Beeeeeep.
A simple line oftentimes has no effect on the surrounding world. It could be a child's scribble or an English teacher correcting a grammatical error. They have little significance until that line is a lifeline, one Kensi had been holding onto. And when the loud and arrhythmic beeping that had her worried but still meant life went flat there was a continental shift in her world.
22 Hours Earlier
"Good morning, Sunshine," greeted an enthusiastic albeit late Deeks. Kensi looked up from her ever-present paperwork to see her partner's crooked smile and deep blue eyes. In an attempt to resist the charm she gave her classic Kensi eye-roll, but Deeks still caught the small sparkle in her eyes at his arrival.
"Yeah. It's always a good morning once you arrive Deeks," countered Kensi. Deeks opened his mouth in retort when a loud whistle was heard from above.
"Gotta case, gang," shouted Eric.
Sam and Callen took the lead as Deeks grabbed Kensi's arm to prevent her departure.
"I got you something, sugar bear."
"Oh yeah, well it better be worth getting in trouble with Hetty if we aren't up in OPS like now," Kensi said glancing at her watch.
"It is. Trust me!" Deeks pulled a brown paper bag from his sack and handed it to his partner. She glanced inside to see her favorite jelly filled donut sitting at the bottom.
"Huh. Maybe it is a good morning after all, Deeks," she said while giving him a genuine smile only he can produce. Kensi turns to head upstairs and brushes by Deeks on the way.
Totally a great day! thought Deeks as he watched his partner climb the stairs with a little extra sway she knew he would be watching for.
Up in OPS the two silently slipped in as Eric was describing the new case. Sam and Callen flashed a small glare in their direction, questioning what had held them up. Deeks just smirked and slid into place next to Kensi who was too distracted by her donut to notice their close proximity.
"Last Saturday Petty Officer Randal McCormick, 27, head of the weapons training was found hanging from the rafters in the training gym at Camp Pendleton. At first it was ruled as a suicide, but was quickly changed to murder when post-mortem trauma to his body was discovered during autopsy. Several large gashes to the head and torso were made after his death." Eric placed photos of a young, dark-haired man on the screen.
"So somebody hangs McCormick and then decides killing him isn't enough and goes for abusing his dead body," claims Sam.
"Looks like somebody had a real fight to pick with our Petty Officer," replies Callen as he glanced toward the large screen in OPS depicting the crime scene.
"Well whatever it was let's hope it doesn't involve other Marines," added Kensi.
"Miss Blye, I have a feeling this goes far deeper than we ever suspected." Deeks jumped hearing the unexpected voice of Henrietta Lange in the room.
"Hetty, will you stop using your ninja powers and make some noise as you enter a room!" Deeks held onto his chest, gasping exaggeratedly.
"Mr. Deeks, it is not my intent. Now back to the case."
"We have a murder made to look like a suicide, but very little evidence. It seems that McCormick was well-liked and admired by his fellow Marines. He doesn't have a disciplinary record of any sort and was a 'hard worker that did as he was told' according to his CO, Colonel Matthew Willis," continued Eric.
"Any family?"
"Our dead Petty Officer had a wife, but no children. Sarah McCormick was living on base with her husband but was visiting her parents in New Jersey at the time of her husband's death," reported Nell as she slung identification photos from her tablet to the large screen.
"Wow. She is hot! No wonder McCormick is dead. Person probably wanted his wife."
"Deeks!" reprimanded Kensi.
"Sorry," Deeks surrendered with hands at chest level, "I mean but look at the blonde hair and hot bod. What's not to like?" Deeks didn't react fast enough to dodge the punch Kensi had thrown at him. She got him square in the shoulder and Deeks stumbled back into the table.
"Oooow, Kens!"
"Ooops, my hand must have slipped." Kensi then turned her attention back to the screen.
"Are you two finished over there?" sneered Sam.
"Yup, right as rain here. Thanks for asking," replied a smirking Deeks still holding onto his shoulder, "Although, if you could tell Kensi," throwing a pointed look in her direction, "that is so not appropriate to hit co-workers it would be much obliged."
Sam rolled his eyes and turned to Eric, "Anything else?"
"Nope. That's all we got. Oh, except the wife got home last night from her trip. She should be on base now."
"Not much to go on," stated a slightly dejected Callen.
"Well Mr. Callen, that is where your job comes in. Now go!" Hetty turned on her heel and left OPS undoubtedly to place a few phone calls to Camp Pendleton about the ensuing arrival of her Agents.
"Okay, Kensi, Deeks you go talk to fellow marines who worked closely with McCormick. See if anyone had beef with him. Sam and I will go speak with the widow."
With that the team headed towards the garage for their cars.
"Please, Kensi," begged Deeks, "I wanna drive so badly."
"My car, my rules. I drive."
"Fine. But can I least choose the station? That techno you play scares me a bit."
"Why would it scare you?"
"I don't know, it just seems so un-Kensi to me."
"Well, in that case no. I get radio too."
"Ughhhh," Deeks slammed his head back against the headrest and closed his eyes in defeat. Kensi glanced over and felt guilty for a moment about her harsh behavior toward her partner. She knew she constantly gave him grief and that he accepted being the butt of the team jokes, but always wondered if it actually hurt him. The flow of thoughts flew from her head as Sam and Callen pulled up next to her in the garage.
Rolling down the window Kensi questioned, "What's up, guys?"
"Just wanted to make sure you hadn't killed Deeks before you even got out of the parking lot," laughed Callen.
Deeks head popped up as he looked toward the other car, "Still alive, but slowly getting my soul sucked out by bad music." Kensi flashed him a glare and Deeks returned to his previous position with a groan.
"Okay, well you two have fun on the two hour ride to the base."
"Oh we will," snickered Kensi while patting her partner's knee. He just groaned again. It was going to be a long ride.
