Retribution | By : ambrosiarush Category: M through R > NCIS: Los Angeles Views: 13277 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0 |
Disclaimer: I do not own NCIS:LA or any of it's characters. I do NOT make any money from writing this story. |
Deeks had been to wakes before, it didn’t make them any easier. He parked his red Rubicon down the street from the funeral home, the parking lot was already overflowing. He looked over at Kensi and then to the rear view mirror, Ray was sitting in the back seat since Deeks had decided it was best that the man stick with the two federal agents to ensure his cover.
Jax who had rented a sporty black Porsche Boxster that he was fond pulled up behind, both twins emerged from the car and Deeks took a deep breath mentally preparing himself before pressing on the seatbelt and exiting from the car. Two more slams and he knew both Ray and Kensi were out too. Deeks stared down the road to the funeral home and found his heart racing. “You good Marty?” Ray asked.
“Yeah,” Deeks said snapping out of old memories, he’d seen the inside of that particular funeral home once before. “Fine.”
He adjusted the black tie he wore, black suit, just like Ray and Jax wore, although Jax wore his with a blue shirt rather than the classic white both Deeks and Ray had gone for. He looked to Delaney in the black sheath dress, her mile long legs ending up in black three inch heels that left her taller than the men, her hair in curls. Evan had always been partial to Delaney with her hair curled. Her eyes were hidden behind her oversized designer sunglasses. Jax put an arm around his sister and Deeks turned to Kensi who was watching him carefully.
There was no denying that Kensi looked stunning, white blouse, black pencil skirt, black blazer. Hair down, wavy like when they’d first met, her bangs now framing her face insisting they were in a different time, a different place. She held out her hand to him tilting her head just slightly. He let out a breath, walked around the hood of the car and took the offered hand. She squeezed it, and he knew it was her way of reminding him that she was there for him. He pulled her close and put his arm over her shoulder. “Thank you,” he murmured into her hair. She nodded just once, acknowledging his words.
The group walked down the sidewalk, Delaney breaking from her brother to walk on her own standing a little straighter trying to keep her emotions in check. Ray elbowed Deeks in the side getting the detective’s attention he nodded his head to the head of the parking lot. Deeks ignored the other people and his eyes zeroed in on where Ray was directing his attention. Marianne Ellis.
Delaney stopped right behind them and peered around. “You guys go inside,” she said.
“I’ll stay with you Laney,” Jax replied quietly, his hands going into his trouser pockets.
She shook her head. “No, no,” she insisted looking at her brother. “She might kick up a fuss and keep me out... you shouldn’t be there and be denied paying your respects because of me.”
“You should get to too,” Ray said.
“It’s okay,” Delaney’s voice was sad but understanding. “I’ll wait outside if that’s how she wants it.” She wasn’t going to kick up a mess at the funeral of her friend and former lover even if she was denied the right of saying goodbye.
Jax studied his sister and sighed knowing that this was one thing he wouldn’t be able to talk her out of. He kissed the top of her head and put the keys to the rented Boxster in her hand. “In case you choose to leave, I’ll get a ride with Martin.”
Delaney’s hand tightened around the keys and she nodded. “Go, go on,” she waved a hand at the rest of them. “If I don’t see you inside, I’ll see you back at Marty’s.”
::
Quiet crying, open sobs, a sea of black and white suits and dresses. The place had flowers everywhere but the place still smelt stale. Deeks looked to the blue and gold tightly woven carpet and remembered it from years back. It had aged, stains here and there and were likely unnoticeable to everyone due to distracted minds focussing solely on their loss. Jax stood by the window looking out as the funeral director gave his condolences and asked Deeks how he knew Mr Ellis.
“Grew up together,” Deeks responded to the man’s question, but his eyes were glued on the redwood coffin at the end of the large room.
“Sir, we have a situation,” one of the staff said having come in from the parking lot entrance.
Jax sighed and walked over to join Deeks, Ray and Kensi. “A situation would be an understatement.”
“Marianne fighting with Laney?” Ray asked pushing back his dark locks that had hints of grey.
“Yeah.” Deeks looked over at Jax, who’s green eyes were on the door. It was obvious that he didn’t like that his sister was out there. “Guess I’ll be paying the last respects for both of us.”
They moved through the groups of people, women crying and holding on to one another, men stoically standing keeping it together, occasionally rubbing the backs of one of the women and whispering words of comfort. They got into the line to give condolence to the family. Steven Ellis along with a few other members of the close family stood they mostly seemed numb to the experience. Deeks held on to Kensi as the line made slow progress. Marianne had come back in through the back, she looked furious and he only needed one guess to figure out why.
Ray frowned and turned to the guys. “You think our girl’s okay?”
Deeks shrugged, Delaney took think things straight to her heart and seemed to feel everything be it joy or grief to the fullest extent.
Jax sighed. “Yeah,” he said finally. “She’ll be okay.” Despite his assuring words, his body language had him torn between wanting to stay, and wanting to leave to check on her.
The closer they got the worse Deeks felt. There was a pit in his stomach, his throat felt like it was closing and he kept having memories of Evan flashing in the back of his head.
“Marty-boy! I’m tellin’ you, you should get with that.”
“Evan!” Delaney’s voice pitched as she swatted Evan lightly on the arm.
Evan smiled over at her and then turned his attention back to Deeks. “Seriously, Gemma is one hell of a catch! What are you waiting for?”
“Men!” Delaney shook her head grabbing her binders. “I’m going to class.”
“I’m skipping,” Ray said with a grin. “This sounds like it’s going to get interesting.”
Delaney shook her head, her long red hair swaying with the movement before she left the boys on the grassy knoll walking toward the school. “You should really stop lookin’ at Jax’s sister like that,” Deeks warned Evan noting the lust filled eyes that followed Delaney’s swaying hips.
Evan laughed and threw a arm over Deeks’s shoulder. “What Jax doesn’t know, won’t hurt him. And don’t try to change the topic Marty-boy, this is about you and tall, blonde and busty.”
He hadn’t thought about those high school days in a long time, longer since that the name Gemma had ever even entered his mind. She’d had a pretty face, greatest boobs and in a high school filled with teenage boys it made her a hot commodity, still he hadn’t ended up going out with her despite Evan’s prying, poking and prodding. He’d always been more into brunettes anyways.
Deeks’s arm tightened around Kensi’s shoulders as they got to the head of the line. She kissed him on the cheek and moved out of the way since she didn’t know the family, nor had she known Evan. She watched as Deeks, Ray and Jax gave their condolences to the close family members. She could see how hard Deeks was taking the event, he shook hands with Steven, gave a hug to Marianne and she could read his lips. ‘He was a good man.’ Marianne nodded in agreement and seemed unable to find more words she simply patted his shoulder.
Kensi watched as Deeks moved to stand in front of the closed coffin. After a second his head bowed and turned away looking to the ground. It pained her to see her typically happy-go-lucky partner like this. She walked up behind him, placing a hand on his lower back as she walked around him. She could tell how hard he was fighting his grief, the tears that threatened to fall.
Ray came up next placing a hand on the coffin. “See you on the other side, brother,” Ray whispered and turned to Deeks clapping a hand on his shoulder. “Marty, you good?”
Deeks opened his mouth as if to speak but thought better of it, instead nodding his head. He turned his head to see Jax in front of Marianne, in typical Bennett fashion he was polite and respectful to the woman despite her refusing to allow his twin sister into the building. He gave her a sad smile and moved on to the coffin with the rest of the men. He stared at if for a minute. “Your mother still hates Laney,” he said his voice giving away his grief as he placed his hand on the coffin. “She sends her love.”
Unable to watch, Deeks turned away and the group got seats. His parents spoke of him when everyone had finally sat down, they told humourous anecdotes, informed everyone of drinks and food to be had at a nearby community centre for anyone interested. Deeks wasn’t. He wanted to go home, and for the first time since his late teens, getting fall down drunk seemed like a good idea.
::
The Boxster wasn’t in the driveway when Deeks pulled the Rubicon into the driveway. “Should we call her?” Ray asked. He’d always felt protective over Delaney, she was the ‘little sister’ of the group and of one of his best friends and she on her own had always, without fail been there for any of them whenever they needed anything at all.
“No,” Jax replied. “She’ll come back in her own time.” He had a feeling she was at the beach, despite the fair skin they shared, she was like Deeks in the way she loved the beach, the water, the sand. Sure, she had to lather up with the highest SPF she could find but the beach always brought her a sense of peace. He knew bugging her while she was trying to figure her own stuff out would only annoy her and make her stay out longer. She’d always done things on her own terms. If she needed to grieve in private, she would, and when she wanted a shoulder to cry on, she’d return to them.
Deeks opened the door and Monty came to greet the group, first Deeks who paused a moment to scratch his beloved pet behind the ears. Monty licked Kensi’s hand in greeting wagged his tail and circled around Jax and jumped up on Ray who laughed and ruffled the dogs hair affectionately.
“Anyone want a drink?” Deeks asked.
Jax and Ray shared a look. “How drunk you planning on getting there Marty?” Ray asked eyeing the younger man he seen as a brother.
Deeks shot him a dirty look. “I’m thirty three, as drunk as I want.”
“Got scotch?” Jax asked.
Deeks thought about it for a minute, despite not usually drinking more than the occasional beer himself he did keep stock for guests in case they wanted something. The scotch likely hadn’t been touched since the last time Jax had been around and Deeks found half a bottle in the cupboard. “Yep.” He took down a stack of five shot glasses and lined them up on the table as everyone came into the kitchen.
Jax slipped off his suit jacket, hanging it off the back of one of the wooden chairs and loosened his tie. Ray took his tie right off hanging the black bit of silk over the back of another chair before dropping into a seat. The four of them sat down around the table shot glasses filled and passed around. One sitting at the side of the table, untouched for their lost brother.
Deeks raised it his shot glass. “To Evan.”
Jax, Ray and Kensi all raised their glasses. “To Evan,” they repeated and all four of them knocked back their shots.
“Tell me about him,” Kensi requested and figured it would help them remember the good times, get past the quiet stage of their grief.
“Shit disturber,” Ray said with a bit of a smirk.
“He had this way about him, that he just didn’t care, he lived exactly how he wanted. Always in the moment,” Jax said as he took it upon himself to pour everyone another round. Deeks quickly knocked his back, Ray following close behind. Jax stared at the liquid before drinking his and turning his attention back to Kensi. “A lot of people might stay alive until a hundred, but it doesn’t mean they lived all those years. Evan did.”
“Sounds like he was a lot of fun,” Kensi replied wistfully, it was obvious this man had been loved.
Ray laughed. “Oh yeah. Lady killer.” The man shook his head. “I swear, he dated every girl in our high school.”
“Much to my sister’s dismay,” Jax said shaking his head.
“How’d you feel about him dating your sister?” Kensi inquired.
Jax was quiet for a minute. “Beat the hell out of him when I finally found out. They’d kept it a secret for five months.” Jax shook his head. “Ray knew, I don’t know how they managed to keep it a secret.”
“Hey!” Ray said sounding offended.
Jax smirked in return. “Ray’s such a girl when it comes to gossip.”
Ray rolled his eyes dramatically and huffed out a annoyed breath. Kensi looked over to Deeks who was staring at the now quarter full bottle fo scotch on the table. “What’s your favourite memory of him?” Deeks looked over getting caught up in her eyes for a second.
He smiled at the fading memory she’d brought back with her prompt.
“Are you sure we aren’t going to get in trouble for this?” A young Martin Brandel asked he walked a bit behind the older boys, Evan and Ray. The sand was warm on the top but as his feet sunk as he walked barefoot, the further they sunk, the colder the sand got, he moved quickly to keep warm. “The sign does say that no one should be on the beach after-“
Evan groaned loudly in an over dramatic fashion as he let his head hang back and his shoulders slump. “Really? Seriously? Don’t be such a baby Marty!”
“Yeah well your dad isn’t waiting to put your head through a wall,” Marty muttered bitterly.
Ray and Evan exchanged a worried look and looked back at the nearly nine year old boy, Evan half a year older, Ray two years older. Ray sighed and Evan shrugged before throwing his arm over Marty’s scrawny shoulders. “We’re brothers now. You, me, Ray. We’ll watch out for you.”
Marty’s blue eyes lit up. “Brothers?”
“Yeah,” Evan insisted. “We’re brothers, we’ll always watch out for you, and you’ll watch out for us. Deal?”
Marty had nodded his head vigorously. It was the first time he’d ever snuck out after his parents were asleep. He hoped his mom didn’t poke her head in. He didn’t want to worry her, but Ray had told him to line up his pillows and pull the blanket over and they wouldn’t know. He trusted Ray. The boys had insisted that this night he had to sneak out right at eleven. They’d be waiting for him outside his window, and they had been.
“Come on,” Ray said excitedly. “This way!”
The three boys made their way across the sand, the waves crashing against the shore. Marty figured he’d be afraid alone, but he was there with his brothers and he knew he’d be okay.
Suddenly Evan was picking him up by his arm on one side, Ray was on the other and they carried him to the ocean. “Hey! Put me down!” He had yelled, the two boys had laughed and threw him in the ocean. Marty had come to the surface quickly, sputtering and angry. Sure the boys sometimes pulled pranks on each other, but how was he suppose to sneak back into the house all soaking wet?
“Jerks!” He yelled walking towards shore where Ray already was but Evan was blocking him. “Move Evan!”
“Be cool Marty-boy!” Evan insisted. “What time is it Ray?”
It had taken them a while to walk to the beach. “Two minutes after midnight,” Ray shouted back. “Did you find it, it’s under the seaweed!” He called over his shoulder.
“I know!” Ray responded indignantly. “I hid it there, jeez. Ah! Got it!” Ray responded and into the water he threw a boogie board.
Evan smiled. “Two minutes after midnight, it’s official. Happy birthday Marty.”
“Happy birthday!” Ray shouted from shore, obviously not wanting to get more wet.
“What? How?” Marty questioned making his way through the water to the blue and green board, his hands running over it.
“Probably best if you don’t ask,” Evan said snickering.
Deeks shook his head and turned to Ray. “How did you guys get that board for me?”
“Well, considering you’re a cop,” Ray said despite knowing that Deeks was a federal agent, Jax didn’t. “I probably shouldn’t tell you.” Ray laughed.
Deeks smiled and shook his head. “You’re right, I don’t want to know.”
The rest of the night, the men shared stories of Evan Ellis. Motorcycles, women, bar fights. They drank more, laughed and remembered the good times of the friend they had lost.
::
Delaney parked the Boxster in the lot by a bar she enjoyed visiting when she came to Los Angeles. It wasn’t big, it was rarely busy. Tonight she preferred a bar over a club, she didn’t want to dance, she didn’t want to have to deal with men flirting or trying to pick her up. Sure, many nights she did enjoy such an evening. Tonight, she wanted a stiff drink, she wanted to remember and honour the friend she had lost.
She studied the outside of the building, it was old but taken care of, the owners obviously having pride. The bar would do, she decided stepping out of the car and locking it. Last thing she needed was the car to be stolen and her brother hounding her. She paused at the hood of the car, she pressed a hand against the warm hood to keep her balance as she took off one heel and dumped the sand from the beach, she switched sides and did the same for the other. The waves had brought her some peace, as had the sand between her toes. She’d kept to the shade, looking out of place in a dress and heels but didn’t mind as she spent hours spacing out and watching the waves. People had left long before she had decided it was time to get up. The sun had been setting and by the time she’d driven to the bar, night had descended upon the city.
Her heels clicked as she walked along the linoleum of the bar floor. It was a quiet night. There appeared to be a couple chatting over a couple of beers. A man drowning his sorrows with a bottle of bourbon and a single shot glass he kept refilling. The bartender was leaning against the wall texting on his phone when Delaney approached the bar. She checked the wood of the bar for spills before setting down her expensive black satin clutch.
The bartender looked up, she pegged him to be in his late forties, blonde overgrown hair, blue eyes and a smile that made him seem friendly. “G’afternoon Miss. What can I get for you?”
Delaney thought about it for a minute. What drink to honour Evan? He, like her brother was a Scotch man. She smiled just a little bit at old memories that played at the back of her head. “I’m having a drink for a friend... he’s... being buried tomorrow.” There was something about bartenders, you just felt like telling them stuff... and they were cheaper than a psychologist.
“Sorry to hear that Miss,” the bartender replied with compassion in his voice.
She smiled a little. “Can I get two Red Headed Sluts?”
The bartenders eyes went to her curly red hair and he smiled. “Sure thing.” He started moving around preparing the shooter.
“What the heck is this?” Delaney asked Evan as he set down the red shooter in front of her. It was her and her brother’s twenty first birthday, they were the last of the group to hit the milestone and the boys insisted they were all going out and getting drunk. Except for Deeks. He’d make sure everyone got home safe. He had a law test in the morning that he just couldn’t miss and it would be better not to be hungover anyways.
“Just drink it,” Evan insisted, his eyes on her.
She studied her boyfriend. They’d dated a few times before. A few weeks. A few months. But now things seemed more serious, four months. She looked over at her brother who didn’t know. Jax was overprotective and had made sure each Deeks, Ray and Evan had gotten a warning to keep their hands off his sister. Evan was a bit of a daredevil.
She picked up the drink and sniffed it, she wrinkled her nose a bit from the scent of the alcohol, though there was the scent of cranberry mixed in. Evan hit the bottom of the shooter glass lightly prompting her to throw back her first shot. She swallowed it down and exhaled, she thought about it for a second. “That wasn’t so bad,” she admitted.
“Good ,amiright?” Evan asked with his trademark roguish smile.
She smiled and nodded. “So, what’s this thing called?”
At that point neither Ray or Deeks could hold back their laughter any longer. Evan leaned in and over the rock music playing in the crowded bar he told her. “The Red Headed Slut.”
The two drinks were placed in front of her, and the bartender seemed to know she’d want to be left alone and went to wipe down some of the tables. Delaney stared at the two drinks that she knew would forever remind her of better times, of laughter, music and good friends. A sob caught in her throat. She didn’t want to cry. She didn’t want to grieve. She wasn’t ready to let go. She wasn’t ready to say goodbye. The funeral was tomorrow. She could say goodbye then. Tonight she wanted a distraction. She wanted to forget the pain. She wanted to find a way to get rid of the hollow ache in her chest. She tossed back the Red Headed Slut and stared at the other.
Distraction came with the man who’d been constantly refilling his glass, he’d hit on the girlfriend who’d been sharing beers with a man who looked like he played professional football. A bit of a scuffle ensued and the bartender started ushering to kick the three out back.
The front door opened, rattling the bell above the door. Delaney looked over wearily to find someone who looked as exhausted with the world as she. Tall, she suspected taller than she even with the heels she wore on her feet. Clean shaven, dark hair, brown eyes that seemed tired but looked like a well of never ending compassion... the door slammed and for a second horrors played over the man’s eyes and in a second they were gone and he was looking around only seeing her. “Quiet night?” He asked.
She nodded. “Bartender will be back in a second,” she said.
He could have taken a seat further away, or a table but he sat down next to her. “You look tired,” he noted like they were old friends.
“I am,” she admitted to the friendly stranger having the oddest sensation. She felt like they’d done this before, like she knew him already though she was quite certain they had never met. Another time, another life. The two sat in a comfortable silence for a minute. She spent the time studying his profile as he looked at the line up of alcohol bottles on the wall. “You look like you have something you want to forget,” she whispered. He turned and looked at her and it was only then that she realized she’d said it out loud. Her large green eyes widened and a hand went over her mouth. “Sorry.”
He studied her for a second and then smiled, just a little. “It’s okay. I suppose we all have something we want to forget.”
Delaney was quiet, she could hear the bartender still calming the boyfriend in the backroom, convincing him to leave the drunken man alone. She bit on her bottom lip. She didn’t usually do one night stands, she preferred being wined and dined she enjoyed relationships most of the time. Not to say she hadn’t done the one night stand thing before. It had happened a few times. Sometimes she’d wake feeling regretful. Others she was just glad that there was still a warm body beside her when she woke. Sometimes it didn’t matter if there wasn’t an emotional connection. Sometimes she just wanted the physical, wanted to be wanted, and for a moment the world would go away. She wanted that tonight.
Her hand went to his knee and he looked down at the pale hand that squeezed just slightly. “Maybe we could help each other forget, just for tonight.” She hoped he would catch her meaning. He seemed kind, he was handsome in a way that made her interested sexually, and for tonight those were the only qualifications she needed. He seemed to be debating and she slowly slid her hand up a bit further, his hand coming down over hers, his dark brown eyes studying her face. She didn’t know what he was thinking, she figured he was trying to think of a way to let her down kindly. She went to pull her hand away and apologize for being so blunt but he held tightly to her hand, her eyes went down to where their fingers intertwined and back to his face with a questioning expression.
He stood, still holding her hand pulled out enough to cover her drinks and put her empty shot glass over the bill. He pointed to the still full shooter. “Are you going to drink that?”
She shook her head. “It’s for a friend,” she said quietly.
He frowned, understanding. She found compassion in his eyes and was surprised when he pulled her into his chest, his arms wrapping around her. “I’m sorry for your loss,” he whispered to her.
She felt safe in his arms, secure. She wasn’t sure if she believed in past lives, but she’d never felt something like this for someone she’d just met before. She looked up at him and he smiled just slightly in a reassuring manner. She took a step backwards pulling his hand and he fell into step with her by the time the left the bar, the bell tinkling after them.
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