Chapter 1

Deeks absently placed a foot against the dashboard as he reached for his phone. Not bracing oneself when Kensi Marie Blye was driving was asking for bruises, or worse. They were on their way into work for the day, when the notification for a new text had gone off on both their phones. There was no way he wanted her reaching for hers while driving. He swiped the phone open and read the message.

"Okay, that was Eric. Hetty and Granger want us at the boatshed ASAP." He nonchalantly pushed his foot harder against the dashboard as his fiancé took a hard right, now heading towards the boatshed instead of the Mission. "You know you could have just taken the next right and still ended up in the same place, don't you?"

Kensi turned and smiled widely at him. "Where's the fun in that?"

He lost himself for a moment in that smile and then shook his head. "Oh, I don't know. Living long enough to make it to our wedding?"

"That would require us to set a date, Deeks. Something you seem loath to do."

"I'm not 'loath' to do so at all! Good word, by the way! Word of the day?"

"You betcha! I think I broke my own record in how early in the day I used it in a sentence!"

"Color me impressed! But back to the question at hand. I am not loath to set a wedding date! We just can't seem to find one that works for everyone."

"Deeks, it's our wedding, it shouldn't have to revolve around others."

"So, you'd be okay if your mom couldn't make it because she'd already booked another one of her cruises that would have her out of the city on that day?"

"Well, no, of course not, but I'm starting to think you want to make sure whatever date we pick is good for everyone down to the cleaning staff at the Mission! Our guest list is getting longer by the minute."

"Hey! You're the one that wanted to invite your sniper training class. Besides, Jeannine and Mikhail both deserve to come to the wedding. Hell, half the time we see more of them than we do any other NCIS agents!"

Kensi tilted her head, raised an eyebrow and made a little "ehhmmm" noise, finding herself agreeing with him. They often worked late nights and were there when Jeanine and Mikhail came by to clean up. Deeks, being Deeks, had made fast friends with both of them. When working late, Kensi found herself looking forward to the animated conversations they had with the two, listening to their stories of their homes and families.

They continued to gently argue about wedding dates, colors and venues until they pulled up to the boatshed. Sam's car was already there as well as Hetty's and Granger's. In addition, a familiar blue Chevy Tahoe was parked in one of the spots. They shared a glance, wondering why Admiral John Shelton would be meeting the team here, or anywhere, for that matter. Both tensed up, worrying that something was wrong with his wife Laura or daughter Meaghan. The Shelton family had become part of the NCIS family and they were very protective of them.

Kensi parked haphazardly and both jumped out of the car. Running in, they found everyone present, including Nell and Eric on the small plasma. Deeks speed walked up to John, held out his hand and pulled him into a hug when John took it. "Good to see you John! What's up? Is it Laura? Meaghan? Is everyone okay?" His worry for John's family came through loud and clear.

Admiral John Shelton returned the hug then let him go and turned to Kensi with open arms and she went right into them. He hugged her hard and then let her go saying. "Everyone's fine Marty, Kensi! I…I have a favor to ask NCIS. I've spoken with Hetty and she's agreed to help." He paused, not sure exactly how to continue.

Hetty stepped in. "Admiral Shelton has come to me with a matter that, while on the surface is personal, underneath is bigger than that. After hearing what he had to say, both Owen and I agree that involvement by NCIS is warranted."

John cleared his throat. "One of my ex C.O.'s came to me. His son…has had issues since he came back from Iraq three years ago. He's tried to help him but he keeps going off his meds. He ends up on the streets most times. Daniel is raising his 8 year old granddaughter, Carrie, alone. His daughter-in-law died in childbirth and his own wife succumbed to cancer ten years ago. Recently, David came back home with a tale of children disappearing off the streets. He insisted it was happening and begged his father to help. Desperate to find a connection with his son, Daniel did just that, he started to look into it, thinking it was just a delusion. When he did, he was stunned at the number of homeless in Los Angeles, many of them service men and women. What he also found alarmed him. Stories of missing children from all manner of people."

He paused and Deeks said. "I haven't heard anything through the grapevine at LAPD about this but I'm not surprised. Most of the homeless don't trust the police, so missing person's reports aren't filed. They fear the police will lock them up or take their children away. Not every person who lives on the streets is there because they're an alcoholic, a drug addict or mentally incompetent. Many are families, down on their luck, forced out into the streets by the economy, convinced that a change in luck is just around the corner."

"Exactly. Daniel went to the police and they told him they would look into it but it seems like nothing was done. A couple of days ago, his son disappeared again, this time taking his daughter with him. Daniel is frantic over what might happen to his granddaughter. He knows David loves Carrie but if there really are people out there stealing children, he fears his son may not be able to keep her safe." John held out a picture of Carrie to Deeks. The detective took it, looking into the face of innocence. A beautiful brunette child, staring happily into the camera. He found himself wondering if this is what his and Kensi's child might look like. He swallowed the lump in his throat and handed the picture to Sam, who looked at it carefully and handed it on, his own family ramping up his connection to this case. Each person took in the precious child that needed their help.

"Why would he take his daughter to the streets?" asked Sam quietly.

"Daniel and I believe he's trying to draw out the kidnappers, thinking he can protect his daughter whilst doing so." Replied John.

"You mean he's using his own daughter as bait? What if he can't stop them? He's not exactly capable." Callen exclaimed. Deeks, too, had tensed up, anything to do with a child striking a chord deep inside him.

"Exactly why NCIS is getting involved. Owen and I are both concerned with the safety of David and Carrie Parkinson, both members of the naval community. Their disappearance gives us a valid reason for our involvement. Our first task is to get them safely home. The second is to stop whoever is grabbing these children off the streets. This is something that impacts every person in Los Angeles, naval or not." Hetty stopped and took a breath.

Deeks beat her to it. "At best, these children are being taken to work in sweat shops. At worst…" He stopped and tried to get his emotions in control, remembering another human trafficking case he had worked on early in his career with NCIS. "At worst, they are being sold into slavery for…for sex. Drugged, underage…" He unconsciously repeated the words he'd spoken to Hetty during that case so long ago, stopping where he had before. Hetty recalled them vividly.

"Mr. Deeks, I believe it's time for Artie to make an appearance. I would prefer you to have backup while out in the field, your choice of whom." Deeks nodded.

"I'll go Hetty." Kensi replied.

"Kens. Princess. I'm sorry but, you can't go with me on this one. I need you to watch my back from here." Said Deeks.

Kensi started to protest and he held up his hand. "There's no one I'd rather be out in the field with, but these people, these people most likely won't open up to a woman. They'll be biased along the line of women being the mother protector. None of them will allow me in if you're with me."

Kensi closed her mouth, knowing he was right but worried about him being out in the field alone. She turned to look at Sam. Deeks again denied her. "Sam won't work either. He's too big, too intimidating. He won't be able to blend into the background. Callen is the only alternative." Deeks looked to his team leader, asking silently if he was in and got an emphatic nod in response.

"It would seem that we have our undercover team, ladies and gentleman. Mr. Deeks, Mr. Callen, please report to wardrobe at the Mission. The rest of us will meet you there."

"Hetty, you know I have my own undercover clothes for Artie. I need to go home and pick everything up. Callen can have wardrobe fix him up."

Callen looked at their Liaison Officer, knowing full well that this case was going to become personal to him. He needed to be sure their detective had his head on straight. "I'll go with Deeks and we'll both meet you at the Mission." Deeks looked at him in confusion, looking him deep in the eyes and then nodded, finally understanding that Callen understood. His own background giving him a unique perspective.

Deeks pulled Kensi into a long, hard hug. "I'll always be back, Fern. I love you too much not to." He whispered in her ear. She hugged him back, leaning up for a passionate kiss, rule be damned. Everyone knew they were engaged so they couldn't be surprised. This case didn't seem all that dangerous and those were the ones that always seemed to end up costing them the most. She didn't want to let go but knew she had to. She stepped back and nodded at him. He turned and looked at Hetty, then Granger and Sam. All nodded at him, giving him their silent support. Turning to John he made a promise. "We'll do everything we can to bring both of them home and stop whatever is going on out there. On that, you have my promise."

John nodded and pulled the young man he now thought of as a younger brother-in-law into another hug. "You be safe, you hear me? I can't, I WON'T, be the one to tell Laura and Meaghan something else happened to you. They've been through enough with you! You're family now and we need you to be safe."

Deeks leaned back and smiled into John's eyes, nodding his agreement, promising, without words, to do his best. He turned to Callen who nodded towards the door. The two left quietly, taking Kensi's car. Sam would take her to the Mission.

Deeks drove saying. "I need to make a pit stop, if that's okay with you?"

Callen looked at him curiously. This would be the first time that he and Deeks had gone undercover together and he was curious as to how it would go. He nodded and Deeks pulled into the first convenience store they saw. He disappeared inside and Callen waited. When the detective came back out with several bags full, he frowned, wondering what was in them. When Deeks got back into the car, he took the bags and started to root through them, finding an eclectic mix of food, cigarettes and personal hygiene items. Perplexed, he looked back up at Deeks who smirked and said. "Gifts…bribes…whatever."

~,~,~,~

A/N – Callen finally found out what G stands for and, according to Google anyway, Grisha translates to Greg in English.

A/N 2 – this was based on prompts from two separate sources. One was a French Guest Reviewer and the other was from Yellowcallalily. Thanks you guys!