San Diego, California
"Where are they?" Kensi muttered while pacing in front of Deeks. Both agents stood in a one room apartment on the outskirts of the city. A contact of Hetty's had allowed them to use the apartment as a meeting place, no questions asked. Kensi and Deeks hadn't expected to beat Callen, Sam, Nell, and Eric to San Diego, especially when they wait until the area was clear of police to get back to their car.
"Relax, Kens. Don't panic yet," Deeks told her softly while leaning against a dining table's edge. He was too relaxed for Kensi's liking.
"This is unusual, Deeks. Something isn't right-"
Deeks shrugged, his gaze locked on a window. "I know. I'm just trying to be the optimistic one."
"It doesn't suit you."
"Well, panic doesn't suit you." They both chuckled before Deeks focused back on the window. His eyes were starting to droop from him being up for nearly seventy two hours.
"Rest, Deeks. You look exhausted-"
"I am exhausted. I haven't been sleeping very well." The probationary agent yawned, ignoring the fact that he was slowly sliding sideways, about to fall onto the floor.
"Well then, rest," Kensi answered. She sat in a chair near the bed before her cell phone rang. She turned on the speaker and answered , " Hello?"
"It's Callen," the voice on the other end said. Deeks and Kensi exchanged nervous looks before Deeks asked, "Hey, where are you guys? Kensi's getting worried." He grunted when he received an elbow jab from his partner.
"We're actually still in Los Angeles," Callen's voice seemed oddly relaxed amongst the noise in the background. To Deeks, it sounded like police sirens. "Did you guys make it safe?" the lead agent asked.
"Yeah, we've been here for about thirty minutes," Kensi said, "Callen, what's going on?"
Callen paused before answering, "Somehow Granger and LAPD magically put two-and-two together and figured out that you two were in that parking lot when the bomb went off. I don't know how they got to that conclusion that fast- it's only been about two and a half hours."
Through careful listening, Deeks could also hear people talking in the background, one of the voices sounding similar to Sam's. "Sounds like you have some company, Callen," he said.
Callen let out a loud annoyed sigh. "Sam and some friendly LAPD officers are having a chat right now. We barely made it out of the city before we were pulled over. This is the first time I've been able to freely chat all day. We aren't going to make it because people are starting to really get suspicious of this team. Deeks, I think you found something that's more than just a domestic issue."
Deeks winced at the comment before asking, "How big are we talking? Give us the quick version."
"Well, it appears that someone with French ties has infiltrated NCIS. From what the little Nell and Eric were able to decipher, we found that someone has been sending encrypted messages regarding US' current military research, mainly for the Navy."
Kensi asked. "Has this been going on for a while?"
" Yes- that's all we know."
"Ok- so the documents were in French," Deeks said to Kensi, "The possibilities of who could have done this are endless."
"Yeah and it would take anywhere from a few months to years to investigate all those possibilities. Callen, going back to the bombing-"
"LAPD is looking to speak with you as persons of interest. I'm worried that if LAPD and Granger have you guys in their sights, it'll be hard as hell to get out."
That's not good. Deeks stood up and walked over to the window he had been staring at earlier. Before him, San Diego looked so peaceful, the complete opposite of what was going on in his life. "What do you need us to do, Callen?"
"Stay put. LAPD was told that you two are on a mission and can't return until the end of the week. Within the agency, Hetty's going to fend off Granger the best she can. In the meanwhile, Nell and Eric are going to decode as fast as they can while Sam and I hunt down Lyons. Stay out of sight- We'll give you the heads up when it's clear."
"Understood. Stay safe." Deeks hung up and turned to Kensi. "What now?" he asked. Kensi rubbed her neck with both hands while closing the shades for all the windows. She shrugged and answered, "I'll call Hetty's contact and see if he can get us some food and water. In the meantime, we can go over the case and information that can help with your NCIS training."
"Well before we do that, can we do naptime 101?" Deeks sat on the bed and closed his eyes. Kensi smiled at him before turning around to complete the call.
2 Days Later
They hadn't heard a word.
In the two days since their phone call with Callen, Deeks and Kensi hadn't received any word from their team mates. It left both wondering what was going on at OSP- was everything going as normal or was half the team in prison? While waiting, Kensi and Deeks had spent the time reviewing over the case and running through NCIS "training" for Deeks' benefit.
Now both agents were sitting on the bed; an irritable Kensi sat with her arms around her legs and Deeks was lying on his back at the edge of the bed.
"I think I'm going to lose my mind. I can't stay in this house anymore! " Kensi exclaimed, burring her head underneath her jacket. Deeks snorted, "Now you're going crazy? "
"Don't push it, Deeks!"
He groaned and brushed his hair from his eyes. "How about you shoot and put me out of misery of boredom?"
"Don't tempt me!"
"Come lay down by me, then," Deeks called out. Kensi hesitated before lying on her side next to Deeks. "Alright, I'm down. Now what?"
"Close your eyes."
"Deeks, what is this?"
"Trust me," Deeks looked Kensi in the eye, " This is the only way that I've been able to get through the week. Just do as I say, ok?"
"Alright." The brunette laid on her back and closed her eyes. "What next, Dr. Phil?"
"Ha. Just imagine us on a beach-"
"-Us?"
"Um, separate beaches, but if you wanted to be together- you know what? Just follow along- ok, we're on a beach for like a vacation, you know. I'm shirtless and you're in a smoking bikini-" He paused, expecting Kensi to protest at his comment, but heard nothing. She was smiling and following along, enjoying the moment of peace.
"Ok, now-" Suddenly, they both heard the front door open and close. Both turned over and whipped out their weapons, aiming at the doorway. A second of silence passed before they saw Eric slowly step into the doorway and say, "Hey, it's just me."
Deeks sighed and placed his weapon on the bed. "Nearly gave me a heart attack. By the way, it's about time you showed. Kensi was starting to go a little mad."
"Ignore him," Kensi responded, "Where's Callen and Sam?"
"Still in LA. Things are getting seriously tense back home, guys. On top of that," Eric handed Kensi and Deeks files, "we found Lyons."
