Author's note: Reviews always welcome and greatly appreciated.

Disclaimer: I own nothing.

The Other Agent

The team had been having an extremely hard time with their current case. It involved human trafficking, and after exhausting all their possible leads, they had reached a dead end. The three agents and their detective sat in silence in the bullpen trying to think of new ways to approach the situation while Eric and Nell did the same upstairs.

All that could be heard between them was the squeaking of Deeks' chair as he swivelled from side to side. They were all trying to think of a plan that could help them get ahead in this case. They just needed something, anything. Anything would have sufficed.

Anything would be better than nothing.

"Deeks cut it out!" Sam finally snapped. "Can you not just sit there and think? Why do you have to annoy everyone in your stupid chair!"

"Oh...sorry...I didn't mean to -"

"Just stop it okay?" He paused before realising he would probably kill Deeks if he stayed, so he thought it was best if he took a break. "If you guys come up with anything, I'll be in the gym." He grabbed his gym bag and stormed out of the bullpen leaving behind a rather speechless Deeks. He looked at the others for any form of comfort after that spontaneous outburst. It was Callen who spoke up.

"Don't take it personally Deeks. He threatened to shoot me because I messed up his zen thing or something about a week ago. He'll be back to himself after a couple of rounds with the punching bag."

"Well I'm not sure that's any better, but thanks,"

Callen nodded with a smirk and then disappeared off to check on Sam, leaving behind a less speechless Deeks and a lost-in-thought Kensi.

"Hey, what are you thinking?" Deeks asked after a minute of silence, realising he was coming up with nothing at this point.

"Oh nothing," Kensi sighed as she sat back in her chair looking at her partner with sleepy eyes holding her coffee. "I just can't seem to think of anything that could get us any closer to catching these guys. They're good. I mean they're really good,"

"Tell me about it. They're like me if I were a criminal," Deeks commented in a nonchalant manner.

This made Kensi choke on her coffee, nearly spilling it all over herself.

"Wait, what?"

"What?"

"Are you serious?" She asked now openly laughing.

"Why?" Deeks asked defensively.

"You just said they're like me if I were a criminal,"

"And?"

"That implies that you think you'd be a good criminal -"

"A great criminal," he corrected.

This only made Kensi laugh harder.

"Deeks you have got to be kidding me! You're the least smoothest person I know! Your mouth would get you into trouble before you'd even realise it,"

"That's ridiculous! In case you haven't forgotten, my cover has never once been blown by me, or anyone else for that matter,"

He has a point Kensi thought.

Deeks was disturbingly good at being undercover. All those times pretending to be a cold blooded killer. Kensi was even a little afraid of him when he resumed his cover as Max Gentry while they were helping Ray.

"I know you're good at being undercover, but that's because you're undercover. You're too pure, too..." she paused trying to think of how to describe him, "...caring to be a criminal. You'd never be able to screw someone over just because. You're way too good and, I dunno, you could just never do that to someone. That's what makes you you,"

Silence filled the room after her comment. Neither knew what to say. Kensi was genuinely shocked with how easily it all just seemed to pour out of her mouth.

"Well..." Deeks began trying to resort to his standard joking manner to avoid the sincerity of the moment, "...we can agree to disagree about me, but you on the other hand,"

"Yeah I'd easily get rid of anyone in my way,"

"No doubt," he scoffed.

"Starting with you," she said before flashing him a menacing smile.

"Thanks," he said quietly looking at the floor. They both knew what he was thanking her for.

"Don't get used to it, minor slip of the tongue," she said equally quiet in return with a small smile.

Deeks opened his mouth to respond to her last comment, but she knew him too well.

"I swear to God Deeks, if the next sentence that comes out of your mouth contains the words "your tongue" and "my mouth", I will use you as my target for shooting right here, right now,"

"You wouldn't. I'm too adorable,"

"Want to bet?" She said pulling out her gun and cocking it.

"I'd bet my life on it," he grinned.

He had her. As if she would shoot him. She'd never even consider it. Besides, pushing Kensi to her limit was what Deeks loved to do best.

"Ow! Kensi!" he whined rubbing his arm.

"Just because I can't shoot you, doesn't mean I can't hit you," she replied with an innocent smile on her face.

"Sorry to break up this love fest between you two, but me and Sam are going to grab a drink if you guys want to join?" Callen asked looking at a sulky Deeks and a curiously innocent Kensi.

"Yeah okay, but keep her away from me," Deeks grumbled still rubbing his arm.

"God you're such a baby,"

"You're such a baby,"

"Have I ever told you how mature you are,"

"I know you are but what am I – no wait,"

"Boy genius too aren't you," she laughed as she pitifully patted his arm.

"Want to kiss it better?"

"Want another one?"

"Would you kiss that one?"

"Are you deaf or just stupid?"

"Last time I checked, I was neither,"

"Really?" she teased.

"Would it kill you to admit that at the very least, you like me?" he moaned.

"I...tolerate you Tim," she said smiling.

"Suppose that'll do. Today you tolerate me, tomorrow you'll like me, and within a weeks time, you'll love me," he winked and smiled that Deeks smile that could make any girl's heart skip a beat.

"We're just going to have to wait and see," she said as they collected their bags before leaving, but stopped after she realised what her comment sounded like. Deeks stood up straight and started grinning at her.

"Wait I didn't mean that, it came out wrong- "

"Another slip of the tongue? It's okay Fern, feel free to do that any time around me," he said with a smile that reached his eyes as he began walking out with her and the others.

"Oh God," she sighed rolling her eyes.

"Most people call me Deeks, but whatever works for you princess -"

He was interrupted by a sharp dig into his ribs from his partner as Hetty stopped the team before they left.

"Can I just have a quick word with you all before you leave? It's in relation to your current case and how...staggered it is right now."

"Do you have a lead?" Callen asked almost instantly.

"No, unfortunately Mr. Callen I do not. But I think we know someone who might." She handed him a file and then proceeded to talk. "This is Agent Fisher. He's with the CIA. He and his men have been following this case for quiet some time now, and his superiors believe more work could be done if you all...joined forces," she said slowly and tentatively. She remembers how slow originally the three agents were to accept Deeks when he joined, and then there was the time between NCIS and the FBI when they were all on the same case.

Agent Fisher's file was passed around to each of them with all his information and outstanding achievements, to say the least, contained within.

"Looks like you're going to have some competition here D-Rock," Sam whispered as he handed the file to Deeks.

Agent Fisher was a paradox to Deeks. Although he had been a member of the LAPD before he was recruited to the CIA, he received excellent recommendations from the LAPD, clearly showing how liked he was. These exceptional words only seemed to grow with each page of his impressive file. Deeks scanned the pages looking for something, anything that might suggest some form of weakness to this James Fisher guy, but he could find nothing. He had won countless awards and been head of an endless list of successful missions. No slip ups, no errors. Just pure perfection.

To add insult to injury, Deeks turned to the final page to where there was a picture of this Agent James Fisher. Kensi looked over Deeks' shoulder to where a little smile grew on her face as she took the file from him.

Fisher had emerald green eyes and dark brown hair. His strong jaw line was even more evident with his clean shaven style.

"His file is impressive," Kensi commented.

"I'm sure it helps that he looks the way he does," Callen joked as Kensi rolled her eyes.

"That photo was taken when he started out though," Deeks began in a slightly defensive manner. "Chances are he doesn't look the same. He's probably gotten worse considering it was taken, what? 5 years ago? 6 years ago?"

"7 actually, but yes, I have changed since then,"

The whole team looked up to see Agent James Fisher standing in the hallway with a black bag on his shoulder.

"Oh Mr. Fisher. We weren't expecting you for another day," Hetty said as she walked towards him hand outstretched.

"I know, and I hope I'm not getting in the way of things. I finished my paperwork early from my previous case, so I decided to take an earlier flight," he replied with great warmth as he greeted Hetty.

"Finished paperwork early? You've got some heavy competition here Deeks," Sam whispered again as Fisher walked towards them.

"Hey, Sam isn't it? A friend of mine told me to look out for you, Adam Stevens? He was with you in Virginia if I stand corrected,"

"Stevens is a friend of yours? Man, he saved my life one night when we were taken captive. Got us out with only a pen and a toothpick. How's he doing?" Sam said brightly as he shook Fisher's hand.

"He's doing good. Wife had a baby girl only a couple of months ago. And you're G. Callen. I have got to say, I'm extremely impressed with your work. You have one of the best track records I have ever seen,"

"Oh thanks," Callen replied shaking his hand. "You've built quite a name for yourself too from what I read,"

"Oh it's nothing in comparison to you," Fisher then turned to a stern looking Marty Deeks again holding his hand out. Deeks made sure to give him a firm shake, just to let him know who he's dealing with.

"Marty Deeks yes? Fellow officer. Nice to know I've got someone from my roots here with me," Fisher smiled warmly as Deeks stayed silent, trying to read this 6 foot chiselled man in front of him.

Finally he turned to Kensi.

"And lastly Miss Blye." He said with the widest of smiles yet.

"Kensi," she replied smiling equally wide shaking his hand.

"Well it's a pleasure to meet you Kensi. Who knew that someone so deadly could be so beautiful,"

"Give me a break..." Deeks mumbled to himself.

"Oh thank you," Kensi replied blushing slightly.

"Certainly," Fisher said still holding her hand.

"Well now that you've met the team Mr. Fisher, I am sure your stay will be more than pleasant. I shall see you tomorrow morning when you all shall crack this case wide open," Hetty said as she returned to her office.

"We're just heading out to grab a drink if you want to join us?" Kensi asked considering Fisher hadn't looked away from her yet.

"Sure, sounds good, thanks."

He continued to walk out with Kensi to the parking lot, leaving Deeks to eye him suspiciously from behind.

"Deeks, you don't look too good," Callen commented falling into step with Deeks.

"What? Why?"

"You're looking a little...green to me," Sam continued with a smirk on his face as he joined the duo.

"Oh ha ha, very funny guys. You're saying I'm jealous, I get it. But jokes on you, I'm not jealous,"

"Did you say that G? I didn't hear you say that, and I am certain I didn't say that,"

"No Sam, I don't ever remember us saying jealous. You thought of that all on your own there Deeks,"

"No I didn't. You said green, as in green eyed monster, as in jealousy," he replied getting a little anxious.

"I don't know what you're referring to Deeks. Do you Sam?"

"Haven't a clue G, but now that you mention it, Deeks you do look like something's bothering you. Could it be the new guy that's talking to your partner, no wait, now laughing with your partner. What do you think G?"

"I think you're on to something there Sam. I mean, what's not to like about this guy? He's tall, dark and handsome. He's everything Kensi looks for in a guy. Not average, blonde and scruffy," he smirked.

Deeks' patience was wearing thin. He knew what they were doing, but they were wrong. So very wrong. Completely and undeniably wrong.

"Okay guys, you're hilarious, but jokes over. There's nothing going on here,"

"Okay Deeks. Whatever you say," Callen said raising his eyebrows walking towards Sam's car.

"Just remember..." Sam shouted as he too walked towards his car, "...admittance is the first step to recovery!"

Kensi and Fisher looked over at Deeks from where they were standing, to see him on the verge of tackling Sam to the ground.

"He's...delusional. Don't even really know what he's talking about," Deeks laughed nervously at a confused Kensi and Fisher. "See you at the bar," he added quickly as he marched towards his truck with clenched fists.

He slammed the door and put his head down on the wheel.

There is nothing going on here, Deeks thought. Absolutely nothing. She's my partner. She's just my partner okay? That's all. Right Marty?

Wrong.

So very wrong.