Author's note: Big thank you for the words of encouragement. They sincerely mean a great deal.

After Callen had finished talking to Hetty and Fisher had gone home, he went to the gym to where Sam and Kensi were. They were both talking, Sam with one hand on the punching bag, and Kensi sitting on the treadmill. Callen knew they were discussing what just happened.

"I don't get it, I just really don't get it," Kensi said shaking her head.

"Hetty tell you anything G?" Sam asked.

"She said she knows her actions were severe, but she believes they were necessary," he replied eyes glazed over walking towards the pair, "a situation just like this occurred before we were all here, and she said that because no action was taken, it got completely out of control. One of the two guys involved got shot in the line of fire because the other didn't trust him when he said he was in danger,"

This caused both Sam and Kensi to look up to shock.

"I know," he said responding to their silent looks, "he had to retire because the muscles in his right arm got messed up from the shrapnel. He was only 32 -"

"But Deeks would never do that," she insisted instantly.

"Maybe if he was pushed he would," Sam said vaguely before Callen could speak, "I mean, Deeks was never a fighter. We knew he could throw a punch ever since the first time we met him, but he never really did. Now look at what's just happened,"

"But that's exactly it," Callen debated, "Deeks isn't a fighter, but like you said, maybe if he was pushed he would be,"

"What did Fisher tell you," Sam asked now looking as Kensi.

"Nothing. Well not nothing, but nothing that would cause Deeks to snap. He said they were just talking about the case and about Fisher being here, and then Deeks got all aggressive and told him to back off, and when Fisher questioned him, Deeks lost it,"

"What?" Callen asked clearly surprised.

"I know, it doesn't fit. As if Deeks would turn like that so easily. I give him more abuse than that, and he just laps it up. It doesn't make sense,"

"I'm not on any side here, but how do you explain only Fisher getting the beatings," Sam interrupted, "like Deeks left without a cut on him. Fisher could barely stand. The facts point towards Fisher's story,"

"I know..." Kensi said softly looking down again.

"And technically Kens, didn't Deeks get angry at you earlier today too?"

"Are you trying to turn me against my partner Sam?" she asked getting agitated now.

"No Kensi I'm not. I'm just trying to look at this from every angle. If you had told me about this, there's no way I would have believed Deeks would have been capable of such a thing, but Kensi I saw it. He was practically foaming at the mouth when I was holding him back,"

Silence surrounded the three as they each tried to figure out what had just happened.

Deeks? In a fight?

No. It wasn't plausible. It wasn't even possible. But why was all the evidence pointing towards him? Why did he get away unscathed while Fisher lost blood by the new time? It simply made no sense. If the team didn't know Deeks, they wouldn't even think to question Fisher, but they did know Deeks. Kensi knew him better than himself, or so she thought until now. Why did he do this? Fisher had to have left something out, he just had to. But, again, why was he the only one injured. None of them could figure it out, especially when Deeks, of all people, was refusing to talk.

"I need to go home," Kensi whispered breaking the silence.

"Me too," Sam said equally quiet.

"We've got a big day tomorrow, so try get some sleep," Callen commented.

Each of them exchanged looks, knowing full well that was not going to happen. They were all going to go home, stay awake, and attempt to figure out what the hell happened today.

Kensi wouldn't allow herself to do anything else. This was Deeks they were talking about. The Deeks that called her Fern just to get her all riled up. The Deeks that hid her twinkies just to mess with her. Stupid, goofy, Marty Deeks.

She relayed the past couple of days in her head as she drove home. Would it kill you to admit that at the very least, you like me? she recalled him saying, to which she responded, I...tolerate you Tim.

Her thoughts started to linger on this question.

Would it kill you to admit that at the very least, you like me?

Like. One very simple word. So many different meanings.

I like chocolate. She thought as she was stopped at a traffic light.

I like Marty Deeks. No, that didn't sound right.

I like beer. That fit perfectly.

I like Marty Deeks. No, still wrong.

I love competitions. Undeniably true.

I love Marty Deeks.

She stopped.

Love?

No. God no!

No, really no.

She didn't. Really...she didn't. This was ridiculous. She didn't even like him.

"I do not love..." she tried aloud.

She couldn't finish the sentence.

She's a professional liar, has been for quite some time now. She could lie her way out of prison and back in again without breaking a sweat. Tell Kensi to lie about something, and she will sell you it without conviction. But, that doesn't mean she liked it. She always heard something when she did lie, like warning bells going off in her head. They always sounded loudly, very loudly in fact, but she just buried the warnings deep down, and got on with it. She could always get on with it. That's how she was, that's how she is. A professional. Serious and hard working who buries and hides true emotions to everyone, herself inclusive.

She took a deep breath once more, placing her hands in her lap.

"I do not love Marty Deeks," she repeated.

There went the warning bells again.

Callen was the first to arrive to the Mission the next morning at 8.30am, shortly followed by Kensi. Sam showed up ten minutes later, and Fisher soon after. They ran over the plan once more together, considering the changes they had to make due to Deeks' absence. Once they were all fully clued in on what each of them would be doing, they went to get padded up as Fisher briefed the NSA agents that had joined to assist them.

The three NCIS agents went through the usual motions of getting ready. Put on the vest, fasten over the straps, put on the leg holster, tighten it, get the shotgun, get the rifle. The silence between them was clearly evident. None of them were thinking about the op. All that was running through their minds, was Deeks. Right about now was when the jokes and quips usually started from him. Kensi thought back to another one of their ops when they were getting ready. The atmosphere was the complete opposite to now.

"Jees why are these vests so tight?" Deeks moaned trying to pull the kevlar over his head.

"Mine's not," Kensi said raising an eyebrow with a smirk, "maybe you should try loose a few pounds,"

"Maybe you should try loosing a few pounds," Deeks mimicked, "my body is made of nothing but pure hard steal I have you know,"

"Oh stop, I can't handle being nauseous during an op,"

"Then lay off all your twinkies. Better yet, just take a gander at these bad boys," he boasted flexing his biceps.

"You sicken me Deeks," she said wrinkling her nose.

"That's not what you said last week princess," he winked.

She immediately turned around putting her hands on her hips.

"Ok first off, call me 'princess' again and I'll make sure your two 'princesses'..." she said pointing 'down there', "...will be separated from their 'kingdom'...permanently," she smiled menacingly, "and second of all, we were on a mission. I had to act like I liked you, you know, for our cover?"

"Oh is that what you want to call it? Okay, sure, but just remember, our 'cover' didn't involve you being all over me," he stated adjusting his leg holster.

"Me? All over you? You have got to be kidding me!" she laughed turning back around to the table behind her, "you were all over me like a rash. Why do you think I had a shower immediately when we came back?"

"Two reasons. Number one, you wanted me to see you in a towel, and number two, you needed that cold shower after spending the night with me," he grinned.

"Oh my God! You're so delusional," she laughed out.

"No, I'm Deeks, and I call them like I see them sweetness," he teased after stepping behind her.

"Don't call me -" she ordered turning around to hit him, but he knew it was coming.

He grabbed her hand and moved forward pinning her against the table. They hit it with such force, it collided with the wall.

" - sweetness," she finished in a breathless whisper.

"Like I said, I call them like I see them...sweetness," he said quietly and with sincerity.

He then let go of her hand, bent down, and strapped her gun holster onto her leg.

"All set," he said softly as he smiled, standing up and looking back into her eyes.

"All set," she repeated just as quiet returning the eye contact.

They stayed silent like this before Kensi spoke again.

"Deeks," she said placing her index finger on his chest.

"Kensi?"

"Call me any of your 'terms on endearment' once more, and I swear..." she whispered tracing her finger down his chest, stopping on his belt, "...my targets will look like sunshine in comparison to you when I'm finished,"

She grabbed her rifle and was nearly out the door when she heard Deeks calling after her:

"Oh kinky Ms Blye!"

"Okay, you two all set?" Callen asked interrupting Kensi's train of thought.

"Yeah good to go G," Sam replied as Kensi nodded.

"All right then, let's go put this plan into action," He said walking out the door followed by the other two.

The three main men in charge at the port hadn't suspected a thing, allowing the NCIS, CIA and NSA formed team to take them down without any major problems. Callen had gotten a hit across the face with the butt of a gun, leaving a deep cut on his cheek bone. Kensi had also taken a kick into the ribs which more than likely would be severely bruised in the morning if not already, but apart from that, there were no critical injuries. All in all, their planning had paid off as the op had been an overall, and rather low-key-kept, success for such a public location.

"I hate this," Callen exclaimed as he walked into the Mission with Sam and Kensi. "Why do they always go for the face?" he asked gently touching the cut and then wincing with the pain.

This would have been the perfect opportunity for a joke from either of the other two. Something as simple as "it's not like that would make a difference to you Callen," or "don't worry, they were doing you a favour G," but neither of them said anything. The spirit of the team was gone. No on was in the mood for any teasing or joking. What was the point?

Fisher was talking to the NSA agents thanking them for all their support when Eric ran over to the three, immediately pulling them upstairs.

"Guys! You need to see this." he exclaimed in a sharp whisper.

"This better not be some new game you've hooked up to the screen," Sam said tiredly, "Hetty was far from happy the last time you did it,"

"No, it's not," he said releasing his hold on them as they shuffled across the threshold that was his haven.

"Okay so Nell and I were going through some stuff here while you guys were getting ready this morning. Like we had everything set up for the op today already so we -"

"Look!" Nell yelled interrupting Eric as she pressed a button on her keyboard.

The screen went blank for a few seconds and then a video started to play.

"What is this?" Callen asked confused after a couples of minutes silence.

"Is that Deeks?" Sam squinted.

"And Fisher?" Kensi added.

"It's the Mission's security feed from yesterday...we have the whole thing between the two on tape!" Eric whispered sharply keeping an eye on the doors.

"Oh my God..." Kensi said as her eyes widened in shock.

Both her and Sam took a step closer to the screen as Callen asked Nell to close the automatic doors before joining them.

They just started to watch the tape as the scenes unfold right in front of them.

"You want me to stop helping?"

"No, I don't mean that. I just...could you just sort of...get some space...from all my stuff...?"

"Space?

"Yeah,"

"From your stuff?"

"Yeah,"

"I don't think I follow,"

"Hang on, I think according to Fisher...this is when Deeks..." Kensi said vaguely.

The whole team watched with nervous anticipation, but the discussion simply continued.

"Wait..." Called whispered, "this can't be right,"

"But you know what she's doing. We just ran through everything there. It's fine,"

"Yeah I know, but I just want to work with her to check some stuff out,"

"But like I said, you don't need to,"

"Okay I get that, but even if I don't need to, I want to,"

"Kensi, when did Fisher say Deeks got angry?" Sam asked, eyes still glued to the screen.

"I take it I'm not the only one who noticed your...outburst today then. Look, just don't talk to Kensi okay? Leave her alone. She's better working with me,"

"What? This isn't..." Kensi said her voice barely audible.

The team watched as Fisher threatened Deeks taking a step closer, which Deeks matched in return.

"Wow relax Deeks. Wouldn't want a repeat of your father now would you?..."

"Father? Callen, what's he talking about?" Sam asked confused.

"I don't know..." Callen replied shaking his head. He was too distracted by what was unfolding in front of him.

"...Or should I say Brandel?"

"Brandel?" Kensi repeated quietly, "How do I know that name? Nell how do I know that name," she asked the technician in almost a threatening manner.

"Um...I don't...I can't -"

"Nell please. Who is Brandel?" Kensi begged.

She sighed and then spoke with her eyes closed.

"Gordon John Brandel was Deeks' father. Deeks..." she paused, silently pleading the team to let her off, but they couldn't, not now.

"Eric pause the tape," Callen ordered as Eric hit another button on his keyboard, "Nell please," he urged her. "Deeks what?"

It was Kensi who answered, her eyes glazed over as she remembered.

"Deeks shot him," she stated blankly.

The whole team looked from Kensi to Nell, and back again.

They stayed quiet as they started to go through what they just saw, and what they just heard. After about two minutes, the silence was broken.

"Deeks shot his father?" Sam asked in disbelief.

"I didn't know he was his...it was when we were in the hospital, after Deeks got shot. We were making a list of suspects for Deeks before we realised I was the target," she drew a breath and then slowly continued with her eyes closed, "Deeks said he shot him when...when he was eleven years old,"

Once again, they all fell silent. Eleven years old? How could Deeks not have told them this yesterday? Why wouldn't he have told them this yesterday? It would have stopped everything from ending up the way it has now. It made no sense.

Callen then lifted his head and looked at Nell.

"Did you know about this?"

"Well...yes, but -"

"And you didn't think to tell us?" He questioned, his anger rising.

"Hetty said not -"

"Cool it G," Sam interrupted stepping forward, "it's not her fault -"

"Play the rest of the footage Eric," Kensi ordered silencing everyone in the room.

He nodded and pressed the button again allowing the tape to play on silencing everyone in the room.

"...I've never worked with NCIS before, so I don't know much about the agency or the people. That's when I decided to check up on the team I would be working with...thoroughly,"

They all watched as their team mate was subjected to this sick type of manipulation. Everything they knew him for was altering; his confidence, his courage, his personality. Everything. Marty Deeks was crumbling in front of their eyes.

"...then there was Kensi Blye. She really is beautiful isn't she?"

Kensi almost recoiled when she heard this. She could feel the others looking at her as she fought to keep her face expressionless.

"Yeah, one look at her picture and she had me..."

Kensi had been totally played by this guy. Completely and utterly played. She felt sick to her stomach that she didn't listen to Deeks. She watched as Fisher taunted and used her to get to Deeks.

"...she's so...well, you probably know yourself. But then again...you probably don't,"

"Fisher I'm serious -"

They continued to watch how Fisher degraded and humiliated Deeks, telling him how useless he was because he was just a cop.

Then came the worst part.

"...so I dug a little deeper to reveal the skeletons you have in your closet...and my my my, what skeletons you do have Detective. Shooting your daddy? Man oh man. That's sick. And I've seen some pretty rough things,"

Callen lowered his head exhaling heavily while Sam bit his lip and briefly closed his eyes.

"If you don't stop Fisher, I swear to God I'll -"

"You'll what? You'll finish me off like you tried your old man?"

Kensi put her hand to her mouth as Callen gripped the edge of the table.

"This is disgusting," Sam spat out.

They continued watching as Deeks gave Fisher exactly what he deserved, only to then be stopped by their past selves. They all watched with guilt as they rounded on Deeks, accusing him, demanding he explain himself like he was a three year old child.

"Turn this off Eric," Callen ordered.

"Okay," he said stumbling with his keyboard trying to press the stop button.

"I said turn it off!" Callen yelled, clearly writhing with guilt.

"That's it," Sam stated as he started to make his way out of the room.

"No Sam wait, what are you going to do?" Callen screamed as he tried unsuccessfully to hold his partner back.

"I'm going to finish what Deeks started!" He yelled over his shoulder charging down the corridor.

"We've got to stop him!" Callen yelled as he, Eric and Nell ran after him.

Kensi remained standing silently in front of the screen. The video was paused showing Deeks being held back by Sam while Callen and Kensi yelled at him.

She hadn't believed Deeks. How could she have done that? After the amount of times he had saved her. The amount of times he had protected her. The amount of times he had been there for her.

She hadn't believed him.

Kensi Blye was not a woman who cried easily. She thought it was a sign of weakness. Why would someone expose themselves like that? And for others to see? No thank you. She genuinely could count on one hand the amount of times she had cried. The last time was when Dom died. She swore to herself after that she never would again. She would just get stronger, be more prepared. She would never let it happen again.

She wrapped her arms around her stomach as her breathing picked up. Her ribs were worsening with pain and her breathing was only making it worse. She tried to control it, she really did. Half of her guilt and hurt that was forming was because of her lack of self control.

Don't do this. You don't need to do this. You can't do this. You can't -

That rare yet familiar sensation in her throat formed as two small tears slowly but surely burned down her cheeks.

She released a sharp breath causing her ribs to ache profusely.

You deserve this, she thought. All the pain, all the hurt. You deserve this.

Why couldn't she control this though? The tears? The hurt? She had done it before, why not now?

She knew why.

One remarkable reason.

One remarkable person.

Mr. Martin Deeks.

Etched on her face, the streaks travelled downwards. One by one they continued to fall as she thought of him until she could hold them back no longer.

A/N: So here's hoping I managed to retain your interest in this story. Views and opinions are as ever, greatly appreciated.