Hello my darlings. I would like to thank Petunia3116, I Feel Possessed, LKK (Guest), French fan (Guest), elsje1967, anonkp and Guest for the wonderful reviews. I would also like to thank those of you who have followed and favoured since my last update.
So here is the next chapter, yet again it is set in season 2, episode 17,'Personal'. I would like to say I have no hand to hand training, just basic self-defence from when I ran a pub. As such I am making up how the fight goes, hope it's realistic and that you like it.
Disclaimer: I don't own NCIS: LA, nor any of the lines I have taken from the show.
Callen was outside the room, getting an update from Sam on his cell while Deeks went through the file of names. Or at least he was supposed to be going through it. But all he could think of was how stupid he had been. How conceited he had become to feel so comfortable in his life he allowed himself to slip into a routine. How could he have been so stupid? He was in a relationship with G for god's sake, had that taught him nothing? That guy was 'higher vigilance' personified. What with the way he parked his car in a different place every night, disappeared from his apartment every morning by a different route. Even when he was with him, Deeks often found he had no idea where he was, and he lived in the area. So why had he allowed himself to be so foolish as to not follow his example?
Callen, for his part was feeling himself torn in half. Because as Sam explained they had the guy's burner number, they couldn't use it to locate him. He could see a way to do it right away. Someone needed to go undercover to draw the guy out. And the best person to do that was himself, but he didn't want to leave Marty. He didn't want to not be here in case they came for him while the op was happening, in case they knew they were being played. But he also really wanted to take these guys down. No. He needed to trust Sam to do that for him. Trust his partner to remove the threat from over the head of the man he loved while he watched over him. Therefore wishing Sam good luck he hung up, turning resolutely back to the room where Marty was waiting for him.
When he walked through the door he took the file from Deeks and sat back down, looking to see how far they had gotten.
"So where are we?" He asked reading the names as he picked up his pen so he could mark off the ones who weren't a threat. But when he got no response he looked up at the man in the bed. "Marty? What's up?" He asked gently seeing the turmoil behind the younger man's eyes, though he thought that was probably a stupid question. Marty had just been shot after all.
"Nothing, I just got lazy. I didn't change my routine, made myself an easy target." Deeks replied with a self-depreciating smile. He knew G wouldn't be happy to hear him say those words, but they were nothing more than the truth. He needed to say them, and G was going to have to accept that at some point.
"Marty-" Callen started to respond, ready to tell him not to go there. To stop worrying about what had happened, and think about the future instead. But before he could say anything more than the name, the man in question interrupted him.
"No G, it's true. And you know it as well as I do."
At the determined tone of Marty's voice Callen knew nothing he could say would change the other man's mind. And in all honesty he knew it was the truth. So instead of trying to persuade Marty it hadn't been his fault, he went for a more pragmatic answer. "Well when you get out of here, we'll make sure you don't do it again. In fact I'm pretty sure that Sam won't let you do it again."
"Oh that sounds like fun. How's the case?" Deeks asked changing the conversation from his boyfriend's partner. He dreaded to think what form of training Sam's teaching was going to take. He had thought he had gotten rid of most of that, but it seemed he was going back to the beginning in spy school. Trade craft 101 taught by Sam Hanna. Fantastic.
"They found a lead, and they're organising an op to try and trap the guy. It's gonna be okay." Callen responded not going any further with the information. Marty didn't need to know the details, nor did he need to know how much in two minds Callen was about being the one who should be running the op rather than Sam.
"If you say so." Deeks replied studying G carefully. He wasn't stupid, he could see the emotions in his mind and he knew how conflicted the other guy was. But selfishly he was glad that staying with him had won. That G found it more important to be by his side than to catch the men who had put him there.
"I do. Now help me with these names." Callen stated clearly ending that conversation and instead turning his mind back to the list. They were getting there, that was for sure.
While G was in the hospital going through the list of names, Sam was standing in ops talking with the man who had taken the hit out on Deeks. Trying to arrange a meet with him so that they could take him down. Kensi was frowning as she listened to the voice on the other end of the phone. The accent was familiar to her… but she just couldn't place it. It was going to bug her she knew, but hey, once they got the guy she was sure they could find out where he was from and let her mind rest. She was just glad to be part of the team that was going to take him down.
Once the time and place had been sent, Kensi and Sam went to prepare for the meet, while Nell downloaded the conversation to her phone. She needed to take it to the hospital to see if Deeks recognised it, and maybe while she was there she could warn Callen that Hetty had asked her to find Deeks father, not that she was supposed to know that was who Gordon John Brandel was, but that didn't matter. She had a feeling he should know.
Callen and Deeks had finally finished the list when Nell arrived. But after listening to the voice of the man who had spoken to Sam neither were any wiser as to who or where the other man was from.
"I think the accent is Eastern European, or maybe Russian." Nell said, hoping that would help Deeks narrow it down. I mean how many Eastern European or Russians had he pissed off.
"No, it's not Russian." Callen interrupted frowning. He had spent a lot of time in Russia over the years, he would be able to recognise that accent… right? And there it was. The idea that he wasn't one hundred percent sure it wasn't someone Russian on the recording, even if he did sound completely confident about the fact.
"That's awesome, because I've narrowed it down to two, neither of who are Eastern European." Deeks responded leaning forwards carefully as he handed the file to Nell.
And at his words a small niggling thought entered Callen's mind. Marty may not have any enemies who were of that descent, but he did. What if the people who had gotten Marty weren't after him at all? What if they were after him instead? No. If that had been the case then the gang bangers would have followed him this morning, right? No, there had to be some other explanation for why the voice had an accent from the part of the world he had worked so much undercover in. This wasn't about him, it was about Marty.
"Well we'll know soon enough. Sam is on his way to meet the guy. So, Ivan Lee and Michael Thompson." Nell replied, completely oblivious to the thoughts going through the senior agents head as he sat next to the man he loved. The man he could very well be putting in danger right then and there.
"My personal testimony put the both away. Life sentences, non-related cases and they're both gonna hate me until the day that I die." Deeks explained unconsciously reaching out for Callen's hand as he did so. He didn't like to think this was because of either of them. They were scum of the worst kind. But surely if they had gotten out of prison he would have been informed, right?
"Maybe they hired someone." Callen said, replying to the uncertainty he could feel radiating off the man next to him. Any excuse other than this was all his fault. That it was his connection with Marty that had gotten him shot.
"It's possible." Deeks replied, but it was obvious from his voice he didn't really believe it.
"You highly doubt it."
It wasn't a question but Deeks answered as one anyway. "Yeah."
"Okay, well I'll get on these names. Callen can I have a word?" Nell asked as she collected the folder, staring at Callen in a way she hoped would make him understand that what she had to say was important.
"Sure." Callen agreed, giving Marty's hand a squeeze before standing and following the intelligence analyst out of the room, alerting the LAPD officer he was leaving as he walked her to the elevator.
"So what's up, Nell?" He asked once they were out of his hearing.
"Hetty asked me to find someone earlier today." Nell replied purposely not looking at the man at her side. She needed to keep her nerve with all that she wanted to say to him.
"Okay." Callen responded, not sure what that had to do with him. Hetty's mind worked in mysterious ways, he had long since given up trying to follow her train of thought. She was always a couple of pages ahead of them most of the time.
"It was Gordon John Brandel. I had to inform her that I had already done so for you, and that he was dead." Nell said in a rush, getting it all out in one breath.
"Right." Callen nodded, stopping as they came to the elevator and his mind already working on what he was going to say when the older woman came to him about his stunt. About what defence he could use against Hetty to make sure she didn't rip him a new one. "Thanks for letting me know Nell." He remembered to say as he turned to walk back to Marty.
"Of course, oh and agent Callen? Do not think about asking me to do personal research for you again." were Nell's parting words as she stepped into the elevator. She was not going to be naïve enough to fall for his tricks a second time. She had learnt her lesson on that score.
"Wouldn't dream of it." Callen responded giving her a winning smile, rather reminiscent of the ones Deeks gave to people, as the doors closed. He couldn't help but chuckle to himself at the glare she had sent him as he had done so. It was a like a child trying to imitate its mother the way it was a weak impersonation of Hetty's. Though he could see, that given a few years and some intensive one-to-one tuitions, she could well become as terrifying as their boss. He couldn't wait to watch how that would play out. But those playful thoughts fell away as he made his way back to Marty's side. To be replaced with that niggling thought. The one that said that this could very well be all his fault.
Deeks had been trying to process all that he had learnt over the last few minutes, and he was trying to work out where someone from Eastern Europe figured into all his. Tried to work out why it was they had targeted him. But so far he could come up with nothing. It wasn't helped by how he kept getting distracted as he remembered the frown on G's face as they discussed the man's accent. It was as if he knew something and wasn't telling them, but he couldn't see G doing that. He would not risk his life to keep whatever it was secret. Therefore he was glad when the man who was plaguing his mind reappeared in the room, though when he noticed he had that thoughtful frown on his face once more Deeks knew he couldn't keep quiet.
"G, what is it?"
At his question Callen turned and stared at him. But even if he didn't want to speak his worries aloud, he knew he needed to. He needed someone to tell him he was wrong, or… he just needed to talk it through with someone. So taking a deep breath he spoke.
"What if you weren't the target Marty? What if…" he trailed off at that. Not sure if he could finish the sentence. If he could admit he believed he was the reason the man he loved was lying in hospital with two bullet holes in him.
"You were?" Deeks finished for him his mind suddenly moving a mile a minute as he slotted everything into place. As he saw everything that had happened from a different angle. If he was the bait, then that would explain why the gang banger had only had a .22. It would also explain why he hadn't killed him when he could have. Because everyone knew if you have that sort of girly gun, the only way to kill was a bullet through the brain. But if they had wanted to draw out G, wanted to have him somewhere they could easily get to him, then he was the perfect person to take down. He was the weakest link in G's life after all. Not only did he love him, but he had also gotten lazy.
"But I was there this morning, they could have followed me." Callen replied frustration in his voice at trying to work out why they had gone after Marty when they could have easily gone after him. Though his words received a dry chuckle from the other man.
"Do you know how difficult it is to follow you, G? I don't call you Superspy for nothing." Deeks responded though even as he spoke a frown appeared on his face as he tried to fit everything together. "But you weren't at the hospital this morning when they came with the big guns." He said still piecing things together with his cops mind working overtime.
"True… but Kensi was." Callen replied eyes widening as he stood quickly and he grabbed his phone dialling Eric as he did so. He needed to get Kensi and Sam out of there. It was a trap, they wanted the junior agent, who they obviously knew was Marty's partner.
"Eric it's a trap. Deeks isn't the target, Kensi is." He snapped down the line before hanging up and turning to the man he loved. He couldn't stay here while his team were in danger, and he knew Marty would understand that. Just as he knew Marty would be fine.
"I've got to go." He said before walking quickly out of the door.
"G, wait. Callen!" Deeks shouted after him. Because he was still thinking, still piecing things together. If he assumed that whoever this was knew he was in a relationship with G, which he would guess they did considering they knew where he lived. Then surely they would have expected him to be at the hospital this morning. G could still be the target, and if that was the case, then he was in danger. And Deeks couldn't let anything happen the other man. He had believed he had died once, that was enough for any life time. With that thought and determination in his mind he grabbed his gun from the draw next to his bed and carefully pulled himself out of his bed. He had to go after the man he loved and protect him, no matter what the cost to himself. He couldn't let G die, again.
Callen was running for the elevator when his phone rang. Seeing it was Sam he snapped it open.
"Sam, I'm on my way." He said, but all he got back was static. Great, maybe he should have taken the stairs. Hanging up he willed the elevator to go quicker.
And driving like a bat out of hell through LA traffic towards the hospital Sam swore when he couldn't get through to his partner. Because he and Kensi had come to the same conclusion that it was a trap when no one had turned up, but whereas Eric had told them Callen believed Kensi was the target, both the other agents felt Callen was the one in danger. He needed to be there to back his partner up. Needed to be there to make sure nothing happened to his brother.
Callen was out the door before he managed to get through on the phone, though rather than Sam answering it was Kensi.
"Kens, you're the target." He stated urgently, hoping Eric had relayed his message. But her answer to that stopped him short.
"No Callen, you are." She stated gritting her teeth as Sam cornered almost going onto two wheels. And they said her driving was bad.
At her words Callen looked around, becoming aware of his surrounding in a deeper way than he had when he had run out of the door, his only thought to go to his team's aid. But before he could take full stock a van pulled up behind him and a man jumped out, wrapping his arm around his neck in a chock hold, aiming to cut of his air supply. It was a hold he knew well, he used it regularly himself. But now was not the time for that, he needed to figure out a way to counter it. With that in mind he reached up and grabbed the arm around him, making it look like he was trying to pry it off his neck, when in truth he needed the leverage. Leaning back as far as he could, putting as much weight behind him as possible he then threw himself forwards, dislodging the man, even while they both crashed to the sidewalk.
He couldn't help but cough as he pulled himself up to his hands and knees, even if he knew the danger was nowhere near being gone. He reached for his gun, only to have a foot driving into his side causing him to roll onto his back. It seemed the man who had attacked him had brought a friend. How lovely. Turning to face his adversaries he saw he was surrounded by three of them. Three to one, well that was good odds. Therefore with a smile he quickly jumped up, swiping the legs out from under the guy nearest to him before moving and elbowing the next on in the guts when he tried to grab him, turning with the move he went to tackle the third man only to find a gun in his face. Okay so the odds were less in his favour now. But before the man could speak, or pull the trigger, two gun shots rang out and the man in front of him crumpled to the floor.
As soon as he was down Callen grabbed his own gun and shot the remaining men who were trying to get up. They weren't going to take him down, not today. Once the threat had been contained Callen couldn't help but look to where the first shots had come from, and what he saw caused a lump to form in his throat even as he kicked the other weapon away from any of the men. Because there in the doorway to the hospital stood Marty, blood coming through his bandages where he had ripped open his stiches, gun in hand. Well, stood was probably a rather optimistic description. He was more slumped against the wall, barely able to hold himself up, yet he still had his gun trained perfectly on Callen's assailants. He had to give his lover guts, even if he did chew him out for this later. He had just saved his life, he deserved some recognition for that.
Before Callen could think of the fact he was becoming surrounded by LAPD a familiar car came charging into the parking lot, screeching to a halt and Sam and Kensi both jumped out and ran to him. When he saw them Callen breathed a sigh of relief. He could relax now, his team were here. They were all okay. It was all good. Nodding to Sam who took over the scene in a second, Callen holstered his gun and made his way to Deeks. Grabbing him from the nurse trying to hold him upright.
"I've got him." He said to her, grabbing his man and taking the gun from his hand as he did so. He pulled Marty up so he could lean against him rather than the wall, though it was more a case that he was holding him upright. And he couldn't help but shake his head at the state of the man in his arms. "You're an idiot, Marty."
"Couldn't lose you again could I?" Deeks replied through gritted teeth and uneven breath. Who knew pulling stitches would hurt this much. Son of a bitch, he did not want to do this again.
And at that Callen chuckled gently, the adrenalin from the fight still coursing through his veins, coupling with the relief that everyone was okay and the danger was gone. He knew the fact that he was the reason that Marty had been hurt would haunt him for a long time to come, but right then he couldn't think about that. He was just glad they were all alive.