Prompt idea: Kensi and Deeks try to comfort Hetty after S9's Goodbye Vietnam
A/N: For some reason I totally missed that Kensi was supposed to be in this fic until after I wrote this. Hopefully you'll forgive me for posting a Deeks only version. E-learning hath rotted my brain.
Deeks whistled to himself as he walked into the armory to return a couple of automatic rifles. They'd just returned from an op that had thankfully ended a lot more peacefully than any of them had expected.
He turned to flip on the lights and let out a high pitched yelp he would later adamantly deny.
"Hetty," he said, squinting at the faint outline of her figure. Tiny as she was, coming upon Hetty Lange sitting in a darkened room was ominous and downright freaky. "What are you doing in here?"
Since returning from Vietnam a few weeks ago, they've seen very little of her. Even so, Deeks had noticed a marked difference in her demeanor. She was more distant and if it was anyone else, he'd say she seemed confused.
He set down the rifles and turned on the lights, while Hetty watched him.
"Oh, just pondering, Mr. Deeks," she said with a dismissive wave of her hand. "I apologize for frightening you."
"Eh, don't worry about it. We're good as long as no one else hears about my very manly scream." Hetty smirked and nodded.
"I think I can agree to that." Feeling slightly awkward, he busied himself with cleaning the rifles and making sure they were in working order. After a few minutes, he glanced at her again and saw he gaze had wandered. In fact it wasn't focused on anything in particular and seemed distant.
Clearing his throat, he asked,
"Hetty, is there something I can help you with? Not that I'm suggesting you need help. But sometimes it's nice to talk things through."
"I appreciate the offer," Hetty said, "but I think I can manage on my own. Excuse me for distracting you, I'll be on my way." She eased herself off the stool and she suddenly looked remarkably old. That was another thing Deeks had noticed recently.
Hetty's vigor seemed to be be diminished. It was disconcerting. None of them knew just what had happened while she was held prisoner. Deeks had certainly seen enough-he held back a shudder at the memory-but he had a feeling Hetty gone through even worse.
She was halfway to the door when he spoke again.
"You know, after everything with Sidorov happened, one of the things that helped the most was talking about it." Hetty paused and turned back around.
"Again, thank you, Mr. Deeks. But I have been down this road before and I believe I can handle it." There was a note warning in her voice that indicated the topic was closed for discussion. Naturally, he ignored it.
"Just because you can, doesn't mean you have to," he said firmly, disregarding Hetty's annoyed sigh. "We all care about you, Hetty. And in case you didn't realize it, I think we all really missed you while you were gone. I just want to make sure we don't lose you again." She studied him for a moment and nodded again.
"I don't plan on going anywhere," she promised with a tiny smile that wasn't entirely happy. "Don't stay too late, Martin. I'm sure Monty and Kensi are missing you," she added as she left the room.
Deeks frowned, disassembling the weapons by memory, his mind still on Hetty. Despite her promise, he had a feeling she wouldn't be confiding in any of them in the near future.
A/N: Deeks did try to comfort Hetty, but I don't think she's the type who takes to comforting very well. When I originally watched season 9, I thought Hetty seemed kind of off (for good reason) for several episodes after she was rescued from Vietnam.
