#basically deeks is awesome

[princessofinterest]

That entire Deeks and Tahir phone conversation though

Aka that time Deeks verbally sparred with a warlord. And won.

[ejzah]

Suggestion from @mashmaiden: Maybe one of the guys asking Deeks if he's doing okay after everything that's happening?

A/N: Somehow this suggestion is six or so months old. I think this was in reference to Sam or Callen checking in with Deeks. Enjoy the angst!

***

Crumbling

Deeks finished wiping down the bar, not that it really needed it since the last time he cleaned everything. It gave him something to do though.

In the last two weeks, business had completely tanked. Not only had he sent The Squid and Dagger staff home multiple days, but now he was actually closing early to save on electricity.

He braced his hands against the bar top, letting his head hang between his shoulders. The front door opened and without looking up, he called out.

“Sorry, we’re closed.”

“Your sign says you’re open,” Callen answered and he hastily straightened.

“Oh hey, Callen. Yeah, I must have forgotten to switch it off.” He walked over to do just that, then grabbed the bucket of water and soap he’d left on a table. “Can I get you a beer?”

“Sure, as long as it’s not anything we made,” he answered, taking a seat. Deeks smirked automatically, not having the energy to really fake it. He grabbed a beer he knew Callen preferred and slid it his way.

While Deeks continued cleaning, Callen drank in silence for a few minutes. It wasn’t unusual for him to drop by, though it was less common now he was back with Anna.

“So, how’s it going?” Deeks snorted at the question, pursing his lips.

“On a scale of 1-10, let’s go with about negative 20.”

“That good, huh?” Callen commented.

“Sorry, you didn’t come to hear me whine. What do you need?”

“Actually, I did come to see you.”

“About what?” Deeks asked, shoulders tensing as he braced himself for whatever bad news Callen brought with him.

“Well, Sam and I were talking about you-”

“Always good to hear my coworkers-sorry, former coworkers-are talking about you. Brings out the warm fuzzies.”

“And, we’re worried,” he finished, seeming unbothered by Deeks’ interruption.

“You guys don’t do worried. You do pensive. Maybe angsty. Definitely brooding. But not worried,” Deeks said, summoning up as much sarcasm as he could under the circumstances.

“Deeks, I’m not talking to you as a team leader right now. I honestly want to know how you’re doing. You’ve been through a lot recently.”

Sighing Deeks, pressed his palms against his eye sockets, balancing his elbows on the bar.

“Honestly? I’m not doing that great,” he said, swallowing heavily. “God. It just seems like the hole I’m in is getting deeper every day.”

“Is there anything we can do?” Callen asked, sounding unsurprised by his confession.

“Unless you have several thousand dollars or can convince one of two law enforcement agencies that they really need me, probably not.”

“Deeks, we’ll get you back on the team,” Callen assured him and Deeks chuckled, biting down on his bottom lip to keep back what he really wanted to say. “In the mean time, we’re all here for you.”

“Yeah, that explains why you basically threatened to have me removed from OPS a few weeks ago,” Deeks retorted before he could help himself. The moment still stung, another reminder that he was slowly losing everything.

Callen had the good grace to shift uncomfortably and grimaced.

“Sorry about that. We probably could have handled the situation better, but you have to know that we all want you back. Whatever LAPD and NCIS say, Nell is still trying to get you reinstated. And if necessary, every single member of our team will speak on your behalf.”

“Thanks.” Deeks swallowed harshly again, glancing away. Callen didn’t need to see how close he was to having a minor break down. Fiddling with the lid from his beer, Callen scanned the bar once before turning back to face Deeks.

“Does Kensi know how bad things are?” he asked.

“Yeah, I mean, she knows it’s not good. But she’s also certain that we can still manage to buy a house and have a kid.” He spread his hands helplessly. “I can’t destroy her hope by bringing up all my issues again. Besides, I don’t know that she wants to hear it.”

“I’m sure she does,” Callen said, looking more concerned than when he walked in. “And the longer you don’t talk about this, the worse it’s gonna get.”

“I know,” Deeks sighed. “It’s just hard to admit you’re failing at everything.”

“You’re not failing at anything, Deeks. You’re a good cop, not a bad businessman/lawyer, a pretty awesome husband from what I hear, and if NCIS is smart, you’ll be a great agent.”

Deeks didn’t know what to say to that, so he stayed silent as Callen checked his watch.

“Hey, I need to meet, Anna, but you know you can call us about anything, ok?”

“Sure.” Deeks gave him the ghost of a smile. As Callen walked out, he sighed deeply. He knew Callen had meant well, but he didn’t think all the pep talks in the world would keep his life from caving in.

[typingtess]

A few thoughts on “Love Kills”

Don’t like to make broad judgements on two-part episodes because part one can be awesome (“Smokescreen” part one) while part two can be meh (“Smokescreen” part two).  The basics here are strong.  I would be more impressed with Agent Carlson taking a tough stance on owning the case after Garcia was killed.  The program seemed to be getting away from the “uncooperative member of a sister agency” trope in recent years.

Do like that Deeks (much more ranting about him below) isn’t around for this case.  He wasn’t around for the original Pietra Ray case so there is some symmetry there.

Am interested in the Callen-Sam conversation about the bar.  If Kensi and Deeks sell the bar, the program loses two useful sets.  Callen’s upstairs apartment, or course, but also the “where is Deeks” explanation when ECO isn’t available.  He wasn’t around for the Pietra Ray episode because he was doing some training with LAPD.  He missed the last few Lance Hamilton episodes with LAPD responsibilities.  If he’s NCIS and not liaising, if there is no bar, exactly why isn’t Deeks around sometimes?  I like the bar – let’s figure out a way to keep it.

Ranting below.  

I’m fine with Deeks struggling with FLETC.  With the new house, his desire to start a family with Kensi, the bar in difficult financial shape, there is a lot of pressure on Deeks to succeed.  This isn’t like leaving the law for LAPD or leaving LAPD to work with NCIS - Deeks was only responsible for himself.  Now he has people depending on him and being “raised by wolves”, he is worried about failing.  The struggling conversation makes sense.  The line about losing his virility may be a peek at why Kensi and Deeks are having a problem getting pregnant.  

What doesn’t make sense is that a person who was introduced to the fanbase in an MMA fight episode, who runs down bad guys all the time, who has looked at crime scenes every day for years suddenly can’t handle anything.  I get that Deeks is 10-years old than when he stepped into the ring with Sam.  I understand that he can’t run with folks 15-years younger than he is for hours at a time, but I expect him to be able to work smarter because of his experience. 

If they wanted to create tension, how about having Deeks better trained that the trainer.  Let the trainer show the class how to do it but have Deeks say something like when you’re in the field, this is what you really do.  Same with the fight scene.  Have Deeks trick the trainer – that’s what he’s good at.  He could be making comments about passing the bar before most of his FLETC classmates were in grade school and that would be fine.  He could be joking about looking a crime scene while the others were going to the prom and that would make sense.

It is frustrating when they revert to the Deeks as incompetent fool storyline when they’ve spent pretty much every episode since he got his teeth drilled to end season four knowing he belongs.

TL:DR – episode case set up was good, not happy with Dunce Deeks.

[theighthhorcrux]

We kick off with a tense chase to a rooftop and a dead body falling onto the pavement. When I first watched the sneak peek, I hoped it would be a wedding invitation, but the reality was just as awesome, not least because of the Gibbs reference. Del Campo made her reappearance via Ops, and seems to have not aged. I didn’t miss her gross come-ons to Deeks, though. Also, think about what the reaction would be toward her behavior if the genders were swapped- remember that time she kissed him in S7? Deeks talking about making sure their foster kid could feel part of the family while staying in contact with their biological one was really sweet, and would be a great use of the money. The poor underpaid valet’s reaction and the Huntington just watching the scuffle while sipping a drink was funny, as was Kilbride chewing out someone in the phone. The end of the act was great writing- it was creepy and suspenseful. I liked the Barstow bit, and I did like Huntington’s quick wits, though they were slight overkill. Rountree not getting the Top Gun reference was unbelievable, Kilbride roasting him was great, surprisingly Sam made a Callen-esque joke, and the interrogation was just Kilbride unleashing hell on Huntington. Similarly, Del Campo gave Rountree a bunch of crap, and Fatima made a nice self-deprecating joke. The dead guy falling from the ceiling was funny, and the old lady actually having the guns was amusing, though the identity theft and dead receptionist turned the mood 180 degrees. Kilbride referring to the lawyer as a human tapeworm was hilarious, as was him sarcastically saying he loves LA. I liked the cutting between the teammembers, and Huntington made some pretty great points. Kilbride’s psy-ops proved to be a really effective strategy, and it was an incredibly powerful scene capped off by a lawyer-slash-cartel assassin and Castor bursting in to arrest her. Sam and Fatima’s desperation and him convincing Flores was great, as was all their facial expressions. I loved the speeding-car conversations and Sam putting his SEAL breathing techniques to good use. Del Campo turning slightly evil was unexpected, and Sam and Kilbride’s convictions were full of emotion, as were Kensi and Deeks’ reactions to Henderson’s death and everyone watching the video. We ended on Kilbride’s traumatized face, and I’m now sitting in awe of this episode.             

This episode was basically as many cool shots and pop-culture references as they could pack in and while it was a tad overwhelming, it was still an incredible episode that was beautifully written, acted, and shot.         

[badasshybridqueen]

Okay so, this is going to be long cause like I have a lot of verses and things I love??? OMG okay but wait let me preface this with I LOVE ALL my threads. Honest. Hayley loves all her current threads because if she doesn’t like a thing she won’t keep doing it and I won’t force her cause then she’s uncooperative lol. So yes. All threads are loved. BUT my temperamental hybrid does have her favorites.

GV; SUPERNATURAL WIVES ( feat. @hismyth @suitsofarmor @anditsxsorrows @littlewxtch @devilwithabrokenmind @ofinsecuritiies @safedrowned @brxllxantbanshee ) basically shennanigans where everyone is married, some with kids some without and they’re trying to balance their supernatural lives with their semi-kinda normals lives and failing miserably lol I love it TBH there needs to be more things in this verse.

GV; TTAU ( feat.like A LOT of people lol here are a few @suitsofarmor @hismyth @originallymikaelson @fiercerebekah @littlewxtch  @ofinsecuritiies @fallenregent @bourbonandheels --- there are A LOT okay? lol) I mean everyone is turning some tricks lmao. Hayley is totally an escort here and I love escort Hayley and she’s got her precious Hope and a SUPER complicated backstory with @originallymikaelson and both muse & mun LOVE this verse.

GV; WELCOME TO NEW ORLEANS  ( @anditsxsorrows @seesgood @imthelcstprincess @northernwarrioress @texcsfcrever  @amongthcwreck  - there are probs more? but like) Like IDEK if this is really still going? HAHHA But Hayley really likes the threads she still has in this verse so like keeping it HAHAH -SHRUGS-

GV; IAP ( @faithiiisms @temperproblem @seesgood @buffyisms @exwatcher @castsfear @petrovakoketka @salvatoreiisms @giiilbcrt @heavensfavoured @hellscounsel @hellsfavoured @burnxyourxkingdom  honestly I’m probs missing people and i’m sorrryyyy)  - this just started but like HAYLEY GETS TO INTERACT WITH BTVS PEOPLE DO I EVEN HAVE TO SAY ANYTHING ELSE ABOUT IT????

PRIVATE VERSES/OTHER VERSES

V; STRANGE BEDFELLOWS & V; LIFE UNEXPECTED AU - with @xhidingintheshadowsx​really anything with Barb makes Hayley and I happy AF. But we love these verse so so so so so much. UGH Barb we need more things lmao.

V; WOLF ROYALTY ( @darkestbeforedxwn ) I love all of our things, but I won’t lie this is Hayley’s favorite verse. And it’s totally made me adore Jackson to like pieces. ALL the things

V; TOGETHER FOREVER A BEAUTIFUL LIE ( @dissolvedshadows )  I mean Hayley never saw you coming? Like what even? My muse is so attached it’s ridiculous. To Caleb and Ana. Like I LOVE this verse. The plotting and the gifset and the Pinterest board and random AF things we slip into messages all hours of the day. It makes Hayley happy and me toooo.

V;  ATELOPHOBIA  ( @ofinsecuritiies & @ofwickedminds) I mean this verse is like the best? It’s so full of feelsy angst. It’s AU season 2 where Klaus and Hayley actually get to keep Hope but then like Caroline shows up and Klaus decides to invite her to stay @ the compound with them and Hayley is just WOW lmao. But it’s the best.

V; HOME IS WHERE LOVE RESIDES ( @ofinsecuritiies @originallymikaelson @safedrowned ) Season 4 happened but with a twist. Hayley and Klaus move t o Mystic falls with Hope where Caroline and STEFAN are running the Salvatore school. Teenage magic makers, annoying men and wine nights FTW ( DON’T FORGET THE DESK SEX @ofinsecuritiies SNICKERS)

V; A BEAUTIFUL DISASTER ( @anditsxsorrows & @bearthemarks ) I mean this is a verse where Hayley is shameless and wants to have her cake and eat it too lmao. YOLO. There should always be more things in this verse lol.

V; BOURBON AND BITCHIN’ ( @hisbeautyindarkness ) But like this is the best verse because Hayley and Cami and talk about guys, get drunk, get arrested just you know have some fun. They can take care of Hope together they can just be awesome strong independent women and we love it.

V; HELLO FROM THE OTHER SIDE ( @hisbeautyindarkness @xhidingintheshadowsx @originallymikaelson ) This one we haven’t done enough in but like Cami and Stefan meet on the other side???? And Cami appears to Klaus a lot and like Klaus and Hayley have to sort of work through the deaths of these people that were important to them and the barrier is thin and they pop up from time to time and I NEED MORE OKAY? WE NEED MORE THINGS HERE. LoL

V; IT WAS OVER BEFORE IT STARTED ( @hismyth & @suitsofarmor ) BUT check this out a verse where Hayley is TATIA & ELIJAH’S DAUGHTER OKAY? AND SHE’S GOT A BROTHER and DIDN’T have a terrible childhood. But has a family that loves her and a dad she’s super close with and a mom who drives her nuts because they’re SO MUCH alike. This is lovely so damn lovely.

V; LOVING YOU IS A BLOODSPORT ( @anditsxsorrows @greenbravery @suitsofarmor ) A mess of complications where in Kentucky SOMEONE (ELIJAH) decided to sleep with Hayley’s BFF and knocked her up [ Good job Elijah ] lol but no it’s got all the good things with this crazy family and HOPE HAS A COUSIN SOBSSSS SHE’S NOT GONNA CRY UP ALONE W/ NO FRIENDS AND IT MAKES HAYLEY SO HAPPY.

V; STRIP THAT DOWN FOR ME SWING THAT AROUND FOR ME ( @southerncomfortoutlaw ) I mean this verse is new but Hayley LOVES it? Honestly it’s the best. Cer is undercover trying to bring down the bad guys and Hayley is a prostitute but like really she’s a Social worker in training who is looking for her best friend that was taken by these people and so she purposefully gets involved as a prostitute to find her BFF and like these two idiots are fucking cute I can’t so much love.

V;  I’VE GOT YOU IN MY SPACE ( @sorrowfought ) SOBS Deeks tho. Hayley adores Deeks and these two are so sassy and cocky and omg WE’RE SO EXCITED ABOUT LILLY TBH they can be sassy parents together !!!

V; BACK TO LIFE BACK TO REALITY ( @camillethebrave ) Cami coming back to life after the Hollow is destroy is my aesthetic okay??? Hayley and I love this verse. SO SO freaking much. Camiiiiii sobs <3333

V; THIS IMPOSSIBLE YEAR ( @anditsxsorrows @amongthcwreck @everflaming ) HUMAN Bekah and Hayley not only being BFF but having babies together SOBS. This is the best. The actual best and it gives me feels.

V; A NEW KIND OF FAMILY ( @anditsxsorrows @tribridprincess ) Hayley & Klaus get to raise Hope together. Like a semi-normal dysfunctional family. No Hollow. When everyone isn’t together it’s their OWN choice.

V; THE DARKEST SIDE OF ME ( @anditsxsorrows @amongthcwreck ) Post S1 AU. Hayley is embracing that hybrid nature, killing some witches and having some fun with her murder buddy Bellamy and baby dady <333 I love this verse so much lol. Hayley just gets to be free and wild and kill people and I live for writing threads where without Hope around Hayley has just well lost some of that compassion of hers lol

OKAY There are some people I have SO many verse with to list them all would honestly take FOREVER. So I’m going to list the muses and just a few of the favs <333

@originallymikaelson - We have SO MANY THREADS & Verses Hayley loves. Like I can’t. BUT some of the fave verses are of course:  V; Starting Over, V; When You Lose Something You Can’t Replace (ANGSTTTT), V; Body Swap, V; TTAU AU, if you want to see my favorite threads just check Zoe’s tag because it’s like ALL of them. LOL.

@anditsxsorrows / @everflaming / @ofimaginarybeings - FISSHHHHHHHH I don’t even know what to write because literally EVERY verse we have Hayley LOVES? BUT I’m going to name a few of her favorites OFC cause you know lol  Our Five Years Verse - which is just like my canon LMAO for reasons. V; Everything in me gravitates to you also V; For better or worse, and V; Echoes through the ages, some V; It’s called a battle of two and V; The love of abditory and ofc V; Underneath the heavy moon also V; Under running water ....wow this is going to keep going so I’m just gonna stop here LMAO.

@seesgood - LIAAAAA I love ALL our threads okay? Like the Gossip Girl threads, we need OTH threads! And all of our VERSE threads just UGH they’re totally gonna be friends like I love the things ALL the things also forever pls. Don’t ever hesitate lol

@tribridprincess HAYLEY’S SMOL CHILD ON THE REAL THO. Every single thread we have Hayley loves & I LOVE. Every verse all the verses don’t ever leave mama. LOL

@highcstofkings - The thread we have going I absolutely love like I can’t even okay? It’s perfect and yes lol.

@bornhybrid @tritaint - Hayley loves our threads also so very much honestly and your OOC posts @tritaint super freaking accurate haha. Hayley is just ...Yup LMAO.

@handsomepianoman - EMMMM Honestly Hayley loves every single solitary interaction with your Elijah and that’s the reason we have about 30 billion threads I swear Half the queue is always you and it makes me happy HAHA. Our two Fave verses ofc though are V; I don’t want the throne and ofc V; Together we have it all

@northernwarrioress - can I just? I LOVE our verses too and I know  we mix and match with @tribridprincess and @hybriidking and @anditsxsorrows LMAO But Hayley LOVES Alana okay? Like she’s her own and We need more things because OMFG give me more things always kayla cause ALANA SOBS <33333

Other muses Hayley LOVES writing with & enjoys Current threads:

@mcnsterinme @moonoverbourbon @dalphahale @memorystxrs @ofwickedminds @originalklausm Guys I know I mentioned some of you above BUT I feel like I’m forgetting people and that makes me anxious cause Hayley loves all the things with everyone TBH okay??? This is long AF and I’m tired so I’m going to end it here but if I forgot you I love you I’m just bad  remembering lmao

[bocularteletheric]

So it’s taken about a year or so for me to compile all this, but I’ve been collecting together a bunch of episodes from all sorts of shows that contain whump and I’ve finally gotten round to making this post :D (I’ve got a list of whumpy movies too, so I’ll probably be doing a movie post as well sometime)

Under the cut I’ve just put the show, episode and a wee description of the whump (so spoilers, probably) and they might not be the best descriptions so I’ve bolded my personal faves and if you want any more info on the episode feel free to ask me :)

Enjoy!

Agent Carter S02E07 - Sousa gets beaten up by like four guys and afterwards he's all weak and angsty

Arrow S01E12 - Oliver gets poisoned and Diggle saves him, but Oliver's weak and passes out a lot for the rest of the episode

Arrow S02E09 - Oliver gets poisoned again and Barry saves him

Arrow S03E09 - Oliver "dies"

Arrow S04E17 - Oliver gets stung by a killer robot bee thing and ??? Laurel screams at him to save him

Bones S01E15 - Booth gets blown up and he's adorable in the hospital, then he breaks out to rescue Bones and basically collapses afterwards and has to go back to the hospital (hospital scenes)

Breaking Bad S03E07 - Jesse gets beat up real bad my poor son (hospital scenes)

Brooklyn Nine-Nine S02E19 - Jake gets injured in various ways falling into a car, then refuses to rest and gets hit by a car (hospital scenes)

Chicago Fire S02E10 - Matt omg he gets stuck in the fire and injured and all sorts and then hospital scenes and YES but then it's left on a semi cliffhanger and nothing happens next episode smh (hospital scenes)

Chicago PD S03E01 - The dude gets captured and beaten up a lot and the video is sent to his team mates

Criminal Minds S02E15 - Reid gets kidnapped, beaten up, drugged, tortured a bit and the videos are sent to his team

Criminal Minds S11E16 - Derek is kidnapped and tortured (beaten up, stabbed, burned with white phosphorous) (hospital scenes)

Daredevil S01E02 - Matt's injured in various ways and Claire takes him in and helps him

Daredevil S01E09 - Matt's stabbed like a million times

Daredevil S01E10 - Matt recovers from being stabbed like a million times

ER S06E13 - Carter's stabbed (lil overshadowed by a woman getting hurt, too) (hospital scenes)

ER S06E14 - Carter's stabbed (lil overshadowed by a woman getting hurt, too) (hospital scenes) part 2

Firefly S01E08 - Mal gets messed up (frozen, lack of oxygen, shot, etc)

Firefly S01E10 - Mal and Wash are tortured (beaten, electrocuted, other things, and Mal gets part of his ear cut off and his heart stopped)

Fringe S02E12 - Peter's infected with a virus that makes him want to spread the virus no matter the cost, and the recovery is taxing and whumpy

Fringe S03E10 - Peter has a seizure as a result of poisoning (?) and Olivia has to save him 

Fringe S03E10 - Peter gets thrown away from a thing and hits his head (more hospital scenes than actually getting hurt, surprisingly)

Game of Thrones S01E08 - Okay like nothing happens he grabs a lamp and burns his hand but in the book it's so whumpy it's like three pages of him writhing in pain

Gotham S01E07 - Jim gets shot and then saved (makeshift hospital type deal)

Graceland S01E09 - Mike stabbed and it is AWESOME (hospital scenes)

Graceland S01E10 - Mike stabbed and it is AWESOME part 2 with added whump (getting beaten up while still being messed up from being stabbed and collapsing and um it's amazing)

Grimm S01E08 - He gets beaten up a lot

Hannibal S03E02 - Will gets stabbed (but it's Hannibal so it's weird) (lots of hospital scenes)

Hawaii Five-0 S04E19 - Danny and Steve get trapped under a fallen building and Danny was stabbed with some piece of debris

Hawaii Five-0 S06E25 - Steve gets shot and can't get medical attention for a while, then when he finally can he needs some of Danny's liver (whump for both of them) (hospital scenes)

House S05E22 - Chase goes into anaphylactic shock after eating strawberries (hospital scenes)

House S08E11 - Chase gets stabbed really bad (ton of hospital scenes, all round awesome episode for whump like hot dAMN) (hospital scenes)

Jericho S01E14 - Jake my poor son freezing his ass off trapped under a car

Legends of Tomorrow S02E05 - Ray beaten up a bunch of times, tortured while his friends watch

Lost S02E08 - Sawyer's hella ill and it's gr8

Lost S04E10 - Jack what EVEN he gets appendicitis and has the other doctor try to take it out while he's conscious??? Needless to say that doesn't work but it's hella whumpy

Mr Robot S01E03 - Elliot gets pushed/pushes himself (??) off a railing and gets hurt (hospital scenes)

NCIS LA S02E17 - Deeks is shot and spends the episode in hospital (hospital scenes)

Psych S04E09 - Shawn gets kidnapped and shot

Rizzoli and Isles S01E10 - Frankie gets shot twice while wearing a bulletproof vest, which causes internal bleeding and other complications, but he can't get to a real hospital for a while

Scandal S04E19 - Jake gets stabbed like a thousand times

Scandal S04E20 - Jake gets stabbed like a thousand times part 2 and he can't go to a hospital so he's treated in a warehouse (and honestly a whole bunch of things happen and it's the whumpiest shit ever it's the best)

Scandal S04E21 - Jake gets stabbed like a thousand times part 3 and he's pretty much just recovering

Stargate Atlantis S01E04 - An alien parasite attaches itself to Sheppard's neck and it can't be removed without killing him

Stargate Atlantis S03E07 - Sheppard gets tortured and fed on by a Wraith while his team watches

Stargate Atlantis S05E01 - Sheppard and Ronon get trapped under a building and Sheppard is injured, then after they get rescued he refuses medical care so he can save Teyla, but he's weak and receives medical care at the end

Teen Wolf S03E05 - Scott gets badly scratched by another werewolf and won't heal, so Allison has to stitch him up (he's hurt the whole episode it's awesome)

The Blacklist S01E09 - Donald gets shot and trapped with Red which means only Red can help him (I can't describe this episode well enough to do it justice it is the whumpiest and the best)

The Blacklist S01E10 - Donald gets shot and trapped with Red which means only Red can help him part 2 with a little bit more whump (hospital scenes)

The Flash S01E14 - Barry's stabbed with a whole bunch of spikes which have to be painfully removed AND Ronnie feels what Stein feels when Stein's being tortured, so he cuts a message into his arm

The Flash S02E06 - Barry's beaten up really bad

The OC S04E15 - Ryan's stabbed with some debris after an earthquake and has to try and get to the hospital (hospital scenes)

The Walking Dead S02E05 - Daryl falls down a hill, gets stabbed with his own arrow, pulls the arrow out, fights off walkers, tries to get back to the barn and gets shot in the head (but he survives)

Zoo S01E12 - Jackson gets shot (hospital scenes)

[luv-engineering]

Inspired, value-packed "tiny" shelter resource I received this book as an early birthday present from my daughter, Belle, a few days ago. My head and heart have been pouring over it for two days now and I love it! Go to Amazon

Better a coffee table book This is going to be a gift, but I sat down and carefully paged through it. My impression of it is that it really is strictly a coffee table or inspiration book. I knew that going in to some degree, but what I didn't realize is that I was either familiar with a lot of the featured builds in here already or they were the authors own builds which use a lot of the same basic ideas. That's not really bad thing per se, but I didn't personally find it any more inspiring than a good session of web surfing and Pinterest pinning. I get the impression I'd like the author though and hope the book will inprie the person I bought it for more, since he's not at a PC as often as I am. Go to Amazon

Nice photos of micro shelters Lots of pretty pictures but not much of substance. You will get ideas, but no help with planning or construction. Go to Amazon

It is really a nothing book. There are a ... It is really a nothing book. There are a few photos of each shelter and a generic description. There is nothing here to allow you to create your own shelter and not even that much that is inspirational. Before the Internet this may have been interesting but now a simple web search will turn up more information. Go to Amazon

Fabulously Inspiring I have a collection of tiny house books which includes Deek's first book that I so loved because it was filled with such playfulness and imagination. This book with its full color pictures and eclectic sensibilities is so inspiring I could hardly sleep after reading it too close to bedtime. Still there are his comic book drawings of wacky shelter ideas, but the pictures of the actual building feats are so deliciously real that my mind enters another realm. Go to Amazon

Content is fine, but the Kindle version is not designed for ... Content is fine, but the Kindle version is not designed for phone or pad devices. And even on a large screen PC/MAC many graphics and tables break over several pages. Go to Amazon

with awesome pictures and illustrations and some humor as well This book is hard to put down! I got it expecting I would occasionally look at it with some inspirations for some of my ideas, but I found myself looking/ reading for hours. It is well laid out, with awesome pictures and illustrations and some humor as well, which is an added bonus! I'm a huge fan of the tiny house movement and starting my own Tiny House business next year, so there is so much in this book that inspires me and just reinforces my love for small/micro shelters and houses. "Deek" is super creative and I love his vision of making super functional spaces with pizazz. My creative juices are flowing again thanks to this book! Go to Amazon

Worth Triple the Price! This book is awesome! I love it - all the floor plans and the wonderful photographs! I definitely recommend this book for anyone wanting to design, build or even buy a tiny home. The author is able to reduce complicated subjects in to a dozen or so bullet points, very helpful in comprehending the entire subject in a brief time. "Deek" does a good job surveying the tiny home subject and making the learning process enjoyable. Could also serve as a kind of catalogue for shopping for one. Go to Amazon

Four Stars Five Stars Four Stars Fun book to read all the way through Five Stars Four Stars Four Stars The layout is nice and the content is awesome Lots of pictures This book is chockfull of ideas and plans! From ...

[ejzah]

Could u do a fanfic basically a post of Mother where everyone reunited back at Oops and are relieved Deeks is alright. Kensi also takes a moment for herself until she is interrupted and comforted.

“Where are they?” Nell asked, pacing nervously between the desks in the bullpen. Her steps were short and measured, clashing with her twisting hands and distressed expression.

“Deeks had to get checked out at the ER,” Callen reminded her patiently. He had taken up a post at the end of the tunnel, keeping an eye out for when they returned. “Based on what Kensi said, he had a pretty rough landing after the explosion.”

“It’s amazing he made it out at all. The building was completely destroyed,” Eric commented, his voice lowered slightly in awe and the same sense of shock they were all feeling.

“But both he and Kensi are ok,” Sam reminded them, eyeing Nell who had started pacing more quickly.

“I still think it’s-“

“They’re here!” Callen announced and they all rushed down the hall to greet them. Nell made it to Deeks first, barreling into him and wrapping her arms around him. He rocked back on his heels before he found his balance.

“I’m so glad you’re ok,” she said. Deeks tucked her head under his chin for a moment, squeezing her tightly.

“Me too, Nellosaurus,” he murmured. Nell broke away to give Kensi a hug, holding her just as tightly. When she stepped back, Sam wrapped one arm around Deeks’ back, gripping the back of his head with his other hand.

“Nice to see you back,” he said. “Seems like you two just can’t stay out of trouble.”

Deeks smiled tiredly, his glancing down at Kensi with a look that was only meant for her.

Eric and Callen each gave them hugs too before they drifted back into the bullpen. Kensi and Deeks both looked wiped as they sat down, although she seemed to have been spared any injury.

He moved a little carefully as though all his muscles were stiff. His face was also speckled with small cuts and he had a bandage around his left forearm.

“Are you sure you shouldn’t still be at the ER?” Callen asked, eyeing him with concern.

“No,” Deeks groaned. “The doctor said the burn on my arm is superficial and I’ll probably be pretty sore, but that’s about it. I bet I I’ll have some awesome bruises, particularly on my back.” Kensi winced at that.

“I, uh, might have kind of tackled him after we got out of the building,” she explained. “Sorry, babe.”

“Kens, you came up with the ridiculous idea that saved my life, you can tackle me all you want.” He took her hand, kissing her palm.

“Did you really tie a rope to the SUV and the door and then drag Deeks out on it, while the building exploded?” Eric asked, sounding equal parts impressed and horrified.

“It was Kensi’s idea. And one of the most absurd, terrifying 90 seconds of my life.”

“You’re lucky it worked,” Sam commented. Kensi stood up abruptly, excusing herself with a couple unintelligible words.

“Kensi-“ Nell started, trying to intercept her, but Kensi barreled past them all, her face turned away. “I’ll see if she’s ok.”

“No, it’s probably better if I go,” Deeks said, reaching out to give her a fist bump. “Thanks though.”

“Talk to Kensi and then go home,” Callen told him as Deeks stood with a groan. “I’ll square it with Hetty so you guys have at least a few days off.” Deeks nodded his thanks and then went in search of Kensi.

He found her crouched in the far end of the women’s locker room, her arms wrapped tightly around her legs as she sobbed into her knees.

“Oh baby,” he murmured, crouching down by her. “Baby, don’t cry.” She sobbed out a surprised sound and made a futile attempt to wipe her cheeks.

“I’m fine,” she said immediately.

“Kensi, it’s ok if you’re not alright. I’m not alright.” Her face crumpled again as she sank against his chest, more tears running down her cheeks.

“I really thought you were going to die today,” she whispered. “And I don’t know what I’d do. You’re my life, Deeks.”

“You’re mine too.” He rested his head against hers, shuddering again at how close he’d come to dying.

“I don’t think I can come back here tomorrow. I don’t even know if I want to.”

“You don’t have to. Callen said he’d handle leave for us,” he told her, smoothing his hand over her hair. She smelled faintly of smoke and sweat.

“What if you I don’t want to ever come back? What if today really was the last straw?” she asked.

“Then we quit and buy that sprinter van and start popping out babies,” he joked. She snorted wetly.

“And pick berries?”

“And catch fish if we can find them.” She tilted her chin up to kiss him.

“I love you, Deeks.”

“I love you too.” He stood with another groan, his knees popping, and reached for her hand. “Let’s go home.”

***

Thanks for the prompt! I hope you enjoy the angst.

[typingtess]

NCIS: Los Angeles Season Nine Rewatch:   "A Line in the Sand"

The basics:  Sam is shot, Deeks is fired, Kensi and Deeks are on the outs, Mosley tortures a prisoner to learn about her son.

Written and directed by:  Frank Military  wrote/co-wrote “Little Angels”, “Deliverance”, “Lockup”, “The Job”, “Greed”, “Betrayal”, “Crimeleon”, “Vengeance”, “Out of the Past” Part One, “Rude Awakenings” Part Two, “Descent”, “Ascension”, “Allegiance”, “Spoils of War” (which he directed), “Black Budget”, SEAL Hunter”, “Rage” (which he directed), “Unspoken”, “Unlocked Mind”, “Revenge Deferred”, “The Seventh Child”, “Crazy Train”, “Uncaged” (which he directed), “The Silo” and “Monster”.

Guest stars of note:  Neal Kodinsky as Miguel Angel Reyes, Greg Serano as FBI Special Agent Roger Gonzalez, D. Elliot Woods as NCIS Agent Harris, Ariel Llinas as General Arturo Vasquez and Lamont Thompson returns from "Monster" as Spencer Williams.

Our heroes:   Go through the Frank Military ringer.  

What important things did we learn about:

Callen:  Protective. Sam:  Shot. Kensi:  Unsure. Deeks:  Truly fired. Eric:   Possibly fired. Nell: Gasped like she was hit. Mosley:   On a mission. Hetty:  Surrounded by brilliant people.

What not so important things did we learn about:

Callen:  Not going there today. Sam: Ibid. Kensi:   Ibid. Deeks:   Ibid. Eric:  Ibid. Nell:   Ibid. Mosley:  Ibid. Hetty:  Ibid.

Who's down with OTP:  After a season where the biggest dilemmas outside of "The Silo" were tablecloth colors, live bands and choreography, Kensi and Deeks have the blowup writer Frank Military set up in that episode.   Deeks has wanted out since "High Value Target" and worried about a future family since "The Seventh Child".  The scene was beautifully played – two people who are madly in love but don't see the same future.  The happy ending is likely coming sometime in season ten but the road to happily ever after hit a major bump.

Who's down with BrOTP:  Callen was coming to find Sam the minute he said he was hit.  Callen worried about Sam the whole episode – even when Sam did not worry about himself.  This episode and most of this season was a mirror image of that set-up in the prior eight seasons.  Callen and Sam have their own great discussion that is beautifully played in the armory – discussing responsibility and family.

Any pressing need for Harm and Mac:  No, I'm guessing an AUSA would be involved in prosecuting Mosley.

Today in Harley:  Genuinely stunned Mosley beat Reyes.  Left for Mexico on her own and please show, don't let that be the last mistake she ever made.

Fashion review:   Callen starts the episode in a dark suit with a white dress shirt and no tie.  For the rest of the episode, Callen wears a blue button down shirt with two breast pockets (stop that!).   Sam starts the episode in a brown henley and gets shot for his trouble.  Later, he's back in black.  Kensi is wearing a black henley with pale blue stripes.  Deeks is in a medium blue long-sleeve tee shirt.  Grey and red plaid short-sleeve shirt over a blue tee for Eric. Dark red dress with little flowers and a black blazer for Nell. Dark blue pinstripe suit for Hetty.  Pink long-sleeve top for Hidoko.  Mosley wears a black leather jacket with a tight black skirt.  

Music:   "The Way" by Zack Hemsey plays as Deeks gets out of the sedan and gets on the plane.

Any notable cut scene:   In the 15-minutes Kensi and Deeks are waiting to see if Mosley comes out of the warehouse, the two talk about their wedding, where to seat people and have the conversations people have when getting down to the nuts and bolts of a seating arrangement at a wedding. 

Here's where everyone is going to hate me – I think the wedding talk scene, while incredibly cute, was not needed.  @dominicvail mentioned not liking that it was cut because it added some lightness to a dark episode but what do you cut out to keep it?  

Quote:   Callen:  "It's Deeks.  Open the door."  Deeks walks on the plane.  "We good?" Deeks:  "Awesome." Sam: "Yeah, one big happy family." Kensi:  "Deeks…" Deeks:  "I'm still your partner.  At least one last time."

Anything else:   In a warehouse, Callen, Sam and Kensi are pinned down during a shoot-out.  Sam and Kensi are in their NCIS kevlar and regular in the field clothes.  Callen is in a suit, sans tie and kevlar.    There is a sniper keeping them in place as other gunmen inch closer.  Sam tells Callen and Kensi to cover him, he's going to handle the sniper.

With cover, Sam is able to get to the office part of the warehouse.  After wounding a gunman who was waiting for him, Sam exchanges fire with several other gunmen – killing one, cornering another.

Deeks comes over the comms. He's stuck in a hallway in the office area, holding off three two gunmen – "I could use a little help."  Sam explains he and the others are busy – Deeks has to wait.  Going on the offensive, Deeks corrals his gunmen into the same spot but has run out of ammo.  While reloading in what he thought was a clear area, Deeks instead sees a man beaten and tortured, tied to a chair.  The man has been sliced opened and his insides are out the outside.  Deeks looks troubled.

Sam gets both the man he cornered and the sniper.  Callen and Kensi make quick work of the two gunmen in the warehouse.  They tell Deeks they're coming for him.  He's not worried – his guys are on the run.  Deeks chases them into a parking area where he is able to pick each man off with ease.  One tries to shoot Deeks as he is falling.  Deeks shoots him with his handgun.

Sam has chased one last gunmen into a long hall way.  Sam is on one side of the hall, the gunman on the other.  Sam distracts the man and tries to go to him using a different hallway.  As the man tries to leave using a second floor exit to an outdoor stairway to the parking area, he and Sam exchange gunfire.  At the door opens, Callen and Kensi arrive and find Deeks with the dead gunmen,   The three lift their weapons when the man appears but Sam's gunfire sends the man tumbling to the ground.  Callen and Kensi says "clear."

One of Deeks's gunmen isn't quiet dead.  He is trying to crawl away.  Deeks tells him to put his hands behind his head or he will shoot him.  As Deeks starts to cuff the man, Deeks says "clear."  Callen asks for Sam who admits he's been hit.  While Deeks gets Eric to call for an ambulance, Callen is on his way to Sam, who is bleeding from his left hip.  There is a great overhead shot of Sam looking very small.

Callen is interrogating Deeks's surviving gunman, Miguel Angel Reyes.  He is a convicted felon with a long criminal history.  In the main room, Deeks asks Kensi if she's heard anything.  She has not.  Deeks tells her Sam's injury was bad.  Kensi is sure Sam will be OK.  Callen can be heard on the monitor explaining to Reyes that he is facing arms trafficking charges and the attempted murder of a federal officer.  These are life-sentences.  A life of bad food, bad sleep – wives and kids may stick around for some prisoners but they don’t stay with lifers.  "You are left alone to die in misery."  Callen wants names.   Reyes won't give him the gang member names but he can give him the name of the man who was the buyer.  Callen says it must be one hell of a name.

A little while later, Mosley arrives.  Callen asks Reyes to repeat his story.  He had a broker looking for automatic weapons.  Reyes and crew thought they could modify some AR15's until they found out one of the gang was working with the cops.  Callen tells him that person was his CI who had his guts cut out.  "You talk to the cops, that's what happens," Reyes explains.  The broker is Spencer Williams.

Deeks asks Mosley if that was the arms dealer from the case with the ATF, "that was his name, right?  The one that got away."  Mosley turns her back to Deeks and Kensi.  As her eyes fill up with tears, she exhales and in a shaky voice tells him it is his name.  She nearly runs into interrogation, announcing that Reyes is hers.

Mosley wants to know how the gang was going to make a deal if they didn't know anything about Spencer Williams.  Fellow gang member Juan was the contact with Williams and Juan only spoke to Williams once.  Reyes says he had a deal – he gave up a name, what does he get.  Reyes is told by Mosley that the only thing that matters in his universe is her.

In the main room, Kensi is surprised by this version of Mosley.  She asks Callen to explain.  He keeps Mosley's secret – only mentioning that Williams got away and things got personal.  Callen's phone goes off – Sam is fine, the bullet has been removed and he refused anesthesia.  Kensi thinks that's great news.  Deeks isn’t as happy, it could have been any of them.  He is looking right at Kensi.

Mosley returns.  She's spoken to ATF – she's going to turn Reyes over to them, see what they can get out of him.  Kensi and Deeks offer to take him but Mosley cuts them off – she's doing that.  Callen wants to go with Mosley but she's going alone.  Well, alone with Reyes.  Since they were all involved in a major shooting incident, they all have a lot of paperwork.

Callen wants Kensi and Deeks to follow Mosley.  There is some pushback from both with Kensi saying "you have to give us more."  Callen does not agree – sometimes the job is just about doing it.

Mosley drives to a different warehouse by the docks.  Deeks doesn't think this is the ATF's offices.  Kensi and Deeks watch as Mosley pulls Reyes from her truck and brings him into the building.  They call their location into Callen who wants them to wait.  If Mosley isn't out in 15-minutes, they're to go in and get her.  Deeks thinks Mosley is going to kill them when she learns she was followed.  Callen says he will take the blame – they are doing this on his orders.  Kensi wants to know what they've gotten themselves into.  Callen isn't sure.  Deeks is – the end of their careers (Psychic!Deeks).

Eventually, Kensi picks the lock and she and Deeks are in the building.  They make their way to what looks like a loading dock area.  Mosley comes out, gun drawn.  After Deeks convinces her not to shoot them, she asks why are they there.  Looking at Reyes, who is tied and has obviously been beaten, Kensi thinks the better question is what is Mosley doing there.  Mosley wanted to talk to Reyes before ATF got him.  Mosley claims Reyes ran.  They struggled.

Deeks strolls into the loading dock are and sees Reyes is actually shaking.  Like the man in the teaser, Reyes is also tied to the chair.  With wet hair, a bloody and a bucket, it is likely he was waterboarded.  Deeks starts to question Moslley like a suspect about her "nice place…is this your home away from home?”

Mosley asks if they followed her.  "Callen's orders," Deeks says.  Mosley got a phone number from Reyes – she wants to see if it is Williams's.  Deeks asks if he should note the prisoners condition in his report.  "Of course, minor scrapes due to his re-apprehension," Mosley instructs.  "While under the custody of EAD Mosley," Kensi adds.  Mosley surrenders custody of Reyes to Kensi and Deeks – bring him back to the boatshed.  She want to check out the phone number.

In Ops, Mosley has Eric and Nell searching for European carriers for a burn phone.  It could be a fax or a landline.  She also wants Eric the number checked in Syria, Myanmar and the Congo.  See if that number matches any unlisted military or government numbers.  Callen arrives in Ops.  Mosley threatens to have Callen arrested for interfering and impeding a federal agent if he ever has someone follow her again.   Callen asks if she can do that from prison since Kensi told him what they found.  Mosley tells him they're not having this conversation and orders him to leave Ops.  Callen isn't leaving – he understands why she's so invested in this.  Then she knows she doesn't have time for a discussion.  Once again, she orders him to leave, "now."

Hetty is waiting outside of Ops.  She heard what was going on.  Callen explains this isn't just about Mosley.  She is going to bring down the entire office with her.  Hetty thinks Mosley is in a tough place but Callen thinks they're in a worse spot – Mosley bringing Reyes back into their custody make the team complicit.  

A limping Sam arrives – he would do the exact same thing if it was his child.  Callen asks what is Sam doing there, Hetty wants him back in the hospital.  Sam loves the warm welcome.  Sam understand fighting for your child, look what Callen was willing to do for his father.  Sam and Hetty think they can control Mosley – remind her that the team is on her side.  Callen disagrees – Mosley would drag the team to hell if it means bringing back her son.

Eric found the number in a lot of different countries with different country codes, area codes, etc.  The one that was interesting was in Mexico.  That phone was in the second home of General Arturo Vasquez in Sinaloa, Mexico.  Nell has news from the CIA – General Vasquez is an open file.  Eric has Vasquez's job with the Mexican military as buying weapons. Williams sells them.  Nell finds a photo of Vasquez with Williams from 2015.

Eric shows that the phone was used three hours ago.  Mosley wants the line tapped.  Nell is about to start the paperwork to get a warrant but Mosley stops her.  No warrant.  A confused Nell reminds Mosley that they can't use anything they get from the phone tap to make a case.   Mosley tells "Ms. Jones" that she knows how the rules of evidence work, earning a gasp from Nell.  Eric pushes back – there will be a chain of evidence showing he hacked the line.  Mosley tells Eric if he does not follow her order, he's fired.  Mosley phone rings – Hetty wants to see her.  She's in Mosley's office.

Mosley walks in and is angry Hetty is sitting in her chair.  Hetty apologizes – she loves the view of the entire office with all the brilliant people working together.  "It is such a powerful machine."  Mosley doesn't have time for Hetty's games.  She wants Hetty to call her contacts in Washington and have General Vasquez's home raided.  Hetty thinks that will compromise everything.  It could cost Mosley her career.  Mosley says without her son, she has nothing. Hetty tells Mosley that she does not have her son but she has the tool to get him back.  If she loses her office – the powerful tools – then she loses the power to have them back.

A very beaten and now swollen Reyes is back in interrogation with Callen and Sam.  Sam wants Reyes cleaned up. Kensi, on comms from the main room, says Reyes was cleaned up.  Deeks added that he's had icepacks on his face for an hour.  Joining Kensi and Deeks in the main room, Callen thinks that they hold him for a few days, no photos, no lawyers – let Reyes heal up. Deeks isn't on board.  It is a "come to Jesus" moment for both he and Kensi – what is going on?  Callen says it is on a need to know basis and Deeks makes it clear since he and Kensi are accessories to all this, they need to know.  Kensi backs off a little – if Callen and Sam need their trust, she's OK with it.  Deeks asks Kensi about Callen and Sam trusting them.  Sam is on Deeks's side.  Sam's bandage is leaking but he won't do anything about it until Callen reads Kensi and Deeks in.

Callen talks about Mosley and Williams having a past relationship and a child.  Kensi and Deeks are visibly stunned – Kensi drops an "oh my God," when they are told about Williams taking the child.  Mosley walks in with Hidoko.  She's livid that Callen broke her trust.  Kensi tells Mosley that all Callen was doing was explaining why she beat Reyes.  

Deeks says if she asked for help instead of throwing the team under the bus – earning a rebuke from Sam.  Deeks plows on – what is Mosley going to do? Fire the people who know her crimes?  Hidoko says "excuse me?" – obviously confused.  Deeks points out Reyes on the monitor in the main room "look behind you, look at his face."  Deeks really doesn't care if Mosley trusts them but he wouldn't mind if she stopped threatening them.  Mosley tries to narrow this to her issue with Callen.  Sam thinks they're all involved.  

Mosley calls into question Callen's character, completely setting off Deeks.  Callen is trying to help Mosley and Deeks thinks all she can do is question his integrity, everyone's integrity.  What has all this gotten her – certainly not a better team.  Deeks asks if she's in this for the power?  Mosley tells Deeks he doesn't have time for this and fires him.  That stops everyone.  Deeks asks if she's sure she wants to fire someone who can testify about what she did to Miguel Reyes.  Mosley wants Deeks "out of my face."  Kensi tries to calm things.  Mosley wants Deeks to gather his things and "get the hell out of here."  She promises him it is not a threat.  Disgusted, Deeks leaves.

Eric shows up on the screen – there was a phone call made and Eric has audio.  He plays the call for the remaining members of the team.  Mosley confirms it is Williams on the phone – "the man who took my son."

Mosley is back in Ops.  The full conversation is about a transaction Williams has planned.  It is happening in 36-hours in Mexico.   She wants Eric and Nell to send the full conversation to the FBI office in Sinaloa so they can arrest Williams.   Nell makes it clear they can't do that – the wiretap was illegal – the source of the recordings would come out.  Callen arrives just around the time Mosley orders Eric and Nell to send the recording to the FBI for a second time – "and that is an order."  Callen wants to speak to Mosley outside of Ops.

With her degree in criminal justice, Mosley is well aware that any arrests that come from the wiretaps are fruit of poison tree.  Callen points out that since this isn't an NCIS case, she has no authority to order the wiretaps.  She doesn't care – she thinks that's abundantly clear.  It is, Callen agrees.  Mosley tries to shame Callen saying she can't rely on his help she's dismissing him.  Callen thinks Mosley is going about this the wrong way – she is all in on arresting Williams when she's the one who could be facing charges.  Callen is willing to do whatever it takes to get Derrick back.  Eric interrupts – Hetty needs to see Mosley.  Hetty is talking to the FBI in Sinaloa.  

Hetty has an Agent Gonzales on the video call in her office when Mosley arrives.  After introductions are done, Gonzales wants it clear, he's doing Hetty a personal favor and everything he says is off the record.  Mosley agrees (I'd get that in writing, Agent Gonzales).  Going after anyone in Sinaloa will be difficult.  The local police are in bed with both General Vasquez and the drug cartel.  Sinaloa isn't Mexico – it is a place unto itself.  Any raid or undercover operation would include them and they'd drag their feet just long enough to get word to Vasquez.  Williams’s people would be gone in a heartbeat.  

Mosley asks Hetty to continue to look for help up the government food chain – State, DOD, CIA, etc. Hetty is happy to help but wants to tell all involved what they're dealing with.  There is no shame in what Williams did to Mosley.  Mosley disagrees but is on board if it helps get her son back, "tell them."  Mosley asks Hetty not to give up and Hetty promises she won't.  What Hetty wants, however, is for Mosley to slow down.  Hetty won't stand by and watch Mosley browbeat Callen into doing "something dangerous and stupid."  Mosley complains that Callen promised (you took an oath not to oh say, beat prisoner – not the best argument).  Hetty tells her that the only reason Callen is involved is to protect the rest of the team.  Mosley thinks Hetty is protecting the team while she is fighting for her son's life.  Hetty tells "Shay" that Callen is as close to a son as she will ever have.

An angry Callen walks into the armory and asks Sam why he isn't in the hospital.  Sam has General Vasquez's compound on the TV screen, studying it.  Callen asks how is out of the hospital after a bullet wound nicked a major artery.  Sam is not happy his medical information is out and wants to know why it is.  Callen says he's an investigator – so why is Sam there?

Sam has already checked out the compound.  There is military present but they're more for show.  Vasquez is likely protected by the military, the Mexican police and the drug cartels.  Any attempt to get Williams in the compound has them greatly outnumbered but since all that protection gives them a false sense of security, Sam thinks they are vulnerable.   He wants to grab Williams.  Callen reminds him they'd have to lie about where Williams was arrested – Mexico isn't going to extradite him. They'd have to file false reports about Williams being apprehended in the US.  Sam's on board for that – after what he's been through, he will not see someone else lose a family member.

Callen pushes back – this isn't about Derrick, it is about arresting Williams.  Sam believes if they arrest Williams, that will help Mosley get her son back.  Callen isn't sure – so much depends on where Derrick is.  And none of this matters anyway – Sam is wounded.  He can barely walk, forget running. Sam points out he's been in worse battles with more serious injuries – "I can do my job."  Callen makes it clear this isn't Sam's job.  This is an off the books mission.  If it is off the books, Sam tells Callen he has no say in whether Sam goes or not.  In fact, Sam may order Callen to stay home.  Eric pops up on the screen – they need to get to Ops before Mosley does.

Mosley arrives in Ops.  Callen and Sam are there with Eric, who is quickly dismissed by Sam.  Callen plays one of the phone calls – Eric enhanced the audio to clear up some of the background voices.  A child asks for a sandwich that was supposed to be on the table.  Mosley flinches when she hears the child's voice – it is Derrick.  Mosley is relieved – she wasn't sure he was alive.  She asks Callen and Sam to leave and once they're gone, Mosley starts to weep.

Outside of Ops, Mosley orders Eric and Nell to send her all satellite images of the compound and to keep her updated.  As she walks to the stairs, Callen asks her what's she doing.  She's off to the compound to get Derrick.  She is going to put together a team, go to Sinaloa and get her son.  At the landing on the stairs, Mosley sees Deeks sitting with Kensi.  She yells that he's taking too long to pack up – "If I see you in this building again, you will be escorted out."  Deeks looks at Kensi while Callen is trying to get Mosley to slow down – she has no idea what she is walking into.  

Mosley starts mocking Callen about his promise to help her find her son – isn't that what he promised, to go with her.  Sam is going to but Callen is push for Sam to stay in LA.  He's injured and in no condition to for a tactical mission.  Sam doesn’t want Callen talking for him.  Mosley doesn't have time for this – they have to figure it out.  They try.  Callen thinks Sam is a liability – which deeply offends Sam.  Callen knows Sam would never allow him to go this badly injured into the field.  Derrick is not in imminent danger.  Callen wants to talk to Mosley before they do anything.  Sam will see Callen on the plane.  "Good talk," Deeks says as Callen walks away.

Mosley is packing a bag in the Armory.  Callen doesn’t thinks she should go to Mexico.  She can do more in LA with DoD, FBI, the State Department than she can in Mexico as the "distraught mother of a kidnapped child."  Mosley asks if Callen is going alone.  No, he has contacts who can help.  She asks about Sam who Callen thinks will be in danger in the field.  "Sam can do this, I trust him," Mosley says.  Callen disagrees and says no when Mosley suggests Kensi.  Callen wants NCIS kept out of this – he can put a team together.  Get him a plane, he can work out the details on the way to Mexico while  Mosley and Hetty can work the US side.  Callen asks her to trust him.  

Sam arrives with a break.  In one of the conversations, the name Augustin Garcia is mentioned.  Garcia served in the Marines with Williams.  He lives in LA but commutes regularly to Mexico.  Eric hacked into Garcia's phone.  He has an 8:30AM alarm – Mosley wants to wake him up and talk to him.

Deeks and Kensi are looking at the compound on the big screen in the bullpen.  Deeks has his belongings all packed into a banker's box but is trying to figure out a way to approach the compound with the desert all around it.  Kensi thinks Deeks should leave.  Deeks is there to try to get Derrick back.  Kensi thinks Mosley is serious but so is Deeks.  Kensi thinks if Mosley calms down they'll figure it all out.  And if they go to Mexico, Kensi will call him.  

Deeks turns to look at Kensi.  He thinks getting fired may have been the best thing that could have happened to him. They've been talking about "getting out" and maybe this is the time.  Kensi knows but she likes working with him, it is part of who they are.  Deeks thinks the emphasis is on 'part' but Kensi says it is the part she loves.  Deeks thinks this is a custody case – the child is flying around on private jets with nannies.  Kensi sees it as a violent felon who ordered the murder of a federal agent and who kidnapped a child.  

Deeks is bothered that Sam almost died.  Anything can go wrong in Mexico.  If the child stays in Mexico, he'll go to private schools and have a great life while Kensi could be killed trying to hustle Derrick onto a helicopter (Deeks almost got this right).  Deeks asks why are they doing this for a woman who doesn't like them and he's not even sure why she doesn't like them.  As Deeks rattles off all the reasons people like them – they're kind, they're generous – Kensi comes up with the reason Mosley does not:  "because we're happy."  They have their lives, joy and a future.  Mosley has nothing but anger and pain.

Mosley arrives.  Deeks tells her if she is there to apologize, he accepts.  She's not.  Deeks is sorry she's in such a terrible situation.  Instead of anger and pain, she has two agents to escort Deeks from the office.    They are to take his security badge.  LAPD is in a parking lot waiting to accompany Deeks home.  Deeks just takes his jacket.  Kensi is disgusted.  She says maybe one day she'll understand but Mosley hopes she never will.  Very similar Kensi rebuff from “Ascension” when she told Deeks she knew what he was going through.

Kensi follows Deeks into the parking lot.  The NCIS Agents give Deeks a few minutes with Kensi.  Deeks has a plan – save the kid and quit.  "One last mission and we're out."  Kensi isn't ready yet. Deeks is looking for a time frame – a year, two years?  Deeks sees this ending badly if they stay.  They could have the most amazing life together – just the two of them with all the things they should be doing with their lives.  Deeks is near tears, Kensi is too.  

Deeks asks about five years, about kids.    Kensi wouldn't do the job if they had kids.  Deeks sees that as an opportunity and badly states he'll knock her up.  Kensi asks what happens if they don't have kids.  Deeks is crushed.  Kensi is too.  Deeks asks her to think about having kids.  Kensi said she knows exactly what he wants.  She can't give that to him without lying to him or compromising herself.  Deeks isn't sure they should be getting married.  

Kensi can't believe he's calling off the wedding.  Deeks thinks there are big questions that need answering.  Having kids, having plans for a future.  Kensi said he just told her if she doesn't leave her job, he's leaving her.  Deeks doesn't think he said that.  The NCIS Agents come and take Deeks away.  Kensi makes it clear to Deeks that she is going to get "that kid and bring him back to his mom because that's what I do, Deeks."  Deeks begs her not to get on the plane as he's being walked away.

At dawn, Callen and Sam go to Garcia's apartment.  Sam is still limping badly.  Calling "LA Power and Water", they enter the apartment to find Garcia near the window, a woman and a crying child.  Sam stays with the woman and child while Callen chases after Garcia.  Garcia runs into the street and after dodging one vehicle, he is hit by another.  Garcia is dead.

Callen and Sam are in the Armory (which got a work out in this episode) when Mosley arrives with Kensi.  Without Garcia, they don't know what's going on in Mexico.  Callen suggests he and Sam do some reconnaissance and see what's happening.  Mosley tells him Hidoko is already there (oh no).  Callen should tell Hidoko what he's looking for, according to Mosley and if Callen isn't on board for that, she will find someone else.

Sam questions Mosley about sending Hidoko alone.  That is not well received since Hidoko left on her own and didn't contact Mosley until she was in the air.  Mosley has a plane ready to go in an hour – she needs to know who is on it.  Callen and Sam bicker but they're in.  So is Kensi and Deeks is ready to go.  Mosley does not want to hear that name again.  The team is ready to go.

Mosley gets a call – Hetty needs to see her in the gym.  Hetty tells Mosley she's gotten what she wanted.  All Mosley wants is her son back.  Hetty is not "blessing" this mission. Mosley doesn't care – the team is getting on the plane.  "Not if I say otherwise." Mosley is shocked that Hetty would stop the rescue – why?  Hetty tells Mosley she is out of control, she has no problem with the team getting killed if it would get Derrick back.  Hetty wants to run the mission.  Mosley says no – this is no different than the mission Mosley ran to save Hetty.  Hetty disagrees – that mission was initiated by the team.  Mosley thinks they'll surprise Hetty and do it without her blessing.  Hetty tells Mosley she can have the plane grounded – "in one phone call."  Mosley threatens Hetty – she knows where all the bodies are buried, some literally.  Mosley will end careers, likely send some team members to jail based on what she can turn over to a prosecutor.  Mosley tells Hetty not to dare stop the plane.

Kensi is teary-eyed as they drive onto the tarmac. Callen and Sam sit in the front of the plane, Kensi  is alone with her misery in the back.  Sam's bandage is leaking again - he promises to change it when they're in the air.

Hetty is having a scotch in her office.  Mosley calls Nell and asks if they plane has left.  "Lining up for take-off."  As the plane starts to take off, two government vehicles with sirens are on the runway, stopping the plane.  Federal authorities are holding the plane. Callen makes his way to the cockpit.  Sam thinks Hetty is stopping them. Instead, Deeks gets out of one of the vehicles with his go bag.  Callen sees him and asks the pilot to open the plane door.

Deeks makes his way on the plane.  Gives Callen and Sam a nod as he sits across from Kensi.  Callen asks if they're good.  "Awesome."  The plane is taking off.  Kensi wants to say something to Deeks.  He tells her he's still her partner – at least one last time.

What head canon can be formed from here:   Deeks wondering if the guy in the chair in the teaser could have been him in the season four finale.  

This is an oddly talky first-hour of a three-parter.  All of it quite good.  I'm usually not a fan of liking or disliking multi-part episodes because the set-up can be bad but the payoff good ("Deep Trouble" parts one and two) or vice versa (the "San Voir"s are great, "End Game" is average at best).  This is a great set-up.  Meh on part two.  So interested in how this all ends.

Episode number:  While it was show as a two parter, this is actually the 23rd episode (it had its own credits and everything).  It is episode 215 overall.

[typingtess]

“Assets” quick thoughts

Case of the week was beyond basic.

Thought this was more about the evolving Callen/Sam/Kensi/Deeks.  

Callen was checking up on Sam instead of the other way around.

Sam’s possessions now fit in a duffle bag - which is basically how the series began with Callen.

Kensi and Deeks are all about their future.  Their daughter, Sunshine Athena Deeks or Athena Sunshine Deeks, their career options, the next decades of their lives.

I thought the wrap-up of the Lt. Bates/Whiting/Whatever would be the end of Deeks at LAPD and joining NCIS.  That’s changing with Deeks talking about leaving law enforcement so Kensi can keep her career when they have kids, Add in Mosley talking about breaking up the team - sigh, really show?  We’re doing that again? - it will likely be an “All In” fight to keep the band together.

Tonight was fine.  Nothing awesome, nothing awful.  Fine.