Eric hadn't been too sure of one Detective Marty Deeks. Mainly because it was too soon after Dom. He couldn't see someone else in that position so soon after- well, after everything. So, it was a bit jarring to have Deeks show up after that case he was Jason Wheeler. Kensi having another partner? Who wasn't NCIS? There was no way this was going to end well.

Except, it kind of did? Well, it didn't exactly end because it ended up being an ongoing partnership - Hetty creating an LAPD Liaison role for Deeks. Why she suddenly decided they needed one, Eric didn't know and he wasn't about to question her. No. There was no questioning of Hetty. That was just stupid.

He kind of felt... sorry for Deeks at first? Was that the right word? Sorry and sympathetic. This team didn't do too well with outsiders, even when they were from NCIS. And Deeks wasn't. And he was also kind of the opposite of what they were like. Kind of like himself, hence the sympathy. But the team had known how important Eric's job was for them staying alive so he didn't get nearly as much grief as Deeks got. And, you know, Eric wasn't an agent or anything so it really wasn't a fair comparison at all. Eric hadn't had to prove himself or gain their trust. Not really. Not the same way Deeks had to.

So, he had been sympathetic to that even though he made sure not to have much involvement with him. It wasn't worth getting close to him after all. He would probably be gone soon Eric had tried to excuse himself. Even though the real reason was because he didn't want to be hurt by losing another friend. Sure, he knew that could happen with the rest of the team but Eric was self-aware enough to realise that he could just stop caring for them. It was too late for that. On the other hand, he just had to not start caring for Deeks. It was as easy as that.

Until he started caring for Deeks. Oh, caring was the wrong word for it really. Got interested in him? Open to being friends? Friends was even too strong a word. Realised their mutual love for surfing was more like it but there wasn't a short word for that.

So, surf talk was their usual go to when they found themselves together at work and not discussing a case. Waves, weather, wetsuit brands. The important three Ws all surfers talked about.

And when they were on a case, Eric made sure to protect Deeks as much as he would the rest of the team. Created backstops, was his eyes, followed up on requests.

And then he found himself not just creating backstop but also adding to already established covers. Ones with the LAPD. Well, not exactly adding to them because Deeks would have to be involved with that but improving the security around them and Deeks files. That he could do alone. So, he did it.

Actually, it wasn't even deliberate at first. He had been going through the team's files and making sure everything was okay when the security around Deeks' didn't match the others'. Which obviously wouldn't do so Eric automatically started fixing it. It was what he did. It actually took another tech operator to point out that he'd altered LAPD files without their permission. Um. Whoops?

He didn't change it back though. No way. This way Deeks was safer. Therefore, so was the team. LAPD would just have to deal with it.

And they did complain, mainly because Eric had sort of made it that they couldn't interfere with Deeks files - they might do something stupid again like putting all of their distress words in plaintext. Nothing came of it. He hadn't even been aware such a complaint had happened until Hetty had dropped one of her infamous comments that weren't exactly pointed but you knew that she intended you to hear them. That's how Eric knew that she approved. That, and the fact that she didn't demand that he revert it.

So, Deeks stayed safe. Or, his information did. Safer than it ever had been and that's how it should be. Eric made sure to do security updates on his whenever he did everyone else's. Yes, it was a separate system and yes it wasn't his system but it was for Deeks.

Then the surf talk turned into actual surfing. Looking back, Eric wasn't sure which of them had extended the first invitation. Deeks, it was probably Deeks. Eric didn't exactly have the confidence for that sort of thing. But there had been an invitation. To surf together. Meet up on the beach with their boards and just... enjoy the waves. Nothing special. Just the local beach where the waves were good.

And they had fun. They watched each other. Surfed alongside each other. Encouraged each other, dared each other and laughed at their fails and cheered their successes. Multiple times. Over multiple days. It was fun hanging out with Deeks and amidst all the laughter Eric realised that they weren't just close colleagues or teammates that wanted to protect each other but maybe friends too?

Yes, he could definitely count Deeks as one of his friends. It was just easy to get on with him. He wasn't as obviously as intimidating as the rest of the team and he just had an easy-going manner, almost like Eric's own. It was... odd how much alike they were. Both blonde, surfers, liked old comics, laid back, chill. Yet they were different as well, Deeks' physical capabilities dwarfing his own and of course the whole detective-agent thing he had going on. But it would be boring if they were too alike, wouldn't it?

And it would be boring in work without him now. They would be missing something if he left. When Eric imagined the team, it was with Deeks. Deeks flirting with Kensi. Deeks winding Sam up. Deeks being a sharp contrast to Callen. Deeks encouraging Nell. Deeks teasing him. He was a part of the place. Engrained in it.