Promises Chapter 21, a ncis: los angeles fanfic

"Oh. My. Gosh!" Jocelyn squealed.

"Yes, Marty and I are going out." Kayla could not stop smiling.

Her friend squealed. "Okay, we have to go shopping."

"Why is it that every time you come to see me, shopping is on the agenda?"

"Because I spend all day dressed in a bulky blue uniform and all my female friends are coworkers. I want to spend some quality time with my non-coworker female friend who, coincidentally, has a wardrobe in dire need of my help."

"My wardrobe is filled with clothes you bought me."

"And you need more!"

"Sweetie, I'll go shopping with you, but I refuse to become a shopaholic. You are buying for you."

"Unless we find a beautiful sundress for your date!"

"Sundress?" Kayla looked to her friend quizzically.

Jocelyn smiled mischievously. "Sundresses are like kryptonite to men."

"I'm amazed you even know what kryptonite is!"

"I dated a comic book geek."

"What?"

"He was cute!"

"You're an idiot."

"An idiot who can now hook any guy who ever liked Superman comics."

Kayla just rolled her eyes and grabbed her purse.

"So," Jocelyn winked, stepping into the walkway, "are you and Marty going to do it?"

"I'm not a slut," Kayla gasped dramatically.

"Yes, you are, and you've got the kid to prove it!"

"You're right."

"And, technically, it's not a first date, so you're not sleeping with him on the first date!"

Kayla punched Jocelyn in the arm. "I hate you and your logic."

"But you can get laid."

"I would love to get laid," her voice drifted before she blinked hard. "No. I can't let him get that far. We have to take it slow, for Andy."

"Honey," Jocelyn whispered in her ear, "Tonight, you are a free, unbridled woman."

"You are the devil!" Kayla gasped, blushing hard. "Tonight will go its own way; let's just wait and see!"

"You're totally going to do him."

"What makes you even think he wants to sleep with me?"

Jocelyn regarded her as a teacher regards a student. "Firstly, he's a man. Secondly, he hasn't slept with anyone since you came back into his life, and thirdly...girl, you're gorgeous!"

"I hate you," Kayla smiled.

"Ooh! This one!" Jocelyn pulled a navy cotton number. It had a structured corset bodice, leading into an eyelet skirt ending an inch above the knee.

Kayla looked it over, finally nodding in approval. "I like it."

"Then buy it." Jocelyn handed over the dress, allowing Kayla to step into the dressing room. "And some wedges. Because you can't wear this dress at night without a heel."

"And a sweater."

Jocelyn grimaced. "Sweater? Do you want to look like a third grade teacher?"

"It's going to be cold!"

"Well, then," she stalled, glancing around the store. Her eyes fell on her cropped cognac-colored leather jacket. "This. Wear this."

Kayla stepped out of the dressing room. Jocelyn held out the coat, and Kayla slipped it over her bare shoulders.

"Yes!" she squealed. The ensemble was the perfect juxtaposition of sweet and edgy.

Kayla smiled at her reflection. "You have no idea how glad I am to have a girlfriend again."

"Buy me dinner first!" Jocelyn shoved her.

"Seriously! I would have probably gone out in my mom jeans without you."

"Oh, no!" she gagged. "I'd wrangle you back home before you showed you face in public."

Kayla purchased the dress and they headed back to her apartment.

"This is where I say goodbye," Jocelyn embraced Kayla outside the apartment door.

"Bye, Sweetie. Thanks for shopping with me."

"Anytime." She started down the stairs, but turned and yelled over her shoulder, "Don't forget protection!"

"Bye, idiot!"

"Wow." Deeks's jaw dropped as he beheld Kayla in the doorway.

She swung her dress back and forth shyly. "Not so bad yourself."

"Have fun, you two!" Pat smiled innocently after the couple.

He was dressed simply, in a button-up shirt and his 'good' jeans. A goofy grin spread across his face, crinkling his eyes and making them sparkle. Taking her hand, he walked her down the stairs.

"Pat has been a godsend," Kayla gushed. "She dragged me back to LA, gave me cheap rent, helped me with everything, and watches Andy whenever I need it. It was a serious twist of fate when she found me five years ago."

"Yeah, she told me…you trust her, right?"

"Five years, and she has yet to let me down."

"It just seems a bit too fortuitous."

"Nervous about the babysitter?" Kayla laughed. "I was just as suspicious as you are, but she proved herself. I wasn't about to move back to LA for nothing. We lived here without a blip…at least until you showed up."

"Okay then."

"So, where are we going?"

"It's a surprise," he whispered mysteriously, leading her to his motorcycle.

"Martyyy," she begged, eyeing the bike.

He took her hand. "Do you trust me?"

"Not as far as I can throw you," she smirked.

He frowned. "Really?"

Laughing hesitantly, she replied, "I'm trying really hard not to run away right now."

"Well, can you trust me for a night?" He looked down at her, eyebrows raised.

Kayla paused. This was just a date, not the rest of her life. He wasn't going to abandon her. If she hesitated any longer, he would know something was up. She had no desire to be a major buzzkill. She pushed her qualms aside. "Sure."

He whipped a bandana out of his pocket and Kayla baulked. "You aren't kidnapping me, are you?"

In response, he wrapped the fabric around her eyes. "Trust me," he whispered. His breath on her ear sent a shiver down her spine. The hairs on the back of her neck stood up, and goosebumps prickled on her arms.

The sense of sight gone, she leaned on him to lead her forward. He kept his hand on her arm as he swung his leg over the bike, then placed her hand on the bike so she could climb on clumsily.

He reached around to clasp her butt pushing her hips closer. "Watch the hands, loverboy," she warned, wrapping her arms around his waist.

Deeks only laughed as the motorcycle roared to life. They drove off, and Kayla held on for dear life.

"I'm pretty sure that a blindfolded motorcycle passenger is not exactly the safest idea," she yelled in his ear.

Even without sight, she knew he was grinning. "Don't worry, I'm a professional."

She rolled her eyes, but snuggled closer, laying her head on his shoulder. The warmth of her body sent chills through his, and no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't wipe the goofy grin off his face. He had her, if only for the night, and he planned to do everything in his power to keep her.

"We're here!" He announced, and she began to take the blindfold off. "No, no, not yet," he scolded.

He helped her off the bike, offering his arm to steady her.

"Ready?" He asked.

Kayla could only nod. He pulled the blindfold off slowly. Squinting to focus, she glanced around the street.

"I've never been here before."

"Technically, neither have I," Deeks said mysteriously. At her quizzical look, he elaborated. "I came through here on an undercover gig. A serial killer was posing as a talent scout on karaoke night."

"Let me guess," she cut him off. "You were just his type?"

"Yup."

"So what was your alias?"

"I was a Swedish model turned aspiring musician named Sven."

Kayla laughed aloud. "And they bought it?"

"Well, we caught the guy!"

"He didn't go for you, did he?" She raised her eyebrow. "You lucked out."

"I followed him; he went for Shiniqua the rapper."

"Das burn!" she teased with her best Scandinavian accent.

"What?" he defended, opening the door for her. "Isn't it a good thing serial killers don't go for me?"

"I suppose," she sighed. "Do I have to call you Sven?"

"No; once we made the bust, it came out I was LAPD."

"Then why come back?"

"Well, I don't usually revisit my old haunts, but this is the one place I stop by every now and then."

"Still waiting for a talent scout?"

"Oh, I just like the atmosphere."

The bar was full but not packed. The lights were dimmed on the floor, but a strip of ceiling spotlights illuminated the small stage. Pictures and news clippings lined one wall; a sign declared it the Wall of Fame.

"Are you on there?"

He pointed proudly to a framed headshot. His blonde hair was overly styled into a pretentious coif; eyeliner was visible along his lash lines. Black lettering spelled out SVEN at the bottom.

"No last name?"

"No first," he replied with a grin. "I got to be one of those single-syllable stars."

"How'd you get on the wall?"

"When

"Sven!" The woman behind the bar greeted him with a kiss on each cheek.

"Stella!" He embraced her dramatically, slipping into the accent for the fun of it.

It was all Kayla could do to keep a straight face.

"How rude of me," Deeks interrupted himself. "I present my companion, the lovely Kayla."

"Still charming the ladies?" Stella nudged Deeks. "Sven had quite the swarm of groupies."

"Did he now?" Kayla's eyes danced with humor.

"It's true," he sighed, "but Kayla is making an honest man out of me."

"It's a chore," Kayla chimed in, "but we're making progress."

Stella winked. "Honey, he's worth the effort."

Another man joined Stella, clearly her husband. "You guys want something to eat before the show? It's on the house."

"That's not necessary, Jake," Deeks objected.

"I insist."

"Will you be performing tonight?" Stella asked excitedly.

"I was thinking about it," he admitted, "but I have to talk to Charlie first."

"Charlie runs the sound on karaoke night," Stella explained. "But he plays the guitar or piano if he knows the tune."

"Will you be singing?" Jake asked Kayla.

"Oh, hell no," she blushed. "I don't sing."

"She sings," Deeks interjected, "and she has a good voice, too."

"He just thinks that because love is deaf."

"I just think you're being modest," Stella encouraged. "Sing! We don't judge here."

"You have a talent scout in the audience once a month!"

"He's not here tonight."

Kayla blushed furiously, more uncomfortable by the second. "No thanks. I think we can give 'Sven' the spotlight tonight. His star power is enough for the both of us, I'm sure."

As Marty spoke with the emcee, Stella sat Kayla at a prime table.

"So how long have you known Deeks?"

"We've known each other since the police academy."

"So you're a cop, too?"

"Hell, no," Kayla sighed. "I teach parent-child cooking classes."

"Oh," Stella smiled. "Was he different back then?"

"Not so much. He still wanted the spotlight, but he's mellowed out. What was he like when you met him?"

"You mean what was Sven like?"

Kayla nodded eagerly.

"Honestly, he was an over-the-top douchebag."

"Was he any good?"

"His voice was fine, but it was his performance that drew the crowd."

"Did you seriously buy the whole Swedish-model-turned-musician act?"

"I thought something was off about him, but we all just thought it was him. He was so committed and confident, that we just stopped trying to figure him out and enjoyed the show."

"Yeah, Marty never understood the concept of a small lie. He goes big with everything."

"We've noticed."

"So," Kayla changed the subject, "How long have you and Jake been together?"

She glanced warmly at her husband, catching his eye. He grinned back. "Going on fifteen years."

"What's your secret?"

"Honey," she smiled knowingly, "there isn't really any secret. We're just partners in everything, and we're both foolishly in love."

Deeks returned, drinks in hand. "What are you guys talking about?"

"You," Kayla teased. "Apparently you're not as convincing of a Swede as you assumed."

"I may have gotten carried away," he admitted. "It was a fun case; no organized crime or hit men, just a single psycho. I could do whatever I wanted as long as I caught the guy."

"Was the eyeliner necessary?"

"Completely."

The lights dimmed and the emcee took the stage. "Ladies and gentlemen, we have a special treat tonight. One of our special guests has graced us with his presence. Say hello to our very own SVEN!"

Deeks jogged up onto the stage and took the mic from Charlie. In turn, the emcee grabbed his guitar.

"This goes out to the beautiful girl in the front row!" Deeks announced. Kayla felt the blush creep up her neck.

Charlie beat out a four-count before striking the first chords. She recognized the song instantly, smiling as Deeks leapt into action.

On the other side of a street I knew

Stood a girl that looked like you

I guess that's déjà vu

But I thought this can't be true

'Cause you moved to West L.A.

Or New York or Santa Fe

Or wherever to get away from me

Kayla knew he was an energetic guy, but this was a whole new level of energy. He paced the stage, practically bouncing on the black platforms, projecting to the crowd. He really did have a fantastic stage presence.

Oh, but that one night was more than just right

I didn't leave you 'cause I was all through

Oh, I was overwhelmed and frankly scared as hell

Because I really fell for you

His eyes never left hers, and the audience noticed. She wanted to dig a hole in the ground and die of embarrassment, but chose to return his gaze. Her cheeks were on fire; she covered them with her hands, but she couldn't look away.

Oh, I swear to you

I'll be there for you

This is not a drive by

Just a shy guy looking for a two ply

Hefty bag to hold my love

When you move me everything is groovy

They don't like it sue me

Either way you do me

Kayla knew that this wasn't just a song. This was a renewal of his promise, in his own way. The public display matched his nature; Deeks never half-assed anything. Whether there were bad guys to catch, people to save, jokes to be made, or women to be loved, he went all the way.

On the upside of a downward spiral

My love for you went viral

And I loved you every mile you drove away

But now here we are again

So let's skip to 'how you been'

And get down to the 'more than friends' at last

Any other girl would think Deeks was showing off, turning the spotlight on himself. This was, of course, the literal truth, but Kayla knew him better. This was the most romantic thing he had ever done for her. He was saying that he cared—he had always cared—and he didn't care how damaged she was. Of course, he had been telling her the same thing all along, but somehow the words of the song hit her deeper than the conversation. Perhaps it was the delivery, or maybe it was that she was finally opening up to him.

Oh, but that one night is still the highlight

I didn't need you until I came to

And I was overwhelmed

And frankly scared as hell

Because I really fell for you

Deeks needed her to comprehend his meaning. He stepped off the stage—the spotlight followed him—as he took Kayla's hand. His eyes begged her to understand. He didn't like to put his heart on the line, but he had one date—one shot to get the girl.

Please believe that when I leave

There's nothing up my sleeve but love for you

And a little time to get my head together too

She smiled at him and squeezed his hand. It was all the confirmation he needed.