The team had gathered once again back in the OPS room, revising their current case's situation. It was clear that they had started from scratch and they went back to that right away.

"Okay, so... we know that the victim wasn't the patient man"

"What we don't know is what he had done to get him killed"

"So, let's go back.. he has an encounter with one of his colleague but about what...?"

"That's still undiscovered"

"Okay, then let's discover it. Me and Sam will head back to the base and Deeks, you go stake out the house again. And, Kensi..."

"She can come with me..." Deeks interrupted, catching everyone's attention by his words. He looked straight to Kensi, who was practically speechless.

"Kens...?" Callen asked.

"Oh, yeah... sure"

"All right... let's go" Sam commented, as they all walked out of the OPS room together. Deeks and Kensi were in front while Sam and Callen were right behind them, glancing at each other as they smiled happily. They had hoped that something would trigger the flame in between Kensi and Deeks' partnership and the fire seemed to have started. From right above them, Hetty smiled as she saw them walking together out of the safe house. She too wanted for everything to go back to the way it was and even though she was positive that Deeks had a serious long way ahead of recovery, she was hopeful that everything will work out.

"You didn't have to do that back there" Kensi said, just as they were driving their way back to the house.

"Why not... there was practically nothing for you to do and you'd have ended at the bullpen alone"

"Good point..."

Deeks drove a few more meters in silence before hearing Kensi asking...

"Hey, do you mind if I ask you something?"

"Of course, sure"

"Um, why did you you comment on me being... glowy?"

"Glowy... is that even a word?"

"Come on, you know what I mean"

"I don't know... just an observation I guess. And, it's not too hard to notice. You practically light up every time your phone rings, you clearly have changed your hair... now if that's for work then keep it up but I know it's not"

"And how would you know that?"

"Because, I know you" Deeks replied, glancing slightly at her for a second, later getting his eyes back to the road. Kensi smiled, looking back to the window.

"Are we okay... Deeks?" Kensi whispered.

Deeks sighed slowly, turning his head the other way from her.

"I hope so..."

Kensi shrugged, looking down to her hands.

Arriving to the house, they both got out of the car and walked slowly towards it. Suddenly, as they were approaching, Kensi heard some clutter from the back and she signaled Deeks to cover her while she checks it out. Clutching the gun to her hand, Kensi walked by the side of the house, looking to every side just to make sure nobody jumps her. As she approached closer to the backyard, Kensi saw a small figure, wearing on over- sized black hoodie looking through the window and in a split second, she walked around the corner and shouted...

"Freeze"

Clearly shocked, the figure turn around and ran quickly to the other side.

"Deeks, cover the exit" Kensi shouted.

She ran quickly after him, but as soon as he got to the front yard, Deeks was fast enough to grab him from the jacket, giving him a sudden halt.

"Got him...?" Kensi asked, as she approached closer to them both.

"Yeah... he's a kid" Deeks replied, as he pulled down the hood and he could see the face more clearly. When she got a good view, Kensi looked up to Deeks in a confused look.

In the meantime, Callen and Sam had arrived back to the base.

"Excuse me, we're looking for Sergeant Harold Forl" Callen asked one of the Marines, holding out his badge.

"Yeah, he just got in. He's over with the snipers"

"All right, thanks" Sam replied, as they walked away. The base was surrounded by military jeeps and guns and tents. It served as a quick hang out for all the soldiers.

"Excuse me, are you Sergeant Harold Forl?"

"Yes sir... may I ask who's asking?"

"NCIS... we're investigating Sergeant Henry Messer's death"

"Yeah, I heard about that. What a shame"

"We have an in tell saying that you two might have had an argument a few weeks ago"

"Yes, sir"

"May we ask what was it about?"

"I don't think it's in my jurisdiction to tell you, sir"

"And why's that?"

"It was kind of personal, sir"

"Yeah, well... we're dealing with an investigation here so we have to gather every piece of information"

Harold sighed deeply before answering.

"All right, a few weeks ago... we were all suppose to be stationed back in Iran but stuff happened and it was called off. Before we all headed home, Henry was always thinking that his wife was cheating on him and I, knowing how Helen would never do that to him, I started telling him that he was imagining it and how he was making a big deal out of nothing. Then, he started shouting and we got into a fight, sort of"

"And, what made him think that his wife was cheating on him?"

"I don't know what spooked him. He always was bringing up stuff that was later proved not to be truth. We practically wouldn't listen to him anymore"

"So, he thought that his wife was cheating on him and when he heard that someone wronged him, he just flipped out"

"Exactly, sir"

"Did he have any enemies, maybe someone who would want to kill him?"

"Don't we all? But, on the other hand, Henry was kind of a difficult man to work with"

"And, why's that?"

"He was very ruthless and not the patient man"

Callen glanced at Sam and after saluting Harold, they made their way to the car again.

Back at the boat shed, Kensi and Deeks were watching the kid on the screen as he sat patiently inside the interrogating room.

"Joshua Meilek, 14... parents died three years ago. He's been living with a foster family down in Oak for the past year"

"Wow, 14... no parents. It must be tough"

"I'm so glad that Callen is not here right now"

"Yeah, me too"

"So, ready to do this?"

"Ready as I will ever be"

"Just like old times" Deeks whispered, making Kensi glance at him from underneath and smiling.

As they walked inside the room, Joshua pulled his head up and then, back down.

"All right, Joshua. Why don't you tell us why were you at the house?"

Joshua looked up once again without saying a word. He kept staring at Kensi with is big brown eyes, trying to read what she really wanted from him.

"Where are your foster parents, Joshua?"

He pulled up his shoulders and yet again, he looked down.

"Are they at work?"

Silence...

"If you don't tell us, we have sources to find out from. And if they find out, I think you might be in real trouble"

"So... they just send me back. It's not the first time" he managed to say. Kensi sighed, leaning back against the chair. She looked up to Deeks who was right behind her, hands crossed over to his chest, watching closely Joshua's reaction.

"Listen, buddy... all we want to know is why you were at the house, that's it"

"What will you do if I tell you?"

"That depends what you tell us"

Joshia sighed and moved his eyes up, not wanting to make eye contact, neither look down again.

"Do you know who lives there?"

"Yes..."

"And do you know what happened?"

"Yes..."

"Then, will you tell us what do you have to do with this?"

Joshia sighed before answering...

"Megan is my friend..."

"Okay... what else?"

"I also know her brother, Mark..."

Kensi didn't say anything, just let him finish.

"She had asked me to meet up with him yesterday, let him know about something"

"Let him know about what?"

"I can't say..."

"All right... why did she ask you to do it? Couldn't she speak with her brother herself?"

"Because she was afraid her mother would find out"

Kensi noodled, still looking straight towards him. Joshua, sniffled and leaned back to the chair, playing with the hem of his jacket.

"I think I'll like to call my parents now"

"Of course..." Kensi replied, standing up. Deeks walked behind her as they made their way out.

"So, what do you think?" Deeks asked.

"Either he's lying or, we need to talk with both Megan and her mom"

"Think she has something to do with this?"

"Yeah, I figure. Something was going on if she was afraid her mother would find out"

Deeks nodded.

In about an hour or so, Kensi and Deeks drove back to the safe house, after Joshua was picked up from the boat shed. Sam and Callen were already at the bull pen, waiting for them.

"Hey, what did you find?" Callen asked.

"Apparently, Megan had asked a certain boy named Joshua Meilak, which was lurking around the house, to deliver some kind of message to her brother"

"What message?" Sam asked.

"He wouldn't say. He just told us that Megan didn't want her mom to find out"

"So, it has to do with her mom?"

"Possibly, I don't know"

Callen sighed and leaned against his chair.

"All right... so, this all kinds of add up to the daughter. No wonder she was so freaked out this morning"

The four of them just sat in their chairs, trying to figure out something else about the motive of the murder. But, when they saw that it was getting pretty late, they all got prepared to head home.

Feeling as if everything had taken a turn to the worst, Deeks headed towards his favorite bar before he headed home. It felt like forever since he had gone over there, always thinking that if he did, he would do something he'll regret.

After ordering a beer from the bartender, Deeks scooped around the place, getting a view of every each corner. His eyes wandered off up until he thought he saw Kensi coming in through the door. He looked closer to confirm it was her and once he got a clear view, he was sure. Smiling to himself, he stood up from the chair and was about to approach to her when he saw another man sitting beside her and she him a kiss on the cheek. Watching that in front of him, Deeks stared at them a little while longer before walking out again, leaving his beer onto a table. He didn't know why he was feeling that way, possibly because in his mind, he was still seeing Kensi as the hardcore woman he has always known. He thought that she would never let her guards down that easy. Glancing back, he saw her practically melting at the touch of the man's hand on her arm. Feeling hurt, Deeks continued his way out of there.

"So, how do you know about this place?" Kensi asked.

"A buddy of mine told me about it"

"Oh, really?"

"What, you don't like it?"

"No, it's not that. It just reminds me of someone" Kensi responded. She knew that Deeks used to hang there all the time, mainly to scope around for chick but still... she was feeling a bit awkward knowing she was there with someone else other than Deeks.

"Should I be worried about that?"

"Not really... should I be worried about you?"

"Why is that?"

"Because I could see practically every woman staring at you"

"What can I say, I'm a catch"

"Wow, brag much"

"What you don't think it's true?"

"Maybe..."

"What do you say we get out of here and I'll prove it to you?" he said, starting to move closer to her.

"Um, moving a bit too fast, are we?"

"Well, how fast are you implying?" he responded, kissing her neck.

"Seriously, Phil... stop" Kensi said, pulling away again. She heard him sighing, finally realizing the reason why he wanted to meet with her. "Uh, I think I better head home. I have work tomorrow'

"What, already?"

"Yeah, I call you"

"Would you stay at least for one more drink?"

"I don't think so... bye"

Phil scoffed and replied... "Bye" in the most obnoxious voice she had ever known. Before opening up the door, Kensi looked back and saw that he had already moved on to someone else. She scowled and opened up the door viciously, almost slamming it to the wall.

From a distance, Deeks was still in his car, parked just a few meters away. He didn't know why he stayed there but when he saw Kensi walked out angry, he was glad he did. He saw her approaching her car and later, revving the engine down to the road, clearly noting that she was pissed. Deeks couldn't help but smirk, thinking that he might still have a chance after all.