NCIS L.A. - Resurfaced
Author's Note: Okay, so here is my next attempt at NCIS L.A. fanfiction.
As for the setting: This is before Hetty offered Deeks the position as an NCIS agent, but it's closely around it. I am putting the Hetty Arc and her taking off on a hold, so that it won't "interfere" with my story. Here, the team still didn't fully accept Deeks into the team and sees him more as the detective than the agent, so this might be kind of OOC. I'm just taking up on the incident where Sam said that he doesn't trust him (Sidorov case). I wanted to expand on it a bit and show that Deeks is more than the beach bum we all love - and that being an undercover detective means much more than the guys may have estimated.
Disclaimer: I don't own anyone, anything... I'm just a poor little fanfiction author in the making ;) (And that will stay so for all chapters to come)
I hope you'll enjoy it, please read and review as you like ;)
Kensi Blye rushes into the bullpen, the strap of her bag loosely over her shoulder, dangling from one side to the other as she quickly makes her way over to her desk. She settles down, nodding at Callen and Sam, who are already busy discussing something.
"You're doing a Deeks, again, Kensi," Sam snickers.
"What?" Kensi frowns, still out of breath.
"You're late," Callen lectures her with a smirk.
"I did a Deeks? Are you serious?" Kensi ignores Callen's comment, completely focused on Sam, who shrugs with a smug smile tugging at his lips.
"Speaking of whom... where is he?" Kensi looks around. Normally, the blond detective is the first one to greet her, or make a comment... possibly both. The other two shrug at her.
"He didn't show up here yet," Callen shrugs.
"I ran late coz my car started to smoke. But normally he is here by now, even when he's late," Kensi shakes her head.
"True. The morning was all too silent," Sam snorts.
"Maybe he just found a great wave and had to ride it," Callen suggests.
"Waves suck today, I know that," Kensi argues. Ever since Deeks dragged her to surfing, she catches herself more than often checking the calendars.
"Then he is being stupid again. You know him," Sam huffs.
"I didn't get to speak to him ever since yesterday. I tried to call him a few times, but he never answered," Kensi hugs her arms, now with concern in her voice.
"Maybe he was out on a date?" Callen throws in.
"I would have known," Kensi returns directly.
"Really?" Callen makes a face.
"He tells me everything about these things... even if I don't wanna hear it," Kensi sighs. Too Much Information is something her partner seemingly ignores, always.
"But that's probably it. And that's why he is late," Sam argues.
"I don't know. Normally he texts me back," Kensi shakes her head.
"You're worried," Callen grimaces.
"Yeah, coz that's not his usually odd behavior. He texts me back coz he knows that I get upset. He knows that I do and... he normally doesn't wanna worry me," Kensi argues, biting her lower lip.
"He probably just forgot," Callen assures her quickly.
"He even texted me back while he was lying next to one of them in bed," Kensi blurts out.
"He was probably just making fun of you and told you that he was with someone – and that someone was Monty," Sam argues.
"He took a pic of her snoring next to him to attach to the text," Kensi shakes her head.
"That's disturbing," Callen knits an eyebrow at her.
"Is kinda our contest. We make weird poses when they... nevermind," Kensi bites her tongue. She never should have said that out loud.
"I won't. I just hope I get that out of my head, ever again," Callen makes a face.
"Coming back to him not calling back: Just don't sweat it," Sam shakes his head.
"Maybe he's just late after all...," Kensi sighs, giving in. That is when Hetty makes her appearance. The three greet her, "Morning, Hetty."
"Good morning," she nods.
"We got a case?" Callen asks curiously.
"No, you are to catch up on your paperwork, as I told you, Mr. Callen," Hetty shakes her head.
"Deeks won't be delighted about that one," Sam snorts.
"Mr. Deeks won't. He is at work," Hetty argues.
"What? He isn't here," Kensi frowns.
"He is working for the LAPD, on an undercover operation," Hetty tells them.
"He didn't tell me about that, though," Kensi argues.
"He may not have told you about a few undercover jobs he has done since working here at the NCIS as our liaison," Hetty returns.
"What's the assignment about?" Callen asks curiously.
"I only got informed by Assistant Director Granger this morning and he gave nothing away about specifics. And there's nothing we can do about it, since it is LAPD jurisdiction, as far as I am concerned," Hetty shrugs.
"Sucks that Deeks gets to work for real while we're stuck doing paperwork," Sam grumbles.
"Mr. Deeks spent the weekend here in advance to get all necessary paperwork done in time, to be good to go for the mission. I have all forms on my desk – in contrast to most of my agents, he is always handing things in on time, Mr. Hanna. So now, if you'd excuse me. I have some business to handle," Hetty declares, leaving the tree staring as she walks off.
"I didn't know he's had an op," Kensi admits.
"If it's LAPD, it stands to reason," Callen shrugs.
"But according to Hetty, he's done all his paperwork in advance. That means he knew about that before," Kensi argues worriedly.
"Well, again, if LAPD doesn't want us involved, even Deeks will keep shut about it," Callen argues.
"But if he did all his paperwork in advance... that might also mean...," Kensi bites her lower lip.
"That he has to do a deeper cover, true,"Callen nods.
"It's so odd. I mean...," Kensi grimaces.
"... sometimes I guess we forget that he's working for LAPD as well as NCIS," Callen admits himself.
"Yeah...," she sighs.
The day carries on without further interferences. Kensi tries to call and text Deeks a few times, but his phone is dismissed. She grimaces sadly each time she puts the phone away. Once work is over, she considers checking on him over at his apartment, but then decides against it and simply drives home. Maybe he'll come back tomorrow? Maybe Hetty exaggerated and he just did the paper forms due today.
Her hopes are crushed, however, when her partner doesn't return the next day. The others are a little surprised as well, even if they knew that perhaps it might be a deep cover. As Hetty gives them the briefs for a new case, the first case without Deeks in a long while, Kensi asks her as the others leave: "Did you hear anything about Deeks?"
"No," Hetty replies curtly. With that the short Lady takes off, a pang of emotion in her voice. She misses him, that's obvious. Yet, it continues to be that way. She says nothing specific about Deeks' operation and remains in the background, while the others fall back into routine.
Three days later, they sit over yet another stack of paper forms, and all look beyond unmotivated. Kensi plays around with the stress ball Deeks has given her as a mean present two weeks ago, even Callen seems absently minded.
"This sucks," Kensi grumbles.
"What now?" Sam looks up from his stack of papers.
"Are you serious? We didn't hear from Deeks in ages and you... oh, never mind," Kensi grumbles.
"I find it incredibly silent today. And isn't that wonderful?" Sam snickers.
"Tells me the guy who is folding the double amount of origami swans, coz he is so much in focus," Kensi retorts angrily.
"Paperwork is boring," Sam shrugs.
"Aha. Just my point," Kensi returns.
"You two, play nice," Callen sighs. Suddenly the door opens and all instantly stare ahead, with the faint hope that a certain someone will come through, but it's just another agent whom they don't even know.
"So much to that, big guy," Kensi mutters under her breath.
And that is how it continues to be for the rest of the week. They hope each time the door opens that Deeks comes in, but he doesn't. Hetty is mysteriously silent about the matter... and they are bored, even if Callen and Sam wouldn't ever admit it.
Callen walks along the coastline with the cell to his ear, "... Yeah, I got everything. Of course. Sam, now shut up already. I lost the bet for the food run, not for personal slave. Yeah, dude, I will throw that into the next best trashcan if you don't stop... okay, till later. Bye."
Callen hangs up, his eyes roaming over the sea where the surfers ride the waves today. He notes that Kensi told him that the waves are good today. She is very depressed ever since Deeks got the undercover assignment. She misses her partner. And truth told... they miss him also, kinda. His eyes stay on the surfers as suddenly he catches sight of a very familiar mop of blond curls. G narrows his eyes to see better, just to confirm: it's Deeks. Callen watches the man as he smoothly cuts through the water, impressed with his skills once again. He saw him surf this one time he went with Kensi, but back then he went easy. Now one gets to see the full repertoire, all the stunts and crazy moves, in perfection, really. On the other hand, he can't help but feel relieved that the detective seemingly found the time to come down from the undercover op. Callen knows from experience how challenging a deep cover is. It's draining, and it's almost essential to snap back to reality at some point, even if only just for a surf or to go have something for lunch. Or else you might have a severe identity crisis by the end of the day. Deeks catches a last wave to get back to shore. He emerges from the water and walks over to his stuff nearby. Callen walks up to him, wanting to talk to him on his day off and ask if he is okay. Plus, he may get some answers Hetty won't give them. If only to calm Kensi... and himself.
"Hey, Deeks! Good to see you!" Callen greets him. Deeks turns around snappily, his eye widening as he sees the Senior Agent approaching, wanting to shake hands with him. He risks a quick look in his periphery, knowing that they will be here any second.
"You must be mistaking me for someone else," Deeks replies dismissively.
"Still as funny, eh? Look, we're all a little worried coz we didn't hear any from you over at N...," Callen smirks, but Deeks interrupts him loudly, "Shut up already!"
"Whoa, dude, is me. You remember me, right?" Callen shakes his head. What the hell is going on here?
"Now get lost already! I got better to do than foolin' around with ya!" Deeks curses.
"Man, it's me, okay?" Callen tries again.
"Fuck yourself!" Deeks curses. Callen gapes at him, "Hey, you know me, alright, so drop the attitude."
"Yeah, I know ya! And ya still owe me money, ya prick! So ya better get outta my sight before I tear ya a new one!" Deeks yells at him.
"Dee...," Callen wants to say something, but Deeks won't let him, "Whatcha callin' me?! Ya got a problem or what? Ya really wanna put up a fight, huh? Huh?"
A group of five people walks up to Deeks, all surfers as it seems. One of them snakes his hand around Deeks with a broad smirk on his face, "Got a problem here, Kyle?"
Kyle? Callen blinks. Oh, darn... he just stumbled into Deeks on a deep undercover case?
"Just someone pissing me off coz he thinks he can talk to me, though he still owes me money, but ya'll be gone now, wontcha? Or you really want me to punch ya in the face?!" Deeks threatens. Callen goes with the flow and acts off as the innocent here, "Dude, I was just..."
"He said get lost, then that's what ya do, pal," the man next to Deeks snorts.
"And make sure next time I see ya, ya have the money, god dammit!" Deeks curses. Callen gapes as he walks away.
"Dude, ya had something against him that much, eh?" the surfer next to Deeks smirks.
"He owes me two grand – and then he just walks up to me and wants to chat. Well, not with me," Deeks snorts.
"Hey, don't sweat it. If he comes again, we all tear him a new one each," the other man winks at him.
"Is good to know to have a team in the back," Deeks smiles.
"Sure as hell... wanna catch another wave?" the other one claps him on the back.
"You seriously ask me that? You mocking me? Huh?" Deeks grins.
"I know better than that," the other man laughs. The group gathers their boards and together hit the waves again.
Callen makes his way back to the office meanwhile, the food long since forgotten, wanting to consult Hetty, immediately. The others are surprised to see him this upset about something, since he only drops the basket of food on Sam's desk before instantly walking up to Hetty's desk.
"What's wrong?" Kensi asks.
"I saw Deeks," Callen declares. Kensi stares at him with huge eyes, "What?!"
"Played off as the total asshole since he was...," Callen wants to explain everything, but he doesn't get to finish, since suddenly said man stands in the bullpen, now in shirt, but still in trunks and sandals, "Hello y'all."
"Hello...," Callen grimaces.
"You're back?" Kensi asks.
"No, just wanted to talk to Callen here, Fern," Deeks replies... surprisingly grimly.
"Looking forward to that," Callen huffs.
"So okay, uhm, I apologize for being that rough to you – but you just nearly blew my cover," Deeks grumbles.
"You were at the beach, surfing," Callen argues.
"Yeah, coz that's my job," Deeks retorts.
"I thought this was your day off," Callen explains honestly.
"It isn't. When I'm in deep undercover – there is no day off. I didn't know what else to do to make you leave without appearing suspicious, so I thought I'd just snap at you, before somebody realized what was up. Well, I apologize for the harshness, but next time, just make sure you don't talk to me when you see me, until this is finished, that is," Deeks shakes his head.
"You haven't answered a single call of mine! I was worried," Kensi throws in. Really, that is not like him.
"I don't get to make phone calls, sorry. I shouldn't even be here to begin with. I just wanted to get things clear here. Can't have it that they realize I'm with feds," Deeks returns.
"Well, I'm sorry I got into this. I didn't know you were in deep undercover. Hetty's said nothing to us. We thought it was a simple undercover operation and you had a day off," Callen repeats.
"And that you guys don't know is the main purpose here. This is a LAPD operation – only. So I can't have you around now. NCIS is supposed to stay outta that, so you guys don't stick your noses into this either," Deeks declares.
"Dude," Sam makes a face. He never saw Deeks that serious ever since the Lazik case.
"I don't mean it as an offense, big guy, it's just that I have my orders," Deeks replies.
"And since when you do listen to them?" Sam snorts.
"Since I decided on it? Look, I appreciate it that you're seemingly concerned, but... nothing to be concerned about. I gotta head back. I will come back here once this is over. So... bye. And tell Hetty hi from me," Deeks says. With that he takes off. All just stare.
"Did that just happen?" Sam blinks.
"Seemingly," Callen shrugs, though he didn't process it yet either.
"He just lectured us," Sam shakes his head. Hetty comes in.
"Well, even if I don't like it, Mr. Deeks has made a case in point," Hetty declares. Of course she heard everything and just waited for the right moment to make her appearance.
"What now?" Kensi grimaces.
"Well, we almost messed up his operation. It's clearly his right to be upset about that and tell us to stay off the case," Hetty argues.
"And why are we off the case? This is Deeks," Kensi returns vehemently.
"And Mr. Deeks is working on this assignment as purely LAPD directed as ever, as I already told you. Which means, Ms. Blye, that our involvement is not required at any point – and not wanted either," Hetty returns sternly.
"She's right. It was my mistake that I talked to him. It's just that when I saw him surfing, he didn't look like he was on the op. Otherwise I wouldn't have bothered him to begin with," Callen throws in. Normally such slips don't happen to him. It's just that with Deeks... you forget it sometimes just how good he can enact people.
"Well, then we should continue to work, so that Mr. Deeks can do his job," Hetty declares.
"But you don't come to know what exactly he's working on?" Callen asks.
"LAPD operation, Mr. Callen. I know nothing," Hetty repeats in a flat voice.
"You always know something," Callen returns. She knew about the Lazik case, too. The heck, Hetty knows everyone and everything.
"I know nothing. And you shouldn't try to uncover this. You should get working. Now," Hetty orders grimly before walking off again.
"Something's not alright about this," Sam shakes his head.
"Definitely not...," Kensi sighs.
TBC
*Note: As some of you readers rightly pointed out, Callen not realizing right away that Deeks is undercover may not be adequate. I thank you for pointing it out, because I also felt that it came kind of weak. I suppose I shouldn't have let Hetty reveal that it's an undercover assignment from the start, so that the guys are kept unaware of that circumstance. Really, I see that point the way you do and I take that criticism but, to my defense I want to point out a few things to why I did that, so that you maysee why I made that decision, because I really didn't want to make Callen seem like a fool at all, I hope you believe me that much: First of all, no one is infallible, even G Callen (as much of an awesome undercover legend he is) may not think for a few seconds and actually make a flaw like that. He, too, is human. I furthermore built on the premise (see Author's Note) that the team doesn't yet see Deeks's full potential, so Callen, I think, may validly suggest in the first place that Deeks is just taking his time off. Secondly, I set it so that Deeks was first seen alone (not with the group, they come in later). If Callen had seen him with the group right from the start, sure as hell he would have known that Deeks is undercover, fully with you on that one, but if he sees Deeks, alone, surfing, he might jump to the conclusion that he is taking a break (even if it comes weak, I know). Thirdly, I decided to let Callen see him because I didn't want to straightly dive into a Densi moment. I'm planning on having that later and I don't want this to be a Densi fic alone, but a team fic. But yeah, maybe I would've done better at simply taking another character (Sam, Eric, Nell) to catch him, I give you that. Finally, I wanted to show that Deeks's anger is flaring way faster than it usually would and that this comes as a surprise to even someone as badass as G Callen. I wanted to give stage to this theme of foreboding that there is more to his impulsive behavior than just being pissed at Callen for approaching him. And I figured that he wouldn't have lashed out at Kensi like that (again, that might be too farfetched, yeah).
That being said, I want to underline another time that your criticism is very welcome and that I appreciate it, because that part of the story is kind of weak. Still I hope that this didn't destroy the whole story for you, because G Callen making a flaw is not the upshot of my story. So I hope that you continue reading it and simply... see past that. Nevertheless, great thanks to you reviewers. I'll pay more attention to that from now on ;)
