Hello my darlings. I would like to thank IWantColoredRain, Blackbrd and Petunia3116 for the wonderful reviews. I would also like to thank those of you who have followed and favoured since my last update.
Okay, so just to give you a heads up, there is probably only about three or four more chapters of this story to go. So on that note, here is the next chapter, it is set in season 2, episode 22 'Plan B'. I hope you like it.
Disclaimer: I don't own NCIS: LA, nor any of the lines I have taken from the show.
Deeks stood looking in the mirror at the image of Max Gentry that was reflected back at him. This was an alias he had been glad to see the back of, but he didn't have a choice now. He was going to have to be this man once more, and as much as he hated the idea, he would do it for Ray. He would do anything for Ray. He was his best friend. He was the one who had given him the gun that had stopped his dad, and there was nothing he could ever do that would come close to repaying him for that.
"You ready to go?" Came a voice from behind him, but it wasn't the one he had expected to hear. He had expected Kensi to come get him not G.
"Where's Fern?" He asked curiously, wondering what G was about.
"She's working the crime scene with Sam." It went unsaid that it would be G who was in overwatch for him. That G would be the one on the other end of his comms listening to everything he said and did. He wasn't sure how to feel about that. On the one hand he was worried, he didn't want G to know Max, but on the other he felt a sense of relief to knowing G would have his back. That G would be there if anything went wrong. Okay, he could do this, everything was gonna be fine.
"Okay. Let's go." He nodded after taking a deep breath and one more look in the mirror, making sure he was as ready as he could be to do what he needed to do.
The journey to the pool hall was conducted in silence, though it was not the comfortable one that the couple were used to having around each other. No this one was charged with thoughts of what lay ahead and worries that neither of them truly knew how to express. It was a silence that finally grated on Callen so much he had to break it.
"So what's Max Gentry like?" He asked, even though he already knew the answer having read the report on the undercover operation. But he needed to see what Marty would tell him, what he would say about this alias he had created and been working on and off for at least the last five years. That was a long time to work one alias. A long time to be someone else. And he knew that the only way to be able to pull off such a cover, was to allow a certain amount of who you truly were through. Which lead him to the conclusion that Max Gentry was less a fictional character created in Marty's head, but more a reflection of the dark side he keep hidden from everyone, even himself. It was that part of him that made sure he never hesitated when he pulled the trigger on a suspect, the part of him that was serious and deadly, when he wanted to be. It was a part Marty never showed much, but Callen knew was there. No one could do the job they did without it, and it didn't worry him. No what did was what letting that side have free rein would do to the man he loved. How it would make Marty feel to become such a dark man. But whatever happened, he knew he would be there to support him, and if need be, pick up the pieces at end of the op. Because that was what you did for the ones you love.
"He's not a nice guy." Deeks responded, saying the only thing he could think to describe the persona he had given Max. Describe who it was he would become when he walked into the pool hall. Who he could have been, had things been different. He didn't want G to see that side of him. Didn't want him to be disgusted by who he had the ability to be, but he had no other choice. He just hoped G would understand.
"Okay." Callen replied. He knew he wasn't going to get more, but was glad Marty had given him that much. He wanted to tell him that no matter what he would be there for him, but he didn't have the words. It didn't feel right, bringing their personal life into work right then. He didn't want cause Marty any lack of focus. No here, now, he was his team leader and temporary partner. Right now, they were Callen and Deeks, readying themselves for the undercover op that was to come.
With that the silence settled once more, but this time it was closer to the one the two men were used to feeling when alone. The worry and tension was still there of course, but through those few spoken sentences it seemed something had lifted from the both of them. Something that allowed their focus to shift purely onto what was to come. Allowed Deeks to train his mind so that he could fall back into Max Gentry. And allowed Callen to leave him to it. He understood the need to have time to focus before falling back into an old alias. Understood the concertation it took to remember all that that alias knew and did, remember how he would react to certain situations.
As soon as Callen pulled the car up outside the pool hall Deeks was out of the door, making his way towards the bar without looking back at the man he was leaving behind. He couldn't. Because Max Gentry was not in love with G Callen. No, the only person other than himself that Max had the remotest care for was Ray. And it was for Ray he was here.
Callen sat there listening over the comms to the conversations Deeks had in the bar, and he couldn't help but wince when he stated he would take a guy's debt from his girlfriend. Because while he knew that wasn't his Marty in there, if was rather hard to hear those words in the voice that told him he loved him. But when he heard Max ask the bartender if he had his lunch ready, Callen's eyebrows rose. Because that wasn't something Deeks would say. He couldn't help but wonder if he had heard that sentence before, from someone else and had adopted it to the persona he was playing. Couldn't help but wonder if Marty's father had used those words back when Marty had been younger. He was pulled out of his thoughts by seeing Ray walking round the corner.
"I've got a visual on Ray." He said into his comms as he watched the other man make his way to the bar. "Don't break cover, I'll grab him." he finished with. He wanted to make sure Max was still in play in case this went sideways. With that said, he climbed out of his car and moved so he could intercept the man they had been looking for.
"Ray." He called, when he was standing directly in his line of sight. He hoped he didn't run, he really didn't want to have to chase down his boyfriends best friend. It probably wasn't the best impression to give. Though considering he had already shot the guy, maybe he would give him a pass on tackling him to the ground, maybe.
But before Callen could act or say anything else, gunfire sounded, and there was no question at who they were aiming. Damn it. Turning so he was protected by the vehicle outside the pool hall, he saw Ray crouched beside him. Well at least he wasn't running away, yet. But first deal with the gun tooting criminals firing at him. With that he started to shoot back.
Deeks was at the bar when he heard the gun shots. He tensed quickly but forced himself to relax. They should have expected that someone would be waiting for Ray here. If he knew he was gonna show up, then the ones trying to kill him no doubt did as well. But it wasn't just Ray they were firing at. That was the man he loved out there, he couldn't stay inside while that was happening. No way in hell. With that thought he made his way out the door, ready to back up G.
Callen managed to shoot one dead, and seeing that, the other ran, a coward if he ever saw one. But when he turned to the side to grab Ray, he found the space empty. Wow, he really was a slippery one wasn't he?
Deeks came out to find the shooting had stopped and Callen was standing with his gun in hand. He couldn't stop himself from looking over the older man to make sure he was in fact okay. Confirming he was he said only one word. "Ray?"
"He ran." Callen replied with a sigh, knowing they had just lost the only lead they had about where Ray would be.
"Fantastic." Deeks muttered to himself. They had been so close to having him. To him being able to find out why Ray had stayed in LA, and now they had nothing. But he couldn't blame the other man for that, I mean G was no doubt focused on the guys trying to shot him, rather than watching Ray's every move. And at least he knew he was still alive. He would find him, and he would make sure he was safe. Because that was what friends did. It was just, they were gonna have to try another angle, and well, Deeks could only think of one. And it was one he really didn't want to use. But if it was their only option, well, he would take, and deal with the consequences later. He just really hoped he didn't have to do that. He really didn't want to talk to Nichole anywhere G could see him, see them. Really didn't want him to know, what she had once meant to him.
They returned to the ops centre at the same time as Sam and Kensi returned form the crime scene, only to be greeted by Eric and Nell.
"We ID'd the shooter Callen took down outside the pool hall. His name is Vince Mendoza." Eric said, bringing up the picture on the screen in the bullpen for all to see.
"He was a foot solider for the Southland Kings." Nell continued in the well-rehearsed way that her and Eric traded giving information updates to the team.
"So what do they stand to gain from Ray's death?" Callen asked, hoping someone knew the answer, though he had his suspicions. Suspicions that thankfully Sam voiced before he could.
"Probably goes back to business." The other senior agent suggested. It was the most likely reason after all.
"No. Ray never dealt with the Southland Kings. They killed a buddy of ours in the neighbourhood and he hated them." Deeks replied before anyone could say anything else. He knew that under no circumstances would Ray ever do business with that gang.
"Are you sure?" Kensi asked, not wanting to upset her partner but feeling the question needed to be said. I mean Ray was criminal, who knew who he would work with? Could Deeks really be that certain of him?
"If something happened, he would've come to me." Deeks responded, saying the mantra he had going round in his head, even if he was starting to see the cracks in it. Cracks Sam felt no reason not to mention.
"He didn't tell you he wasn't going to Miami. These guys don't try to murder people for no reason, Deeks." Sam replied simply. He needed the kid to get his head in the game. To stop thinking about Ray as his friend, and start thinking of him as a suspect. Because there was something seriously fishy going on here. He turned to Callen, hoping his partner would back him up. He had been remarkably quiet up until now. But when all he got back was a blank stare he realised he was gonna have to be the one who drilled this home to Deeks. "Your best friend is a career criminal, Deeks. He ditched his flight. Then he rented a car that got shot up with assault rifles right after you took your eyes off of him." he finished with, hoping he understood what it was he was saying. Understood that he couldn't trust him implicitly, there had to be some suspicion.
"Why would Ray make himself a target like that?" Kensi asked after Sam had finished. She knew what he was doing, but she also knew the best way to get Deeks thinking was to ask him questions.
"I don't know." Deeks snapped at her. He was getting fed up with this. Okay sure, he could understand the team not trusting Ray. He wasn't exactly a shining example of a good law abiding citizen, but he was still Ray. He was still his best friend and he wouldn't think the worse, until Ray told him that was the truth. He would always give his friend the benefit of doubt.
"There may be things Ray hasn't told you." Callen said, entering the conversation for the first time. Though his voice had no bite to it, it was more a gentle reminder to Marty, that there was clearly something more going on here. Something they were missing. Hoping to convey in his tone that he wasn't accusing Ray of anything, but they did need to think of all possibilities so they could do their job and keep his friend safe.
At those words Deeks turned to him, and staring into his eyes saw all that G hadn't said. He saw his support and his love radiating out of them, and he found himself relaxing. The anger he felt at the team for judging Ray without knowing him left. Because G wasn't judging anybody.
The conversation then turned to the guns the gang members had been wielding, not that Deeks was paying much attention to that bit. No he was trying to think up a way to find Ray, that didn't involve him talking to Nichole. He was pulled out of his thoughts by Sam talking again, and he really wished the big guy would shut up. He didn't want to hear him malign his friend thank you very much.
"There's gotta be a reason why Ray chose to stay in town. Money stashed somewhere, an enemy he wanted to drop in on." Sam said, trying to get Deeks to think of anything that could be helpful to them right then.
"I'm telling you, that's not his style." Deeks responded with a shake of his head. No, whatever caused Ray to stay, it was none of those things.
"What about his wife?" Callen asked from his position standing next to Marty, and as such he noticed how he jumped and tensed at the words. What did that mean?
"Nichole?" Deeks asked, trying his hardest to keep him tone normal and not betray how much he really wished G hadn't said that. In fact he would much prefer it if everyone there completely forgot Nichole existed, though he knew that wasn't going to happen.
"He didn't even want to take her into relocation with him. He said there marriage was over." Sam replied dismissively. He doubted they would be able to get anything out of her.
"Sam, that's because it's complicated." Deeks responded through gritted teeth. He really didn't want this conversation going where it was heading. He really didn't want to do what he knew he was gonna have to do to help find Ray, damn it.
"Let's pick her up." Kensi suggested. It was the only lead they had, and well it was better than nothing.
At her words Deeks sighed. There was no getting out of this now. "Nichole doesn't know I'm a cop and believe me, she is gonna tell us a lot more if it stays that way." He replied not looking at G as he said the words. He just hoped he understood what he was gonna have to do. Hoped he wouldn't be too pissed at him when this was done.
"All right, we'll have her picked up and taken to the boatshed?" Kensi asked, looking at Callen rather than Deeks. He was the team leader after all.
And Callen, well he gave a slight nod not taking his eyes of the man at his side. He didn't know what was going on, but he knew it was something by the way Marty wouldn't meet his eye. That was enough to give him a horrible feeling he wasn't going to like it when he found out, and he was sure to do so much sooner than he wanted to. Damn, could this case get any worse?