It was the day of the trial, Deeks and Ms. Dolly waited in the court room wondering when things would get started. Deeks takes a moment to take everything in. Two days ago he met the lady named Kate who wanted to take Sophie away from him; she was James' cousin from New York. The person that brought her attention to the matter of Sophie's custody was Deeks' mother.

Opening his eyes Deeks does a quick take of the court room, in the seats behind him was his team everyone had come to this giving him their support. Sophie was sitting with a social worker in a nearby playroom. There were also some others that Deeks had to guess belonged to Kate.

"All rise." A security guard said announcing the arrival of the judge, Deeks held his breath praying to God for the first time in many years that this would work out for him.

NCIS LA

Deeks shifted nervously as members of his team were called up to answer questions about him and his ability to take care of Sophie. First one to take the stand was Hetty.

'Ms. Lange you are Mr. Deeks' boss correct?" The lawyer for Kate asked, Deeks knew that this would be a hard case from the beginning. Call it experience from his years in a court room but he just knew this would be a difficult case to close.

"That is correct." Hetty answer keeping her cool knowing that last thing Deeks would find helpful was for her to lose her temper.

"You were the one that informed Mr. Deeks that Sophie was related to him? That no one else would take her?" That was another loaded question; Deeks knew though that Hetty would answer in a fashion that would hopefully cause people to lean more towards his side.

"I was told that but in my opinion no one else would do the job of being Sophie's guardian as Mr. Deeks." Hetty said smiling over at the detective looking very nervous but grateful for the answers Hetty has said so far.

'One last question, do you think that his demanding job is interfering with Mr. Deeks' ability to parent?" This was the question Hetty was dreading the most; she had to tell the truth after all she was under oath.

"Yeas, but he manages the best anyone would." Hetty sighed, she knew that was the main outcome of her being questioned by this lawyer, it make it seem like the job was more important than family. She could only wait for the chance to speak again.

"That is my last question; next in the stand is Eric Beale coworker of Mr. Deeks." The lawyer speaking on behalf of Kate said grinning now that Hetty answer just the way they wanted her to.

"Mr. Beale can you tell the court if there have been any accidents that have happened to Sophie while she was in the care of Mr. Deeks?" Deeks shook his head knowing what Eric's answer was before he even said it.

"Yes there were two accidents I am aware of." Eric said slightly louder than he should have, turning red at his mistake Eric shrunk in the seat.

"Can you describe the two accidents?" Eric just wanted this to be over with, he felt like the lawyer was twisting his words making Deeks to be this monster that he wasn't.

"The first was at a park where Sophie's hand was ran over by a kid on a bike and the other was an allergic reaction she had while in the care of a sitter." Eric said that was the last of his questions. Eric then walked back to his seat next to Nell feeling like he had stabbed one of his friends right in the heart.

"Nell Jones I only have one question for you, did Marty Deeks know that Sophie was allergic to carrots but did not inform that sitter who would be looking after Sophie for the night?" All eyes were on Nell as she answered the question.

"Yes he was aware that Sophie was allergic to carrots." Nell said regretting that she was put into this position in the first place.

"G Callen, would you please take the stand?" The lawyer asked causing Callen to get up and take the stand. He wasn't sure where this questioning was headed but he really didn't want to find out.

"You grew up in foster care, so you think it's in Sophie's best interest to be in the care of a relative?" Callen smirked knowing that his answer would be something this lawyer didn't see coming.

"I think it's in Sophie's best interest to be in the care of her uncle Marty." Callen said, it took the lawyer a few seconds to recovery making everyone in court who was here to support Deeks feel a little better.

"Do you think Mr. Deeks is spending enough time with Sophie?"

"I think he spends as much time with her as he can." Callen said hoping this testimony would make up for Eric's.

"Is that enough?" The lawyer asked causing Callen to take a few seconds to think of the answer.

"Yes I do because when Deeks spends time with her, she's the most important thing on his mind." Callen said, after that his questioning was done and up next was Sam.

"Mr. Hanna you have your own children, would you say that your job is more important than raising them?" Sam could answer this in his sleep.

"The job we do as a team is demanding yes but nothing is more important than being a parent."

"Does he job prevent you from spending time with your kids?"

"Yes it does." Sam answered knowing how it would look.

"Would you say that Mr. Deeks is a good parent?"

"I think he's the closest thing to a parent Sophie has." Sam said, when he was done Kensi was the next one to be in the hot seat.

"Ms. Blye, can you explain to the court the nature of your relationship with your partner?" Kensi knew this was coming and she had no idea how to answer it.

"We're still trying to figure that out." Kensi said, a million thoughts filled her head trying to figure out what the lawyer had up their sleeve next.

"Do you think of yourself as Sophie's mom?" The one blew Kensi away.

"No, I am not and never will be Sophie's mother."

"Do you think that Marty Deeks can handle the pressure of being a father?"

"I think he can handle anything you throw at him." With that Kensi went back to her seat, next up to be grilled was Deeks' mother.

"Mrs. Deeks can you explain your relationship to you sons father?"

"He was my abusive husband who would beat me and my son every chance he got."

"Do you think your son could turn out to be like your husband?"

"I think anything is possible." This made Deeks want to walk out of the courtroom right now; this was the one thing he had worked his whole life to prove otherwise.

"That's all; next I'll call up Marty Deeks himself." Deeks knew this was his chance, to say what he wanted to say.

"Mr. Deeks I heard that you went through a traumatic event earlier this year, would you say that you developed PTSD from this?"

"Would you say that you are stupid? I did not have and I do not have PTSD. I struggled at first but I received help."

"Is it difficult to be a cop, an agent, and a guardian all at once?"

"I manage."

"Is it you're goal to be the best father Sophie could have?"

"My goal is to raise Sophie to be a good person who remembers who her parents are."

"Have you ever considered not keeping Sophie?"

"Yeah I have considered it." Deeks knew this wasn't the best answer but it was the truth.

"Kate you may take the stand now." With that Kate, a thirty something preschool teacher with wild curls took the stand.

"Can you explain why you want to raise Sophie?"

"I want to raise her because she's the one connection to James I have left."

"Do you think that you'd be a good mother to Sophie?"

"I think I'd be the best mother I could be."

"That is all." The lawyer said, not it was Deeks' turn to ask the questions. He knew it was a good idea to keep up with the bar.