How about a fanfic on everyone's thoughts when Deeks first joined the team and now their present thoughts of him and how much he's proven himself.
A/N: I don't know if you wanted something this fluffy, but here it is.
"I don't know what Hetty was thinking bringing Deeks in as a liaison," Sam said, shaking his head. Deeks had left a couple hours ago to begin prepping for his undercover.
"I thought he did ok," Kensi said, not knowing why she felt the need to defend him. When both Sam and Callen a questioning look, she shrugged awkwardly and added, "I mean, he didn't get anyone killed so that's good, right?"
"The others cops wouldn't even talk to him," Sam continued. "The guy can't even liaise, which is the whole point of him being here."
"He did ok undercover at the club," Callen offered, which earned a glare from Sam. "But you're right, it could have gone better."
"He's annoying, he doesn't follow the rules…he's not right for the team."
"I beg to differ, Mr. Hanna," Hetty said quietly from behind them. Sam turned around, his expression stubborn and set.
"Hetty, what if somebody gets hurt? He's unpredictable and untrained." Hetty gave him a disapproving look, folding her hands together in a way that reminded Kensi of how her kindergarten teacher had looked when a student was in trouble.
"Sam, you know very well that the ability to roll with the punches is a highly useful skill in this job. And as for Detective Deeks being untrained, LAPD would not have him running solo undercover operations if he wasn't capable." Sam started to object again, but she raised a silencing finger. "And whatever holes there may be, we will fill them."
"So you're planning on him being permanent member of the team?" Kensi asked. Hetty observed her from a moment and then nodded.
"Yes, I do. I think you'll find Mr. Deeks a more than adequate partner." Kensi didn't say anything else, accepting her fate for the foreseeable future. She thought Deeks was pretty annoying at times, and fully intended to pay him back for the whole Fern bit, but she didn't disdain him the way Sam seemed to.
"I expect you to treat our new member with as much respect as you do each other," she added before she turned to leave.
"He needs a haircut and shave too," Sam muttered under his breath once she was out of ear shot. Somehow he made it sound like the most egregious of Deeks' shortcomings.
"Nice work, man," Sam said, reaching over to clap Deeks on the back. He didn't even wince as he came closer than most people dared when Deeks was wearing "Artie".
Deeks popped the yellows veneers he wore over his own teeth out and grinned, looking pleased by Sam's compliment. He'd spent a week straight as his homeless alias which had ended in a successful outcome.
"Not to brag, but I would agree that my performance was, uh, shall we say inspired?" Deeks asked without a hint of modesty.
"Deranged is the word I'd used," Callen commented.
"Even better." Deeks started removing his jacket, but paused halfway through, frowning as he sniffed the air. "Does anyone else smell smoke?"
"Crap!" Somebody shouted from down the hallway. Deeks turned to Sam and Callen with a raised eyebrow as the distinct sound of Kensi, Eric and Nell bickering filtered into the bullpen.
"You wanna tell me why Kensi and The Wonder Twins are trying to burn down the mission?" he asked.
"We are not burning anything down," Kensi protested, sounding slightly breathless as she hurried toward them with a giant cake, topped with numerous candles. She set it down on top of Deeks' desk and glared at Nell and Eric. "I told you 40 candles was too many."
"Candles are festive," Eric insisted.
"Not when they almost set a building on fire."
"Ok, uh, does anyone want to tell me why we're having cake?" Deeks asked, hastily adding, "Not that I'm complaining. I love cake."
"We're celebrating a very important anniversary," Callen answered, a hint of a smirk twisting his lips.
"What anniversary?" Kensi came to stand beside him and wrapped an arm around his waist. She pressed a kiss to his cheek, smiling up at him.
"Today is the tenth anniversary of the day you officially joined NCIS," she told him, grinning at Deeks as his face flushed slightly.
"You guys really didn't have to do this," he said, feeling unaccountably embarrassed. Maybe it was something to do with the way everyone was watching him fondly.
"Of course we did!" Nell insisted. "This team wouldn't be the same without you."
"She's right. I may not have realized it at first, but you are a valuable member of this team, this family. I think I can speak for all of us when I say that we're grateful for the day Marty Deeks dropped into our lives," Sam said, reaching out to squeeze Deeks shoulder.
Kensi wrapped her arm around him a little tighter as he tried to think of something to say. He felt overwhelmed by all the attention and unexpected praise.
"Wow, Sam, that's um…"
"A toast worthy of Dom Perignon," Hetty said, holding up a bottle of champagne and saving Deeks from having to make any speeches. "Nell, would you mind grabbing some glasses?" As Nell scurried off, Callen started cutting giant slices of chocolate cake.
While they were all distracted, Kensi wrapped her arms around Deeks' neck and kissed him gently. "Sam is right, we are so lucky to have you," she whispered. Deeks tipped her head up, kissing her soundly and forgetting about everyone else until Callen shouted,
"Hey, quit making out, the champagne's gonna go flat." As Deeks glanced around the room while they ate pieces of cake, the frosting a little smushed from Callen's efforts, and drank champagne, Deeks couldn't help thinking that he was pretty lucky too.