A/N Sorry this should have been finished ages ago, but stuff got in the way. The end really is in sight


John Rogers was keen to catch the first available flight back to Washington DC, but Deeks resisted, saying he wanted to discuss the case with Kensi. He explained Kensi took Kessler down in the first place, so she had some insight of the man. In truth he really just wanted to spend more time with Kensi and a chance to make sense of what had happened. They agreed Deeks would meet Rogers at his office in DC early the following afternoon.

Shortly after midday the next day Deeks climbed out of a taxi outside John Rogers office. He was met by an agitated Special Prosecutor who unceremoniously bundled him back in the taxi.

"White House" he barked. The driver caught Deeks eye, who nodded and raised his eyebrows.

"Easy Tiger" Deeks said as the taxi pulled out into the traffic. "Where's the fire?"

"He's brought the meeting forward"

"Who? The President?" Deeks was totally bemused.

"No, an aide, the president listens to him, has been known to pull some strings" John Rogers growled, calming imperceptibly.

"You really think you can get the Presidential Pardon overturned? Deeks was incredulous.

"We can try"

Deeks wasn't privy to the conversation, he sat by the door, like he sat outside the headmaster's study so often in his school days.

John Rogers emerged after an hour or so. "He said he will speak to the president and let me know" was all he said.

"You do know 'I'll let you know' means no?" Deeks grumbled as he followed Rogers out of the building.

That evening the two men discussed their strategy. Deeks realised most of John Rogers plans had revolved around getting the pardon rescinded. He asked Kensi to send more information so Rogers could try again. Unfortunately there was no evidence of the phone call to the President that enabled Kessler to obtain the Presidential Executive Order that got him freed.

Next morning Deeks arrived at the NCIS office in Philadelphia. Although he was an NCIS Investigator he was still a cop at heart, but he was there as a lawyer. Out of his comfort zone and unsure of the dress code, he had opted for a dark suit and a white open necked shirt. He was relieved, and a little surprised, to be welcomed warmly and given a desk to work at. As well as a stack of papers he was allowed access to Agent Pederson's laptop. Deeks gratefully accepted a coffee before settling down to examine all the evidence in front of him. If Pederson had been investigating Kessler in his own time, Deeks was impressed at the amount of evidence he had documented. He couldn't help but wonder why Pederson was so interested in Kessler.

After an incredibly long day spent painstakingly going through all the data, photos and evidence that Pederson had collected, Deeks was confident he had a watertight case against Kessler, but only for gun smuggling. He was anxious that every 'I' was dotted and every 'T' crossed. He had to get it right. It was a far cry from his days as a Public Defender but satisfying.

During the day Deeks found he was forming a bond with Probationary Agent Andy Pederson, not Special Agent as he had been told. Deeks was impressed by the thoroughness and attention to detail he found in the agents work. Talking to his colleagues Deeks found that he had only just graduated from FLETC and the Philadelphia office had been his first posting. Nobody knew much about his private life and nobody had taken any interest in his investigation into Kessler, it was all off the books. Deeks only chatted briefly to Pederson's colleagues, there was no opportunity for formal interviews he but sensed that they felt guilty for not looking out for their newest recruit. There was no evidence that Kessler had gone back to people trafficking yet Deeks felt that was what Pederson was looking for. Deeks worked methodically through all the evidence Pederson had found and at the bottom of the pile was Pederson's Personnel Record. It showed he had a short-lived but successful career with Baltimore PD. One short sentence caught Deeks' attention, it made him shudder. He understood. Pederson believed his older sister had been lured into prostitution and killed by Kessler. Just one more family torn apart by Kessler.

Despite a late night Deeks arrived at John Rogers office early next morning. He wasn't looking forward to what was to come. An interview with David Kessler was not at the top of Deeks bucket list. He was grateful that he wouldn't be flying solo as he was accompanying John Rogers. The meeting was as unpleasant as Deeks expected. Kessler was with his lawyer, a large middle-aged jaded looking man. The four men sat impassively for a moment until John Rogers broke the silence by introducing himself and Deeks.

"So tell me, how is the lovely Agent Blye?" Kessler asked Deeks, completely ignoring Rogers.

"She is very well. Thank you for asking" Deeks smiled and kept his manner as light as he could despite the turmoil inside.

"Shall we dispense with the niceties and get to work" Rogers opened his briefcase and took out a slim file. He opened the file and placed it on the table.

"My client is an innocent man, what are you expecting from him? You are not thinking of offering a deal?" Kessler's lawyer asked with just a hint of sarcasm.

"No, not at all" Rogers replied as if he was talking to a very young child "We're expecting your client to put his hands up and plead guilty"

"I'm hurt, I thought you knew me better than that" Kessler chuckled "What do you think I am guilty of?"

Rogers glanced briefly at Deeks "Where do we start? Arms smuggling? Causing the death of a Federal Agent?"

Kessler leaned forward and put his elbows on the desk "All this because you think I sold some guns, you need to do better than that." He leaned back in his chair, crossed his arms and smiled a chilling smile at Deeks. Then he looked at Rogers "I guess Mr President said No"

"Causing the death of a Federal Agent" Rogers repeated, ignoring Kessler's remark.

"Nothing to do with me, there is only one Federal Agent who interests me" Kessler lowered his voice to a whisper "and I'm told she is very well. I think we're done"

John Rogers shrugged and straightened his papers "Done for now"

David Kessler and his lawyer stood up and walked a few steps towards the door. He stopped in the doorway and looked at Deeks "Give my regards to the lovely Agent Blye. Tell her I hope to see her soon."

"Sonofabitch!" said Deeks under his breath.