"Yea, this is definitely not what I had in mind for a vacation." Deeks said.
"What are you talking about. This is exactly what you wanted. Warm weather. Check. Beach." Kensi gestured to the Pacific Ocean beside them. "Check. What more could you need?"
"Well, I can tell you what I don't need." Deeks said while flipping the hair out of his eyes. "Fish, the strong, strong scent of fish."
Sam and Callen returned to the docks after having gone inside to track down someone who could explain the situation to them.
"What's the word?" Kensi asked.
"Someone should be out to brief…." Sam spoke before being interrupted. The team turned at the sound of a loud splash followed by something that sounded like something heavy being splatted on the ground repeatedly and was slowly moving closer to them.
"Sam look!" Deeks called out.
"Deeks…" Sam growled.
"Look at this sweetheart."
"Don't do it…" Sam warned while Callen stood by smiling.
"It's a real-life Navy SEAL!" Deeks exclaimed happily at Sam while gesturing to the California Sea Lion who had just slid themselves onto the dock near the agents.
Sam simply rolled his eyes while his partner and Kensi both laughed.
"Even kinda looks like you Sam. That thick build. That dark complexion." Callen stated before Deeks cut in. "That bald head!"
Sam sent a death glare towards Deeks while the rest of the team just laughed.
"We started this day off right, making fun of Deeks. Why are we suddenly on the wrong track here."
"I don't know BIG GUY." Callen emphasized. "Maybe because you didn't have my back earlier."
"ORRR, maybe because you all love me and know that I'm funny and want to be best friends forever."
Kensi snorted in laughter as Callen and Sam looked at each other, then both looked over to Deeks, then back to each other.
"Truce?" Callen asked.
"Yeah." Sam replied while shaking Callen's hand.
"Wait, what? No, no. This was so fun, it was like we were all bonding on a much deeper level, we…" Deeks was cut off.
"Where are we at?" Kensi asked, trying to get the conversation on some kind of track.
"CO will be coming out to brief us soon. In the meantime, looks like you might have some competition over there Kensilino." Sam said gesturing over to Deeks who was returning a hug to the large California Sea Lion.
"Don't ty to deflect, Sam, I know you're really the one who's jealous. You want to share some of this love?"
"Yea right." Sam scoffed as the sea lion hobbled their way over towards Sam and enthusiastically flopped against Sam's legs, resting it's chin on Sam's knee while staring up at him.
"Agents, Detective. I see you've met Claudia.
"We met her alright." Sam said grumpily.
"Claudia" the man said while gesturing with his hand prompting Claudia to find her way back in to the water.
"My apologies for that. Thank you for all coming. I'm Commander Medina."