"Is it possible to be in love with someone you haven't seen in years? Say…eight?"
Pat stocked supplies in the Cooking for Kids kitchen as Kayla washed the pots. The older lady had played a big role in getting her the building space on the one condition that she be brought into the business. They were partners. Pat played the role of assistant and back-office while Kayla worked her magic with the food.
"Why?" the landlady asked amusedly. "Are you in love with someone you haven't seen in eight years?"
"I don't know!" she sighed dramatically. "I hate the bastard for ruining my life, but I also want to kiss his face."
Pat stopped stocking to look at Kayla. It didn't take a genius to figure out the true topic of discussion. "Did he really ruin your life?"
"He left me alone for my dad to mess me up."
"So, nothing good came out of this?"
Kayla's face screwed up in thought. "No?"
"Let's see," Pat started, "You had an amazing son, you got the courage to get away from your father, you built your own life, started your own business…need I go on?"
"Damn you!"
"Look, I don't know about love, but you need to stop blaming this guy for your life. If anything, you should thank him."
"Well, that's unlikely," Kayla growled.
"I'm not saying it's been roses and sunshine," Pat smiled, "but you're better off now than you were then."
"Even if I admit to that, how can I trust him again?"
"You can let him earn it, just don't shut him out. I know you well enough that you'll resist the obvious. What did he do anyway?"
"He promised to protect me then chose his career over a promise."
"Wow," Pat breathed. "That's blatant."
Kayla was glad someone thought she was right.
"But—it sounds like a one-time thing. You're going to have to forgive him eventually."
"What are you, the angel on my shoulder?"
"You need someone to get you out of your head," she said wisely. "Look, I'm not saying forgive him now, but you will need to work through this."
"Patricia O'Neal, you are better than a therapist."
"So I've been told."
Deeks jumped as a wad of paper collided with his head. Snapping up, he saw Sam and Kensi laughing at their desks.
"Funny. I will get you, you wait." He ran his hand through his hair one more time and sighed. Keeping with the trend of the past few days, he could not keep Kayla out of his mind. She had told him to get out; she couldn't deal with one kid and an overgrown child father who was unpredictable. She told him to get out of her life.
"Hey, Deeks," Kensi stood in front of him, hands jammed into her back pockets. "If you can't handle this one, I'm sure Eric would be glad to get more field time." She smiled playfully, obviously teasing.
"I got it!" the irritated detective barked, causing Kensi to jump off his desk.
"Fine." The girl walked away, but not before giving him an odd look, and Deeks slammed his head on the desk.
From above, Nell had observed the whole exchange. Deeks was off, that didn't take an early expert. But it might take someone other than a sparring partner to get through to him.
He didn't raise his head as she sidled over to his desk.
"So," she began, a gentle curiosity piquing her voice. "You okay?"
"Not now, Nell," he growled halfheartedly.
She tried again. "Deeks, it doesn't take a genius to figure out something's up. You can tell me!"
Deeks lifted his head off of the desk just enough to see her face. The tech wizard scrunched up her elfin features and smiled. "Come on."
"Promise you won't tell anyone."
Nell nodded seriously. "Promise."
"I have a kid."
The girl gasped dramatically, and Deeks scrambled to stifle her.
"A kid? You?"
"Yeah."
"Who, what, when?" Nell was bursting with curiosity.
"I met her mom at the academy. Our car broke down...one thing led to another...anyway. I was commissioned for UC work the next day and left without telling her. You remember the one I locked up at that hotel bombing?"
"How could I forget? Eric and I watched that exchange in OPS wishing we had popcorn!"
"Glad I could entertain. Anyway, that's the mom, and that's the first time I've seen her in eight years."
"So what's the plan?"
"That's just it. Seeing her again...all these...feelings..." Deeks looked sick talking about his emotions, "came back and I want to be a part of her life, and Andy's."
"Wait—you have feelings?" Nell teased, but checked herself. "Sorry."
He didn't seem to notice. "Yesterday, she told me she wants nothing to do with me."
Nell exhaled loudly. "Well, you do have a reputation."
"This isn't about the reputation, she knows about that, and knows me better than that. She doesn't think I'd be a good father. I'm unpredictable, and she feels that Andy wouldn't be able to count on me as a dad. They've been doing the single parent thing for 8 years, I probably would mess everything up."
"How does she feel about you?"
"She hasn't told me; she runs hot and cold. One minute we're…" he coughed, looking at Nell's to-eager face, "...and the next we're arguing and she's telling me to get out."
Nell smiled. "She's in love with you."
"It's been eight years, Nell."
"Eight years or not, there's no doubt about it. But she's doing the selfless thing by putting her kid first. Until you prove you can do the same, you'll be stuck in the doghouse."
"How do I prove it if she's told me to stay away?"
Nell stood, putting her hands on her petite hips. "What am I? The guru on the mountain? Uh, uh. You have to figure that one out on your own."
Ugh. Women and their riddles, Deeks groaned inwardly. "Fine. I'll figure something out."
Marty stared at his phone. Should he call her? There was no way in hell he was letting this go. Twenty-four hours ago, he didn't have anyone attached to his name; even Kayla didn't qualify as a need. Sure, he wanted her, but he could cut loose if he wanted to. Now, with Andy, he realized that he had a goal similar to Kayla's: give Andy a happy childhood and erase his father's legacy. But how? Kayla had made it clear she didn't want to see him again. He looked to the phone again.
He dialed the number.
Ring.
Ring.
Ring.
Ring.
"Hello, you've reached Kayla Townsend!"
He hung up instinctively at the time of her voice. Breathing heavily, he gripped the phone so hard, his knuckles turned white.
Voicemail, he grumbled inwardly. Fan-freaking-tastic.
Gathering his courage, he hit redial.
"Hello, you've reached Kayla Townsend! If you are calling regarding catering, please leave a short summary of your request, the date of service, name, and number. If you are calling for myself or Andy, please leave your name and number, and I will be with you shortly."
"Don't hang up!" he exclaimed, prefacing his words so she'd listen. "Look, I know you want nothing to do with me, but I want to meet him. Officially. I won't force you, but I have that right. Just for a couple of hours; it doesn't have to be long. Please."
The machine beeped and he ended the call, praying that she would call him back.
"…I have that right. Just for a couple of hours; it doesn't have to be long." His sigh was audible. "Please."
Kayla's jaw clenched. She was mortified at his audacity. She was even more upset that he was right. She couldn't keep her son from his father forever. Hating every move, she pulled his number up.
Ring.
"Yes?" he picked up instantly.
"Okay."
"What?" Deeks barely caught her whispered words.
"Okay, you can meet him."
He could barely contain his excitement; the smile spread across his face. "Great! When?"
"Friday, after school. You can meet me outside the doors."
Silence fell on the line.
"Kaye, what happened back at your apartment?" Deeks broke the quiet.
"A mistake. You are the father of the child that I raised. We have to put him first."
"Since when are you so calculating?"
"Since you got me pregnant," she replied shortly. "I may have my dream job and a great kid, but my relationships aren't my own anymore."
"When I met you, everything changed. You took a shy girl who avoided conflict like the plague and taught me to put myself out there-to an outspoken girl who stands up for herself. I'm not afraid of people or conflict anymore."
"Damn straight you're not afraid of conflict; all you've done since I saw you is pick fights. I taught you to stand up for yourself, not push the mental opponent over. I didn't teach you to be a frigid bitch. Maybe someone needs to introduce love back into your life," Deeks offered suggestively.
Frigid bitch?
Seething with anger, it took all of Kayla's self-control to keep her voice steady. "Okay, you're never meeting my kid."
"Why not?"
"I am not a one-night stand. Piss me off and Andy will be a dim memory for you. "
"Relax! It's not like I'm going to steal him from you." Deeks pushed his luck, but seriously! Who put her knickers in a bunch?
"You know, Marty, I have wondered for eight years what it would be like to see you again. The dreams were fantastic. Utterly mind blowing."
Deeks began to drool.
"Then, I actually saw you again. I was disgusted. You're the worst parts of the person you were at the academy, only a thousand times more."
Silence.
"If you plan on meeting my kid, you damn well better respect me as his mother."
She took his silence as the answer and hung up. Marty's line clicked, indicating the call's end. He leaned back, exhaling.
When did this prude get so bitter?