Drabble prompt: Deeks finds out that Jack is the White Ghost from ErinChristmasElvis. Happy Birthday! (or unhappy birthday?)

"Don't shoot," Kensi says calmly to her team.

Deeks glances at her for a split second before focusing back on the target at hand. "Kens, I don't know if you noticed, but you are strapped to a chair and this guy has an automatic rifle pointed at us." He glances in her direction again. "You good?"

Kensi nods and swallows deeply. "Please, don't shoot. We need to take him back alive."

Callen shakes his head. "No we don't."

The man in front of them still hasn't spoken. He looks to be in his thirties, tall and dark haired; not exactly what the three men were expecting when they found the infamous White Ghost. However, he still has his weapon raised, rotating his aim between Deeks, Callen, and Sam.

"Are you American?" Sam asks.

The man looks in Sam's direction. "I am."

"Okay." Sam is calm and focused as usual. "Then how about you drop your weapon and we can talk about things?"

"We have nothing to talk about," the man says calmly, moving closer to Kensi. Deeks visibly tenses and re-aims his gun. "I am curious about how you found us, though. Impressive. Did you kill all of my men?"

"Yep," Callen responds.

"Look man, you've got two options here. Put the gun down and we all walk out of here alive…or we shoot you. You've got 60 seconds to decide," Sam warns.

"No," Kensi says, struggling to get free from her chair.

"50 seconds."

"Let her go," Deeks says firmly.

The man smiled. "I think you know I can't do that."

"40 seconds…"

"Put…your gun…down," Callen says through gritted teeth.

"Please," Kensi pleads, closing her eyes.

"Kens…" Deeks says softly.

"30 seconds."

Narrowing his eyes at Deeks, the man steps closer to Kensi again, aiming his rifle in his direction. Deeks meets his eyes and aims his weapon at the man's head. "If you hurt her, I won't wait 20 seconds to kill you."

"Stop! Just put your damn gun down!" Kensi screams, thrashing in her chair.

The man turns towards Kensi; all Deeks can see is the rifle now pointed towards her. There is a loud crack as Deeks fires, hitting the White Ghost square between the eyes. Blood sprays Kensi's face before her captor falls to the ground.

She blinks rapidly, stunned. Deeks, Sam, and Callen rush over to her to start untying her from her chair.

"It's over Kens, everything's gonna be okay," Deeks says, rubbing her cheek as she stares straight ahead.

"Jack," she says numbly.

Deeks tilts his head at her, working on her leg restraints. "It's Deeks. Your partner. And Sam and Callen. It's over. We're gonna take you home."

Kensi shakes her head. "Jack. He was the White Ghost." She looks at Deeks. "You killed him."

Reverting his gaze back to her restraints, Deeks doesn't respond. He slumps down on the ground, unbuckling her last strap. Pulling her down into his lap from her chair, he wraps his arms around her. She buries her head in between his neck and shoulders and he strokes her hair, reassuring her. "It's okay, Kens. It's gonna be okay," he whispers. He hates having to lie to her.