"What the hell do we do?" Deeks asked after Niko made it down the stairs.
"I have no idea." Kensi said still slightly in shock from the whole situation.
"Give Monty a bath and I will start cleaning up the paint." Kensi said.
"And the boys?" Deeks asked.
"Leave them be until everything is cleaned up and we decide what we are going to do. It is also a good idea for us to breathe before we go in there and say something we will regret later." Kensi said grabbing a bucket and the carpet cleaner. Deeks nodded and retrieved Monty from the living room bathing him just as he did Niko. Had Kensi actually voiced her opinion she would have to crying children and an upset household, so she decided breathing was the best option at the moment. She also needed to think about confronting the boys without being mean. After all they are only 5 and 3.
"What were your brother's thinking Mont. And look at you they covered you. It is going to be a long night." Deeks said to Monty while cleaning him up. The dog just sat there looking unamused and very unhappy with what his little masters had done. Kensi was glad last year for Christmas her mom had gotten washable paint for Ryland. It came off of the walls and the tile as well as the kitchen appliances easily, but the carpet was a whole other story.
"Where can I help?" Deeks asked coming down the stairs. He put Monty in the backyard so he didn't get into anymore paint.
"Take the carpet spray and spray down all of the paint spots." Kensi said handing him the bottle.
"What exactly are we going to say to the kids?" Deeks asked.
"I don't know. I don't even know how to punish them." Kensi said scrubbing the floor.
"I say all art supplies especially paint are taken away for a week and the boys have to stay in their rooms for the rest of the day and night." Deeks said.
"Alright sounds good to me. We will go talk with them after all of this is cleaned up." She said agreeing with him. After spraying everything down and running the carpet cleaner over all of the paint spots, the house looked normal again. Deeks was standing in the kitchen dumping the bucket when Kensi came up behind him and placed her forehead on his back.
"The worst part of being a parent is punishing the kids." Kensi groaned. Deeks chuckled and turned around to face her.
"What the hell were our children thinking?" Deeks asked her.
"I have not a damn clue. Which one do you think suggested it?" Kensi asked.
"I'm going to go with one of them had an idea and the other had an idea, so together they came up with this." Deeks said.
"Ughhh we really need to watch our kids better!" Kensi said laughing just a bit.
"Toushe! Let's go get this over with." Deeks said grabbing Kensi's hand and heading towards the hallway.
"Which one first?" Deeks asked.
"Niko then we will see if their stories match up." Kensi suggested. The came to a stop at Niko's door each of them taking a deep breath before Deeks opened the door. Niko was sitting on his bed with his feet dangling off the side resting on his soccer ball. His back was to Kensi and Deeks and his head was down. Niko didn't look up or even acknowledge his parents.
"Niko what were you thinking with painting everything?" Deeks asked. Silence was all they got, Niko wasn't speaking to them.
"Niko your father asked you a question." Kensi said sternly. Still nothing. Kensi realized Deeks was becoming upset and she said, "That's fine Niko don't talk but you are not allowed to leave your room unless you need to go to the bathroom or it is dinnertime. When you want to talk just open the door and tell us we might let you come out earlier." Kensi added. This didn't phase him or spike a reaction so Kensi and Deeks left him be and moved on to Ryland. Ryland was crying when they entered his room. Deeks and Kensi both looked at each other knowing this was going to break their hearts but it needed to be done. It took everything Kensi had to not pick up her little guy and hold him close. Deeks was struggling with the same feelings so he grabbed Kensi's hand.
"Ryland what were you and Niko thinking painting everything?" Deeks asked softly. Ryland looked at them and shrugged his shoulders.
"Me don know." He said very quietly. Kensi and Deeks didn't want to interogate the boys, even though they were upset about the mess. Deeks stopped the questions and explained the punishment to Ryland.
"Alright no more art supplies for a week, which means no coloring or painting until next Sunday." Deeks started to tell him.
"Even at grandma's?" Ry asked.
"Yes even at grandma's." Kensi said breaking his heart.
"You also have to stay in room for the rest of the day unless you need to use the bathroom." Deeks finished telling him the rest of his punishment. Ryland was still crying when Deeks finished. Kensi walked over and pulled him into her arms.
"Do you understand why you are in trouble Little Prince?" Kensi asked.
"Cause me painted the walls and Monty." Ryland said laying his head on his moms chest.
"Yes you're right. Mommy and daddy are not upset anymore but you do have to stay in here alright." Kensi said kissing his head.
"I's sowwy." Ryland said.
"We know you are Ry." Deeks said taking Ryland out of Kensi's arms and hugging him. Deeks placed Ryland back on the bed and he and Kensi walked out of his room.
"Ohh that about killed me Kens. Did you see his little face?" Deeks told her as they made it to the living room.
"I know but he has to know what he did was wrong." Kensi said falling on the couch.
"When do you think Niko will talk?" Deeks asked. He was concerned, but Niko always acted strange with gettin into trouble.
"I'm not sure let's just give him a bit to himself then we will go back in there and see if he ready." Kensi said moving over so Deeks could join her on the couch. Kensi pushed Deeks down so he was laying mostly flat on the couch and she on one half of his chest.
"Are you going to sleep?" Deeks asked wrapping an arm around her.
"Nope just getting comfy." She said. Deeks chuckled knowing she would probably fall asleep within the next hour.
"What are we going to do for Ryland's birthday?" Kensi asked.
"Does he deserve a birthday!" Deeks said completely joking.
"Kensi smacked him hard on the chest.
"Yes he deserves a birthday. Kids do stupid things. Today just happened to be the day that Ryland and Niko chose to be stupid." Kensi informed him.
"I was kidding babe, I was pretty surprised that you didn't yell at all today." Deeks said realizing that Kensi stayed pretty calm.
"I wanted to yell believe me I did. I just don't ever want the boys to be scared to do something because they know we will yell. I figured how we handled it today was good." Kensi said softly.
"Yeah your right yelling was one thing I hated my father for." Deeks said quietly. Kensi hugged his one side tighter and pressed a kiss to his chest.
"So Ryland's birthday." Kensi restated.
"We could do a party in the backyard or maybe at the beach." Deeks suggested.
"The beach sounds great he will love that. I was thinking for a present maybe Niko could go with Callen and you and I could take Ryland and do whatever he wants." Kensi voiced her thoughts to him.
"Sounds like fun. I wanted to get him the new soccer Lego set too." Deeks had seen it in a commercial and knew Ryland would love it.
"I think he will go nuts." Kensi said smiling. They layed there in absolute silence wrapped in each others arms.
"It's way to quiet without the kids out here." Deeks said. Kensi nodded her head and got up.
"Let's go see if Niko is willing to talk to us." Deeks followed Kensi into his room. As soon as Niko saw them he turned and faced the other wall.
"Niko stop it you're not in any serious trouble we just want to talk to you." Kensi said softly even though she was growing more frustrated with the way that Niko was acting.
"Well you are mad because you locked me in my room." Niko finally spoke. This made Deeks almost lose his temper.
"We did not lock you in your room Niko, there isn't even a lock on the door. You're in here because you painted the walls, the dog, the kitchen, and yourself." Deeks said in a sharp tone crossing his arms. Kensi placed a hand on Deeks chest and told him to calm down. She was very curious why Niko had thought they locked him in his room.
"Why would you think we locked you in here Niko?" Kensi asked.
"Papa locked me in my room when I did bad. He wouldn't let me out for days." Niko said as the tears started falling. Deeks was furious. Not at Niko but at Niko's grandfather. He clenched his fists together and tried to stay calm. Kensi noticed him though.
"Go else where I don't care if you need Ryland go to him, if you need Monty go. Or go to the beach just go." Kensi said softly rubbing his arm. Deeks walked out of the room and shut the door. Kensi and Deeks had some idea that Niko's grandfather wasn't a nice man, but Niko never said anything. She knew this beyond upset Deeks and getting him out of the situation until he calmed down was best.
"See I told you he is mad at me." Niko said.
"No bud he is mad at the world right now, not you." Kensi reassured him.
"I'm sorry we were having fun and we didn't do it to make you mad." Niko said sadly.
"I know buddy, but wasn't right so we had punish you. We had no idea that is what your papa did to you. I'm sorry I would not have put you in here had I known that." Kensi said.
"Daddy said his dad was mean and a bad man. Was he just like papa?" Niko asked.
"I don't know what all your papa did or what all daddy's dad did, but if I am to guess I would say yes they were just the same." Kensi said to him. Deeks had told her some stories of his father but not a whole lot.
"So that's why him is mad." Niko said understanding.
"Yes that is why he is upset." Kensi confirmed.
"How about we go see Ryland now." Kensi suggested. Even though the boys were supposed to be in trouble the thought of them staying in their rooms made her sick. When Deeks had left Niko's room he walked into Ryland's room and kissed the small boy on the forehead. Ryland was asleep so Deeks just sat on the edge of his bed rubbing his back. He was mad that Niko had to go through that,he hoped all of his assumptions about Niko being abused were false but they were not. Deeks picked up Ryland and held his body close. Ryland awoke in his dad's arms slightly confused.
"Hey bud." Deeks whispered.
"Hi daddy." Ryland asnswered back.
"You know I love you so very much right?" Deeks asked.
"Yes me love yous too." Ryland said relaxing in his dad's arms despite the confusion. When Kensi and Niko entered Ryland's room they were met with a beautiful image. Deeks was holding Ryland who had his arms wrapped around Deeks neck. Both of their blonde hair was mixing together and they both had their eyes closed.
"Are my handsome men alright?" She asked from the doorway holding Niko.
"Yes we are alright now." Deeks said.
The four of them walked out to the living room and sat on the couch together.
"Kens I'm gonna take Niko to the soccer field and talk with him." Deeks said getting up and motioning for Niko to follow him. Ryland crawled to his mom's lap in the absence of his dad. When Deeks and Niko came back out they were wearing shorts and t shirts. Niko had put his cleats on and grabbed his ball. They said bye and love yous before walking out the door leaving Kensi and Ryland alone.
"What do you want to do baby?" She asked him.
"Way here my tummy huwts." Ryland said not moving. Kensi placed her hand on his head to feel his temperature.
"You feel a little warm but not to bad." Kensi told him. She hugged him closer and made a mental note to continually check in him. Ryland closed his eyes and eventually fell asleep.