The day was rapidly drawing to a close when the team finally reconvened in the bull pen. The sun was setting and the natural light was disappearing fast; time was running out to make good on the promise made to Lizzie, that a protective eye would be kept on her four year old son Tyler and the team could not come up with any viable plans. Sam and Kensi were out of the equation as after Palmdale, they could be recognised by Josh Lyneham or even the boy himself. That left either Callen or Deeks to infiltrate the ranch at short notice.

'They're a close knit community Callen, tell me how you think you're gonna get in with them tonight? And even if you do, you won't have back up and you'll have to move on the next day.'

Sam was in a bad mood. He had driven for miles and had very little show for the afternoon's stakeout. He was tired and hungry and also rather pissed that instead of going home to kiss his wife and daughter, he had to rationalise Callen's hair brained ideas on how to gain access to this group just to keep a promise to a single mum.

'I'll drive an old car up there, break down a mile from the ranch and hike. I'll be a former marine - black ops - who's been anti-establishment and Government all his life. Promise to be on my way the next day. They'll let me crash somewhere and then realise they could use my skills in their next plots.'

'It's not very sound, Mr Callen.' Hetty had silently approached the group and she stood still, surveying the team. None of the ideas so far had been convincing. In fact Callen's idea was the best of a bad bunch. Deeks had wanted to go in as homeless bum, thinking they would take pity on him. The entire team agreed that as soon as anyone encountered Artie, he would be banished to the furthest outpost for the night and kicked off the property the following day. 'You know my feelings about militia groups, it is too risky to go in with a half cocked idea.'

'Hetty, these guys are not militia.' Callen protested. 'Homeland has no evidence only tenuous connections. Until we get in there we have no idea. They didn't kill or injure anyone today so maybe this isn't as big as you think. You were thinking of sending me in anyway so you must have my alias already backstopped. And I gave my word to Lizzie that I'd protect her son so I need to leave here soon.'

'I understand you made a rather rash promise. And having met her earlier, I had to acquiesce.'

'No, this is stupid,' Sam spoke up. 'Callen can't go to the ranch now, it'll be midnight by the time he arrives and he'll probably get his head blown off by a paranoid guard anyway. We've seen the old pictures and new satellite images. There's no way I can be in overwatch. There's hardly any cover.'

'I understand your concern Mr Hanna, believe me I do. I think it best only one person goes in tonight, but I don't think it should be Mr Callen.'

Callen looked away from the team in disgust. Before he could open his mouth to voice his displeasure, Hetty continued.

'A lone female is much less threatening or suspicious. Nell will go in as a hiker separated from her group. She can stumble on the ranch from an old trail.'

'We can't send Nell in alone.'

'Why's that Callen?' Nell asked. She knew she was a long way from the high standard reached by the field agents, but her confidence and fighting skills had been advancing over recent months. Callen's attitude had instantly put her on the defensive and she knew he was itching for this op.

'Because we can't give you any back up.' He answered evenly.

'Exactly the same as I was saying about Callen,' Sam jumped to his partner's defence. 'And he has a lot more experience than you.'

'I understand that, but I'll be there for less than a day. They already have women and children there so I won't be in any danger. And if I'm a lost hiker, I can get away with carrying a knife and maybe a gun or rifle.'

'Then it's settled. Eric, Nell, return to ops and create an alias and backstopping for Nell. Then come back down and see me dearie and I'll find you suitable attire. The rest of you can decide how and where Nell can best be left stranded.'

Nell practically ran up the stairs with Eric following. The team could hear him talking quietly as he tried to keep pace with her, reassuring himself as much as Nell that she would be perfectly safe. The field agents reluctantly agreed with Hetty's sentiments. This plan was the most logical and Nell was capable of managing. They still had their concerns but Hetty had put her foot down - and so had Nell. Instead they poured over maps of the area and analysed the ranch's location. It took them less than ten minutes to agree that Deeks would drive Nell to the area and leave the road a few miles south of Three Points. The ranch was also set to the south and a number of dirt tracks led off Pine Canyon Road, all snaking their way through national forest. The back story was Nell had been hiking with friends and aiming for Burnt Peak. A disagreement saw her storm off in anger having left her compass and half her bags with her long deserted friends. Having walked for a number of hours she came across the outskirts of the ranch and thought she'd ask for help and shelter for the night.

Time was not on their side although the cover of dark would make the journey much easier. Nell was supplied with a powerful torch, earwig and button cam, together with water and snacks in a light weight rucksack. Satisfied Nell was as prepared as possible and briefed only to observe unless Tyler was in danger, she and Deeks left the mission. Kensi, Sam and Callen left for home with an order to remain on standby should they be needed.

The agents had all received an alert later that night, confirming that Deeks had dropped Nell at the agreed location and within the next hour another message was received, advising she had made contact and all was going to plan. They now had to trust that Nell could survive the night without incident and then make her own way back to either the camp or to LA.

The agents reconvened the following morning in the bull pen where hot coffee and bagels were in order. Continuing conversations from the previous day, Hetty had finally agreed to an undercover operation. The best way to infiltrate the group was by invitation and it would be Callen and possibly Deeks undertaking the challenge. Frederick Patten from the Sanctuary Outreach shelter would be suckered in to brokering the deal but patience would be required as Lyneham and his gang would be on high alert to strangers. On a private level, Hetty had already sown the seeds for an undercover character that was an alternative version of Callen, who now fully agreed with the reasoning behind his new alias.

'Look we need to take a leaf out of Hetty's book and play the long game. These guys are not going to refer the first Vet of the day to Lyneham and DuValle. Patten will never have seen me before and they'll all be paranoid. I know I would be.'

'G, you're always paranoid.' Sam interrupted.

Callen tilted his head to acknowledge Sam's point. 'We need to plant records and files at other shelters and at various vet hospitals. I'll need a minor criminal record, sealed juvie files and a redacted black ops military background. My backstopping will have to be watertight.'

'We can do all that Callen, goes without saying.' Eric confirmed.

'I'll come up to ops and work through this legend with you.' Callen offered. He wanted his alias to be fairly close to his own upbringing but with key changes from his later teen years onwards. More jail time and a somewhat dicey start to a career in the military, before specialising in operations in Russia and the Middle East. He would be highly trained in clandestine activities including assassinations and black ops, fluent in a number of languages and with a record littered with trips to the brig for insubordination and other behavioural problems.

'Sure thing.' Eric nodded.

'This mission needs more than just you in the field.' Sam stated. 'We don't know how ruthless these guys really are. The former military personnel will be able to handle themselves but if the intel is correct, there will be civilians who are just as pissed at the government as the Vets. We need someone to connect with them and no offence G, you're not really the most sociable of people.'

Callen narrowed his eyes and looked somewhat offended at Sam's words. He knew his partner spoke the truth but he had created plenty of aliases where he had easily fitted in to various social groups. Worryingly when he thought back to those specific operations, he had always been undercover with the criminal elements of society.

'And this is where I step in!' Deeks stood up and took in his audience. 'I am Callen's - temporary - partner and we'll have each other's backs.'

'And what are you going in as?' Kensi asked, clearly not impressed with the lack of attention Deeks seemed to be paying to the seriousness of the operation.

'Well I am glad you asked Kensilina, as I've been thinking about this a lot.'

Sam sighed audibly and shared a look with Callen.

'And I've been thinking there really is a place for me and Artie. The key to the ranch is through the homeless shelters so obviously is makes sense for me to reintroduce Homeless Deeks to the citizens of LA.'

He smiled triumphantly and placed his hands in his front jeans pockets. The smile faded a little when no response was forthcoming.

'No? OK. I could go in as a disgraced cop from vice or the drug squad? Or a divorcee who's wife kicked him out of the family home, he lost his job, fell on the wrong side of the law and has been living in half way houses for the past year?'

'It's always best to base an alias on some element of truth,' Sam said with a serious look in his face, but a twinkle in his eyes.

Deeks looked up but could see no signs of malice in Sam's face or demeanour. A few years ago and it would have been a different matter. There would have been a hidden meaning and an overt amount of disrespect. But Sam's words still cut at Deeks. He was under the shadow of the internal affairs investigation and at the beck and call of LAPD Detective Whiting, whenever she needed a subtle favour like befriending suspected bent cops. He was still concerned it would only be a matter of time before someone, somehow, opened his little box of secrets. Maybe he shouldn't have been so keen to suggest being a disgraced officer.

'The latter sounds plausible.' Kensi thought out loud. 'I could give you some practice tonight and kick you out of the house.'

'Yeah well, maybe that's not strictly necessary.' Deeks quickly backtracked.

'OK.' Kensi continued exploring threads of her plans. 'How about if you had some connection to Callen's alias? You need to be invited to the ranch too.'

'What you mean like we were best friends, that we had a bit of a bromance, going on?'

Callen looked amused. 'Yeah I don't think that's a good idea. Sam is already mad that he can't go undercover with me and any thoughts you have on a bromance will just push the green eyed monster to the forefront.'

'We don't want Sam going all hulk on us now. So we'll have to be family. Brothers, cousins?'

'No,' Callen shook his head. 'You can't be a blood relative. Foster brothers might work. If we stayed in the same foster family for a while and sort of kept in touch.'

'Well if you're bringing some of your crappy childhood to your alias then I'll stick to mine. Gives me a reason to drop out of society and-' Deeks drew himself to an abrupt halt, suddenly realising that the more he spoke, the more he would be talking himself in to a hole with Kensi, as she would very soon be drawing parallels between Deeks alias and the real Deeks.

'And..?' Kensi leaned back in her chair and scrutinised her partner.

'And..?'

'You were saying that if you based your alias on your crappy childhood, you'll naturally be a drop out - and?'

'And whereas Deeks found the pathway to righteousness with becoming a lawyer and a police officer to protect those unable to do so, my alias followed the dirt track to the dark side.'

Kensi smiled at Deeks, tenderly this time and with no intention to call him out. Suddenly the case felt very personal to all members of the team. The silence between them lasted several minutes as they considered the personal sacrifices the two men were making, living as alternative versions of their real selves. The self reflection was abruptly interrupted by Eric's shrill whistle.

'What was that for?' Sam asked. 'We can't have a new case, we're barely started on this one.'

'No,' Eric said. 'Nell's back home. She just called to say everything was easy, the boy was fine and Lizzie collected him mid morning. Nell actually hitched a ride back with them to LA. She'll be coming here in about an hour.'

The team collectively breathed a sigh of relief. A small and unforeseen hiccup in the early stages had now passed uneventfully and they hoped Nell managed to pick up some intelligence that would assist them later.

'Oh, and Hetty wants to see Callen and Deeks up in ops.'

Sam and Kensi both looked on, aware they were being shut out at such an early stage but both refrained from saying anything.

'It'll just be Hetty giving us the low down on the aliases and reminding us not to get lost in our legends.' Callen reassured the others.

'Yeah I know. Just doesn't feel right G, me not being there to have your back.' Sam said, watching as the newly paired odd couple took the stairs two at a time.