Hey guys,

I am still very new to this, so it would be great if some of you could read and review my story. Of course I hope you all enjoy it.

I also have to admit that I am no native English speaker, let alone writer, so any corrections on grammar, vocabulary, idioms etc. are most welcome! I am trying to learn, so don't spare me any criticism. Thanks to all of you!

Enjoy!

Chapter 1: Cover blown

Safe house of LAPD in Santa Monica (L.A.) | Friday, 8th July 2011, ca. 08:00 am

"Oh, crap!" Deeks looked at the toaster with disgust, then took out his charred toast nevertheless, frowning at it. Should he eat it, or was it an even better idea to just throw it into the trash bin?

With a little sniff, Monty weaselled towards him, wagging its tail as quickly as a propeller. Deeks grinned broadly. That dog… even better than a trash bin! "Who's a good boy, eh, Monty? Who's a good boy?" As the dog danced around, staring at the burned toast hungrily – seemingly starving! – the Detective copied his pet's movements almost perfectly, playing around and making weird faces, until Monty finally jumped high enough to get to the burned toast. As the animal devoured the blackish-brown bread like the best meal in town, Deeks fondled him, patting its back as the dog finished and looked at its owner with big, still hungry eyes – asking for more. "No, sorry boy, that's all there is." Deeks made a feigned sad face.

"You know, I never know who's the bigger animal… you or that pet dog of yours." Deeks didn't even have to turn around in order to know who that female voice belonged to. "Kensi – don't you EVER knock?"

Kensi Blye shook her head, brown curls flying everywhere. "Nope. Seriously, Deeks, you need to clean this place. It just looks, like…" – "It's a freakin' safehouse, Kensi, not my home." Kensi just threw up her hands in exhaustion. "Whatever you say!"

Deeks rolled his eyes at her and bowed down again in order to pat Monty some more. "Care to tell me what you're doing here?"

"Looking for you, to tell you we've got a case." – "I already told you, I have my own case this weekend. I'm working undercover, remember?" How did this woman manage to forget everything one told her within seconds of one telling her? Always? How the hell did he put up with her?

"I know you told me, I'm just saying, we have another case and I think 'giant drug transfer' tops whatever the LAPD makes you work on, so…" – "It doesn't." The cop looked up at his partner and sighed. "It really doesn't, and you really shouldn't be here, Kensi. You might blow my cov-"

Before they could continue their pointless chatter, gunshots burst through the air. Deeks did not have to warn Kensi, they both dropped to the ground instantly, the cop burying his dog underneath him. Several more shots ripped through the safe house's front and back door, then there were footsteps to be heard of men coming in. Deeks and Kensi stood up, both had their gear taken out already, taking cover by standing back to back. "You good?" – "Yes, you?" – "Perfect."

That was all the information they had to exchange, then they started for the two possible doors that lead into the kitchen, ready to screen the house for the intruders.

Deeks had never considered himself a coward, but as he stepped forward into the living room, searching the place with his eyes and looking for whoever had shot the back door, he could feel his heart throbbing violently in his chest. This was not at all how this was supposed to go. This was bad.

He was supposed to do surveillance on a supposedly dirty cop later this night, going undercover in his least favourite disguise, as a hobo. That was the reason for him having Monty with him… Scruffy-looking Monty always completed that outfit, together with Deeks' likewise scruffy-looking hair.

What had happened? Had Kensi blown his cover before he had even started out undercover? That was not very likely, not at all very likely. But something, something crucial, must have gone devastatingly wrong.

From behind him, he could hear Kensi shouting "Federal agent, drop your weapon!" followed by a single shot and then three – no, four sharp shots from Kensi's gun. Oh yes, Deeks could hear the difference. In that very moment, there was a movement in the corner of the room. "LAPD! Drop your-" Deeks' words were disrupted by a loud bang, then he fired as well, just as he could finally make out the shooter behind the couch.

The backfire came almost immediately. Dropping to his knees like Callen had shown him, Deeks took cover behind the door, looking back. Kensi had disappeared. Good girl, she was probably clearing the rest of the house.

Deeks did not waste much time either. He risked a short glance into the living room. No shooter, the bastard had taken cover as well. Deeks fired his gun once in the air, immediately drawing backfire again. This time, he was ready. As soon as the criminal had fired twice at him, realizing there actually was no target in sight, Deeks came forward from behind his corner and shot from his low angle. "Gotcha," he murmured, as he could hear a drop to the ground.

Quickly, he scanned the room and secured the gun, moving on to the backyard. Then he returned to the house, shouting "Clear!" so that Kensi would not feel the urge to shoot at him. "Clear!" his partner's voice answered him, and they met back in the living room. "Friends of yours?" Kensi kneeled down next to the shooter and looked him over. "Not that I know of," Deeks admitted. He felt stupid, not knowing what this had been about. They had obviously targeted him; he was the only one supposed to be here. If not for Kensi, they might have succeeded. He hated feeling like this, groping in the dark! It made him angry. "Do you think two guys trying to kill me tops major drug deal?" he asked Kensi, at once realising that this time, he had played the ball straight at her.

"Not if you ask me," she grinned and secured her weapon. "But I guess Hetti might make it a priority if we tell her." Deeks grimaced. "Wait, does that mean we have to tell Sam and Callen, too? Sam just gave me this major speech about how to protect myself and how to stand clear… He'll probably rip my head off!"

Kensi just hit his shoulder, hard, and jumped up, almost jogging out to the car. Why was she in such a damn good mood? "Ouch…" Deeks murmured, touching his shoulder. What the hell was wrong with that girl? Was it because she had been raised by a Marine? There had been no concern, nothing!

"Deeks, let's go!" she just shouted from outside. "Come on, Monty, buddy," Deeks sighed and grabbed his dog, getting outside after Kensi. Someone trying to kill him… felt just like the ordinary weekend job. Or would've felt like it, if he had been actually working when it happened…