Hello my lovelies. I would like to thank Petunia3116 and French fan (Guest) for the wonderful reviews. I would also like to thank those of you who have followed and favoured since my last update. You are all awesome.
So here is the next chapter, I hope you like it.
Disclaimer: I don't own NCIS: LA.
By the end of the day Deeks was at the end of his tether. He had been dodging Kensi questions about what had upset him so much the previous day, and now all he wanted to do was go home and collapse. Go home and stop forcing himself to be the man everyone at NCIS knew him to be. He also needed to spend some time coming up with something that he could tell his partner that would explain his behaviour. He would not tell her the truth. No way, that was his, and it seemed Callen's secret. And it was one he was not willing to share, ever if he could help it. But he needed to say something, he just had no idea what.
Therefore as soon as the case was closed he practically ran from the building before she could suggest a drink or some other relaxed actively that would mean he would have to share. You know, like beating the crap out of him in the gym or something. Yeah, no. He was not going to do anything like that that night.
And now he was lying on his couch, still not able to think of anything, but also considering he should probably eat something. It was then that there was a knock at his door. His first thought was that it was Kensi coming to grill him yet again and he couldn't stop the groan that came out of his mouth. But when the knock came again he knew there was no way he could not answer. Because he knew if it was his partner she would not be going anywhere any time soon. Best to get it over with ASAP. Maybe he could tell her he was tired, or going out on a hot date. Anything that would get rid of her. so thinking up many excuses he could use, most of them completely implausible, he plastered on his sunny smile and pulled the door open, his mouth already starting to form words, though he still wasn't sure what they would be, but when he saw who it was they died in his throat.
"Kensi I…"
"Expecting someone else? because you know, I can go if you are. Just, I got take-out if you're interested." Callen said smiling at the man who trailed off whatever he was about to say and just stood there with his mouth open staring at him.
"No, yes, what?" Deeks replied not sure if he was hallucinating or if this was real. Because why on earth would G Callen be on his doorstep with food? Oh food. It did smell nice, and he was hungry. Therefore without much thought he stepped aside to let G enter.
"I'll take the no as you're not expecting anyone, and the yes to be interested in the food. The what I'm still not sure about." Callen responded smirking as he made his way to the kitchen, completely comfortable invading Deeks home once more.
"That was more what you doing here." Deeks answered following him, but he couldn't stop the real smile that slipped onto his face, nor the relaxed feeling that spread through him at the sight of the older man. And hey, if anyone could help him come up with an excuse to tell Kensi, it would be Callen right? Undercover operator extraordinaire.
"I thought I would come see how you were doing." Callen shrugged as he pulled out the take-out boxes from the bag in his hand.
"Trying to figure out how to get Kensilina off my back?" Deeks replied though there was a question in it, hoping that the other man would be able to give him some advice. Some words of wisdom, or something like that anyway.
"Good luck with that. If you work it out, tell me will you?" Callen responded smirking as he handed Deeks his food and cutlery before sitting down at the table to enjoy his.
"I need to tell her something. But I don't want to tell her the truth." Deeks answered picking through his dinner so he could eat the best bits. He liked this, just sitting there having dinner with G as a friend. Yeah it was good to have someone he could talk to without censoring his words.
"Say you had friend go through something similar." Callen suggested with a shrug. He really didn't know what to tell the younger man. He knew he would have to tell his partner something for the way he behaved. Kensi wasn't one to just let it go, but as for advice? He really wasn't that good at that. If he told Sam to drop it, he usually would, though he would then keep taps on his every movement behind Callen's back, but hey. That's the way their partnership worked, most of the time.
"Friend really? Everyone knows that's code for you." Deeks scoffed. Wow he would have thought G would be better at coming up with decent lies, I mean the guy did do it for a living and all that. Of course so did he.
"Is that so? Hmm, I'll have to remember that next time I talk to Sam." Callen mused quickly running over some of the conversations he had had with his partner. That certainty did explain some things.
With that they settled into silence as Callen turned his mind seriously to Deeks problem, trying to think of a way to explain his behaviour without Kensi getting wind of the truth. Finally he found what he thought was the best answer.
"Why not tell her it reminded you of a case you dealt with as a prosecutor. Tell her that was the one that caused you to switch to being a cop or something."
At that Deeks nodded. That wasn't half bad. "That could work I guess."
"Or you could tell her to mind her own business." Callen continued, giving the only other solution he had been able to come up with.
"Really? That's your advice? Do I look like I have death wish?" Deeks spluttered his eyes going wide at the idea of telling agent Kensi Blye to mind her own business. That would be like a red rag to a bull, a bull with a knife collection at that.
"Well your team leader could switch up the partners for a bit if you like." Callen replied innocently though the smirk he had on his face kind of ruined the effect.
"No way. I am not working with Sam." Deeks responded even more alarmed by that idea. The big guy and him together? Hell no that would not work.
"I was more thinking you could work with me, but I'm liking your idea better now." Callen replied the smirk in full swing now. He knew it would never have crossed Deeks mind for them to work together. They were too alike to be good partners in field. They both filled the same roles in their current partnerships.
"Callen." Deeks whined trying to make his eyes go as big as a puppy's, hoping that his friend wouldn't do that to him.
"Deeks." Callen replied in exactly the same tone before relenting. He wasn't that mean, plus he liked working with Sam. He wasn't sure if he could cope with Kensi fulltime. "Don't worry I won't do it."
"Thank you." Deeks breathed in relief. He never could be sure when Callen was joking about things like that. He wouldn't put anything past him.
With that the two men settled into a quiet dinner, Callen making sure the conversation flowed easily and stayed away from any serious topics.
It wasn't until Deeks started yawning that he realised how late it was. And the fact that G was still there with him. He wondered if he was going to go now, and he couldn't help himself feeling a little worried about that. The previous night he had only been able to sleep when G had been there, and he wasn't sure if he was ready to try on his own again. Not that he was going to say that aloud. He wasn't about to show the older man his weakness.
"Thanks for dinner G. It was good of you to come round, but I think I should go to bed now so-" He started to say, not wanting to sound rude, but also not wanting Callen to know he wanted him to stay.
"Okay." Callen replied before settling down in the same chair he had slept in the night before and pulling his book once more from his pocket and opening it, in a way that clearly said he wasn't going anywhere.
"Okay." Deeks muttered in response. He wasn't sure why G was staying, but he wasn't going to question it. He had got what he wanted without saying a word. Result. Therefore he stood and made his way to the bathroom to get ready for bed before sticking his head once more through the door to the livingroom.
"Night G."
"Goodnight Marty." Callen replied smiling up at him with a nod before turning back to his book as if it was the most interesting thing he had ever read, even if the truth was he was listening to every sound the younger man made. Wanting to make sure he was okay and that he did indeed fall asleep. That was why he was here after all. To make sure Marty Deeks was good.
And so the two settled down, Deeks falling asleep a lot quicker than he thought he would, and few hours later Callen moving from the chair to stretch out on the couch and close his own eyes. He needed some rest as well.
It was not until the early hours of the morning that Callen was pulled from sleep by something. He moved without thought, grabbing his gun which he had stashed under the cushion as he listened to see what it was that had awoken him. But when he heard the noise again he lowered his weapon. Because what had woken him was whimpering and movement coming from Marty's room. It looked like the kid was having a nightmare. Callen had seen plenty of them in his time when he was in foster care, and he only knew one way to help someone through it. With that thought he stood and made his way to the bedroom of Marty's apartment.
Deeks was back there. He was standing watching his dad beat his mom, and then he turned to him, screaming abuse as he raised his fist bringing to down against his cheek sending him flying. He tried to stand only to have his dad's foot hit him in the chest as he cried out in pain. He went to grab the gun, the one that would save him, but it wasn't there. Nothing would save him this time. He was going to die… but before his dad could cause any more pain Deeks found himself suddenly feeling a warmth wrap around him. A strong yet comforting presence that he knew would always keep him save. Nothing could hurt him now.
Callen was sitting on Deeks bed holding him in his arms hoping it would help him. He knew better than to shake the guy awake, he would no doubt come round fighting, but hopefully this would work as it had done for the other kids he had helped years ago. Hopefully he would be able to get through to Marty's sleeping mind and give him the comfort he needed.
Deeks blinked his eyes open to find himself staring at a chest. A chest which was definitely male. Bending his head back he found the chest was connected to the body of G Callen. Well now, this was embarrassing.
"Umm G, not that I'm not flattered, but I really don't think of you that way." He managed to get out, smirking as best he could while trying to hide his embarrassment at the realisation that it was Callen holding him that had pulled him from his nightmare.
"Good to know." Callen replied smiling gently as he slowly lowered his arms, though he didn't completely remove them. He wanted to make sure Marty really was okay and not just putting up a front.
Once he could pull away Deeks moved to sit up, leaning against the headboard so he could try and get his breathing under control. He hadn't even realised that it was elevated until then. Damn he hated those memories, nightmares, whatever you wanted to call them. He hadn't had the in years.
"Want to talk about it?" Callen asked as he moved so he was sitting next to Deeks, their shoulders touching so he still had some connection to the younger man, hoping it would help ground him.
"Not really. I haven't had these since I went to law school." Deeks replied with a self-deprecating shake of his head. Damn why was he so weak? Why couldn't he just shake this off as he always had done? What the hell was wrong with him?
"It's okay you know. To have nightmares. Why do you think I hardly sleep?" Callen said into the quiet of the night knowing exactly what was going through Marty's mind and wanting to make sure he knew that this was not his fault, and there was nothing wrong or weak from needing help. Okay Callen was well aware he himself never asked for it, but hey no one was perfect.
"Insomnia is sounding pretty good right now." Deeks chuckled bumping his shoulder against the older man to let him know he had heard and understood what it was he was saying, even if he hadn't said the words.
"Trust me, it's not all it's cracked up to be. For some reason Sam gets pissed when I take apart his toaster and practise my Russian in the middle of the night." Callen replied smirking as he remembered the time he had stayed with Sam and his family for an extended amount of time. Looking back he could see Hetty was right that he needed his own place, if for no other reason than to give Sam a break once in-a-while.
At that Deeks laughed properly. He could just imagine how Sam had taken G doing that. In fact he wished he had seen his reaction to waking up to finding his toaster in bits.
"Alright. Even I need some sleep, so back to it." Callen said once Deeks had gone quiet. The other man nodded in agreement and then waited, expecting G to move from his bed and back to his couch, therefore he was somewhat surprised that all the older man did was relax down so he was lying on the outside of the bed, the part closest to the door.
"Umm Callen, what ya doing?" He asked cautiously not sure what was happening here, and not sure what he should do about it.
"Going to sleep. You should try it." Callen replied opening one eye as he raised his eyebrow at the younger man. There was no way he was leaving him to sleep on his own to have more nightmares. If he was there he could hopefully head them off sooner rather than later.
"but-" Deeks started to say only to be interrupted by the man who now had both his eyes closed and was lying in a relaxed position.
"Your bed is much comfier than the couch. Now sleep, before I knock you out." Callen said in a tone which let Deeks know he would do it too, therefore Deeks did the only thing he could. He moved back under his covers and closed his eyes. This had to be the weirdest experience ever, was the last thought that went through his mind before he quickly drifted back off to sleep, his subconscious safe in the knowledge that G was there and he wouldn't let anything hurt him.
