"Wha- wha- what do you mean?" Deeks stammered. He slowly sat down next to Kensi, praying that it wasn't what he thought she meant.

Kensi placed her hands in her lap and replied, "She-um- the reporter said that on behalf of Assistant Director Granger, Nell is going to give a statement about us. That sick bastard is going to use her to guilt us into coming home! "

"Guys, it's starting," Callen interrupted as he stepped behind the couch with Sam. Kensi turned up the television volume just as Nell appeared on screen. The intelligence analyst walked up towards a podium and her appearance shocked each agent in the room. Nell had bruises on her face, arms, and legs. Her skin was pale and she looked as if she hadn't eaten in a week.

"My name is Nell Jones," Nell stammered, "And I-uh- am here to plead for Agents Deeks, Blye, Hanna, and Callen to turn themselves in." A burning rage built up in Deeks as he watched Nell look down and wipe away a tear.

"You are endangering hundreds of millions of lives," Nell continued. She paused to collect herself, "You know what you did and the implications of your actions. As your friend, I am begging you to come home. Please."

"I'll kill him," Deeks suddenly spoke up from his spot next to Kensi, "Granger- I'll kill him. Lyons and Pendle too."

"Join the club," Sam growled. Callen turned away and walked into the foyer, silently fuming. Nell was considered to be the precious one on the team, even though she liked monster car racing and carried a gun. As the team leader, Callen felt every bit responsible for every team member and watching Nell without being able to help was killing him.

"Shh!" he heard from Kensi.

"The longer you all wait, the worse the consequences," Nell stated. A tear ran down her cheek, which broke each agent's heart. "If you come forward now in the form of a phone call or in person, Assistant Director Granger assures me that there will be a leniency in your punishment. Thank you." The team watched Nell being led away from the podium by Granger and two Los Angeles police officers.

"Leniency? What are they going to do- welcome us with open arms before locking us up or shooting us?" Callen snorted after Kensi muted the television.

Kensi stood up and turned to Callen and Sam. "What do we do? We can't just sit here- we need to help Nell!"

"We can't just walk into NCIS and demand that they release Nell, Eric, and Hetty," Sam stated. He ignored Kensi's glare directed at him. He knew she was right, but the logistics couldn't be ignored. "Kensi, we're on every hit list around the world. The chance of us getting into LA, let alone on a US bound plane is slim to none."

"But a month has passed, Sam! Yeah, we're on a million watch list, but I think we need to take a chance for Nell's life!" Kensi yelled. Callen stepped in between the two arguing agents, taking note of Deeks who was sitting quietly on the couch. Callen decided to deal with Deeks later and Kensi and Sam right now.

"Ok, let's take going home as a hypothetical situation right now," Callen said, "We would need to figure out how we're going to leave Tonga in the first place. If we were to try and sneak onto a plane, which airline would we take?"

"You actually aren't considering this, are you, G?" Sam asked.

"Just run with me for a sec. What flights leave the capital?"

"Air New Zealand and Air Pacific, "Kensi answered quickly. She ignored the stares and added, "Air Pacific can take us straight to Los Angeles."

"Did you memorize their itinerary on the way here?" Callen asked. Kensi shrugged. "I was bored while waiting in Fiji."

Callen smirked at Kensi's statement. "Ok. Besides flying us right into the lion's den, where else does Air Pacific fly?"

"All over the United States, Canada-"

"Canada? Uh-uh-I don't like being that close," Sam muttered. He walked over to the window where he could see the sun slowly setting miles away. "Plus, it would be stupid if Kensi and Deeks being that close to the US."

Kensi cocked her head. "What do you mean?"

Sam turned towards the other three agents. "If we did this, you and Deeks can't enter the US under any circumstances. Deeks is the prime target and you, Kensi, are the only thing that could be used as leverage to get Deeks to come back to LA if you were to be captured."

Kensi glanced over to Deeks, who was still in the same spot on the couch. His eyes had a shell shocked appearance; it was the same way it had been when he had found out that she would be the one going to the college a month ago.

"Marty?" she called out.

Deeks slowly shook his head in response and whispered, "I can't- no way that I can let any of you do this. I found the codes and Granger is after me! None of you can expect me to fly into Canada, chill with Kens in the mountains while Callen and Sam run into LA, try to help Nell, and very likely get captured!"

"This is just hypothetical," Callen assured. Deeks stood up and mumbled, "Excuse me," before quickly leaving the room. Deeks ran up the stairs towards the "Think Tank Room," and plopped down on one of the soft, red couches. He placed his head in his hands and inhaled deeply, remembering the nightmare he had when they had first come to the safe house. After everything they went through, Deeks couldn't have Callen and Sam take a fall for something he had done. The probationary agent was already struggling with the guilt of Hetty, Eric, and especially now, Nell being in prison.

He couldn't lose anyone else.

And with that in mind, Deeks did something he hadn't done in months.

He cried.