Peterson. "Do you introduce us your companion?"

"Yeah, sure. Joann MacKenzie, Scott Waters, this is Detective Marcus Peterson. I thought he should tell you himself what he detected."

During the greeting Joann scrutinized the detective. Kensi had told about him and Joann's first impression seemed to confirm Kensi's estimation: he was a sly old dog, who seemed to be more harmless than he was.

Peterson on his part also scrutinized the persons present to him. He had told Deeks that he needed quite a certain kind of colleagues to work successfully. Now these colleagues sat together and worked out a plan to help Deeks. Peterson was glad not to have been wrong.

Without being asked Scott put a cup of coffee to both newcomers, while Joann introduced the persons present to each other.

"Well, Detective, what have you found?" Asking Joann looked at Peterson.

"You won't like this, Agent MacKenzie. Your liaison officer was planted into a slave traders ring."

Stunned silence was the answer.

"Slave traders? Here in California?" A little incredulously Nell looked at the detective.

The others also looked doubtfully at Detective Peterson.

„I associate slavery with Africa or Asia. Or with forced prostitution. Also the child soldiers belong to it. But a slave traders ring in Los Angeles?" Joann shook her head.

„I know, I have reacted just as you when Marcus told me about it. But I have checked his information. It's true." Matt interfered.

"Let the man finish, ladies. Then we'll see." Sam steadied the team.

Peterson nodded briefly to him. "Thank you, Agent Hanna. I understand your doubts, I had them, too. But it's really true. In most cases, illegal immigrants are smuggled from developing or emerging countries and have to work off the cost of this under terrible circumstances. Many will never get out of there. The 'employers' of these illegal immigrants let them pay for everything: shelter, food, clothing, electricity, gas. They take so super elevated prices that the burden of debts is never reduced. These people have to work doggedly all their lives and never become free." Peterson paused.

Scott made use of this to ask a question. "Where are these people used?"

"Everywhere: clothing industry, restaurants, private households, agriculture, cattle ranches and coffee plantations. And as Agent MacKenzie has said, in prostitution. The ring here in Los Angeles mainly obtained people for agriculture, private households and women into prostitution. The L.A.P.D. has determined for a while, but could never get to the backers. This is where Deeks comes in. Apparently he has ever worked undercover in this area. So he was probably the first choice for this mission."

"It sounds like a normal, although a very dangerous mission. Why do they make a secret of it? We couldn't find the slightest trace, why have you been successful?" Renko was curious. What did this detective have what Eric and Nell, and before all things Hetty, did not have?

Nate had effaced himself, but has attentively listened to the remarks of the detective. Slowly a suspicion sparked in him.

"Someone deliberately leaves us out."

Peterson appealed directly to the psychologist. "You're right, Dr. Getz. There is a, shall we say, unofficial order, to give no information about this operation to the NCIS. This extends most notably to Detective Deeks."

"And you have found out this?" Suspiciously Sam looked at the older police officer.

He laughed softly. "I'm old, because of my weight I'm thought to be mentally ponderous and I'm close to retirement. Many don't take me seriously, so I escape most people's notice. That's one side. The other side is that I established a lot of contacts in forty years of occupation and many people owe me a favor. All this enabled me to get the appropriate information."

"Can you tell us where Deeks is now, Marcus? Or other details of his use?" Kensi was very worried. The whole situation was extremely mysterious.

"No, sorry, Kensi. This information is strictly confidential, accessible only to a small select group of people. This serves to protect the undercover police officer."

"In this case, probably not. We know that, in case of doubt, the L.A.P.D. leaves his people in the lurch." Kensi sounded damned bitter.

Sam tried to calm Kensi. "Sure, it's a dangerous operation. But after all our profession is dangerous. Deeks knew that, when he became a cop. If he's in trouble, he will call us for help."

For a moment all were silent, hoped that Deeks was good and his cover was safe.

Finally, Sam cleared his throat. "Thank you for your support, Detective Peterson. Thus, we got a big step ahead."

"You're welcome, Agent Hanna. But I haven't been able to find any evidence for Deeks being in trouble. The only unusual is the information ban for the NCIS."

"Just this information ban confirms our suspicion that the L.A.P.D. screws Deeks. Now we just need to find out, why."

"And get Deeks out of there." Asking Eric looked at his.

"Maybe."

"Maybe? What have I missed, Sam? Since when don't we care about our people anymore?" Eric was stunned.

"Deeks is an L.A.P.D. detective and in an official operation. That he was detailed to us as a liaison officer won't change anything. Nor that we regard him as one of us. If his mission ensures that a human- and slave-traders ring is dashed, we should leave Deeks, where he is. Rather than to get him out, we should consider how we can help him."

Sam received skeptical glances. Just Joann nodded.

"Folks, Sam is right. Even if it sounds kitschy, we're the good guys and impose law and order. To arrest slave traders therefore is one of our tasks. But yet we aren't at that point. First of all we have to find Deeks. Then we can decide what to do."

"Let's summarize, what we've got now." Sam glanced around the room.

Eric started first. "The one who is gunning for Hetty and so for us, is employed at the office of the SECNAV, or has unrestricted access there. He also has ties to the L.A.P.D., the FBI and probably also to others of our three-letter agencies. His computer skills are above average. But the important thing is that he knows about the OSP."

"On G we have no information. His whereabouts, his mission, his condition, everything unknown. But I'm expecting a call from Gibbs and Hetty told me that some of her informants still have to get in touch with her." Joann was not nearly as calm as she appeared.

"Ray is doing well, but he is being observed. Someone has 'bugged' his phone and his laptop, therefore we can only get in touch with him encrypted. There has been no indication that his life is in danger." Nell was precise as ever.

"Deeks is undercover on to a slave traders ring. We don't know if he was planted in the ring as an 'employee' or as their customer. We also don't know if his cover is unimpaired or already blown. Nor do we know whether this mission is real or will be used to get rid of Deeks. We know almost nothing." Kensi made no effort to hide her bitterness and her concerns.

"Meaning the following for us: We absolutely must find out information about Callen and this undercover operation of Deeks. It would also be interesting to know who in Quantico keeps an 'eye' on Ray." Renko summarized the results.

A few thousand miles from Los Angeles, Callen crouched in a ditch, while the fire just missed him. He had been seen himself as a loner who only worked compulsory with a partner and a team. Meanwhile, his attitude to this had changed radically. Now he wanted to have his partner and his team with him, so someone could cover his back. Again a bullet narrowly missed him and Callen pressed himself deeper into the ditch.

Contrary to his usual manner, Deeks was trying not to attract attention. He bit back his silly sayings and pretended himself to be silent and impersonal. When he had received the documentation of this mission, Deeks was clear that this was a suicide operation. Someone wanted to get rid of him, and gave an honest effort not to let it look like murder. But against all expectations, he was still alive. Deeks had achieved what apparently no one had expected. He got close to the slave traders ring and had previously played his role perfectly. But the closer he got to the bosses, the greater became his risk. He really wanted Kensi and the others to run interference for him.

Matt, Peterson, Nate and Scott watched the exchange between the four agents. Although Renko was not a regular member of the team, he fit in it without any problem. The OSP agents were a special breed of people. Nate smiled slightly to himself. This was his team, even if he could only rarely be there for his colleagues. They were there for each other, provided and cared for each other. Even Joann's father and brother had become part of it. A good development, Nate was proud of his friends.

"And how do you want to get to this information, Mike? You've heard of Nell, how complicated the situation is." Joann did not understand her temporary partner.

"We have to find another approach. Do we know someone in Quantico who can help us? Or in the office of the SECNAV? What can we find out about the slave traders ring? Does one of us have contacts with other agencies that might know something about it? Or do we know someone who has these contacts? What about Director Vance? Has he pronounced on the whole thing? If not, why?" Renko took a deep breath. "Is anyone of you able to say something, too?"

Puzzled, everyone had followed Renko's barrage of questions.

"We have to integrate Hetty. Even if she was cut off from many of her contacts, she has for sure one or another ace up her sleeve. I'll see to it." Nate glanced around and got nods of assent.

"Okay, then I'll see much more about the electronic trail. I try to give in a part of my work, to have more time for it." Eric sighed and looked tired for a moment.

Nell gave him a concerned look. "I'll take over the research on the slave traders ring. If the L.A.P.D. could find it, so can I."

"I have contacts with the DEA and the ATF. I'll ask them whether they may know something." Matt had quite restrained himself.

Kensi looked at him quizzically. "Are you sure? You and Marcus have already risked a lot for us."

"Don't worry, Kensi. I'll just assume that you will pay back it some time."

The young detective beamed defiantly at Kensi. In this moment he reminded much to Deeks. Kensi had to swallow.

"Matt is right. What we do or have done, was all voluntary." Peterson smiled reassuringly at Kensi. "I'll still keep my ears open, maybe I can find out more."

"Then I'll look after Quantico." Joann did not look happy. On the basis of her experience, she preferred to avoid contact with the FBI. But no one of the team knew this authority better than she does. So it was only a logical consequence that Joann undertook this task.

"Sam, what about the military component?"

"What do you mean?" Sam was not clear, what was Scott's point.

"Callen's assignment is military, the one of Deeks is by the police, to put Hetty on the blacklist is political. You have covered the police sector, as well as the political one. But not the military." Scott had noticed the gap in the research.

Puzzled, everyone looked at Scott. He had hit the nail on the head.

"I knew why I wanted you in." Sam nodded at Scott in approval. "But we've got a problem. G was used in Washington. The probability that we find someone in Los Angeles or California who can help us, is low. Nevertheless, I'll ask around."

"Yes, it could be difficult. Is it all right with you, when I contact a few former colleagues on the East Coast?" Scott looked at Sam.

Sam hesitated a moment, then nodded in agreement. Scott would not do anything that would endanger G. "Yeah, okay, do it. Thanks."

Scott put him off. Apart from the fact that he really liked Callen, he wanted to see his daughter happy again.

"Eric, what about your particular source, you make such a secret of. Have you heard anything from that side?" Joann had noticed that Eric had not spoken on this issue.

"No, my source didn't get in touch with me up to now." Eric was unusually reserved when it came to this issue.

"Well, guys, we pull the plug on this. Everyone knows what to do. Scott, thanks for the dinner and your hospitality. We'll see each other tomorrow morning." Sam ended the meeting.

Joann was on the back porch and looked out into the night. She seemed calm and relaxed, but in her head the synapses made overtime. Joann tried to process all the information and put them in context. Her stomach rumbled and that was not because Scott's dinner. There was something that she missed. It was within her reach, but no matter how long she stretched herself, she did not reach it.

"Think of something else, then you will find what you are looking for." Silent, Scott came up to her side.

"You remind me of Hetty. Silently creep up and then get rid of a wise saying."

Scott laughed. "I take this for a compliment. Actually, I should be angry with you because I was able to creep up on you." Joann gave him an inscrutable look. Scott sighed theatrically. "But I make an exception, after all you're at home here."

"Pops, you know for sure that there only are few people who can sneak up on me." Now Joann sighed not less theatrically than her father had done before. A slight twinkle lay in the corners of her eyes. "Always the Navy Seals, a real plague!"

Laughing, Scott put his arm around Joann. "Little One, you're the plague! Couldn't you get a peaceful desk job, marry a boring man, and raise half a dozen kids? No, first she went to the penal system, then to the FBI, and finally to the NCIS. She messes with the worst guys, gets from one shooting to another, and fights with guys that are twice as big as herself." Scott shook his head in feigning horror. "What have I done to deserve this?"

Joann nestled up to her father. "I just became the one to which you have raised me. And I think I'm a complete success. To be a housewife in the suburbs, that's much too boring."

"And for a father sometimes very reassuring." Scott paused, the smile was gone. "I've often wondered what your parents would think about the way I raised you." As Joann did not respond, he continued. "I had experience with a boy, but not with a girl. So I have made no difference between the two of you. If Ellen...if Ellen had lived, then perhaps everything would have been different. Perhaps you would have liked to become a housewife in the suburbs."

Joann fell quiet, thinking about it. Then she shook her head. "No, definitely not. Pops, you're the best father a kid could want. If someone asks me about my parents, I think of you, of no one else. I can hardly remember my biological parents. I don't know what they wanted for me. But if they had been good parents, they wanted me to feel happy and satisfied, that love surrounds me, that my interests and abilities are encouraged, that I am comforted when I'm sad and that someone laughs with me when I'm happy. And that's what you've given me and much more. Pops, I love my job, despite its sometimes cruel and dangerous sides. And I love the people whom I'm working with. They are wonderful friends and meanwhile also my family." Joann smiled at her father, hugged and squeezed him. "I'm the person that I want to be, carry on the profession that I want to do, with people on my side, I want to have there. Everything is good the way it is. And if you now will help me to get back G and Marty, then my life is back on track."

Scott returned the embrace. "Well, come, Little One, let's go over everything again and look for the missing piece."

Arm in arm, father and daughter went back into the house.

Nate directly set out for headquarters. He was sure that Hetty still was there, and wanted to clarify a few things at once.

As Nate had expected, Hetty was sitting at her desk.

"Mr. Getz, what are you doing here so late?" Hetty was mildly surprised, because she knew about the meeting.

"I need some answers, Hetty. For Callen and Deeks." Nate gave his superior a level look. "The traces lead to the office of the SECNAV. Someone who has enough power to put you on a blacklist, who took away one of your employees over Director Vance's head and also has connections to the highest circles of the L.A.P.D.. Either he has excellent computer skills on his own or can afford to pay someone with these skills." Nate paused. "Hetty, do you know someone, who fits this description?"

Thoughtfully, Hetty leaned back in her chair. "Why do you think, Mr. Getz, I have to know someone like that?"

Nate sighed. "Because it's not against the OSP or against this special team. Someone wants to affect you, Hetty. Everyone else is just a pawn sacrifice."

"What makes you feel so certain of that, Nate?"

The use of his first name showed Nate that Hetty was seriously concerned.

"If an agent is injured or dies in service, as a superior one always ask oneself, to what extent one is to blame for it, or whether one could have prevented it. If you lose an agent, Hetty, you think about your retirement. So far, colleagues and supervisors had been able to stop you. This naturally raises the question how you would react when you lose several agents. We are pretty sure that both Callen's and Deeks' operations are intended to kill them without letting it look like murder. In addition, the current situation burdens Sam, Kensi and Joann both emotionally and professionally so strongly that in the near future there will inevitably be a fatal error. In the worst case, this error could entail the death of one or more agents." Nate looked at his boss, but Hetty kept her poker face. "You will be out-maneuvered, gradually deprived of your people and then also confronted with their death. Hetty, someone wants to make you suffer very much for something. So, whom do you know who fits that description?"

Sam threw a quick glance to Kensi and then focused back on the traffic.

"We all know that you miss him. You have to make no secret of it, Kens."

Kensi did not respond, staring intently out of the window. But after a while she broke her silence.

"We all miss someone and no one talks about it. It's better that way. Otherwise we all would become crazy."

A single tear ran down Kensi's cheek, while her features remained furthermore expressionless.

Sam shook his head. Nobody on this team wore his or her heart on his or her sleeve. But the ties that had developed over the time, had changed some things. They trusted in each other, therefore they got emotional in front of each other. But in recent weeks Kensi and Joann had closed off their innermost being. Sam sighed. How could he take care of the two, if they do not let him get close to them?

When Sam was in front Kensi's house, he again renewed his attempts.

"Kensi, it won't get better unless you talk about it."

"Sam, give it a bone." Kensi got out without deigning to look at him.

"How shall we manage all that?" Eric was done and a little discouraged.

Nell gave him a sharp blow to the upper arm. With shock Eric blasted the wheel. Explosively, his adrenaline level surged upward.

"Ouch! Are you nuts, Nell? Do you want me to crash? And why do you strike me?"

"Because you deserve it! We don't need your pessimism now. Pull yourself together!" Nell looked at him sharply. "We all are exhausted. You can relax when this is over."

"But you needn't strike me therefore!" Eric shook his head. "You definitely hang around too often with Kensi and Joann."

Nell's eyes were unreadable. "You act as if this is the first time we have a difficult case. We already have solved other problems."

"None like this, Nell. This is not just a case, we have several cases, which are nested into each other. And we don't get a step closer to the solution. Day by day the risk for Callen and Deeks increases. Each day that we don't solve the problems could be their last."

Now Nell's gaze became gentle. "Everyone of us is worried, but you really are too pessimistic. The two of them can take good care of themselves. We have to trust them to do so. And they have to trust that we will do everything possible to help them." Nell fell quiet and considered Eric attentively. "If anyone can solve these cases in the case, then you and me. I know that for sure. And also everyone else knows that."

Eric was silent for the rest of the trip. When they arrived at Nell's, he turned to her directly.

"Thank you, Nell."

She smiled at him and gave him another blow to the arm, but this time gently.

"You're welcome."

Peterson had took his leave of Matt and Renko in front of Scott's house by saying that old men had to go to bed early. He had a wolfish grin on his face, so that the two young men did not believe a word of it. But they did not ask him.

"Let's go for a beer." Matt looked invitingly at Renko.

"Sure, why not. Where do you want to go?"

Briefly the two of them discussed and then agreed to a small, unobtrusive bar, not too far away. They chose a table in the background. From there they could keep an eye on the room. Silently they drank a few sips of their beer.

"How bad are things really?" Matt looked quizzically at Renko. "As far as I'm aware of it, you have no detailed information and everyone still believes that Deeks and Callen are in trouble."

Renko nodded, he knew Matt's concerns. "Basically, this is exactly the explanation. Of course, it is often that agents are lent to other agencies or within the agency to other departments. But the superior in question will be regularly informed, at least about the fettle of the agent, even if he or she doesn't know where the agent is currently used. This is not the case with Callen. Hetty told us that she doesn't even know who is his leading agent. One refuses to tell her anything."

"Okay, I understand. But Deeks? He simply is cop at the L.A.P.D. and none of your agents. They have the right to withdraw him and use him otherwise at any time. And if he is undercover, no one will get any information about him. For his protection."

"Sure, Matt, we do know that. It is the point of time at which he is withdrawn. Yeah, of course, that could have happened every day. But on the same day as Callen? That's a remarkable coincidence. There is something else. On his last mission for the L.A.P.D. Deeks was scheduled for a trafficker and has been betrayed by a dirty cop. That he is still alive, he owes Callen, Sam and Kensi. Then he became a liaison officer to NCIS. Now he is deployed again in such a case, one that is much bigger. This may not be a coincidence."

"Maybe you're right, Mike, maybe not. In any case, Deeks can take care for himself."

"Sure, Matt, we all can do that. Unless we are lured into a trap. With his behavior, Deeks has made himself a lot of enemies at the L.A.P.D., regardless of the fact that he's a really good cop. The opportunity is perfect. The L.A.P.D. could get rid of a difficult employee and a severe blow is administered to the OSP."

"Your statements sound very logical, Mike, but you have no proof."

"When you have so many doubts, Matt, why do you help us?" Renko was really surprised. Then he became suspicious. "Do you aspire to Kensi?"

Now Matt laughed. "No, absolutely not. Kensi's a great woman, we are fond of each other and we have fun flirting with each other. But that's all. I know for sure that I don't stand a chance with Kensi." He became serious again. "I'll help you, because I believe you, even if you have no proof. You are all nuts, therefore Deeks probably fits in so well with you, but above all, everyone of you has an incredibly instinct. That's why you are so successful." Suddenly a grin appeared on Matt's face. "Well, and whenever I need a few people for an absolute crazy plan, I know where I can find them."

Now Renko had to laugh. "Oh yeah, definitely!"

Callen lay in the shelter of an overhanging rock, wrapped tightly in a blanket, without a warm fire, listening in the darkness. He had escaped the fire alive, if only just, and did not want to betray his position by a fire. Although it was damn cold. His thoughts wandered. Callen thought of Joann. From the beginning he had loved her smile. To see her smiling made him immensely happy. His task was difficult and dangerous, but he would do anything to survive. Callen was eager to return to that smile. Due to Joann he had more than just the goal to get the job done.

Deeks was lying on his bed, his hands crossed behind his head and stared at the ceiling. He was tired, almost on the verge of exhaustion, but could not sleep. Or did not want. Deeks was not sure about that. Something was happening that he did not understand. Normally, it took months or years before one could get close to the top people of an organization like this slave traders ring. But he was working on this case only a few weeks and already has reached a surprisingly high position in the hierarchy. There was only one explanation: They knew that he was a cop. In turn this led to the question why they had kept him alive. Deeks sighed deeply. Then his mind drifted to Kensi. He missed his hard-hitting girl-friend, her pointed remarks. Deeks was sure that Sam and Joann would take care for her. He was more concerned about how Kensi would deal with him being killed in this mission. She had already lost too many people who were important to her. It had taken so long, until Kensi had opened to him and let him into her life. She would close herself harder than an oyster. For this reason alone he had to come out of this mission alive.