Everyone had returned to ops and were eager to find something to do, unfortunately, they didn't have much to go on, so Nell and Eric were the only ones actively doing something. They were searching for cameras around the park, looking for a potential image of the man that had been stalking Kensi.
Kensi and Deeks both stood behind the table, their fingers entwined below it, the small touch helping both of them stay calm.
"Guys, all cameras around the park seem to have been cut for the past week. We've got nothing." Nell said, her eyes downcast, feeling as though there was more she could have done for her friends.
"It's okay, Nell." Kensi smiled at her, knowing they had more important stuff to be doing. "I'm away from that house, and they don't know where I am. I'll do this op with Deeks and we will deal with it later." Hetty had walked into the room at that point.
"Correct Miss. Blye. If you could make your way to wardrobe and pick up your things, and then you and Mr. Deeks can take the files on my desk and head back to the house he was living in. Mr. Deeks I had someone return your car here, it is in the parking lot. In the meantime Mr. Callen and Mr. Hanna, you will go and search Mr. Deeks apartment, I want the outside searched too, and ask neighbours if they have seen anything suspicious." She looked around at her team who were waiting to see if she had any more orders. "Go." She said with finality, letting them know this meeting was over. They all took off in different directions at once, ready to get their work done.
Kensi's made her way down the steps, her eyes lighting up when she spotted the small suitcase and matching handbag that sat on top of the table in the wardrobe department.
"It's the new Yves Saint Lauren set. It's so beautiful." She muttered to herself, quickly closing the distance between her and the expensive cases. She unzipped the grey fabric and found a weeks worth of stunning designer clothes inside. Kensi enjoyed reading magazines with luxurious clothes on each page that she knew that she would never be able to afford on her small budget, nor would she have a chance to wear it, so she planned on making the most of this suitcase. She found herself a loose black top, comfortable skinny jeans and a pair of flats to wear. The house could be under surveillance and she had to look like she had just stepped off a plane from Italy, so smart casual worked best. Exiting the changing room she spotted Deeks slipping all their documents from Hetty's desk into his own briefcase, finding herself smile at the image of him back in ops. The eight weeks had felt so much longer, and she knew after this operation she would have to say goodbye again. Pushing those thoughts aside she zipped up her luggage and made her way over, joining him and their boss at her desk.
"Please sit." Hetty said, before making her way around and sitting in her own chair. She had a small smile on her face as she began to speak. "It is at this point that I would normally give you a little talk, about professional boundaries and the difficulties of working undercover with your partner and the emotions that can be brought to the surface due to such cases. I think we are all aware how redundant that would be." They smiled, trying not to laugh, not needing to look at each other to know their expression was mirrored. "I do need you to remember that in this scenario, you are agents first. When you both return from the operation there will be a few forms to fill in. The handbook also states that you will have to attend a few classes on appropriate behaviour in the work place" They gave a questioning look but she had thrown her hands up in defence, unable to do a thing about the rules. She looked at them expectantly, waiting on a response, and with a sigh they gave their murmured agreements to Hetty and she smiled at them both, she stole a look at them before leaning forward once more. "I speak to you now as a friend. I am very happy you finally saw what was in front of you all these years. Good luck."
With that they were dismissed.
They made their way from ops looking like a pair of millionaires, heading towards his car. They had barely left the building, when Deeks swung his arm around his girlfriend. "Just keeping up appearances princess." She gave him a laugh and a small dig in the ribs but made no move to pull away, thinking about how nice it felt to be in his arms again, as she sunk closer to him. When they had gone under as Justin and Melissa she had secretly loved these little touches, she had actually found it harder pretending to hate them. When they had reached the car he took the luggage from her and placed it into the trunk, before pressing her up against the car for a kiss. She knew she should pull away, she was at work, people might see. Eight weeks of panic and dread stopped her from caring and her hands found his hair as their kiss became more eager by the second.
"They look so cute don't they?" Nell asked, watching her friends on the security cameras. Eric give an awkward nod and then started to blush at the sight of his friends now kissing, rather passionately up against the car. "Wow. Okay." Nell said as she quickly turned off the screen, finding her face starting to blush just as bright as Eric's. Saved by the bell she thought as the phone rang out, pressing the small device in her ear on, she gave a cheery hello.
"Nell, we are just pulling up at Deeks house, can you look at cameras around the area, see if there have been any cars hanging around lately?"
"Sure. Call you if we get anything." The call disconnected.
"This feels weird." Sam said, knowing he would hate to have his team rummage around his house.
"Just imagine it's a case Sam, don't think of it as Deeks place." He turned his back on his partner and unlocked the door, pushing it open and making their way inside. The place was a little messy and a wordless look between them both said 'Kensi'. "I'll take the kitchen and living room. You take the bedroom and bathroom." Sam considered arguing it, really not wanting to go into their bedroom, but decided to just get on with it. Sliding on the gloves he started searching for anything that seemed out of place.
The windows seemed to be sealed and locked, with no sign that anyone had tried to tamper with it. When Sam was sure that everything seemed in order he grabbed the bag she had left for them to deliver to hers and made his way to catch up with Callen.
"Anything?" He asked, a shake of Callen's head told him that they had no new leads.
"You got the stuff Kensi asked you to pick up?" Sam threw the bag at his partner before grabbing the rest of Monty's things that sat at the door. They took the stuff to their car before asking around. In the first four houses they asked about Kensi and |Deeks, no one had seen a thing. They were either out of the house all day working, didn't see anything or said they didn't speak English. They didn't expect the neighbours to be forthcoming, people rarely opened up to anyone flashing a badge. It was the fifth door they knocked on that finally gave them the hope of a new lead. A tired woman opened the door, a small baby on her hip and a messy, laughing toddler running around her feet. They flashed their badge and Callen started with the same question he had asked the other neighbours, not expecting anything useful.
"Ma'am, we were wondering if you have seen anything suspicious lately regarding house number 1894."
"Marty's house?" They were surprised when she knew of Deeks. "He hasn't been around in weeks, his girlfriend lives in his house now though. Is she okay?" They nodded quickly, assuring the slightly panicked woman that Kensi was okay. "I've actually got a package that was delivered when she was out, if you want to come and get it?" She let them pass by and closed the door, following them into the living room. She moved some toys out of the way and gestured for them to sit on the sofa. The woman's hair was pulled up in a messy bun and she had bags under her eyes, and Sam noticed she favoured her left arm, as though she had some permanent damage to the right one. The toddler had made her way onto the sofa and sat smiling at Callen as she began colouring in her book but the baby had started crying while her mum muttered about the box being around somewhere.
Sam reached across and took the baby, pulling silly faces and quickly calming the child, she shot him a small smile and a look of realisation crossed her face and she left the room. She returned moments later with a small white box.
"It arrived yesterday, they asked if I would make sure that it was delivered. I forgot all about it." Callen snapped on some gloves and took the box from her, opening it to find another wilting rose and a small note.
"Kensi, sorry I missed you today, but rest easy, we will meet soon."
"Can you describe the person who delivered this?" Callen pushed, a slight panic in his voice that his friend may be in serious danger.
"Um sure.." she said trying to bring back the memories from a few days before. "He was tall, average build, bearded, um white, brown eyes." she glanced at them and realised she had described millions of men. "I'm sorry he didn't have any marks or anything. Is Marty okay?"
"Yeah he's fine. We just need to know where these boxes are coming from."
"Can you tell him I said hello, he helped me a lot, the kids dad, well, he wasn't the kindest of men and Marty made sure he got locked up and signed all rights to me. I'd probably be dead without him..." Her voice trailed off and she seemed to shudder as though reliving some event from her past.
The two agents shared a look. Deeks was the kind of man that would help others, they knew a little of his past and violence against kids and woman was a sore topic for him.
"We will let him know." They promised and made their way out of the house.
"What if the guy comes back?" Her small voice asked as the reached her hallway. Callen suddenly had an idea.
He took a pen from the woman's side table, and a piece of paper from the phone pad.
"Tell them that Marty's friends dropped by and asked you to forward any mail to his new address. Give them this and let them leave." She nodded taking the piece of paper from Callen.
Back in the challenger Sam looked across at his partner. "What address?" it was all he had to ask, he understood his partners plan, set them up, stake out the place, make an arrest.
"Mine." Callen said, pulling away from the street.
AN: Sorry for the delay in uploading, writing is still a little difficult at times.