Brotherhood

Chapter 26

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His dream was filled with a mass of black vultures flying in circles above his head and he broke from his sleep gasping out the name of a man he did not want to be. His heart thudded in his chest and anger strangled his voice as a firm hand clamped down on his arm.

"Get the fuck away from me," he finally choked out, fighting his way out of his nightmare.

"Deeks."

He turned toward the familiar voice and ceased his struggle, his dream now just vapors trailing away in the sun filled room. A strong urge to get up and run remained, but the intense blue eyes of his brother gave him a measure of assurance that he was safe and he took a deep, calming breath.

"Sorry...bad dream," he whispered.

"Not surprised," Callen said.

"Where's Elan?"

"Early dinner run. Our vending machine lunch didn't cut it," Callen answered. "He's bringing coffee too."

"What about Guidry?" Deeks asked.

"Don't you remember? I told you earlier that he was headed back to camp. Probably there by now," he replied. "Guess Guidry trusts us for real now."

"Yeah...too bad Pierce and his gang of pervs didn't," Deeks said.

"Hey, kid...I'm sorry I wasn't there to stop them. I should have tried harder to stay with you," Callen looked torn up as he spoke and Deeks had the urge to comfort him. "Guidry was still mad as hell this morning when I told him you were doing okay. Are you, brother?"

"Am I what? Okay?"

"Yeah...are you? You've been sleeping a lot and mumbling all kinds of stuff I couldn't understand. I'll listen if you need to talk," Callen said with concern.

"You're just a regular Dr. Phil now, aren't you?" Deeks snapped, suddenly pissed.

"No...I'm just your brother," Callen didn't react to his anger and he instantly regretted his remark.

"Thought Sam filled you in," he murmured.

"I'm guessing he didn't tell me everything."

"Let's just say I was the evening's entertainment at the Newton Pierce Porn Palace, starring Jacqueline Bennet and yours truly," he replied. "Apparently they like to watch, among other things. Got a feeling it's a regular event for those assholes."

"They didn't dress you up or anything, did they?" Callen smirked. "Make you come out and dance like Magic Mike?"

"You think it's funny?" Deeks asked, flustered by the change in tone.

"Kinda is," he replied with a smile. "And you probably would have done yourself proud until they shot you up with scopolamine mixed with chloroform and something else the doctors have yet to identify."

"Oh yeah...I was just lovin' being handcuffed and fondled by fucking white collar terrorists," he replied sullenly.

"Then you're really gonna love what I had to tell the doctors and nurses about you," Callen said. "They wanted to get the police involved when they got the tox screen back, so..."

"What the hell did you tell 'em?"

"I told them you didn't want to press charges..." Callen seemed to be finding it very hard not to laugh.

"And why was that?" He asked nervously.

"I told them you were a male prostitute," he replied, holding his hands up as Deeks sputtered out a stream of swear words and physical threats. "Told them you were hired for a party with high end clients and government officials and that things just got out of hand."

"And they bought that?"

"Oh yeah, they did," Callen smirked. "They didn't even look surprised. It is New Orleans. One of the interns even asked for your card. Thought I was your pimp."

"Dressed like that?" Deeks finally just shook his head and laughed. "You sure as hell wouldn't make it as a pimp dressed like that in LA."

Callen slowly became serious again, reaching out to squeeze his shoulder, and Deeks could sense he was trying to hide his remaining anger.

"I talked to Hetty," Callen said quietly. "If you want to be pulled out, she can arrange it."

"What? Why?"

"The doctor said your heart stopped. You died, brother, and they had to resuscitate you," he said. "It wouldn't be hard to convince Guidry that you took a turn for the worse and didn't make it. Hetty will take care of the details."

"And leave you without backup? No way," he said, pushing himself up to face him. "I earned the right to get these bastards, G. You and Hetty owe me that."

"What's going on?" Elan said as he walked into the room.

"They want to pull me out," Deeks said weakly as he slumped back into the pillows.

"Good idea," Elan replied as he set down a greasy bag and a carrier with three coffees. "They almost killed you, Marty."

"Seriously? You want me to leave G all alone out there?" Deeks asked, stressed by the mere thought of it. "I can't do that, Elan. I'll be fine."

"Y'all havin' a fight without me?" Roy Blanchard asked as he sauntered in. "Best keep your voices down and the door closed. Anybody passin' by could hear y'all."

"Should you be here?" Callen asked.

"Any reason I shouldn't be?" He shot back, sounding grumpier than normal. "I listened to every damn thing those fucks put your brother through, and it pissed me off. Thought I should come see how he's doin' for myself. Brought 'im a new earwig too."

"Didn't think you had a heart to care, dickwad," Deeks said with a quick grin.

"You must be feelin' better, boy, if you're back to shovelin' that weak shit," he laughed. "Still an all, you don't look like you could hold your dick up to pee, let alone back up your partner if things go sideways up at The Brotherhood camp."

"As much as I appreciate the descriptive comment on my health, I'm not letting you pull me out," Deeks said, feeling defiant and growing angrier by the second.

"Hetty might have somethin' to say about that," Roy said before snagging a fry out of the bag. "Put in your earwig, kid. She's waitin'."

Elan handed him one of the coffees and he drank deeply and appreciatively, using the time to put off the inevitable. He didn't want to talk to Hetty, although he did as Roy said, snugging in the earwig without further comment. He probably did need to thank her for being in his head throughout most of his ordeal. He'd hung on her every word, counting on her to get him through all those questions Harrison White demanded answers to. He had no idea what he would have said without her much needed prompts.

"Good morning Mr. Deeks," the familiar cadence comforting in spite of his desire to rebel against her authority.

"Hetty."

"How are you feeling?" She asked gently. "And don't try and bullshit me. I heard everything. Remember that."

"I'm extremely tired and pissed off that you want to pull me out," he said, unwilling to back down.

"Give me a good reason I should let you stay, Mr. Deeks," she said.

"Guidry shot a guy and was ready to kill Pierce and White. What's he gonna do if Callen tells him I'm dead? Do you want him to kill those bastards before we find out who else is involved?"

"That's a rather astute assessment for a man who couldn't form a complete sentence last night," Hetty said. "And you're right. That is something we need to take into consideration."

"It's a damn good point, Hetty," Sam said on comms. "Safa and I have cleared the area. No one's watching as far as we can tell. We're coming in. Let's hash this out together and plan our next move."

"I suppose it's our best chance for all of us to meet without prying eyes," Hetty replied. "I'm just sorry this meeting is taking place in the hospital room of one of my agents."

"Some of that blame falls on me," Callen said bitterly, his anger flashing out once again as Deeks protested vehemently.

"Mr. Deeks is right, Mr. Callen. The only people at fault are Pierce and his cronies," she replied.

When they heard the door open their argument went silent and Deeks saw Elan and Callen both reach for weapons. He was just glad the nurse didn't.

"I see your brother and the rest of your family has found you, Mr. Hale," the stocky little nurse drawled out cheerily as she check his vitals and adjusted the drip on his IV. "A loving family makes hard times a lot easier to bear, don't you think? For a little while there we didn't think you'd make it. Y'all should know how lucky he is."

After a few mumbled responses she turned to leave and Deeks asked the question they all wanted to know. "Got any idea when they're gonna let me out of here?"

"You don't want to rush your recovery, punkin," she chirped. "But I'll let the doctor know you're asking. He'll be around to see you in a couple of hours."

When she pulled open the door to leave, she stopped abruptly, greeted by an almost unrecognizable Sam Hanna. He was wearing sunglasses, a black New Orleans Saints ball cap, and a camo tank top that showed off his muscles and his dark tats. A heavy gold chain completed his outfit and Deeks smiled when he saw Callen turn away so the nurse wouldn't see him silently laughing. The woman looked stunned, and shot a worried glance back at them all, before hurrying out of the room.

"'Sup, dogs?" Sam asked with a wide smile.

"I definitely need a picture of this to send Michelle," Callen said as he pulled his phone. "Kam probably won't even recognize you."

"Heard Jimmy Boy here been workin' the streets," Sam said like a gangsta.

"Don't call me that," Deeks shot back, his smile instantly gone.

The disturbing contempt in Newton Pierce's voice crawled back into his mind and he found himself trembling. The remembered lack of control over his own mind and body left him feeling disconnected and angry with the team, wondering if they really understood how desperately alone he'd felt, even with Hetty in his ear. The second injection they had rammed into his vein had scared him badly. Fear of revealing his true identity and especially Callen's, haunted the wild, swirling hallucinations it produced. He had expected to die. And according to his brothers he did die, and however briefly that was it still made him feel vulnerable and at odds with the men around him.

Sam placed a warm hand on his shoulder and squeezed gently, his face full of an apology he seemed to have trouble putting into words. When he looked up at him, the shades were gone and so was the hat. It was just Sam's placid face and concerned eyes staring back at him.

"I didn't mean to make fun of what you went through, Deeks."

He knew that, but his irritation persisted. "Let's just talk about what happens next."

A somber mood now hung over the room and it's what Safa immediately picked up on when she entered. "I thought you'd all be happy your friend survived. What did I miss?"

"Poor attempt at humor," Sam confessed.

"I'm betting you never touched drugs your entire life. Right, Sam?" She asked. "Any of you been shot up to the gills with shit and interrogated like Deeks was? Cause if the answer is no, you have no idea what he went through or what he's going through right now."

"And you do?" Callen asked.

"First of all, who are you?" She demanded.

"G Callen...aka Jake Hale," he answered. "I'm Deeks' undercover partner. Just a wild guess here...you're Safa Jordan."

"You're smarter than you look," she said sharply.

"And you're saying you've been drugged and interrogated?" Callen smirked, sounding unconvinced and dismissive and Safa stiffened at the implied rebuke.

"Who the hell would lie about a thing like that?" Safa snapped back. "The only difference was I didn't have a bunch of knuckleheads like you guys looking out for me when I came out the other side."

"Not a good idea to piss her off, G," Sam said with a smile.

"Don't pull away from your friends, Deeks," she advised softly, ignoring the men around her. "They may not understand what you're feeling, but they obviously care about you. They were scared and probably still are. Just like you."

"These guys don't scare that easily," Deeks said, shaking his head at the thought.

"I was on comms with them," she said quietly. "Anger is a good way to cover your fear, and they were pissed."

"She's right, Deeks," Sam confessed. "We were scared. And frustrated as hell. The point being...we don't want you to go back in if you're not up to it. Physically or mentally. It's too dangerous. So, be honest. Can you do this?"

"Yeah...I can. I need to," he replied.

Just speaking the words gave him strength. He could see some residual doubt in their expressions, especially in Elan's eyes, but he sensed relief from Callen and that was all he needed.

"Does anyone have any doubts at all about this?" Hetty asked. "If so, speak up now, or Mr. Deeks will get his way."

"If he says he can do it, I believe him," Elan finally said. "Doesn't mean I like it."

"We're good, Hetty," Callen said.

"Mr. Deeks your wish is granted," she replied.

"You sound just like a fairy godmother, Hetty," Deeks grinned cockily.

"I'm afraid I'm far from it, Mr. Deeks," she replied. "If I was I wouldn't be the bearer of bad news."

"What's happened?" Callen asked.

"Safa will not be returning to the task force."

"Excuse me?" Safa looked stunned. "Why not?"

"Two hours ago, David Pham's body was discovered in St. Louis Cemetery...number three I believe," Hetty informed them. "He'd been beaten and had his throat cut. The police are calling it a robbery gone bad. However, we have to assume that Harrison White was getting rid of the man he'd had searching through classified documents for him. I'm afraid he was a loose end. We also have to assume Mr. Pham may have told him about you before he was killed."

"David was a good man," Safa said, sounding shaken. "But, won't pulling me out make Harrison suspicious?"

"I've been on the phone with your boss, Morgan Bellamy," Hetty replied. "He has informed Mr. White that you were needed for a highly classified assignment in an undisclosed location overseas, and that you were on a flight out last night."

"But if David Pham gave her up..." Callen questioned.

"Red flag for damn sure," Roy said.

"I agree, it's a risk. We'll just have to hope he didn't," Hetty replied.

"I'm thinking White probably ordered Pham taken out as soon as he left the office last night," Sam offered. "No reason to wait. Take him out immediately, before he has a chance to talk to anyone."

"Sounds like something the asshole would do," Deeks said quietly.

"Safa? Welcome to the team," Hetty said. "You're expertise will be invaluable."

"I'll do whatever it takes to get these bastards," she replied. "David had a wife and a baby girl. Harrison knew that."

"Sonofabitch." Deeks wiped at his sudden tears, his emotions uncontrollable, and he could see how much that bit of information had affected the others as well.

"We need a plan to take these amoral bastards down," Hetty said.

"Why don't we just let them kill each other," Deeks said bitterly.

"Actually...that's not a bad idea," Callen said.

"Guidry was ready to kill everyone on that boat last night," Sam added.

"Pierce is planning to massacre The Brotherhood," Deeks said. "That's one of the few things I do remember from last night."

"They assumed Mr. Deeks wouldn't recall what was said," Hetty said. "But we recorded every word. Whatever you don't remember I can simply feed you your lines as if we were doing a play, Mr. Deeks."

"If Deeks tells Guidry what he heard, we might be able to convince him to take out Pierce and his people first," Callen said. "Or at least turn him against Pierce long enough to foil his plans and find out who the rest of the traitors are."

"Either way, getting Pierce and his friends together again and within Guidry's reach won't be easy," Sam asked. "They're not stupid. They have to know he's still pissed about what they did to Jimmy."

"We'll just have to see how it plays out," Callen replied. "Guidry might have an idea how to do that."

"He's a wild card," Roy warned. "No tellin' what he'll do, so be careful what y'all wish for. Could be a bloodbath. Not sure you want that."

"They still want Guidry to assassinate the Attorney General and his second in command," Hetty commented. "And those two have been informed about the danger they're in."

"Do they know who's involved?" Callen asked.

"I haven't told them yet," she replied lightly.

"Bet that pissed 'em off," Roy said.

"They weren't pleased, but they did agree to let me continue running this operation," she replied. "Too many chiefs can cause things to go south very quickly."

"And we don't know who all the Washington players are yet in Pierce's little coup attempt," Safa said. "The Attorney General could say something to the wrong person and the whole thing blows up in our faces."

"So to speak," Callen smirked. "Get it?...bombing chemical plants..."

"Was that some sad attempt to be funny?" Safa asked, eyeing him with irritation.

"Normally it would be Deeks making wiseass comments," Callen responded, looking slightly rattled. "But he's a little off his game right now."

"You're a very weird man," Safa replied.

"You have no idea," Sam added.

"Enough...all of you," Hetty scolded. "Mr. Beale and Miss Jones have been digging into the backgrounds of Pierce and his people and their close associates over the years. Safa's boss, Assistant Attorney General Bellamy of the NSD was more than willing to return to his early covert roots when I informed him that Jacqueline Bennet was a person of interest. He has agreed to personally place a few bugs in her office and monitor them himself. I believe he called her 'that bitch' before quickly apologizing for his language. I'm sure there's a long story there."

"Not sure I want to hear it," Deeks said.

"Me either," Safa murmured.

"Mr. Bellamy will keep me informed of his findings," Hetty continued. "Any new names that keep popping up will be added to our list of possible co-conspirators. Until then, let's keep these two groups apart. Pierce can't carry out his plans without Guidry and The Brotherhood, so let's drive a very large wedge between the two. Whatever it takes. Bloodbath or no."

"For the greater good, Hetty?" Callen asked.

"Always, Mr. Callen," she replied. "Better them than the innocent people along the Mississippi."

"I don't think Guidry liked the idea of polluting the river," Deeks said. "We can use that."

"We have been given the authority to do whatever it takes to stop these bastards," she replied. "Now, I believe Mr. Deeks might like some privacy. He has a personal phone call he needs to take."

Roy smiled as he handed Deeks a satphone, and the others each took a moment to encourage him before heading out of the room, Elan and Callen letting him know they wouldn't be far. Knowing that was comforting, as he still felt quite vulnerable. His strength was waning after the long meeting, but he had a pretty good idea who would be on the other end of the satphone, and nothing would keep him from taking her call.

"Hey Kens," he said softly as she answered. "Missed you."

"Are you okay?" Her voice tremulous and uncertain. "Hetty told me what they did to you."

"All of it?"

"She wouldn't let me hear the recording if that's what you're asking," she said. "How bad?"

"I'm okay, Kens," he replied, unsure how much he wanted to tell her.

"Thought we agreed not to keep secrets," she said.

"I just don't want to relive it, okay?" He said, unable to keep his surliness from coloring the words.

"Okay...then at least tell me how you're feeling and what the doctors are telling you."

"I feel like shit, Kens," he confessed. "I just can't tell Callen or Hetty that. They'd pull me out if they knew just how bad. And Elan would kill me."

"You lied to them...to Hetty?"

"Sort of."

"What does that mean?"

"I need to finish this," he said softly. "And Callen needs me, whether he thinks he does or not. I'm the key to getting all of these guys, Kens. Guidry cares about me. I know he's a sociopath and a murderer, but he came for me. He got me out of there when my own team couldn't. I would have died if he hadn't, Kens, and I owe him for that."

"He tried to kill Joe and set a pack of dogs on his partner," she said. "Don't forget that Deeks. You don't owe him anything. You're there to arrest him, not become part of his family."

"I know that...I know," he said, suddenly confused and uncertain.

"I'm grateful that he saved your life, but he's not family. He's not your father, Deeks. George is."

"Have you talked to George?" He asked, feeling a yearning he hadn't felt since he started this mission. "I miss him. Joe too."

"I'm at the ranch, Marty," she said softly. "Flew in two days ago. They gave me some privacy so I could talk to you, but they are all anxious to hear your voice. They're worried about you...especially now and especially Joe."

"How's he doing?" Deeks asked, thankful he had someone else to talk about other than himself.

"Physically he's doing fine, but mentally..." She stopped and it scared him. "I think he's going to quit the FBI, Deeks. His trust in them is pretty much non-existent. He doesn't talk much now and Diane can't seem to get through to him. Neither can George. Hopefully he'll talk to you."

"Okay...but first I want to know how you are," he said quietly.

"I'm rockin' my new crutches. Don't you remember how tough I am?" She asked and he could hear the smile in her voice. "You haven't been gone that long."

"Feels like forever."

"For me too," she said. "I love you. You do remember that don't you?"

He was so overcome with emotion that he couldn't find his voice. How could he tell her he hadn't thought about her at all in over a week? He hadn't let himself. It was too hard to maintain his cover if she was in his thoughts and especially in his dreams. He had to be the arrogant and crude Jimmy Hale, and he wanted her nowhere near that violent thug, even if it was only in his mind.

"Talking to me is making it hard on you, isn't it?" She said softly. "You're not yourself..."

"I don't want you to know Jimmy," he interrupted, his voice harsh and low. "He's a vicious sonofabitch who wants to emulate Antoine Guidry. He craves the attention that man gives him and...I can't explain it Kens. It's just who I've become and I need to be Jimmy until this is over. If being a son to Guidry helps stop what these guys are planning, then that's what I have to do."

"Deeks..."

"I can't do this with you right now, Kens," he said.

"You listen to me, Marty Deeks," she demanded. "You still have powerful drugs in your system. You are not Jimmy Hale. You can pretend to be anyone you want for as long as you want and pretty damn well, too. I've seen you do it, but your true self is still there when you do. Don't lose yourself. Just hide, okay?. Do your job and come home to me."

By the time she was finished his eyes were watered with tears and he was smiling. She was his partner and the woman he loved and she knew him better than anyone. He couldn't dismiss what she said. He had to hold onto every word and keep it close to his heart. She was watching his back as she always had, advising him and kicking his ass when he needed it, even when she was a thousand miles away.

"Deeks?"

"I'm still here, Sunshine," he whispered.

"Will you do that for me?" She asked and he could hear tears in her voice.

"Of course. You're kinda hard to say no to," he said. "Thanks for having my back, Kens."

"I love you. No matter what's going on, remember that."

"Always and forever."

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