Deeks let out the breath he was holding. He stares straight ahead, not looking at anyone. The team stares at Deeks; they don't know what is really going on. They had heard the Brandell name before but not Martin. They know that Deeks shot a man by the name of Gordon John Brandell when he was a child but nothing more than that. The only one who knows the truth is Hetty and Bates, but this is on Deeks to tell them.
Eric breaks the tension in the room by finally asking. "Who is Martin Brandell?"
Deeks knows that he can't keep the details of his past a secret much longer, especially if his file is missing from Judge Henry's files. He gets up and walks to the window. He really doesn't want to do this. He doesn't want them to know, but now he has no choice; Bates saw to that. He takes a few deep breaths before finally answering.
"Me, a lifetime ago."
"So Gordon-" Kensi begins to ask.
"My father. I shot him, it was a flesh wound. The shooting was deemed self-defense. He was convicted and sent to prison. That would be in my file that is missing from Judge Henry's office. He was the Judge at his trial." Deeks interrupts still staring out the window.
Kensi gets up and walks over to him. He flinches as she put her hand on his shoulder, but she doesn't remove it. The jester offers him comfort and she knows it, but doesn't understand as to why he flinched at first.
"There is more." Bates begins again.
"What more could you possibly have to say." Deeks yells turning around to face him.
"After realizing that your file is missing; I checked the Archives and found that the police file investigation into the shooting is also missing."
"Maybe it was checked out, although I wouldn't know by whom or for what reason."
"It wasn't checked out by anyone, Detective. It is missing, it was stolen same as Judge Henry's file." Bates points out.
"You could have just called me to your office to tell me all this. Why did you get them involved?" Deeks asks.
"If I had just told you, you would have ignored it. Pretend that this wasn't happening and you are not in any kind of danger. By getting them involved, you can't ignore this."
"Wait nobody said I was in any kind of danger." Deeks responds although he knows it isn't true. If he was perfectly safe the files wouldn't have been stolen. Whoever did this will come after him, eventually.
"That isn't true kid and you know it. You might not want to admit it, but deep down you do know that you are in danger. I am sorry Marty." Bates replies as he starts to leave.
After Bates is gone the team stares at Deeks, they need answers and he is the only one that could provide them. Deeks knows this too, but he doesn't want to talk about it. Not now, not ever.
"Before you say anything, don't. I don't want to talk about it, any of it." Deeks answers and tries to leave the boatshed to go to the beach where he could clear his head.
Sam blocks his path. Deeks tries to move around him, but can't. Callen and Kensi also help Sam to keep Deeks from leaving.
"Just where do you think you are going?" Callen asks getting in his face.
"If you must know, for a run on the beach." Deeks answers annoyed.
"Not alone, your not." Sam responds.
Deeks turns his back to them and runs his hand through his hair. He knows where they are going with this, protection detail; and he doesn't want it.
"You can consider yourself under protection detail until we find who stole the files and why." Callen says in his best leader voice.
"No, forget it. I don't want it. I am perfectly capable of taking care of myself." Deeks yells angrily. He stops and takes a few deep breaths to get his emotions under control. He has been yelling a lot lately and that is so not like him. He is not an angry person; he is more of a person that likes to go with the flow. Or, at least that is how he pretends to be when around others.
"Deeks calm down. We just want to protect you, because you are a member of this team and we take care of our own. Besides who really ever wants to be under protection detail; it is a necessary evil." Kensi teases.
Marty stares at the floor, he has to except this. He knows that, but it doesn't mean he has to like it. Kensi leads him to the table and sits him down in the chair. Sam sits down next to him.
"Marty, I know you don't want to talk about it; but you have too. If we are going to keep you safe, we need to know what happened." He began gently with his hand on Marty arm.
Deeks shakes his head tears falling from his eyes. "Please, I can't. You don't understand, I can't."
Callen stares at Marty; he knows how difficult this must be for him. His spent his whole life searching for his past, while Marty has been running from his.
"I realize this is hard on you; but no matter what happens, we will all be here for you."
Marty considers a plan B to him talking. "What if I told you that there is a copy of those missing files and I know where to get it?"
Sam rolls his eyes. He hates those words. "What If". It is just a saying to see if someone will react. He has had the tendency to use those words in his own interrogations when fishing for information or trying to get a confession out of a suspect.
"Is there or isn't there a copy of those files?" Sam asks.
"There is and only 2 people know about it. Judge Henry and me." Deeks admit.
"Tell me where it is and I will go get it." Kensi offers.
"You can't, only I can get it."
"Fine you and I will go get these files and then go by your place so you can get your things. You will stay with me." Callen speaks up.
"And Monty." Deeks hopes.
Callen nods, knowing it would be easier to get Deeks to cooperate with the protection detail if his dog is with him. "Actually why don't you all stay with me. My place is definitely big enough and we could work the case much easily there too. Eric and Nell you too."
They nod through the camera.
"Callen, how are you going to handle 5 more people, when you don't even have any furniture?" Sam teases.
"Well, I am just going to have to get furniture, now won't I." Callen states.
Marty put his head in his hands. There are some days that you just shouldn't get out of bed. Today is one of those days.