Deeks was not ok. He'd convinced himself that a couple of pain pills would get him through the worst of the pain, but every step felt like he was being stabbed all over again. He'd been through worse in the past—a gunshot wound to the chest and a concussion that lead to days of vomiting and headaches came to mind—but not by much.

Fortunately, or unfortunately depending on how you looked at it, Deeks had gotten pretty hood at blocking out pain and faking it. Even though he felt the tug and pull of his wounds and the unpleasant sensation of blood seeping into fresh bandages, his face showed nothing except a vague smugness as he and Kensi stopped in front of a yet another warehouse.

He was really getting sick of warehouses. On his next undercover job, he'd ask for something with a minimal number of concrete buildings. Maybe a nice little jaunt as Artie as a palate cleanser.

"So predictable," he muttered, and Kensi shot him a confused look. She'd gone with another pantsuit, the suitcase containing their payment completing the look.

"The venue. It's either always an abandoned warehouse or some dodgy looking place. Rarely ever a restaurant or mansion. Though there was this one time with a Russian, but I try not to think about that job."

"Are you ok?" Kensi asked very seriously. She went so far as to touch his arm, her Bella facade vanishing completely.

"Yeah." It was as much to convince himself as her. Though she didn't look very convinced. He shook off the pain induced chatter just as a guy in a muscle shirt opened the door.

He'd made the concession to have Agents Hanna and Callen nearby as backup and the use of their communication system. It didn't sit well to have players he wasn't all that familiar with getting involved. It was part of the reason he'd insisted on only working with Kensi. Now though with his injuries, he couldn't chance leaving Kensi to fend for herself. Not to mention, ruin an operation with months of work devoted to it.

The guard patted them both down, but didn't confiscate either of their weapons. When he was done, he nodded and lead them through a several storage rooms that only contained the remnants of former machinery and packaging materials.

"Classy digs," Deeks commented for Hanna and Callen's benefit, sauntering past the man, while quickly scanning his surroundings. "Could use a little redecorating though."

"Charming, Mr. Gentry," Dimitri Kaiser greeted them, unsmiling as he walked into the room along with two of his bodyguards. "Did you bring the amount we discussed?"

"What, no small talk?" Deeks lifted a hand, ignoring the accompanying painful tug in his side.

"Unlike you, I'm a busy man."

"Ok, then show us the product, I'll check it for quality, and then we'll be on our way," Deeks said. Dimitri's lips tightened briefly, but he inclined his head after a moment, leading Deeks and Kensi further inside the building.

Every couple of steps, Kensi's arm brushed against his, and with that brief contact, he could feel the tension rolling off of her. He nudged her elbow lightly, waiting until she caught his eye, and nodded once, hopefully reassuring her. She took a visible breath, and he saw her shoulders relax ever so slightly.

They stopped again once they reached the very back of the warehouse. This room was filled with pallets, machinery, and lacking materials, but Deeks knew that none of the drugs were actually processed here. It was just another stopping point among many. Assuming that everything went according to plan, they'd be able use the Kaiser's to find the original source. At the very least, they'd be off the streets.

There were a few more men standing by along with Paul Kaiser. Deeks nodded each of their positions, ignoring the sudden swooping of his stomach and clammy feeling on the back of his neck.

Taking a brick off the top of a stack, Dimitri handed it to Deeks. His hand shook ever so slightly as he took it, but enough that Deeks wasn't sure he could conceal it with Dimitri watching his every move. He wordlessly handed it over to Kensi, and whether or not she understood the reason behind it, she produced a knife from her waistband and slit open the package with practiced ease.

Underneath his growing nausea, he felt a note of admiration as she took out a testing kit and calmly tested a small sample. The next five minutes felt like an eternity, but finally Kensi held a strip up, addressing Deeks.

"It's pure."

"As if there was any question," Dimitri said with the slightest of smiles. "Now, show me the money."

Before Deeks or Kensi could speak, the distinct rapport of gunfire came from outside.

"Crap," Deeks hissed as everyone in the room reached for their weapons.

A/N: Please forgive my lack of knowledge surrounding the business of drug despite my many years spent watching procedurals.