Deeks awoke up with the sun and quickly dressed up his clothes and walked to the kitchen to see if anyone was awake already. Zak and Mimi were.

"Good morning, people."

"Good morning, niño." Mimi said.

It took her four days to change Deeks' treatment from señor to niño. In fact, that's all he is; he seems to be an older brother or an Uncle for those kids. And Deeks didn't mind a bit with that treatment. He knew that around the kids, he behaves almost like them sometimes.

"Good morning, Marty." Zak also said, finishing the bowl of cereals.

"Mimi, can you give us a second?"

"Of course." The housekeeper answered leaving the kitchen.

"I'm sorry, Marty… For what I've been doing..." The boy apologized, not raising the eyes.

"It's okay, Zak. I know it's been tough."

Zak put the spoon inside the bowl and looked at Deeks. "Is it really true that your dad beat you?"

"Yes, buddy." Deeks answered, taking a seat next to him. "It's true. Kensi told you, didn't she?" Zak only nodded, responding to his question. "Did that talking with her helped in something?"

"A little bit." Zak started eating again. "I thought you didn't understand me… but I guess you do."

"I understand you a little bit, yeah. But I think Kensi knows better. She was very attached to her dad and she lost him too soon too. It tore her apart." Seeing that Zak had finished his breakfast and they were finally having a conversation after four days, Deeks suggested. "Want a ride to school?"

"Thanks. I didn't feel like taking the bus today." Zak spoke, grabbing the school bag.

"Be ready for a tough day. People will be over you all day."

"I know. That's why I didn't feel like taking the bus. I don't feel like being with a lot of people right in the morning."

The two were leaving for the car and Deeks picked up the phone to call Kensi and tell her that he was the one who'll give her a ride. Mimi smiled with what she sees; the two of them may have started to understand each other. In just an hour, Mimi was taking the two girls to daycare, keeping Logan and Maggie's wish of having their kids being around with other kids even though they had someone to take care of them all day.

"Hi, Kens. I'm taking Zak to school and then I pass by and pick you up, okay?"

"Alright. It's actually better because I slept in and your call awoke me up!"

"Ah, that's me, doing community work! See you twenty. Bye"

"Bye."

Zak noticed the smile on Deeks face after he talked with Kensi, making him ask. "You already knew her back then? Back when her dad died? Because you said it tore her down…"

"No. I just met her three years ago and last year we investigated her father's death because ever since she was fifteen, she didn't believe her father's death was accidental, so she went to investigate. And that was when I saw how much it hurt her all those years."

"What happened?" Zak asked once again as they were already in the car.

"He was murdered. The accident was just a cover up."

"She seems to be nice. Yet, yesterday I thought she was… tough!"

"That's who she is. She has this shield protecting her, but she's amazing. Maybe one day I invite her to have dinner with us and you'll see how great she is. Is that okay with you?"

"Yeah. I'd like to meet her better. But, can you invite Lily for dinner tonight?"

"Sure, buddy. I'll give a call to Mimi to take care of that. Here, we arrived." Deeks stretched his hand to Zak. "Have a good day, mate."

Zak gave him a handshake, saying with a smile. "Thanks… You too."

When Zak left the car, Deeks got his eyes on him until he vanished among his friends and then he rested his head on the wheel. That talking took a huge burden off Deeks' back. He needed to take things slowly with him.

"I see things are going better between you and Zak. For you to take him to school…" Kensi said when she entered the car.

"And all thanks to you. It was good for him to see that he's not the only one who had been through that kind of situation."

"Well then, glad I could help."

"And, he wants you to have dinner some day." Kensi frowned, looking at Deeks. "He wants to meet you. He said you seem nice."

"That's unexpected, but I accept it."

"You don't have another way other than that. Consider this a payback for the dinners at your mothers to which you take me."

"Oh, please! You lick your fingers after eating and say you love my mother!"

"Oh, well, no argument in there. Your mother is an excellent cook! And she's a nice lady, who gave birth to a ninja like you!" Kensi smacked him on the shoulder and Deeks said in a groan. "That was supposed to be a compliment. For both of you!"

"Compliment accepted, then." Kensi said, smiling.

"Well, but now I retrieve it for the shoulder smack!" She smacked him again on the shoulder. "Ouch! I'm driving, okay? And what did I do this time?"

"You retrieved the compliment!"

"Fine, I gave it back to you. Just… just don't smack me again!" He said, stopping across the street of the coffee shop.

Kensi grinned and got off the car while both were going to get a coffee. "Oh, and everyone at the OSP already knows about… pretty much everything."

"You told them? Worst, Hetty told them?"

"No. A social services guy came to interview us all."

"Why?"

"To know if you're up to the task of keeping them. I thought you were smarter than that, Mr. Lawyer!"

Deeks sat on his desk, dragging the chair closer to Sam. "Three days away made you forget where is your desk?" Sam mumbled seeing Deeks from the corner of the eye. "Or forget about boundaries?"

"What can I do get a kid's trust?"

"Take the kid somewhere nice, like the park, the zoo or the beach. Talk with the kid but give him his time."

"Counseling could be good too." Callen commented, flipping the newspaper page.

"For you and the kids." Kensi added, entering the conversation as well.

"I don't recall asking for your opinions!" Deeks said.

"But they're right, Deeks. You and the kids could use some sessions with a psychologist."

"I know a great psychologist, if you want his number, Mr. Deeks." Hetty spoke, showing up. "Now, upstairs. Mr. Jones and Mr. Beal will give you details on this assignment."

Sam, Callen and Kensi were going upstairs but Deeks stood behind, asking Hetty. "Can I leave for about an hour? Around 3 P.M. Today the social services are going to the house and I don't mean to start giving bad impressions by changing the visit's hour."

"Of course, Mr. Deeks. As long as you come back as soon as possible."

"That won't be a problem, Hetty. Thanks."

"Now, upstairs!" She ordered.

Next chapter is major in Densi. Just warning...!