Deeks had locked Monty in the spare bedroom before Kensi had arrived last night to give them some privacy. Unfortunately, they had been so 'busy' they had forgotten to let him out and now he was scratching the door and whining loudly.
Kensi, snuggled closer to Deeks and said, "He's your dog."
He stretched sleepily and said, "But he didn't get to see you last night. You should go let him out and make his day."
"Nice try buddy. Move it! We need to get ready for work anyway."
"Nag, nag, nag," he teased as he kissed her on her head then got up to dress and take care of Monty.
She had decided to shower at his place, change into the extra clothes she had brought then head to work from here. She would leave a few minutes before him just to keep up appearances. He rarely got there before she did anyway.
After she showered and dressed, she fixed coffee and toast while he showered. Then she turned her attention to Monty. She had seriously neglected him and needed to make up for it.
Deeks walked in and saw them having another 'conversation' and just smiled at them both. "Monty, are you trying to steal my girl?" He patted him on the head then kissed Kensi quickly and made a beeline for the coffee.
They finished their coffee and toast then made plans to stay at his place again that evening. She picked up her purse, gun and badge and started to leave.
He reached for her hand and pulled her into a tight embrace. "I love you," he whispered.
"I love you too," she said as she held him tightly.
"There have been times in my life when I wish I would have done things differently. Most of them include wishing I had told someone how I felt about them before it was too late. So, I'm going to tell you every single day so you won't forget!" he said as his kissed her gently.
She was holding back tears as she said, "I could never forget Marty. How could I? If this is what love is supposed to feel like then bring it on! I've never felt like this before and I mean that. Not even with Jack."
She kissed him again then pulled back and patted him on his cheek. "I'll see you at work," she said as she opened the door.
He followed her out and watched her walk down the stairs. When she was out of his sight he went back inside to wait ten minutes before he left. He couldn't help but think he was a lucky man.
Kensi wasn't paying attention. She was thinking about him and wondering if they could have it all. She pictured a little house near the beach and a couple of kids with blonde hair and blue eyes. She was smiling as she unlocked her car with her remote and walked between her car and the van parked next to it. As she opened her door to get in, she heard a scraping noise, then felt a blinding pain in the back of her head. She was vaguely aware of being dragged into a dark place before she blacked out.
Deeks was whistling as he walked to his car a few minutes later. When he rounded the corner to the lot, he stopped suddenly. 'Why was Kensi still here?'
"Kensi?" he called out as he noticed the door was open. His heart started beating faster and he called out again, "Kensi!" He pulled out his weapon and crept closer, hiding behind a car two spaces down. Then he saw her purse lying on the ground. Panic seized him and he ran to the car screaming her name, looking around frantically. He walked around to the other side of the SRX and that's when he noticed something on the windshield of his own car. He quickly grabbed the note that was stuck beneath the windshield wiper.
As he read the note, hot tears began to stream down his face. 'No, please God, no!' He re-read the note and slid down his car to the ground. This couldn't be happening! He stared at the carefully typed note.
Detective Marty Deeks,
We have her. If you want her back you will do exactly as you are told. You are not to contact NCIS, LAPD or any other agency. If you do, she is dead. We're watching you.
Be at the Santa Monica Pier by 10:00 a.m. Go to the bench across from the souvenir store. Instructions are taped underneath.
He had to pull himself together. He couldn't help her by sitting here doing nothing. He got up and checked her purse. He noticed her badge and gun were missing but her keys and cell phone were lying nearby. The phone was crushed on the concrete. It looked like it had been run over.
At first he thought he would do exactly what the note said but then he calmed down and realized the guys would investigate anyway as soon as they realized they were missing. He needed to control how they did that. He put her purse and other items in the car, pocketed her keys then locked it and closed the door.
He jumped in his car and pulled a notepad out of his glove compartment and began writing instructions. He tore off the bottom half of the note from the kidnappers and put it in his jacket pocket. He screeched the tires as he pulled out of the parking lot and drove to Kensi's house. It was nine o'clock and he had to get to Santa Monica by ten.
Kensi began to wake and couldn't remember where she was. Her head was pounding and she couldn't seem to shake the drowsiness. Slowly the haze lifted and she remembered walking to her car. Someone had hit her from behind and put her in here. She was aware of being in a moving truck or van but it was dark and she couldn't make out any details. She tried to get up but realized her hands and feet were tied and her mouth was taped shut. She willed herself not to panic. She knew Deeks would figure out she had been taken soon if he hadn't already. He would tell the team and they would find her. They were really good at finding people.
Deeks let himself into her house and ran to the pantry. He sent the 'Agent in Distress' signal from his phone and placed it along with the top half of the note from the kidnappers and the one he had written in a box of cereal. If someone was watching and decided to trash her apartment, they wouldn't have time to find it before the team got there. He sent up a prayer that this would work and that the kidnappers wouldn't realize he had contacted NCIS. He knew Sam and Callen would understand and wait for him to call them. 'Please God, keep her safe!' He closed the door but left it unlocked and raced back to his car.
They all received the distress signal at about the same time. Before Eric could call them up, they were already running up the stairs. Hetty was close behind them.
"What have you got Eric?" Callen asked frowning.
This is really confusing. The signal was sent from Deeks' phone but it's coming from Kensi's house. I tried to track Kensi's phone but it's off and I can't seem to turn it back on. The battery must have been removed."
"What about the GPS on their cars?" Sam asked.
"That's even more confusing. Kensi's car is parked at Deeks' apartment building but I am tracking Deeks' car. I can't really tell where he's heading at the moment. Traffic is really bad this morning.
"Go to Kensi's house and check it out first, then we will worry about where Mr. Deeks is headed," Hetty ordered.
Deeks was hoping none of his co-workers from LAPD would try to pull him over for speeding. He doubted they would even be able to get to him because the traffic was so bad today. He was finally close to the pier and it was 9:45. He pulled into a large gas station and drove up to the pump. He got out and started the pump then walked inside to pay for it. He walked through the store, picked up a soda and nonchalantly grabbed a cheap cell phone. He paid for his purchases then hid the phone in his jacket. If they were watching, he didn't want them to know he had just bought a phone. He hoped they would think he already had it. He got in the car and hid the phone under his seat. He would get it out later. Right now, he had to get to that bench at the pier.
Sam and Callen parked down the street and quietly walked to Kensi's house. They didn't see anyone suspicious but when they tried the door knob and found it unlocked, they both took out their weapons. Sam entered first and they quickly realized no one was here. The house was cleaner than the last time either of them had seen it which was surprising. Her place was usually one big mess.
"Eric, we don't see the phone, can you tell where it's coming from?" Callen asked through his earwig."
"It may be coming from the kitchen area. You're really close to it," he answered.
Callen walked into the kitchen but didn't see anything. He and Sam started opening cabinets and drawers.
Sam opened the pantry and called Callen over. "If it's in here, we're never gonna find it."
"Where would you hide something you didn't want found right away?" Callen asked.
"In a safe, under the floor, in my bedroom," Sam replied.
"Not if you were in a hurry," he said frowning. "I would put it in a bag of chips or a box of cereal."
Sam picked up a bag of chips and looked inside. "Nothing here." Then he pulled out a box of crackers and handed it to Callen while he checked the cereal box. Callen came up empty but Sam said, "Bingo."
He poured the contents out on the counter and dug out the phone and two pieces of paper.
Sam handed Callen the one that looked torn on one side while he took the smaller note.
"Oh my God," Callen said while running his hand over his head.
"What?" Sam asked taking the note from him. As he read the note, he stepped back and closed his eyes.
"What does that one say?" Callen asked as Sam handed it to him.
Please, please make sure they don't know you are investigating. Pretend I called and said she was sick today.
She was taken outside my apartment between 8:30 and 8:40 this morning.
Don't know who or why. Possibly related to Samuels' case.
I will contact you later when I know more. Am picking up instructions now.
Don't contact anyone else!
-D
Callen sighed and said, "Dammit! What was she doing at his apartment this morning?"
"Maybe she was picking him up to carpool. We do that sometimes G."
"I know," he said then activated his earwig. "Eric, check security cameras from Deeks' apartment starting about 7:00 this morning. Use extreme caution. We don't want anyone to know we're looking for Kensi. We're on our way to Deeks' place now."
"I've got a bad feeling about this one G."
"Me too Sam."