Tsunami
Disclaimer: NCISLA characters belong to Shane Brennan. All original characters and this story are mine.
Chapter 7
Long Beach, California
The party had already started, when Marty Deeks showed up with Michael Russo. Beautiful women in dresses fit for the red carpet, were everywhere. Some were outside admiring the fast cars, others were inside, offering drinks to the guests. It was a man's world in here, Deeks realised. The women were ornaments for men to admire and to wait on them. Deeks missed Kensi, she would fit in fine in a place like this, dressed in a stunning dress that would compliment her natural beauty. But he couldn't think of her right now. He needed to work, focus on the men in the firm who were involved with this Russian Separatist group and the street racers. The party was a bold move, with all the letter agencies of the American Government, out to find those responsible for last night's raid on Pendleton.
"Jason. Meet Tom Chidley." Deeks hid his surprise and shook the man's hand.
"Welcome aboard, Jason." Tom smiled over to him, not showing any recognition of them ever meeting before.
Michael had never met Tom Chidley before this party, he had been a name without a face before now and he took in the features of this Tom guy, hoping that the camera button caught his features just as well.
"Thanks," Deeks looked around. "Nice place. Is this yours?"
Tom laughed and patted him on the back. "Yeah. You like?"
Deeks raised his brows. "Yeah."
"Work with us, Jason, and you too could be living it up in a place like this sooner than you think." Tom looked over to Lance. "I just might steal Jason for a bit. Take care of Pete."
"Sure." Lance and Russo watched them leave for the quieter quarters, up on the third floor.
Deeks was led into a private suite and Tom locked the door behind them. He placed his finger to his lips and led him through to the closet.
"Are you going to explain to me why you are here in Los Angeles as Tom Chidley?"
Franklin Worthington smiled and shrugged. "I've been working undercover for NCIS for some time. It appears I'm more like my older brother than I first realised."
"Does Bradford and your father know about this?"
"Dad knows about Bradford, but he has no knowledge that I joined them too."
"Your brother is working for NCIS too? I thought you both were based out of Little Creek as SEALs?"
"That's our cover. We are given assignments by Director Vance to get inside areas in Eastern Europe. But Brad isn't working on this operation. We look too alike."
"Oh, let's hope you don't go to Russia then. Things could get tricky."
"What do you mean?" Franklin thought about it for a moment. "George?"
"Yes. He's gone to get in close with the head of Moshchnyy Rossii." Deeks studied Franklin as he thought on the issue.
Franlkin narrowed his eyes. "This could complicate the situation. I wasn't told that he'd be involved. That any of your team would be brought into this op." Franlkin eyed the Detective for another moment. "You will have to go to Prague instead of me then. If they see me and George, they'll know we're related and it's bound to burn both of our covers and who knows who elses."
"Prague? I thought they were Russian?"
"They are, but there's a meeting in Prague in a week's time. I'm suppose to go and deal with them. I need to prep you for the op. Give me your cell."
Deeks pulled his burn phone he'd been given by Russo the day before and handed it over to him.
He pulled out a device and synced Deeks' phone with it. "Every call I receive, you can listen into and read every text I receive and make. I've just cloned my phone with yours."
Deeks took his cell back and slipped it into his inside jacket pocket.
"So this guy, Pete, he's in your team?"
"No. He's FBI. I was sent in to work with him because of my background as a lawyer."
"So you're really a lawyer then?"
"Yes. I've worked with some well known bad guys undercover for LAPD."
"Who?"
"Emilio Ortega and Radovan Lazik."
"Even better. I've heard of them both and you're still alive to tell the tale. I'm impressed. But not a word to Pete that we know each other or who I really am. We believe there's a leak within the agencies working this case and until we find out who they are, we must not let on we know each other. And if you see George or anyone else in your team, you can't let on to your fellow operatives for this case either."
Deeks studied Franklin's eyes and saw how serious he was about this and nodded.
Franklin slapped his hand on his back and led him back out into the main part of the suite. He walked over to the bar in the opposite corner and poured them both a drink. "To our future partnership, Jason."
Deeks clinked his glass of vodka to Franklin's and gulped the liquid down his throat. There was a message in the choice of liquor, get used to it and maintain cover.
A knock on the door brought Franklin into rambling on about some random topic, as he moved across the room to open the door.
"Lance, perfect timing. I have solved my problem. Jason will go to Prague with you next week. That way I can continue to keep our other clients happy and go to my meeting in Cuba."
"But he's expecting you. Not some new guy to the firm." Lance eyed Deeks carefully.
"I have talked with Jason, he's got the experience. He's dealt with Radovan Lazik and Emilio Ortega. He's perfect for the job."
"He's worked with Lazik and Ortega?" Lance looked over at Deeks with a new perspective and a respect Deeks didn't expect.
"Jason will do us good. Sacha Pajari will be pleased with the newest addition to our team out here." Franklin gave him the Worthington trademark smirk, one that Deeks knew all too well.
They rejoined the party and Lance led him outside to mingle with the street racers who had helped them in the previous night's raid. "Jason, meet Stefano. He's my main man with the drivers. If you need anything from Mexico, speak to him." Jason nodded over to Stefano, hiding his recognition from the photo displayed the day before in Ops. He was a former SEAL, now an NCIS agent. But how he'd managed to become the number one driver for this group, he had no idea. He looked over to Lance who's attention was elsewhere.
"You've got a new driver, Stefano?" Lance walked over to the African American man, he was bald, of a solid build and wore an attitude not to be messed with.
"Yeah. He's an old friend. We grew up together in Brooklyn. He's moved out west and we bumped into each other recently. Thought he'd be a good replacement after the loss of a few good drivers recently." They may have been partying to celebrate, but the truth that underlined the facade, was they'd lost three good drivers from bullet wounds.
"How does he drive?" Lance studied the new addition closely, not showing any concerns for his own safety.
"Why don't you ask him yourself, Lance? He can talk for himself." Stefano Torez chuckled and the undercover agent, Sam Hanna, shifted his shoulders to display how tough he really was.
"What's your name?"
"Jay."
"Well Jay, show us what you've got." Lance loved the thrill of a good street race, and now he wanted to see what this new guy could do. He was tough and solid, all muscle and Lance was sure he could do some serious damage to him if he wasn't careful. But for now, he was in control and he wanted to see how good of a driver this Jay guy was.
Sam released the woman in his hold. "You racing?" He asked Lance, who chuckled in response.
"Let's get one thing straight, Jay. I'm the boss around here. I tell you what you do and when. I don't do the racing, that's what I've hired Stefano for." Lance looked over to Stefano. "Give me a good show for my money, Stefano."
Stefano shrugged. "Sure thing, Boss." Stefano stepped inside his American muscle car, a red 1964 GTO. The paintwork was fairly recent, it shone from the lights around the property. It looked like a sweet ride for someone like Stefano, Deeks mused. He kept his focus on Stefano, not giving away that he knew Jay as Sam Hanna, nor his woman, otherwise known to himself as his wife, Michelle.
The engine roared, it had guts and somewhere deep inside of him, Deeks knew he really wanted to drive that machine. He could see how guys were drawn to beauties like these. Kensi would be peeved she'd missed this party for sure. Especially the race.
A blonde woman in a white dress that hugged every curve, with a long split up her well toned leg, held a yellow flag in her hand and stood in between the two vehicles. Deeks doubted the capacity of Sam's challenger in comparison to Stefano's GTO, although, he remembered, Hetty had arranged for the mechanics to make changes to the challenger for this operation. So really, anything was possible. The engines overpowered the pounding of the music and for the drivers, the party had just begun. The flag fell and the cars zoomed away at fast speed out of the property and along the surrounding streets. Both vehicles were monitored with GPS tracking and inbuilt cameras, which were brought up on the large screen for the crowds to watch and cheer. Deeks watched Sam catch up to Stefano and made his way over to Michelle. "Hey there sweet thing." He wrapped his arm around her, catching her off guard. Her eyes widened in surprise. "What's your name?"
"Get off me," she played along with Deeks' ruse.
"What's the problem here?" Lance walked over, curiosity got the better of him.
"Nothing, Lance. I was just admiring this sweet piece of woman here."
An evil grin spread across Lance's visage. "You like them like this?"
"I've had one or two in the past." Deeks knew Lance was referring to Michelle's colour and concluded Lance was a racist pig. He hid his anger, "but she's got fire and I do like them with when they've got fire." He bore his blues eyes into her brown ones, keeping his cover in place. Memories of his former lover, Jess, returned to the forefront of his mind. He'd managed to keep the pain from losing her when her car exploded, locked away, but this operation was quickly unravelling them.
"Jason asked you your name." Lance spoke harshly to Michelle.
Michelle glared back at him. "Nevaeh Kelly."
"Well Nevaeh, I think Jason here likes you. So, if your Jay loses, you become Jason's. If Jay wins, he gets to keep you, for now."
Michelle continued to glare at this Lance, she could feel the racism radiate from his body. But it wasn't just the fact he was racist, he was a chauvinist. Women were to be owned and he treated her like property.
The engines were getting louder and before long, Sam and Stefano fought each other for first place on their re-entry to Tom Chidley's property. Sam managed to get in front, just.
Lance applauded Sam when he stepped out of the challenger. "You are as good as Stefano. I think we'll take him on our trip next week. You'll like that, won't you, Jason." He chuckled, amused over Jason's interest in Jay's woman.
Sam flared his anger at Jason. "You get away from my woman. You touch her again, you'll never see the light of day again." It was a threat to those around them, but Deeks, Michelle and Sam were all relieved they had each other on their next leg of this operation.
"Where are we going?" Sam inquired of Lance.
"Prague." It was Deeks who answered, to keep their covers in tack, he chose to treat Jay the same way as Lance. Like he was boss. "And you don't threaten me. Ever." He flared his blue eyes back at Sam's. It was an interesting charade for the pair who had become good friends since the Sidorov case. Deeks had proven his loyalty to the team in keeping Michelle safe. The trust was there, no matter how much anger and alpha dominance they showed off towards each other.
"Tom was right about you, Jason. I think I'm going to enjoy this trip after all." Lance squeezed Deeks' shoulder to announce that they were moving on to another part of the property to celebrate.
Sam moved next to Michelle and kept her close. They watched Deeks move away and they were curious to how Deeks managed so quickly to get in close with this Lance guy. Movement from the top balcony caught Sam and Michelle's attention. They both looked up and hid their surprise. Franklin Worthington nodded down to them and walked back inside to mingle with his guests. Their question was answered. Callen's half brother, Franklin, had managed to get Deeks into the perfect position for the next leg of the operation, them included.
The Callens' house
Nell was working late again, so Savannah was getting lonely. Milly and Archie were staying the night at Amy and Robert's. She dialled her phone and waited, but no one pick up the other end. It was strange, Savannah thought, for Michelle to not pick up her phone. She was usually quick at picking up or returning the call. She tried her cell, still no answer.
Over the next few hours Savannah continued to call Michelle until Nell walked in the door, clearly exhausted. Savannah looked relieved to have some adult company. Baxter had left hours earlier and Samuel and Nathan were fast asleep. She should have been sleeping, but she was missing Callen and worried over him. She'd hoped by talking with Michelle, she could ease her worry.
"Are you okay, Sav?" Nell plonked herself in the sofa next to her.
"I can't get through to Michelle. I've tried all evening, she's not picking up either her home phone or cell."
"That's because she's with Sam," Nell revealed. "He needed her for his cover, that's all I can give you."
"He's not with Callen?"
Nell's eyes widened when she realised her mistake. She went to open her mouth to back track, but there was no way she could pull the wool over her sister's eyes. Not now that she'd slipped up.
"Don't, Nell. You of all people. I'd expected the truth from you at least. If you can't tell me what's going on, then I have no one on my side whom I can trust."
"You know I can't tell you anything, Sav. The less you know, the better it is for you. Trust me and trust Callen to stay safe. He's not alone, that much I can tell you."
"I still don't like it, Nell. I feel helpless. I should be out there having his back, wherever he is." She wiped the tear that escaped her eyes, she wanted to remain calm and be strong while Callen was away, but she couldn't.
"You are needed here, Sav. Your children need you. And you resigned from NCIS remember?"
"So I've been kept in the dark because I resigned? I feel like I've been punished for leaving."
Nell pulled her in for a hug. "No, Sav. To protect you and Callen, you know the rules."
"I know, but it still sucks from where I'm sitting."
"It sucks from where I'm sitting too," Nell admitted to her. "Everyone has got their role for this operation, Eric and I are left alone to do research and to keep a close watch on them. They're all so spread out, I wish we could have kept them all closer together. It would be so much easier and comforting knowing that they'll all there to have each other's back."
Savannah took in a deep breath and looked her sister straight in the eyes. "What are the chances of my husband returning home safe, Nell?"
Nell shook her head, she didn't want to answer her sister this particular question.
"Nell? Please!"
Nell placed her face in her hands before looking back up at her sister. "Together as a team, I would have said, one hundred percent sure."
"Apart?" Her breath hitched, the look in her sister's eyes scared her.
"It's uncertain. Callen is one of the best seasoned agents and he's got two agents undercover to have his back. He just doesn't know them."
"So he's basically been thrown in with people he doesn't trust." She knew her husband well by now, especially with his trust issues.
Nell nodded. "I'm sorry, Sav. Hetty's tried to keep Callen out of this, but it's come from up on high and with his perfect Russian…" Nell whipped her hand over her mouth, she'd slipped up again.
"Russian? Nell, please don't tell me he's gone to Russia?"
"I have no idea exactly where he's gone to. But his cover is a Russian who deals with weapons and women."
Savannah stood up, she needed some air. Her chest tightened and she knew a panic attack would come if she didn't rein her emotions in. She'd not suffered one since meeting Callen, he'd worked magic with her and had helped her deal with losing Mark more than she'd ever admit. But now, the uncertainty of if he would return home safe, took control.