Marty had been with Jeff for a year when he next saw Brandel again.
Marty had enrolled in the local school and had started to make a few friends although he was still wary of Deeks. Deeks was kind to him, they had moved a few miles away, not too far but far enough that Marty had to start a new school and be dropped off by car every morning.
"See you tonight Marty." Jeff said with a smile.
Marty grinned back, "I have baseball tryouts but I'll be home by five. I can catch the bus if you want." He offered.
Jeff thought about it, there had been no contact with Brandel and despite the fact that Deeks wanted to adopt the boy every time Marty was asked he said no. but he was adamant that he didn't want to be placed with anyone else either. So giving him a little bit of leeway and letting him know that Deeks trusted Marty might be just the thing the boy needed.
"Pleeeeeaaaseeeee!" Marty drawled out looking innocent. "Barry's gonna ride the bus with me…I won't be alone…honest!" he begged.
Jeff laughed, it was the first time twelve year old Marty had ever asked for anything, and his best friend was Barry Jones and eleven year old boy in the same class. They had become as thick as thieves and lived three doors down from each other. As far as Barry knew Marty was Jeff Deeks' foster son, the only thing Marty wouldn't do was call him dad.
"Ok son," Jeff said without thinking and grimaced internally as Marty flinched. I will expect you home at five."
Marty ran into school carrying his baseball bat and waving to Barry who was sitting on the wall outside the school.
By eleven o'clock that night Jeff had a house full of police and Barry Jones' parents sitting terrified for their son on his couch, neither boy had returned home.
Marty and Barry laughing and talking about the awesome hit Marty had done during practice had walked up to the bus stop and were talking animatedly to each other when Marty stopped and went white.
"D…Dad…." He stammered.
Barry turned around smiling, "Mr. Deeks?" he called.
The large man backhanded the small boy and threw him in a van "No…Dad…NO! please NO!" Marty begged trying to pull Brandel off of the small boy.
"In…NOW!" Brandel snarled and shaking Marty followed him in the car he looked at the unconscious boy in the backseat and cried.
Four days later a swat team lead raided Brandel's old home and found a boy in the basement clutching the dead body of his friend.
Jeff was outside as the police walked out.
"Deeks, you need to come here." Jackson yelled. Ducking under the tape Jeff ran for the house.
"MARTY!" Jeff yelled.
"He ain't here, and you ain't getting him." A small voice called out defiantly. Marty stood holding Barry's body and a gun; There was a blood trail that led away from the scene and Marty had a bloody bandage over his hand.
"Marty, it's me Deeks…" Deeks said looking at the boy…he suddenly realized what was different. "Max?"
Max grinned, "Marty's too hurt to come out now, he's sorry about his friend though, Father got away and he feels guilty for that and for Barry dying."
"Max we need to go you can stay as long as you're needed, will you come home with me?" Deeks asked.
Max blinked, he was used to fighting for Marty and protecting him, everyone told him to go, no one had asked him to protect Marty before…Maybe this Deeks was good…a real good guy?
