"It's about time," Deeks huffed. He dropped his weapon onto the table and beckoned Eric in, "Tell me it's good news."

"Yes and no," Eric sat down and pulled a laptop out of his bag, "We know that Lyons was in Los Angeles when his car blew up. However, I found him on the way to China Lake this morning…but then I lost him."

"Why is he heading back?" Kensi asked Deeks. The probationary shrugged and muttered, "Cleaning up loose ends?"

"Wait," Kensi turned back to Eric, "You didn't drive all the way down here to tell us that did you?" She frowned when Eric tensed up and gave his friends a puppy dog look. "I'm really sorry guys," he stated, "but both Vance and Granger want you back in LA ASAP. Both somehow figured out that the made up mission was a lie- they're pissed."

"Ok, we'll leave in a few but…how far did you get on those messages?" Kensi asked. Eric clicked on the link and pulled up four photographs. "The spy was taking and sending pictures of the Navy's work on a new type of submarine. I couldn't get a name yet, but it has pretty much all the abilities a country would want in a sub- anti-submarine warfare capabilities, very high tech resonance and sonar technologies- basically, everything there is to offer," Eric pulled up more photos, "It isn't supposed to go out until 2013."

Deeks sat down on the chair near Eric and stretched out his legs. "Well that kind of explains Granger's odder behavior."

"Odder?" Kensi asked with a smirk.

"You know- he's being more of an ass than usual! Ok, so do we think Granger and Lyons are trying to cover this up?"

"Exactly," Eric said. He clicked open a file then suddenly froze. Deeks exchanged a confused look with Kensi before calling out, "Eric, what's up?"

"Where-what….guys, we had found a suspicious amount of money leaving Lyons' account, but-but it's gone!"

"Ok, don't panic. Maybe it didn't transfer?"

Eric began frantically clicking keys on his laptop. "It has to be here! In the short amount of time- you know with sneaking behind Granger's back- anyway, I couldn't really back it up- how does $12 million dollars disappear like that?"

"12 million?" both agents exclaimed. Kensi added, "And the Director won't take that as suspicious?"

"Well, we can't take it to him because we technically aren't even supposed to be near any of this information, which…no longer exists." Eric dropped his head onto the table and groaned. Deeks gave him an empathetic pat on the shoulder before sitting on the bed. His head was spinning as he tried to take in all the information. If the three petty officers were killed for snooping, he would be next…

"Deeks?" The probationary agent looked up to see Kensi and Eric staring back at him in concern. He straightened up and asked, "Why do I feel like this isn't going to end well?"

"Because if we get caught snooping," Kensi answered as she sat down on the bed next to him, "We'll be labeled as traitors and put in federal prison."

Deeks laid back onto the bed and groaned, thinking Yep, you definitely picked a great time to join NCIS.

Three hours later- NCIS Office of Special Projects

So far, so good, Deeks thought as he stepped into the op center behind Kensi. Eric was standing behind him, nervously looking around as if he was expecting something to explode. In front, Kensi placed her bag next to Sam's desk before the three heard, "Blye! Deeks! Beale! Operations room-now!" from the top of the stairs. It was an angry Granger, looking as if he was ready to kill all three of them.

"Coming," Kensi replied before heading up the stairs with Deeks and Eric behind her. In the operations room, they found the new liaison Ava Donnelley, Sam, Callen, Granger, and Nell. Deeks hesitated to enter the room when there was no sight of Hetty.

"You two want to tell me why you were in San Diego?" Granger snapped. Deeks answered casually, "A mission-"

"Caught the crap, detective-"

"Agent-"

"Whatever. I want the truth."

Kensi stepped in. "We were aggravated about losing this case so Deeks and I went away for a break."

Granger stepped between Deeks and Kensi. "Inter- team relations-"

"No," both answered quickly. Deeks looked away and thought, As much as I would like that to happen- wait, what am I thinking?

Granger's sneer laugh brought Deeks back to reality. The assistant Director stated, "I know you two are still involved somehow in this case. If you weren't, LAPD wouldn't have had such a damn problem finding you two."

That's he figured this out: Someone ratted us out. Deeks said, "If you are insinuating-"

"Don't say a word, Deeks. Not one more word." Deeks backed down at Kensi's warning nudge. Granger stepped towards the front screen and said, "I spoke with the Director about this team's inability to follow directions and tell the truth," Granger told them slyly. He ignored the homicidal glare from all four agents. "He called Hetty and she told him that it was all her idea to keep digging into this case and lie about both of Agent Blye and the probie agent's ware bout's."

Deeks scowled in response. Granger leaned against the table, "She took an indefinite suspension. Until matters are…sorted, I will be running the show and you all will play by my rules or you're done. Is that clear?"

"Yes, sir," Kensi, Sam, and Callen answered harshly. Deeks only sent Granger a challenging glare. The Assistant Director snapped at him, "Is there a problem, detective?"

"I'm not a detective…and there's no problem, sir."

"Good," Granger answered. He looked between the two older agents and said, "We have a case involving a possible drug trafficking between the Arizona- California border."

"Possible?" Callen asked. Sam whispered under his breath, "Leave it alone, G." Callen took the message to really be We can kick his ass later.

"Yes. Agent Callen, Agent Hanna- take our new, highly qualified liaison to the crime scene. As for you two," he pointed to Deeks and Kensi, "I want you both at LAPD immediately."

"Ok." The older agents and Kensi started towards the door while Deeks paused, his suspicions against Donnelley rising. Deeks began to follow her before he was pulled over Granger. "Listen here, Deeks," Granger snarled in the agent's ear in a low voice, "I know about what you saw at that base and it was nothing, you hear me?" Granger yanked on Deeks' arm to get across his point, "Let this go and you won't end up like those three petty officers. And don't forget that Miss Blye and the rest of your team isn't off limits either. Understand?"

"Understood," Deeks answered. Granger released his arm just as Kensi walked back into the room. Granger pointed between Deeks and her. "LAPD- now….and I will be checking in."

The assistant director pushed past them. Deeks let out a sigh and placed his hands on his face. Kensi touched his shoulder and asked, "What did he say to you?"

"Remember how I kept saying that things were getting kinky?"

"Yeah…."

"I believe we just went into dangerous territory. After we go to LAPD, we need to find Hetty and figure this out."