Sheriff vs. Agent
Chapter 8 Trouble rising
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RING RING
"Hetty here."
"Hetty, this is Susie Deeks. We may have a problem!"
"Susie, good to hear your voice. What is going on?"
"Marty and Claire were talking tonight, after Kensi retired to her room."
"About what, my dear?"
"About the dangers of the job; in relation to having a family."
"Oh dear. That can be a big problem."
"What? Why?" Susie's stomach drops.
"Well, they have talked about this before. Marty seriously wanted Kensi to commit to changing her status to a less dangerous position. She refused!"
"What happened?"
"They split, broke up for a time. Then they got back together, and then the current fiasco happened."
"DAMN, what do we do, Hetty?"
"Watch, listen and smooth over what we can."
"I'll do my best. Bye, Hetty."
"Bye, Susie."
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NCIS-OSP VACANT OFFICE
Hetty calls Marty Deeks.
"Marty, here. Hetty?"
"Yes, Mr. Deeks. I have 2 possibilities for you to attend FLETC. How is Ms. Mason's training coming along?"
" Very good. I have talked with the town and county leaders, and they are on board with the plan. As is Claire."
"Good, good. I have gotten your time there shortened to 6 weeks. You can start either in 12 weeks, or 36 weeks. Do you have a preference?"
"I would say 36 weeks from now. But may I ask, can we look further down the line if 36 weeks is too soon?"
"Yes, we can look further out. But I will confirm for 36 weeks and get back to you. I would assume that FLETC would need us to cancel at least 4 weeks prior to a start date. Bye, Marty."
"I understand; Bye Hetty, and thanks much!"
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VINCENNES, INDIANA
"Deputy Mason here. How may I help you?"
"Hi Claire, Marty here!"
"Marty! What's up?" Her smile lights up the room.
"I just spoke with Hetty. She is going to attempt to nail down a spot in FLETC, starting in 36 weeks; I can push that out further if necessary. I feel you will be ready. What about you . . . and your schedule there?"
"Well, I will need to check with the boss. Can I get back to you, tomorrow afternoon?"
"Sure. How are things with you?"
"Well, I got a postcard from Johnny yesterday."
"Threatening?"
"No. But we are thinking about running an op on him."
"CLAIRE, NO! That's Dangerous! You can't-
"Marty? That's my job."
"We've talked about this. UC work-
"This isn't UC. 'I'll be me."
"What the hell, after last time! He will be suspicious as hell. Will you allow me to look over the plan, please?"
"Marty. I can't control that. My sheriff and the South Bend sheriff control access."
"Can you tell them that you have a boyfriend who has extensive UC experience? He is a sheriff, and you would like his advice on the plan?"
"Boyfriend?"
"Ah . . . did I say that?" Marty cringes.
"Yup! Pretty sure." Claire grins.
Marty gulps. DAMN!
"Well, are you willing to ask? And check about 36 weeks from now?"
"Yes, and Yes. Boyfriend. I like it, Marty, babe."
"Bye, deputy."
"Wow, demoted so fast. Bye, Marty."
'I hope Kens nor Susie are listening in.' They both think.
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SOUTH BEND SHERIFF
"We have Vincennes sheriff and deputy on the call; Middlebury sheriff; South Bend sheriff and deputy. Will everyone introduce themselves, please."
They do, and the call starts.
The plan is for Claire to 'bump' into Johnny at his fav coffee shop in Elkhart. Just as he did to her in Vincennes.
She will give him a chance to apologize; if he does, she will suggest a make-up dinner.
After dinner, she will suggest a night-cap at a wired bar. She will have close back-up. All conversations will be recorded. Hopefully 1) incriminating talk will be recorded, or 2) he will be caught red-handed trying another assault at her front door – as before.
Sheriff Deeks brings up that Claire needs a credible reason for being in Ekhart. The team readily agrees and produces a reasonable scenario.
The op goes smoothly. Johnny does make incriminating statements and is arrested.
Marty is much relieved; he was part of the close by backup team. Afterwards, he drives Claire home. They part after a long & deep kiss outside her front door. They both have that fluttering feeling in the gut. Again.
They both know what that feeling is. They do not know what to do about it.
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20 WEEKS LATER
Kensi has been talking, texting and face-timing with Marty on a regular basis. The trend had been to less and less emotion from Marty's side of each conversation.
Now, Claire will be full-time in Middlebury with Marty. Deputy Anderson has left for school at MSU; Claire will be Marty's full-time deputy; headed for the next election. The plan is for Claire to take Marty's place at the head of the ballot. Is that still a firm plan?
Claire pulls up to the sheriff's office and parks. She enters, and closes the door behind her. Marty is alone in the office; he gets up and strides to meet her.
They embrace and kiss, long and deep.
"Marty, what are we doing?" She asks as they pull apart enough so she can look into his cerulean blue eyes.
"I . . . I don't really know, Claire." He hesitatingly says.
"I don't want to mess anything up . . . but I'm not seeing or feeling a stop sign." She whispers, smiling.
"I-
"I am going to take my cues from you, Marty. You need to tell me to slow down, stop, whatever. Is that fair?"
"Hard as hell . . . but fair, I guess." He plants one more kiss on her lips, then pulls away. "Have you been to your rental apartment yet?"
"No, I came here first. I need to go, take my stuff in and get settled."
"I'll come along and help. Then we can talk about our schedule."
"Sounds good, thanks."
Claire has rented a 1-bed cottage on the property of the current mayor. It is small, but cozy, as they say. Cramped also works.
Marty has more space; in a weak moment he thought about that. The moment passed.
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Marty and Claire work out a fair work schedule for the 2 of them. They decide to try alternating weekends; when on weekend duty, s/he would work both days. When not on duty, s/he would be available via cell phone if an emergency arose needing backup. Marty had worked out an arrangement with an adjacent county, where both of them would be off 1 weekend per month. They hoped this would work!
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Kensi was getting nervous; as were Hetty and Susie. Marty was talking less and less about NCIS-LA, FLETC, becoming an agent, and moving back to California.
Being a sheriff, taking care of "his people" seemed to be all important. Claire wasn't intentionally torpedoing previously laid plans – she wasn't backing off either. As she had said – she was taking her cues from Marty Deeks. And he seemed conflicted.
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TBC