CHAPTER 3 - DEEKS'S POV
Deeks couldn't keep his eyes off Kensi as he gathered his things and prepared to leave NCIS. His partner had stayed back to say goodbye and was quietly sitting at her desk again with her head down and hands blocking her face.
Sam and Callen were also standing nearby to see Deeks out. Their concern for their junior agent clearly evident on their faces.
Sam in particular kept glancing in Kensi's direction every time she shifted position on her desk. His eyes were clouded with worry. In all the years they had worked together, Sam & Callen had never seen Kensi break down at work.
Something was seriously wrong.
"Ok I'm all done," Deeks announced regretfully. "Guess I should be off."
Deeks placed the full box of his belongings on his own desk before turning to give Callen a hug which Callen surprisingly returned.
"It's been a pleasure to work with you Deeks," Callen smiled.
"You too Callen,"
"I'm not giving you a hug," Sam stated when Deeks walked over to him. "But you will be missed Deeks."
"Thanks Sam,"
Kensi looked up when Deeks approached her desk but didn't get up.
"Can we have a minute please?" Deeks asked and Sam nodded. The two older agents left the room.
Deeks and Kensi were alone now.
"So I guess this is it huh?" Kensi sighed heavily and stood up.
Deeks broke their eye contact and ran his hand through his shaggy blonde hair. He wanted to tell her the truth because the pain in her eyes was killing him but he had to stick to the plan and keep in character. He just hoped that she would forgive him after all of this.
"Yeah I guess it is,"
"Well I hope we can still stay friends," Kensi said quietly.
Deeks shrugged, "maybe."
"Maybe?" Kensi repeated raising her eyebrow in surprise. The way he had said "maybe" made her uneasy, like he thought it was a bad idea or he just really didn't care.
"Kens we're partners but that's it," Deeks tried to explain. He knew he was hurting her and he hated himself at that moment but he had his orders and had to obey them.
"We were partners," Kensi corrected, not lifting her gaze off the floor. "And I thought we were friends too Deeks."
Deeks gulped down his own tears, this was so much harder than he thought it would be! Kensi was torturing him. He just wanted to forget about this whole stupid plan and hug her tightly, tell her he was sorry and that it was all going to be ok.
"I'm sorry Kensi," he apologised sincerely. "I will call you."
"You will call me?"
"Yep,"
"That's it? That's all you have to say?" Kensi was tearing up again. She tried to hide it but he could see her eyes glistening.
Deeks nodded, finding it difficult to speak.
"I don't know what you want from me Kens. I have said all there is to say."
"Well I guess I was just hoping you would have more to say to me but my mistake. Seems I've made a few of them lately," Kensi forced herself to look him in the eyes as she continued. "For what it's worth I didn't see you as just my partner. I considered you my friend… My best friend actually. I've never let anyone get so close to me before and now I won't make that mistake again."
"Kensi," Deeks reached out for her hand but she dodged and shook her head. She was breaking his heart! He felt sick to the stomach.
Her next words stung badly and he would never forget the expression of hurt that crossed her face as she said them.
"Just go Deeks and don't bother calling."
With that she was gone. He watched her leave feeling empty and broken. He couldn't move. He could hardly breathe. His eyes were glassy as tears built up and he tried to push them down but it was impossible.
He slowly picked up the box containing his things and walked out of the Bullpen towards the exit. This case was going to be his undoing.
…
KENSI'S POV
Kensi was halfway home when her phone rang.
She had left HQ abruptly without letting anyone know she was leaving for the day so she expected the call to be from Sam or Callen, not Lieutenant Bates from the LAPD.
Sensing it was important to take this call, Kensi pulled over and answered the phone. Her voice wavered a little but she hoped he would not notice it.
"Special Agent Blye,"
"Hello Miss Blye, I need to arrange a meeting with you," Lieutenant Bates replied. "Is this afternoon convenient?"
All Kensi wanted to do was run home, lock the doors, curl up on her bed and try to forget about the world, at least for the rest of the day. She could figure her life out tomorrow but for now she just wanted… Needed to cry!
Resisting the urge to tell Bates to piss off she politely asked for the meeting place and time. Once they had arranged it Kensi hung up and took a few moments to calm herself down.
'Why did Deeks's boss want to talk to her?' She wondered.
….
At the meeting with Lieutenant Bates …
Kensi was fidgeting with her jacket zipper nervously as she sat across from Bates. They had organised to meet in a café and were seated in a corner at the back of the building.
There weren't many people around at this time of day which is why Bates had pacifically chosen this time to meet.
The moment Kensi stepped into his view he picked up on her slightly withdrawn demeanour. This was obviously not the same kick-ass, confident agent he had heard so much about!
He wasn't sure why she was so unfocused but it didn't matter to him anyway, he just needed the information that only she could tell him.
"Not easy losing a partner is it," he stated after she sat down opposite him.
Kensi glanced at him and shrugged her shoulders in annoyance, "partners come & go … it's no big deal."
Bates leant back in his chair, undeniably quite amused by Kensi's defensive comeback. Clearly he had pushed a button, "I wasn't always a cop you know."
"You served as an inelegance officer for the Army, conducted interrogations during Desert Storm," Kensi replied irritated.
She still didn't know why she was here or what he was up to. Answering stupid questions was only going to put her in an even worse mood, if that were even possible!
Bates chuckled softly at her, "yes that's right and I can tell you've lied to my face Miss Blye…"
Kensi threw him a questioning glance, "lied about what?"
"Partners like Deeks don't just come and go," Bates watched Kensi's face closely, needing to see her reaction to his words.
At the mention of Deeks, Kensi visibly flinched and her whole angry (slightly pissed to be here) act melted away. She felt the tears in her eyes again, God how many times was she going to burst into tears today?!
"So it's true then," Bates exclaimed with a satisfied smile. "Deeks has left NCIS."
Kensi didn't answer.
The lieutenant explained further, "you see Agent Blye, I can't work with Deeks if he is still loyal to NCIS."
Kensi finally understood why he had asked her to meet him here. He needed to make sure Deeks was out of NCIS and had no ties to them.
"Well you don't have to worry because he wants nothing to do with anyone at NCIS," Kensi snapped.
"What's the deal with you two anyway?" Bates was curious. Obviously these two were more than just partners. Kensi was practically at breaking point.
"That's none of your business," she told him.
Kensi stood up and started to walk out of the small café. She stopped at the door and glanced over her shoulder, "now if you have no other questions?"
Bates shook his head, "thank you for your time Miss Blye."
…
CALLEN'S POV
Back at OPS - 20 minutes after Kensi had left…
"Has anyone seen Kensi?" Callen asked, poking his head into the computer room where Nell and Eric were working.
Nell glanced at him and shook her head, "I thought she was with you guys."
"Damn," Callen muttered under his breath. "I can't find her anywhere and I'm starting to get worried. It's not like her to just disappear without telling someone where she's going."
"She was pretty upset," Eric spun around in his chair and frowned at the team leader. "Actually she was very upset."
"Yeah I know but she'll be ok once we explain everything to her," Callen reassured him. "But first we have to find her!"
"I will see if I can track her cell phone," Nell got to work typing furiously at her keyboard.
She put the tracking display on one of the bigger screens & after a few seconds the computer picked up Kensi's phone signal. "Got her."
"What is she doing there?" Callen was really confused now. According to the trace, Kensi was at a local café. "Can you pull up the Café's cameras?"
Nell was already one step ahead of him, "should be coming on screen right about … now."
All eyes turned to the monitor.
The camera in the café picked up movement at the back of the room and Nell zoomed in to get a better angle on the two people now seated in the corner.
"It's Kensi with Lieutenant Bates," Eric exclaimed surprised.
Callen let out a sigh of relief, their plan was working.
Eric was able to get audio and they listened in on the conversation until eventually Kensi stood up, turned and left the café. They pulled up the video feed from outside the café and saw Kensi get into her car & take off.
"I guess we can tell her now," Sam walked through the automatic sliding doors and crossed his arms over his chest.
Callen nodded, "call her in Nell."
Nell didn't have to be asked twice. She dialled Kensi's mobile number and waiting for her to answer. Kensi didn't pick up.
"Try again," Sam ordered gently. "Keep calling until she answers."
"Will do," Nell promised as the boys left the computer room.
…
Callen walked alongside his partner in silence. When they got to the bottom of the stairs Sam turned to face Callen with a concerned frown covering his face.
"What if this was all too much for her G.?"
"Kensi's a good agent, she'll come around." Callen replied. "She might be a bit pissed for a while but she won't stay mad at us for long. We're family."
Sam shook his head and looked away, "do families take advantage of each other's trust or lie to their loved ones to their face?"
"Sam this is different," Callen rolled his eyes. He could see what Sam was saying and when it was put that way he did feel a slight pang of guilt but this was their job, this was what they do.
"Do you remember how long it took us to earn Kensi's trust when she first started working here? And how long it took for you to trust her?"
"Everything is going to be fine," Callen smiled and started walking away. He added over his shoulder, "You're just overreacting as usual."
Sam chuckled, "I don't overreact."
"Whatever you say," Callen waved as he disappeared into the gym.
Sam watched him leave with a playful smile on his face & muttered sarcastically to himself, "One day I swear I'm going to throw him off a bridge!"
