Family Affairs: NCISLA Fan Fiction

By Sweet Lu

He stood in an empty parking garage wondering how he’d let Lieutenant Bates talk him into this. The air was warm and steamy, the remains of another Pineapple Express dripping off the edge of the rough concrete overhang. The hard gray walls seemed to close in around him, claustrophobic and dismal. The city was dark, the lights in the area few and far between, and blurred by the misty rain. The sound of traffic, what there was of it at this hour, was muted, a distant hint of just how far he was from home. Kensi had tried to talk him out of doing the favor Bates had asked of him, but he still felt a bond with the man. He trusted him, and his request was rare. The man didn’t like giving or taking favors unless he had no choice. The last time he’d needed one, he’d pulled a weapon on him and demanded his help. But asking this favor had been followed by multiple apologies that spoke to his desperation. He’d told Kensi he had never seen Bates scared of anything before, but this time was different. It was the reason she’d finally agreed that he should help. Now his old boss was late, and that made him nervous.

“Wasn’t sure you’d show, Deeks.”

The gruff voice of his former lieutenant came from the shadows behind him. He hadn’t heard a car, and that made him jumpier than he already was.

“Sneaking up on someone can get you killed, Bates. Isn’t that what you told me once? Actually…more than once,” he breathed out as he turned to face the man. “So, what is it? You lost a step, Lieutenant, or having trust issues? Which is kinda funny considering you’re the one who set up this little late night rendezvous.”

“Why is it you always have to talk so much, Deeks?”

“I talk when I’m nervous, and when someone sneaks up on me for no reason.”

“Oh, I got reasons. Just not with you.”

“Good to know.”

“Were you followed?”

“You would know.”

“Yeah…and even you couldn’t miss a tail at this time of night,” he replied, letting out his breath as he ran a trembling hand over his sparse gray hair.

Deeks decided to let the mild insult pass, suddenly feeling sorry for his former lieutenant. “What’s going on, Bates? Something’s got you spooked. Your latest wife discover you’ve been making porn videos again?”

“God, Deeks. You’re still a piece of work,” Bates said, looking exhausted as he walked past him to look out over the city.

“Gonna tell me what’s got you so rattled?”

“Well it sure as hell ain’t porn,” Bates replied. “It’s personal and I’d like to keep it a secret.”

“That why we’re meeting way out here in Chino? So the department won’t find out?”

“This is where I started, Deeks.”

“Seriously? Hard to picture you out here in the burbs. Or did you work the prison?”

“You know any of the cops out here?”

“Not really. Why?”

“Anybody you put in Chino on parole around here?”

“You’re starting to freak me out a little, Bates. Somebody put a hit out on you…or on me? ’Cause it would have been nice to get a heads up about that before I drove all the way out here. Not that I wouldn’t have taken a bullet for you back in the day. I agreed to help you out, but…but now…”

“But now you have a teenager to worry about,” he replied, his voice low and lifeless. “Believe me…I get it. I’ve got a daughter too…from my second marriage.”

“You never mentioned you had kids,” Deeks said softly.

“There are a lot of things I never mentioned,” he said gruffly. “It’s not like we were drinking buddies.”

“You did invite me over for a barbecue once,” Deeks said with a grin.

“You and the rest of the squad,” he growled. “I don’t share personal information with them either.”

“Until now…yeah?”

Bates stared at him, indecision clouding his eyes.

“Is she in trouble? Your daughter?” Deeks asked, knowing he had reached the crux of the situation.

“My ex-wife thinks she is. Hasn’t heard from her in a few days. It’s not like her,” Bates said, and swore softly under his breath.

“I can only imagine what you’re feeling, Lieutenant. I get it. It’s one of the things that wakes me up in the middle of the night. If Rosa were to go missing…let’s just say…it’s something I hope I never have to deal with. So, tell me how can I help?”

“Somehow…I need to get eyes on her,” he said, looking away.

“You know where she is?”

“My ex…Clair…says she’s been hanging out at a club north of the prison,” Bates replied. “Can’t go in myself…”

“They’d make you for a cop the minute you walked in the place and people don’t like talking to cops.”

“I am what I am,” he replied.

“That porn mustache might have thrown them off,” Deeks snarked.

“You just can’t help yourself, can you?” He grumbled. “You gonna work with me or just bust my balls for your own entertainment?”

“Sorry. One question, though. She doing drugs?” Deeks hesitated to ask, but he needed to know what he was up against.

“Lizzie had a problem with Oxy a few years ago,” he replied. “Supposed to be clean now…at least that’s what I’m hoping.”

“Does she have friends out here?”

“Nobody good.”

“How do you know that?”

“This wouldn’t be the first time she’s hooked up with some no-account scumbag,” Bates replied. “Maybe if I’d stuck around…”

“We all have regrets about something, Lieutenant. Trust me…they don’t change anything. But you could look on the bright side…maybe he’ll turn out to be a good guy,” Deeks said, flashing a smile of encouragement.

“Well aren’t you just an annoying ray of sunshine on a shitty night.”

“Just sounds like you’re making a snap judgement about someone you’ve obviously never met,” Deeks reasoned.

“We’re cops, Deeks. We make snap judgements all the time,” Bates snarled. “Made one about you didn’t I? Took you on when I was warned not to.”

“And look how that turned out,” Deeks laughed. “We’re going clubbing together…sort of.”

“Why do you always have to be such a smart ass?”

“This is your party, Lieutenant.”

“Yeah…you’re right. So, you still willing to go undercover for me? See if she might be there?” Bates asked, his eyes boring into his.

“I came all this way, didn’t I? Plus, clubbing used to be part of my charm. Just call me Party Marty.”

“Not on your life.”

“Let’s hope it doesn’t come to that, Lieutenant.”

“I won’t leave you hanging. I’ll be close by if things go south,” Bates promised. “I hate to say it, Deeks, but I guess I owe you now.”

“I’d say we’re even,” Deeks replied. “You did spring me from Whiting’s little interrogation chamber and pulled my dirty ex-partner off me before he could damage my awesome looks.”

“Don’t flatter yourself, Deeks,” Bates snorted out a laugh. “As for the Iron Maiden, as I call her…She told me you saved her life.”

Wanting to avoid going down that never ending road, Deeks quickly changed the subject. “We going clubbing or what?”

“Yeah. I’ll drive.”

…

It was way south of midnight when he sauntered into the lively club, having talked his way past the doorman. The music was loud and the lights blue and red, pulsating to the sound of the music. It was the kind of place he might have frequented at one time in his life, although he preferred out of the way bars with a quieter vibe, like the one he used to own. Bates had airdropped a photo of his daughter Lizzie to his phone and he studied it as he waited at the bar for the beer he’d ordered. When it arrived, he showed the bartender her photo and asked if he’d seen her around. The man looked away and seemed irritated, making Deeks suspicious.

“Why you askin’?” The dark eyed man asked.

“We hooked up a few months ago and I lost touch,” Deeks lied, smiling easily. “I heard she hangs out here from time to time. Just trying to reconnect.”

“Nah. Your info is off base, man. Never seen her,” he replied gruffly and walked away.

Deeks watched him stop at the other end of the bar and nod to a couple of hard asses. Deeks let his gaze travel across the room, but he knew the men were checking him out. He decided to take a walk around to see if he could spot her. The place had a singles vibe, and he got quite a few seductive looks from women looking to hook up for the night. He had to admit, it was an ego boost, one he wouldn’t be sharing with his wife.

“You look lost,” a sultry blond said as she ran her hand up his arm. “Now you’re found.”

“Sorry, sweetheart. Not tonight. But, I am looking for a girl who is lost,” he replied with a warm smile as he showed her Lizzie’s photo. “Seen her?”

“She your ex or something?” The woman asked with attitude.

“No. She’s a friend’s daughter. Family hasn’t heard from her in a while. They’re worried.”

The girl finally took her eyes off him and looked back down at Lizzie’s picture. “Yeah…I’ve seen her here before. Kinda messed up, if you ask me.”

“I am asking you. Messed up how?” Deeks asked softly, noticing her doubtful expression. “Please. Her mom’s scared, and her dad’s freaking out.”

“Wrong crowd got interested in her,” she finally replied. “Those guys at the end of the bar been asking about her too.”

“Are they the wrong crowd?”

“Not sure. Never seen ‘em here before. But they didn’t ask as nicely as you just did, if you know what I mean,” she replied as she ran her hand up his arm.

“Thank you,” Deeks said and flagged down a waitress. “Whatever the lady and her friends want.”

He got a smile in return and walked away with a lighter wallet, and serious attention from the men at the end of the bar. So, he headed straight for them. They were definitely surprised by his approach, the three instantly forming a united front, all bluster and flexing muscles.

“How’s it going, fellas?” He asked with a wide smile. “Heard we might be looking for the same person. Want to tell me why you’re interested in the girl?”

“What girl?”

“The one the bartender told you I was asking about.”

“You make mistake. Many women here. Not interested in one girl,” the big guy said, his accent heavy and his tone belligerent.

“Oh, I get it. This is where you play dumb. Or maybe you’re just being evasive…if you even know what that word means,” Deeks laughed, antagonizing him to get some idea of what kind of man he was dealing with. “Evasive…yeah? No. Dumb seems to fit you better.”

“Why you insult me? You don’t know me,” he growled as he took a step towards him.

“Name’s Deeks. Want to tell me yours? Or at least your street names. You know…in case the cops come around asking.”

The other two quickly scanned the crowd, but the big, scruffy one never took his eyes off him. “You are cop?”

“Nope. Just a concerned citizen looking for a family friend,” Deeks said without a smile. “You, on the other hand, sound a little far from home. Want to tell me why you’re looking for her, cause you’re sure as hell not family?”

“Why would I talk to you?”

“To enhance international relations?” Deeks smiled and got a slight one in return.

“You are funny, but this is family affair,” he replied.

“How’s that? I know her father and it ain’t you,” Deeks said.

The man shook his head and turned to speak to the men behind him. Deeks thought they sounded Eastern European, but languages weren’t his forte, so he wasn’t sure. One of the men looked angry and glared at him before being pushed away by the other man. One went to the end of the bar, while the grumpy one headed for the door. When the big man turned back around, he was staring at his phone.

“You don’t look like you need bodyguards,” Deeks said.

“They are cousins. Gyorgy and Penka,” the man said and held up his phone. “Is this girl you look for?”

“Yeah. Who’s the guy with her?”

“My brother. He is idiot.”

“Is he a dangerous idiot, or just an idiot for doing something you don’t approve of?” Deeks asked. “Drugs, maybe?”

“No drugs. He is like holy man. Tries to be perfect. Thinks world should be perfect, too. I told him this not possible,” the man huffed. “But like I say…he is idiot. Got involved in politics. Not good in my country.”

“And what country would that be?” Deeks asked.

“Hungary. Orbán and his kind. Not good. Not forgiving, if you know what I am saying.”

“Your brother is a politician?”

“Worse. He is journalist. One who asks too many questions of wrong people who do not like to be asked questions. He did not know what he was doing. It is why he escape to America.”

“He’s in hiding?”

“I think so. He come here three months ago. Sent me this picture. Say he is in love…hah! He knows nothing. Head is in clouds.”

“What’s his name? Better yet…what’s yours?”

“I am Gaz. Gazsi Bokor. My stupid brother is Miksa.”

Deeks reach out and shook his hand. “Well, Gaz…this is your lucky day…or night, actually. I have friends who might be able to track him.”

“So, you are cop,” Gaz said, crushing his hand before Deeks could pull away.

“Easy there, my big Hungarian friend,” Deeks said, laughing as he tried to get some feeling back in his hand. “Lizzie’s father is the cop. I used to be a cop, but now I’m a federal agent with resources we can use to find your brother and my old boss’s daughter.”

“You would do this?” Gaz asked.

“I would.”

“Will Miksa be sent home if you find him?” Gaz asked. “That would not be good for him.”

“Somebody trying to kill him?” Deeks asked, chilled by the danger Lizzie might be in.

“Is possible. It is why I come. He ask wrong people about wrong things,” he replied. “These are powerful people. If he go back to Budapest they will put him in very bad prison. People like Miksa don’t come out of this prison.”

“You seem to know quite a lot about Hungarian prisons,” Deeks said. “Been there?”

“You protest in Hungary you know inside of prison,” he replied softly. “Watch news. You will understand. Miksa learn this.”

“They released him and he ran,” Deeks said.

“Yes.”

“So, maybe not an idiot.”

“Wants better country. Better politicians,” Gaz shook his head and smiled. “You have saying here…’pie in sky’…yes? Miksa believe it is possible. Me? Not so much.”

“But you still protest,” Deeks said.

The man shrugged. “Someone has to protect idiots.”

It wasn’t hard to picture this big Hungarian slugging his way through a crowd. He probably got off on it, but he must believe some of the ideals his brother believed in, or he wouldn’t be fighting in the streets. He was a protector, but a sense of danger hung around him like a shroud. If someone was coming for Miksa, Lizzie was in more trouble than Bates had guessed. He turned when the blond he had talked to earlier came up and touched him.

“That girl you’re looking for? She just got shoved out the back door by a couple of sketchy looking dudes.”

Gaz rushed past him shouting in Hungarian. Deeks was right behind him, pulling his phone as he ran.

“Bates? Lizzie’s in trouble. Get here now.”

He didn’t wait for an answer, pushing through the back door to find Gaz yanking a man out of the back of an SUV. The driver jumped out with an automatic pistol, swinging it toward the Hungarian. Deeks slammed into him, knocking the gun from his hand before he could fire. A solid punch to the side of his head knocked him sideways, leaving him dizzy and pissed off. He roared out his favorite curse word and drove his fist into the guy’s nose. Blood splattered across his face as the man went down in a heap.

“Lizzie?” He yelled and struggled past Gaz to get to her.

She was trying to get out of the other side of the car. Scared to death and crying uncontrollably, she hit him when he reached for her, making him realize she had no idea who he was.

“Lizzie. Your father sent me. I’m Detective Deeks. It’s okay. He’s on his way.”

“I don’t believe you,” she shouted, choking on her tears. “I’ve never heard of anyone named Deeks.”

He held his hands up and sat down, speaking to her softly to try and calm her down. He pulled his phone and called Bates, handing her the phone as soon as he answered. She began crying softly when she heard his voice.

“I’m okay, dad. I’m scared, but I’m okay. Yes…Deeks is here,” she said, wiping tears from her cheek as she handed him the phone.

“Deeks? What the hell is going on?”

“It’s complicated, Lieutenant.”

“I’m two minutes out.”

“Make it one, or there won’t be anyone left to question except Lizzie,” Deeks said, jumping out of the car to stop the Hungarians from killing his only witnesses.

“Gaz. Stop! They need to tell us where your brother is,” Deeks shouted, pulling Hungarians off the bad guys.

“I make them tell me,” he growled.

“Not if you knock all their teeth out,” Deeks said as he pushed Gyorgy off the man Deeks had tangled with.

“You break this guy’s nose,” Gyorgy said, as if that was an excuse to keep pounding the man.

“He was gonna shoot your cousin,” Deeks said.

Penka suddenly slapped Deeks hard on the back and sported a wide smile as he rattled off something in Hungarian.

“This true? You stop this man from shooting me?” Gaz asked quietly, and Deeks simply shrugged. “I will not forget this.”

“Deeks?” Bates yelled as he slammed out the back door of the club. “Where is she?”

“Dad?” Lizzie scrambled out of the SUV, but Gaz stepped in front of her.

“Where is Miksa?” He demanded.

Bates had his weapon out and pointed at the back of the man’s head before Deeks could intervene.

“Get away from her or I’ll shoot you where you stand,” Bates said coldly.

“Bates! Don’t. They’re the good guys. Put the gun down,” Deeks shouted, warning the two cousins with a shake of his head to keep them from doing something stupid. “Gaz? I saved your life once tonight. I might not be able to do it this time. She’s his daughter, man. Let her go.”

“Cop is your father?” Gaz asked Lizzie, who nodded and then put her hands on the big man’s chest.

“You’re Gaz? Miksa talks about you all the time. He said you would come.”

“He is okay?”

“I don’t know,” she whispered.

Bates holstered his gun and shoved past Gaz to pull Lizzie into a hug. “You need to call your mother. She’s worried sick.”

“I need to find Miksa, Dad,” she said fiercely. “You don’t understand…I love him.”

Bates sighed sadly before stepping away from his daughter. Gaz laughed and wrapped his big arm around Bates, who immediately pushed him away.

“She is like Miksa. He say crazy things too,” Gaz said. “But, maybe we will be family together.”

“Not if we can’t find him,” Deeks said, turning to confront the man with the broken nose. “Tell me who you are and why you took Lizzie or I’ll give you back to these three pissed off Hungarians. The big guy wants his brother back.”

“We have diplomatic immunity,” the man said. “These men are criminals. If you are cops you must protect us.”

“You kidnapped my daughter, you scumbag,” Bates growled. “I don’t have to do anything. I’m off duty.”

“I’m not,” Deeks said. “I’m guessing you’re foreign operatives. I’m a Federal agent, and we frown on foreign agents kidnapping our citizens.”

“I am diplomat.”

“Show me your passport.”

“I do not have it tonight,” the man mumbled. “But I do not lie.”

“Sorry. But I don’t believe you, Mr…what’s your name now?” Deeks asked. “I can check our database for a list of Hungarian diplomats.”

“I cannot tell you that.”

“Spoken like a true spy. Besides, even if you were a diplomat…look around. We’re in a dark alley in the lovely town of Chino. I don’t see an embassy, do you?”

“If you have hurt my brother, Miksa, being diplomat will not save you,” Gaz said, his voice low and thick with anger.

“I’d be afraid if I were you,” Deeks said. “He’s a criminal, remember? Now why take Lizzie?”

The three cousins advanced on the man, and he cowered. The other man, who held his broken wrist close to his chest, berated his partner in Hungarian. Penko grabbed the guy and shoved him against the car.

“What did he say?” Bates demanded.

“They have Miksa, but he won’t give them information they want,” Gaz said. “So they take Lizzie…”

“You sonofabitch,” Bates raged, charging past Penko to get to the man. “You were gonna torture my daughter to get information from the kid? Two can play that game, pal. I used to interrogate dirtbags like you in Iraq. Getting you to talk is gonna be a downright pleasure.”

“You hold him, policeman,” Gaz said. “I will break other wrist.”

“Back off guys,” Deeks said, and turned to the bloody man. “What does Miksa know that you want so badly?”

Fear flared briefly in the man’s eyes before he defiantly looked away.

“Okay. You claim to be diplomats. Diplomats know how to negotiate…yeah? This can end well for you two, or not. Tell us where you’re holding Miksa and you can go back home and tell your boss whatever the hell you want. Or…you can be tough guys and end up buried in a landfill outside of town.”

“You are lying. You will not kill us. You are police. You are not criminals like these animals.”

“I am not animal and am not police,” Gaz said, inches from the man’s face. “I have been in your prisons. Men die there every day. No rules in Hungarian prison. No rules here…tonight. Tell me where to find Miksa…or die.”

Both men looked hopefully at Deeks who simply shrugged his shoulders. He saw panic in their eyes as their hope faded. The so-called diplomat closed his eyes and nodded. He spoke softly, telling them an address where Miksa was being held by three men. Bates said he knew the area and that it was not far away.

“Would you have shot me?” The supposed diplomat asked.

“You don’t have kids, do you,” Bates stated, and stepped away.

He called an old friend at the Chino Police Department and twenty minutes later the two were in custody. Deeks’ call to Hetty made sure the men would be picked up on a federal warrant until their claim of diplomatic immunity could be proven. He didn’t doubt she would interrogate them herself before checking in with their embassy. They were in for a long night, but at least they were alive.

“Mr. Deeks? I’m sending you some backup,” Hetty told him. “You cannot go up against foreign operatives alone.”

“Bates is with me and I have Miksa’s brother Gaz and his two cousins to back me up,” he replied.

“Come now, Mr. Deeks…you know using the Hungarians is against protocol,” she said firmly. “They’re civilians, so I can’t authorize that. Are they armed?”

“Not that I’ve seen, but I’m not sure these guys need conventional weapons,” Deeks said.

“I’m sending Callen and Sam, so I suggest you wait, Mr. Deeks…or we will have words,” she said in that familiar voice that always scared him a little bit.

“Okay, Hetty, but I’m bringing the Hungarians,” he replied. “They’ll go it alone if I don’t.”

“Just don’t be too trusting, Mr. Deeks.”

“Copy that, Hetty.”

Gaz and his cousins were still giving their statements to the local officers, but kept watching him as they did. He could tell they were anxious to find Miksa, so he stopped one of the cops and asked him to keep them occupied a little longer. Gyorgy finished first and headed for him.

“You lie about letting us kill them…yes?” Gyorgy asked.

“Good thing they believed me,” Deeks replied.

“They believe Gaz,” Gyorgy said.

“We get Miksa now?” Gaz asked as he walked up.

“We’re waiting for a couple of federal agents,” Deeks told him.

“Waiting does not make me happy.”

“Too bad. This isn’t some rogue operation, and I’m not doing this to make you happy,” Bates said as he joined them. “I’m coming, Deeks. My buddy is taking Lizzie to her mother’s house.”

“You are good father,” Gaz said. “Tough. But you, Deeks…you are smart. You did not tell these other police about Miksa. Maybe you are little bit bad…like me.”

“It’s a federal case now.”

“Why is this?”

“Because my boss just made it one,” Deeks said. “She’ll interrogate those two and find out what this is all about.”

“They are smart guys. They will only speak Hungarian to her, so she will find out nothing,” Gaz replied dismissively.

“I’m pretty sure Hetty speaks Hungarian.”

Gaz spit on the ground at his feet, before walking away with his two cousins. Deeks knew he was angry, and he didn’t like waiting either, but he had no choice. He knew Bates didn’t trust the three men, and he wasn’t sure how they would react once they got to the location. They were wildcards in this slapped together operation.

“Deeks!” Bates shouted, and he turned to see the three Hungarians scramble into the so-called diplomats’ SUV and roar down the alley.

“Sonofabitch!”

Bates grabbed one of the remaining cops and the three of them jumped in his patrol car and gave chase. Deeks immediately called Callen to let him know what was happening. He gave him the address so he could meet them there. Then it was a race to get to the Hungarians before they got themselves killed.

They managed to catch up to them when the men slowed down to search for the address in a sea of lookalike warehouses. The Chino cop swore before laughing as he cut them off, proud of his ingrained knowledge of the area. Deeks was out as soon as they stopped, yanking open the door of the SUV and pulling Gaz outside.

“Now which brother is the idiot?” He growled at the man.

“I am not a patient man,” Gaz shrugged.

“You were almost a dead one,” Bates added. “If those are foreign operatives holding your brother they would have killed him as soon as you charged through the door.”

Gaz looked chastened by that. “It is my job to protect him.”

“And it’s our job to protect all of you. It’s what we’re trained to do,” Deeks said, exasperated with the man. “Now let us do our job.”

“You’re sitting this one out, gentlemen,” Bates said and helped the officer cuff them and put them in the back of his squad car.

A soft rain began just as Deeks’ phone rang and he slid into the passenger seat of the SUV for some privacy.

“Mr. Deeks…the men you are about to deal with are not diplomats or government agents,” Hetty said with urgency. “They are members of the Hungarian Mafia. The boyfriend of Lt. Bates’ daughter was targeted because he discovered a financial connection between one of Orbán’s favorite oligarchs and a Mafia strongman, none of whom want the connection to be exposed. Lizzie’s boyfriend followed the money and unfortunately, it put him in a world of hurt.”

“So these guys are a Mafia hit squad,” Deeks said wearily.

“And before they kill him, they want to discover not only what he knows, but who divulged the information…and they will do whatever is necessary to get it.”

“Like threatening to torture Lizzie,” he murmured.

“Unfortunately, yes. According to the two you arrested, no matter what they did to him, he refused to tell them where to find her,” Hetty said. “But they’d had the nightclub under surveillance for a while. That’s how they knew he was seeing Lizzie, so they went there looking for her.”

“Sonofabitch.”

“You need to be careful, Mr. Deeks, and keep your new Hungarian friends out of this,” she insisted. “We can’t have innocent foreign nationals getting killed on our watch. We don’t need an international incident. Understood?”

“Of course, Hetty… but aren’t the bad guys foreign nationals?”

“They tried to kidnap an American citizen. Just do your job and I’ll handle whatever fallout there may be,” she replied. “Wait for Callen and Sam. You’re going to need them. And don’t get the boyfriend killed. It sounds like quite a love story. I’d like to hear it.”

After the call ended, he stared down at the phone as her words sunk in. He flashed back to his own love story and realized he’d missed the one heartwarming element in this unfolding scenario. He watched Lt. Bates approach and stepped out to meet him. The man stopped short and shook his head.

“Uh-oh…I’ve seen that dewy-eyed look before. You find a lost puppy or something?”

“He loves her, Bates.”

“What?”

“Miksa loves Lizzie. He didn’t give her up,” he said. “I just talked to Hetty. The guys we took down are Hungarian Mafia. When Miksa wouldn’t talk, they beat him and who knows what else. They threatened to do the same to Lizzie, but he wouldn’t give her up.”

“So they staked out the club and she walked right into their trap,” Bates replied sadly. “Sounds like this Miksa’s a good guy after all,”

“If things work out, you might just inherit a crazy Hungarian family.”

“Great…just what I need.”

The headlights of Sam’s Charger lit up the alley, and Deeks finally felt as though the night might actually have a happy ending. When they got out, Callen looked sleepy, but Sam looked pissed.

“What have you got Deeks into this time, Bates?” Sam barked.

“More than I bargained for,” Bates replied.

“Sounds like more than anyone bargained for,” Callen said, nodding to Deeks. “Hetty gave us an overview, but give us a sit-rep on what we’re up against here.”

“According to Officer Ryan, the warehouse where they’re holding Miksa is at the end of the alley around the corner,” he said.

“Access points?” Sam asked the young cop.

“Used to be four, but three were sealed off last year when the owner abandoned the building,” Ryan replied.

“What’s inside?” Callen asked.

“Rousted out some tweakers about a month ago. Then it was mostly a maze of empty oil drums. They should give us some decent cover.”

“Still, only one way in and one way out,” Callen said.

“There’s only three of them. Six of us,” Bates added.

“They have one big advantage,” Sam reminded him. “A hostage.”

“Yeah…what could possibly go wrong?” Deeks said as he looked over at Gaz staring at him from the back of the patrol car.

The Hungarian yelled something in his language, his rage hard to miss. Deeks looked over at Callen and realized he understood the man’s muted words.

“He says he’ll put a Hungarian curse on us if Miksa dies,” Callen said. “Oh yeah…and he says he’ll kill us all if that doesn’t work.”

“Nothing like a little incentive to keep us focused,” Deeks said with a soft grin.

“Out of the frying pan into the fire,” Sam mumbled as he geared up, tossing an automatic weapon to Bates.

He motioned for the cop to lead the way and they headed down the dark alley in the rain. The warehouse was single-storied and shabby looking. A loading dock ran along the front, with wooden stairs leading to a partially open door, the chain that once secured it hanging loosely from the handle. There were two windows on either side of the door, all painted out except one with a broken pane. Deeks silently moved up to have a look. A soft light glowed deep inside, but the silhouette of stacked oil drums and wooden crates obscured his view.

“No visual, but somebody’s in there,” Deeks whispered as he rejoined the others.

“Deeks…you and Bates take the right. Sam and I will go left,” Callen ordered. “Officer Ryan…you stay here and watch our backs. There may be more than the three we were told about.”

They moved swiftly and quietly, weapons leading the way. Sam eased the door open, but something on the other side clanked noisily and everyone froze. Callen muscled his way inside and shouted out something in Hungarian as he motioned for Deeks and Bates to move. They silently hurried past a stack of oil drums, weaving around others until they got close. The space reeked with the smell of oil, and a thick dust coated everything. Peeking around a crate, Deeks finally got eyes on their suspects. There were only two, which he signaled to Bates. Miksa was strapped to a chair with duct tape, his hands tied behind his back. Blood stained the front of his shirt, and his head hung down to his chest. Deeks’ heart raced as painful memories flashed through his mind. No way he was going to let this kid die.

Callen called out once again, and the two men spoke briefly before one moved toward Callen’s voice. The other one pulled his weapon, but hesitated to follow. Deeks made his move.

“Federal agents!” He shouted as he and Bates stepped out of the shadows.

The man turned and raised his weapon. Deeks fired and the man went down. Callen and Sam both opened fire on the other one, leaving him screaming in pain and yelling in Hungarian. Bates quickly moved to kick the gun away from the bad guy, while Deeks hurried to check on Miksa, who stared up at him in utter surprise, his smile bloody.

“Hey, Miksa…Lizzie says hi,” Deeks said, tucking his gun behind his back.

“She is okay?”

“She’s worried about you, and a little shaken up, but she’s good,” Deeks said, moving behind him to cut him loose. “Met your brother…”

Sudden movement behind him made him turn, but the butt of a gun slammed into the side of his head, leaving him groggy. He stumbled as a muscled arm wrapped around his throat and cut off his air. With the muzzle of the gun pressed up under his jaw, he was dragged backward into the dark bowels of the warehouse. He struggled to breathe as his vision grayed. Callen and Sam called out his name as they quickly moved towards him, their guns aimed and ready.

“I will kill him,” the man shouted.

“Then you’ll die,” Callen warned.

His adrenaline began to pump, and his mind cleared slightly, but the chokehold made it hard to breathe. The guy was bigger than Sam, so he didn’t think he could overpower him, and then there was the gun that was gouging into the base of his skull. He had no options he could think of, and it pissed him off.

They hadn’t told anyone Kensi was pregnant. She wanted to wait for the right time. Now he might never see his child, and the thought exploded in his chest, his heart pounding in defiance. Tears clouded his eyes and despite the Hungarian’s hold on him, he began to fight. He slammed his heel down on the man’s foot, earning another blow to the head for his effort and a stranglehold that brought him close to passing out. He stumbled backwards, losing sight of Callen and Sam in the darkness as he was pulled behind a stack of concrete blocks.

“Let him go and you might survive this,” Sam shouted from the darkness.

“Liar,” the man yelled.

“Give it up, man, Sam was a Navy SEAL,” Deeks choked out. “He’ll never stop coming.”

“Shut up!”

He could feel the tension in the man’s arm. He was scared. Suddenly, he swung the gun out in a sweeping motion, firing indiscriminately, the bullets pinging off the empty oil drums. Deeks lunged for the weapon, but the man yanked back hard on his throat and the world faded. The Hungarian suddenly screamed as massive hands appeared from behind him, grabbing his gun hand and snapping his wrist. The weapon skittered across the floor as the man collapsed, taking Deeks with him. Crawling free of the man, he sucked in much needed air as Gaz began kicking the crap out of the guy.

“You are idiot,” Gaz said and spit on the Hungarian. “You idiot too, Deeks. Should never have locked me in police car. Now nice cop has headache.”

“Me too,” Deeks whispered and began coughing uncontrollably.

Overhead industrial lights suddenly flickered on, dimly revealing the now unconscious man. Sam shoved Gaz away and Callen knelt down to cuff him. Gyorgy and Penka appeared with Miksa slung between them, and Gaz moved to check him over.

“Finally found the light switch and these two bozos,” Bates said.

“You almost found Deeks dead,” Sam said gruffly. “You forget how to back up a partner?”

“It’s okay Sam,” Deeks groaned as he stumbled to his feet. “I should have cleared the area before checking on Miksa.”

“Yeah…what he said,” Bates growled.

“Gaz back up Deeks,” Gaz said as he pulled his brother into a hug.

“How’d you get in here?” Callen asked. “And how’d you get out of that patrol car in the first place.”

“I break out of Hungarian prison,” he shrugged. “Car is easy.”

“Why am I not surprised,” Deeks said as he sat down heavily on one of the crates.

“You okay, Deeks?” Sam asked.

“Not really, but Miksa should probably go to the hospital,” he replied. “And I need to go home to my wife.”

“You better make yourself scarce, Bates,” Callen smirked. “Kensi’s not going to be too happy when she finds out you didn’t back up her partner.”

“And left him all bloody,” Sam added.

“Deeks is a big boy,” he grumped. “He’s been in worse shape if I remember right. She’ll get over this in time.”

“Don’t think that’s gonna happen, Lieutenant,” Deeks said softly. “She’s getting grumpier by the month. Not a good idea to upset her right now. She’s…she’s…no, wait…I’m gonna shut up now.”

Callen and Sam shared a look, and Sam shook his head and smiled. “Something you want to share, Deeks?”

“Yeah…no. Maybe. No…probably not.”

“Deeks?” Callen said. “What’s going on?”

Maybe he’d been hit in the head too many times tonight, but he wanted to think of something besides almost being choked to death or the real possibility of getting shot.

“You guys can keep a secret, right?” Deeks asked softly.

“You really have to ask that?” Sam replied with a grin.

“Kensi’s pregnant,” Deeks said shyly.

“I’m definitely staying out of her way now,” Bates said. “I’ve seen just how grouchy and vindictive a pregnant woman can be.”

“Promise you won’t tell her I told you,” Deeks begged.

“What do you think, Sam? Should we blow Deeks’ cover?” Callen smirked.

“Not if we want to be uncles,” Sam replied.

“Being uncle is fun,” Gaz said. “I have three sisters, all with babies. They love Gaz.”

“I find that hard to picture, but thanks for saving my neck…literally,” Deeks said as Gaz pulled him into a crushing hug.

“You will make good father.”

“We’ll make sure of it,” Sam said. “At least one of us has experience in that department.”

“Come on, Deeks,” Callen said. “Let’s get you home.”

“Sounds good, Uncle Callen.”

…

The storm had blown itself out, so the sky was dawning with more life than the past few days. Sam had refused to let him drive himself home, arguing that he probably suffered a mild concussion during the night’s events. And since Deeks didn’t want to spend a couple of hours in the ER, he handed over his keys. He woke when they pulled up in front of his house. All the lights were on, and Hetty’s sports car was in the driveway.

“Awesome,” Deeks moaned. “Remind me to never answer another phone call from Lieutenant Bates…ever.”

“This one did get complicated,” Sam said, pushing him up the walk toward his front door.

“It’ll get real complicated if Kensi finds out I spilled the beans.”

“Loose lips, sink ships, Deeks,” Sam laughed.

“That’s not encouraging at all.”

“Don’t worry, I’ll protect you.”

“Yeah, right.”

Kensi opened the door before he could. She stepped out and brushed his hair back, then kissed him softly on the lips.

“Hetty filled me in on what happened,” she said. “You okay?”

“I’m good…now.”

“Signed, sealed and delivered, Mrs. Deeks. He’s probably concussed, so watch him,” Sam said. “See you both tomorrow unless Hetty gives you the day off.”

He trotted back down the walk and roared off in Deeks’ car. Kensi remained in the doorway and he suddenly worried that something was wrong.

“What’s up, Fern?”

“You must be hurting if you’re using that old nickname,” she smiled.

“It was an alias. My favorite one. Now tell me what’s going on.”

“Hetty knows.”

“Knows…knows what? Oh. How?”

“It’s Hetty,” she said with a shrug. “No reason to keep it a secret now.”

“You think she told Callen and Sam?”

“She admitted as much,” Kensi said as she ushered him inside. “Said they needed to know.”

“And you’re okay with that?”

“Kinda makes it seem more real.”

“Awesome.”