Kensi pressed the ice pack to the back of her head, letting the cold numb the niggling pain that had been building up since her conversation with Steve.

'You think they were looking for the footage you had me review?' Kensi asked, wincing slightly as she moved her mouth.

'It's definitely a possibility.'

'What I want to know is how the bastard knows where I live, and who he sent to do his dirty work. From what I know about Wo Fat, he doesn't seem like the kind to skulk around in a bad ninja costume.'

Steve sighed in frustration. 'You're right. He usually sends others to do his dirty work, but he went to Joe personally. Listen I'll look into Wo Fat's movements down this end.'

'I'll try and see if I can establish a timeline or something from surveillance footage,' Kensi added.

'Hey I'm sorry about this.'

Kensi rolled her eyes. 'Were you the one who broke into my apartment?'

'If I was in your apartment, it'll be because I was invited in,' Steve responded and Kensi had to blink, wondering if she had heard right. Finally letting out a little chuckle, she promised to check back with him the next day via video conference.

'What about down there?' Eric mumbled, fingers flying over the control pad in his hands. Kensi narrowed her gaze, taking in the enhanced figure on screen.

'No I think that's just a guy who really likes black,' she said. 'It's like he knew where the cameras were outside my building. Which means he was watching me…'

How did I miss that? I'm sure I didn't see anyone.

'Are you sure it was a guy?' Nell posed.

'Right. Because women can be just as deadly too,' Eric agreed hurridly.

Something tickled the back of her memory. 'Whoever broke in…they felt soft. Too soft. Like they didn't work out enough to be considered professional. And she was rather short, a few inches off me…'

'I could run a matrix to search anyone within those height parameters but-'

'It'd be a waste of time. I know,' Kensi bit out, letting the ice pack drop away from her head. 'Dammit.' She looked up to see both Eric and Nell eyeing her cautiously, both exchanging a quick glance before Eric spoke up.

'Does this have any connection with your friend in Hawaii?'

'That is an excellent question Mr Beale,' Hetty chipped in from the door. Sam, Callen and Deeks stood behind the diminutive woman. Kensi straightened her shoulders in defense. 'Well Ms Blye?'

'Guys I'm getting an incoming transmission from Hawaii,' Eric announced, allowing Kensi's shoulders to slip down slightly.

'Hey you okay?' Deeks asked, startling Kensi. He noticed the way her fingers clenched over the ice pack as she answered.

'I'm fine.'

Deeks, of course, had been expecting no less. Kensi was notoriously stubborn about admitting weakness in front of anyone, least of all the men she worked with. He had seen the way she had acted around Nate when the psychologist had briefly come back, saw some of the hardness soften at the edges. It had made him jealous of the lean man, made Deeks wonder what was it about Nate that made Kensi let down her guard so easily.

The screen in front bloomed to life, revealing two figures next to what looked like a computer mounted into a table. Deeks spotted Joe White immediately, the older man already staring straight at his partner.

'Ms Lange,' one of the men spoke, arms crossed. Deeks recognized the voice, took in the cropped hair and noticeable biceps straining against the thin black shirt.

'Would you mind informing me precisely what you have gotten my agent into Cdr McGarrett?' Hetty posed, the barely concealed irritation colouring her words.

'Hetty-'

'It's alright Agent Blye,' Steve interrupted. Kensi shifted away from Deeks, leaned down to whisper something into Hetty's ear. The older woman appeared visibly startled for a moment, staring up at Kensi, before turning to address the room.

'Would you mind giving us the room gentlemen, Ms Jones?'

Deeks opened his mouth to protest, gaping when Callen agreed willingly.

'What? Are you kidding me? Someone breaks into my partner's-'

'C'mon Shaggy,' Sam tugged Deeks towards the door roughly. 'And don't think I've forgotten about the steak McGarrett.'

Steve's laugh was the last thing Deeks heard before being promptly manhandled down the stairs. Pulling his sleeve free rather pointedly, Deeks gave both Sam and Callen a look that bordered on betrayal.

'Okay. Explain to me what just happened.'

'What happened is us obeying Hetty's orders.'

Deeks blinked. 'This is Kensi guys.'

'Girl's got secrets she doesn't want us to know,' Sam said, shrugging his shoulders.

'But as her friends we should be encouraging some kind of environment where-'

'Deeks,' Callen's tone was cutting, blue eyes serious as he looked at the younger man. 'If Kensi wants us to know what's happening, she'll tell us. Otherwise we don't push her. Alright?'

For some reason, Deeks got the feeling that there was something that he was missing. He noticed the subtle glance Sam shared with Callen, as if they had an inkling about what had prompted Kensi to seek out Joe White and remain entangled in Steve McGarrett's affairs.

'Whatever,' Deeks muttered mutinously, not caring if he came across as childish. He parked himself in Kensi's desk chair, careful not to disturb anything as he fixed his eyes on the staircase that led up to Eric and Nell's sanctuary.

Either way, he was getting some kind of answer whether Kensi liked it or not.

Sorry about the late update! And that it was so short! I've been overseas and just got back. The next one won't be as long, promise!