Hello my darlings. I would like to thank Petunia3116, LKK (Guest), anonkp and French fan (Guest) for the wonderful reviews. I would also like to thank those of you who have followed and favoured since my last update.
So again this chapter is set in season 2, episode 17 'Personal'. It is quite a bit longer than I expected it to be, but I'm sure you don't mind that, right? Anyway I hope you enjoy it.
Disclaimer: I don't own NCIS: LA, nor any of the line si have taken from the show.
Callen and Sam were on their way back to the office when Kensi called with the update. Letting Callen know Deeks was out of surgery and the doctors said he was going to be okay. He had never been more relieved in his life than he was when he heard those words. In fact he so relieved he hung up on her before he could hear anything else she had to say. Instead he leant his head back against the seat and closed his eyes as he allowed the feelings to rush through him. Allowed the worry to disperse with the knowledge that Marty was okay. That he was going to be fine. That he hadn't got the man he loved killed. The guilt of course was still there. There was no way that he would be rid of that with a few words, but at least the turmoil or what ifs had left his mind. He wasn't going to have to spend the rest of his life alone, because Marty was going to be there beside him. Marty was alive and would continue being so, he still had time to tell him he loved him. He still had the chance of saying those words. It was the most wonderful feeling ever. The knowledge that it wasn't too late, even if it was tempered with the remainder of his guilt and desire for revenge. At least he knew Marty would survive.
Sam on the other hand sat watching him out of the corner of his eyes. He had seen who it was calling G, but he hadn't said anything. From his reaction Sam had no idea if Deeks was dead or alive, if he was going to be fine or if he was still fighting for his life. All he could tell was that Kensi had defiantly had news. Therefore after a minute of silence from his partner as he sat there with closed eyes, he decided he needed to know what was going on. What he was going to have to deal with in respects to G's reaction to whatever it was Kensi had told him. So taking a deep breath he spoke.
"How's Deeks?" He asked wondering if G would flinch at the name as he had when the store owner had said Marty.
"He's gonna be okay." Callen whispered not opening his eyes, still concentrating on the feelings flowing through him. Still trying to sort through all that his brain was currently processing.
"That's good, G. That's good." Sam replied with a nod, relief filling him at the knowledge that his partner wasn't going to go through the heartbreak of losing the one he loved. And quickly on the heels of that thought came another. The idea that now Deeks was gonna be okay, maybe G wouldn't be so homicidal towards his shooters. But as he pulled into the garage of the office and turned off the engine he turned and took a real look at his partner. And when G opened his eyes he could see that even this news did not dim the desire for revenge he could see raging in their depths. It seemed he was still going to have to try and tame the beast, but hey, if Deeks was awake, maybe he could get him to help him somehow. It was the only solution that Sam could think of to stop G from going off the rails. He just hoped it worked.
The partners said nothing else as they made their way up to ops, moving as one through the door to where Nell, Eric and Hetty were waiting for them. Waiting to show them what they had discovered. If either of them thought it was odd to have the operations manager there, neither mentioned it. In fact Callen was glad she was showing her support, and Sam was glad she would be able to help contain G if he got too… determined.
"Now, the cameras were too far away for an ID, but they do tell us that the men spent seven minutes in the store before Deeks entered. I'm pulling up the traffic cam footage now. For the nearest intersection for the same time." Eric babbled quickly when he saw the senior agents enter. He didn't want to get on the wrong side of Callen, and he felt it best to give him all he had as soon as he could.
"Same grey Mustang." Sam said as he watched the footage Eric was showing them, glad that the techy had found the lead they needed to finding Deeks shooters.
"That's them." Callen stated in an even tone of voice, not wanting to let his emotions cloud him… or come through in case Hetty decided to change her mind and take him off the case. He wouldn't, no couldn't, let that happen. He needed to find these men. He needed to show them what happened when they hurt his man, even if said man was going to be okay. They still needed to understand that fact.
"No clear angle of ID." Eric replied, trying to keep the disappointment and worry from his voice as he did so. He didn't want Callen upset with his failure, but he couldn't lie. There was no way he could find out who these men were from the traffic cam footage alone. He needed something more.
"Why so long in the store? Seven minutes that's an eternity for a heist." Sam said turning to Hetty and G, hoping one of them would be able to help him understand the motivation of the two men. Though as he looked at G all he could see was him glaring at the car on the screen, as if he could find it by will alone. Though considering this was G Callen, he probably could if he had too. Hopefully Hetty would be able to suggest something else. Which she did, though in retrospect, he really would have preferred it if she hadn't spoken.
"Mr Beale, would you pull up 1894 Parkson Avenue? Traffic cam at the west end of the street." She asked not looking at the agents at her side, knowing they would both recognise the address and she really hoped she was wrong.
"That's Marty's address." Callen muttered removing his eyes from the car that carried those that had hurt the one he loved to instead stare at Hetty, boring holes with his eyes in the hopes she would explain why the hell she was looking at Marty's place.
"Footage from an hour before the shooting, please." Hetty directed to Eric rather than turn to Callen and explain. She really hoped she was wrong, but if she was not, then there was nothing she could say or do that would protect her boy from what he was about to discover. Nor anything she could do that would reduce the extra guilt he would feel when he did.
Eric did as Hetty requested and all five of the people in ops turned to watch the screen. They watched as Deeks and Callen walked down the steps of the apartment building together, watched as they kissed each other goodbye, and watched as Callen melted away into the shadows. Sam opened his mouth to commend his partner on his trade craft at how he had vanished from the screen in a blink of an eye, but before he could get the words out, he, along with everyone else, watched as Deeks started running… and from down the street a grey Mustang started to follow him.
"Eric, stop. Back up the video. Zoom in and enhance the bottom left. Grey Mustang." He said hoping he was wrong, that it wasn't what it looked like. Oh he really hoped that this wasn't a case that Deeks was targeted. Because if he was, then he knew his partner would never forgive himself for letting it happen.
But when the car came onto the screen it was obvious.
"They were waiting for him. Marty didn't stumble on any robbery, he was ambushed." Callen whispered his eyes going wide and for the second time that day the colour drained from his face as the consequences of what he had just learnt slammed into his mind. Then his rage took over. Turning around he slammed his fist into the table in the middle of ops with all the force he could, only to raise it and repeat the action again and again. He needed to let out what he was feeling. Needed some way to release his pent up fury that someone would do this to his Marty. Not to mention the fact that he hadn't noticed them waiting there. He hadn't noticed someone trailing the man he loved. The one he was supposed to protect above all others. Instead he had gone on his merry way to meet Sam for breakfast without even sensing the danger Marty was in. He was a god damn federal agent who specialised in undercover work. He should have seen them. He should have been more alert, he should have gone with Marty to make sure he was safe, he should have stopped those bastards before they could get anywhere near their target, he should of…
"Callen. This is not your fault." Came a soothing voice that even his subconscious knew it couldn't ignore. Accompanying it was a soft pressure on his arm. Not the one he was using to hit the table, but the other one that had been hanging uselessly beside him. But the pressure and voice was enough to stop his movement dead as he turned his stormy eyes to the woman at his side.
"I should have seen them, Hetty. I should have protected him." He whispered in a distraught tone, completely forgetting that there were others in the room watching them. That there would be others to hear the pain filled, lost sounding voice he was using. It was so similar to the one he had used as a little boy Hetty felt her heart break for the man in front of her.
"It was not your fault. You did not know of the danger, none of us did. All we can do now is make sure he stays safe." She replied smiling sadly at her boy. If she could take his guilt and pain away with only words she would. But she knew she could not. There was only one who could possibly have a chance at doing that. But for him to be able to work whatever magic he seemed to have over Callen, then her boy needed to go to the hospital to be with him. Callen needed Marty right now, just as much as she was sure the reverse was also true.
At her word Callen nodded before turning to walk out of the door, only one thing on his mind. Get to Marty and protect him, as he should have done that morning.
Sam had stood frozen when he watched and heard G slam his fist into the table. He could see out of the corner if his eye how Eric jumped at the sound, but he was far more concerned with his partner than the tech operator right then. He moved forwards with the idea of wrapping his arms around G and stopping him from doing any damage to himself or the equipment. But before he could do so Hetty was at G's side. He watched as with a few simple words she seemed to calm his partner down he and he had to wonder at how she managed that. Oh he knew they had known each other for longer than anyone else on the team, but he hadn't yet discovered just what there connection truly was. Though right now, from his position on the outside and looking in, he would say she was a mother comforting her son.
So Sam watched, and when it seemed G had calmed down he found he wanted to say something as well. G was his brother after all, but before he could get any words out his partner had stormed out of the room. Sam knew where he was going, and Sam was going with him. Therefore with a nod to Hetty and a hurried request that she call Kensi to tell her this latest development he followed after G. It was time to go see Deeks in hospital.
Kensi was sitting beside Deeks bed when her phone vibrated. Looking at the caller ID she saw it was from Hetty. That caused her eyebrows to rise. Why was she calling her? Surely Callen had given them all the update she gave him.
"Hetty." She said as she answered the call.
"Miss Blye, how is Detective Deeks doing?" Hetty asked. She could presume from the fact that Callen had been here that Marty was doing fine, but she would prefer to hear it from the horse's mouth so to speak.
"Callen didn't tell you? He's out of surgery, doctors say he's gonna be okay. Anything on the case?" Kensi asked moving away from Deeks not wanting to wake him up with her words.
"The same grey Mustang that was seen at the crime scene was found this morning outside Mr Deeks apartment. It seems he was targeted. Visitation hour is over Agent Blye, you are now on protection detail. Agents Hanna and Callen are headed your way." Hetty replied in an even voice not showing the emotions she felt at the knowledge that someone had targeted Marty. There were no doubt, many who would want him dead, but there was a name that came to her mind which she knew wouldn't be on any others list. She would need to get Nell on to finding that one.
"Okay. Uh Hetty, is Callen Deeks' next of kin? The hospital are asking." Kensi asked, deciding to get the answer from her considering the man in question had hung up on her before she could ask him. And surely it would be written on Deeks' paperwork, just as her next of kin was on her own.
"Good question. I'm sure he can answer that when he arrives." Hetty replied eyebrows raising at the question. It wasn't one she had thought of, but it was one she knew she should have done. Neither of her boys had changed their next of kin on her records since they started their relationship, Callen was still recorded as her and Mr Hanna, while Marty's was still blank. Hmmm, she would need to rectify that glaring error ASAP.
"Right. I'll get back to it then." Kensi responded frowning at the idea that Hetty didn't know if Callen was Deeks' next of kin. That was weird.
"Indeed." Hetty agreed before she hung up and made her way to her files. She needed to find the right one to give Miss Jones. Because she needed her to find one Gordon John Brandel.
Deeks became aware of blackness first. He remembered what had happened, or more he remembered what the last thing he saw was. A man standing over him holding a gun. A no win situation that he couldn't get out of, the image of G seared in his eyes as the last thing to go through his mind as the sound of a gunshot rocket around the store, the pain that dragged him down into oblivion. And now there was blackness. But it was lightening. Then he became aware that his eyes were closed, and therefore he did the only logical thing in his mind. He opened them.
"Am I dead?" He muttered as he blinked around the room, though when he saw Kensi sitting beside his bed he guessed he wasn't. No. The bleeping sounds, the smell, he was in hospital. He had survived then. Well that was a surprise. Of course in that couple of second's worth of recognisance of where he was, he also noticed a lack of anyone else at his bedside. G wasn't here. He wasn't sure what to make of that, and his brain was feeling far too foggy to try and work it out. Instead he did what he always did. He carried on talking. "Because I feel like I should be dead."
"Hey there. You're not getting rid of me that easily." Kensi replied smiling in relief that he had woken up, though she couldn't help but notice how his eyes darted around as if looking for someone else. And she knew who it was. He was looking for Callen. What was she supposed to tell him about why he wasn't here? How could she explain why the man who loved him, the man he loved, had decided to hunt down those who had shot him rather than wait for him to come back to him? Was there any way she could explain that? Because she wasn't sure she understood it herself.
"Do I know you?" Deeks asked, he could see the shadow behind her eyes, and he knew she was trying to think of how to tell him G wasn't there. But he didn't want to think about that right then. Actually it was more he couldn't think about that right then. He wasn't sure what drugs they had him on, but they were good.
"Deeks?" Kensi said, starting to worry about something else entirely. Surely he knew who she was right? Surely he knew she was his partner, his friend, right?
"Not my nurse?" Deeks asked preferring that worry to the other that had been prevalent in her eyes. Plus this was kinda fun.
"I'm serious, Deeks." Kensi replied in a gentle tone, trying to keep the worry from her voice at the idea that somehow he had forgotten her, forgotten the last months. Forgotten his relationship with Callen. Oh no.
"My name is Deeks? Really?" Deeks asked really enjoying himself now, even if the pain was starting to return and the fogginess in his brain starting to recede. He wished it wouldn't. Because if it did he knew he would start asking the questions he wasn't sure he was ready for the answers of. He would ask where G was.
Kensi didn't know what to do. If he didn't remember… no she couldn't process that. She turned towards the entrance of the cubicle, wondering if she could go and get the doctor or something. Get someone who could tell her what was wrong with her partner, before his lover showed up. Because if Callen arrived and Deeks didn't remember… she dreaded to think how he would react to that.
"I'm just kidding. I remember you Fern." Deeks said when he saw her glance around. He didn't want to cause any issues for the staff with his little joke. But now it was done he knew he couldn't not ask anymore. "Where's G?"
"He's on his way." Kensi replied sitting back down. At least that wasn't a lie. Hetty had told her he was coming. Maybe she could put off answering Deeks until he arrived and then leave it to him to explain why he wasn't waiting at Deeks' bedside. Of course that thought flew out of the window with Deeks next question.
"From where?" Deeks demanded, or as much as he could in his current recently shot state.
"He's, uh…" Kensi began before falling silent. She wished she could think of a good lie, but she knew her partner would see right through her. He always did.
"Kensi, just say it." Deeks sighed. He could guess, but he really hoped he was wrong. He really hoped G had just stepped out for a coffee, or hell to take up smoking or something. Either of them would be preferable to what he was sure he was doing.
"He's working the case." Kensi replied caving. She wasn't sure how Deeks was going to take that news, but if it had been her she would be livid. As long as he kept his anger for Callen, she was fine with that. But she did not want to deal with an angry bedridden Deeks right then thank you very much.
At her words Deeks sighed again as he closed his eyes again. Of course G was working the case. Did he really think he would be doing anything different? I mean this is the guy who hunted down his dad to make sure he couldn't hurt him. There was no way he would sit on the side-lines and let whoever had shot him be found by others. He really was far too protective. Deeks just hoped that he wouldn't do anything stupid. He had survived, surely that would count for something right? Surely that would make sure G didn't just kill the guys who had done this to him, right? Probably not. Oh well, at least he was on his way here. He could talk to him, and hopefully get him to not kill the robbers. He really didn't want to be visiting his boyfriend in jail for murder thank you very much.
Deeks was pulled from his thoughts by a new, female, voice speaking. "Hi." Opening his eyes he found a nurse standing by the curtains and Kensi checking her badge. What was going on? Why was his partner doing a security check on his nurse?
"You're awake. How do you feel?" The nurse asked coming over and doing something to the tube in his hand, making his head go fuzzy again. He guessed she had given him more pain meds due to his more alert status. He liked it. It stopped him thinking about G and what he was doing, or going to do, or any of that. For now at least.
"Oh, better and better." He replied giving her his classic flirty smile. It wasn't like he could turn it off was it, especially not when he was on pain meds.
"Pain relief button, call button. Okay Mr Deeks?" The nurse asked pointing out the buttons she was talking about as she leaned over him. Hmm, she smelled nice.
"You can call me Marty." Deeks responded. Mr Deeks made him feel old.
"If you need anything, I'm right outside." The nurse replied smiling down at her patient. He was rather adorable, in a scruffy puppy sort of way. She was pretty sure that by the end of the day he would have all the nurses eating out of the palm of his hand, female and male alike.
"Thank you, nurse, uh…" Deeks answered, trying to find out her name. He liked to be on first name basis with his care team. If he could get them wrapped around his finger, then he could no doubt get out of here sooner. And failing that, his time spent in the hospital would be more enjoyable. And if a small part of his mind considered the fact that if G thought he had competition in the nursing staff that his jealously was more likely to get him to stay, well that was just an added bonus right?
At his words the nurse held up her badge so he could read her name.
"Debbie. Nurse Debbie." Deeks said as she gave him one last smile before walking away. Of course as he followed her he found his eye stopping at his partner who was standing at the end of the bed with her arms crossed glaring at him. "What?" He mumbled trying to sound innocent.
"If you don't behave, I'll tell Callen." Kensi replied going for the only threat she knew would work. Though she wasn't sure how well it would work considering she was sure that Deeks had his boyfriend wrapped around his little finger, and could no doubt get out of whatever she accused him of.
"I am behaving. It's not my fault I got shot." Deeks grumbled with a roll of his eyes as he watched her return to her sit next to him. But before Kensi could respond to him he continued talking. He needed to know what was going on, and he was pretty sure that she wouldn't be checking the badges of everyone who came to see him just because G was being his overprotective self. Well eighty percent sure, maybe seventy-five. Anyway "what's with the heighten security?"
"What are you talking about?" Kensi asked trying to avoid the subject. She didn't want to tell him he was being targeted. Not while he was stuck in hospital and not able to do anything about it. Of course that was why she was there. To protect him, but still.
"You checked her badge, you're obviously expecting unwanted visitors, Kens." Deeks replied giving her a look that simply said don't try it. He wasn't in the mood to deal with prevarication right then.
"The guys who shot you this morning, did you recognise them?" She asked instead of answering him. Hoping that he would be able to give her some insight into who it was that was after him.
"Well it's hard to remember. I didn't walk in on a robbery, is that what you're telling me?" Deeks asked sincerely. He really hoped that wasn't the case. Because if it was, G was gonna give him hell for being found. Not to mention how Sam would react. Oh he really didn't want to go back to training with the big guy.
"You were targeted. There's footage of the car on your block this morning." Kensi replied. Explaining what she knew of the case.
At her words Deeks tried to sit up before wincing at the pain it caused him. But that didn't matter, only one thing did in his mind. Because this morning he wasn't the only leaving his apartment.
"Is G okay?" He asked his partner with an urgency in his voice, completely forgetting all about their previous conversation about how the other man was on his way to see them. All he could think about was the idea that he had somehow caused G to get hurt because he hadn't followed the training he and Sam had tried to instil in him.
"He's fine." Kensi replied placing a hand on Deeks shoulder and pushing him back towards the bed. She wasn't going to mock him for forgetting they had spoken about the man in question just minutes ago. He had been shot, she would give him a pass, this time.
"Good. That's good." Deeks responded breathing out and relaxing now he knew that G was okay. Of course it was at that point he remembered their previous conversation about G, he blamed his lack of remembering before on the pain meds. Anyway he remembered about how he was working the case, and Deeks groaned. Because he knew that this information would be enough to make the man he loved cross over the line they all walked. If G thought someone was out to get him, he knew he wouldn't rest until every single one of them was dead. Oh that was not good.
Kensi could see the worry in his eyes, and decided it was time to change the subject. So she turned it to the only thing she could think of.
"Deeks, I was asked about your next of kin by the doctor. Who should I put down? Callen?" She asked, hoping that would sort it out. But at her words a frown formed on the man's face.
"Good question." Deeks replied not sure how else to answer that. Because while he wanted to say yes, he and G had never discussed that sort of thing. Never discussed if they were ready to be each other's next of kin. Never discussed if they were ready to take that further step in their relationship. Hmm, it looked like there was quite a few things he would need to discuss with the older man when he turned up. Things he needed to ask, and things he needed to persuade him not to do. Well that did sound like fun.