This turned out much more heavy than I had pictured when I received this prompt from hangten33, but I am quite happy with how it turned out. I hope you enjoy!

Edit: hangten, I gave you that Kensi hug you asked for!

...

The Value of Trust

"Mr Deeks, hold your position with Miss Blye!" Hetty directed in his ear as gunfire rained from the house, tearing into the cars they were taking cover behind.

"Deeks! We need you!" A voice shouted in his other ear, an officer from LAPD.

"I'm coming', Scott!" Deeks shouted, popping his head up over the car. "Cover me, Kensi!"

"Mr Deeks, stay put!" Hetty shouted. "Callen and Sam are on their way to help the others!"

"Hetty, I've gotta help them!" Deeks yelled back.

"Stay put! That is an order!"

Deeks gritted his teeth, blocking out the sound of Hetty's voice as he dove out from behind the truck, careening towards the LAPD officers in need of help, dodging bullets whizzing by his head. One passed so close to his ear it took a few strands of hair with it.

Everyone managed to escape unscathed, except for the usual bumps and bruises. Deeks' ears were ringing from his close brush with death, but other than that, not harmed.

...

"Mr Deeks, you go directly to the boatshed," Hetty said firmly once the team had arrived back at OSP.

"Why? What happens at the boatshed?" Deeks asked with a grin. "You guys throwing a party or something?"

Kensi, Callen, and Sam shared a knowing glance, frowning. Deeks looked at them, expression falling.

"I take it being sent to the boatshed is not a good thing?"

"No, it is not," Kensi said with a shake of her head. She turned on her heel, heading back towards the tunnel. Callen and Sam followed her.

"Um, okay?" Deeks said. "Meet you there, I guess?" Deeks glanced down at Hetty for confirmation.

"They won't be there. Just you and I," Hetty replied. "I will see you in a few minutes."

"Uh, okay," Deeks said with a nod, heading back out towards the parking lot.

...

The boatshed was dark when Deeks arrived, no cars parked outside, meaning Hetty hadn't arrived yet. Deeks couldn't help but feel nervous, what on earth was going to happen?

Why was being sent to the boatshed a bad thing? Deeks pushed his dread aside and walked inside, flicking on a few lights, before walking into the main room, unsure whether he should sit or stand. He settled for pacing, trying his best to remain calm. He didn't know why he had this feeling of dread, but he surmised all would be revealed in a few moments.

Hetty arrived a few moments later, walking in through the door, closing it with a bang.

"Mr Deeks, in here please!" Hetty called, gesturing towards the interrogation room.

"Uh, ok?" Deeks replied, shoving his hands into his pockets and heading into the room. "What, uh, is going to happen, exactly?"

"We'll get to that in a minute," Hetty said. "Sit."

Deeks sat, squirming underneath his new boss' gaze.

"Would you care to tell me why in the world you disobeyed direct orders today? I am your new boss, you answer to me now."

"Yes, ma'am, I know. I was worried for the LAPD guys, I, uh, I knew them and didn't want to see them get hurt."

"I know that, Mr Deeks, but Mr Callen and Mr Hanna had the situation under control. You were told to stay put and you didn't. That was a direct order."

"I know." Deeks looked down.

"Very well. Let's get this over with. Come around to this side, take off your belt."

"Uh, okay," Deeks said, standing up and did as asked, placing his belt on the table.

"Good. Now lower your pants and bend over the table." Hetty reached for his belt. Deeks' eyes widened as bad memories of his father flooded his mind.

"You're gonna, you're gonna... beat me?" Deeks asked, shell-shocked. His hands started to shake as he stared down at his little boss who had folded his belt in half.

"What? No, no not at all!" Hetty said fiercely. "I'm going to spank you, there is a difference."

Deeks took a step back, eyes wide. "Y-you can't! I-I won't let you!" He shook his head.

"Mr Deeks," Hetty said in a warning tone.

"M-my father...he beat me... I won't let you beat me too!" Deeks cried, pushing past Hetty and running out of the boatshed, disappearing into the night.

"Mr Deeks!" Hetty called after him, but she received no response.

...

Deeks drove to the beach, breaths quick and shallow, eyes wide and scared. He settled into the sand a few feet from the water, allowing the sound of the waves to calm him.

Reaching into his pocket, he withdrew his phone and called the one person he could think of. The one person he really trusted.

"Hello?"

"Kensi?"

"Yeah, Deeks. What's up?"

"Hey, uh, can you come to the beach? I have something to ask you, and uh, it's kindof personal, I guess?" Deeks asked, still confused as on what to do, what had just happened in the boatshed.

"Oh, uh, yeah, I guess. I'll be there in a few."

"Thanks, Kensi," Deeks replied, then hung up the phone. He stood up and walked back to his truck, leaning against the hood while he waited for Kensi to arrive. She pulled in a few moments later, shutting off her ignition and getting out of her car.

"Hey," she said, walking over to him. "You want to talk?"

"Uh, yeah," Deeks replied nervously. "Come on." He reached for her hand, guiding her back out to the sand, where he sat down, crossing his legs. "This is going to sound really weird," he began as Kensi sat down beside him. "But I didn't know who else to talk to."

"Deeks, what is going on?" Kensi asked. "Just spit it out."

"What's a spanking?"

Kensi looked shocked, opening and closing her mouth a few moments before answering.

"Are, are you serious? You really don't know?"

Deeks nodded. "I've heard the word, I guess, just don't know what it means."

"Um, okay, well, it's a form of discipline where a person hits another person, usually on their butt, to teach a lesson, so they don't do it again," Kensi said, blushing as she tried her best to explain. Deeks nodded, expression still completely serious.

"Does, does Hetty spank you?" he asked after a moment, as he willed himself to speak. Kensi's ears turned bright red, but she answered.

"Yes, sometimes."

"And you just let her?" Deeks asked in disbelief. "You just let her beat you?"

"Deeks, she doesn't beat me. She spanks me. There's a difference."

"What's the difference? She's hitting you, and causing you pain."

"Deeks, a beating is out of anger. It's not to teach a lesson or guide you back to the right path, it's to cause pain and make you fearful. A spanking is not out of anger, it's out of love, and it's to teach you a lesson, to discipline you if you make a mistake."

Deeks remained silent for a few moments before speaking.

"In the boatshed," he began shakily, taking a breath, "She tried to spank me. I-I wouldn't let her."

"Why?" Kensi asked.

"My father, my father was abusive. It brought back bad memories."

"Oh," Kensi said quietly. "Hetty would never, ever beat you. She only spanks us because she loves us, and wants to keep us safe, which she can't do if we don't listen to her and follow orders. It's all about trust. You didn't trust your father, did you?"

Deeks shook his head.

"Do you trust Hetty?"

"Yes," Deeks replied after a moment.

"There's your difference. Hetty disciplines you because she doesn't want to see you get hurt. Your father beat you because he was angry."

"I think I understand," Deeks said after a moment, looking over at Kensi. "Thanks."

"You're welcome. Deeks, you've gotta go back," Kensi replied.

"I know," Deeks said. "Not tonight." He stood and headed back towards his truck, leaving Kensi on the beach.

...

The next morning Deeks wasn't his usual self. No goofy comments or witty jokes, just quiet and withdrawn, tapping absently on his computer. His guilt was waying heavily on his heart. His disobedience from the day before still had gone unpunished, and Deeks couldn't take his mind off it.

"You okay, Deeks?" Sam asked, frowning in his direction.

"Oh, yeah, I'm fine," Deeks replied, glancing over at Sam with a small, insincere smile.

"If you say so."

Kensi glanced up in time to see Deeks sigh.

"You need to go see Hetty, Deeks?" she asked knowingly.

"Guys! Case on deck!" Eric called from Ops. Deeks looked his way.

"It's alright, we've got this," Kensi said gently. "Go."

Deeks scooted his chair back and headed to Hetty's office as the rest of the team headed upstairs. Taking a deep breath, Deeks rapped a knuckle on the wooden post that served as Hetty's doorjamb.

"Ah, Mr Deeks," Hetty greeted, glancing up from her computer.

"Hi, Hetty."

"Is there a reason you are here, or are you just hoping for a conversation?"

"I, uh, no, there's a reason."

Hetty raised her eyebrows expectantly.

"I, uh," Deeks cleared his throat. "I think we should go to the boatshed."

"Are you sure about that?" Hetty asked, standing up from her desk.

"Yes, ma'am," Deeks replied. "I am." Deeks turned back around to go, but Hetty's voice stopped him.

"Mr Deeks?"

He turned around.

"I wanted to apologize. Yesterday, I did not even ask if you were okay with this method of discipline. I use it on the others, I just made the assumption that you would be alright with it as well. Considering your past, I completely understand if you do not consent to this form. We can just as easily work out another method of disciplinary action."

"No, Hetty, it's okay. This way works. I talked to someone who helped me see the difference. I trust you," Deeks said, nodding hesitantly.

"Alright." Hetty nodded, standing up from her desk. "I will meet you there in fifteen minutes."

Deeks nodded, before turning and heading outside.

...

Deeks was already in the interrogation room when Hetty arrived, with his belt placed on the table, standing beside the table when his boss entered.

"Would you rather I use something else?" Hetty asked, gesturing to the implement on the table. Deeks shook his head.

"No, ma'am."

"Alright then. Bend over the table, please," Hetty asked. Seeing as how nervous Deeks had been the first time she had attempted this, she didn't ask him to pull his jeans down. Deeks did anyway, unbuttoning and pushing them to his knees. The level of trust coming from her liaison surprised her, but was not unwelcome.

Deeks rested his elbows on the table, taking a deep breath. He heard the first swat before he felt it, the sharp crack of leather then a fiery stripe of pain.

"Woah!" Deeks hissed, drawing in a sharp breath as Hetty laid down another smack. This hurt a whole heck of a lot more than he thought. Hetty was rhythmic in her discipline, starting at the top of his bottom, working her way down to his sit spots with many overlapping swats.

The pain was bearable at first, but it built, a burning sting that was being drilled deeper and deeper. Deeks was grateful for the thin layer of protection his boxers provided, he couldn't imagine how this would feel bare.

Tears sprung to Deeks' eyes, threatening to spill as a particularly hard swat landed right overtop of the last stroke. Hetty moved lower, focusing a hard flurry of swats to his sit spots, before moving back up to the top of his bottom, swatting from top to bottom before starting all over again. Hetty completed three circuits total before moving lower, to his sit spots and thighs.

Deeks shifted from foot to foot, whimpering, tears beginning to stream down his cheeks.

"Hold still," Hetty said shortly. "We're almost finished." Deeks nodded shakily, stilling his squirming.

Hetty laid ten more swats onto his thighs before dropping the belt to the floor, buckle banging into the wood loudly. Deeks jumped at the sound.

"All over, Mr Deeks," Hetty said, placing a hand on his arm. Deeks stood up, hands going back to rub his sore bottom. Hetty let him, seeing as it was his first time.

"Augh," he hissed, gritting his teeth. She drug over a chair from the corner, climbing up on it as Deeks pulled up his jeans and rethreaded his belt through the loops. "Come here," she murmured, holding out her arms. Deeks leaned into the hug, sniffling as Hetty patted his back for a moment. He pulled away after a moment with a rueful smile.

"I'm sorry, Hetty, for everything," he said, rubbing a hand under his eyes to wipe away residual tears.

"I know, Mr Deeks. All is forgiven. You just behave yourself from now on, alright?" Hetty said. "I want you to be safe."

"I will, and I know." Deeks smiled. "I'm going to go back to work now."

"You do that," Hetty said with a smile as she climbed down from the chair. Deeks walked stiffly out the door, heading to his truck. It was painful to sit, but Deeks felt the burden of guilt lift from his shoulders as he drove back to OSP. A new bridge of trust between him and Hetty had taken its place, and Deeks couldn't be happier.

...

When Deeks limped back into the bullpen, only Kensi was there, trying to focus on paperwork. Sam and Callen were no where to be found.

"Hey," she greeted, glancing up from her work. She took in his tear-streaked face, red eyes, and stiff limp and figured it out.

"Hi," Deeks said quietly, smiling at her.

"So you let her do it?" Kensi asked, standing up. Deeks nodded.

"Weirdly enough, felt good." At Kensi's disgusted look, he added, "Not like that!" Kensi raised an eyebrow. "Felt good to get the weight off my shoulders."

"Oh," Kensi said. "I know how that feels."

"Gosh, it hurts though," Deeks said through his teeth as he reached back to rub his sore backside. Kensi snorted.

"It's supposed to, Deeks," she deadpanned, raising her eyebrow again.

"I know. Could use a hug though," Deeks said with an impish grin, coming towards her. Kensi sighed playfully, walking around her desk to get to him. Deeks wrapped his arms around her, sighing into her hair. Even though she wouldn't admit it, hugging her new partner felt good. She patted his back, resting her cheek against his chest.

"Feel better now?" she asked, and Deeks could feel her smile against him.

"Mm, yes, much," Deeks said with a grin. Kensi made to pull away, but Deeks tightened his arms around her.

"Deeks, I need to get back to work," she said, leaning out to look at him.

"Mm, no you don't," Deeks said with a grin, hands going to tickle her sides. Kensi laughed, twisting around in an attempt to get away. "Oh no, where do you think you're going?" Deeks wrapped one arm around her middle, tugging her back to his chest, the other hand tickling her stomach. Kensi laughed and struggled in his grip.

"D-deeks! S-stop!" Kensi squealed, her laughter ringing loud and true in the bullpen.

"Ha! Never!" Deeks shot back, tickling her harder, ignoring the pain in his bottom as he twisted round.

"What is going on here?" a voice behind them said, as Sam entered the bullpen, Callen in tow. Kensi's ears turned bright red as Deeks let her out from his grip.

"Nothing! Just - nothing!" Deeks said, walking round to his desk as Kensi retreated back to her chair.

Callen and Sam laughed as they took their seats. Deeks sank down beside Sam, groaning. Sam reached over and tousled his hair.

"First trip to the boatshed is always the hardest. You'll get used to it," he said with a grin.

"Wonderful," Deeks replied tightly, letting out the breath he was holding. He hadn't realized just how much it would hurt to sit in a hard wooden chair.

"You good?" Kensi asked from her desk as he grunted again as he reached down to grab his computer from his messenger bag.

"Yeah, I'm good," Deeks replied happily as he settled into his work. He grinned. A sore bottom had never felt better.

...

Huge thank you to MaidenMoonshine for pointing out that Deeks never consented, so I had to go back and add that in. Thank you again.