Ballistic Betterment
"Really, you had to hit me there?" Deeks asked as he and Kensi walked towards her car, Deeks moving gingerly. They had been attending Eskrima classes for almost two weeks now and tonight was their first session of sparing against each other and they had both enjoyed it. They had taken it easy, not wanting to hurt each other with the rattan sticks they had bought for the class. That was until the end of the sparring session when Kensi had successfully disarmed Deeks of one of his sticks. As he bent to pick it up, Kensi had walloped him in the butt.
"What? You present it, I smack it," Kensi stated, smiling from ear to ear. Truthfully, she did feel a little bad for Deeks' pain, but hearing him complain about a pain in the ass, well that made it worth it. She hadn't even hit him that hard.
"I think I would prefer you to use your hand," Deeks said as he climbed into the passenger seat of the SRX, settling softly into the seat with a wince. "No, I know I prefer you to use your hand."
"Ah, you'll be fine," Kensi assured him. "Maybe if you're feeling better later, I might just use my hand."
"Promises, promises," Deeks teased.
#NCIS-LA# #NCIS-LA##NCIS-LA##NCIS-LA##NCIS-LA# #NCIS-LA#
Later, Kensi and Deeks lounged on her couch and enjoyed a beer each as they watched one of the chick flicks in Kensi's collection. Well Kensi watched. Deeks meanwhile, was thinking, hard. He was running through all the skills he possessed and to what level they were at. He was also making a list of all the skills he wanted to learn. And in his mind, the latter list overshadowed the former by an exceedingly wide margin. He was so deep in his own mind, he never noticed the movie finish.
"Hey, what are you thinking about?" Kensi asked, her head resting on his shoulder. She had noticed he had zoned out just after the movie had started. The few times she looked up at him, he seemed deep in thought so she left him to his thoughts. Now that the movie had end and he was still lost in his own mind, Kensi was wondering what he was thinking about.
"Just thinking of everything I've learnt over the years and everything I still want to learn," Deeks replied after a moment of consideration. He thought about continuing but the words wouldn't come. Thankfully Kensi found her own words.
"Like what? A new hobby?" Kensi wondered, slightly confused. "If you want to start a new hobby, that's great."
"Not a hobby, Kens," Deeks said softly. He wasn't sure if he could give voice to his thoughts but his mind drifted back to his talk with Hetty at the end of their first lesson. She had said that everyone needs a little help sometimes.
"Deeks?" Kensi queried. She watched as a look of consideration crossed his face before it settled into a calm look.
"Kensi," Deeks said softly, barely above a whisper. "Will you teach me to shoot?"
"What?" Kensi exclaimed. She had no idea what to say.
"I want you to teach me how to shoot. I want to be better," Deeks tried to explain. Even he felt he wasn't doing very well. Another thing to add to his list, improved communication skills.
"You can already shoot. Maybe not as good as me," Kensi teased, hoping to get a grin from Deeks. Seeing no response though, she continued. "But you're easily as good as either Sam or Callen. Stop selling yourself short."
"I'm not talking about handguns, Kens. Or even carbines," Deeks clarified. He took a deep breath and fixed his gaze on Kensi. "I'm asking you to teach me how to use a sniper rifle."
Kensi was stunned. Deeks had never spoken to her before about learning to shoot, especially sniper rifles. She had never considered him learning either. She had always considered him more the run and gun kind of operator, always moving.
"Before I answer, I'd like to know why?" Kensi asked, hoping to understand Deeks' reasoning behind wanting to learn. "Why do you want to me to teach you to use a sniper rifle? And why now?"
"I guess I owe you that much," Deeks agreed calmly. He nudged Kensi, who sat up and turned to face Deeks, who had straightened up himself, turning slightly to face Kensi. He took a deep breath, he seemed to be doing that a lot lately, as he considered how to start.
"No rush, Deeks. I'm not going anywhere," Kensi said, reaching out to grasp Deeks' hand, squeezing it.
"You remember how I said I was considering quitting LAPD and joining NCIS?" Deeks coaxed. At Kensi's nod, Deeks continued. "Well, I've been doing some thinking and I think I want to go for it. I think I want to join NCIS."
"Well that's great. I can't wait until you are one of us in name as well as in deed," Kensi beamed. At Deeks quizzical look, Kensi just smiled more. "Deeks, you have been one of us for years now. It's only on paper that you are still with LAPD and not with us."
"Ah, thanks Kens," Deeks said, blushing slightly. "Anyway, everyone else on the team is qualified on sniper rifles. Sam is a SEAL, Callen is a qualified Sniper and you were practically born with a rifle in your hands."
"Not quite Deeks, but close," Kensi asserted. "But none of that means that you need to learn to shoot a sniper rifle. We all have skills we are good at. It's the pooling of those skills that make us the team that we are."
"I get that Kens, I really do. But this is something I want to learn. I'm not expecting to become insanely awesome like Badass Blye, but I'm hoping to be good enough that I won't embarrass myself if I need to use one for some reason," Deeks insisted. "Will you teach me?"
Kensi stared at Deeks, considering everything he had told her. She couldn't find fault in him wanting to learn how to use and shoot a sniper rifle. But she still wasn't sure if he would make a good sniper.
"Alright," Kensi agreed. Deeks' eyebrows shot up. Kensi could tell that he was thinking that he would have to fight her some more to get her to teach him.
"Alright?" Deeks queried suspiciously. "I thought it would take a little more convincing."
"It still might after our first lesson, Deeks," Kensi said. "I'll teach you how to use a sniper rifle Deeks. I'll even try to teach you how to be a sniper. But I think you will find you don't fit the mold to be a sniper. A marksman maybe, but not a sniper."
"That's fair, I guess," Deeks conceded. "Only one way to find out I guess."
#NCIS-LA# #NCIS-LA##NCIS-LA##NCIS-LA##NCIS-LA# #NCIS-LA#
"You're doing quite well, Mr Deeks," Hetty said as they enjoyed a cup of Tea together after their morning lessons. Everyone had questioned it for the first week, especially Kensi. Hetty hadn't said anything, not that anyone expected her too, and all that Deeks had said was that he was learning an appreciation for the different blends of Tea that Hetty had in her possession; which wasn't even a lie.
"Why thank you Hetty," Deeks said, smiling. "It must be the fantastic teacher I have."
"Don't be cheeky," Hetty said sternly, though the expression on her face showed her enjoyment of Deeks' words. She was surprised that she was actually enjoying herself immensely during her morning lessons with Mr Deeks. Never having children of her own, Hetty had come to consider those that worked for her the family that she had sometimes desired, despite the consequences that this job could, and sometimes did, bring. "I have been speaking with Director Vance."
"That sounds kind of ominous," Deeks commented, noticing Hetty's tone. It was what Deeks considered her 'calm but serious' tone.
"Not particularly, Mr Deeks," Hetty stated. She took a sip of her tea before continuing. "As you know, Miss Jones wants to become an agent. Normally this would entail having her attend FLETC, which she was scheduled to depart for in just under 4 weeks' time. However, now that you have also expressed your desire to become an agent, normal procedure would have you both attending FLETC at the same time."
"Ah, ok. I'm following you so far," Deeks said. "I'm guessing that is not what is going to happen?"
"No, it's not. I discussed with Director Vance the ramifications of losing two of my best people at the same. Of how this would affect team cohesion and reliability, both in ops and in the field," Hetty explained. "He agreed that it was not a good outlook."
"So I wait until the next FLETC semester? I'm not going to push my way in," Deeks pointed out, feeling disappointed. "It's not ideal, not what I wanted but I'm patient. I'll get there in the end."
"On the contrary, Mr Deeks. You and Miss Jones will both be attending FLETC during this next intake. However, you both will be doing the majority of your studies by correspondence or by personal tutoring from a certified individual," Hetty revealed. "You will both have to attend the actual training facility at some stage for the more practical aspects of the training but I am confident that this will not be an issue as you both are quite capable individuals."
"Wow," Deeks managed to get out, lost for words. "I don't know what to say Hetty."
"Thank you is the most common place to start," Hetty said with a toothy smile.
"Touché," Deeks quipped. "Thank you Hetty. For everything."
"As I told you, Mr Deeks. We all need a a little help sometimes," Hetty quoted. Deeks grinned at her reference. "And don't worry about Miss Jones. She has already requested that her studies be undertaken at the end of the day. They will neither impact, nor compromise our lessons in mornings."
"Looks like I am going to have a busy few months ahead of me Hetty," Deeks observed. They both heard the sound of Callen and Sam's voices entering the Mission, discussing the latest basketball game they had attended. Deeks drained the remainder of his Tea and placed the cup and saucer back on Hetty's desk. "Thank you for the Tea."
"Anytime, Mr Deeks," Hetty remarked as Deeks stood and made his way to his own desk in the bullpen, greeting the two agents as he passed. "Anytime at all."
Author's Note
Thank you to all the readers of #01 Ability Augmentation. You all have boosted my confidence immensely. Please enjoy this offering.
#03 Class Conspiracy is in the works.
Hossier65- I thought about trying to make them into one story but it didn't seem to sit right in my head. Figured this might work better. Hoping it does.