Midnight
Deeks quietly closed the bedroom door behind him. The safe house was quiet and dark, perfect conditions for someone to sneak out. He could tell that no one else was up, as Sam, Callen, and Kensi's room lights were off. Wincing, Deeks limped into the living room with his backpack over his shoulder. He sadly passed Monty, who was sleeping peacefully on the floor.
"Are you going to turn yourself in or find our NCIS spy by yourself?"
Deeks whipped his head around to the corner of the living room where he saw a dark figure. It was Hetty, still dressed in her light brown suit. On any other occasion, Deeks would have joked about her sneakiness, but now he didn't feel up to it. The agent could only say, "I have to do this, Hetty."
"No you don't," the operations manager replied. She walked over to the window where both could see the Pacific Ocean gently hitting the cliff. "Either option leaves you taking one for the team. I hope that you aren't seriously considering doing either."
"Hetty, if I hadn't have found-"
"Mr. Deeks, don't you dare question that decision!" Hetty's tone was harsh and louder, but still quiet enough not to wake the other three sleeping agents. "You found something big that has to be stopped, but I hope you don't believe that this is all on you."
Deeks stepped next to her, running a hand through his messy blonde hair. "I still found something that put targets on everyone else's backs. You all are my family and…..I have to fix this, Hetty."
"I see." Hetty held out a thick manila envelope to the probationary agent. Deeks hesitantly took it before peeking inside.
Hetty looked away before continuing on, "Mr. Beale and Miss Jones did a little extra research and found out that Agent Lyons made a trip to Algiers two days ago. With some pulled favors, they also found that a man is traveling with Lyons, named Alan Pendle. He's a French national with ties to Al Qaeda and a few groups in North Korea."
"Ok. Ok," Deeks repeated, "I find this guy and bring him back with the US and their allies hunting me down. Don't suppose you have a friend or two-"
"That can help you in Algiers? They've been contacted- I made a map of safe places that you can go to in Algiers. There is also a charter plane waiting at a nearby airport ready to fly in undetected. However, I strongly advise that you do this with your team."
Deeks placed the envelope in his backpack. "I know, but if we split up and everyone comes after me, you guys have a better chance of taking down Granger." He paused, noting of Hetty's sad look, "I'm sorry, but I want to- no, have to do this. It would kill me if anything happen to the team, you, Eric, Nell, Monty-"
Hetty sat down on one of the couches, placing both hands on her thighs. There was an exhausted look in her eyes now, a look that made Deeks nervous. The woman always seemed so focus and strong; seeing a crack in her armor frightened him.
"I know I can't stop you, Mr. Deeks. It's a brave sacrifice that you want to make, no matter how much my emotions tell me otherwise," Hetty stated.
"Thanks," Deeks sat down next to her, "why do I get the feeling that I'm not going to come back from this alive?"
"That's how martyrs usually feel. Promise me one thing?"
"Of course."
"Promise that you'll come home alive."
Deeks nodded and stood back up. "I promise, Hetty. Um…since I'm inexperienced in going rouge and badass overseas and….can you do me the favor of telling Sam, Callen, and Kensi one thing for me? You know, just in case."
"Of course, "Hetty pointed to Kensi's bedroom, "Keep in mind that as soon as they discover that you are gone, they will be hunting you down just as relentlessly as Granger will be."
"I know. Let Callen know that I admire his talent, his drive, and his passion for getting these cases done. For Sam, let him know that I always saw him to be a big brother. And for Kens, tell- uh- Kensi that….I love her, always have and always will. Ok?"
"I will."
Deeks closed his eyes and took a breath. Everything in him was trying to get him to stay, but it failed.
He slowly walked out of the house, leaving his family, his job- basically, his entire life behind him.
7:45am
Kensi rolled out of bed later that morning, anxious to get started on their plans for Granger and Lyons. The night had been a restless one filled with tossing and turning over the decision she and the team would have to make.
Yawning, Kensi opened her room door and found Callen and Sam standing mouth agape in the living room. She could hear the television blaring in front of them.
"What's going on?" she asked. Callen pointed towards the television with the remote in hand. "Remember Detective Donnelley, our new liaison?" he said.
"Yeah. What about her?" Within all the chaos, Kensi had completely forgotten about the odd detective.
"Well, Deeks was right about her being off. She snapped on a morning drive this morning and killed nine people."
"Wow." Deeks would make a joke right now…..speaking of, where is he? She thought. Kensi walked over to Deeks' room door and knocked twice. She hadn't heard from her partner since the team discussion the night before. Everyone had assumed that Deeks was resting.
"Deeks?" Kensi repeated.
Still no response.
"Seriously, Deeks. Open up- you're scaring me." Kensi took a step back, ready to either call Sam over to kick down the door or pick the lock herself. The agent was stopped when Hetty walked into the living room.
"He's not there, my dear," Hetty sadly told her, "I'm sorry to say that he went ahead of everyone else. Mr. Deeks claimed-"
"What do you mean he went ahead?" Kensi exclaimed. A part of her wanted to strangle Hetty, but she knew that wouldn't end well.
"Lyons and the NCIS infiltrator is in Algiers-"
"You sent Deeks to Algiers? By himself? Our Deeks with a stab wound in his leg?" Sam yelled, stepping closer to Hetty.
The operations manager didn't flinch. "I spoke to him and-"
"You couldn't have stopped him, Hetty?" Callen added, "This is stuff that's over our heads! Deeks will get killed within a day!"
"He's capable and can handle himself. I also told him that his team won't be far behind." Hetty handed a manila envelope over to Callen, "Everything you need is here. Bring our man home."
"…..Thanks," the agent muttered, still angry. He turned away to instruct Kensi and Sam. The operations manager calmly took a breath and said, "There is also one other thing."
"What?" Callen snapped irritably.
"Mr. Deeks wanted a few things to be said…..Mr. Callen, he admires you greatly." Hetty gave Callen a gentle pat on the shocked agent's arm before moving onto Sam. "Although he may irritate you at times, Mr. Hanna, he sees you as an older brother and cares greatly for you. Miss Blye-"
"He loves me," Kensi whispered. A part of her had known along, but she didn't want to admit. Hetty nodded and said, "Bring him home safely."
"We will," Callen stated. He turned to Sam and Kensi and told them, "We leave in an hour. "
Kouba Airport- Kouba, Algeria- 11 hours later
The jet slowly taxied towards the very end of the lone runway. Kensi tightened her backpack straps while standing right behind Callen. Sam loaded his pistol from the center of the cabin and said, "Remember that we're targets now? As soon as the jet stops, we make a run for that hill over there."
The fog surrounding the airport blanketed a small hill that led to an underpass. Near the top of the hill, the three agents saw a small cabin.
"That's our first marker. Hetty has a Cold War buddy that will shuttle us towards the center of the capital," Sam added.
"Do you think Deeks made it?" Kensi asked nervously.
Sam sighed. "He's a detective at heart. I trust him and know that he's competent, but I don't know if he can make out here on his own."