First off I am excited about this new story idea that was brought up to me, and this first chapter is setting the basis of Genius Kensi. There will be references to CSI: Cyber, but just references. I will toy with scorpion only if I can incorporate them in smoothly. I also won't immediately jump to the gritty stuff until maybe ch. 3 merely because I want to show how hard Kensi struggles with her secret.

Without further ado, my new story.

Enjoy!

The 'Normal' Life of a Secret Genius

Chapter 1

Kensi's P.O.V

I wake slowly to the sounds of birds chirping out of my window and the sun is barely peeking over the horizon. Without looking at the clock I know the time, 5:30. Sometimes being smarter than everybody has its perks, not once in the entirety of my life have I needed an alarm clock, thank everything too that screeching noise is like nails on a chalkboard. I shudder thinking of both noises as I twist my legs over the side of my bed sitting up and looking looking over my room once; gun still in place, shoes still in place, every tiny thing in my room hasn't moved…it never moves. But the organized chaos is a soothing mess, let's me escape my always running thoughts. Deeks still just calls me a hoarder…oh if he only knew.

Moving to start the day I shower, brush my teeth and dress for another work day at OSP. On the way I switch my station over to some classical piano pieces, music that Deeks is to never know I listen too, that no one on my team needs to know.

As I drive I am lost within memories of my childhood. Always moving from school to school because of my dad's job, and under the suggestion of my dad, I should embrace my knowledge, not keep people out. So I did because I trusted him and for it I was teased, not only for being a genius but for my eyes, for years I was called freak, werido, idiot genius (that one still doesn't make sense to me) and any other combination of names that young children could come up with. It wasn't until high school that the teasing took a physical turn. Now being a Marine brat I knew how to defend myself to the point of using deadly force but I reasoned that they just didn't understand, and they feared what they did not understand, so I let them shove me, let them punch me, hoping and praying that we were to move soon.

Pulling up to OSP I stay in the SRX, something is bothering me…some emotion, I do not do well with emotion, a side effect of a genius mind. It is this side effect that I use to justify keeping Deeks at arms-length, to keep him from touching me. But whatever is swirling around in my chest isn't what I feel around Deeks no this feels…like restriction…. Something that is becoming more and more common…I do not like it one bit.

My phones alarm blares next to me shocking me from my swirling thoughts. Picking it up I see a notification 6:30 talk with Hetty.

Then it clicks, I usually get in early on Wednesday's to chat with Hetty, the only member of OSP that knows just how smart I am, the only person I can talk too and be myself. Amongst my never stopping thoughts such a mundane task gets lost, hence my reminder.

Pushing out of my SRX I quickly jog to the Mission doors taking in the silence…I never liked silence it made my thoughts deafening made them turn to my time one the street…. Jogging through the halls I see Hetty already at her desk with two tea cups, a tradition since I was seventeen.

"Hetty, sorry I am late…"

"Do not bother Kensi, I know how it is." Her words are soft and understanding as she used my first name, this is the only time she uses it, a deal we made years ago when I started at OSP. "Please sit and let us talk."

I take my usual seat and grasp the cup, the liquid warming the decorated glass, the swirls and twists of the flowers entrances me as I spot imperfections in the paint and all the ways that the maker could improve for better quality. When those thoughts run dry I think of ways that I could expand on the simple image ways to make it better….

"Kensi?" Hetty's soft voice wakes me from my wandering thoughts. I look up at her and smile sheepishly, even though I know she understands. "So has there been any…improvements on your, well what you call condition?"

I shake my head sighing. I told Hetty a few months ago about my fear of being touched or touching others, weird since I am a Federal agent, but the anger I feel at touch means I can easily subdue suspects. "No, I still can't stand to be touched and I still fail to understand why, I mean I am a doctor and psychologist for god sakes I should know, I had a decent childhood, my parents never hit me…"

"But the kids in your schools did Kensi," she says softly and I laugh bitterly.

"What does it matter Hetty, out of hundreds of people who know, you and my father were the only ones who understood, who didn't look at me like I am a freak with mismatched eyes, my own mother couldn't even look at me half of the time. Even when I was on the streets, those…men merely used my brain…" I trail off before shaking that thought away. "When I am in a room surrounded by the smartest people in the world I am still looked at like a freak…It is why I keep it quiet from the team, they are the only family I have…I can't risk that." I trail off quietly thinking of what would happen should the team realize who I am really.

Looking back up to Hetty I see sadness taint her eyes, something that I am causing, I am the cause of her sadness. "Kensi, they love you, but it is not the whole team you are worried about, is it?" I merely shake my head avoiding her eyes. "It is Mr. Deeks? What makes him so different?"

I shrug. "I do not know…"

"I call bullshit," I can't stop the chuckle from her swearing but she continues. "You know everything, quite literally. You have PhD's in forensic and clinical psychology and Human Services and you are telling me you 'don't know'? I see the way you look at him Kensi, it is why you try so hard to get over your fear of being touched…."

"Aphephobia: Fear of touching or being touched…." I softly say almost whispering it. Hetty only smiles. "I will admit…only to you," I say lifting a single finger. "That it may be why I… punch him, he doesn't really do anything to annoy me as much as I may let on." I shrug half-heartedly. "It gets… tiring pretending to be normal… to be Bad-Ass Blye"

"You don't have to pretend Kensi…"

"Yes I do," I say harshly. "When I worked with the FBI's Cyber division I was…I was excluded in everything. I could solve an entire case alone, and they were happy to not be working with me. I was never asked to join in team outings…I was once again an outcast. For the first time since my father died I am included and loved and I don't want that to change."

Hetty sighs I know she doesn't agree, this is the same conversation we have every Wednesday, and while it makes me tense it is alone time with Hetty, my second mother and I wouldn't trade it for the world. "You know that I do not agree with you but it is your choice."

And with the sound of Callen arriving our conversation becomes quiet and to slightly less tense topics. "So tell me how goes you classes?"

A smile touches my lips as I lean forward and lower my voice. "It is going great, my professor wants me to write my doctoral paper with him about ancient Greece, and I know the exact topic I want to write."

She chuckles "And this is for you PhD in History? What of your Masters in sociology?"

"Finished, graduation is next Friday, you are coming yes?"

"Of course I wouldn't miss it for anything, you know that. What time should I get there?" she asked but I knew that she already knew, it was always the same no matter the college no matter the degree, but I answered anyway.

"Best to get there by 6, the ceremony starts at 7." I say mindful of Callen walking towards us.

"I am so proud of you, will you move up to the PhD?" I shake my head ending the conversation as Callen takes his seat next to me.

"What are you two whispering about?" he asks, his voice betraying the serious curiosity in his eyes. I turn to Hetty, I didn't know how to handle this situation, and usually Callen stays at his desk ignoring us.

Thankfully Hetty senses the discomfort radiating off of me and interjects. "Merely talking about this week's events and the previous case." Vague and not at all true. I never once look over at Callen, as I try to pull back from the usual openness I feel in Hetty's office.

"What of the last case?" Now he is fishing.

"Just what we thought of the suspects, nothing more. Now if you both will excuse me I am going to the gym." Walking away I know that I didn't handle that very well, there was too much of the real me in my voice, too much truth.

Callen's P.O.V

Walking into the Mission on Wednesday I once again see Kensi sitting in Hetty's desk, I never knew what they spoke about, but it was the same every week, Kensi would be tense when I would first walk in, and then like someone flipped a switched she would lean forward and smile. I could never distinguish their words.

I sit down and try to not think about what they are talking about, but when I hear Kensi laugh, really laugh I can't take the curiosity anymore. I slowly start walking towards them and I hear their voices get even lower the closer I get.

"What are you two whispering about?" I ask taking my seat, I try to keep my voice light but I know Kensi sees the seriousness in my eyes, born operator.

"Merely talking about this week's events and the previous case." Vague and not at all true, I know Hetty is lying but I can't help myself as I push further, only vaguely aware that Kensi is incredibly next to me.

"What of the last case?" I ask innocently.

"Just what we thought of the suspects, nothing more. Now if you both will excuse me I am going to the gym." I twist in my chair watching her walk away. Something in her words, or maybe they were her words, she sounded different.

"Is Kensi okay?" I ask concerned about my female agent.

"Ms. Blye is alright, just a sleepless night." Her words seem practiced… rehearsed.

"What were you really talking about Hetty?" I ask looking at Kensi's empty tea cup. Looking back up to Hetty when she doesn't answer, I see no one. "Damn ninja," I mutter walking back to my desk seeing Sam putting his bag under his desk.

"What were you talking about with Hetty?"

I shake my head. "Know how Kensi and Hetty talk quietly with each other every Wednesday?"

"Yea, they are sometimes still talking when I come in." he crosses his arms and stands before me in the center of the bullpen.

"Well this morning I decided to walk up while they were still talking. And Kensi got up in a rush to head towards the gym…"

"That is where she usually goes after talking with Hetty," he interrupts matter of factly.

"But then I asked Hetty if she was okay and do you know what she said?" he shakes his head. "That Kensi merely had a sleepless night."

At that Sam's arms fell to his side in shock. "Kensi doesn't have sleepless nights, and if she does she doesn't let anyone else know about, hence Bad-Ass Blye… or so Deeks calls her."

"What do I call who?"

"Bad-ass Blye." Callen simply says.

"Oh yea, where is my partner? Her SRX is outside." Sam and I both point towards the gym and that is where he heads to.

"God he is so much like a puppy." Sam laughs as we walk to our desks and start doing our paperwork and settle in for a long day. But no matter how hard I concentrate my mind still wanders to Kensi's strange behavior.

Hours later she and Deeks come walking back into the bullpen, him with a slight limp. "Damn Deeks, did Kensi whoop your ass….again?" Sam asks, but I don't look at Deeks I watch Kensi instead. Now she looks like herself, ribbing on Deeks like usual. No formal speak, no dangerous edge to her voice like this morning…

"Callen are you alright?" Kensi asks, tilting her head to the side slightly.

"Yea, no I'm good." I clear my throat, embarrassed that I was caught staring. I see her eyes narrow dangerously but Deeks' voice distracts her.

And just like that everything does back to normal. Just your average paperwork day…until tomorrow at least…

A. Grayson