Hello my darlings. I hope you all had a good Christmas, and that you have a good new year. I would like to thank Beststoriesever, Guest, Adriana Dricks, French fan (Guest), honus47, Petunia3116, and anonkp for the wonderful reviews. I would also like to thank those of you who have followed and favoured this story since my last update.

So this is the first flashback chapter/section. Now all the flashback bits will be in italics throughout this story, but I will no doubt mention that a lot as I go on.

Anyway I hope you like how I have Callen and Deeks meeting. Enjoy.

Disclaimer: I don't own NCIS: LA.


Four years, two months and 17 days ago…

Detective Martin Deeks made his way down the sidewalk with a spring in his step. He had been out with the guys from the precinct to celebrate him gaining his golden shield. No more beat cop for him, he was now a detective. He had had a few beers, not enough to really impair him, but it was enough to make him decide to leave his car at the bar and collect it in the morning.

He was a couple of blocks from his apartment when he heard strange noises coming from the alleyway to his left. His hand automatically reached for his service weapon and the penlight he kept on his belt as he heard it again. It was the sounds of a fight, no not a fight, it was the sounds of someone getting their ass kicked. He couldn't let that happen, he was cop, and protecting people was what he did. Therefore without thought he stepped into the alley and shined his light on the screen at the end with a cry of "LAPD, freeze."

Of course it wasn't until he had spoken that he realised that there were three big guys at the end, beating on someone who was on all fours on the floor. Okay, maybe not the best odds. He should probably have called for backup before entering the alley, but too late now. At least he could use the flashlight to shine in their eyes and therefore give him the advantage.

"I really wouldn't do that if I was you. This is none of your concern." The man in the middle said in a heavily accented voice as he started to move towards him. The other two, just standing back watching with smirks on their faces as if they were going to enjoy what was to come.

"I said Freeze." Deeks growled out, tightening the hold on his gun. He didn't really want to shoot the guy, he was unarmed as far as he could tell, or at least as unarmed as a guy with those sorts of muscles could be.

"Make me." He hissed with a crackle of laughter. But just as Deeks was about to pull the trigger and send the guy to his knees with a bullet in the shoulder, they both heard a grunt and thud from the three people behind them. Turning the flashlight back onto the back of alley, even though he knew he shouldn't, Deeks saw the two others guys down on the ground and the one who had been on all fours, and who he was convinced wouldn't have been able to move, was now standing, wiping off the blood from a cut on his lips as gave both him and the third man a friendly smile.

At that Deeks stopped thinking. Instead he turned and smashed his fist into the guy's unguarded face, sending him crashing to the ground. He had forgotten he still had his flashlight held tightly in his hand. That had no doubt contributed to the fact that his adversary was now out for the count.

"Nice left hook, LAPD." The bloody man said, stepping carefully over the bodies and making his way out of the alley as quickly as we could. Pulling Deeks along with him even as the detective still kept his gun trained on their three adversaries.

"I'd better call for back up to take these guys in. Then I'll get someone to take your statement." Deeks responded as soon as they were back on the sidewalk and he felt he could put his gun away in favour of pulling out his phone.

"No need. I'm not pressing charges." The stranger replied still smiling slightly, though even as Deeks turned to question him about that he saw he was swaying slightly on his feet. Damn, he should have made sure he was okay first. He had just presumed that he was fine considering he had just taken out two guys twice his size. Never assume Marty, came the voice of his captain inside his head. Yeah, first rule of being a detective.

"Let me at least get you an ambulance." He said switching who he was going to call on his phone, only to find the commutation device removed from his hand and the guy now smirking at him as he quickly dismantled it and took out the battery.

"I'm not going to hospital either. I'll be fine. Thanks for the assist." He said as he handed Deeks back his phone, now in three parts. What the hell? Who did this guy think he was? Deeks was just about to snap at him for destroying police property when he realised that he had already started to walk away. And even as he watched Deeks could see the guy reach out with his hand for the wall, as if needed it to keep him upright and heading in the right direction. Cursing the stupidity of macho guys, and his fondness for them, Deeks found himself jogging after the guy and grabbing his arm before hauling it round his shoulders.

"You know, you shouldn't sneak up on people like that. I could have killed you, or at the very least punched you." the guy said in a gentle yet gruff tone, as if he was trying to reprimand him but not really having the energy to do so.

"But you didn't." Deeks replied smirking at him as he got them both walking in the direction of his home.

"That was because I knew it was you." the man responded with a sigh as he realised he wasn't going to get rid of LAPD any time soon, so instead rested more of his weight onto the younger man.

"And you didn't want to mess up my pretty face? Thanks." Deeks replied with his usual slightly offbeat wit. Though as soon as the words were out of his mouth he was cursing himself. He really shouldn't be trying to flirt with a guy who had just gone who know how many rounds with the brick built guys they had left behind. Really not the best plan he had ever had, but he was Marty Deeks. He really only had two settings, flirtatious and cocky, or serious. And he really didn't want to be serious right then. Hmm, maybe he had had a few more beers than he had thought.

"Hu-hah. So where are we going detective?" The guy asked after he just stared at him for which seemed like way to long in Deeks mind, though he really did have gorgeous blue eyes. Even if they did look extremely guarded, but he could understand that. He would be guarded too if he had just been in the situation this guy had been.

"I live a couple blocks away. We can patch you up there." Deeks answered simply after thinking for a second. The guy wouldn't go to hospital, and his apartment was closer than any motel.

"Tut tut, detective. Already inviting me back to your place, and you don't even know my name." The guy replied with a shake of his head, though Deeks could see he was smirking. As if he knew something Deeks didn't.

"And yet you know I'm a detective, care to share about that one?" Deeks asked as he realised that that was twice the guy had called him by his title. But he was sure he had never met him before, and to be honest he had only been a detective for all of 12 hours, so any meeting they would have had would have been recently. And this guy was not someone he would easily forget, of that he was sure.

"Nope." The stranger answered smirking even more, as if he was finding the conversation amusing, in a good way. Or at least Deeks hoped it was a good way.

"Well I'm Detective Marty Deeks. Your turn." Deeks replied deciding that if he wanted to know more about this guy he was going to have to ask directly. And he had been right, they should at least know each other's names.

"G Callen." The man responded without any elaboration making Deeks roll his eyes.

"What does the G stand for? Or is that a secret?" He asked sarcastically, though he had not expected the response his words had gotten from the man, from G.

Because at his questions Callen laughed so hard he had to stop walking and take some deep breaths. His ribs were killing him, he was pretty sure at least one of them was cracked and if not, then seriously bruised. Hetty was going to kill him when she found out, if she found out. He didn't actually work for her, yet at any rate. He was still in the CIA, he didn't need to tell her about this incident. Did he, really?

But no matter, that was a problem for another day. Right now he was standing on a street laughing at the words of a very cute detective. But he couldn't help it. It hilarious at just how close to the truth detective Deeks had just come without knowing it. Hmm, maybe he had hit his head at some point, this was surely not the response he should be giving. Not him, a seasoned trained undercover operator who had worked for almost every alphabet agency going.

"What's so funny?" Deeks asked when he realised that G wasn't going to explain, just stand there smiling at him before chuckling once more. Deeks really didn't understand, but he was starting to think that maybe he was the butt of some joke. But it was only the two of them, so how could he be?

Callen looking up saw the worry and hurt starting to appear in the young detectives eyes, and he didn't want to see that. He didn't want to be the one to put it there. His eyes were adorable when they were full of laughter, he didn't like seeing them in confusion. Yet more strange thoughts. He had only just met the guy for god's sake, and it wasn't like he would ever see him again after this, right?

But still Callen couldn't stop himself from pulling himself up to standing, or as close as he could get while leaning against the wall, and smiling at the younger man as he found the words to say. Trying to decide what his name would be today. "Nothing. The G stands for… Greg, Gregory Callen, at your service." Yeah, he hadn't been Gregory for a while. He always liked that name.

"Well Gregory, I think we need to get you home and lying down." Deeks replied moving to pull Greg's arm back over his shoulders so he could help him stand without having to use the wall to keep him upright.

Once they were on the move again Callen decided to carry on the conversation. He wanted to know more about this man, his little LAPD hero. "Do you take all the people you rescue from getting beaten to death home and to lie down detective Deeks?"

"No, usually they go to hospital. But then again, none of the others were as sexy as you either." Deeks replied though as soon as the words were out of his mouth he wished he could smack himself for them. He really needed to stop flirting with this guy, and that couldn't even be construed as even remotely subtle, or being taken the wrong way.

Hearing Deeks call him sexy Callen couldn't help but chuckle gently. The guy really needed to get his eyes tested. "You have a strange definition of sexy, I'm covered in blood." He responded lightly feeling the tension that had tightened the detectives shoulders ease with his words.

"It's like buying a house. I can imagine how you look without the cuts and bruises." Deeks replied simply making Callen stop and stare at him for half a minute as he tried to process that sentence.

"Anyone ever tell you you're crazy?" He muttered before shaking his head and moving off once more. He hoped they wouldn't have to go much further, he was starting to feel every ache and pain from his beating. Hmm, maybe he should have gone to the hospital after all.

"All the time, but I know it's just because they are jealous of my superiorness." Deeks answered with his sunny smile and a swagger in his hips. It seemed Gregory didn't mind him thinking he was sexy. That was good, that was very good. Because it might just mean he was in with a chance after all. And he liked that idea very much. Though of course that idea was swiftly followed with a reminder that the guy had just been beaten. Get a grip Marty. He needs care, not come-on's.

"You keep on believing that Marty." Callen replied before finding himself forced to stop by a door leading to the block of apartments.

"I will, now you coming in or not? I promise to keep my hands to myself." Deeks responded waving his hands in the air to show what he meant, though he quickly grabbed Callen again when he seemed to be toppling over slightly.

"Then how are you going to clean all my cuts and bruises?" Callen asked moving to lean on the cute detective. He hadn't had this much fun in a long time, perhaps getting into a fight with the Russians wasn't such a bad idea after all. Or maybe he really had done some serious damage to his brain.

"Okay. Almost to myself." Deeks corrected as he pulled Callen through the door and up the stairs, already running through what he had in his first aid kit and hoping he would be able to help the man with him. He really didn't want Gregory Callen dying on him. Oh no, he really didn't want that.