A/N Sorry about the span of time between updates. Real life decided to rear its ugly head, and I had to deal with some crap from my past. But I am back, and hopefully won't be as long the next time with an update. So please read and enjoy.

Disclaimer: Nothing in the bank account, so I don't own anything from NCIS LA

Previously on NCIS Los Angeles:

"What? Why?" Kens lifted her face from the pillow and glared at me balefully. "I thought you resigned yesterday. Why do you have to go in?"

"Don't know, got a text this morning. Bet you that you have a similar one as well." She grabbed her phone and looked at it. With a curt nod of her head, Kens confirmed that she received the same request, or order depending how you looked at it. I knew just what she was thinking as the thought entered her head. "You can shower here, we'll swing by your place to get a change of clothes, grab some donuts, and then head in."

Kens was just staring at me thoughtfully. She pursed those lips "Mind if I join you? I'm nothing but eco-friendly." And really how could I could I say no to that.

After what had just become my number one shower of all time, however brief it was, we got out and got dressed. Making sure Monty was set for the day, we hopped in the SRX and Kens drove to her, our place and I made a mental note that we needed to figure out where we were going to live. Kens apartment was bigger than mine, and was dog friendly, but I wasn't exactly sure it was safe for raising a child. It would be really embarrassing to lose our kid under a pile of mail or knick knacks or whatever. The drive over was fairly subdued, but our old banter was back somewhat. We bickered over the radio, and I let her win, but she at least kept the volume down somewhat on that horrible techno junk.

We went together and while she was getting changed, I stayed out in the seating room, just looking around at the place I had called home until two nights ago. Monty's favorite dog bed was next to the couch, and the hoarder look was slightly less than usual. Even missing Kens as much as I did my OCD just wouldn't let me go. I had to pick up a little, just a little mind you; I didn't want to change too much for when Kens came home. Before I knew it she had changed her clothes so we didn't have a repeat of the morning that Hetty decided to make me believe that she was punishing me. It wouldn't be good to have a repeat of that day again this soon or ever for that matter. She gave me a wry smile, even as hard as I tried to steel my emotions and keep it from showing on my face, it would never work with her, Kens just knew what I was thinking.

"Don't worry Shaggy. Since you resigned they can't separate us as partners again, can they?" She was trying to lighten the mood, but Kens' humor wasn't on par with mine is, was before all this crap rained down on our heads.

"No but Hetty could transfer you somewhere else again, and this time somewhere permanent." I couldn't keep myself from blurting out.

"I doubt Hetty, can do anything like that at the moment. She has been suspended pending a review." I knew I couldn't keep the shock off of my face, because Kens giggled. I had really missed that sound. "You didn't know?" I just shook my head. "The morning you resigned, she was sending Sam and G out to find you and bring you back; Granger stepped in and suspended her per orders by Director Vance."

"Wow. Wonder why she didn't say anything yesterday when we were at the beach?"

"She was probably in shock from you talking back to her the way you did" This time the laughter reached her eyes, another thing that I had missed.

"Touché"

"Exactly, touché."

I just groaned. "Kensalina, we really need to work on your use of that word."

"I do use it properly"

"No you don't"

"Yes I do"

"NO you don't"

A single eyebrow raised, Kens just looked at me "Feel better now?" And amazingly enough I did.

"I see what you did there, and thank you."

"No problem that's what partners are for. Now let's get moving or we will be late partner." Kens was already moving towards the door, giving me a shoulder bump as she went past me.

"Ummm, Kens, I resigned, how exactly am I your partner still?"

"You know for being the second smartest person I know, and if you tell anyone that I'll deny it, you can be quite the idiot. Marriage is a partnership right?" Ok, I could work that. I could feel a huge grin breaking through on my face at her words. Yeah I definitely could work with that.

The car ride to the Mission was filled with our usual banter. It wasn't quite back to normal, but it was definitely getting there. Then knowing the way my brain works and a thought just popped into my head and I had to know. I was hesitant, but needed to ask "So Kens, have you set up a doctor's appointment yet?"

"No, to be honest the thought hadn't really crossed my mind yet." She paused concentrating on the road. "I know I need to, but it just makes it more real you know?"

"Would you mind if I went with you?" I was hoping it sounded a lot more confident to her ears than mine. Kens was pregnant with our child, she was giving me the chance to push myself beyond my father's legacy once and for all. It was joyous and terrifying at once.

"Why wouldn't I want you there? Actually I think I am going to need you there. You are the one who is good with kids, remember? I actually suck with kids. I would have been lost without you at Sam's house."

"Kens, you're not that bad with kids. Remember Javier, and you could have handled Michelle Jr. just fine on your own." I absolutely hated it when she talked down about herself. "I am the one we need to worry about."

"Deeks you are not your father. I don't know how many times I am going to have to say it, but I will keep on saying it until you get it through your thick skull." Her eyes were snapping with fire, and then noticeably softened. "You are the most kind, caring, and trustworthy man I know. I know you're feeling bad right now about what happened over in Af… there" Inhaling deeply to steady her nerves, Kens continued "That's part of what makes you better than him." She paused, obviously deep in thought. "You don't have to answer right now or ever for that matter. But, just so you know I am here and willing to listen. Is Max Gentry based on your father? Is that reason you can't stand being him so much?"

I was floored. I hadn't said much about my family history. I am sure that the Evil Witch of NCIS was probably writing my autobiography as we speak, but outside of telling Kens about shooting good ole Dad when I was eleven and some vague hints of my childhood, I had never really told anybody. But then I do have a trained federal investigator as a partner. "A big reason I hate Max Gentry, at least lately, is that it never seems to end well for us when I have to be him. Every time I am him around you Kens, I hurt you. That is something I can't stand to deal with. Max is…. is… yeah you could say Max is my father. So in essence I am my father. That's why I am so terrified about you and our child. What if I snap and strike you or her?"

"Her? Why do you say we're having a girl? We could be having a boy. Or do you want a girl? I am definitely not sure I am up to raising a girl."

Now she was getting worked up, and I wasn't going to allow that. "Ok you need to relax Princess. We'll figure it out as we go. And it doesn't matter what we have as long as it is half you and half jungle cat."

"We always do." Kens gave me a brief smile. "Anyways, I don't see why you can't come with me. It's not like I am going into the field anytime soon and you should have plenty free time now." She paused as a thought obviously struck her. "What are you going to do now? And what about money? I don't make enough to support both of us and a child." She starting breathing rapidly.

"Fern, Fern calm down." It was like my words were going in one ear and out the other. "Kens. Kens. KENSI!" Her head snapped around to glare at me for daring to raise my voice at her. "You didn't leave me much choice there Sunshine. I was going to say I have been putting away quite a bit of money. Before I met you, I really didn't have any reason to spend it all. We'll be alright for a while. As for as a job, I doubt NCIS will let me back in, and I can't work Hetty ever again. Sending you over there to aid a suspected terrorist, and making me believe that it was my fault for almost three months straight sot of destroyed what trust I had in her. Bates would move heaven and hell to get me back in the LAPD, but I don't want the long term undercover OPs that would take me away from you, that I would be sure to get. And I really don't want to be a lawyer again." I took a deep breath, trying to come up with an idea. Then it hit me. "I know. Oh this perfect Kens. Absolutely perfect!"

"Deeks, just tell me already." Kens huffed out, determined to rain on my parade.

"I'll become a private investigator. A shamus. A gumshoe. And you can resign from NCIS and become a bounty hunter. We'll be Deeks & Blye, private crime fighters and looking good while doing it."

This earned me a punch in the arm. "I knew you read my diary. And why do you get top billing?"

"I thought it was a journal?"

Please tell me what you think even if you think it sucks. Constructive criticism is very helpful. While I do enjoy favorites and follows, I can't be sure if I am writing the characters correctly. So thanks for reading and please leave a review.