6. "I wanted a woman who could get me out of a Third World prison. Life's too short to hang out with people who aren't resourceful." - Jeff Bezos

April 9, 2010

"That little woman is here," Morales said as he walked into Deeks's bedroom. Deeks was just out of the shower, wearing a bath sheet around his waist as he towel-dried his hair.

"Miss Lange?"

"She wants me to call her Hetty. She's taken over my bedroom."

"You mean my guest bedroom, which you're using, It isn't actually your room."

Morales continued as if he didn't hear Deeks. "Bates called her NCIS's elfin enforcer. I thought he was saying effin' but it was elfin and he's..."

"Believe me, I've had three phone calls worth of Batesism. Why is she here? Does Kensi need a chaperone?"

"Miss Blye is more than capable of taking care of herself," Hetty answered as she walked into Deeks's bedroom. As he fumbled to throw on a tee shirt, Hetty continued, "She's changing in your guest room. And this is a magnficient home. My more immediate concern, however, is more focused on you, Commander Deeks. I have several suits downstairs I feel would be appropriate for your time tonight in the casino."

Morales started to laugh. "Oh, Ms...Hetty, you got the wrong sailor. I'll leave you two to peruse Commander Clotheshorse's closet." Morales waved as he left the bedroom.

"If you just come with me downstairs, I brought a number of shirts that were ordered for an agent who is currently not working with our team..."

"Miss...Hetty, thank you for the offer but I have my own clothing. Not everything I own is a uniform or beach gear."

"And I'm sure you think what you have is..."

Deeks waved her over to his closet and opened the double doors. "I have five custom suits made by Elevee, three from Alton Lane," Deeks said as he pointed to the suits.

Hetty walked over to the closet. "There are two Turnbull and Assers and is this a Leonard Logsdail?" she asked as she held out a blue pinstripe jacket sleeve.

"Yes," Deeks said with a smile. "I have a nice assortment of custom shirts along with ties, belts and shoes purchased specifically to work with all these suits. I was thinking a little more California casual tonight. Art Lewin white dress shirt, the charcoal grey pinstripe Alton Lane vest and pants with no jacket and the John Varvatos shoes. I'm back to my fighting weight so everything fits."

"Commander, you are full of surprises," Hetty said as she took a step back from the closet. "Your choices are excellent. Do these all belong to you or..."

"Like me, they are the property of the U.S. Navy. To make this," Deeks pointed to his face, "work as a businessman of questionable ethics and ever-changing morals, a good wardrobe is key."

"Yes it is. But there is a difference between a good wardrobe and a custom-made suit from one of the finest bespoke tailors in the world."

"The suits may have spent about a year on a joint task force, splitting their time between Miami, Los Angeles, New York, Boston and Bogotá, traveling with the top U. S. legal advisor to Diego Gomez."

"Andres Gomez's son?"

"Yes. Diego was the public face of taking the family business legit. They were buying nearly bankrupt legal businesses in a number of struggling American cities in the Southwest and Florida and putting them back in the black with the help of said top U.S. advisor. Of course, Diego was doing this while running and expanding his family's drugs, human trafficking and coyote business in all these places. The towns were so indebted to Diego's rescue plans that they rarely asked questions about the new hero in town."

"Diego Gomez disappeared about two and a half years ago. His family claims he was killed in a shootout with the DEA."

"Because it may be bad for business to tell people Diego's in custody providing intel to ONI, DEA, ICE and maybe even NCIS."

"Were you the top U.S. legal advisor wearing the suits?"

"Hetty, you know better than that I'm just a radio operator," he smiled, giving her the standard Navy Intelligence dodge.

"Yes I do. Though if you were involved, it would explain how someone so young could be moving through the ranks so quickly. I'll leave you to change." Hetty started to make her way to the door. "Commander, what would you have done if you were not medically cleared to return to ONI?" she asked as she turned back to Deeks.

Deeks looked at her, confused. "I'm pretty sure I've been cleared to return, although not officially."

"I believe that, too. If for some reason, however, the Navy offers you a medical discharge, do you have a plan? Surely during your recovery you must have thought that could be a possibility."

"I really did re-up last year. Being a lawyer and able to walk and talk, I don't see them offering me a medical discharge. I suppose I'd be really assigned to a JAG office and finish my time there."

"But no thoughts if you were honorably discharged for medical reasons."

"Ma'am, as much as the following statement would shock 20-year old Marty Deeks, I'm a sailor. It's more than what I do, it's who I am. I never expected this career and I can't imagine my life without it."

"And that's what drove your recovery."

"That, the sun and the surf. Hospitals are miserable places," he told her with a chuckle. "Too many sick people."

"Yes they are," Hetty agreed. "But if you ever give a thought to life outside of the Navy, I think NCIS would be fortunate to have you," she told him just before leaving the room.

"Thank you," Deeks was surprised. Somehow he thought telling the Admiral that Hetty Lange offered him a job wouldn't end well for him.

Deeks saw Kensi as he walked down the stairs. He'd been wrong. She wasn't kinda cute or adorable or good looking – all the things he was telling himself over the last few days. No, she was stunning. Her outfit was some sort of form fitting beige sleeveless short dress with a black netting sheath over it. Her hair was down, blown straight with very expensive looking earrings. The black pumps had at least a four inch heel and were peep toe. A man might do something he'd regret for a woman who looked like that.

"You clean up nicely," Kensi said when she saw him.

"Right back at 'cha," he told her as he walked into the living room. Morales had a briefcase opened, as did Hetty.

"The Pan brothers casino obviously does not hire temporary bartenders or card dealers so we were unable to embed an agent in the casino," Hetty advised. "Agent Hanna, however, is working as part of the building's legitimate security team. He's in the loading dock area. Agent Callen is working as part of the building's maintenance crew. Has been since this morning. He'll be washing interior windows at Capital Flow's 35th floor when Commander Deeks and Miss Blye are making their way to the casino on 34."

Morales took over the briefing. "Your boy Tommy's blubbering cousin gave me the casino set-up rundown. You'll go to Capital Flow's offices on 35 and then immediately be taken into a security room right off their reception area. They'll take your phones. They have a metal detector you'll both have to walk through, you'll be patted down and Agent Blye's purse will be thoroughly searched."

"So no weapons," Kensi said.

"I've got a ceramic knife set up in my belt. I've gotten it through security in a number of places - we should be fine," Deeks told her.

"Agent Callen was able to get down to the 34th floor earlier today after an unfortunate plumbing failure," Hetty said. "While the camera and bug he tried to plant failed due to the building's design, he was able to plant two items for Miss Blye. There is a ladies room just behind the roulette tables. In the third stall from the door, you'll find an HP-22 and a phone. Your dress does not allow the usual holsters but the weapon should fit easily in your clutch with the phone."

Kensi nodded. "Ear wigs?"

"It's a glass tower," Morales said shaking his head. "Too much steel supporting that glass for regular comms. A friend in the CIA helped us set up these pieces. We hear you, you don't hear us." Morales opened a black jewelry box. He pulled out a platinum necklace with three diamonds as a pendant and passed it to Kensi. "The diamonds are real so don't lose the necklace. It's got a GPS but Bates will hit the roof if its lost even for a while. The settings for the diamonds work as a bug. Audio but no video. The clasp," Morales showed Kensi "will vibrate if there is a problem. One blast - and you will feel it - is to keep on your toes because we don't like something. Two is to get ready, Agents Callen, Hanna and I are coming in with the tact team." Morales put the necklace on Kensi. Showing her the remote for the necklace, he gave her a blast.

"Oh, I can feel that," she said with a smile.

"Make sure the clasp stays at the nape of your neck. If it slides, you may not feel the vibration." Morales returned to his briefcase. "St. Brendan is the mike for you," the Marine tossed a small black case to Deeks. "Cuff links vibrate independently of what's being sent to Agent Blye. Bates will be listening."

"Stunner there. What is Kensi's backstory? I don't think I can introduce her as my NCIS Agent girlfriend," Deeks said as he hung the St. Brendan medal with the Navy insignia on the back around his neck.

"I am Inez Peres," Kensi said with a heavy accent. "I am a swimsuit model from Rio. I met my handsome sailor while I was shooting a Babes on the Beach calendar right by his house. I told him I could not understand why they would not photograph me topless since that's how I work at home. Marty told me I could sunbathe at his place topless and we've been together ever since. Marty is so funny and we're having so much fun."

Morales had a big smile on his face. "She's good."

"I must be better since she's took me up on my weak sunbathing offer," Deeks replied as he put on the cuff links.

"And you Commander?" Hetty asked.

"I've served my country, nearly died and now I want out. Uncle Sam won't discharge me after being wounded on a mission but unless I want to buy out my remaining time with the service, I'm not only in for another year, I'm owe them an extra six months for being wounded in a knife fight in an off-base card game after successfully negotiating a deal for the Navy in Mosul."

"You should have become a Marine, they'd have washed you out years ago," Morales joked. "So while you're being disgruntled and NCIS has their people working the building, I'm with the Marine tact team from Pendleton in a pair of FedEx trucks just outside the loading dock. If everything goes as it should, you'll get bribed by the free Pan brother. Once your business is done, Agent Hanna will bring the tact team in. NCIS has control of the service elevator which will bring us into the casino's kitchen."

"If it all goes as planned," Hetty said, "the tact team will wait until you're in the building's main elevator leaving..."

"I'd rather be picked up in the raid," Deeks said.

"I agree," Kensi said.

Hetty shook her head. "Commander, you're unarmed except for a small knife. Agent Blye has a small caliber weapon. The room will have a number of businessmen whose businesses includes murder and mayhem. The tact team is going to have their hands full."

"But it wouldn't hurt to have someone considered by most of the murder and mayhem guys to be a fellow suspect working against them and with the tact team," Morales offered to Hetty.

"I usually get myself arrested with targets of my assignments. It keeps my cover viable in case suspects get away or others aren't at the take down."

"Which is all well and good but Commander, this is going to be your first time in the field in months," Hetty said.

"Ma'am, with all due respect to you and your team, I got myself away from your holding facility and was able to get the smaller, stupider Pan son neutralized..."

"Will Pan being 'stupider' as you so generously put it gave you an advantage. My team would also not likely kill you unless in an act of self-defense and you had no intention of harming them. The men you're dealing with have been doing this for years while you've been here working on your recovery for months."

"Agent Blye, are you concerned going into the field with me? Miss...Hetty is correct, I haven't been in the field for a while and I won't take offense if you..."

"No," Kensi said quietly. "I think I can take care of myself and I think you can take care of yourself."

"Miss Blye, if anything goes wrong..."

"Nothing will Hetty," Kensi said taking a deep breath. "Inez is going to distract, Deeks is going to be bribed and we're all going to be arrested as part of the casino raid."

"Safe word?" Hetty asked.

"Cristiano Ronaldo," Kensi purred in her Inez voice.

"Safe words," Deeks noted.

"Not the way she says it," Morales quipped. "You'll get the double tap on the buzzer when we are in the elevator going to the 34th floor. If we're not going in for you, you'll have about a minute to find someplace comfortable to be arrested. The team will be advised that Agent Blye has a weapon. Anything else?"

"Do you have any scars? Tats? Birthmarks other than the Nevus of Ota? Piercings?" Deeks asked.

"Excuse me?" Kensi asked.

"Yeah, that's right. Anything your boyfriend should know about you?" Morales asked. "Trust me, it's come up in the past when operators have been sent in as a couple."

"I thought you were a radio operator, Commander. And you a simple jarhead, Major." Hetty noted.

"I thought you said you knew better than to ask, ma'am," Deeks replied. "For the record - scars on my hip from my last adventure in the field, a scar from a bullet wound on my bicep, an assortment of small nicks and cuts, nothing major and nothing a grown man who grew up in a bad neighbor would have. Closed hole where I had my right ear pieced when I was sixteen, tattoo of a wave on my right ankle I got when I was 21, my blood type on my right arm when I got back from my first field assignment. O-positive."

Kensi shook her head and recited dully. "Obviously pierced ears, both double piercings. Belly button ring that doesn't work with this dress. You noticed my eye, that's it for birthmarks. The Japanese symbol for father is a small tattoo behind the back of my right ear."

"Belly ring, ear tattoo. We're good and we're off."

It was a short ride in the NCIS provided 2010 BMW 335i. Seemed Inez liked the fine German engineering and not the well-made luxury American SUV, Deeks thought as Kensi drove. At the Commerce Tower, the front desk security guard gave Kensi a long once over before pointing out the correct elevator bank. Distraction as strategy for the win. Once at Capital Flow, a rather attractive female receptionist warmly greeted them before pointing to the security room, just as Lenny said. A rather thorough pat down for him, the same with a female security officer for Kensi and the two were escorted to the 34th floor.

After being buzzed passed a generic 34th floor reception area, Deeks was amazed by the size and scope of the Pan brothers' illicit casino. There were several rows of craps, blackjack and roulette tables in the center of the gambling floor. A row of glass enclosed offices lined the window side of the floor with private tables mostly hosting poker games. There was a heavily guarded teller's office along the interior wall with a bar and a table with some chafing dishes. Finally, a long office with smoked glass lined the short far windowed wall. Deeks figured Sean Pan was there. Kensi excused herself as she made her way to the ladies room. With her hopefully fetching her weapon, Deeks gave Morales a rundown of the hostiles in the room as well as confirming Lenny's layout. A few minutes later, Kensi returned with a smile.

"Let's get something to drink Inez," Deeks said aloud. Putting his arm around her, he whispered, "Got your gun?"

"Yes," he said in a breathy whisper that could make a man sell out his country.

At the bar, he ordered a Corona. When the bartender didn't know how to make a Caipirinha, Inez settled for a white wine spritzer. Deeks leaned to her and whispered in her ear, "Assume everything is bugged." Kensi let loose with a delightful giggle and nodded her head.

"Mr. Deeks," a rather large Asian man said he walked up behind Kensi. "Mr. Pan will see you now."

Deeks tossed a twenty onto the bar and took Kensi's hand.

"Mr. Pan only wants to see you."

"I was under the belief that Mr. Pan liked beautiful women since he wanted Inez to accompany me tonight. And since Mr. Pan insisted I bring Inez, I plan on bringing her everywhere."

"That's not how it is done."

"It is now. If Mr. Pan wants to meet with me, Inez is coming," Deeks told him. "Don't worry. Inez's English isn't why she's been so successful as a model. Of course, I have no interest in her starting a career as a hostage."

"Mr. Pan will guarantee your date's safety."

"I'd prefer to guarantee our safety," Deeks said with a smile. "Or I can leave and maybe find someone else interested in the location of brother Will and the mom-to-be."

The security guard took out his phone and after a short exchange in Chinese, he was walking both Deeks and Kensi to the smoked back office.

"I could have taken care of myself," Kensi whispered in his ear as they neared the office.

"Maybe I wanted my back-up a little closer by," Deeks whispered back.

Kensi, not Inez, looked at him before she gave an Inez-like laugh as they walked in the office.

"You're in the Navy?" Sean Pan asked as the security guard brought them into the office. The office was probably the combination of two offices on both sides of a corner. There were several screens offering security feeds of the gambling floor as well as some sort of basketball game on another - Mavericks-Trailblazers maybe. Two average-sized middle age men sat in guest chairs across from Sean Pan's desk. "Because you don't look like you're a sailor to me," Sean said.

"For now," Deeks answered. "Since I'm on sick leave, I'm reverting more to my typical look. Saving a fortune in razors and haircuts. Beautiful views you have here."

"Not a bad way to spend a Friday," Sean answered as the security man left the room.

"Where is Beverly Hills?" Kensi asked as Inez. "Everything here is so confusing. Big sign for Hollywood but none for any other village. I do not understand."

Sean Pan pointed to the older of the two men sitting across from him. "Heng, show our guest some of the sights..."

"But show her from where I can keep my eyes on her. I'd hate for Inez to be hit on by someone in your casino."

Heng stood and took Kensi's arm. "Let me show you a few places, Inez," Heng said in perfect English as he walked up to her.

Kensi did a wonderful job of looking confused as she looked to Deeks. He nodded his head - as if he could ever give permission to a woman like Agent Blye to do anything - before she took Heng's arm and walked to the window.

Sean pointed to the available guest chair. "We have much to talk about Mr. Deeks."

"We do," Deeks said as he took the guest chair. Sean Pan was good. Deeks could see Sean as well as Kensi seeing the sights at the window.

Sean picked his phone and said "We're ready to begin," to the person on the other end. The door opened and in walked Michael Pan.

"Your cousin is here, Mr. Pan?" Deeks asked.

"As I told you yesterday, Mike is my brother. And you need to understand that family means everything to us."

The middle age man sitting at the guest chair next to Deeks stood and left the room as Mike Pan took the seat. "How is my wife?"

"Stable. She's on bed rest right now."

"Our man at Victorville..." Sean started.

"David Saunders?" Deeks interrupted. "Really, if you're going to have a guy on the payroll, pay him. Mr. Saunders thought his bribe money was so insignificant that he just made five hundred dollar a week deposits into his checking account without worrying about being caught. You didn't even buy an important guard. He works video room because he's proved to be too stupid to be out in prison gen-pop." Deeks laughed when Bates sent him the rundown on Saunders earlier that day. Talk about paying the wrong man.

Mike turned to Sean. "You bought Xue-Li's safety on sale?"

"Saunders said he saw her daily."

"Not to tell you fellas how to do your business," Deeks joked, "but you get what you pay for. Me, I'm expensive. If you get me my phone, I can show you just how valuable I can be."

As Sean called down to have Deeks's phone delivered, he turned to Mike Pan and said "Since the entire intelligence community probably believes you're in China, did you come when your parents were arrested or have you been here since Xue-Li was arrested."

"That's really none of your business," Mike sniffed.

"Respectfully, sir, I'm about to make all of this my business. If I'm putting my future at risk, I'd like everyone to share in the risk."

"Your phone is on the way up and Mike's been here since this morning. Private jet from Beijing with a stopover in Hawaii," Sean said as he hung up. "Mike thought he could get into my parent's compound."

"Oh, no, the FBI is going to be moving in there," Deeks told the two. "That house is done."

"He was growing too comfortable in his position," Mike snapped. "My concern is about the future of this family. Father has once again proven that he is the past."

Deeks was surprised by the riff that sounded like it existed between the generations. Li Ho Pan's story was that of a family working as a team. Mike Pan sounded like the team wasn't so unified. The door opened and the security guard brought Sean Deeks's phone. Sean passed it to Deeks. "You're so interested in the future," Deeks told Mike as he opened the photos folder - as well as the secure video camera. "Here's yours," Deeks said as he passed the man his phone.

Mike Pan looked right at the screen and that up at Deeks, amazed. "Is that..."

"That's a sonogram of your son. Xue-Li is getting excellent care. She's on bed rest now until everything is stable. Then, she'll be transferred back to Victorville. She won't be going anywhere anytime soon - she's in a secure hospital ward but as soon as she's cleared to return, she's going back."

"Where is she?" Mike asked.

"Nearby hospital is all I'm offering right now. That little smudge on the bottom of the picture, that's the hospital name," Deeks said as he took his phone back. "The hospital doesn't know who she is. She's being treated under a false name but they know she is a special case patient. Now that I've been helpful to ease your worries about your future, I think it's time we discuss my future." Kensi let out another delightful laugh as Inez. Nearly perfectly timed. "As you can see, I'm as invested in my future as you."

"You can give us the day and time Xue-Li will be transferred from a hospital," Mike was just a bit too anxious.

"I can. Even the route the Marshals will be taking."

"And you can tell us when my brother Will is to be moved."

"That's going to be a lot sooner than you all think. He's being sent to a friendly foreign country for some, well, extreme interrogation. I'll be honest with you. I'd get him before he's sent. He's been rather chatty and that was with very little pressure. You may want to get your cash out of Capital Flow. End times ahead for your internship," Deeks chuckled.

Sean made his offer. "$100,000 for where Will is, $100,000 for Xue-Li's transfer route. Paid after Xue-Li is safe."

Deeks laughed. "Now that's funny. Gentlemen, my gig with the Navy is negotiating contracts and business deals. And I know a bad one when I see it." With his tone turning deadly serious, "Try again. And there best be some upfront money. I'd hate to tell the Navy about what Lenny approached me with and how brother Mike is in-country. And I'd like Inez back here. I'm feeling a little outnumbered."

"$250,000 upfront, $250,000 for where Will is, $250,000 for Xue-Li's route and $250,000 when she's safe," Mike said as he waved Heng back to the group.

"Double it and we have a deal." Deeks said, earning three quick blasts to his cuff links. The Admiral never liked second counter offers.

The two brothers looked at each other. "I assume you don't have an easily tracked checking account like my brother's employee at Xue-Li's prison," Mike said.

Deeks fiddled with his phone. "Here's the account," Deeks showed Mike his phone before passing it to Sean. Sean took the phone and started working on his laptop.

Kensi walked up. As Inez, she said, "Marty, as much as I like the house at the beach, maybe we can get someplace like this to see the city. It is so pretty when it is lit up in ..."

Mike Pan stood and tried to grab Kensi. Tried, being the important word. He got an elbow to the face. Heng, Kensi's escort, tried to intercede but Deeks made quick work of him with a punch to the gut. Deeks pulled Heng's weapon from a shoulder holster - Heng obviously saw too many mob movies - and turned to Sean. The middle Pan brother had a gun pointed at Kensi. Kensi, however, had her gun out of her purse and pointed at Mike. Deeks's cuff links were blasting the breach warning. He needed to get this deal done now.

"Well, this turned ugly fast," Deeks offered to break the tension and to get the tact team to hang back so he could get the bribe money. "Mike, crawl away from Inez. That's the trouble with being with a beautiful women. So many other men try to take advantage."

"Don't go anywhere, Mike," Sean said.

"I don't take orders from you," Mike said to his brother.

"We sure as hell don't take them from blondie, here."

"OK," Kensi said in her regular voice. "Mike, you do what Deeks says and maybe you'll live long enough to see your son. Sean, you move that money right now and nobody dies." Deeks thought Agent Blye was much better at holding back the tact team with orders to the Pan brothers than he was with humor.

"Do it," Mike issued as an order to his brother as he crawled away from Kensi.

"Not too far away, Mike," Deeks warned.

Sean started to lower his weapon.

"Pop the mag," Kensi warned.

"You're no swimsuit model," Sean complained as he complied.

"Oh, but she could be," Deeks smiled at Kensi. "Beautiful and deadly is such an attractive combination. Transfer the funds now or Xue-Li's son grows up an orphan. You can do it standing up Sean and keep your hands where I can see them. That door opens, I shoot you, Sean, Inez takes out the father to be."

"Do it," Mike said from his sitting position on the floor.

"Oh, and this little display of mistrust just upped my price. $750K per installment," Deeks said as he took his phone back from Sean.

When Sean hit enter on his laptap after a minute of typing, it took about ten seconds for Deeks's phone to ping. $750,000 had been moved to his Navy set-up Cayman Islands account. "And we're on our way to being rich, Inez."

"I think it's better if we're just..." Shots rang out before Kensi could say they should leave. Deeks figured Migs waited until the money was transferred.

"What they hell?" Mike asked.

"Nobody moves, this is a raid gentlemen," Kensi told them.

Mike lunged at Kensi's leg but a well-placed high heel to his throat had the man grasping for air. Sean jumped over his desk and threw himself at Deeks. The two hit the ground and struggled for the weapon Deeks was using. There was a gun shot fired which Deeks was positive wasn't from the gun in his hand. He suddenly felt Sean Pan stop fighting. "Get off him," Kensi said as she had her gun pushed into Sean's back.

Deeks saw the serious look on Kensi's face. "She's really a lot more than your typical swimsuit model," Deeks said as Sean Pan rolled away. A second later Agents Callen and Hanna broke through the office door and show time was over.

The FBI arrived about a half-hour after the NCIS and Marine tact team secured the casino. The people at the casino, along with the bribed security guards, were divided among the different organizations. The plan was for the FBI to take custody of those working for the Pans at the casino and the gamblers of no interest to military intelligence. Most of the gamblers were high ranking gang members or money launderers out for a night on the town. Instead, they were in for a night or two in a cell. The casino employees would be given a chance to cooperate since this wasn't likely the only floating casino operation in Los Angeles.

Shen-Ru "Sean" Pan was a nice catch for NCIS and Naval Intelligence but Ming-hua "Mike" Pan, a top Chinese intelligence official illegally in the U.S., was now in custody for trying to bribe a Naval Officer into helping break his pregnant spy wife out of U.S. custody - oh, that was the big prize.

Deeks sat behind the bar and watched as Mig's Marine team packed up the computers from Sean Pan's casino office while NCIS helped the FBI sort through the casino patrons and employees.

"You sure know how to show a girl a good time," Kensi said as she joined him at the bar.

Deeks opened a bottle of Perrier water and pour Kensi a glass before opening one for himself. "My name's Marty and I like to party."

Kensi fingered the necklace. "This really does vibrate when they send the signal."

"This is sort of the upscale version of some of the places my St. Brendan's medal and cuff links have been. Usually the problem is the exact opposite. A lot of old buildings have steel reinforcements holding up tons of marble. It is where signals go to die. Migs's rabbi in the intelligence business, and it could be literally since the guy's Jewish, is an old school spook who could put a listening device in Putin's breakfast nook if given the opportunity. We have the inside track to all the CIA's best toys."

"I thought Navy Intel had all the best toys."

"I've heard they pick up things as they go along. Of course I'm just a poor Navy lawyer, I don't know about such things," he said with a smile.

"Of course," Kensi smiled and took a sip of her water. "You really are never going to admit to being NEIT, are you?"

"NEIT? What's..." Deeks started but saw Kensi's reaction. It bothered her he wouldn't talk. "Agent Blye, whatever your suspicions are about my position in the Navy, and they may be correct, just as I told Miss Lange she should know better about asking, I would think the highly educated daughter of a Marine would know better too."

"I do," Kensi said quietly. "I do."

"But this was fun tonight. Six months of doing nothing but being hurt and trying to get better - this was great. And the company was too."

Kensi was about to say something Agents Callen and Hanna walked out. "You taking orders?" Callen asked.

"Bartended in law school. What can I get you fellas?" Deeks asked.

"We're good," Sam said. "There's quite the collection of the LA underworld here. Mexican cartels, Asian gangs, Southland Kings, couple members of the Bloods all had high ranking officials here tonight. The FBI loves the Navy right now."

"They've been told I'm JAG, right?" Deeks asked.

"Your old JAG legend, complete with your ruptured appendix recovery, is being given to the FBI. They're going to cut deals or use these guys against their organizations so you won't be involved in any court cases," Callen told him.

"Excellent. As much as I love being home, the last week made me miss going to work. I don't need the FBI messing with my background."

Sam smiled, "We gave you your first test, don't forget that."

"And I passed, Agent Hanna."

"And you passed this one, too. Good work," Callen said. "Admiral Bates told Major Morales he expects a full debrief tomorrow at zero seven hundred his time."

"I probably need to get home since the Admiral really isn't into time zones," Deeks said looking at his watch. It was just after midnight and the ride to the SCIF at Port Hueneme even on a Saturday morning would have him leaving in three hours. "That and he's playing golf with the SecNav. I'll make us all look good."

"I'll drive you back," Kensi said.

"Major Morales will be taking the Commander back," Sam advised. "He's expected on the debrief call to Admiral Bates. Besides, Kensi, we could use some help with the Pan brothers. Sean seems especially smitten with you."

"Sorry the date ends just after midnight Cinderella but it sounds like you have your next Prince Charming lined up," Deeks told her. "I'll give you a call in a day or two." Kensi looked a little disappointed. Actually, he was too.

"Why do all the bad guys always go for me?" Kensi sighed.

"Because they have a pulse," Deeks mumbled as he came out from behind the bar. "I'll contact Agent Blye if anything changes. Gentlemen, it's been real," Deeks said as he walked away. Morales was waiting near the casino door. "Real what, I'm not sure but it's been real."

One shorter chapter to go. Thank you so much for all your kind support!