Brothers in Arms

Disclaimer: I do not own NCIS:LA, if I did, there would be credits rolling at the end.
A/N: That's right, this is the final chapter. I'd like to thank everyone who read this story and left reviews (specifically Somnium1, Sweet Lu, keviana, Orchad94, and guest m for the last chapter). This took some turns I didn't plan at the beginning but I think the end result is better with them. Considering this is the first piece of writing that has a beginning, middle, and end that I've ever finished, I'm happy that I like it and that you've liked it.

Day 18

The line to cross the border was long and they had a lot of time to talk. They started by each trading a question and stories began to flow. By the time they made it to the gate, they were in such a good mood that the fact that they had no passports had completely slipped their minds.

The border agent was having none of their explanations about how they had lost the passports somewhere between Costa Rica and the present, which wasn't necessarily a lie, and sent them up to the main building. The each explained who they were to a disbelieving supervisor, but since it was his job, and he wasn't too busy, he set about searching the databases and found Deeks' file from the LAPD. He did some quick comparisons and convinced by the matched fingerprints, he decided to believe him. Deeks then used his superior clearance to access Callen's file and the process was repeated. The agent agreed that according to the files, Deeks and Callen were who they said they were.

Triumphant, they readied themselves to go back to their car. However, the agent continued that it didn't mean that the files couldn't be tampered with. There were further steps he would have to take to verify their story. Which meant getting a hold of their bosses. Although they didn't show it on the outside, the magnitude of that statement hit hard. Hetty would find out and they would be in deep trouble. Maybe they didn't really want to go back. However, before any steps could be taken, a man walked out of his office and into the room they were in.

"Deeks? Marty Deeks? I haven't seen you in years!"

"Paulie?" What are you doing here?" Deeks turned at the voice and grinned.

"It's Paul, thank you very much. I transferred over to border patrol after a couple more years in vice. I was tired of the life and I kind of like living down here...better waves."

The supervisor cut in, "Sir, can you verify that this is Martin Deeks?"

Paul looked puzzled. "Yeah, spent two years working with him. What's the problem?"

Deeks answered him, "We lost our passports and we're trying to get home."

"You working?"

"Yes." Callen answered for Deeks, not wanting the man to have to lie to an old colleague. "I'm Callen, his partner."

Deeks smiled slightly at Callen introducing him as his partner. "We had some cleaning up to do. I'm liasing with NCIS now."

Paul nodded and smiled "Cool. Well, I'd be the person who would have to do the investigation to prove that you are who you say you are and I'll save the taxpayers some money. These men are who they say there are. Let them in."

The supervisor put away all his papers and they were sent on their way. Paul chased them down before they could get down the front steps. "Marty, here's my card. Call me if you're ever down this way again. Maybe you can fill me in on this little trip you took." Deeks took the card and nodded.

The Gremlin chugged its way through the streets of LA. Callen had finally come over to Deeks' side and was starting to feel a fondness for the car that had gotten them out of Mexico. If Deeks didn't want to keep it, he just might.

"You know, I have an empty space in my garage."

Deeks smiled, "We'll figure it out. I just can't wait to see Sam's face when he sees it. This is truly a piece of American history. Think he'd want to restore it?"

At that they both laughed. Callen smirked, "I wonder what he'll name it."

They finally pulled into the lot outside the office. They sat in the car a moment, knowing that the security cameras had picked them up the moment Callen got out of the car to manually punch in the access code. Eric and Nell were probably up in Ops watching them park at this very moment.

They hauled themselves out of the car and shut the doors. Deeks pressed on the top part of the key and made a beeping noise. At Callen's questioning look, he said that he was setting the alarm. Because neither of them wanted to see it stolen. Callen tipped his head toward the cane that he had picked up for Deeks but he shook his head.

"No need for Hetty to have a reason to say 'I told you so.'" Deeks responded.

"It's your choice." Callen levered open the door and motioned for Deeks to go in first. Side by side they walked down the hallway towards the open courtyard. Standing by herself in the centre was Hetty. A cloud of fury roiled around her and was repelling anyone else from coming close. The two kept walking at an even pace that was slow enough to let Deeks hide his limp.

Two words came out of her mouth but the force behind them removed the option for any rebuttal.

"Upstairs. Now."

She led the way and they climbed the stairs. Deeks held onto the banister and made it up with little problems. Waiting for them in the room was Kensi, Sam, Eric, and Nell. The abandoned partners stood straight and tall, arms crossed, and barely restrained rage sparking in their eyes.

Hetty waved at Eric to pull up what obviously had been pre-arranged.

"Would either of you care to explain this?"

The screen filled with various reports. There was one detailing how two unnamed federal agents aided in the raid on Diego's compound from the DEA. There was another about the fiasco in Mexico. A CIA report that was heavily redacted stated that a hit man by the name of Ricardo had been killed by a rival cartel of the LDD's. Finally there were two requests for their files time-stamped the hour they went through the Mexico-US border.

Callen was impressed at how they had figured out what the two of them had been up to. He decided that he had to diffuse the tension and put the questions off to a later time. Hetty did actually have all the answers she needed, there was just one that she wanted.

He pointed at Deeks and blurted out "He has a bullet hole and shrapnel in his leg."

Deeks mouth dropped open but he was quick to recover. "It's just a scratch and Jorge got most of it out. He has flash burns and that haven't been treated."

Callen turned to face him, "Mild sunburn. You got your brains scrambled by a fist the size of boulder."

Deeks matched him and retorted "Bah, didn't feel a thing. You camped out in the jungle, how do you know you didn't get bitten by an infected bug? Not to mention the crunchy ribs."

Callen opened his mouth but Hetty interrupted him "Gentlemen! It is clear that the first place you will be going is a health facility where you will both get full physicals. You will not leave until the medical professionals of my choosing say you may leave."

Amid the groans and the complaining from Callen and Deeks, Callen caught a quick smile flit across Hetty's face. She needed to be reassured that the two of them had faced the lion's den and come out, not only unscathed, but stronger.

They had.

So Callen pushed off his foot and turned back to the group. He smiled at them, "Case closed."

Sam turned towards Deeks and pointed at his chest, "You and I have to have a talk; a Navy SEAL cannot be outdone by a floppy haired beach bum in anything." He shook his head and advanced on Deeks.

Hetty cleared her throat and stepped up, flicking her hand at Sam signalling him to back up. She turned to face Deeks and clasped her hands in front of her. "I have to discuss Mr. Deeks performance in paperwork first, Mr. Hanna. Specifically his justification statements." Deeks began to shift from foot to foot and began to get the look of a little boy who'd been caught with his hand in the cookie jar. He ducked his head and shoved his hands deep in his pockets.

Hetty continued, "I quote, 'Bad dude trying to kill me and the rest of LA', really Marty, a mountainous pile of paperwork is no excuse for," she paused, "bad grammar."

Fin

A/N: That's it! Not really, I mentioned a follow-up, and its name is Brothers in Arms: Hetty's Revenge. It shall be posted before the day is out.