The Flower Child and The Fuzz

Epilogue

...

After the shooting, Deeks had been moved to another room since his was now a crime scene. All of them had given statements, and afterwards Hetty had insisted on taking them all out to dinner. The hardest one to convince was Roberta, but Deeks had finally convinced her he was fine, that key word alerting Kensi that he really wasn't. So she begged off dinner and ignored the night nurse when told that visiting hours were over. She didn't care. There was no way she was going back to the hotel. She needed to be with him, still feeling guilty about not blowing off her assignment and coming up here with him. Callen had silently commiserated with her, obviously dealing with the same guilt she was experiencing. Deeks hadn't wanted to hear her apology, taking her attempts as an insult to his abilities, and it made her angry. Now she felt that anger dissipate, knowing she would have reacted the same way.

"Hey, Wifey," he whispered in the darkened room. "You still mad at me?"

"No."

"But you were just a little bit there for a while."

"Maybe."

"It's okay. I get it. I almost got myself killed and you want to kick my ass for it, but you can't because a crazy person already did that," he said. "Guess that makes your point, yeah?"

"Nothing that happened to you is your fault, Deeks," she said, leaning over to kiss him. "Your only backup was your mother."

"Yeah, not exactly a ninja warrior like you. She did threaten Pettis when he put a gun in my back, though. Called him a punk. At the time it wasn't funny...because he had a gun in my back...but thinking about it now..."

"You need to talk to her," Kensi said as she brushed the hair out of his eyes.

"Why? I know too much already," he replied. "Not sure I can take anymore surprises from her."

"Like the surprise confession that she was in love with someone other than your father?"

"She told you that?"

"While you were giving your statement to Torres, she asked me to go with her to see Kyle Hyder."

"Seriously? Scarecrow? How'd that go?"

"He's out of the ICU, and apparently is doing well," she replied. "He told her he would be going back to prison. I think he was hoping she'd feel sorry for him, but she didn't let him off the hook at all. She told him she came to say goodbye. He asked if she'd write to him, but she said no. She said she was done with him after how he treated you. That seemed to shake him. I think he still loves her."

"Not really, Kens," Deeks said. "He pulled her into that situation with no regard to her welfare. He knew Sarge was one scary dude...a stone cold killer. And Wanda...Wanda was a bitter, angry woman with only one goal. To get that journal and all that money. She didn't care how, either."

"Sounds like you two didn't hit it off."

"She hated me because she hated my father. In her eyes we were one and the same. Plus, she really hated cops. And I was the Fuzz."

"The name kind of fits you, baby," she said, tousling his hair.

"Then why do I get called a hippy all the time?"

"You're the best of both worlds."

"Now you're just trying to score some points," he said, and she smiled and kissed him again.

"Your mom thinks you're upset with her over something she told you," Kensi said. "Wouldn't tell me what it was, and believe me I asked. Want to talk about it?"

Tears suddenly watered his eyes, and she sat down on the side of the bed, confused by his emotions. He took her hands in his and settled them on his chest, but remained silent for a few moments.

"I mentioned it to Callen, and he laid some damn good wisdom on me, but it's still bugging me. I can't stop thinking about it," he said.

"Just tell me, Deeks. If it's still bothering you than it bothers me."

"Before I was born my mom had a child. Stillborn. A boy. A brother, Kens...and she never ever mentioned it. Ever. And I don't understand that. I've tried, but I just can't, Kens."

"Oh my God."

"Why did she keep that from me all these years?" Deeks asked. "I don't know if she believed me, but I told her I forgave her for not telling me, but I can't seem to let it go."

Kensi hesitated, trying to put herself in Roberta's shoes. "Deeks...try and think what that must have felt like. To carry a child for nine months only to lose it in that one moment you had been looking forward to for so long. She loved that baby, Deeks. She cherished him. And then that little baby boy was just gone. There was nothing but emptiness. Think how devastating that must have been for her."

Tears slipped out from beneath his eyelashes, and he blinked them back as he struggled with his emotions.

"Remember how you felt that day I thought we might be pregnant?" Kensi said as she brought her face up close to his. "You felt the loss of just the possibility of a child, just as I did. It hurt. Your mom's anticipation lasted for nine months."

"God, Kens. I got so angry with her. I was mean...and selfish."

"Maybe she didn't want you to feel the loss she felt. She told me that your father blamed her. Maybe she thought you would too. She said the only comfort she found came from Kyle Hyder."

"Who wasn't much better than my dad."

"Your mom said he was kind to her. Understanding. Loving, even."

"My dad wasn't any of those things. He was a terrible person, Kens. Just plain cruel. Vindictive. Violent. I'd always wondered what it would have been like to have a brother. A protector. When she told me about losing a baby boy, I flashed on all my childhood dreams about having a big brother in my life. I didn't even think about what it had done to her. What does that say about me, Kens? I'm ashamed of myself...how I spoke to her. She didn't deserve that."

"Give yourself a break, sweetie," she whispered, stroking his cheek. "She sprung it on you when you were in a volatile and dangerous situation. You were wounded and just trying to find a way to survive. You didn't have time or the energy to deal with that kind of information."

"Don't make excuses for me, Kens."

"Okay, but you have to know she isn't angry with you, just hurt that you won't talk to her. You need to make this right, Deeks."

"Yeah, I do...and I will. I'll talk to her tomorrow. Tonight, I just want to look at you and forget everything that happened. I came so close to never seeing you again...Kens...I love you."

He pulled her face to his and kissed her, his breath warm on her cheek as he held her close. Some of the residual fear she still felt slowly faded as he whispered his love for her in the dark. She realized how lucky they'd been. Roberta had told her some of what had happened, and she'd spoken to the fireman who had picked up Roberta's journal, and it had literally terrified her at how close he'd come to dying, especially at the end, when Pettis hadn't needed him anymore. She was still surprised the man hadn't just shot him. With the rogue agent dead, none of them would ever know why he didn't.

...

Deeks' second day in the hospital was largely spent answering more questions from his own team, local law enforcement, the district attorney of Placer County, and of course the FBI. He did have some well-wishers. Charley Mott, the fire captain, came by to see how he was holding up. Deeks told him he owed them his life and to expect a case of beer to arrive at the station for him and his men. The weird little man from Newcastle also showed up to thank him for saving his life, offering him a coupon for the Italian restaurant in Newcastle. It was a strange visit, but at least he hadn't asked a lot of questions. The man wouldn't shut up, just kept talking about how things like this never happened around here, and how he was getting a lot of free beers for telling his story. All the talk of beer made Deeks thirsty.

Even U.S. Marshall McKinnon came by to talk. He seemed sad that Wanda Kowalski was dead, calling her Angel to the end. He was grateful to finally learn who had killed his father. Nell had been charged with going through collected evidence and had discovered that Ray Skule, aka Skull, had also kept a journal. It was filled with a macabre list of assassinations and murders, including McKinnon's father. Skull had kept detailed notes not only about who he'd killed and how, but the names of the informants they had bribed for information. Hetty had turned it all over to FBI Special Agent in Charge Woods, who'd promised to pursue every informant still alive. It had finally gotten him off Deeks' back, as Hetty had probably known it would. The whole thing had been exhausting.

It was only after Kensi had spoken with Sergeant Torres did the parade of visitors stop. He put a detail outside his door with a list of approved visitors and a sign up sheet for those with questions, who then had to make an appointment. It had finally allowed him to get some sleep. By the morning of the third day he was ready to go home. All he had to do was convince the doctors and Kensi, as well as Hetty, Callen and Sam. It didn't work.

"Why are you guys still here?" Deeks asked, a little annoyed by the two men hovering around his bed. "Aren't there other cases you could be working on?"

"I think he's trying to get rid of us, G," Sam said.

"That hurts my feelings just a little," Callen replied. "How about you?"

"Come on, guys. I'm doing fine. Better than fine," Deeks said with exaggerated enthusiasm. "I'm on pain meds, so I'm feeling good, feeling ready to get back to LA."

"Start your rehab?" Sam asked. "Which I will checking on every day."

"Every day?" Deeks asked.

"Every single one," Callen said. "He's annoying and very strict. Trust me, I know."

"You haven't even been out of bed yet, Deeks," Sam said. "But you think you're ready to go through an airport, get on a plane, go through another airport, sit in bumper to bumper traffic just to get home and go back to bed?"

"That does sound daunting and a little pointless," Deeks admitted. "But I'm going stir crazy just laying around watching reruns of Sesame Street and Baywatch."

"Those make perfect sense coming from you," Sam said.

"I'm guessing Baywatch gets switched off when Kensi's here," Callen smirked.

"I might have a concussion, but the brain cells used for self preservation were not damaged," he replied with a grin. "Come on guys. I really need a change of scenery."

"Hetty does have a meeting room reserved downstairs," Callen said. "She's Skyping with Nell and Eric in a half hour. Ready to sit through one of Hetty's briefings?"

"Let's see if he can make it to the elevator first," Sam commented.

Deeks threw off his blankets and gingerly swung his good leg over the side, wincing at the sudden pain. The cast over his knee went from his thigh down to his calf, and he took a deep breath before reaching down to lift it so he could maneuver himself off the bed. He was shaking by the time he managed to get his leg over the edge. He blew out his breath a few times to deal with the pain, and when he looked up Callen and Sam were staring at him with doubtful looks.

"You sure you want to try this?" Callen asked.

"No pain, no gain, right?" Deeks managed to say with a weak grin.

"Don't forget your slippers," Sam said and bent down to slip them on. "This is the one and only time I'm doing this, Deeks."

"Don't forget his robe," Callen said, holding it out to Sam with a smirk.

"Ain't happening, G."

Callen giggled and gave the robe to Deeks who slipped it on without comment.

"Your crutches await," Callen said, holding them up in front of him.

"Awesome."

"Sure you don't want us to get you a wheelchair?" Sam offered.

"I'm good with the crutches...unless I do a face plant," Deeks said.

Sam stepped up beside him and helped him to his feet, steadying him until he could get the crutches under control.

"Follow the leader, Deeks. I've got your six. Just in case you land on your ass." Sam laughed.

"You're both enjoying this, aren't you?" Deeks said as he took his first tentative steps.

"No, Deeks. Weren't not," Sam said firmly, reaching over to squeeze his shoulder.

"Knowing you watch Sesame Street is definitely funny though," Callen said.

"Fitting, if you ask me," Sam replied as they guided him slowly out the door to the elevator.

Deeks felt shaky and weak, but he didn't want the guys to know that, so he asked questions and bantered with them as he slowly made his way to the elevator. He'd been on crutches before, and he didn't like them very much, especially this time, since they pulled at the stitches in the knife wound in his back. Right now, everything hurt, even with the pain medication he was on, but the lure of something to occupy his mind besides old television shows and rehashing his actions over the last week kept him moving.

"Seen my mom this morning?" Deeks asked as he maneuvered off the elevator.

"According to my sources, she's having breakfast with Dale Cassidy," Callen said.

"Who the hell is that?" Deeks asked, stopping in the middle of the hallway.

"The owner of the garage in Newcastle. You hid her there. Remember?" Sam said. "He's got a sweet hot rod he restored himself."

"Sam's jealous," Callen said.

"It's not up to Charlene standards, but it's impressive," Sam said.

"Awesome," Deeks murmured, knowing he shouldn't be surprised his mom had made another conquest.

Deeks was feeling tired by the time they reached the meeting room, but seeing Kensi seated at the table lifted his spirits immediately.

"Hey, baby," she said, her brilliant smile a touch of home.

"Mr. Deeks," Hetty called out as she stirred a cup of tea. "It's good to see you upright. How are you this morning?"

"Apparently not healthy enough to go home, according to Sam."

"I believe you're being released tomorrow morning," she announced, surprising them all. "A private jet will be waiting to take us all back to LA. Unless of course your mother's new boyfriend convinces her to stay up here a little longer."

"You're joking, right?" Deeks asked.

"You will have to ask her that yourself, Mr. Deeks."

"I think I'm too tired to keep up with her," he moaned as he dropped into a chair.

"I think we all are, Mr. Deeks," Hetty said kindly. "Now...shall we see what the two Wonder Twins have discovered about the hidden treasure trove everyone's been looking for?"

Eric and Nell were side by side as they popped up on the laptop screen, both of them sounding concerned as they greeted Deeks. After a rush of questions that he tried to answer, Hetty ordered them back on task.

"I met with the bank president in San Bernardino yesterday," Nell began. "After notifying him of Ray Skule's death, I presented him with a subpoena and a search warrant for all files related to his account. He was quite happy to accommodate us, but seemed a little confused about our interest in such a small amount of money."

"What?" A few of them said in unison.

"No...no millions?" Deeks asked.

"Not even close," Eric answered.

"Apparently in the month leading up to Ray Skule's death, he withdrew substantial sums from the account," Nell said. "The thing is, the San Bernardino bank didn't transfer any of those funds, so we have no idea where it all went."

"Could he have deposited it in another bank?" Callen asked.

"Not one we can find," Eric replied. "And believe me we've looked. Here. Meaning the entire United States of America. Europe. South America. Offshore. And Asia. No trace whatsoever. A big fat nothing."

"How much are we talking?" Sam asked.

"As of two months ago, there was four million three hundred and twenty-six thousand dollars in that account," Nell said.

"For supposed hippies, they were wildly successful at robbing banks," Eric said. "And hiding the money."

"Did he take it out all at once?" Kensi asked. "And is that even possible?"

"He requested cashier's checks made out to 'cash'," Nell replied. "We just don't know what he did with them all. They're not in any bank we can find, or in his apartment. There's no record that he bought anything other than the basics. He lived a spartan existence. Not even a new car."

"We're looking into charities who've recently received major contributions," Eric added. "So far, nothing."

"How much is left in the account?" Deeks asked.

"Nine thousand, two-hundred and seventy-six dollars."

Deeks began to smile and then laugh. "I almost wish Pettis was alive just so I could see his face when I told him that."

"Not much to run away to a desert island on," Callen said.

"Skull apparently was a pirate, Mr. Callen," Hetty said.

"A good one," Sam said with a smile.

"Buried treasure with no map," Hetty said.

"We're still searching, but it might take a while to find...if we find it at all," Nell said.

"They were his friends and in the end he screwed them all," Deeks said.

"Well he obviously didn't trust them," Kensi said.

"My mom said they were his only real family back in their hippy days. He knew them better than anyone, but I don't think they respected him. Controlling that bank account gave him power. He had to know that Wanda was getting a little squirrelly toward the end. Maybe he didn't trust them anymore and screwed them before they could screw him," Deeks said. "Actually I think he wanted to screw everybody. Pettis and the Albanian tortured him for that information, but he never broke. They cut off both his ears and he still didn't tell them where the money was. It was his final revenge on all of them. Pettis especially."

"The proverbial last laugh," Hetty said.

"I wonder what your mom will have to say about it?" Callen said, as Hetty took a call.

"I'll ask her when I see her today," Deeks said.

"I'm afraid Roberta has already started back, Mr. Deeks," Hetty said. "She has her own personal chauffeur. From what I've just been told, she riding home in style in a 1930's Ford Coupe. Red, if I'm not mistaken."

"Seriously?"

"Don't worry. He's not a serial killer or a pirate. I had Eric do a deep dive on Dale Cassidy. No skeletons. Clean record with an impressive stint in Vietnam," Hetty said.

"Here we go again," he muttered.

"Kensi, I suggest you take Mr. Deeks back upstairs to his hospital bed. We wouldn't want him to relapse and miss the flight home."

"Home sounds pretty good right about now," he replied as Kensi helped him to his feet.

He remained subdued all the way back to his room. Kensi tried to engage him, but he kept his comments brief, mostly just a word or two until she stopped trying. Once back in bed she sat beside him and brushed his hair back off his forehead.

"You want to talk about what's bothering you?" She asked.

Deeks grunted out a harsh laugh and turned to stare out the window. "She just took off without a word. Again. It's how this whole thing got started. I just wish I could understand why."

"Have you ever? Understood her, I mean?"

"I thought I did, but then this whole craziness happened, and I found out things about her I didn't necessarily want to know."

"She loves you, Deeks. You know that."

"Then why did she just take off with a complete stranger while I'm in the hospital?"

"I'm not sure that's fair, baby," Kensi said. "You never call her when you're injured. Even when you got shot, you didn't call."

"Because she'd freak out."

"So now that she's not freaking out, you get upset?" Kensi asked, smiling at him. "Deeks, she's feeling guilty. She's probably just looking for something normal to do to take her mind off what happened. Everyone has their own way of dealing with trauma. Maybe going for a long ride in a hot rod with a good looking man is her way of relieving stress."

"Like she did with Scarecrow after she lost her baby."

"Like with someone who only knows what she wants him to know."

"She's controlling the narrative."

"Give her the space and time she needs to come to terms with all this, sweetie," Kensi said. "She'll come to you when she wants to talk."

"You're right. I guess she deserves a break," he whispered.

"And I deserve some time alone with my husband," Kensi said, leaning in to kiss him.

"Yeah, you do," he replied with a soft grin. "The door's closed. Nurse already checked my vitals this morning. Doctor made his rounds. So we have all this private time. What would you like to do with it, Mrs. Bleeks?"

She stretched out beside him and ran her hand down under the blanket. "I'm sure I'll think of something."

...

He'd been home for two days. Kensi and the guys had caught a case, and he checked his messages once again. Nothing from his mom since the call he'd gotten on the plane. She'd asked for time, and he'd agreed, but he could feel the tension building inside himself. His mother had always gone her own way since he'd been in high school. She didn't want to be controlled and he respected that, but he was beginning to worry again, but wasn't sure why. There was no danger now. At least none that he could think of, but he was still uneasy. The sudden knock on the door surprised him, and he struggled off the couch where he'd intended to take a nap.

"Hold on...I'm coming."

His mother stood nervously on the front landing clutching a FedEx envelope. She looked behind her and pushed past him and into the living room.

"Shut the door, Martin. Hurry."

"Good afternoon to you too, Mama. Somebody set your pants on fire or what?"

"Don't get smart with me, Martin Deeks," she said. "This just never ends. I have a couple of good days and then the craziness starts all over again. I don't need this, Martin. If this keeps happening, I'm moving to Maine or maybe Iceland."

"You don't like snow, Mama. Remember?" he said. "Slow down and tell me what's going on. Did that Dale Cassidy guy get handsy with you?"

"What are you talking about?"

"What are you?"

"He was very nice," she replied, turning to peer out the front window.

"Is he outside waiting for you? Talk sense, Mama. What's got you so spooked?"

"This," she said, and shoved the FedEx envelope into his chest.

He managed to grab it, but lost one of his crutches. Hopping on one foot, he made it to the leather chair and collapsed into it.

"Sorry," she said, as she sat down hard on the couch with his crutch across her lap. "It was just delivered."

"Okay..."

"Marty...it's from Ray."

"Ray Skule? Seriously?"

Deeks saw she had already opened it, but she wouldn't look at him as he pulled the contents out. Deep down he had somehow known this would happen. He held five cashier's checks in his hand. Four million three hundred and twenty thousand dollars worth. Skull must have kept the remaining six thousand.

"I'm proud of you, Mama," he said as a grin spread across his face.

"Why? What for? I didn't do anything."

"I'm proud of you because you're not sitting in Paris right now calling me from the balcony of your suite at the Hotel Crillon and sipping Dom Perignon."

She tried to hold back a smile, but couldn't. "There's still time. We'd fly first class, of course."

"I can bring Kensi, and you can bring Dale Cassidy," he said.

"Too late. He missed the boat, so to speak," she said with a laugh. "He drove back last night."

"You weave quite a spell on the men in your life," he said.

"You're the only man in my life that I care about, Marty," she said softly. "You're my only son. I got you hurt and get rewarded by a killer. How crazy is that?"

"Life got pretty crazy there for a while, but we survived. Just like we always have."

He picked up his phone and called Hetty. She wasn't surprised by the gift either, and said she would send a courier to pick up the pirate's treasure.

"Do you forgive me?" His mom asked.

"For what?"

"For not telling you about Dylan."

"You named my brother Dylan? After Bob Dylan?"

"Of course. It was the sixties," she said softly, her eyes tearing up. "I wanted to name him after Frank Zappa, but Gordon said no way."

"Frank is a strong name."

"Not Frank. Zappa."

Deeks laughed out loud at the thought that he'd almost had a big brother named Zappa. He would have loved it. And maybe someday in the not so distant future, he'd have a son of his own. Dylan was a good name for a boy, and he had no doubt it would please his mama.

...

...

The End...