After returning to the office, Callen met with Heddy about the case. He was only mildly surprised when she seemed to read his mind once again and suggested having Kenzi take a crash course in semi-truck driving. His only response was a slow smile and a nod. He should have realized Heddy had the plan well mapped out before she even gave him that report. The only thing she had added was a suggestion that Deeks coordinate the training portion. Apparently Deeks had connections in the trucking world... and really, that didn't surprise Callen either.
He found Deeks in the weight room, sweating heavily and out of breath. As he approached, Deeks pretended to have just finished their required push-ups and sit-ups for their quarterly fitness testing, but Callen knew the truth. Deeks was working on overcoming his fear of heights by mastering the rock climbing wall. His goal was to beat Heddy to the top one day and no one had the heart to tell him that none of them had ever been able to accomplish that.
"Hey... how'd your meeting with the manager of 'Babes on wheels' go?"
"Guy's a real sleaze, but he fancies himself a renaissance man. He's running a basement operation and trying to pass himself off as a modern man promoting equality in the work place."
"Well, Kenzi and I found out that Lipton and Riley have had no shortage of beefs over the years. Riley's operation may be bargain basement, but he's good enough to keep snagging government contracts... and keep them."
"You find anything shady in his operation?"
"The better question is what didn't we find shady. He's running a company that's a front hidden inside a shell corporation wrapped in a cloak of non-existent backers. Eric and Nell are going over this taxes now."
"Look, this guy's been in business for a long time. We need to hit the ground running on this one."
Deeks suddenly stops wiping the sweat from his head and neck and glances over at Callen. "Okay... what do you have in mind?"
"We decided to send in a driver to get some more intel on our main bombing suspect... Jenny Burke. We need to get inside her head."
"Done and done. I'm a certified CDL for big rigs. When do I start?"
"You start today, but not as a driver, Deeks. No offense, but you're not really the right type."
"Kenzi. You're sending Kenzi in as a driver? Does she even know how to drive a big rig?"
"Not yet. That's what you're gonna teach her... in the next forty-eight hours. Get dressed and make the arrangements. I'll bring Kenzi up to speed."
Without another word, Callen turns and walks out of the gym. Deeks stands there stunned once more that the team seemed to know more about him than he had carefully revealed. That and the idea that they would send Kenzi undercover where they know women are being forced to perform for their male partners.
Kfjksldjfsdjf;sdkj**********
Kenzi was used to the impromptu scheduling of her team so she merely sighs and puts her work aside when Callen yells out to meet up in Ops. Deeks comes in shortly afterward, freshly showered and smelling faintly spicy and has Kenzi tingling and quickly turning away to face Callen as he begins the briefing. Callen updates them both on his meetings with Chip Riley and Jenny Burke. Kenzi listens carefully, wondering what angle they were going to take on this one.
She is surprised when Callen informs the group she'll be going in as a truck driver with Jenny Burke who might be able to get her linked into the other truckers. She may also be their bomb suspect.
"Kenzi… she was lying about something... and she knows how to make bombs.""And, she couldn't have argued with Lipton over a strike at Western Trucking. Not last night anyway. He'd already started the strike action the day before… I confirmed that." Sam had been busy following up on their information when they returned.
"Let me guess… I get to get better acquainted with her, right?"
"She didn't exactly take a liking to us... don't think she likes cops. Besides, you two are a lot alike."
"Somehow, I don't think that's a compliment."
"Deeks is going to handle getting you up to speed on driving a big rig. You got it all set up?"
"Yep. Called in a favor and we've got the loan of his rig for the next forty-eight hours. He's meeting us at the back lot of the police academy in an hour."
Callen gives Kenzi a half grin and teases, "You ready to hit the road, Kenz?"
Deeks isn't exactly thrilled by what he knows is coming and leans back against the table as he crosses his arms in front of her. "Callen, there's got to be a better way?" Kenzi bristles at his indication she can't handle this and turns to glare at him. Deeks quickly justifies his comment, "I offered to go in myself, but apparently I'm not Riley's type... or was it Jenny Burke's type?"
Her eyes meet his and he can see the sparkle of defiance in them. Kenzi had never backed down from a challenge and she wasn't about to start now. "Not their type? I'd say you have that problem with more than truckers, Deeks."
Callen knew he wasn't going to like this idea, but he tries to divert the budding argument, "Come on, Deeks. Kenzi can drive a hummer, a dune buggy, a motorcycle… hell, she even jumped out of a plane. She was born to be a long haul, truckin' babe."
She slowly stands up, steps towards Callen and then punches him in the arm with enough force to cause the others to chuckle. Callen just smiles, but shows no weakness as she turns to walk out without another word. Deeks hurries after her and once they are both gone, Callen lets out a hiss of pain and begins rubbing his arm.
Sam just laughs at his friend and mumbles, "That'll be a love tap compared to what she'll do to you if those apes at Bishops lay a hand on her."
Callen knows no one likes the plan... including him, but they have no other choice. He gives his arm one last rub and nods in agreement as they follow after their team mates.
Dfsjfkljgskldfj******************
When they arrive at the academy, Kenzi follows Deeks walk over to meet the truck's owner, who is grinning happily at Kenzi. Deeks introduces her, "Kenzi, I'd like you to meet Arnie Cox. He's the owner of this big rig… and a very good friend."
"Hi, Arnie. You're very trusting to let me near your rig."
"Naw, nothing you can do will hurt Alice, unless you run her off a cliff." He hesitates and looks to Deeks. "You're not planning to run her off a cliff, right?"
"Arnie! Have I ever wrecked your rig?"
Arnie pretends to consider that question, then laughs and pats Deeks on the shoulder then hands over the keys and goes to sit in the shade to watch the show. Deeks opens the driver's door for Kenzi and then puts his hand on her elbow to assist her up into the truck. "Go ahead, hop in and try it on for size."
She hesitates a moment, but he just winks and she finally sighs and moves up to grab the handhold and pull herself up the steps into the driver's seat. As she stepped up she felt his hand slip from her elbow to her hip, pressing momentarily along the curve of her ass as she stepped up. Once there she looks down to give him a warning glare, but Deeks merely grins up at her.
"I knew you'd be the sexiest thing on ten wheels.""Deeks, shut up and get in here before I run you over with this monster."
He laughs as he pushes her door closed and hurries around to get in on the passenger side. They spend the next hour going over the truck's controls as Deeks explains everything to her. She listens carefully, but realizes it isn't that much different from the deuce and a half combat convoy rigs she was driving in Afghanistan she had been driving last year. The only difference was learning the double set of gears she'll need to know to pass herself off as a truck driver. When she has all the controls memorized Deeks finally suggests they take the truck for a spin.
"All right, you're ready to take this bad boy for a spin. Start it up and lets go… you've got the entire lot to play in, but don't hit my car, okay?""I think Arnie called her 'Alice', Deeks. So you're outnumbered here... just remember that."
He ignores her as she concentrates on starting the truck the way he told her. He doesn't comment unless he sees her doing something wrong. Within minutes she has the truck under way, shifting gears through the lower ten with jerky movements at first until she gets the hang of it. After a couple of hours of Deeks putting her through the paces she finally begins to maneuver the truck around with ease. Deeks has her speed up, slow down, turn around objects and back up until she can handle the rig with no problems. Then he points over to where a semi trailer is parked at one end of the lot.
Arnie is waiting for them there and as Kenzi gets closer she realizes what her next test is going to be. She glances over at Deeks with worried eyes, but he simply smiles and motions for her to back up to the trailer with a jerk of his thumb. Kenzi follows his instructions, but her palms are sweating as she guides the big truck backwards. The man on the ground guides her with his hands and she is surprised at how easily she manages to line up the hitch and get it secured.
"Very nice. It took me several tries before I got the hang of that. Now, put the parking brake on and let's get out so Arnie can show you how to hook up the trailer."
"I hope I didn't give you too many grey hairs." Kenzi gives Arnie a smile as she drops down to his level on the ground.
"No! You did real good… you got the feel for this old girl real fast. Marty here,… whew! It took us two days before I even let him hook up to a trailer."
"Yea, yea… come on, let's get on with the lesson, okay?"
"I don't think he likes being shown up by a pretty lady."
"It isn't the first time… and it won't be the last." Kenzi shoots Deeks a challenging glance, but quickly turns her attention back to her instructor.
He leads them back to the hitch area and quickly explains the cables to her. She learns them quickly as well and it isn't long before she is confident that she can hook up to and remove the semi trailers. With that done, she and Deeks climb back into the cab so her real lesson can begin. She doesn't admit it, but she is having fun. Making wide sweeping turns around the lot to get the feel for the long, heavy trailer behind her. Once she manages to maneuver the long trailer through obstacles and around corners without hitting anything Deeks motions for her to return to Arnie as their lessons for the day are over. Once they are parked and the truck is shut down, Deeks reaches over to pat her hand, then takes it in his own as he softly praises her, "Congratulations, Kenz… you did good."
"Better than your first time?"
"Way better... but I'll never admit that if Callen and Sam are around."
Just then Arnie steps up onto the running board and pushes his arms up over the window sill beside Kenzi to lean in the window. "Okay, lady… you got the job!"
Kenzi turns and quickly pulls her hand from Deeks' before Arnie notices. She smiles tiredly, "Thanks, Arnie, but I think I'll stick with my current job."
"Hey! Don't you dare try to steal my partner, buddy! She's the only reason I come to work every day."
They all laugh and Arnie jumps down to allow Kenzi to get out of the truck. Deeks also hops down and after expressing their thanks, they turn the truck back over to Arnie and he drives away. Deeks and Kenzi walk slowly back to his car as the sun is setting low on the horizon. They have had a fun day and Kenzi feels her protective wall between them slipping as he unlocks her door he pauses to look at her.
"How about I buy you a steak and a cold beer, Kenz? I think you've earned it today.""Thanks, that sounds good."
She gets in and Deeks hurries around to slide behind the wheel. He whips the car around and heads back to the main entrance to the academy with a smile on his face because... tomorrow they get to do this all over again.
Fjjfkjfsdj*****************
Deeks motions to Arnie to open the gate. He jogs over and slides the gate open as Deeks points her towards it. This back gate leads out onto several old, rarely used roads which wind around the police academy's property. They aren't likely to encounter any traffic here and it will give her a chance to feel what it's like to actually take curves and corners on a real road. She does fine for a while, but then the road begins to get more challenging as they wind their way farther up into the hills.
Kenzi is using all her concentration to keep the big truck on the narrow road without hitting the rocky ledges and trees along the sides. At one particularly sharp hairpin curve, Kenzi down shifts erratically, making the engine whine as she tries to slow down quickly. Deeks remains quiet, but his hand comes out to rest over hers as she grips the gear shift with white knuckles. He holds her hand, guiding her and the next down shift is much smoother. She glances over at him with a quick smile, but when she looks back she realizes she is too close to make the curve. As the front of the rig swings around the corner the back tires bounce up onto the rocky ledge, almost going into the ditch.
Kenzi gasps and uses both hands to quickly turn the big steering wheel in the opposite direction to correct the problem. Deeks watches out his side view mirror as the rear tires now come back firmly onto the roadway. Once she has the truck under control he sits back, crossing his arms over his chest with a satisfied smile on his face. Kenzi is too afraid to look away from the road again until she is through the tight curve and back on a straight away. She finally glances over at him with a proud grin and he smugly winks at her, knowing she could do it all along.
Her next test comes when they are returning to the academy grounds. She is steering up a steep grade, not realizing how steep the other side is going to be. As the truck reaches the crest of the hill the road seems to drop away, steeply curving to the right. Kenzi gasps in surprise and immediately grabs the gear shift to drop the engine into a lower gear. The big truck starts its downward trek, still moving too fast for safety as Kenzi brakes and again downshifts the gears. The engine whines, but the truck keeps rolling forward as they approach the curve in the road.
Deeks tenses in his seat as he decides it's time to give her some further instruction. "Air brake! Now!" She does as instructed and drops the gears down as the truck jerks with a loud rumbling tremor and slows abruptly in response.
They both heave a sigh of relief as Kenzi now steers the truck through the curve at a safe speed. Deeks once again relaxes in his seat and assumes his casual appearance. Kenzi smiles, knowing now that it is all an act and that he's probably been as nervous as she has. They make it back to the academy without further incident and Arnie is waiting by the gate to let them in. He is grinning, happy to see there are no new dents or scratches on his truck. Kenzi waves as she passes by him, proud to have made it through the hills without incident.She glances over at Deeks and asks, "Are we done?"
"Oh, no… now we learn to back and park this baby."
She groans and follows his directions as he points to the loading docks behind the main academy building. Arnie jumps up onto the running boards of the slow moving truck to catch a ride. Once there, Arnie takes over as guide again as Deeks instructs her inside on how to back the big truck at a loading dock. It is harder than it looks and it takes her two hours to get the feel of backing the truck, before sharply jackknifing the trailer to allow it to slip into a narrow slot between two other trucks. By late afternoon, Kenzi is exhausted, but she is now able to drive the truck, hook and unhook the trailer and maneuver it into a tight docking spot like a pro. With a sigh of relief she finally turns the truck off and sags in her seat. She hadn't realized how exhausted she was from the strain, but now her tired muscles ache from the effort.
Kjfklsdjfj*****************
Ignoring her sore back and arms, Kenzi pulls on her old, faded blue jeans. They are torn across one knee with a patch just below her butt where the material is worn so thin you can just see her skin beneath it. The 'save the whales' t-shirt is one of Deeks' that she borrowed months ago and decided to keep as part of her undercover wardrobe. With a pair of scissors she'd quickly modified it into something that barely covered her midriff. Whenever she played the part of a streetwise tough girl, Kenzi donned this outfit and with a quick mussing of her hair and makeup she easily fit right in. She applies a heavier eye liner than usual to transform her face. Then she uses a comb to tease her hair into a style that says she's all attitude. With one last glance at her reflection in the mirror Kenzi turns away to see Nell Jones watching in awe.
"Gee, I wish I had your talent for undercover work."
"Believe me, Nell, it isn't talent. It's a willingness to become one of them that makes it work."
"You mean you actually like being... one of them?"
"No, but I don't cringe when I have to hang out with some cracked out crack-ho just to get at some bad-ass slinger who's selling guns or dope to kids."
"That's so cool! You even sound like them."
"You have to… otherwise you're dead. Remember that, if you ever decide to work the streets."
She leaves the women's locker room with a smile on her face, proud of the awe on Nell's face. It meant she had accomplished the look she was going for and would have no trouble slipping into the world of truckers. Knowing Deeks and the others were waiting for her, she stops to get a soda firs. Enjoying all the curious glances she gets; most of them eye her suspiciously until they realize it's her.
Deeks is perched on the edge of Sam's desk as they chat and pass the time until she is ready. Callen is kicked back in his chair with his feet up on the desk and has his back to the hallway. Deeks is the first to notice as she finally saunters into the office with a very provocative roll to her hips. He is talking to the guys, but stops as his mouth suddenly goes dry. He stares in amazed silence at the sexy woman strolling towards them. He lets his breath out on a barely audible sigh, "Sweet Jesus…"
Sam is also staring past Callen at something that has his mouth hanging open as well. Callen notices their reaction and tilts his head back to see Kenzi approaching them now. He takes in her outfit, recognizing it from past assignments, but appreciating it just the same. Sam finally finds his voice and finishes the thought Deeks spoken, but with a different meaning all together.
"… amen."Just then Kenzi stops beside them and takes a moment to tip her head back and drain her soda can. The motion causes her short t-shirt to rise up, exposing her tanned, flat stomach and the sparkle of her belly piercing causes three sets of eyes to drop for a closer look. She then tosses the can into the nearest bin and places her hands on her shapely hips to glance from one quickly raised set of eyes to the next.
"So what are you guys up to?"
Callen grins and comments so only the guys will understand. "Oh, nothing. Just a little impromptu prayer session."
Kenzi gives him a curious glance, but doesn't get the chance to comment as Deeks finally pulls himself together. He clears his throat and teases, "You know, Sam… it's no wonder Kenzi holds the record for the highest price offered while working as a decoy."
"Not to mention the most men lined up around the corner waiting for a chance to proposition her."
"Very funny, you guys… I'm a trucker, not a hooker, okay?"
"Whatever you say, Darlin'… whatever you say." She slaps Sam's arm playfully and goes to her desk to get her undercover purse which doesn't have any of her ID or equipment inside. She doesn't look back, but she knows all three men are looking at that little worn patch in the hopes of seeing some skin beneath. She grabs her purse and turns around to see all three men abruptly shift their eyes away from her. She hides a knowing smile and heads for the door. In their obvious embarrassment all three men jump up and hurry after her.
Across town at Jenny Burke's house, Kenzi slips into her role with ease as she now stands in her front yard, eyeing the big Mack truck. Jenny is once again working on it and stops now to wipe her hands on a dirty rag as she and Kenzi talk.
"Look… class four license or not… you couldn't have much experience. You're too young and they don't hire your type around here.""That's why I came to you. I thought maybe you could help."
"Why me?"
"You're a woman, you've been driving a long time… and the word around town is you don't take any crap from the boys club."
"Yea, I've been trucking my whole life. When I was a kid I played with toy trucks, not dolls. Look, I got enough problems. Why should I create more competition for myself by helping you?"
"Because, like I said… you don't take that shit. You were the first woman to make a fuckin' transcontinental run!"
"You heard about that?"
"Who hasn't!? San Francisco to Newark… with a load of fuckin' grapes. You proved women can handle a big rig… and those asshole men who think they own the roads. You're an idol to lots of us."
Kenzi can see her flattery is getting through the tough exterior of this hardened truck driver. She is obviously a woman who doesn't receive much praise. As she smiles back at Kenzi now she finally jerks her dirty hand towards her house.
"Buckingham Palace it ain't… and this old heap sure as hell isn't a golden coach." She glances over at her beat up rig before she lowers her voice to a softer, more personal tone and then continues, "My husband… he's in the hospital… completely paralyzed. My poor Al… say, what did you say your name was, honey?"
"Frosty Marshall."
"Look, Frosty. My kid sister usually drives relief for me, but Susie just got herself a steady job. I'm expecting a load soon… if I get a cargo… I'll give you a call."
"Thanks… I really need the work. Here's my number…" As Kenzi pulls a pen from behind her ear and jots down her number, Jenny appraises her with a critical eye. A cynical frown crosses her face as Kenzi hands her the paper."A classy little rig like you shouldn't have too much trouble findin' a gig... but I don't tolerate that shit. You got that?"Jenny glares at her with the eyes of wisdom and Kenzi nods and turns to go. Jenny watches as she climbs into the bright yellow 1962 Camaro. The engine roars to life and Kenzi rolls off down the street in a car that would make any man envious. Kenzi drives out of sight around the corner before she smiles to herself and speaks into the microphone being monitored by Deeks and the others.
"I'm in, guys. I just hope she doesn't decide Sam's car is a better deal than I am. You should have seen the way she was drooling over your Camaro."She laughs and makes her way to their location a few blocks away. She knows Sam has no greater love than his totally restored, completely original 1962 Chevy Camaro. After returning Sam's car to him safe and sound Kenzi joined Deeks in his Tahoe. He watched as she quickly removed the wire from Beneath her t-shirt and turned off the recording devise. When she finally sighs and settles back she glances over to see him smiling at her. She tilts her head to study him, "What?"
"It always amazes me that such words can come out of such a sweet mouth."
"You shouldn't be... as many cases as we've worked together."
"Yea, and I'll probably go straight to hell, but damn it's hot when you're workin' this angle."
"Well, thank you, Deeks… that's almost a compliment, I think." He just shakes his head and chuckles as he puts his car in gear and pulls away from the curb.