Brotherhood

Chapter 29

...

Callen stood in the open doorway, annoyed that the night air was almost as sweltering as the inside of the cabin. He reached behind his head and pulled at the sweat soaked t-shirt that stuck to his body until finally yanking it off. Using it to wipe the sheen of moisture from his bare chest, he surveyed the surroundings, wondering if Beau had taken up a position behind the tree line. The man had stuck around the cabin for hours until he'd finally cracked the door open around midnight and told him to take off. He'd been reluctant, and had eventually moved away, but Callen wasn't sure he trusted that he was completely gone.

Deeks had finally fallen into an exhausted sleep, but Callen found he wasn't the least bit inclined to even lie down, let alone sleep. The strange sounds that haunted the night didn't help. Odd screeches, unsettling sounds of scratching, and low growls occasionally jarred him out of his thoughts as he paced the hot, claustrophobic room, leaving him unsettled and irritable. His mind raged with questions and suspicions, going over and over the day, what was said, and what floated just under the surface. They were so close to shutting this whole operation down, but the details were troubling. As satisfying as it might seem to let Guidry and The Brotherhood blow away Pierce and his little rat pack, it would be messy and he couldn't really justify a bloodbath of that magnitude. They might deserve it, but then so did The Brotherhood, and wiping them all out would mean a heavy firefight that would put the whole team at risk. He had no desire to start a war they couldn't win or that got innocent people killed in the process. What worried him the most was that he had no idea what Guidry planned on doing, and might not until it actually happen, and that fact made him extremely nervous.

"You awake, G?"

"You really have to ask?" He replied softly, Sam's familiar voice easing some of the knotted muscles at the base of his neck. "Question is...why are you awake this early in the morning?"

"Trying to figure out how to take down an army, and save your skinny asses at the same time," he replied, sounding a little irritated himself.

"Me too."

"How's the smartass?" Roy asked.

"Sleeping."

"Good to know somebody can," Elan said.

"Find out anything on our military co-conspirators?" Callen asked.

"Their identities shocked the hell out of Hetty and especially Terrance Rigby, head of the Joint Terrorism Task Force," Sam informed him. "The man was so pissed, Hetty said it took almost five minutes to talk him out of going directly to General Greer's office and arresting him right then and there. Apparently they've known each other for quite some time. He knows General Rasmussen too."

"Not well, I'm guessin'," Roy sniped.

"Men like Rigby don't like being fooled," Sam said.

"Neither do men like Guidry," Callen replied. "And if this ends up in a firefight the odds won't be in our favor. Guidry's got some men here who have to be ex-military and tactically trained. He also might be planning to use explosives. They sure as hell have enough of them and men who know how to use them."

"You talking about the man who tried to blow up my rental car with me in it?" Sam mentioned lightly.

"Name's Prou," Callen said. "He's also probably the sniper who tried to take you out earlier."

"Y'all wonderin' what I'm wonderin'?" Roy cut in.

"It's two o'clock into the morning, Uncle Roy. Not the time for guessing games," Elan said wearily.

"I heard of General Rasmussen. He's a decorated Marine and some people claim he's a tactical genius," Roy said softly. "You can bet he'll have recon done on Mouton's place, and probably some men on overwatch. He ain't the trustin' type from what I've heard. Elan might have to take those boys out with one of them scary knives of his."

"Guidry will anticipate that move," Callen said quickly. "He'll send his own scouts out. Rather not have Elan caught in the middle."

"Thanks, Cuz."

"Just to update you," Sam said. "Safa and Roy will be running a little covert operation at Doctor Mouton's house tonight. They're gonna bug the place. If Pierce and the others show up early we'll know exactly what they're up to."

"Good idea," Callen replied. "Be sure and bug the pool house too. You never know where this might end up."

"How's Mr. Deeks?" Hetty asked, and although he was surprised it was her first question, it was the sharpness of her tone that caught his attention.

"Guidry's freaking him out a little," Callen replied carefully. "He lost it today and almost got on the wrong side of the man. But he did manage to get Eliot Dale to give up Greer and Rasmussen."

"Do you think he really would have shot Eliot in the ass if the man hadn't given you the names?" Hetty asked.

"Do you really care?" Callen asked. "He got the intel."

"Let me put it more plainly, Mr. Callen," she replied. "Is Mr. Deeks stable enough to continue?"

Hetty always looked out for them, and he knew that's what she was doing now, but for some reason her question struck him wrong and his anger flared. He felt her question was unfair. She wasn't here, and couldn't see how hard Deeks was fighting to overcome the effects of the drugs they'd injected him with. She hadn't experienced the force of Guidry's will, or his mercurial nature, and she had no idea just how powerful his personality was or how his disturbing interest in Deeks had affected them both.

"Mr. Callen?"

"You want this guy or not?" he snapped, unable to keep his own emotions in check. "If you do, Jimmy Hale is the only one that bastard will allow close enough to do that for you."

"I agree, but that was not what I asked," she said. "Is he strong enough to continue? Or are you too close to give me an honest answer?"

"You want honesty or an excuse to pull us out?" He asked, suddenly realizing she was deeply concerned.

"When these two groups meet, we have no idea of the firepower you'll be up against," she replied pointedly. "If this op turns ugly, there is no way to assure your safety, Mr. Callen. You'll both be in the middle of it all and I'm worried we won't be able to protect you."

"So you want us to just walk away?" Callen was dumbfounded. "I've never walked out on an op in my life, Hetty, and you've never asked me to. Is that really what you want?"

"Rigby may not know Rasmussen's weaknesses, but he does know his strengths. He served with him. He knows how he thinks on a tactical mission," she replied. "Since climbing the ranks in Washington, he never goes anywhere now without an elite tactical squad to watch his back."

"I heard he became paranoid after his own special forces unit tried to frag the sonofabitch in Iraq," Roy added. "Guess he finally found some boys who'd take his orders."

"You know this op won't work without us, Hetty," Callen told her calmly.

"Then I'm putting together an elite tactical squad of my own," she said firmly. "I refuse to leave you two without sufficient back up if a firefight erupts. Mr. Hanna you will be in command."

"Who am I commanding, Hetty?"

"Whatever available SEAL team I can roust out of Little Creek at a moment's notice," she replied.

"Ain't met a commander yet who could say no to you, Hetty," Roy laughed.

"What about me?" Elan asked.

"Your sole job is to protect Deeks and Callen anyway you can," she replied.

"He may not be able to do that, Hetty, especially if the meeting takes place inside the house," Callen said. "He'll be exposed. It's too dangerous."

"I know what I'm doing, Cuz," Elan said stiffly.

"So do they," Callen shot back. "We'll just have to take care of ourselves while we're inside, but I wouldn't mind seeing that ugly face of yours if we get into a running firefight outside."

"You won't see me at all, if you insult my good looks again," Elan warned lightly.

"What about Safa?" Sam asked.

"She's a trained sniper like Kensi," Hetty revealed. "As is Mr. Blanchard. You two scout out the area around the doctor's house and find your spots, Roy. Stay there until this is over and all of our people are out of harm's way."

"Yes ma'am," Roy answered.

"You don't think this will end peacefully, do you Hetty?" Callen asked softly.

"That depends on Guidry, I'm afraid," she replied, the worry back in her voice.

"Now that's damn scary," Roy said. "Everyone keep your ears on. We don't want a clusterfuck on this one. Tell the kid to keep his head down, just don't tell 'im I said that or he'll probably do the opposite just ta spite me."

"We trying to take any of these guys alive, Hetty?" Sam asked.

"If at all possible...especially Pierce and his cronies," she replied. "I would love to see them publicly disgraced and humiliated, but that may or may not happen. There will undoubtedly be closed door Congressional hearings, and the blame spread around, probably without publicly revealing how close the country came to a major disaster perpetrated by people in some of the highest positions in our own justice department, not to mention the Joint Chiefs."

"Or some higher ups will take credit for what these boys did just to move up themselves," Roy said.

"You becoming a cynic in your old age, Mr. Blanchard?" Hetty asked.

"Just a realist, Hetty."

"Well, my reality is finding a way for all of us to survive the next eighteen to twenty-four hours," Callen said, his energy finally flagging.

"Get some sleep Mr. Callen," Hetty ordered. "We'll be awaiting your intel."

...

...

The pounding knock cut through his murky dream and he jerked awake, reaching for his gun. Deeks was already up. He stood barefoot in jeans in front of the now open door, a pale gray t-shirt hanging from one hand and his weapon in the other. His body was poised for action, and Callen saw his jaw clinch, but couldn't see who had come calling this early in the morning.

"Boss wants y'all."

It was all that was said and Deeks simply nodded his head with no hint of a smile. It wasn't hard to read his aggravation and he wondered what was bothering him. Sitting on the edge of the bed, Callen pulled on his jeans and continued to watch his brother. After tucking his gun behind his back, Deeks quickly pulled the t-shirt over his head, the powerful muscles in his back moving tautly beneath his skin. Still silent, he turned his head to look back at him, and Callen saw a hardness in his eyes.

"You sleep at all?" He asked and Callen shrugged, offering no details.

"Want to tell me what's bugging you?"

"Want to share what everyone had to say last night?" His voice was low and there was a hint of irritation.

"If you were awake, why didn't you get on comms?"

"Had nothing to say."

"Then why are you pissed?"

"Who said I was?"

"I just did...now tell me why."

"Hetty doesn't think I can handle this, does she?" He asked, that vulnerable look almost masked by his anger.

"I won't lie. She's worried," he said honestly.

"Do all of them think I'm the weak one again?" This time the anger was plain.

"No one said that, brother."

"Then why did she want to pull us out?"

"Maybe because she doesn't want to see us dead."

"Bullshit," he spit out. "She puts all of us in harm's way every fucking day. It's her job."

"And this is ours and we need to do it," Callen said calmly. "She isn't pulling us out. She's gathering a SEAL team to back us up. So let's go get some coffee and find out what kind of wonderful things we have to look forward to today, little brother."

"You told her I lost it."

"You did, but not long enough to screw anything up," Callen said earnestly.

"So we're good?"

"If you let me go get coffee we are."

"I won't let you down, brother," Deeks comment was so heartfelt, Callen was stunned for a few seconds, unable to respond.

"No one thinks you will...especially me," Callen finally said as he stepped forward and gently gripped the back of his neck, pulling his head into his shoulder and hugged him.

When his brother stepped away, there was a shimmer of tears in his eyes and Callen felt a knot in his throat. They both knew today would be the culmination of their mission one way or the other. Whether either of them walked away from what was coming he didn't know, but he didn't let that thought take root. It would be too hard to function if he did. After today, Joe would be free to walk whatever path he chose, free of suspicion or the threat of death, and the Doucets would get justice for their brother. Who would live or who would die today hung in the balance, but he couldn't let that concern appear in his eyes or in his actions.

"Come on, Jimmy Hale," mimicking the local drawl, punching him softly in the chest. "Let's blow this fuckin' hot as hell shithole. Last chance ta get us a bowl of grits."

"I fuckin' hope so," Deeks laughed. "That stuff tastes like the white glue they gave us in kindergarten."

"You ate glue?"

"I was a messy paster," he admitted with a soft grin. "Glued my fingers together once during class, along with a blue canyon. I was too embarrassed to tell the teacher. Had to stay in during recess for refusing to put the crayon back in the box. My fingers were blue for a week."

"You've always been weird haven't you?" Callen asked quietly as they walked out into the muggy morning air.

His brother simply shrugged his shoulders and grinned softly back at him, and without warning he was struck with a sense of the pain he would suffer if he lost him. He choked on the emotions he suddenly couldn't control and he stopped and turned away, feeling sick.

"You okay?"

"Promise me you won't get yourself killed," Callen said.

"You're starting to sound like Kensi, brother."

He turned and put a hand on his chest, staring at him intensely as he asked him to promise one more time, needing to hear him say it.

"If you promise me the same," came the soft reply.

"You know I can't."

"We can both promise to watch each other's asses," Deeks said. "Mine being particularly fine, while yours has always been a little bit tight."

"Dumbass."

"Dickwad."

"Sorry to interrupt this fascinating critique you've got going on each other's asses," Nell interrupted on comms. "But, I have some crucial information you need to hear."

"What's up?" Callen asked, slowing his pace as they approached the edge of the main camp.

"We've been monitoring the bugs Safa placed in Harrison White's office," she replied. "He got a call very early this morning. It appears Pierce has someone undercover inside The Brotherhood."

"Shit," he said, putting his arm out to stop Deeks.

"But we don't think he answers to White," she continued. "We think it's one of the generals, we just don't know which one. He was careful not to use any names. Hetty wants to know if anyone seems suspicious."

"Beau."

Deeks looked quickly at him and nodded, and they made their way over to the tree line, disappearing from view. Callen felt his body flood with adrenaline as the new information settled in. It made sense that Pierce would have put a man inside, and he was pissed they hadn't considered it earlier. His mind quickly clouded with questions. Did Guidry know? Probably not, or he wouldn't have assigned him to watch out for Jimmy. Where had the man been all this time? And most importantly, had he overheard him last night on comms?

"He's a problem," Callen said softly.

"I don't think he made us," Deeks whispered.

"But I think he's suspicious," he replied. "And if he overheard me while I was on comms last night, we're in deep trouble."

"He didn't or he would have said something to White," Nell assured them.

"He must have a satphone stashed some place," Callen said, his worry growing.

"We have to find a way to let Guidry know he's working for Pierce," his brother said quietly. "If Beau finds out Guidry's plan and passes it on, that upcoming meeting will turn into a death trap."

"Nell? Let me hear what you picked up from the bug," Callen ordered.

The conversation was terse, and they both immediately recognized Beau's voice. Callen got the impression that White wasn't happy about the call. Beau asked about them by name, and White assured him that Jimmy was just who he said he was, cursing when Beau expressed doubts about his interrogation methods. Beau told him that Guidry had beaten Mouton and Eliot, but apparently had no idea what Guidry was planning and Deeks' smiled. It was the last comment that had him worried. Beau obviously knew exactly what kind of man Guidry was, and had warned White that Guidry was still angry about what they'd done to Jimmy Hale, and promised to find out his plans one way or the other.

"Thanks, Nell. Keep us posted if you pick up anything else," Callen said.

"Of course, and I'll be listening, you two," she replied. "Hate to have any more ass comparisons enter the classified documents on this case."

"Copy that," Deeks said absently. "Beau is still unsure about us, G."

"Maybe, but he knows we're close to Guidry, so he'll work us for information."

"Then I guess we'll have to work him right back," Deeks grinned.

"Don't get cocky."

"You realize you stole that line from Hans Solo," Deeks laughed.

He shrugged, smirking as he acknowledged the truth. "Yeah, well don't."

Callen shoved him toward camp, walking out of the tree line to see Tino coming their way. He seemed agitated and that was never good.

"Where the hell you two been?" He asked. "Guidry's been askin' for ya."

"Just had to have a little talk with my brother here," Jake explained. "He's pissed about the guard, Beau."

"Better not tell the boss that," he warned. "He's just lookin' out for ya, kid, so don't piss him off. He ain't in the mood."

"What's up?" Jake asked.

"Pierce just changed the location for the meet."

"It's not gonna be at Doc Mouton's place anymore?" Jimmy asked, and Callen heard Nell swear. "Why not?"

"The asshole wouldn't say and that's got Antoine's dick in a twist."

"Think Pierce is expecting something?" Jake asked.

"Boss ain't sure," Tino said as they followed him quickly through the waking camp.

They approached Guidry as he sat hunched over in a chair on the porch of his cabin. Prou and Pea were with him, but they were keeping their distance. As Jake stepped up onto the porch, Guidry shot out of the chair and knocked him to the ground, leaving him breathing heavily in the dirt and his ears ringing. Jimmy stepped in front of him, his fists ready.

"What the fuck was that for?" Jimmy asked.

"When I send for y'all, ya come. Don't keep me waitin' on your asses. Ya hear me?" He growled.

"Got it, Boss," Jake said as he slowly got to his feet. "Won't happen again."

"It was my fault," Jimmy confessed. "We got in an argument and Jake had ta set me straight."

"He don't like Beau," Tino said with a wicked grin.

"You spoilin' for a fight wid me, boy?" Guidry asked.

"No sir. Just don't know 'im, or trust 'im much neither," Jimmy said. "And I don't need no guard. I got Jake."

Guidry slapped him hard across the face, bloodying his lip, and Callen could see he was struggling not to fight back.

"Every man here do what I tell 'im to, mon fils," Guidry said. "You no different"

"Yessir."

"What'd you want us for, Boss?" Jake asked, hoping to distract the man from his brother.

"Pierce be fuckin' wid me," he replied as he slumped back into his chair. "Talked to 'im dis mornin'. Told 'im what Eliot said 'bout dem generals. He got pissed when I told 'im I weren't givin' back the doc or Eliot unless I meet dem two. Told 'im I'd bring 'em ta the doc's place, but dem generals better be dere."

"Did the fuck agree?" Jake asked.

"Did, but he call back a bit ago and say de meetin' weren't gonna be at de doc's," he replied. "Say he gonna call me when we get close to Mouton's. De sonofabitch won't tell me where. Don't like it."

"He don't trust you, sir," Jimmy said softly.

"Or he knows somethin'," Jake warned, figuring it might be a good time to stoke Guidry's inherent paranoia.

"How?" Tino asked.

"Maybe somebody's feedin' 'im information," Jake replied.

"Ya think one of de Brotherhood is a traitor?" Guidry's eyes getting narrow and dark as he spoke.

"Wouldn't put it past those bastards," Jimmy said, spitting his disgust into the dirt.

Guidry's eyes turned inward and Callen could practically see him assessing everything and everybody, leaving him with a nasty look, his mouth twisting into a snarl, and his eyes turbulent. His face took on a feral look as he stared at each man on the porch in turn, making Pea and Prou nervous and hurrying to pledge their undying loyalty until he looked away and their babbling died on their lips. Even Tino moved uneasily from foot to foot as his boss glared at him, but he finally stood to his full height and solemnly shook his head and Guidry simply nodded. His eyes passed quickly over him and Jimmy, and Callen realized they finally had the man's complete trust, and he felt ashamed of the sense of pride that welled inside of him.

"You boys start talkin' ta the men," Guidry said. "I want dis traitor found and brought ta me, ya hear? Kick ass if ya think somebody lyin'."

As they all started to leave, Guidry grabbed Jimmy by the arm to stop him, and Callen became guarded, unsure what the man might do.

"Ya don't like Beau...why, mon fils?"

"Told me not to trust you," Jimmy replied. "Said you don't like people to think for themselves. Sounded disrespectful."

"How long he been a member of The Brotherhood, Boss?" Jake asked.

"I been thinkin' on dat," Guidry replied. "Joined up a couple of months after we started workin' wid Pierce. Seven months, maybe. Used ta be an Army Ranger, so he say. He de one suspected dem two federal agents weren't who dey say dey were."

Callen felt Deeks flinch beside him and he stepped in front of him, concerned Guidry might notice his subtle, but very angry reaction. Beau had been the one who had alerted Pierce or one of the others that there might be federal agents inside The Brotherhood. His own anger simmered, but it was Deeks he was afraid for, worried he might not be able to stay within his alias when they confronted Beau. The man had sounded almost friendly as they'd talked the night before, warning them about Guidry and now he wondered if they'd been played. If the man was on to them, he hadn't said anything to White in so many words, but he had questioned his interrogation methods and that was worrisome.

"You two go find dat sonofabitch," Guidry ordered coldly. "Den we get de truth outa 'im."

Neither one spoke as they headed back up toward the cabin. They both knew it would be Beau who would find them. He needed information and Callen had sensed from what he'd said to Harrison White that he prided himself on his ability to get the intel he needed. The man definitely had military training, but he suspected he might have been trained to carry out black ops and that meant he probably answered to one of the generals. He had to be good or Joe would have been on to him. He sure as hell had fooled Guidry and his top lieutenants.

"You okay?" He asked Deeks as they neared the cabin.

"Joe never even suspected the guy," he sounded amazed, and a wounded look of regret softened his face for a moment.

"Neither did we."

That realization seemed to sadden him, adding to the deepening sense of anger that cloaked him. Deeks loved Joe and now he knew exactly who to blame for what happened to him and his partner.

"Stay focused, kid."

"I am."

"Just remember you're Jimmy," his voice hard as he tried to rein in his brother. "You can't break cover."

"You really think we fooled that bastard?"

"So far, and we need to keep doing it," Callen stopped and pulled him around to face him. "If we give Beau any reason to suspect us, and we take him to Guidry, he'll out us in a second and Guidry might just believe him."

"I know," Deeks said quietly, but he wouldn't look at him and Callen suddenly wanted to knock some sense into him.

"I need you to have my back, brother," he said softly. "Can you do that?"

"Of course," he replied and a faint grin flickered across his features.

Deeks trotted up to the cabin and pushed open the door, turning to look at him with a cocky look of confidence before disappearing inside. Callen smiled as he followed him, knowing he would never do anything to let him down even with all the newfound anger he now carried. As he stepped inside a low moan made him hesitate, and the door was suddenly slammed shut behind him. Beau stood in the dimness of the overheated cabin, his arm across his brother's chest, holding him up as he slumped to his knees unconscious and slowly bleeding from a gash above his eye. He had the muzzle of a Glock pressed into his brother's temple, and he was smiling.

"That was a lot easier than I thought it would be," he said in a hard, low voice as his smile faded. "Toss your weapons on the bed. I already got your brother's gun. Any other weapons I should know about? And don't lie or I'll clock him again."

"Few pistols in that duffle bag in the corner," Jake replied, letting his alias's anger speak for him. "Thought you was supposed to protect Jimmy. Why you doin' this?"

"Shut up and turn around. Get on your knees and clasp your hands behind your head," he ordered. "Got any knives stashed?"

"No," he lied. "We don't like 'em much. Now what the fuck do you want?"

"Face down, asshole, and keep your hands behind your head."

He did as he was told, bracing himself on his elbows before flattening his chest to the floor and laying his cheek against the dusty wood. His anger was hot as he heard Elan mutter something in Arapaho on comms, his voice betraying the fear and frustration that matched his own.

"Guidry ain't gonna like this," Jake warned, as he tried to control his emotions.

He heard Deeks' body hit the floor, and his chest tightened as he raised his head, trying to see if he was all right, but Beau was already on him and slammed his head back down. Momentarily stunned, he didn't react fast enough, and Beau yanked his hands down behind his back and quickly tied them together before hogtying his feet to them.

"Now we can talk," Beau said as he dragged the chair over and sat down beside him. "You and your brother might not like knives, but I find them damn effective. You don't give me the answers I need, I cut you. You make any sound whatsoever when I do and I cut one of your little brother's ears off. You call out for help and your brother gets a blade between his ribs. Got it?"

Before he could answer, the man sliced the knife across his left arm and he bit his lip trying not to cry out. His rage blossomed unchecked at his carelessness for letting this happen, hoping Deeks wasn't too badly hurt. He struggled to remain calm as the man stood and then straddled him, sitting down hard and crushing his hands into his back. Beau was big and strong and Callen fought to breathe as the man forced the air out of his lungs and wrapped a hand around his throat.

"Tell me what Guidry's got planned for his meeting with Pierce," he whispered, punctuating his question by slowly pushing the point of the knife into his shoulder, holding it there as he waited for his answer.

Callen struggled to endure the burning pain as sweat broke out all over his body. He had to be convincing and giving in easily would be suspicious. The man's fingers gouged into his throat as he pushed the knife deeper, and Callen blinked hard as he tried to muffle a scream, finally hissing as Elan spoke calmly in his ear, trying to encourage him.

Callen finally gave in as he began to quiver with chills. "He's pissed Pierce didn't tell him about the two generals working with him. He don't like people holding out on 'im."

The knife went deeper and Callen was afraid he was going to pass out, unsure what more he could say to stop the blinding pain.

"What else, asshole?" Beau asked, twisting the knife as he asked. "He planning a reprisal for what they did to Jimmy?"

"Why would he do that?" Callen gasped in a whisper.

"Because he's an irrational sonofabitch," he laughed as he pulled the knife out. "He doesn't do anything that makes sense. He's a mean bastard who enjoys other people's pain, and acts out emotionally if someone crosses him. Seen him do it and I'm guessing you have too."

"You sure as hell seem ta be havin' a good time torturing me," Callen said, weakly. "What makes you any different than Guidry?"

"I'm not insane," he replied.

"Rather follow someone like Guidry than a cold hearted bastard like you," Callen said, knowing it was probably stupid to say it.

"You don't strike me as a follower, Jake," Beau said. "In fact, I'm not sure about either one of you. Can't really put my finger on it, but there's something a little bit off about you and your brother."

"Could say the same about you," he said. "You ain't a good ol' boy are ya?"

"I'm a soldier and more of a patriot than anyone in this camp, including Guidry," Beau said. "If Guidry does try something, General Rasmussen has already anticipated it and made plans to neutralize any attack. His men will cut this ragtag bunch to ribbons. He's a brilliant tactician and a patriot. A man destined for greatness."

"You plan on kissin' his ass all the way to the top?" Callen couldn't help himself and heard Elan's sharp intake of breath before calling him a dumbass.

Beau slammed his head into the floor and white spots dance behind his eyes as sadness and regret enveloped him. He'd failed and they both would die for it. Beau grabbed a fistful of his hair and yanked his head up and he waited for the man to slit his throat. There was a sudden rush of movement behind him and he heard Beau grunt and stiffen, gasping for breath as the knife slipped from his hand and clattered to the floor. The weight of the man was suddenly shoved off of him and his body thudded softly as it collapsed on the floor beside him.

The sound of Deeks' breathless voice in his ear was the sweetest thing he'd heard in a long, long time and he closed his eyes, trying to get used to the idea that he wasn't going to die. He couldn't even talk, silently waiting as his brother cut him free. He shivered from the shock and the pain, but managed to raise up on his elbows to look over at the dead body lying beside him in a growing pool of blood.

"You're bleeding," Deeks said haltingly as he helped him up and over to the chair.

"So are you," he whispered, wrapping his hands over the bloody wounds on either shoulder.

"One of you please tell me that bastard is dead," Elan pleaded hoarsely.

"Yeah Cuz, he is." Deeks said as he staggered over and sat down hard on the bed, his hand pressed against his head. "Sorry, brother. Didn't see the guy till it was too late."

"My fault...I should have known he'd attack us here," Callen replied.

"Let's just agree that you're both dumbasses and leave it at that," Elan said. "How bad you two hurt?"

"Bastard bashed me in the head," Deeks replied as he wiped at the blood on his face. "Didn't realize he was cuttin' on you until I stabbed the sonofabitch. You didn't make a sound, brother."

"Threatened to cut off your ear if I did and I don't think Kensi would ever forgive me if I let that happen."

"Me either, brother," Deeks grinned wearily.

"You had my back," Callen said.

"Literally," he replied. "Told you hiding that knife under the mattress was a good idea."

"How long you gonna gloat?"

"At least until you stop bleeding."

"Who was that guy?" Elan asked, making them aware he hadn't been on comms during their meeting with Guidry.

"He's the guy who blew Joe's cover...Oscar's too," Deeks replied.

"I'll call the ranch," Elan said softly. "The Doucets will want to know the bastard's dead. Might give them some peace."

"What about Joe?"

"He won't find peace until you two are home safe. None of us will."

...

...