"I don't like this one bit," Sam states as he stands on the walkway on the second floor of the police station. It's been two hours since Deeks had taken a risk and called Nahili directly using the number that Jasmin had given them. Nahili's terms of meeting were simple- Deeks will walk into the open air market and meet with Farooq in the dinning center located in the middle of the market. Once Deeks receives his money, he'll call Sam and 'hand' him over to Farooq; in reality, the team will attempt to capture Farooq and get a way into Nahili's camp.
"Nobody likes this plan," Callen replies. He rests his arms on the railing and looks down to the dozen police officers dressed in police gear in preparation to raid Nahili's camp. With only a small group of men willing to assist the team, the team is going to the meeting alone.
In the middle of the group stands Deeks, donning a long sleeve and a winter vest to conceal his Kevlar vest, and his partner. "You aren't the only one. I'm sure Deeks isn't even 100% with this plan and he's the one who came up with it."
"He came up with calling Nahili. The demands are all Nahili's," Sam says before turning away from the group. "I just keep seeing this ending in my head with Deeks being captured and tortured again. I can't have him do that for me."
"It's what we all signed up for. Deeks is loyal to you, Sam. Did you two make up?"
"Kind of." Sam walks to the stairwell and continues down the stairs towards Kensi and Deeks. He pushes through the crowd of cops until he's face to face with the pair. He holds out his hand and says, "Are you ready for this?"
"As ready as I'm going to be," Deeks replies. He gives Kensi a nod for support before saying, "I'll be fine. It think…I don't know."
"Remember if anything out of the ordinary happens- anything that makes you worry- you get out of there," Kensi states.
"Just give a nod and duck out through the closest alley way. Trust your training, Marty," Sam says. He pulls out a pocket knife and holds it out to Deeks. Deeks smirks and pulls out Kensi's knife from his waist. "Kensalina beat you to it, Sam, but thanks."
"I know. It's for luck- I want it back when this is all over."
Deeks nods. "Ok." He walks up to the bottom stairwell and looks up to see Hetty at the top of the stairs. "Is the drone over the camp?"
"Is that really what you want to ask me?" Hetty states.
"No, I was expecting more of a good luck or you telling me that you have a plan B."
"Of course- plan B. Good luck."
Al Nahyan Open Air Market
"I've been out in this market for 45 minutes now. If Nahili's men don't show up any time soon, it's going to start to look a bit suspicious." Deeks says. He rubs his ear as an attempt to cover up his need to touch his earpiece to communicate to Callen on overwatch in one of the buildings near the market, Kensi undercover in the dining area in a burqa, and Sam waiting in a back alley. Deeks moves past a booth selling an assortment of fish before he stops and narrows his eyes. "I don't think anyone is coming."
"Keep your cool, Deeks," Sam warns carefully. "For all we know, they're watching you before deciding to make a move."
"I know, I know….trust your training," Deeks repeats.
"I give it ten more minutes and then I say we abort," Kensi says from her spot in the dinning center. She leans in towards the baby stroller parked next to her table and pretends to tend toward a baby covered by blankets in the stroller. "I don't like this at all."
Sam sighs loudly, completely empathetic to Kensi's concern as he was in her position weeks ago. "We know. He's covered on all four ends, Kens."
"Still not comfort-wait….Deeks, there's an anxious man in a black jacket and white button down pacing between the bag stand and the vendor selling figs," Kensi says. She reaches in her bag and pulls out a baby bottle. "Can't tell if he has a weapon on him but he does have a case."
"I'll check it out." Deeks starts his way down the walkway and spots the man matching Kensi's description. He takes a few steps and narrows his eyes at the man; he's no longer himself, but a rouge detective about to sell out his partner. Deeks crosses his arms and glares at the man, thinking, Please be him. It's a long five minutes before the man looks up from his pacing and spots Deeks.
"Come on over…don't run…" Deeks mutters under his breath. He watches the man slowly make his way down the walkway towards Deeks. The scrawny man darts his eyes between the wall of the nearby vendor and Deeks before calling out, "Are you the detective?"
"Are you new on the job or something? You're squirming like you've never done this before," Deeks comments. "Relax, man- damn, I thought Nahili would at least send his best man for a deal like this. You're Farooq, right?"
The man groans and whispers, "Yes."
Deeks forces a smirk to keep in character. "Huh, I don't like it. You seem more like a Jimmy to me"
"Where's Agent Hanna?" Farooq growls, ignoring Deeks' comment. The man's hands are shaking and it's a clear sign to Deeks that things are about to go south.
"He's in the area," Deeks states, " All I have to do is make one call and he's here."
"Fine. Make the call."
"Nope. Show me the money," Deeks growls back. Farooq pauses and then suddenly turns on his heels and begins walking away from Deeks. In that moment, everything seems to show slow for Deeks- his gut feeling is screaming at him to run. And with Farooq's behavior in the back of his mind, Deeks decides to listen to his gut and ducks to his right.
It's a smart move as Farooq suddenly turns around with a loaded Glock 45 and fires.
From his position in a nearby alley, Sam watches the dining area break out into chaos.
He's just seen Deeks duck behind a metal dining table and flip it on its side before Farooq had suddenly turned around and fired three shots in the air. Civilians begin running back and forth between the walkway, cutting off Sam's eye on Deeks or Kensi.
This is bad, this is…this is bad, Sam ducks out of the alley and begins pushing his way through the crowds of civilians running away from the dining area. He has to push his way through the small space between a booth and a fearful group of men before he's in the walkway that leads down to the dining center.
"Sam, talk to me. What the hell just happened?" Callen yells over the earpiece.
Sam puts a hand over his earpiece and yells, "Farooq has just fired three shots into the air. You've got to get me an eye on Kensi and Deeks!"
"I'm trying, I'm trying!"
Sam sprints as hard as he possibly can towards the dinning center, yelling, "G, give me something!"
"Ah, damn. There are three men that I can see with weapons drawn," Callen replies, "I…um…I can't get a shot without taking out a civilian. Kensi and Deeks are hiding behind on a table."
"I see them!" Sam ducks behind a large booth and looks over the edge to see Kensi and Deeks. Something doesn't look or feel right- No one is shooting, Sam thinks in confusion. He can see the three men that had also drawn their weapons- all three, along with Farooq, standing out in the open with their weapons drawn on Deeks and Kensi.
"G, you've got to give me something…G? " The silence that he hears back is frightening to Sam. He's alone in this and it's time to make a decision.
"Whatever happens in this, baby, I will always love you. No matter what."
The memory of one of his last conversations with Michelle is all he needs to make a stupid, life changing decision.
"I'm the one you want!" Sam yells. He puts his Sig556 assault rifle on the ground and holds his hand in the air. It's more than enough to get all four men's attention on him. Sam gives Kensi a nod and she understands that for her and Deeks to get out alive and for Sam to get to his wife, he has to surrender himself.