All characters and all rights at 'NCIS: Los Angeles' belong to CBS and Shane Brennan Productions. The following story does not serve any commercial purposes, but was written only for the pleasure of fans. An injury of Copyright is not intended. All further persons belong to the authoress.

English is my second language, if you find any mistakes in my story please send them back to me for correction.

I also would be very glad to get your reviews.

Chapter 1 - A Day At The Beach

Since Kensi's kidnapping some time had passed. She was out of the hospital, but was not allowed to work yet. Because she was very restricted in her leisure time by the existing injuries, she always was restless, and, unfortunately, more and more unbearable. As far as his work allowed it, Deeks was with her every day. One could see this in his face now. Usually he cultivated his "shaggy-dog style" quite deliberately, but now he no longer had much to do for it. Nobody said anything, but slowly his colleagues started to worry about Deeks.

It was Friday afternoon, the colleagues had an unusually quiet week behind them and completed a few remnants of paperwork. A casual conversation began, full of banter. But the king of stupid sayings, Deeks, held back. He answered if he was appealed directly by his colleagues, but these answers were short and concise. They lacked the usual wit. Thoughtfully, Joann noticed this unusual silence. Suddenly she smiled because of an idea. Quickly Joann checked a few data on the Internet.

"I think it's time, Marty."

Deeks looked up slightly confused. "Time for what?"

"To prove your abilities as a teacher."

Deeks still did not get the point. "As a teacher for which subject?"

"For stupid sayings!" Sam could not hold back and accompanied this remark with a broad grin.

Callen and Ray broke into peals of laughter.

"You don't say that you have forgotten it?" Joann pulled a pout and fluttered offended with her eyelashes.

Deeks looked at her tired and exhausted. He clearly had no sense of Joann's acting skills. "Just say it, what do you mean? I don't get it."

Joann became serious. "You wanted to teach surfing to me when we are back from Mexico. I thought this weekend would be good. According to the weather forecast we can expect good waves. Kensi is healthy enough to keep company with us at the beach. Certainly the change will do her good." She looked at him intensely. "And the same to you."

"I don't know what is more fun: Joann on a surfboard or Deeks as her teacher." Sam laughed. "I surely won't miss it."

"Do not worry, I'll tell you where they will go." Callen also laughed.

Ray grinned. "I think we also should tell Eric and Nell. They won't miss it, too. Besides Eric can comment on the whole thing!"

Joann ignored the comment and the laughter. She focused entirely on Deeks. "Come on, Marty, say yes. I also will talk to Kensi."

After a brief hesitation Deeks nodded. "All right. But you needn't talk to Kensi, I will do that." He thought for a second and then named a beach to Joann, which appeared suitable for him. "I bring along a surfboard for you. Ten o'clock? "

Joann nodded. "Great. But you're not going to Kensi today. You're going home and have a good night's rest." Before Deeks could say anything, Joann vigorously shook her head. "No, none discussion, Marty. You are totally exhausted. Tomorrow no one wants to save you from drowning. Kensi can manage an evening without you. I bring everything needed for a picnic." Then she looked at Sam and Ray. "You procure the drinks."

Deeks was about to say something but this time Callen interrupted him. "You've heard Joann. She is absolutely right. Your lack of sleep makes you slowly but surely to a risk, so go to bed early." Callen briefly glanced at his watch. "Off at home with you. You can finish the paperwork on Monday." He glanced at Joann. "Jo will help you with it."

Deeks hesitated. He realized that he desperately needed sleep. Nevertheless, he did not want to go.

"You have heard Mr. Callen and Miss MacKenzie, Mr. Deeks. Pack up your stuff and go home." Hetty smiled friendly at him. "I'll see you on Monday."

With a smile everyone watched Hetty walking off, while Deeks followed her order. "See you." Without the usual swing, he left the headquarters.

The others watched him leaving, partly thoughtful, partly concerned.

"I have to bandy a few serious words with Kensi." Joann looked grimly to herself. "That won't do anymore." Energetically she closed her laptop. "G, I get the stuff for the picnic, then I'm going to visit Kensi. See you later at home."

Callen nodded. "All right." Then he turned to Sam. "Fancy an after-work beer?"

Sam grinned at him. "Oh, you have a pass?"

Simultaneously from two sites stuff was thrown at Sam's head, then Joann left, still laughing.

Sam laughed, too. "Ray, you're coming with us?"

"Thank you for inviting me, Sam, but I'm otherwise engaged. I'm just going to inform Nell and Eric about tomorrow. What should I get to drink?"

…

Tired and angry Joann got out of the car. She had not expected that the conversation with Kensi would be easy. Joann knew only too well how Kensi felt. She also had to stay at home for a while, even though she would have preferred to go to work. But this frustration was no reason to dump on Marty. He just did not deserve that. But Kensi's frustration had reached a point where she no longer was open to factual arguments. For a long time the two women had not fought seriously, but that night they were at it hammer and tongue.

Toilsome Joann pulled herself together, as she entered the house. She did not want to vent her anger and her disappointment on Callen. But he even was not at home. Growling she put away the groceries and prepared everything for the picnic. In the end Joann gathered her beach stuff. Unfortunately, none of the activities helped her to get rid of anger and frustration. Finally, Joann changed clothes and went running.

…

When she got home this time Callen was there. One look at her was enough for him. "Was it so bad, Jo?"

For answer she rolled her eyes and gave only a sullen growl. Joann then made off into the shower. When she returned, Callen was sitting on the couch with a newspaper, a bottle of beer beside him and a cup of steaming tea in front of him on the coffee table. Joann sat down beside him and reached for the tea. After a few sips, she compressed her 'conversation' with Kensi.

"We have ranted so badly that I totally forgot to tell her about tomorrow." Joann's expression was sad. "I really know how she feels. But she hasn't listened to me at all. She is so frustrated that she has forgotten that Marty is her friend and not her... " Joann was looking for a suitable description. "…and not her sandbag. She doesn't say any nice word about him, not to mention to him. As if it was his fault that she was kidnapped. Kensi is so unfair, that doesn't fit to her... " Joann had died down and was silent now. At last she sighed loudly. "Oh, what the heck. I go to sleep." She gave G a kiss and went off.

Thoughtfully, he looked after her. Then he picked up his phone very determined. "Callen. We need to talk, Kensi."

…

To Joann's amazement Callen drove to Kensi the next day. She was already waiting. The greeting between the two women was very short and the car ride to the beach was silent. As Joann had feared, the entire unit turned up there. Nobody wanted to let slip the spectacle. There was a lot of teasing and quipping, towels were spread, sun umbrellas and beach chairs were set up, coolers fetched. Deeks did not look quite as tired as the day before. His smile was cordial as he welcomed Joann.

"Well, Little One, ready to become a laughing-stock? Here, this is yours today."

"I'll give you 'Little One'!" With sparkling eyes Joann took the surfboard from Deeks. "You will be sorry having talked me into this!" Then she sucker-punched him a slight blow to the arm.

"Ouch! I still need it!" Hammy he rubbed his arm, although Joann had punched him only lightly. Deeks also did not try to hide his grin. Then he started teaching with dry runs.

The whole team commented both on Deeks' qualities as a teacher as well as Joann's surfer skills with a lot of stupid sayings. There was much laughter. After a while, also Kensi unbent.

Joann ignored all the silly comments and focused entirely on the statements made by Deeks. Thanks to her quick wit and her athleticism Joann implemented the most immediately. Finally they went into the water. There it was shown that no one is a born master. Joann spent more time in the water than on the board. Her ambition to be absolutely successful, turned into an obstacle to her. The smile disappeared from Joann's face and gave place to a pinched expression. She sat on the board, Deeks at her side, and stared at the swell.

"Jo, one more try, then we take a break." Deeks glanced at Joann. As she did not react, he pumped her. "Did you hear me, Jo?"

"No, Marty, I won't stop until I don't fall down anymore." Joann sounded very determined.

Deeks frowned. "Jo, no one expects that you will learn to surf today. And stop looking so pinched. You look like you're biting into a lemon. All have fun, even Kensi has laughed once again. Only you didn't. Thereby you should have the most fun." Calmly Deeks waited. On the beach he had liked to clown for everyone. But this moment he had the feeling that silliness was inappropriate.

Finally Joann yielded. "Yesterday I had a nasty dispute with Kensi. She is only here because G has intervened. Thereby all I wanted was you two to get out, to relax and to enjoy yourselves."

"Forget the controversy, forget about my problems with Kensi, forget work, block out everything and only think of you, the waves and your board." Deeks looked unusually seriously. "I know you can do it. But, Jo, stop forcing yourself to anything. If it doesn't work today, you had a great day at the beach anyway, and we'll just try again. Let go."

Joann slowly nodded. What Deeks just had said to her brought a memory to her mind. She was eleven or twelve when Pops was trying to teach her a new, rather complicated, kick and punch combination. It didn't work, she didn't get the hang of it and became more and more tense and uptight. Pops finally forced her to stop and instead let her to do a couple of other exercises, which she ruled well. She relaxed, without realizing it, was in on it with enthusiasm instead of tension, because she could successfully perform the exercises. And then, quite unexpectedly, Pops proceeded to the new exercise and this time she made it. Because she had not thought about it, but just did it. Instead of forcing herself, she had done it with fun and enthusiasm for martial arts.

"All right, Marty, just this one time, then we take a break."

To Deeks' amazement Joann's complete posture relaxed, her tense expression passed into a smile. Calmly she repeated all his instructions and then she paddled off. The wave was not big, but she surfed it, stayed on her board to the end. Laughing and yelling everyone approached Joann. She was thrilled to bits about her success. Full of enthusiasm, Joann ran square to Deeks, knocking him down with her stormy attempt to embrace him. Peals of laughter accompanied this action and Nell immortalized the show with her camera.

"I did it! Wow, I did it! Thank you, Marty, you're hot stuff!" Full of exuberance Joann kissed a completely baffled Deeks. Then she jumped up, grabbed his hand and pulled him up. "Come on, Marty, I definitely want to do it again!"

"Stop, calm down, Jo!" Deeks thwarted Joann. "We wanted to take a break." He glanced at the coolers full of beer and food.

Joann saw the smiling faces of her friends and the half-desperate, half-amused expression of Deeks' one and finally had to laugh, too. "Of course, time for lunch. Let's take a break."

It was a funny meal. Even Kensi forgot her frustration and took part in the banter. Deeks had chosen a quiet, secluded bay. Apart from a handful of other surfers, they were alone. The whole unit enjoyed being unobserved. All he or she was able to be themselves. Sated and happy, the conversations became quiet and the one or the other lay down for a nap. Joann stood up and walked down to the water. She kept an eye on the surfers, studied their posture, their movements and could hardly wait to be back on the surfboard again.

"So you've found a new hobby." Callen appeared behind her.

Joann smiled. "Could be. But my first love always will be martial arts."

"But a certain variety can't hurt, right, Jo?"

She turned around to Callen, still smiling. "Certainly not. Marty was right, it is a sport for me. I just like the ocean."

"I know." Callen chuckled. Everyone on his team knew where Joann went when she was unhappy or had to think about problems. "Fancy a walk?"

"Always." Her eyes were full of love.

Slowly the two walked along the water. After a few steps Callen grabbed Joann's hand.

…

The rest of the day still was relaxed and funny. Joann went back on the board. She fell down most of the time, but now she could laugh about it. Eric had also brought his surfboard. He and Deeks showed the other a bit of their paces. Nell recorded everything with her camera. Certainly it would become a funny movie.

…

When the sun finally set, everyone began to pack their things and to carry them into the cars.

Joann went to Deeks, who stood at the water, deep in thought. "Thank you." She clasped Deeks in her arms and squeezed him.

A little surprised and embarrassed, he returned the embrace. "You're welcome." Sometimes also the class clown had his serious moments. "But actually I should thank you." Deeks took a look at the cars. "Today Kensi laughed for the first time for a long time. She looks a lot more relaxed." Deeks turned back to Joann. "Maybe this keeps on for a while."

Thoughtfully, Joann looked back and forth between Deeks and Kensi. "Marty, you and Kensi are my friends, but I'm not blind to your faults. The last time she has treated you pretty bad. But you've put up with it. She has to learn to pull herself together, and you not to take any shit from her. You also don't do this at work."

"The kidnapping to Mexico..."

"...is no reason and no excuse. For none of you. Believe me, G would not put up with it. And me not either." Joann sighed, then she poked Deeks easily into the side. "You two will get the point right, I'm sure." Then she smiled at Deeks, with shining eyes. "I hope you give me further instruction. And go shopping with me."

Light horror stood in Deeks' eyes. "Shopping?"

"Well, I need the right equipment and my own surfboard! I don't always want to borrow one of yours!"

Laughing Joann and Deeks went to the other.