A/N: I'm back! It's summer! I have nothing to do but work and write! Yay! I promised you more Densi goodness and I plan to deliver.
This story takes place shortly-ish after "Humbug". At this point in the game we are under the assumption that while everyone "knows" about Densi they don't really "know" about Densi. That happy time when everyone else was pretending that they didn't have a clue and I didn't have to worry that the writers were going to make things weird or have Hetty split them up. Such is the burden of having an OTP. When they are not together you have to worry that they will never fall in love. Once they are in love you have to worry that the writers are going to screw up everything. It's a curse we all must bear. Anyway, read on fellow Densi lovers! Enjoy!
"Okay," Callen sighed. "Let's go over it again."
The rest of the team groaned.
"We've been over it a hundred times," Deeks griped from where he reclined in his chair.
"Yeah, and I haven't heard any of you offering up a brilliant solution," Callen shot back.
They were exhausted. They'd been exhausted for weeks. The case had been dragging for nearly a month with roadblocks every step of the way.
A tip had come in from an anonymous source to the LAPD about a possible attack on Los Angeles. It had become and NCIS case when a female Navy sailor turned up dead. Further investigation had revealed she had been selling information on U.S. weapons technology to the highest bidder: a terrorist cell based out of Ethiopia.
"I still think Stella is our best bet," Kensi said.
Sam was already shaking his head. "That girl is terrified. No way she can go back into that viper's nest."
Stella was a witness they'd discovered six days in at a particularly boisterous club in downtown L.A.; a favorite party spot for senior members of the cell. She'd spent a significant amount of time with them, both inside and outside the club, becoming something of a favorite toy for them.
The team had pulled her in off the street, beaten and terrified. She'd given them some information, but not enough. She claimed the cell killed girls for no other reason than they'd outlived their usefulness and refused to say any more.
Callen paced between their desks. "What we need is a new Stella. Someone who can earn their trust quickly and find out what they know."
"Agent Blye," Hetty stepped into the conversation. "Are you feeling up to the challenge?"
"Wait a minute," Deeks sat up. "I don't think that's a good idea."
"Deeks, we don't really have a choice here," Callen said. "We need this break."
"We are not sending her in there," Deeks protested.
"Deeks," Kensi said quietly.
"No, this is too much. It's too dangerous," Deeks insisted.
"This is not a request, Detective," Granger said as he joined them. "Agent Blye will go undercover in the club. Sam will pose as club patron and you will be a bar tender. Callen will provide outside surveillance. Am I clear?"
"Crystal," Deeks said tightly, rising from his desk and leaving the room.
"You have one hour Mr. Deeks!" Hetty called after him. "Agent Blye, I have a lovely selection of dresses for you. Give me fifteen minutes to get them ready."
Hetty wandered off and Callen made eye contact with the female agent. "You sure you're okay with this Kens?"
She smiled. "It's nothing I can't handle."
"What about Deeks?" Sam asked.
"I'll take care of Deeks," Kensi told him. "It won't be a problem."
Deeks stalked to the burn room and closed the door behind him. He took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. He and Hetty were having enough issues as it was. If he went flying off the handle in front of her again he risked getting tossed off the case and there was no way he was letting that happen.
He sighed and ran a hand through his hair. His stomach turned at the thought of Kensi in the hands of those men. They were cruel, ruthless. They'd beaten a Navy sailor and countless other girls to a bloody pulp and never given it a second thought.
The door opened and Nell entered. "Oh!" she said. "Sorry. Are you okay?"
Deeks straightened and relaxed the fists he'd made with his hands. "Yeah, just taking a break in my favorite place."
Nell raised her eyebrows. "Okay. Hetty sent me to find you. She wants to do a briefing in Ops."
Deeks nodded and followed her out of the room. He would just have to make sure nothing happened.
Eric was talking as they both slipped into Ops. Kensi glanced at him but said nothing as Eric continued his spiel. "Kensi will be here. Deeks will be stationed behind the bar. Sam will be by the back exit and Callen will cover the front from the outside."
"It's very important that we don't spook them," Nell continued. "Don't make eye contact or create any unnecessary interactions. All of their focus should be on Kensi."
Eric held up an earwig. "All of you will have earwigs and Kensi you'll be wearing a body mic with a back-up hidden in this," he displayed an intricately designed necklace. "Hetty's choice."
Kensi took it from him. "Sounds like a plan."
"We roll out in half an hour," Nell told them. "Be careful. We'll see you on the other side."
Sam and Callen kept up a steady banter as they changed into their clothes for the evening. Deeks listened silently as they talked, buttoning his vest and straightening the bow tie Hetty had provided, standard attire for the club staff.
He glanced at the two senior agents who were heavily involved in a conversation about whether or not the Dodgers were any good this season. Deeks kept his eyes on them as he backed out of the room and slipped quietly into Kensi's changing room.
She was pulling on a very short, very sequined black dress and didn't seem surprised by his presence. "Hey," she said softly, pulling the dress over her shoulders. "Are you okay?"
"I don't like this Kens," he told her. "Something doesn't feel right."
"Help me?" she turned, offering him her exposed back. "It's just a day at the office Deeks."
He pulled the zipper up slowly, letting his hands linger on her back. He lowered his head and whispered in her ear. "You don't have to do this," his voice was low, his breath warm on her neck. "We can find another way."
Kensi closed her eyes briefly, allowing herself to feel his closeness, his hand on her spine, his lips by her ear, things she already cherished about their short relationship. "Deeks, there is no other way. We've been at this for weeks," she turned to face him. "We're running out of time." She put a hand on his cheek. "I'll be fine."
"Promise?" he asked.
"I don't need to," she told him. "You'll be there."
"Kens I'm serious. Promise me that you'll be careful."
"Deeks, I promise," she laughed. "Now kiss me and get out of here before Sam and Callen notice you're gone."
He obliged, leaning forward and pressing his lips to hers.
"You know, I'm really starting to get used to that," she told him when they broke apart.
He grinned and kissed her again, his hand finding the small of her back, pulling her firmly against his body.
"Okay, okay!" she pushed him away, a smile on her lips. "Go!"
He slipped out of the room and made his way back to his desk. Callen and Sam joined him shortly thereafter.
"You got your bar-tending skills up to snuff for tonight?" Sam asked.
"I make a mean mudslide," Deeks told him.
Callen and Sam exchanged glances. "What the heck is a mudslide?" Callen asked.
Kensi chose that moment to enter the room, distracting all of them. She'd added strappy, six inch heels and Hetty's necklace to her dress and Deeks felt the air leave his lungs at the sight of her all done up. She was stunning.
"Whoo!" Sam whistled appreciatively. "Kensi Blye in the house!"
"Those criminal warlords will be falling all over themselves," Callen told her.
"Just what every girl dreams of," Kensi rolled her eyes.
"You are carrying right?" Deeks asked.
"Yes Deeks, just like always," Kensi glared at him.
"Okay then. Places everyone," Callen ordered. "Deeks, a word."
Callen waited until Sam and Kensi had walked past before speaking. "You got your head on straight?" he asked.
"This is a bad plan," Deeks told him flatly. "And you know it."
"We've had worse," Callen told him. "Look, if you can't handle it we can do it without you."
Deeks was already shaking his head. "You're not doing this without me."
"And you're not doing this if you can't think clearly. You'll put the whole team in danger and I can't have that."
"I'm not the one putting us in danger." Deeks glared at him.
Callen pointed a finger at him. "I am the senior agent on this team. We are doing this. Kensi can handle herself. Whether you like it or not."
"If this goes south I'm holding you responsible."
"I'll take the risk."
"Fine."
"Fine."
A/N: So...? What do you think? I promise it's going to get good. This is just the tip of the iceberg folks! Leave your reviews for me to enjoy!