Brotherhood

Chapter 17

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Rated M

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His disturbing dreams evaporated as he slowly woke, struggling to breathe in the muggy air, his mouth tasting of mud as he painfully swallowed the bile in his throat. It hurt to move, but he eased his bare back up the rough-hewn post before he even opened his eyes, carefully assessing his pain levels. His arms were numb below the elbows and his shoulder joints stiff, the dull ache from being tied in one position so long making him curse softly behind the gag. Finally opening his eyes, Deeks raised his head in the yellowish gray light and looked across at Callen. He smiled inwardly that his brother had managed to lower himself into a sitting position, his chin resting on his chest and his legs crossed in front of him. One of the many advantages of not having a rope tied around your neck he supposed. Even in the pale light he could see dark bruises around his eyes and across his ribs and abs, and he felt the first stirrings of renewed anger. If he got the chance to take out Saint, he felt no urge to be sensible. He simply wanted to kick the shit out of the bastard for himself and for his brother. His comm was dead, but he could almost hear Roy telling him not to do anything stupid, but even if he could hear him he didn't intend to pay any attention whatsoever to any cautionary advice.

Slow moving layers of mist hovered over the camp, obscuring some of the outlying cabins and the bayou beyond the trees. Listening to the snores of the militiamen lying sprawled in their hammocks on the other platforms as they slept off their hangovers, stirred stark memories and his heart quickened. There had been times last night when he didn't think Saint would let him see another morning, that the depraved bastard would gut him as he'd warned him he would. He knew the man was a coward. That's why they'd been tied up and gagged. He didn't want these men to know he had run from the Feds without firing a shot, and he surely didn't want Guidry to know, making Deeks wonder if he was really going to keep them alive until Guidry got here.

He became anxious when he heard the distant sound of an outboard motor, and quickly looked to see if Callen was awake. He was met by the man's intense blue eyes as he slowly edged his way back up the post until he was standing. When he nodded at him, his eyes were turbulent with emotion as if he wanted to give him all the strength he had left, his affection so easy to read that Deeks felt his chest tighten. If they made him watch as they killed his brother it would tear his heart out. He blinked back sudden tears, and it was only the determination on Callen's face and his own deep rage that kept him from breaking down. He didn't want to let Callen down and he sure as hell didn't want Saint or his men see him break.

Some of the men began to stir and he saw Saint walk down toward the bayou and he prepared himself to resist whatever they tried to do to them. Joe had escaped these bastards and he had been alone. He didn't want to die here and he didn't want Callen to either, but it sure as hell looked like a possibility. So he waited, willing to take on whoever or whatever came his way, to fight the inevitable all the way to the end.

The motor stopped and so did his breathing for a moment as he strained to hear Guidry's voice, but all he heard were hacking coughs and moans from the waking militiamen. There were no shout outs in Cajun, no welcome that he could hear, just the soft panting of dogs as they led the way into camp. Deeks felt his stomach drop and he looked back at Callen, whose eyes were simply pale and so very sad. Then he saw Addy with Punkin, the dog slinking along by her side and it surprised him and gave him hope until he saw who was walking behind her. It was Tino, his face fierce and his eyes dark as thunder. Saint had his arm around his shoulder, talking and occasionally pointing their way and he suddenly felt empty and without hope. Saint passed a fifth of whisky to Tino and the man downed a quarter of it as he stalked toward them, shoving it back into Saint's chest before jumping up on the platform. He didn't say anything, he just strode over and slugged him very low and very hard. White hot pain exploded through his entire body and he screamed into the gag as he sagged almost to his knees, the only thing holding him up was the rope now taut around his throat. Tino grabbed a handful of his hair and dragged him upright and slammed his head back against the post, and held him there as his other hand gripped his throat.

"Payback, little fucker," he snarled in his face. "Saint says you got my brother killed, you fuckin' little shit. So, maybe I'll just kill yours."

"No need ta rush things, Tino," Saint said as he draped his arm across Tino's shoulder. "This one's fun ta play with. Oughta suffer for what they done don't ya think? Maybe we let 'em run for a ways, toy with 'em a bit before we hunt 'em down and set the dogs on 'em."

"That's Guidry's thing," Tino said. "I'll kill 'em with my own two hands."

"Is he comin'?" Saint asked.

"He'll be along," Tino replied as he pushed away from Deeks and took a step back.

"Then lets have us a little fun with these two bastards before he gets here," Saint suggested with a sick smile.

"Looks like you already did," Tino said as he took the whiskey bottle from Saint's hand and took a long swallow. "You fuck 'im?"

"Not yet," Saint said as he reached out and gripped Deeks' jaw.

Deeks was close to passing out and his eyes streamed with tears from the pain as he fought to keep from throwing up.

"That stint in Angola turned you into a sick sonofabitch, Saint. You been up here way too long," Tino said. "Why don'tcha go fuck Addy and leave this little shit and his brother to me."

"You gonna kill 'em before Guidry gets here, Tino?" Addy's small voice asked from behind the two men. "He ain't gonna like it if you do."

"Shut the fuck up ya little whore," Saint snapped. "Ain't none of your damn business."

"Leave her be, man. She likes 'im," Tino said quietly. "Likes the way he fucks. Don't ya little girl?"

"He's nice," she replied and Deeks was surprised to see real concern on her face.

"Bullshit! He's a weak bastard the Feds turned," Saint rushed out.

"How do you know that?" Tino asked. "You see 'em get captured?"

"I was too busy fightin' Feds," Saint said, puffing out his chest.

Deeks roared out his denial as loudly as the gag allowed, his eyes wild with anger as he shook his head and strained against the ropes that held him. Saint backhanded him across the cheek, and started to choke him, but Tino pulled him off.

"Don't look like he agrees with you, man," Tino said sullenly, staring at Saint. "Guidry's gonna want to deal with them in his own way. We'll wait."

"Who the hell made you king of the hill, Tino," Saint roared out. "This here is my command, not yours. And if I want ta kick this asshole around camp I'm damn well gonna do it. So back the hell off."

Saint had his knife out in a split second and Addy let out a small cry and stepped back. She looked stricken and quickly turned and ran, leaping off the platform and heading for the bayou, leaving Deeks fearful of what was coming. He looked across at Callen, who was straining against the ropes, roaring out his own anger as best he could, his eyes red rimmed and full of rage. Deeks tried to prepare himself when he saw Tino back away with his hands up, giving in to the crazy bastard with the sick smile.

"You all mine now, little fucker," Saint whispered as he sliced the rope around his neck and then leaned against him to cut him free of the post.

Deeks collapsed to his knees and fell forward onto his shoulder, drawing his knees up as the brilliant pain in his groin ignited once again. His vision grayed as Saint grabbed him by the arm and yanked him back up to his knees. He was a strong man and his grip was powerful as he dragged him to the edge of the platform and shoved him off onto the ground. He cried out and heard Saint laugh as he jumped down to stand over him where he lay face down in the dirt.

"Get up, you weak shit," Saint growled. "Run for it. See how far ya can get."

Deeks didn't think he could even stand, let alone run, so he ignored the bastard as he took in shallow breaths of stifling air. He could hear his brother's muffled outrage, and that calmed him for some reason. Resigned to the fact he didn't have the energy to resist, he closed his eyes, his body succumbing to the debilitating pain. When Saint straddled him, he groaned, knowing what was coming as the man pressed his face into the ground and pushed his tied wrists up high on his back.

"Your brother's next, Jimmy boy. Wanna watch?" Saint whispered slowly as he released his head and ran his hand along his shoulder and down his arm, his knees now between his legs and pressing against the inside of his thighs.

He could hear him breathing heavily as his fingernails gouged into his ass, and he bucked against him, raging and cursing him and fighting as the man snickered at his efforts. A hard punch to the wound in his side made him scream, and left him groggy and weak, his heart pounding as his mind echoed with stark memories of the past. He wanted to kill this man, the urge so strong he almost choked on the hate. And then suddenly the weight of the man was no longer there, a loud, indignant curse filling the air as Saint was knocked off of him and onto the ground.

"What ya think ya doin', ya fuckin' couyon?" Guidry's harsh growl sounding very sweet at the moment. "You don't do nothin' less I say so. Specially dis shit."

"He made a deal with the Feds, boss," Saint said hurriedly as he scrambled back to his feet.

"Mebbe, mebbe not," Guidry said quietly, kneeling down in front of Deeks as he spoke. "But ya forget one thing, couyon. Dis here boy save my life. I say what happens to 'im. Not you. Ya hear?"

Deeks felt his hands cut free and then he was lifted to his feet by several men and half dragged over to the platform. The pain exploded as they lowered him down on the edge, and he almost passed out, but Guidry held his shoulders, keeping him partially upright and he was grateful for that. He moaned with relief when the man pulled the gag from his mouth and promptly vomited the bile churning in his stomach. Guidry stepped away and then sat down beside him.

"Ya tell me de truth Jimmy, or big brother Jake gonna git Saint's dick up his ass 'stead a you. Ya hear?

"Got it," Deeks replied weakly, barely holding his anger.

"Them Feds catch ya?"

"No sir."

"He's a fuckin' liar," Saint shouted. "They was gone for hours after the firefight. No reason for it 'cept if the Feds got 'em."

"Why ya gag dese here boys, Saint-Jean?" Guidry asked, looking up at Saint with cunning, hooded eyes.

"Whadda ya mean?" Saint's voice now a whisper.

"Ya afraid what dey gonna say?" He asked, and Deeks looked over at him, wondering if he somehow knew what had happened.

"No...just tired a listenin' to 'em I guess."

"Tell me what all happen, Jimmy," Guidry said. "Don't leave nothin' out, boy."

So Deeks recounted it all honestly except the part about finding Joe. As he started talking about the firefight, Saint's eyes darkened and his hands curled into fists and Deeks forced himself to his feet.

"You ran, you piece of shit. Didn't even fire a fuckin' shot," he shouted into his face, hitting him as hard as he was able, managing a smile as blood spurted from his nose.

Saint roared out a curse and slugged him back, knocking him to the ground, kicking him and screaming he was a liar. Tino and a couple of other militiamen rushed to pull Saint away as he spewed out lies about his bravery. Guidry watched it all without a word, finally bending down to help Deeks get to his feet, where he stood swaying as blood dripped from his cut lip.

"Why it take so long for y'all ta git on back here?" He asked, helping him sit back down on the edge of the platform.

"I fell and Jake came back for me," he explained. "Saint yelled we was on our own, and took off. Firefight was intense, but we was outnumbered when Saint left. When we heard the FBI guy callin' in choppers, we hid for a while and then tried ta find our way back."

"Y'all git lost, boy?"

"Yessir, 'fraid we did," Deeks replied, looking as embarrassed as he could. "Hid from the choppers for over an hour. Them babies had some big guns on 'em."

"Who dey kill?"

"Rigo went down first...sniper I think," he answered. "He stood up like a man, Tino. Mighta even got one of 'em. Then Purdy got hit. Beau was dead when we got there. They was waitin' for us, I think."

"How many Feds y'all up against?"

"Don't really know, but there was a lot of 'em...they were hidin' in the trees and the church," he replied.

"That ain't the way it happened, boss," Saint said, straining against the men who held him. "I'm tellin' ya. These two fucks are workin' for the Feds."

"Ya forget sumpin', Saint-Jean?" Guidry said quietly. "I got somebody on de inside a dat task force. Jimmy tol it just like it happen 'cept for one thing. That Fed we been huntin', Phil Beeler? He killed dere too. Figure Rigo got 'im like dis here boy say."

Tino suddenly rushed Saint, hitting him solidly in the face a few times before Guidry had him pulled off.

"You're a goddam coward, Saint," Tino shouted as he fought the men holding him back. "I'm gonna kill you, you sonofabitch."

"Hold up, Tino," Guidry ordered. "Gotta question for 'im. Massie go along on dat mission, right?. So...where he be, Saint-Jean? He not in camp, so where he git to?"

"He stuck with Saint during the firefight," Deeks said, curious himself.

Saint cringed at the mention of the man's name and Guidry seemed to uncoil like a snake as he stood and slowly moved toward the man. Saint wouldn't look at him, but Guidry grabbed a fistful of his hair and yanked his head up, forcing him to look him in the eye.

"Whatcha do, couyon? Huh?" Guidry's voice was a low gravelly growl and he slowly stroked his cheek. "Massie weren't too smart, but he my bon ami. Grew up together over in Eunice. Like ta be able ta tell his mama what happen to 'im."

"Don't know," Saint replied, looking sullen and pissed.

"Ya kill 'im, mebbe? Wanna keep 'im quiet like ya did dese two?"

"He was wounded..." Saint finally admitted softly and Guidry slapped him hard.

"So ya let 'im die out dere...all alone like he was nothin' ta nobody, couyon," Guidry said slowly as if he couldn't believe it. "Ya gag dese two ta keep 'im quiet...beat de shit outa dem and was fixin' ta fuck de boy who save my life...den you was gonna kill 'em both 'for I ever had a chance ta hear de truth. That about right, couyon?"

"Come on, boss..." Saint pleaded, real deep fear in his voice and in his eyes.

"Cain't let dis pass, Saint-Jean."

"Please..."

"Tino? Strip 'im naked like he done dese boys," Guidry ordered. "Den we gonna stake ya out on that little island in de bayou, Saint-Jean. Watch how long it take dem gators ta find dere supper."

Saint looked shocked and scared to death, screaming for mercy as the men dragged him away. Deeks actual felt sorry for the man for one brief second, but he was too exhausted and hurting too much to care what they did to the bastard. He stood up unsteadily and turned to see them cutting Callen free and he grabbed the corner post, leaning wearily against it, watching Callen pull his jeans on, looking a bit shaky himself.

"Addy gonna see ta both of ya, Jimmy," Guidry said as he put a his hand on the back of his neck. "Dat wound bleedin' agin. Git ya some rest, boy. Den we talk. Y'all need ta know what we up to."

The man never said he was sorry for what had happened, but then he hadn't expected him to. His odd kindness had surprised him, but he knew he couldn't let his guard down. The man was still a vicious killer, and undoubtedly a sociopath and probably insane, but he was also incredibly intelligent and cunning. He'd known there had to be a reason Saint had gagged them and that one misstep would cost the man his life. He had no illusions that Guidry cared about him, but saving his life had definitely given them an advantage. Unless they screwed up, they could use it to get closer to his inner circle and discover the men behind it all in Washington.

"You okay?" Callen whispered as he dropped down beside him and gripped his shoulder.

"You look like shit," he replied with a slight smile.

"Thanks, so do you," Callen said with a smirk before pulling his head into his chest and holding him there.

He could hear his brother's heart beating hard and was surprised to feel Callen's hand trembling as he squeezed the back of his neck and let out a long sigh.

"I wanted to kill that fuck," Callen breathed out.

"Which one?" He asked softly as he raised his head to look around him.

He saw Addy standing off to the side holding his jeans and shoes, waiting patiently for them to finish their reunion and he suddenly felt quite fond of her for speaking up. It had been a brave thing to do and he found he was proud of her.

"Y'all just look awful," she said sadly as she came up to him. "I'm so sorry Saint tried ta do that to ya. He's a real asshole."

"That ain't my favorite word right now, darlin'," Suddenly feeling weak in the knees, he stumbled back against the post, and Callen reached him before he could fall, getting a shoulder under his arm to steady him.

"Let's get you back to the cabin, kid," Callen said with concern, but his voice was rough and still choked with obvious anger.

"I'll bring ya some tee shirts and water ta wash up," Addy promised as she handed over his stuff. "He's bleedin' so I'll bring the first aid kit too."

She finally ran off, leaving them alone as they slowly made their way across the open ground. The men avoided them, and he recognized a couple of the ones who had assaulted them last night, but none of them would look them in the eye. They had seen how Guidry had treated him and he thought they might be afraid he would point them out for what they'd done. If he did, they would become enemies, if Guidry didn't feed the bastards to the gators. If he didn't, it might just make them grateful. The Hale brothers would have to deal with them on their own. They would be expecting it.

The world was turning gray fast, and Deeks knew he was close to shutting down, but he fought it. He had to inform Callen and Roy about The Brotherhood's target, and he needed to hear how Joe was doing.

"You bring extra earwigs?" He whispered as Callen helped him inside the stuffy cabin. "I got somethin'."

"How?"

"Saint was bragging," he said as Callen eased him down on the bed.

He began shivering as he laid down, even though it was muggy and hot. Callen covered him with the thin blanket as he panted through the dull ache radiating out from his groin. He wanted so badly to sleep, but he held on until Callen came back with the extra earwig from wherever he had hidden it. Tucking it into his ear, he smiled and slowly relaxed as Roy's soft drawl flowed through the comm link.

"Damn boys. Them Toussaint prayers musta worked," he said. "I thought y'all were both done. You doing okay? Do we need ta pull ya out?"

"We're alive. I'll fill you in on what happened later," Callen said as he stood near the only window to watch for Addy. "Deeks got something."

"How the hell you manage that, squirt?" Roy asked.

"I hope that's a term of endearment, dipshit," Deeks laughed.

"If your intel's good it is," he replied.

"Saint said they're gonna blow up the federal courthouse in Baton Rouge."

"No shit? When?"

"Didn't tell me that," Deeks replied. "Maybe Joe knows."

When Roy didn't immediately answer he got a sick feeling in his stomach and started to panic. Callen must have noticed and quickly came to sit beside him.

"Tell me the truth, man," Deeks choked out. "Please...did Joe make it? Is he alive?"

"He's in ICU," Roy said quietly. "Elan hasn't checked in yet this mornin', but as of last night, he was critical. He got severe sepsis from that dog bite."

Deeks turned over and covered his head with his arms. Callen laid a comforting hand on his shoulder, but it did nothing to still the fear in his heart.

"I need to talk to Elan," he murmured.

Then he drifted, listening to Callen and Roy discuss the intel, but he offered nothing more, too tired to care. He must have dozed off, starting awake when he heard Addy arrive. Her voice barely registered, but when her big hound jumped up on the bed and snuffled under his arms, he rolled onto his back and opened his eyes. She had her light brown hair pulled back in a ponytail and her small breasts pressed against the fabric of her thin, pale pink tank top as she leaned over him.

"Hi darlin'," he smiled lazily, getting raised eyebrows and a smirk from Callen.

"You poor baby. Look what that bastard did to your pretty face," she whined. "I'll take care of ya, sweetie pie. My grandmama taught me a bit about takin' care of a wounded man. Her family was kinda wild, so she had lots of experience."

The young girl rattled on about her family while she gently cleaned the dirty sweat and blood from his face and throat. She ran her tongue out over her bottom lip when she pulled the blanket down to get at his chest and the wound in his side, and appeared to be enjoying herself. She was gentle, but each time she ran the wet cloth over the fresh bruises on his body, and especially his tender ribs, he tensed and hissed at the bright pain. As Addy worked, Callen watched with an amused smirk on his face but he could still see the concern in his eyes.

"I brought ya some moonshine, case ya need it for the pain," Addy said brightly. "It'll help ya sleep too."

"I bet it will," Callen said, unscrewing the lid of the mason jar to sniff the fiery liquor. "Whoa. This stuff'll strip paint. Won't hurt to take a couple of sips, Jimmy. It's gonna hurt like hell when she starts cleanin' that bullet wound."

"'Specially when I douse it with that stuff," she said, laying a hand on his chest as she slowly stroked his hair. "You wanna bite down on something when I do it, so they won't hear ya scream?"

"They already heard 'im scream," Callen suddenly snapped. "Anybody says anything about it I'll shoot 'im where they stand."

"Hey Jake...it's okay brother."

"The hell it is," he snarled, and it wasn't his alias talking. "They come at me or you again they'll be sorry, 'cause I know exactly where the bullet's gonna go."

Deeks wondered if Callen had truly lost it or was sending a warning the only way he could...through Addy. She looked a little scared by the seemingly volatile man, but stood her ground and reached for the jar of moonshine. Deeks raised up on one elbow as she handed him the stuff, taking a few fiery sips, his eyes watering as he forced it down, coughing from the rawness of it.

"Go ahead, Addy," Deeks finally said, staring intently at Callen. "I'm tough...I can take it."

He knew Callen was enraged by what Saint had done to him, and he appreciated his threat to protect him, but he needed him to be the professional he was, not the vengeful brother. He might be hurting, but he could still finish this assignment, and Callen needed to believe that. Deeks could see his sudden regret for doubting him, so he smiled to ease his mind, as Addy took the moonshine.

He didn't scream, but he did pass out briefly and Callen was gripping his hand hard when he came to.

"Told you I could take it," he whispered.

"Yeah, brother...you were just takin' a little nap there for a second," Callen smirked.

He tightened his grip on Callen's hand as Addy deftly put some stitches in the wound in his side. They weren't pretty, but they stopped the bleeding and he was grateful for her kindness. Once she taped a bandage over it, he could tell Callen wanted her to leave.

"I got it from here, Addy. Thanks."

"I'll bring y'all some coffee and cornbread in a bit," she offered. "Y'all must be hungry."

She smiled at him and bit her lip, her eyes lingering on his body before calling to her dog and reluctantly walking out.

"You're a bruised and bloody mess and she was still flirting with you," Callen said shaky his head and looking bewildered. "I really do not get it."

"It's the hair, Cuz," Elan said softly in their ears.

"God Elan...it's good to hear your voice," Deeks said, groaning as he sat up and gingerly swung his legs over the side of the bed. "How's Joe?"

"First, tell me how you two are doing," he replied. "Roy sounded scared when I talked to him."

"I wasn't scared, I was concerned," Roy clarified.

"We're a little worse for wear, but we'll be okay," Callen said.

"Don't lie to me, Callen," Elan said roughly. "You told Roy what happened and he told me. Now tell me how you both are or I'm comin' to get you."

There was a depth of anger in his voice Deeks hadn't heard since Santa Fe, when they went to find his son. His persona had been pure Army Ranger then and it's what he sounded like now. He didn't doubt he would come in guns blazing, if he wasn't straight with him.

"I just got stitched up, so I'm not bleeding anymore," Deeks said. "But I won't be walking upright for awhile. Callen looks and probably feels like shit. We're hot and dirty, thirsty, hungry and ache all over, but other than that we're just dandy, brother."

"Smart ass," Elan said, but his tone had lightened.

"Now how's Joe?" Deeks said. "I need to know so I can still deal with all this shit."

"How 'bout I let him tell you himself," Elan said.

Deeks and Callen stared at each other as they listened to Elan transfer his earwig to Joe. Deeks could hardly breathe and had tears in his eyes as he waited to hear his brother's voice, and Callen was struggling to contain his own, but he was smiling.

"Hey guys...been awhile. I miss you," Joe finally said in a weak voice. "Deeks being a dumbass, G?"

"Actually he got some intel from the asshole who beat the crap out of 'im," Callen replied.

"Which asshole we talkin' about?" Joe asked in a wavering voice.

"Saint."

"God Deeks...did he..." Joe choked on the question and they both realized he knew exactly what the man had intended to do.

"No, buddy...no," Deeks hurried to comfort him.

"Don't lie to me, Marty."

"Guidry stopped him," Deeks replied, shivering at how close he'd come to being violated.

"Well he didn't stop him when he wanted to get Oscar to talk," Joe spit out angrily. "Made me watch that too, the damn sonofabitch."

"Shit. I'm sorry, brother," Deeks whispered.

"Get outa that camp," he pleaded. "He'll try again, Marty. He's a sick bastard."

"He won't be doing that to anybody ever again, Joe," Callen said quietly. "Guidry is feeding his ass to the alligators."

"Sonofabitch," Joe whispered. "I'd pay to see that."

"Joe...did you know they were gonna blow up the federal court house in Baton Rouge?" Callen asked.

"Thought it was gonna be a federal building in New Orleans, just never found out which one. They must have changed their plans after our cover was blown," Joe replied.

"So you don't know when it's supposed to happen either?" Deeks asked.

"Sorry. But I do know they were waiting to hear when some high level government officials were going to be at their target," he said softly, sounding tired. "It'll be somebody important."

"Maybe Eric and Nell can track officials who have scheduled upcoming trips to Baton Rouge," Callen said.

"And that should give us some possible dates," Deeks added.

"Now, tell us how you're doing, Joe," Callen said. "We've been worried."

"I'm just happy to be lying in a warm bed. I was getting real tired of that damn swamp. The drugs ain't bad either," he said quietly. "Doc said my vitals are better, but I got a lot of physical therapy ahead. Arm got torn up pretty bad."

"Have you talked to Di and George?" Deeks asked.

"It's still a little early back there, but don't worry, I'll call."

"Talked to Hetty," Roy cut in. "She wants to know if Safa Jordan can be trusted."

"Before my cover was blown I would have said absolutely," Joe said softly. "But right now, I don't trust anybody except my own family."

"Can I get adopted? Y'all can call me Uncle Roy."

"What do you say Deeks? Callen?" Joe asked easily. "This guy worthy to be part of the Atwood extended family?"

"He does make a mean jambalaya," Callen said with a smile.

"He's a wise ass, Joe. Irritating. Annoying...and talks too much," Deeks responded.

"Sound like anyone we know, G?" Joe laughed.

"Really? Come on. You guys love me," Deeks said with a cocky smile.

"If that's a prerequisite...I'm out," Roy said. "Called me a dickwad the first night we met."

"Are you a dickwad?" Joe asked.

"Ain't that a requirement to be in your family?" Roy laughed.

"That and being able to ride a horse," Joe replied.

"Roy's afraid of horses," They heard Elan say in the background.

"Never said I was afraid of 'im. Just said I didn't like 'em much," Roy replied.

"Maybe you just haven't met the right horse," Deeks said softly.

"Y'all are weird."

"Then you're gonna fit right in, Uncle Roy," Joe laughed.

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