DISCLAIMER: Not mine.

Chapter One: "The Dread Pirate Granger"
Post "War Cries"

"Do you think it was odd that Granger asked us what we knew about Kensi's assignment?" Eric asked they started off to her Melrose Hill home. He was spending the night, on the couch he assured Hetty, to make sure Nell was alright.

"It was strange," Nell replied. "You want to know what was stranger?"

"The weird photoshopping of Scarlett Johansson in the 'Captain America: The Winter Solider' movie poster."

"Well, that goes without saying but no, Deeks and Granger had a really strange conversation while I was getting," Nell sighed and pointed to her right eyebrow, "this."

"They made an odd pairing today."

"Yeah, when Deeks offered to take me to the hospital, I thought he would…"

"I would have gone with you," Eric interrupted.

"I know. And I think Deeks would have swung by the Mission to pick you up but once Granger got into the front seat, I got into the back seat and Deeks took us to the hospital. He knew a plastic surgeon there. The doctor did Deeks's cheek after Sidorov."

"Deeks has his own plastic surgeon, oh man, what a bummer Kensi isn't here. She'd love that."

"She doesn't have a lot of jokes about what happened to Deeks that day," Nell told him.

"And Deeks would say she doesn't have a lot of joke, period."

"Well, while the plastic surgeon was washing up to do my stitches, I heard Granger and Deeks talking. Granger was looking for some sort of confirmation that Deeks hasn't been in contact with Kensi. Or 'Blye' as he kept calling her."

"Such a warm guy," Eric said dryly. "What did Deeks say?"

"Deeks said what he said at Brown's was true. Kensi was a on classified mission and unless Granger wanted to share, he knew nothing."

"Do you think that's true?"

"Except for that first week she was gone, Deeks has been remarkably quiet about Kensi. Especially for Deeks."

Eric smiled. "Except the grooming when he thought she'd be on the satellite."

Nell shook her head, "A case of really bad timing."

"What do you think he knows?"

"Deeks?" Eric asked. After Nell nodded, he continued. "I don't know. Deeks ran that operation with Monica Davis last year and none of us knew about it."

"Except Granger."

"Yes, except for Granger. But Deeks can keep a secret. With Hetty running Kensi's side operation in Afghanistan, I'm more convinced than ever that the only people who know about it is Hetty, Kensi, me and now you and possibly Deeks." Nell closed her eyes, Eric's driving was fine but the day was catching up with her. "Why do you think Granger wanted to know what we knew?"

"The dread pirate Granger?"

"What?"

"After you cruelly abandoned me with the Assistant Director, I looked up at him and I guess after all the talk about Captain Bligh/Blye and his Assistant Director stare and that new beard, I may have mentioned he looked a little like a pirate."

"Beale, Beale, Beale," Nell sighed, shaking her head.

"We were covering for Kensi, who he obviously doesn't know has a side mission over there. It was the fastest way I could think of to get him out of Ops."

"The dread pirate Granger? Dread?"

"When he's around, when do good things happen? He shows up today and you wind up in the hospital. He shows up last May and Sam and Deeks are tortured. He was here a year ago and you were held hostage. I'm telling you, there are always people in danger when Buccaneer Owen boards the good ship Special Projects."

"Did you break into my Tylenol 3's?"

"No. You know you're still wearing Deeks's hoodie."

"It is really warm. He has nice stuff," she told him. Nell put out her right hand and showed him a few blood drops on the bottom of the sleeve. "I'm going to drop this off at the dry cleaners tomorrow morning. It's the least I can do."

"You're going to get his hoodie dry cleaned?"

"I was sitting in the ER waiting for his plastic surgeon and I started shivering. He took off his hoodie and gave it to me without saying a word. He deserves having it returned in perfect condition."

They were quiet for a few minutes when Eric asked, "What happens if Kensi's really in trouble?"

"I think Deeks, Sam and Callen will set records getting to her."

"I would have done that if I knew you were in trouble today," Eric told her as he pulled up to her house.

Leaning over she kissed him on the cheek. "I knew you were getting me help. You had my back. I just needed to hold on until back-up arrived."

He put the car into park. "Don't do things alone anymore," he requested quietly. "I can't do this again."

"Let's order some tandoori chicken. My friend Charlotte who works for Disney got me an early copy of the "Thor 2" 3-D Blu-ray."

"You had me at tandoori chicken."

-30-