NCIS: LA

Nothing Is As It Seems

A/N: Just an idea that popped into my head as I was watching the show a while back. This is my first story so please review and let me know what you think!

Disclaimer: I don't own NCIS:LA, no matter how much I wish I could!

Chapter 1

Kensi looked up as she heard Eric's whistle, pausing only long enough to smile at the rest of the team before they all headed upstairs. Sam and Callen were ahead of her, bickering as usual, as she headed up with Deeks.

Kensi couldn't help but smile at the pattern they had all fallen into recently, breaking off with their partners the moment a new case was announced. Sam and Callen made a great team, she always thought they argued like a married couple, but in the end they both had each other's backs. Kensi knew she was getting somewhat close to that with Deeks, their bickering was slowly turning into familiarity and he had shown that he could protect her. If she had had any real doubts they were pushed aside as Kensi thought of the Russians who had taken her hostage.

Even after working in this building for two years she still couldn't believe the neighbors hadn't caught on to them being here. Kensi laughed to herself as she thought of the fact that this building was technically condemned. True, the outside looked like it could fall apart at any time, the crumbling walls erased any doubt that someone not in NCIS would have, but the inside of their office was wonderful. Here they were just as well equipped as the NCIS building in Washington, maybe even more so.

"Navy Lieutenant Percy Walden" Eric all but shouted as they filed into the room as he pulled up Walden's picture on the big screen. "He was found dead this morning near the Pacific Coast Highway. Local LEOs found him and handed him over to us. I've pulled up his files and it doesn't look like this could have anything to do with his missions, I'll keep looking though."

"Ok, thanks Eric, we'll head over to the scene now, see if we can find anything they missed. Kensi, you and Deeks go collect any evidence from the LAPD." Callen gave them their assignments as he left the command center with Sam.

Kensi sighed, not only would she have to deal with the LAPD, but she'd have to let her partner and "liaison officer" take the lead. Deeks had just enough child-like behavior in him to really get on her nerves. Kensi had to admit that he was a good addition to the team though. In fact, if she was going to be truthful with herself she'd have to say she'd actually come to like him quite a bit. He made her feel much more relaxed than she had since Dom, yes, if she had to admit it, he was a good friend.

"Come on Deeks, you get to show off your liaisoning skills." Kensi laughed as she headed out the building and to her car. It was known that while Deeks was technically the liaison officer, he didn't always get along with his superiors at the LAPD. He had practically been thrust upon them by the LAPD, they didn't want him enough to keep him around.

"Awww… come on, why don't I get to drive? I like to be in control sometimes too. I bet you're the kind of girl to never let the man do anything nice for her, you probably don't even like surprises." Deeks smiled as he looked at her. Kensi's only response was to smirk as she climbed into her car, not letting him drive, again.

An hour later Kensi and Deeks were finally finished picking up the evidence; it seemed to take longer each time they went. Between Deeks catching up with his friends on the force and the other officers always trying to chat her up, the time it took always seemed to be increasing.

Kensi laughed to herself, clearly they didn't know of her rules, she didn't date cops and she didn't go on second dates. Each rule had a story behind it, but she wouldn't tell them to anyone. Kensi turned the car toward the office as she called Eric to let them know they were on their way back.

"Even Callen lets Sam drive, I'm just saying, I think it's a natural progression of our partnership. Or do you still not trust me?" Deeks asked once they were on the road and she had hung up with Eric.

"Do you remember the last time I let you drive? You nearly ran us into a garbage truck and managed to get me kidnapped in the span of five minutes! Plus, Hetty would kill me if I let you drive again."

"Hetty wouldn't kill me, she likes me." Kensi sighed at this.

"You don't have to worry then, if she likes you then you'll get away with only minor injuries, maybe." Kensi loved to mess with Deeks mind, she knew he was in awe of Hetty, and just a little scared of her.

"It's not my fault the Russians were after us! And I offered to go in their place, you clearly appeal too much to men." Deeks stated with just a hint of sadness that put Kensi on edge.

"Don't worry, I know it wasn't your fault. They would have gotten one of us at some point. It just had to be with you. They probably didn't take you because they knew you'd never stop talking if they did." Kensi attempted to reassure him, "And you were able to rescue me! I'm not sure even Sam or Callen could have gotten me out of there like you did."

Just as Kensi pulled the car into the parking space, Eric called her.

"Hey Kensi, Sam and G found an address at the scene. I pulled up a photo; it's a warehouse about three blocks up from the crime scene. Also, LAPD reports say it could be the base for a local drug ring. I'll forward you the address now."

"Thanks Eric, we'll head out there now. Tell G we'll be there as soon as possible." Kensi turned to Deeks, "Well Deeks, looks like we get to visit a warehouse."

"So what does it look like G?" Deeks jumped out of the car before Kensi even had it parked.

They had parked just far enough away from the warehouse to keep suspicions away but close enough for cover. The warehouse itself was fairly shabby, with its gray walls and practically sagging gray roof. Kensi climbed out of the car, immediately looking at any cover that could be taken in case things got ugly.

There were a few bushes toward the south side but those wouldn't offer any protection if it did come down to a gun battle. She shook her head at the thought that whomever these drug dealers were they had picked a good base, no cover near the warehouse, and the windows were too high off the ground to gain entry. It didn't hurt that it also looked like every other warehouse she'd ever seen, blending in was key.

"There are doors on the North and the East sides, no other ways to gain entry. Sam and I will take the North; Kensi, you and Deeks take the East. Meet in the middle, then split up and look for evidence." Callen commanded.

Kensi and Deeks headed to their door while Sam and G ran to theirs. "On the count of three. One. Two. Three!"

Kensi let Deeks kick open the door as they ran into the warehouse with guns drawn. "NCIS! FEDERAL AGENTS!" Kensi shouted along with the others.

Once the all clear had been sounded she placed her gun back in the small of her back as she met in the middle with the guys. They talked briefly before moving off in separate directions to search the warehouse. Kensi chose to search a desk for anything else on who had killed the Lieutenant. She hoped that any evidence in the warehouse would be found easily it was meticulously clean.

Just as Kensi's hopes were being dashed at the lack of evidence, she looked up as Deeks opened a cabinet near her. She quickly turned back to her own work though, no point in letting him interfere with her searching, however fruitless it might be.

Kensi was concentrating so hard she almost missed Deeks shouting. "BOMB! IT'S GOING TO BLOW!" Deeks screamed before diving to the ground.

As soon as she heard the shout she ducked behind the desk, she had too much experience with bombs to know that they all needed cover. The second before Kensi hit the floor the bomb exploded. The world went black as she closed her eyes trying to wish for the knowledge of her friends' wellbeing.

"G? Kensi? Deeks?" Kensi heard Sam shout from somewhere across the warehouse. She shouted back to Sam just as Callen shouted that he was fine, their shouts overlapping. With a sickening feeling Kensi realized that Deeks didn't respond, she couldn't even see him in the rubble that was scattered around the once pristine workspace. The cabinet Deeks had been searching had been ripped apart and its contents scattered, along with everything else in the vicinity. Kensi rushed over to where she thought Deeks should be, calling his name and desperately searching the ground with her eyes.

"Guys, Deeks, he was the one closest to the blast. It came from the cabinet he opened. He dove over this way!" Kensi shouted, she looked up Sam and G were already running to her, none of them liked to admit it but Deeks had grown on them, he was part of the NCIS family now. They all felt that he belonged more to them than to the LAPD.

"Are you guys all ok!" Eric questioned from OPS over their earwigs.

Kensi could tell he was trying not to freak out, Deeks had even gotten to Eric and they had become friends. Kensi would often walk into ops and see them; their heads bent together trying to solve a problem, or even just talking.

"Ms. Blye, Mr. Hanna, Mr. Callen, I suggest you find Mr. Deeks. And once you do I expect you to investigate how exactly they managed to detonate a bomb on my agents. They clearly knew someone was coming, so find out how!" Hetty's calm and strong voice came from OPS, both calming and inspiring Kensi to keep looking. Hetty held special regard for this team of agents, and while she always felt bad when an agent was injured she seemed to care even more for this team.