An:/ Okay first off, I am so sorry it took me so long to update! I have literally had zero time to write or update and when I did I could do very little at a time. Thank you to those who continually read, review etc. I really do appreciate it. This chapter is longer than normal, purely because I added extra length from the next chapter because it took me so long to update, (which doesnt mean the next chapter will be shorter). Also some of you may have seen a post about a theme choice for the Sallen swim on tumblr, my decision has changed since then but hasn't effected the chapters.
Thanks again.
Lottie.
Once Hetty's brainchild, the Op-Lympics, had been appropriately formed and the details had finally been addressed on paper, it had taken several weeks of preparation and the approval from various paper pushers before it had been given the official 'nod' of approval. Hetty however was only interested in the approval from the one individual, the trusted Nate Getz. Many emails and phone call discussions had transpired between the two, a majority through secured lines on foreign networks, before Hetty had the full support of the operational psychologists who agreed that it was a perfect outlet for the team to work on their competitiveness and to grow as a team, his only concern had been that Hetty choose the events wisely, making sure that the events were not gender-biased or that a particular agent had an advantage in one event over another.
This small detail had been quite burdensome when deciding upon the desired events; particularly for the tie-breaker, if it turned out it was going to be needed. It was at this point in the selection process that Hetty reached out to her contacts to make the decision for her and that was when synchronized swimming was plucked from the list of Olympic events. All that was left was to convince her very straight edge coaches that it was the right decision. Hetty had found this task much easier than expected; the two coaches sharing an amused smiled with one another when Hetty had asked if it could be done. Hetty pretended to not to see the exchange, much like she did with her agent and detective and continued the conversation at hand, agreeing to all altered stipulations that were suggested by the two smirking individuals, adhering to their requests, forming the tie breaking event.
What Hetty didn't know about this silent exchange, that despite not knowing which partnership they were going to be assigned or the psychical condition the team were in, a bet had been placed on the event. Bragging rights were up for grabs between the pair along with a case of high end beer, once the 'job' was finished with of course, and both coaches were willing to do anything to win. Any theme was plausible and any move was doable and their team were capable of anything, or so they'd tell them.
Pasternak had been clear and precise with her instructions, ushering the bickering pair into the heated swimming pool as soon as Kensi had removed her t-shirt, her eagerness clear. Neither knew what the Russian trainer had in store for them, but they could tell by the she was conducting herself that Pasternak was in a much different mind frame than she had been in any of their previous trainings. The ferociousness and no holds barred attitude had been replaced with school-girl like amusement and smiling, and her wandering eyes were far from subtle.
Deeks had been far from impressed at the latter, strategically using Kensi's frame to block his body from Pasternak's eyes stopping her from ravishing him with her gaze. It was during these moments, that Kensi had become hyper-aware of just how barely there Deeks shorts were, when she felt him brush up against her back as Pasternak gave him a particular menacing look, which brought a smug smile to Kensi's lips. After a brief discussion on basic exercises, Pasternak invited the pair to enter the pool, as she went to find appropriate equipment to play the music. Kensi quickly decided to move for the long ramp, leaving Deeks and his chiselled body exposed to Pasternak before she left, sending him a wicked grin over her shoulder as she began to wade down the ramp.
Deeks glared at Kensi, watching as she sashayed down the ramp, his hands on his hips in disbelief at her actions, knowing exactly what she was playing at. As she turned the last corner, Deeks caught her eye and raised a questionative eyebrow, as if raising a challenge to his partner. Still grinning at Deeks, Kensi shrugged her shoulders innocently, before diving under the water heading for the middle of the pool. Shaking his head, Deeks made a last minute decision, opting to launch himself off the side of the pool – after a run up of course - bombing into the water, flooding Kensi with waves of water, just as she broke the surface herself. Surfacing with a cheeky grin on his face, Deeks shook his hair from his eyes, sending water flying in all directions.
"Ready?" Deeks asked innocently, looking at the unimpressed scowl on Kensi's face.
"You are such a child," Kensi deadpanned, trying not to laugh.
"Just practicing my entry for the competition Kens," Deeks responded casually, pushing his hair back off his face with both his hands.
"You know what, I think that is exactly how Pasternak wants us to enter the pool," Kensi sarcastically replied, feigning enthusiasm as she watched Deeks play with his hair.
"Great minds think alike," Deeks winked, moving to play with his hair again, a mischievous glint in his eyes.
"Don't," Kensi halted, her grin growing sly as she swam closer towards Deeks, earning herself a curious glance from her partner.
"Your hair looks so sexy pushed back," Kensi teased running her fingers through his wet hair trying to keep her face as serious as possible, as her other hand
rested on his shoulder, supporting herself on it in the water. Kensi knew she was playing with fire, and that Deeks could turn this in a much different direction
very quickly, but she was sure she was capable of keeping it under control and keep it from going any further from daring flirtation.
"Mean Girls? Really Kens?" Deeks teased, looking down at Kensi taking in the particular placement of her hands, with a slight smile.
"You've seen Mean Girls?" Kensi retorted, her eyes growing wide with shock as she took in the smug grin on Deeks face, not expecting to hear those words from her partner. Deeks internally laughed to himself happy with his efforts to hinder her mind games, knowing that he had surprised her more than she had expected with his words.
"I want my pink shirt back," Deeks mimicked, squinting his eyes shut dramatically, triggering a small laugh from Kensi.
"Your shirt was blue," Kensi corrected, moving off Deeks' shoulder to stand on the tips of her toes on the bottom of the pool.
"And my favourite," Deeks pouted, pushing his hair off his face again.
"You'll get it back, quit complaining," Kensi reassured, splashing water in Deeks' general direction.
"It has entered the abyss that is your apartment, I highly doubt that," Deeks complained, splashing Kensi in return, a cheeky grin on his face.
"You really are a child."
"You're a home schooled jungle freak, that's a less hot version of me." Deeks retorted in a sing song voice, flicking his hair for effect with a smug grin on his face. Kensi narrowed her eyes at her immature partner, but couldn't stop the huge smile from forming on her lips, he really knew how to manipulate her words and change the conversation.
"Careful what you say Detective Deeks or I will feed you to the Russian," Kensi threatened, a small smile tugging at her lips.
"You wouldn't?" Deeks whispered in shock, taken aback by the threat.
"She looked really interested; do you want me to give her your cell phone number or your home number?" Kensi asked seriously, backing up in the water as Deeks began to swim towards her.
"Kens," Deeks warned, as he began to close the small gap between her, the desperation clear in his tone.
"Deeks?" Kensi repeated innocently, her smile beginning to grow.
"You do that and I'll…" Deeks started, trying to think of an equivalent threat.
"You'll what?" Kensi sceptically queried, her smile cunning, as she believed she finally had one up on her partner.
"I'll tell Sam and Callen, you turned up at my place last night for a booty call," Deeks grinned, punching the water for emphasis, impressed with his ability to recover the conversation yet again.
"You wouldn't," Kensi warned, her eyes narrowing as she took a step towards Deeks, the tides turning yet again.
"Oh I would,"
"So this is where we are at in our relationship, blackmail?" Kensi mused, as her eyes met Deeks, suddenly becoming aware of just how close they had become in the water.
"Relationship?" Deeks repeated, raising his eyebrows curiously, a small smile on his lips at the word.
"Enough with the захватить задницу!" Pasternak bellowed, as she re-entered the closed in area, stereo in hand, cutting off Kensi's timely retort.
"What?" Kensi and Deeks asked in unison, their heads turning at the sound of her voice.
"The smart talk and kissy eyes, we are here to win a competition." Pasternak instructed, placing the stereo down on one of the benches that lined the stone
wall.
"I think she meant grab-ass," Deeks whispered under his breath, turning now to face Pasternak.
"I know what she means," Kensi reassured, pinching Deeks in the ribs under the water, earning herself a look combined with curiosity and annoyance from Deeks. Abandoning the stereo for the time being, Pasternak turned to face the pair, who were now cringing under her gaze across the pool, her hands on her hips and her eyes narrowed in concentration.
"Basic's first, the leg egg beaters."
The strategic pep talk that Moldovan had delivered to Sam and Callen had worked its magic on the pair, motivating them into the pool without any prompting from the coach, who stood to the side preparing the music and a wide board of basic instructions.
"You know what Annie would say if she saw us doing this?" Callen asked with a knowing grin, as Moldovan approached the edge of the pool with a miniature white board.
"The Little Mermaid," Sam sighed, rolling his eyes at his partner, knowing very well where his daughters mind would wander to if he saw his father dancing in the water.
"She's a sucker for Princess Ariel," Callen commented, running his hands back and forth through the water, creating an eruption of ripples.
"And Pocahontas, and Cinderella and Tiana, and every other Disney princess," Sam sighed, remembering the countless movies he had to sit through repeatedly, that he secretly enjoyed also.
"Okay Gentleman," Moldovan started, sitting down at the edge of the pool, beckoning Sam and Callen over, his long legs dipping into the warm water.
"These are the altered rules that Henrietta had provided for us. They aren't what you would call standard for a synchronized swimming competition at an Olympic level but not much has been over the past four days." Moldovan commented, shrugging his shoulders with a small smile.
"Not much can be done about this now, but he we go first rule is pretty simple, the routine is a freestyle routine,"
"Meaning…" Callen asked, exchanging a look with Sam.
"Well simply, no technical requirements, we get to be creative with our choreography and our music." Moldovan smiled, sounding excited by this exception.
"Okay next is a good one, no points are going to be reduce for touching the ground, which is normally a huge no go, so that makes things easy. However hand sculls and leg 'egg beater' motions have to be shown at least ten times' during the routine, which is what we will be practicing first," Moldovan continued.
"Seems simple enough," Sam shrugged, doing a simple sculling motion with his hands, one that he had been shown before in the SEAL's.
"Easier said than done," Moldovan reassured.
"You will be judged on creativity, fluidness and synchronization, etc. that's all basic stuff," Moldovan rattled off not pausing for Sam and Callen's input, "The routine must be at least three minutes in length the maximum is seven minutes, so Id' say optimum time would be around five minutes. Finally there must be at least one lift included, but I am going to say we include at least three." Moldovan finished, looking up from his whiteboard to gauge Sam and Callen's reactions.
"Three lifts?" Sam repeated his eyes wide and his tone questioning.
"You think we are capable of that?" Callen inquired, his tone just as disbelieving as Sam's.
"I won't know until after we get started, but if you want to win, I think it's what you need to do." Moldovan admitted, crossing his large arms against his chest in a defensive stance. Sam looked to Callen wearily unsure as to what to say on the matter. The had been weary coming into the final event, not believing they were capable of performing the stunts required of them and the pressure was beginning to build again.
"Didn't we say go big or go home?" Callen questioned, shrugging his shoulders nonchalantly, no longer stressed on the matter, choosing rather to just trust Moldovan's instincts.
Sam rolled his eyes at his partner knowing very well he had him with those words. "If I can't walk after this you are having tea party's with Annie for a month." Sam warned, narrowing his eyes at his partner. "And you are bringing me beers every night," Sam added quickly as Callen went to reply.
"Deal. Besides, Annie, Penny and Gemma enjoy my company, I make a delicious strawberry tea and I always stick my pinkie out," Callen sneered, mockingly sticking his pinkie finger out for emphasis.
"Is that a yes gentleman?" Moldovan asked, watching the exchange between the partners.
"Sure is, where do we start?" Sam grinned, smashing Callen's hand with the extended pinkie into the water.
With Kensi and Deeks knack for getting into trouble and getting off task, Pasternak had set certain tasks for the pair to achieve under her watch. Synchronized swimming was not an easy sport to pick up in a short period of time, even with the change rules and shortened lengths Hetty had in place, but Pasternak still had Kensi and Deeks learning the very basics in hopes that they would put them at an advantage over Sam and Callen when it came to the final event. Hand sculling and leg 'egg beaters' were the most basic and required skills in synchronized swimming, and were the drills and skills that Pasternak had Kensi and Deeks currently participating in at the deeper end of the large swimming pool.
Pasternak was hoping that some simple acquisition would allow for the pair to master some more complex moves later in the day, when they were practicing lifts and synchronized skills for the dance part of the routine, providing them with a competitive edge that team Sallen were not expecting. The only problem with this was their inability to take it seriously. Kensi's choked laughter was echoing throughout the deserted pool yet again, as Deeks struggled to keep himself afloat, his hand movements failing.
"Stop laughing," Deeks scolded half -heartedly through gritted teeth, as he once again tried to find the right rhythm between his left and right legs. Kensi bit her bottom lip and closed her eyes, so she couldn't see Deeks flailing in the water, hoping that her smile wasn't obvious on her face, but the disgruntled groans were enough to set off another burst of laughter. This had been a regular occurrence once the task had been set by Pasternak, Deeks would struggle to keep in time with the rhythm, Kensi would laugh, Deeks would scold and Kensi would laugh again. Despite Deeks' ability in the swimming events the previous day, his prowess in pool today was somewhat questionable, and Kensi couldn't help but laugh at her partner, choking on water several times. It also wasn't helping Deeks that Kensi was easily floating in the water, her movements effortless and with a practice skill, raising Deeks' suspicions about Kensi's previous encounters with the sport.
"Deeks breathe in through your nose and out through your mouth," Kensi started, trying to calm her partner who was growing more agitated by his inability to master the skill.
"That isn't working for me Kens," Deeks reminded, trying to steady his arms whilst maintain the in pace his legs, but rather causing himself to sink. Kensi let out another low chuckle as Deeks let himself sink under the depths of the water, before surfacing with a despondent glare.
"C'mon Deeks, you'll get it eventually," Kensi encouraged, prompting him to start again. Deeks raised his eyebrows disbelievingly, as if to say he didn't believe Kensi for a second.
"Just one more time, and if that doesn't work then I'll help you out," Kensi coaxed, letting her words hang in the air, knowing that they would encourage Deeks to try again.
"Promise?" Deeks asked, his eyes roaming over Kensi's body.
"Promise," Kensi agreed, rolling her eyes at her not so subtle partner.
Sighing dramatically with a sly smirk, Deeks took to the stance that Pasternak had shown them and slowly began moving his legs in the circular motion that was required. Starting off steadily, Kensi watched as Deeks slowly began to sway to the right, his body becoming lopsided in the water and the way Deeks' motions began to halt once he recognised this.
"No don't stop," Kensi groaned, moving towards Deeks, trying to get him to continue.
"Isn't the first time I've heard that," Deeks grinned, waggling his eyebrows at Kensi.
"You almost had it" Kensi encouraged, ignoring his comment and stopping her movements to stand besides Deeks, her hand on his shoulder again.
"Kens, I am a swimmer, we all know that, I am not however a water gymnast…" Deeks started, his eyes flickering down to her hand and back to her eyes again.
"Synchronised swimmer," Kensi corrected with a smug grin, remembering how Deeks had done the same thing earlier to Sam and Callen.
"Synchronised swimmer, water gymnast, whatever, it is not like I am a trained dolphin, I do not need the extra tricks to impress the ladies," Deeks commented, looking at Kensi with a cheeky grin as his eyes met hers.
"No of course you don't Bucko," Kensi teased, laughter escaping past her lips yet again as she began to pull away from Deeks.
"Worked on you didn't it?" Deeks taunted, raising his hand to dramatically push his hair back. Kensi rolled her eyes at the gesture, before smiling smugly in return.
"Worked on Pasternak too," Kensi grinned; stopping the smug retorted that was forming on Deeks' lips. Deeks narrowed his eyes at his partner, making it clear that he hadn't appreciated the small dig about the small love infatuation their trainer had for him.
"You going to go again?" Kensi asked, smiling sweetly.
"I believe you promised to help out this time," Deeks reminded a knowing look on his face as his eyes met Kensi's, his hands on his hips.
"One more time, then I'll help you," Kensi tried, nodding her head at Deeks, trying to get him to start the movements without her guidance.
"That's what you said last time," Deeks pouted, pushing out his bottom lip.
"You're a big boy Deeks," Kensi reminded, a smile growing on her lips.
"But you promised Kens," Deeks replied, his grin growing wider as he watched Kensi begin to relent.
"You're such a baby," Kensi complained, raising her arm to pushing the droplets of water off her face.
"C'mon Kens, partners help partners in need," Deeks bargained, winking at Kensi.
"Ewww?" Kensi shot back, screwing her nose up in disgust.
"I meant with synchronized swimming Kens, mind out of the gutter." Deeks reassured, a wicked smirk on his face, as his eyes flickered from Kensi's to her lips and back to her eyes again.
"I…" Kensi started, fighting the blush forming on her cheeks, hating herself for falling for Deeks play on words yet again.
"So are you going to help me?" Deeks asked again, feigning innocence.
"Get over here," Kensi relented, rolling her eyes, signalling Deeks to move to the more shallow part where she was able to stand.
"Do pretend you don't want some of this," Deeks teased, as he slowly swam towards Kensi, his arms reaching towards her bringing himself closer.
"That's the last thing I want," Kensi groaned, rolling her eyes again and screwing her nose up in feign disgust.
"Last night you wanted it, all to yourself, in my bed might I add." Deeks smirked as he stopped in front of Kensi his chest brushing against hers.
"You have got to let that go," Kensi sighed, looking down at Deeks chest and then back up at his eyes.
"Not until I find out what it was all about," Deeks said in a sing song voice, as he waited for Kensi's instructions.
"It was nothing Deeks, a moment of…" Kensi started with a pause, finally beginning to explain her actions of the night before that Deeks was all so desperate
to figure out.
"A moment of? No need for a dramatic pause Kens," Deeks teased, as Kensi latched onto his wrist jerking his body flush against hers, causing Deeks eyes to widen in shock at the sudden movement.
"A moment, for me to know and you to try to figure out," Kensi whispered hoarsely, her eyes tapered with a challenge and an impish smile on her lips. Deeks swallowed nervously as he tried to think of anything other than the current position their bodies were currently in, his mind projecting images his body was surely going to respond to very quickly, ones he was sure his partner would not appreciate.
"Now turn around," Kensi instructed, grasping Deeks by the hips and forcefully turning him in the water, smiling to herself, rather proud that she had managed to get one up on Deeks and silence him in the process.
"Stand like Pasternak showed you," Kensi prompted, her hands still situated on Deeks hips, content with their spot just above the fabric of the swimsuit. Deeks glanced at Kensi out of the corner of his eye, his eye brow raised curiously at the placement of her hands but he said nothing to object to it.
"What is next master?" Deeks taunted, swaying his wet hair out of his eyes.
"Stand on one foot and start the circular motion slowly," Kensi continued to instruct, ignoring Deeks taunt with a shake of her head.
"Like this?" Deeks asked hesitantly, as he began to rotate his leg his face contorted with concentration, focusing purely on the motion and not on Kensi's soft hands.
"Blye, Deeks, I told you no more kissy-kissy, we work, we win!" Pasternak called from across the pool, turning from the whiteboard she had been working at to find them standing together in the middle of the pool in a compromising position.
"She was…" Deeks started, pointing over his shoulder at Kensi whose eyes had shot wide with shock.
"He was…"
"I…"
"He…"
"It's…"
"Not..."
"That…"
"Enough. Blye!" Pasternak yelled, ending the spluttering mess that was Kensi and Deeks.
"Deeks was having trouble with the egg beater and I was helping him with the movements." Kensi informed, sighing with relief that all had been corrected.
Pasternak crossed her arms against her chest and raised her eyebrows sceptically, her eyes travelling down Deeks chest to Kensi's hands that were still comfortably placed on Deeks hips. Kensi instantly removed her hands and sheepishly took a step back from Deeks, feeling guilty for something that she deemed an innocent act, as Deeks watched on grinning wickedly at her.
"Deeks here,"
"Wait what?" Deeks gulped, looking from Pasternak to Kensi wearily, not liking where this could be headed. Sniggering to herself Kensi took another step back leaning up against a diving lane rope, as though she was presenting Deeks to the Russian.
"Was not suggestion, here now!" Pasternak bellowed again, clicking her fingers this time, a girlish smile on her face.
Deeks turned to Kensi again; a solemn look on his face, knowing very well that he was being handed over to the bloodthirsty trainer who had been eyeing him off since day one. Kensi laughed again at Deeks, winking at him as he began to slowly wade through the pool, offering him a small wave of her fingers. Looking up at Pasternak who was trailing him with her eyes, Deeks offered her a sarcastic smile before glancing back at Kensi once more a pleading look in his eyes.
"If you loved me, you'd save me right now," Deeks whispered loudly, with the erratic hand actions to match.
"To bad I don't love you." Kensi shrugged, leaning against the lane rope casually.
"You can sleep in your own bed tonight," Deeks hissed back in return, as though it was a real threat, triggering a hearty laugh from Kensi.
Reaching onto the railing to pull himself out of the water, Deeks made a dramatic show of pulling himself up, groaning loudly and flexing his muscles excessively. Watching Deeks, Kensi rolled her eyes at his actions, knowing that the little show was for her and that any other reaction would be exactly what Deeks would be looking for, as she could see him watching her out of the corner of his eye. Strutting across the wet concrete, Deeks came to a stop in front Pasternak, who looked as though all her Christmas' had just come at once, with the freshly exposed Deeks standing in front of her.
"You requested my presence," Deeks drawled, his hands on his hips as his flicked his hair out of his eyes again.
"We work on strokes out of water, help in water," Pasternak stated simply, grasping Deeks by the hips similarly as Kensi had done so earlier. Deeks eyes shot open and his mouth formed a thin line, instantly becoming uncomfortable in the situation, his fake confidence dissipating from his being as the Russian firmly gripped his body.
"Blye keep going," Pasternak ordered over Deeks shoulders, making it clear to Kensi that she wanted Deeks' attention all to herself. Kensi bit down on her bottom lip, trying hard not to laugh at the petrified look on Deeks face, as she began to kick her legs once again, her eyes connecting with Deeks across the swimming pool.
"Lift this leg," Pasternak instructed, as she ran her calloused hand down Deeks exposed left leg, caressing the muscle much too tentatively then Deeks appreciated.
"Now rotate it," Pasternak prompted, a hand still firmly on Deeks hip, her back pushed up against Deeks and her other hand now rest on the Deeks' raised left knee.
"Do not fight motion, smooth it out, let muscle take control and not the mind," Pasternak whispered in Deeks ear. Deeks coughed loudly at the action, causing Pasternak to tighten her grip and Kensi to let a small laugh pass through her lips. Deeks looked at her pleadingly, begging her to stop the personal session that he was having to endure with their apparently newly found 'hands on' trainer.
Stopping to watch the detailed session, Kensi watched as Pasternak's hand began to rise higher up Deeks thigh and how his discomfort grew when Pasternak ignored all his comments and signals of wanting to stop the session, as she was clearly enjoying the personal time far too much. Deciding it was time to put an end to Pasternak's fun and to put Deeks' out of his misery, Kensi swam over to edge of the pool, capturing Pasternak's attention in the process.
"Blye why you no swimming?"
"Time for a break? It's been half an hour!" Kensi insisted, pointing to the lap clock on the far wall, as she held on to the edge of the pool hoping that the poor excuse was a good enough to get them both out of the water for five minutes or so. Pasternak looked at Kensi and Deeks, evidently weighing up her options before stepping away from Deeks, releasing her grip on Kensi's partner.
"Five more minutes in pool, you show me what you can do, we break and I tell you what I have planned for event." Pasternak bargained, nodding her head towards the pool, indicating that Kensi and Deeks were to swim back out to the middle again.
"Deal," Deeks quickly agreed, moving out of Pasternak's reach to jump back into the middle of the pool. Kensi looked to Pasternak and shrugged, pretending to be oblivious to Deeks' behaviour, before diving under the water trailing after her partner. Surfacing next to Deeks, Kensi immediately began to snigger not even bothering to hide her amusement.
"Shut up," Deeks complained, looking everywhere but Kensi.
"You really seemed to enjoy that Deeks," Kensi taunted sarcastically, with a fake smile, her nose slightly crinkled.
"She certainly did, it felt like I was on a date, but not a good one," Deeks shuddered, his eyes squinting shut at the memory.
"Got yourself a new girlfriend Deeks?" Kensi grinned wickedly, a mischievous glint in her eye.
"If I said yes would you be jealous?" Deeks shot back, finally turning to meet Kensi.
"I cannot wait to tell Sam and Callen." Kensi teased, wiping water out of her eyes.
"I think there is going to be a bruise on my hip tomorrow," Deeks admitted, his hand finding the soft spot on his hip.
"Later tonight, when we're both really drunk, I'll kiss it better," Kensi announced, clapping Deeks on the shoulder, sending droplets on water flying everywhere.
"Just my hip?" Deeks asked curiously.
"Calm yourself partner, you don't have…ah… much protection, per say," Kensi reminded, her eyes travelling down to where the water blurred away what
couldn't be seen.
"Five minutes starts now. Deeks I will be watching." Pasternak bellowed from the pool side, her hands on her hips.
"Yeah she will," Kensi sniggered, looking to Deeks. Deeks groaned audibly, throwing his head back in frustration, Pasternak was going to be the death of him.
"Wow,"
"Did you…"
"Did I?"
"Is that even legal?"
"Can she do that?"
"I don't know?"
"Poor Deeks," Eric groaned, watching the feed of the Densi pool from the now deemed sanctuary of the lifeguard office. Eric and Nell had arrived before the team and quickly had been directed to the offices of the lifeguards and staff that sat up above the main pool that was to be used for the main event to set up the recording materials.
Once the team had settled into the training sessions which Nell and Eric knew they were going to be no help with, they had retreated back to the lifeguard tower to configure to cameras and to get everything online for the final competition. Due to the water environment there had been some minor delays in setting up there cameras and they had only just come online and the feed they had just received on the monitor had been somewhat shocking.
"Well she definitely enjoyed herself," Nell grinned, spinning in her chair to face Eric. Eric face was contorted with shock knowing very much how Deeks would be feeling in the moment and how he would not be appreciating the humour in the moment.
"She might as well of put him on a platter and served him up to herself," Eric exaggerated.
"Jealous?" Nell asked, leaning back in her chair, tenting her fingers in front of herself.
"Jealous?" Eric repeated, his eyebrows shooting up above his glasses. "That is definitely the last thing I am."
"So you are only jealous of Deeks when he is partnered with Kensi?" Nell asked teasingly, going back to their conversation from the car ride over.
"No, no, no, no, I am not falling for you mind games again." Eric quickly defended, sounding rather impressed with himself.
"If you say so, but Kensi does call me Professor X," Nell shrugged casually returning to the Sallen feed where Sam and Callen were floating upside down
practicing hand sculls.
"Professor X?" Eric repeated, looking Nell up and down curiously taking in her attire of a blue sundress with a mauve cardigan.
"Yep," Nell retreated, popping the end of the word, knowing that Eric was watching her.
"Look at Sam trying to swim upside down." Nell giggled, pointing to screen, as Sam bobbed next to Callen who appeared to be getting a handle on the skill.
"He can sure hold his breath though," Eric admired, knowing that Sam had a knack for underwater diving.
"That will be an advantage, but that….won't," Nell grimaced as Sam fell into Callen's legs and the two men surfaced laughing at one another.
"At least they are laughing." Eric shrugged.
"Could be worse," Nell agreed, knowing that Sam and Callen were not keen on the idea of synchronized swimming.
"They could be Deeks," Nell and Eric said in unison, causing the other to laugh.
"Jinx," Nell called loudly, punching Eric harshly in the shoulder.
"Ouch we agreed on sodas," Eric complained rubbing the sore spot.
"Did we?" Nell smiled innocently, rolling back in her chair moving out of the reach of Eric. Eric smiled sarcastically at Nell, knowing very well that Nell knew about their agreement but took pleasure out of beating him up, much like Kensi enjoyed beating up Deeks, it was like some personal secret they shared with one another.
"What are you staring at?" Nell asked, as Eric continued to stare at her.
"The computer screen behind you, it keeps flickering and I think it's the one to the main pool." Eric informed pointing to the now black screen. Nell turned in her seat, watching as the screen changed from black to the blue of the pool to black again. Sighing loudly, Nell stood from her seat and started for the door.
"Where are you going?" Eric asked, half rising from his chair, preparing to go with her.
"Well I was already planning to go check on Sam and Callen to see if they had a theme picked yet, so I might as well fix this on the way and then go," Nell announced gathering several wires, tapes and screwdrivers.
"I'll come with you," Eric insisted, standing fully from the chair.
"No," Nell started, watching as Eric's face fell with disappointment. "I need you to stay here to tell me if it's fixed or not, no point both of us going and then not knowing if it's fixed or not, now is there?" Nell questioned, as though it was the most obvious thing in the world.
Eric thought about it for a moment, shuffling on the spot before slowly nodding his head. "I suppose not,"
"I'll be back in fifteen, and if I'm not, I'll take control of your mind and let you know where I am," Nell grinned, as she backed out of the room. "Or I'll just send you a text message,"
And with that Nell disappeared in the door way leaving Eric alone with the array of computer monitors. Turning back to the Densi screen, Eric turned up the volume, grabbed his phone, put his feet back on the desk and sat back to watch the show unfold.
The five minutes that Pasternak had set aside flew by quickly, with Deeks trying his upmost best to perform the skill so another one on one experience with Pasternak could be avoided. Meanwhile Kensi continued to snigger at Deeks as she swam beside him, similarly to what she had done so earlier that morning but this time with much more subtly under Pasternak's watchful gaze. Satisfied with the partners efforts, Pasternak signalled the pair over to the edge of the pool to where she could easily be heard without having to raise her voice, whilst also giving them a chance to rest their tiring legs.
"Better this time Marty, much smoother, our session helped." Pasternak commented, as she began to drag one of the wooden benches closer to the pool. Deeks nodded his head in response, barely making out her words over the horrible screeching noise the bench was creating against the concrete floor, silently hoping that he wasn't agreeing to a date of some sort.
"Now, the competition," Pasternak breathed, as she rested on the wooden bench with an exaggerated sigh of relief as though a giant weight had been lifted from her chest. Kensi glanced at Deeks out of the corner of her eye, wondering if Deeks was thinking the same thing as her, what did Pasternak have to be sighing about, they were doing all the work in the pool.
As Pasternak mumbled away to herself and drew on her whiteboard for several moments, gathering her final thoughts on the matter, Kensi subconsciously grew closer to Deeks her body drifting to his with the flow of the water, her arm leaning against his shoulders, taking all the weight off her legs, as she effortlessly floated in the water, Deeks holding her up. Deeks feet remained on the ground, as his arm slowly snaked around Kensi's waist holding her in place, stopping her from completely floating away, as they waited for Pasternak to inform them of the dreaded theme of the swim, neither really realising the position they had moved into, rather accepting it as something that had become more natural in recent weeks.
"Okay, the piece, I thought about for long time," Pasternak finally started, snapping Kensi and Deeks out of their dazes bringing back their focus to her.
"I see you together, how you work, what you do. This helped a lot with the decision and Ms Lange agreed with my decision too."
At this notion, Kensi and Deeks discreetly shared a weary look, unsure as to whether those words were ones of warning or ones to be excited about. With Pasternak things could easily go either way; the theme could be something that would suit the dynamic of their partnership perfectly, like a flirty and fun melody with an upbeat tempo or could end up being something completely off-beat to their partnership leaving them in the dark. It was because of this Kensi and Deeks found themselves holding their breath as Pasternak began to further explain the reasoning behind their theme and the feel of the piece.
"I decided on romantic theme, I see the way you two are together and I think you do it well." Pasternak grinned, watching as the hold Kensi and Deeks had on one another noticeably loosened, whether it was a conscious thing or not, she was not sure, but it definitely did not go unnoticed.
"A romantic theme? There really was nothing else?" Kensi complained, her eyebrows raised sceptically, in an almost disapproving manner.
"C'mon Kens, this could be fun," Deeks joked, waggling his eye brows suggestively at Kensi.
"Let me finished," Pasternak interjected, raising her hand to halt any further objections from the pair, as Kensi opened her mouth to retort at her partner.
"The swim will have a story to it, so will Sallen's, so we must sell it. The story is one of the grandest love stories in cinematic history, Titanic." Pasternak beamed, her eyes brightening with anticipation. Deeks turned to Kensi with a wide grin on his face, knowing just how much Kensi enjoyed the movie from his own personal experience of watching it with her countless times.
"Did you hear that Rose, we're going to America?" Deeks teased, winking at Kensi with an lecherous grin.
"I don't see what all of the fuss is about. It doesn't look any bigger than the Mauritania." Kensi shot back in return, her eyes wandering now Deeks' physique the innuendo clear. Deeks shook his head at his partners quip letting it slide just this once before turning back to the waiting Pasternak, who was still smiling a school-girl grin.
"The story will start from Rose and Jack meeting on back of the boat, on platform here and go from there in water with creativeness. It will intimate, personal and romantic. I want to see you two seduce each other in water, become one with character and each other, bring the story to life not only for judges but for yourselves, not that it should be a problem," Pasternak informed, casually waving her hand as she added the last sentence.
Letting the words sink in, Pasternak watched as Kensi and Deeks took and step back from one another, their own minds processing what she was asking from them. Kensi took in every word Pasternak was saying and was trying to fight the blush forming in her cheeks at her last sentence, there was so much to process in a short amount of time, and even less time to develop this 'relationship' that Pasternak was wanting to see between herself and Deeks. Glancing over at Deeks, who was still smiling to himself like an idiot, it appeared he was handling the news much better than what she was. Deeks had not been fazed but the announcement of the theme in the slightest, for he had already decided he was okay with whatever theme that was going to be picked for them, because either way he was going to be swimming with Kensi. Catching Kensi's eye, Deeks knew he had been caught and that Kensi was more than clued into what he was thinking.
"Deeks mind out of the gutter," Kensi scolded, splashing water in his general direction.
"I didn't even…" Deeks started, putting his hands up defensively.
"But you were going to," Kensi reminded, crossing her arms across her chest, a knowing look on her face, stopping any further objections from the detective.
"So you like it yes?" Pasternak asked, interjecting herself into the conversation needing the confirmation.
"It'll keep," Deeks shrugged, winking at Kensi yet again, who merely rolled her eyes.
"Yes, we both like it," Kensi corrected, pinching Deeks in the ribs in the process, sending him a playful yet stern look in the process.
"Well then," Pasternak started, standing from the bench with a clap of her hands, "Let's get to real stuff."
Fixing the main pool camera had taken longer than expected and after sending off several texts to Eric, who was quick to reply, they had managed to figure out the problem and reconfigure the screen, just in time for Nell to get quite a show from the team Sallen pool. Upon entering through the glass door, Nell was witness to a wayward lift performed by the senior pair, evidently one early in the rehearsal stage. Sam had been the bottom power stabiliser, using his force to lift a surprisingly graceful Callen into the air, but rather than control it Sam had used as much power as he could muster, throwing Callen across the pool, torpedoing him into the water. Instinctively Nell raised her hands to shelter herself from the raining splashback that was created, and the extra waves that were formed when Callen surfaced and decided to douse Sam with several layers of water of his own.
"Stop, that's enough, time for a break." Moldovan called, at the sight of Nell, fighting back a laugh at the child like pair.
"Are you trying to launch me out of a canon?" Callen asked Sam as they swam towards the edge of the pool.
"Just giving you some perspective G," Sam smirked, shrugging his shoulder casually, proud of his efforts. Callen raised a questionative eyebrow, prompting Sam
to explain further.
"Letting you know what I am capable of, a warning so to speak," Sam hinted, his intentions clear in his tone. Callen snorted at Sam, shaking his head at his overzealous partner, knowing that he was still upset that they were participating in synchronized swimming and was just wanting to show off.
"Do you guys need a time out?" Nell teased as she came to stand beside Moldovan, who biting back a laugh.
"Nell, to what do we owe this pleasure?" Sam asked, as he pulled himself out of the pool, his eyes narrowing at the Intelligence Agent.
"Thought I'd come see how my team was going," Nell shrugged, her eyes falling on Callen as he finally exited the swimming pool.
"They are going good, but are bickering like Miss Blye and Mr Deeks," Moldovan informed, a smug grin on his face, completely ignoring the shocked looks on Sam and Callen's faces.
"We are not," Callen objected, his hands on his hips.
"You know what, I can see that happening," Nell agreed, pursing her lips together into a small pout, her hand resting on her chin.
"Really Nell?" Sam scoffed, his hand outstretched, as he swayed his weight from one hip to the other.
"And I haven't even told them about the theme I picked yet," Moldovan continued talking to Nell, pretending that Sam and Callen were no longer in the room.
"Really?" Nell said in a sing song voice, looking from Moldovan, to Sam and Callen. Choosing not the rise to the bait this time, Sam and Callen ignored the jibe from Nell, creating their own conversation amongst themselves, smug smirks plastered on their faces.
"Do you think it would take two of us to throw Nell in the pool or just one?" Callen pondered aloud, seriously considering the problem.
Sam turned to Nell, sizing her up for the task. "I think you can take her G,"
"I suppose I better fill them in," Moldovan suggested, nodding his head towards the pouting pair, cutting off their conversation.
"I think that would be best, if you want them to dance for you," Nell agreed, clasping her hands together, before realising what she had said.
"Swim, I meant swim," Nell immediately corrected, as Sam and Callen both glared at Nell indignantly.
"Did you hear that Sam?" Callen asked, taking a step closer to Nell, his arms crossed tightly against his chest.
"Every word of it," Sam confirmed, once again looking Nell over suspiciously, the smaller woman not faltering under their inquisitive gaze, but rather standing taller under it.
"Gentleman, the competition," Moldovan interrupted, saving Nell from any further interrogations or threats.
"We won't be forgetting this Ms Jones," Callen warned, his eyes taking in her appearance before flickering back to her own. Nell pursed her lips together in a thin line, and nodded her head sheepishly, before following after Sam and Callen, who were following Moldovan to the whiteboard he had set up, along with some plastic chairs.
Taking a seat, the three waited for Moldovan to begin explaining the final piece, each exchanging quick glances with one another as the anticipation built. Flipping the white board over, Moldovan blocked a majority of the writing of on the board, particularly the crucial writing that was theme.
Taking a step back, Moldovan took a few seconds, allowing for the three to scan the board and read all the details that were pertinent to the task at hand. After several moments silence and no visual or verbal reactions from the team, Moldovan took it as his cue to begin his explanation.
"Well, as you can see, I have chosen my theme for the piece to be Disney," Moldovan informed proudly, tapping to the large block letters that had several ideas emanating from it. Moldovan looked to the whiteboard and then back to the group who still were sitting as they were before, the only change being the wicked grin on Nell's face. Feeling the need to explain further, the silence making him somewhat uncomfortable, Moldovan continued to explain his intentions,
"I choose this theme, because it can cover so many different emotions, morals and aspects in one song, because that is was Disney is. The piece will be heartfelt, emotional, touching and something that almost everyone in the room can relate to, because who hasn't seen a Disney movie?" Moldovan asked, looking to Nell for support, who nodded her head eagerly.
"I like it," Callen finally voiced, relaxing into his chair, the tension easing from his body.
"You do?" Nell asked, rather shocked that Callen had so easily been on board with the idea.
"It's got a backstory and a good feel to it," Callen shrugged casually, looking to Sam for approval.
"I've seen these Disney movies, just which one are we doing?" Sam asked narrowing his eyes suspiciously at Moldovan, having seen no particular movie identified on the whiteboard. The last thing Sam wanted to be doing was on top of swimming/dancing with his partner was to be acting out a Disney love story with himself being an Ogre and Callen a donkey or worse the actual princess.
"Mulan," Moldovan stated simply, earning himself a confused look from Nell.
"A problem Miss Jones?"
"Which song exactly will you be using?" Nell queried curiously.
"Reflection. Is there something wrong with this?" Moldovan asked defensively.
"No nothing, it's just of all the Disney movies, I thought you would have picked something with a bit more of an upbeat tune to the music… you know, for the Hulk and Hawkeye to swim to," Nell shrugged, nodding her head at Sam and Callen. Moldovan thought about her words for a moment, weighing up his options in his head.
"What would you have picked?" Moldovan asked, as Sam and Callen once again watched on as the exchange occurred.
"Well I'd need to do some research first, I know my Disney movies, but not my Disney music," Nell admitted, looking to Sam and Callen who were watching her with curiosity.
"Can we hear this song? The one we have to 'swim' to?" Sam asked, leaning forward in his chair, interrupting the conversation.
"Sure," Nell smiled, pulling out her phone to find the video. Pressing play on the link the music began to fill the pool area, echoing off the walls. Listening intently to the soft instrumental, Sam and Callen shared a sceptical look, one that could be immediately read as no way we are not using that music. Nell immediately picked up on this and shut off the link, looking to Moldovan who was smiling triumphantly proud of his choice in music, knowing that it would provide rhythms for the routine, that would be both graceful and creative.
"What do you think?" Moldovan asked, his hands on his hips, as he looked Sam and Callen over. Sam glared at Callen, clearly trying to initiate one of their silent conversations, but Callen was avoiding his eye contact. Sighing loudly, Sam turned to Moldovan, "That sounds like something my daughter would dance to at her dance recital."
"You don't like it?"
"I thought we would pick something fierce, like a warrior theme or power something that played to our strengths, not…that," Sam admitted, screwing his nose up at the music, feeling emasculated again.
"It does have warriors in the movie," Nell piped in, earning herself an unimpressed look from Sam.
"What do you think Callen?" Moldovan asked, taking in what Sam had said.
"I am here to win and if I have to perform synchronized swimming with my partner to do just that, well I'll do it." Callen sighed, sending Sam a sympathetic look.
"I agree, I say go big or go home Sam, Kensi and Deeks will do anything to win, you can do this." Nell coaxed, leaning forward in her chair to smile at the bigger man. All eyes were on Sam, he knew the final decision was now on him and if they were going to win, he was going to have to suck up his ill feelings towards to event and take one for the team, so they could come away Op-Lympic champions.
"Fine, but I'll be doing all the lifting," Sam relented, with a small smile, clapping Callen on the shoulder.
"That's fine by me, but no more canon ball shots," Callen smirked, shaking hands with his partner as Nell stood to get in on the excitement.
"We can do this, can't we G?" Sam asked hesitantly, as he looked back to the whiteboard where Moldovan was now making some last minute adjustments.
"God I hope so," Callen admitted.
"You know maybe this is all karma for making fun of Kensi and Deeks in the bull-pen this morning," Nell reminded, a small smile tugging at her lips.
"You heard that?" Sam asked, glaring at Nell suspiciously.
"Eric and I hear a lot of things," Nell replied ambiguously, trying to keep herself out of trouble with the senior pair.
"Nell…"Callen prompted with a knowing look.
"We may occasionally hack into the bull-pen security cameras and eaves drop on conversations when we are bored," Nell admitted, trying to sound as innocent as possible.
"Can they do that?" Sam asked, looking to Callen expectantly.
"I'm guessing they can," Callen replied, looking Nell up down, causing her to blush.
"Anyway," Nell started trying to take the conversation away from the little secret she had revealed. "About your theme, I am going to do some quick research and see if I can find something better for you guys to swim to," Nell divulged, quickly glancing over her shoulder, making sure that Moldovan wasn't within ear shot.
"You can do that?" Sam asked sceptically, straightening in his chair with excitement.
"Well no, but I am going to try, I don't like that song choice, I am going to find something better."
"Moldovan won't like that," Callen commented, glancing over at the trainer who had his back to the team.
"I think I'll be able to bring him around, unless you two want to swim his slow soul searching piece?" Nell confidently suggested, her mind already beginning to form several ideas, much better than suggested. Callen looked to Sam who had already brightened at the idea, before nodding his head at Nell, giving her the silent signal to begin her quick search for another Disney song.
"What about Deeks and Kensi's theme?" Sam asked, finally relaxing in his chair.
"No idea, they haven't found there's out yet," Nell admitted, glancing up at the clock on the wall realising that she had been away longer than she had expected. "But when I find out, I'll be sure to let you guys know,"
"They'll be keeping it on the down low no doubt," Callen mused, rubbing his hand over his head.
"Wouldn't want the opposition finding out before the big dance off,"
"Dance off?" Sam repeated with a scoff.
"Don't worry guys, I will be keeping this to myself, that's for sure, we don't want the competition to have any advantages," Nell interjected, whilst Callen ignored Sam's remark, earning herself a sweet smile from Callen. Observing Moldovan beginning to approach from the whiteboard, Nell took this as her cue to leave, wishing the boys luck with the rehearsals, promising them that she would be back shortly, hopefully with an update on their side project.
As Nell walked away, Moldovan turned back to his waiting charges, a new found eagerness present in his features.
"Okay warriors time to hit the pool again; we have a routine to perfect."
An:/ Synchronized Swimmers out there please forgive me if any of this is wrong or just plain stupid, it isn't a huge sport in Australia so my knowledge/research is limited, so I don't mean to offend or embarrass you at all! Thanks for reading!
[Black Rook: In regards to your suggestions and review, I appreciate them dearly, and just wanted to let you know that most of what you have suggested had already been previously considered for the story, I won't say what I have decided, but I thought I'd let you know and thank you!.]