Note: I know, long time, no updating. My apologies, I'm going to have to blame real life and leave it at that. I hope to be back on track with regularly updating. As always, thanks goes to MioneAlterEgo for the beta read. If you're still with me and this story thanks for reading, and reviewing if you do! With my horribly long hiatus from updating I appreciated the encouragement and enthusiasm for this story. Thank you.
"Justin, you need to watch where you're going."
Kensi looked up at the soft, teasing voice, her gaze settling on the young barista who had come around from behind the counter with towels to help clean up the lake of brown mocha and green latte puddling around Kensi. She watched silently as the woman, "Ronnie" as her nametag identified her, began to quickly and efficiently soak up the liquid on the floor.
Glancing over at Justin Griffin, who was looking at her worriedly, Kensi met his eyes and watched with interest as he averted his gaze from her, his blush of embarrassment deepening at Ronnie's words and he knelt down and silently helped her with the clean up. Those few minutes gave Kensi the time she needed to focus her thoughts and decide on a course of action.
Being surprised and a little unsettled was part of her job, part of what she'd been trained for. She'd felt an initial flare of apprehension, thinking back to the suitcases full of clothes at the house, the clothes that helped define who Angela Coleman was. Kensi knew the clothes were only a small touch of what made an undercover alias believable. But they were an important part. No cover could be sold completely without the whole package being believed. And Kensi, out for a jog in simple exercise clothes that probably fit her more than they did Angela Coleman in all her career woman, independent record label businesswoman glory, had to switch gears quickly to her alias.
Studying Justin out of the corner of her eye as she tried to blot some of the liquid from her clothes, Kensi realized he wasn't quite what she'd expected. Former Marines usually carried themselves a certain way. Once a Marine, always a Marine. There was usually that confidence, that knowledge that they could take on the world and were the best at what they did.
But then she'd also seen the effects of Marines nearly broken by the experience of combat. The results of PTSD could be as different person to person as fingerprints were. Crouched to clean up the flood, Justin seemed to almost recede inward, his posture stooped as though he were attempting to take up as little space as possible. But as he stood to his full height, dwarfing Kensi and Ronnie the barista, Kensi saw a hint of the ingrained strength present in every Marine.
He tried to hide it, keeping his eyes downcast and away, but Kensi also saw the calculation in his gaze. He looked around, sweeping the room and cataloguing the exits and the safest places in the room. It was typical soldier behavior to be prepared, but also typical PTSD behavior to always be on the look out for an attack, to always be on alert and ready to move.
"I really am sorry, ma'am, I'll pay to have your clothes cleaned—"
Griffin's voice was surprisingly soft as he apologized. And Kensi watched him as he spoke to her, watched as his eyes were on Ronnie, not on her. And Kensi pressed her lips together to hide her smile, seeing the entreaty on his face, understanding that his embarrassment had very little to do with her.
Swinging her curious gaze towards Ronnie, Kensi took in the young barista quickly, making the conclusions and assessments that were a part of her job. Late twenties, short and spiky red hair which, based on her pale complexion, was her natural hair color. Brown eyes behind clunky glasses, average height, curvy in that way that was bound to draw appreciative male attention. A nose ring and a tattoo on her inner wrist completed the package that hinted at something of a rebel. But then Ronnie gave Kensi an apologetic smile, pulling her back towards the counter, and Kensi concluded the young barista couldn't be entirely rough around the edges.
"You had a green tea soy latte and a triple espresso caramel mocha, right? Let me get those started for you."
"And they're on me," Justin said promptly from Kensi's left where he'd followed the two women, looking at Kensi nervously.
"That's really not necessary—" Kensi started.
"Yes, it is," Justin replied, his tone allowing no further argument. From behind the counter, Ronnie rolled her eyes, her smile toning the gesture down to merely teasing.
"It really isn't, Justin. I can make the drinks again, no problem. You don't have to worry about paying for them. We sort of have a spillage drink replacement policy here anyway. If you can't make it away from the premises without dropping your drink then we'll make it again."
Kensi smiled at Ronnie, unable to discern if the barista was speaking the truth or making up the so-called policy just to make Griffin feel better. Either way it seemed to work, with Justin visibly relaxing. There was something there, something flirty but also sweetly caring, between the cheerful barista and the damaged Marine. Kensi filed the thought away, knowing it could come in handy later. Justin glanced at Kensi, shifting from one foot to the other nervously.
"It looks like you jogged here? Please let me give you a ride home," Justin said, the pleading in his voice pulling at Kensi. He seemed so worried about having insulted her, or having Ronnie see him as treating her badly, if his repeated glances at the young woman were any indication. And Kensi knew that Griffin was a murder suspect. Deeks would go through the roof if he knew she'd accepted a ride from him. But she didn't really see any way around it at this stage. Not if she wanted to establish something of a rapport with the Griffin rather than make him increasingly agitated around her later when he showed up to fix their house and came face to face with her again.
Keeping that in mind, Kensi smiled and nodded, accepting the offer. This was part of what they did, encountering the unexpected during a mission and changing it around to suit what they needed it to. Disadvantages could be turned on their head.
"That would be nice, thanks. My husband and I are new to town so I was just jogging in the area and saw this cute café," Kensi said as Ronnie returned with two fresh cups of hot drinks to go.
"Well, coffee spilled down your front notwithstanding, we are a very welcoming community," Ronnie said with a wink at Justin. As the man winced Ronnie reached out and gave him a gentle shove in the shoulder. "Relax, Justin! She's not the coffee police! Accidents happen, stop beating yourself up."
Although her tone had started out teasing, by the end there'd been a hint of soft seriousness. And Kensi saw the concern in Ronnie's eyes as she looked at Justin, which he missed since he was looking away with embarrassment. There was an undercurrent of caring in the young woman's eyes, as if she were more than just casually interested. Kensi thought back to the moment when Griffin had collided with her, examined every second and moment up to the impact. And she remembered then that there had been a loud crash just the few seconds before as one of the waiters dropped an empty tray on the floor.
It had seemed completely innocuous at the time, but now, looking back, Kensi had to wonder if the sound had startled Griffin, had triggered a memory from combat. It wouldn't have been hard to mistake the clattering of the tray for weapon's fire. Far away and long ago weapons fire from a memory, but still real in Justin's head. And it explained how he might have momentarily lost his bearings on his surroundings and run unto her. And somehow, if Ronnie's response and obvious efforts to smooth things over and calm Justin were examined closer, the young woman knew something of his condition. And she cared enough to look out for him. Ronnie turned back to Kensi, curiosity in her eyes.
"You're new to town? I hope you like the coffee and come back soon. I'm Ronnie, and in addition to serving kick ass coffee we also offer some nice musical events here weekly, including performances by yours truly, and your coffee assaulter here, Justin."
Kensi couldn't help but smile, shaking Ronnie's hand. "I'm Angela. My husband Chris and I live a couple blocks away and we're coffee addicts so I'm sure we'll be back." Kensi's eyes were drawn to the tattoo on the young woman's wrist and she turned Ronnie's hand outward to get a better look. "What are those? Musical notes?"
With a wide smile, Ronnie nodded. "The opening notes to 'Love Me Do' by The Beatles. Also known as America's introduction to rock and roll. I do Beatles covers for my music." She shrugged. "Not original, I know. But why mess with the greats?"
Kensi smiled in agreement, thinking back to the music her father used to play. He'd loved the early rock and roll music, too. She realized after a second lost in thought that she was supposed to be CEO of a small music label. And this was the perfect opening.
"My husband is a musician, too. In fact, I'm starting up a new independent record label here on the west coast and I'm looking for new talent. Do you have any recorded material?" Kensi asked. Ronnie's eyes widened and she looked briefly at Justin, as if looking to him for the answers.
"I really just play live music, mostly covers. I've never recorded anything. But you should hear Justin, he's really good!"
"Ronnie—"
"No, seriously. Come back on Friday night. We'll both be playing. But you need to hear Justin."
Kensi could only smile and nod at Ronnie's obvious enthusiasm for Justin's musical talent. Finally though, the coffee was ready and she followed Griffin to his car, noting it was the same vehicle Eric had spotted on the traffic cameras coming into and heading out of Los Angeles around the time of Callahan's murder.
Giving Griffin the address to the house on Magnolia Street, Kensi watched him as he drove casually down the road, the noisy coffee house receding behind them, his shoulders visibly relaxing as they fell into silence. It didn't surprise her that Justin didn't do well in small spaces or places crowded with people. That was an unfortunate side effect for many soldiers suffering from PTSD. What surprised her was that he'd made an obvious effort to be there in the first place, was clearly well known there as a regular. She had a feeling it had more than a little to do with Ronnie.
A flash of metal caught her eye and Kensi glanced at the rear view mirror, seeing a ball chain swinging with the movement of the car. But it was the flat metal rectangles, rounded on the edges, on the chain that caught her eye. Dog tags.
Kensi glanced over at Griffin, seeing that he'd caught her staring at the tags. Feeling as though she had to say something otherwise the silence would be uncomfortable, Kensi reached forward to lightly touch the tags.
"You served?"
"Yeah, three tours with the Corps in Iraq and Afghanistan. One of those is mine, the other belonged to my buddy."
Kensi turned the tags over, knowing the name she would find on the one tag not belonging to Griffin. Carlos Ramirez, the Navy Corpsman killed during combat. The man Griffin had tried and failed to save. She couldn't help the sympathy the reared up as she glanced back at Griffin. "He didn't make it back?"
Griffin shook his head once, the gesture firm and final. He was silent for another minute, then spoke quietly. "Who did you lose?"
Startled, Kensi turned wide eyes to Griffin, her words tumbling. "Wh-what?"
"You lost someone. I can tell." Griffin was matter-of-fact, his assessment as solid as her conclusion of him as a Marine had been. Kensi struggled for a few seconds, trying to decide whether to deflect and maintain Angela Coleman's cover, which could also raise Griffin's suspicions, or invent a new facet to her alias' history. In the end she went with her instincts, not entirely sure if she'd made the right decision.
"I was engaged to a Marine. His name was Jack and he served until 2004. He came back different and could never quite regain who he was. He left."
Kensi could practically visualize the disapproval on Deeks' face she would see later for crossing the lines of her personal history with their undercover operation. But as she saw the understanding shift in Griffin's eyes as he recognized a kindred soul wounded by war and loss, she held on to the hope that maybe this new connection would actually help their assignment.
Turning the corner onto Magnolia Street, Kensi saw that the movers had arrived earlier than expected. Deeks was probably not pleased she hadn't reappeared yet. Passing the house and coming to a halt around the corner since the moving vans occupied the front sidewalk, Justin looked up and down the street and frowned. Kensi adopted an oblivious expression, knowing that he was probably trying to place why the street seemed familiar. And they were familiar because he had an appointment to come by the next day for a renovation estimate. Not that Angela Coleman would have made that connection yet.
Kensi thought about letting him just drop her off and renewing the burgeoning relationship the next day. But coincidences weren't really something she believed in. Crossing Justin's path might turn out to be a tricky wrinkle in their undercover operation but it might also be an opportunity.
"Everything okay?"
"Yeah, this just seems familiar to me. You just moved here?"
Kensi laughed, getting out of the car and gesturing for him to join her. "Chris and I just moved into town. Come meet him. He'd love to get to know another musician in town. The house is a mess and it looks like the movers just got here with all our stuff. We're supposed to have someone come look at the house tomorrow for an estimate on work. And wow, does it need it."
Griffin had been following her up the walk and he paused on the stoop as she opened the door, recognition dawning.
"I'm the someone coming to look at your house tomorrow," he said dumbly. Kensi fixed him with a suitably confused stare. "That's what I do for work. Handyman repair stuff. I knew your address sounded familiar."
"What a funny coincidence!" Kensi laughed easily, ushering him into the house. "Maybe you can take a quick look now and you'll have a head start on tomorrow then. Chris, honey!"
Kensi kept her voice friendly but loud as she called for Deeks, using his cover name. The last thing they needed was for him to unthinkingly round a corner saying her real name while their suspect stood right there.
She heard the quick trot of steps as Deeks came from the back of the house, initially looking a little frazzled and annoyed, but then his expression fell on her standing next to the familiar face from their case file and he showed the barest hint of surprise before melting into a charming and friendly smile.
It was casual, but Kensi noticed the way Deeks' gaze swept over her from head to toe. She saw the pause in the path his eyes took as he noted the damp coffee stain on her clothes and the brief furrowing of his brow as he clearly wondered what had happened.
He took it in stride though, not acting overly concerned or worried. He acted as Chris Coleman might, happy to see his wife again and more than a little tactile as he put an arm around her shoulders and leaned over to kiss the side of her face before extending a hand to Justin.
"Hey, I'm Chris, Angela's husband. Did you save her from her klutzy self?" Deeks asked, his grin widening as he winked at Kensi and shook Justin's hand. Mouth gaping open, Kensi poked him indignantly in the side.
"That's rich, coming from you! How many boxes have you dropped trying to 'help' the movers?"
"Actually it was me—"
Interrupting Justin's attempt to explain how he'd been the one to crash into Kensi, Deeks turned towards Kensi, that grin on his face turning teasing.
"Not a single one. I'll have you know I've unloaded about a third of the boxes and all have escaped any kind of breakage or damage."
Crossing her arms over her chest, Kensi's eyes narrowed, even as her heart rate picked up, as she stood a little taller. This was them, that teasing dance that was full of spontaneity as they worked together. They could be any people, any time. And they didn't have to think about making it seem natural and real because it already was.
"That's probably because you took all the lightweight boxes labeled as sheets, blankets, and pillows. Because you're weak."
Mimicking her posture and stance, Deeks stood to his full height, managing to annoyingly tower over her and she knew he would. "Strategy in unloading the least heavy boxes is strength of mind and cunning, sweetness."
Kensi internally grimaced at the pet name, the one Deeks tended to pull out to rankle her. Even as it bothered her, she had to hand it to him, responding with that quick mind and sharp reflexes. The crack at his strength had been a hollow one, which they both knew. As much as she, Callen, and Sam might tease Deeks about how fragile he was, Kensi knew he was quicker and tougher than most men. In actual physical strength he could take her, as much as she hated to admit it. He spent hours paddling out on the ocean and although working out at the gym wasn't a favorite pastime, there was no way he could have the muscles and build he did without putting in the time with weights and strength training.
Even still, it was the game. It was the Kensi-and-Deeks game for her to tease him about being a wuss and it was his fallback to go along with it while teasing her about her clumsiness. Neither of them really deserved the labels, but it was an easy way to sell their cover. It was fun, it was flirty, and Kensi wondered how she could ever give their interplay up. But, remembering Hetty's offer and the decision she and Deeks needed to make about their long term partnership, she knew it was something she might very well have to eventually keep as a memory and not as something to look forward to in the future.
She could remember this scenario playing out dozens of times before under any number of covers they had been trying to sell. The ease and chemistry between her and Deeks was one of the strongest selling points of their four person OSP team. Even Callen could grudgingly admit that they pulled off the cover of a couple, whether it was a newly in-love couple, a fighting couple, or happily and comfortably together couple, in a way that made selling any operation natural and unquestionable.
And natural was exactly what a cover needed. The second they stood out the operation was over. Natural was easy for Kensi and Deeks. It was easy to pretend to be in love, to pretend to fight, to pretend to be the committed couple when they already were. And they were in love and they certainly knew how to fight. What had been feared by many, including Callen and Hetty, to be a weakness really was a strength. And with a pang she had to quickly shove away, Kensi had to admit that if things changed and they were no longer partners, she would miss this. But she couldn't miss it right now. Not when they had a cover to sell.
Although she might have enjoyed rising to the occasion and taking the bait of argument Deeks had so tantalizingly offered her, Kensi merely smiled sweetly, stepping up on her sneakered tiptoes to gently kiss Deeks' cheek.
"Whatever you say, honey."
She saw the light of surprise in Deeks' eyes at her seemingly quick giving in, but Kensi turned her attention back to Justin, who had been watching them with curiosity. The goal was to appear to be a normal and happy couple in front of their suspect. The look on Justin's face, slightly amused but not at all suspicious, told her they'd succeeded. And now they needed to work towards the next step of trying to complete their assignment. They needed to get close to Justin and determine his involvement in the murders of at least half a dozen Marines.
"Chris, this is Justin. We ran into each other at the coffee shop when I dropped my coffee. He was kind enough to offer me a ride home," Kensi said, smoothly passing over the details of how Justin had spilled coffee on her. Justin seemed to hesitate as he nodded at Deeks and Kensi saw he wanted to correct her. It was an interesting detail. Justin Griffin didn't like to lie. Not even a lie of omission. "As it turns out, Justin is the contractor who is coming to look at the house tomorrow."
Adopting the proper amount of surprise, Deeks smiled at Justin. "I love small towns. Where else could that kind of thing happen?" Deeks swept an arm around, gesturing towards the back rooms of the house. "It's a bit hectic right now with the movers, but take a look around if you want."
Justin nodded, then turned towards the kitchen, Kensi and Deeks following behind. Kensi let Deeks take the lead on describing the work in the kitchen. She didn't particularly care since it wouldn't be a house they would be living in long, and nobody could keep a discussion going quite like Deeks could.
Taking notes as they went, Justin nodded as Deeks talked about wood for the cabinets and paint for the walls, as well as updating the plumbing in the house. They were about to turn towards the bedrooms when a normally welcome voice made Kensi's heart drop to her stomach.
"Hey guys! The movers get here early?"
Kensi whirled around to the front door, eyes widening as Cody entered the house, his large frame blocking the sunlight from outside as he paused in the doorway.
To be continued