This is not really a new chapter to the story, but more a tag to Episode 5.19 "Kahania" (Close Shave).

I wondered how Steve continued and ended that day and I had an idea that didn't fit into the other chapter so it ended up here. Enjoy.

And thanks to those, who favored this story or are now following it/me.

Butt of the joke

Steve sighed as he reached his driveway. Danny's Camaro was not to be missed and no matter how much he normally would love his friend's company, right now all he wanted to be was alone. He just needed some peace and quiet after the gruesome day he'd had. After his first outburst when seeing the photos he had shut down and just functioned. Now he was at the end of his rope.

Sure that Danny would understand Steve made his way into the house. Some of the windows were open, allowing a pleasant breeze through the rooms. Hot, but nevertheless welcome. His colleague was nowhere in sight. On the way to the back of the house Steve passed the kitchen. A plate with a plain sandwich and a glass of milk stood on the table. Nothing fancy, just the exact thing Steve might want to eat after his swim. Right now Steve felt nauseous and the mere thought of food made his stomach squirm. He emptied half of the milk though.

While drinking he noticed that his kitchen had been tidied, the few leftovers from his breakfast cleaned away. Chancing a look in his fridge proved it to be filled with all the stuff he'd had on his shopping list for after the barber. Putting the glass back on the table Steve continued his way and reached the stairs. On the third last step from the bottom laid a towel and his swimming trunks. Sometimes it was just frightening how well his partner knew him.

Deciding to forego the venture upstairs or to the bathroom down here to change he pulled of his clothes right where he stood.

"Whoa, that's more than I ever wanted or needed to see of you, babe."

"What are you doing here?" that sounded more aggressive than Steve had intended.

"I need to take a leak. Carry on, Steve. Go swimming. But turn around after you're halfway to Australia, OK?"

Steve knew that Danny had misunderstood him on purpose, but didn't find the energy to argue. He watched while his team mate made his slow way to the bathroom. He was getting better, but a few more days for recuperation would do him good, then desk duty.

"Do you have any idea how creepy it is to be checked out by ones naked boss?"

Despite everything Steve found he could laugh "You wish, Danny, you just wish."

Danny waved dismissively without looking back and closed the bathroom door.

Steve finished changing and finally let the ocean embrace his weary body and soul.

Whenever he looked back to the beach he could make out Danny sitting in the shade of the trees. He could admit to himself that it calmed him. The thought of being alone wasn't that appealing anymore.

The SEAL had no idea for how long he had been in the ocean, but the next time he looked Danny stood at the water's edge and waived for him to come back.

Steve frowned but complied. Only when his feet hit the ground did he realize he might have overdone it. His legs felt shaky and leaden when he trotted the last steps out of the water, he barely had the energy left to catch the towel Danny threw at him.

"That's what I thought." Danny commented mildly.

They went back to the house in companionable silence; one slow due to his still healing wounds, the other from his too long swim.

"You think you can eat something other than a sandwich? Some soup maybe?"

Steve shrugged tiredly. He didn't feel hungry but knew his body needed some fuel.

"I'll have to try." He answered when the silence stretched too long.

Danny only nodded and went to the kitchen where he busied himself with plates, utensils, Tupper ware and the microwave.

Steve made his sluggish way up the stairs and under the shower. The water was just a bit too hot for comfort, but he welcomed the pain nevertheless. Dressed in sweatpants and an old but comfortable T-Shirt he went back to the kitchen.

Danny had heated some homemade chicken soup judging by the smell. To his astonishment Steve found he could eat not only the soup, but also the sandwich that he had ignored earlier. Danny joined him with the meal, but still kept his quiet. Any other time Steve might have found a quiet Danny disconcerting; in this moment it was just what he needed and his friend seemed to know and respect it.

After dinner they stepped back to the lanai to watch the sun go down, beers in their hands. Steve found he cried again. Disgusted he self-consciously wiped his face before suddenly announcing with vehemence "I protected a monster!"

Danny turned, gave him an intent look and suddenly ranted as if he had waited all the time for just that opportunity. Maybe he had. "What the hell is the matter with you, Steven? Hu? Not only do you think of yourself to be invincible, no, now you even think yourself to be omniscient. You, my friend, are human, not divine."

"What's that even supposed to mean, Daniel?" Steve yelled back.

"Steve." Danny's voice suddenly had a soothing quality and he laid a comforting hand on his friend's knee. "You did what every trained officer in your situation would have done: You protected a wounded young man seeking your help from some scumbags that were after him. No one, and I repeat to get it through that thick skull of yours, no one at all, could have known why they were after him. That whole hunt is a very sick story of its own. Against all odds, you saved both your charges and went after the threat behind the attack. You had no chance, none at all, to even guess what would happen next. And instead of beating yourself up in some seriously ridiculous self-incrimination please see it like this: The moment you found out you brought justice and closure to those involved. I'm only sorry I haven't been with you in that basement."

"I'm not, Danny, I'm not!" Steve said with heartfelt sincerity and went for Danny's hand on his knee.

Steve's grip around his wrist was painful, but Danny didn't wince. Instead he put his other hand around Steve's neck and pulled their foreheads together. After some time Steve took a shuddering breath and sniffled. "I think I need…" he gestured vaguely towards the house.

"Yeah, OK." Danny let him go with a last reassuring squeeze to the knee.

When Steve came out again he saw Danny looking at something on his phone, shaking with silent laughter that had him clutch his side.

"What is it?" Steve asked. To his surprise he found himself laughing only from watching his partner's mirth.

"You remember Deeks?"

Steve thought for a moment "The LAPD beach bum who annoys you even more than I do?"

Danny smirked "Yeah, him. Looks like this time he annoyed their intelligence analyst and team technician one time too many and they took revenge. Have a look."

His friend tilted his phone so that Steve could see the display. Danny was halfway through a well done mix of several mishaps said Deeks had gotten into and which had been on record. The music accompanying the whole thing just added to the fun. At one time the underlying music changed to a Taylor Swift song and her voice morphed into Deeks. He sat in his car doing a ridiculous imitation which reminded Steve that he still wanted to find out if there was a video of Danny's more or less involuntary karaoke stint. Steve found himself clutching his sides too when the video ended.

"I really like how he ventured the bridge, but isn't he undercover?" Steve wanted to know when he got his breath back.

"Yeah, and Nell made sure to include only those in the e-mail distributor who know better than to upload this to the internet or forward it to anybody else. She nevertheless added an unmistakable warning should anyone be stupid enough to try anyway."

Steve nodded satisfied and snatched Danny's phone "OK, again from the beginning. This is precious."

Danny watched satisfied as the last of the stress finally left Steve. He wasn't fool enough to think that the man would have an easy night, or even easy next days, but the burden was eased. The detective was just glad the wrap-up of this case had been taken over by HPD; one day of this had been enough for his partner.

*** LA *** LA *** LA ***

"Deeks, is there a special reason I had to suffer through your antics on a work free day?" Sam groused as soon as he and Callen had entered the bull pen.

"Yeah, whatcha got, public defender? Whatcha got?" Callen joint gleefully. He knew very well that Sam had enjoyed the video, it was really funny. Eric and Nell had outdone themselves. What a pity they couldn't show it to a broader audience.

Deeks, who sat at his desk with a grinning Kensi by his side, only groaned, hit his head on the desk with a thud and mumbled something indistinguishable.

"What was that?" Callen pressed him.

Deeks looked up sheepishly; seeming unusually subdued, and squinted in the direction of OPS with a look of dismay.

"What exactly did you do to annoy Nell?" Callen asked intrigued, which got him a hurt look from Deeks, who had yet to speak. Callen smirked unimpressed.

"Let's not forget Eric. He's probably still upset about the beach body comment." Kensi added chuckling, but she patted Deeks' head in a consoling manner.

"You thought it was funny, too." Deeks accused with a whiny tone to his voice.

"Mr. Deeks." Everyone but Deeks flinched at Hetty's sudden appearance. He had known he was doomed the moment he saw what exactly the OPS-team had had in hand to retaliate his needling. That one had backfired a bit he admitted to himself. He may have expected some Taylor Swift, but this? Well, time to face the music...

"Will you come with me, please?"

"Yes, Hetty."

The looks from his team mates varied from compassionate and dispassionate to gleeful. Deeks wasn't surprised. Sighing he followed Hetty and sat down on the visitor's chair in her office.

She gave him a contemplative look over her glasses, sipping some tea.

"So," she stretched the syllable a bit "did Detective Williams get the video?"

Judging by the look of surprise that question was not what Deeks had expected to hear. When he remained silent she repeated:

"I asked if Detective Williams..."

"Yes, Hetty, he got the video. Why…? How…?" Deeks shook his head and stopped. Why did he even bother to ask? Hetty knew everything.

"It didn't slip my attention that Detective Williams had a very unfortunate sojourn in a Colombian prison not long ago." Her face contorted with distaste before she continued. "I have to admire your willingness to be the butt of the joke for the greater good, Mr. Deeks, but next time please refrain from annoying our OPS-team unduly. That approach is never a good idea as you found out."

"I did, Hetty. Believe me, I did."

"Good. That's all then, Mr. Deeks. Go on, I think there is some paper work waiting for you. And I really hope you have something in mind to appropriately apologize to Ms. Jones and Mr. Beal."

"Thank you, Hetty. And I think I have." Deeks gave her a tentative smile while giving the others watching from behind the impression of being downcast. He stood with his head hung low as if he had been firmly scolded and trotted back to his team to face the teasing.