He frowned at the cryptic message on his phone. 'Help', it said, and gave an address.
According to the phone, the message was from Kensi. But it was their day off and he knew she was supposed to be meeting some guy for lunch that day.
And if she was on a date…why would she be asking him for help?
Unless her date wasn't going as well as she'd hoped…
Deeks texted back, 'Enjoying your date?'
'No', was Kensi's response. 'Please get me out of here!'
He grinned. This could be fun…
'It'll cost you,' he replied.
But he wasn't specific about what it would cost her. He'd have to think up something really good…
He waited several seconds, and he could almost picture Kensi's indecision at his lack of specifics.
'Fine,' she answered.
She must be desperate if she didn't want to lay out any terms first.
Alright, then. He pocketed his phone and headed for the address she'd sent.
Kensi sat at a far table in the café with her back to the windows, pretty much trapped in that corner as she eyed the exit that was too far away.
A little careless of her, Deeks thought to himself. She should have left herself at least one way out.
He stepped further inside, catching her eye as he approached the table.
Yep, she'd definitely been the one sending him the texts. Her phone was in her hands under the café table where her date couldn't see it.
And Date-Guy was talking, gesturing a little, and completely boring Kensi out of her mind.
Deeks could tell — he knew that look. His partner had a talent for appearing interested on the surface while internally letting her mind block out any incessant prattle that she didn't want to hear.
And her date was too involved in his talking to even notice that her gaze had landed on someone else.
Deeks towered over the café table, fixing his partner with a look of indignation as he interrupted her date's monologue. "Really? I leave the house for one hour, and you're already cheating on me?"
Relieved that he was actually bailing her out of this disaster, Kensi gratefully played along. "But honey, I was lonely."
"Eight kids at home, and you were 'lonely'?" he echoed, having fun with this. "Babe, we've talked about this. You cannot keep abandoning our kids to go have your flings. This is — what, the fourth time this week?"
"You have eight kids?" Date-Guy echoed, looking at Kensi in surprise.
Deeks turned his attention to the guy. "And which one are you? Doug? Roger? Felipe?" He looked back at Kensi again. "Sugar, please tell me he's not another pool boy?"
"Uh — Robert," the guy stammered nervously. "I'm — I'm a veterinarian…"
Deeks hooked a thumb in Kensi's direction. "Chronic cheater, this one. But she's my wife — I love her anyway."
He gave a nonchalant shrug and a friendly but firm slap to Robert's shoulder. "Well, it was nice to meet you, Bob — but if you don't mind, I'll take it from here."
Obviously dismissed and quite baffled about the situation, Robert could do nothing but relinquish his seat with one more confused look at the woman across from him.
Kensi pasted a contrite downward expression on her face as Deeks claimed the seat.
"Oh — and don't bother calling her," Deeks raised his voice at Robert's retreating back.
Only after her former date had gone out the door did Kensi look at Deeks with amusement. "Really? Eight kids?"
"And you still managed to keep your girlish figure," Deeks replied impishly. "So what soured your date so much that you had to call for backup?"
"Oh my god," she exhaled with an exaggerated shiver as she recalled just exactly when it went downhill. "It was about the time when he started detailing what he considered to be the finer points of animal husbandry."
"Egh," Deeks answered, appalled. "Not quite the best topic to discuss on a date."
"Not the best topic to discuss ever," Kensi agreed wholeheartedly. She regarded him with true gratefulness. "Thanks for getting rid of him."
"That's what partners are for." He grinned suddenly. "Now…let's talk about what you can do for me in return."