A/N: It seems that I'm spoiling you! A fast (and longer!) update to the story. The idea was just stuck in my head, begging to be written and shared. Hopefully you'll enjoy! As always really appreciative for all the support and reviews!

Chapter 11: Accused

"What's going on?" Kensi asked, accidentally letting some of the worry she felt for the lawyer slip through.

When no immediate answer followed her question, she subconsciously took a step forward, effectively stepping in front of Marty ever so slightly in a protective manner, as she asked harsher than before, "What the hell is going on?"

Catching on to the, surprisingly, protective nature Kensi showed towards the lawyer, Callen knew she would not take the following information lightly, he sighed deeply before speaking. "Kensi you need to step away from Deeks." He immediately pushed on when he saw that Kensi was about to speak up, holding up a hand to stop her from interrupting. "Bakaj gave us some information, and we need to ask him a few questions… in the other interrogation room." He added the last bit carefully, knowing what kind of reaction it would pry from their female coworker.

"What the hell are you talking about?" She practically all but yelled, "He is a victim, Callen!" She spat out his name more venomously than he had previously ever heard, causing the team lead to flinch inwardly.

Sam tried to calm the female agent down before this derailed conversation turned into a train wreck. "We just need to clarify a few things, he's not a suspect Kensi." He tried soothing, knowing fully well that she did not buy it, since Callen had requested him in the interrogation room.

Whilst the internal fighting was going on amongst the three agents, Marty found himself staring straight ahead, mouth slightly agape. The whole look would probably have been quite comical in any other situation than what he currently found himself in. He finally got his senses back as the large black agent was attempting to calm the female agent.

Somehow able to telegraph that she was about to lash out verbally in his defense once more, he laid a hand carefully on her shoulder, not wanting to startle her any more.

"It's okay, Kens. I'm sure it's nothing," he said calmly. Discerning that it had not completely helped, he decided to add to it, "I haven't done anything wrong, I'm sure." The statement coupled with a nervous smile.

Looking straight at him, she could see the sincerity shining through in his gorgeous ocean blue eyes, but looking further she could see a slight hint of something else she could not quite pinpoint it to an exact emotion. She dragged herself away from the somehow very emotional moment, and glared at her team's leader once again.

"Fine. But I want to be in there as well." The tone in her voice making sure there would be no room to argue.

Knowing that Kensi would be in the same room as him helped calm the brewing nervousness he felt deep inside him as they were moving towards a room he had not previously even registered. He knew that he had done absolutely nothing wrong, but given his troublesome past, he feared that the agents now sitting across from him would drag some of those things back to the surface, and he did not want that in the slightest. Not for him, because he had buried it so deep inside himself in an attempt to forget it all happened, but also not for Kensi, because he did not want her to have a skewed view of him before even getting to take her out.

"So…" the blue-eyed agent started, effectively dragging Marty out of his thoughts and back to the present, sitting across the table from three federal agents. "We talked to Bakaj and-"

"Who?" Marty interrupted, not knowing who this 'Bakaj' person was, but also intentionally wanting to throw of the ones interrogating him, old habits die hard. He kicked himself mentally for that last part, he was supposed to help clear something up, not put himself in a bad light.

"Bakaj is the guy who was supposedly the one after you." Callen stated calmly.

"What do you mean supposedly?" Being a lawyer, Marty knew all too well how tricky words like allegedly and supposedly could help paint an entirely different picture than what the defendant wanted.

"He told us he had convinced you to work with him to avoid any further beatings." Sam invited himself into the mix.

"That's redicu-" Kensi started, but was interrupted by Marty lifting a single finger in her direction, effectively signaling her to be quiet for now.

"And you believed him?" He chuckled humorlessly, "A guy who you've just picked up for having abducted another person, and you're questioning me because of wild accusations from a character like that?"

A silence took over the now eerie room. Somehow, the two accusers had not expected the shaggy and injured lawyer to stand up for himself in such an aggressive manner.

Knowing he had the upper hand, at least for the moment, he continued, "Do you have anything to base these supposed things I've supposedly done?" Making sure to put pressure on the word the agent had used himself just a minute ago.

"You've been going to Reseda a few times this week." Callen answered.

"Many people go to Reseda," he countered.

"What were you doing there?" Callen questioned, choosing to ignore the small jab he had received.

Kensi was glad that she had Sam between her and Callen, because she could feel her anger towards the team lead increase every time a question was asked. In an attempt to ignore the anger, she tried to focus on how well Marty was defending himself, the way he articulated his phrases, playing ball with Callen and Sam and coming out ahead, at least for now. Almost as if he had tried this whole thing before… she pushed back that thought immediately. He could not have been interrogated like this before, because that could mean that he had been involved in something he should not have been, no, he was a good man and he responded well because he was a lawyer, yes that must be it, she reasoned.

"I went to the local youth center there," he stated firmly.

"Even though you're injured?" Sam asked, joining in again, knowing that if only Callen was asking the questions all of Kensi's anger would be focused solely on him, so he decided to divert some of the anger he knew was brewing in Kensi to himself.

"Yes."

Sam asked a clarifying question, when it became clear that the lawyer was not going to make it easier for the agents and add further to his one word answer, "And what were you doing at the youth center?"

"I was playing video games and chatting with some of the young people from the neighborhood."

The three sitting across from him looked quizzically at him, but knowing from the previous question, that he would not elaborate further without being asked directly, Kensi gave in. Asking in a much softer tone than her fellow agents.

"Do you do that often?" She asked, before adding, "And why?" In an equally soft tone.

Marty appreciated the way the female agent asked him much more than the accusatory manner that her colleagues displayed, he let her know through a small, shy smile, before turning back to his unreadable façade. He sighed and answered, "I aim to go twice a week, usually I like to play basketball with them, have been for the last five'ish years."

"And why?" The largest agent asked him, only slightly harsher than Kensi had this time.

"I've been fortunate in my life," he started, it took all of his self-control not to laugh out loud at that statement, his life had been many things, but fortunate was definitely not one of the verbs that could describe the story of Marty Deeks. Controlling his emotions, he then added, "The least I can do is give back to the community."

"But you live in Malibu," Kensi stated, genuinely curious about why he would go to Reseda for anything.

"Sure, but everyone comes from somewhere." He shrugged.

"And you come from Reseda."

Although it was a statement, he answered anyways, "I do."

"So you haven't met up with anyone outside of the youth center last week?" Callen was now back to asking the judging questions.

"No." He answered clearly.

"How did you get there?" The agent continued the line of questions, seemingly looking for any cracks in the story.

"Well," he said motioning to his torso, "It's not like I can drive. Therefore, I have had an Uber take me, both times. Would you like to see the electronic receipts for that?" He asked back.

"So you're denying seeing Bakaj or anyone else in Reseda in relation to your work?"

"Seeing as I had no clue who this Bakaj was until you told me a moment ago, that would be a yes." He now responded a bit more disrespectfully, letting the agent know exactly how he felt about that line of questioning.

Just as he was about to ask another question, Callen's phone chimed. He excused himself from the room and Sam followed close behind, knowing that Kensi would want a moment alone with the man sitting opposite of her.

"Are you okay?" She asked softly.

He actually laughed at her question, nothing condescending, just a slight comedic relief. After all, she did not know that he had been in positions like this many, many times before. Granted, defending someone else and not himself, but if one ignored that tiny detail it was practically the same.

"Yeah, I'm fine, Kens."

This time she noticed how he had shorted her name, surprisingly unlike anyone else ever. She found that she liked the way that her newfound nickname rolled off his tongue, and let herself delve into that feeling for just a moment until she sobered and remembered how well he had presented himself in front of the trained interrogators.

"You've done this before." It was not a question, and they both knew what she meant.

"I have." He nodded his confirmation.

"Have you ever-"

"No!" He interrupted, then chuckling slightly. He knew she had been about to ask whether he had ever been interrogated for any crimes before, and whilst that was technically true it had been a very long time ago and not the reason as to how he as faring so well in this environment.

"I used to be a criminal defense lawyer." He explained.

She looked at him, eyebrows lowered and slightly squinted eyes, "I thought you were an IP lawyer?" She asked.

"I am," he confirmed, "I re-specialized six years ago."

"Why?" She asked. Once again, there was no judgement in her tone, just honest curiosity.

He shrugged before answering, "I guess I got tired of helping wealthy clients get out of crimes they'd committed."

She was just about to further enquire Marty about his reasonings when the door to the room opened. Callen and Sam walked in both having a grim expression painted on their faces. They sat down in the same chairs as before and the team lead got straight to business.

"Have you ever committed any crimes before?" He asked.

The first response he got was a disbelieving, lifted eyebrow from the lawyer, followed by a condescending question, "Do you really think I would ever incriminate myself?"

"Have you ever committed any violent crimes before?" The team lead corrected.

"No." The answer came immediately and was technically correct.

"So you've never shot anyone?" Callen enquired, knowing well that the lawyer had indeed based off the information Eric had given him and Sam over the phone.

Marty instantly sat up completely straight as the question was asked, his lips in a tight line as he tried to reel in his emotions. Kensi was studying him intently, the question Callen had asked had surprised her and by the brief look he flashed, Marty as well. She could tell from the Callen's voice and Marty's expression that the man sitting across from her had, indeed, discharged his weapon at someone before, how and why she did not know. What she did know was that she believed him to be a good man, no matter this information.

"How do you know that?" He asked, every ounce of his body fighting off the impending rage that subsided.

"From your files," Callen answered not entirely truthful, seeing as he did not exactly know where and how Eric had procured the information.

Marty, however, knew exactly where the only place that information was available. He had attempted to control his emotions, but when someone crosses a line, it can be difficult to do and in this case impossible. He was not angry, he was pissed, and Kensi could tell the moment his mask fell from his face and rage emerged with what she deemed to be… anguish? To his credit, he did not raise his voice, but the way he spoke with such toxicity and vehemence scared her. He was almost shaking as he started talking,

"That… is privileged information that you have no business looking into, and seeing as it's been sealed in a juve court, which I'm guessing you did not have a warrant for." He spat at them, Callen was about to talk but Marty continued before he had the chance, "Seeing as how you have violated my privacy and unlawfully gotten information this interview is over. Unless you actually have some completely irrelevant information that isn't inadmissible in court."

When he got no immediate response he stood up, fury still raged inside him, and it showed. "I'll show myself out." He said, anger lacing every word in the sentence. Callen and Sam just sat, dumbfounded by what had just happened in front of them. Kensi, on the other hand, was extremely worried about what had just happened and went to go after Marty.

"Marty wait!" She called after him as she got out of the boatshed. Knowing his condition, she knew it was extremely painful for him to move at the pace he was currently.

He stopped but did not make any effort to turn around and face her. She walked slowly to his side and then into his field of vision.

"I'm so, so sorry about what happened. I swear to God, I had no idea what was going on," she said softly but firmly, concern and sincerity evident in her voice. She reached for him, happy that he did not pull back as she let her hands settle on his arms, she felt him shaking beneath her touch, anger still completely overtaken his body.

He took a deep breath trying to calm himself, but immediately regretted that when further pain in his ribs made him remember how bad an idea that was. He focused on breathing regularly instead, exhaling through puffed cheeks with each breath, letting her touch and the sounds of the ocean calm him.

"I know," he finally said under his breath, referring to her not knowing what had been going on.

She allowed herself a small smile at that, knowing that he did not blame her for whatever had just happened in that room. Taking a moment to stare into his eyes, she saw that whilst the anger and rage had mostly subsided the anguish which she had seen previously had now mostly overtaken his eyes, now glistening from unshed tears.

Remembering why he had been in the boatshed in the first place, she drew in a quick breath before talking.

"You might still be in danger, Marty." She said softly, her mismatched eyes now misty from the unshed tears she felt for the man in front of her.

"I can't go back in there." He said underneath his breath.

"Do you want me to take you to another safe house?" She asked, internally begging that his answer would be 'yes'.

"No." He shook his head, "I think I have a safe place to go to." He then added.

"Where?" She immediately asked, concern lacing her word.

"A friend of mine, he has a really safe property. Besides, if no one knows I'm there and if I don't use a phone I should be alright, right?" He asked quietly, somehow knowing that she would feel better if she could give her approval to his plan.

She could not find any words, but nodded at his suggestions, it sounded secure, and she knew she could trust him to not toy with his own safety even through his anguished stupor.

"Can you do me a favor?" He asked softly, once he realized that she would not verbally respond to his previous inquiry.

"Anything!" She answered immediately. Surprised that she actually meant every sense of that word.

"You remember my dog?"

"Monty?"

"Yeah," he nodded, now smiling slightly at her remembering his companion's name, "Would you mind taking him to my neighbors Mr. and Mrs. Mayfair, I think you've already met them last time…" He let the end hanging in the air. Of course, they both could remember the last time she had had to take his mangy mutt to his next-door neighbors.

"Of course," she answered, matching his soft tone.

He ducked down and kissed her softly on her cheek, "Thank you, Kens," he started turning away from her, but stopped halfway, "I'll still be waiting for that phone call in a few weeks." He said, winking at her as he turned around completely to catch a cab to wherever he was headed.

Kensi just stood in the parking lot, flabbergasted at his proclamation. He still wanted to see her. She was happy over the fact that whatever thing was between them was still alive, confused that he had apparently discharged his weapon at someone, but mostly just very worried by the fact that he could still be in danger. She would just have to trust that he knew what he was doing. She sighed heavily before turning towards the boatshed. She had some words for the two male agents inside.