Chapter 12 Halloween weekend at Stanford

TXT messages, between Marty and Chester

M: I hear U and Syd round 2 is on?

C: U hear that?

M: Kensi told me

C: yeah, we talked

M: and?

C: I agreed to try

M: U were good together I thot

C: there were good times

M: yeah, good luck. I got an invite 4 U

C: what?

M: Halloween party at Stanford Oct 30. I will send details.

C: K, I will check w Syd & confirm W U.

M: K


Marty's apartment

Kensi knocks and he opens the door, she rushes in and collapses on the couch. "Whew, this psycho whatever degree is going to be tough – but I already love it. I'm going to be able to analyze you," she wiggles her eyebrows.

"Great, just great," he moans. "My life is an open book!"

"You want me to know all about you, right?"

"Um . . . do I have a choice?"

"Nope."

"I thought so." He resigns.

"BTW, as I was driving the other day – you remember the tail . . ."

"How could I forget."

"Well, I thought that I wished I had taken Defensive Driving at some point. You ever done that?"

"No, but I saw that elective in the courses catalog. You want to do that together?" Marty inquires.

"Not together, might look suspicious."

"Really, Sherlock?" He challenges.

"Really, we need to be careful." She retorts. "BTW any word from Hetty?"

"No, I am due to check in a couple of days."

"Do that, I am really concerned. Why don't we call her?"


"This is Hetty, hello Kensi. You'd like an update, right?"

"You guessed correct."

"Not a difficult guess, my dear. I would like to talk with you and Marty to report and plan. Would this Saturday be acceptable?"

"Yes, where and when?"

"Noon, two-way conference call. Two agents and I will be on the call with you."

"Wow, ok. We'll be here, and Roger also."


NOON SATURDAY – Marty's apartment.

On the phone, Hetty introduces herself and agents Callen and Hanna.

Kensi and Marty introduce themselves.

Roger, Stanford-Law chairman, introduces himself.

Agent Callen starts, "I investigated in and around Reno, Nevada. I found one ticket agent who vaguely remembered Nell, saying that she had purchased a bus ticket to continue her trip but no memory of where she was going. So, the travel trail dies there; surveillance video isn't stored beyond 30 days, so it isn't helpful."

Agent Hanna continues, "I investigated several sites here at Stanford. I found no physical evidence. Several people in her classes remember her well; none of them noted anything suspicious."

Hetty added, "Tech support scrubbed social media and her online communications and found only one interesting phrase, 'Activate Reno'."

Hetty summarizes: "So we have 1) a phrase 'activate Reno' and 2) a bus ticket to Reno, NV. Nell continued on, but we don't know her next stop. We aren't even sure she used the next ticket. Given the paucity (absence) of evidence to follow-up and no evidence at all of a crime, I really can't justify asking my team to spend any more of their time working on this."

Hetty adds, "I don't know that either of you are at any risk, the probability seems quite remote. If we do anything else, I might suggest enhanced security including audio/video surveillance at both living spaces. Other thoughts?"

Agent Callen pipes up, "If this truly is a missing person case, the paucity of evidence is most unusual. I see nowhere to go right now." Agent Hanna agreed.

Roger asks, "Marty and Kensi, would you like some increased surveillance at your homes?"

"I don't feel the need for myself, I had relatively little contact with Nell," Marty says. "But Kensi roomed with her."

Kensi remarks, "Yes, but I can't think of anything at all in our relationship that is worrisome. And as I told Agent Hanna, I didn't see or hear anything untoward at all."

"Ok then," Hetty concludes, "We will wait for you to decide on the surveillance issue; may I request that Roger be on point at Stanford and relay to me any further requests you may have?"

"Certainly," Roger agrees.

"That is fine with us," Kensi adds.

"Hetty, thank you so much," Marty adds.

"You are very welcome," Hetty ends the call.

"So," Roger asks, "Anything else you'd like to do?"

"Not me, Kensi?"

"No. I guess we'll just keep our eyes and ears open. I do miss my roommate though. I hope wherever she is, that she's safe."

"I agree, Kens!" Marty adds.

Roger concurs.


Kensi awakens in a cold sweat; she is screaming, her heart rate is out of control, she is in full panic mode. She has had a nightmare but only remembers Nell's face. Her former roommate is screaming at her, also in panic. She screams "HELP ME KENSI" then fades from view.

Kensi doesn't know what to do . . . she is all alone in the dorm room . . . alone . . . no, she doesn't need to be alone . . . Marty is a few blocks away . . . Marty!

She grabs a bag, throws a couple of outfits and underwear in along with toiletries and cosmetics and bolts out the door. She heads for her car on a dead run, and drives to Marty's apartment. She runs to his door and knocks – pounds – yelling, "Marty, I need you!"

After a minute he opens the door, in his sleep-wear, looking very sleepy. Kensi lunges at him, wrapping him up tightly in her arms. "Marty, I need you!" she exclaims.

She is trembling in his arms. "I got you, you're safe here. Come inside." He picks up her bag and ushers her to the couch. "Tell me what happened, babe."

She relates the nightmare in shaky voice. She won't leave his arms. She asks, "Can I stay here tonight? I don't want to be alone; I'm scared."

"Of course, you can, I'll always be here for you! I can set up a bed in my second bedroom, it's not ready, but give me a couple of minutes."

"Marty, can we share your bed, please. I need you to hold me, please."

"Yes, we can. Come with me."

She unpacks her bag, hanging her outfits in his closet and putting the rest in the bathroom. She had run out of the dorm in her sleep-wear so they are all ready for bed. They climb into his king-size bed and she snuggles up to him, her back to his chest. He wraps an arm around her waist and she finally calms down and begins to relax.

After a bit she says, "Thank you, I don't know what I would do without you, Marty."

"You're welcome; I intend to always be here for you. Good-night Kens."

"Good-night Marty."


It's Thursday morning, and Marty awakens to the smell of coffee. 'What the hell? Oh yeah, Kensi came last night.' He gets up and shuffles to his kitchen, finding Kensi looking in the fridge.

"What ya doing, beautiful?"

"Hey buster, what do you think flattery will get you?"

"Good morning kisses!" He gets one.

They are both thinking – 'Wow, I could really get used to this!'

"Kens, what about classes today?"

"I don't have class until 1:30 so I think I will be ok. Especially if I can spend the morning with you?"

"The class I'm teaching is at 10:30, but I think I can get a substitute, let me make a call."

"You don't have to do that."

"I want to support you, no worries."

He calls Roger who agrees to take the class, he has taught it before and Marty has the lesson plan all ready to go. Roger wants to come over anyway and hear Kensi's story. He does, and they all agree that there are no actions to take at the present.

Except – "Marty, can I stay with you, for a while? It was getting lonely all alone in that dorm room, and now this?"

"Yes, you can. My home is always open to you. Do you need to consult your parents about this?"

"No, I'm 19 now and can make these kinds of decisions on my own. I'm sure they will be interested and want the whole story when they come up for the Halloween party; we'll talk then. One question though."

"Shoot."

"What we talked about . . . you know . . . expectations?"

"No change, babe. None! That remains a line that we will cross together, and only when we both are ready. I'm ready when you are; until then I respect and adore you. I'm not disappointed or anything, so don't worry. There is absolutely NO pressure. I'm rambling, aren't I?"

"Yes, and it's cute . . . thank you for that. Can we go to my room and get some more stuff, so I don't have to keep running back there?"

"Sure, let's get dressed and go."

They pick up her books and study materials, a load of clothes and other stuff; she looks around the room, "I think I will leave the rest as is. I told the asst dean that I would let them know after Christmas break whether or not I would keep the room. I have time to decide. Let's go."

They take everything back to Marty's place; she unpacks and puts her stuff away. It just feels so right.

"What about food, you've only been feeding yourself here. I'm sure there isn't much in the way of 'Kensi food' around."

"Kensi food?"

"You know what that is!"

"I thought so," he mutters.

"You want to be a good host, right?"

"If I'm a good host you will want to stay longer, right?"

"Right!"

"Then babe, I will be the best host on the planet!"

"I'm counting on it. Let's go grocery shopping."


EIGHT DAYS LATER, FRIDAY AFTERNOON

"Can we go to my dorm room again; I think there are a couple of things that I need?" Kensi asks Marty.

"Sure, let's go then we'll find some supper. I think we have some chicken in the fridge that're crying to get out of jail; you know, out of the fridge into the oven."

"Ah, I think that's out of the frying pan, into the fire!"

"You want fried chicken? I can do that."

" Ass." Kensi mutters.

"Ah hah, made you smile." Marty smirks. "Let's go."

Apparently, the group from LA had arrived just a little while ago; Donald, Julia, Syd and Chester had come up for the Halloween party on Saturday evening. Donald wanted to surprise his baby girl and had gotten a key to her room from the front desk. None of that group were aware that Kensi was now staying with Marty. Donald was just unlocking the door when Marty and Kensi came out of the stairwell, they rounded the corner and saw them enter.

"Marty, the posters are still up," Kensi whispered.

"WHAT THE HELL!" her father bellowed.

Julia covers her mouth to stop laughing.

"CHESTER DEEKS!" Syd shrieked.

"Oh. My. God." Kensi and Marty gulped.

They hustled down to the room, entered and found all four looking at the two posters with various looks on their faces. "We can explain, everyone," Kensi broke the silence.

"Please do," her dad growled.

"Good luck," Syd mumbled.

Marty held her hand tighter in support, smiling weakly, "I've got your back," he whispered.

"Thanks, babe," she whispered.

Kensi and Marty (and Chester) proceeded to tell the story of Kensi's move in weekend. The posters, of course, had occurred after Don and Julia had gone home – nobody emphasized that though.

Everyone was settling down until Julia piped up: "Kensi, where are all your things?"

"Well, they're at Marty's. I'm staying with him for a while, I had a bad nightmare. I was totally panicked and didn't want to be alone here in the room."

"And how long ago was that?" asked Donald.

"Eight, maybe nine days," Marty replies.

"And when were we going to be informed?" Donald shouts.

"We've been busy dad, what with school and prep for the party," Kensi retorts.

"We are top priority, little girl!" Don declares.

"I'm NOT a little girl anymore, dad!"

Marty wants to grab his girlfriend and duck and cover.

"DONALD BLYE," Julia exclaims. "Come with me," she grabs his wrist and pulls him after her. She leads the way to the end of the hall where there is a sitting area. "Sit down!"

Her voice softens a little, "Do you realize what you're doing?"

"What?"

"You are pushing our daughter right into Marty's arms! Now I don't mind that, I think Marty is an outstanding young man. But, why don't we let them figure this out all on their own? I think they have a really good start. Now, can you calm down?"

"I think I can, thanks honey."

They go back to the room. Things had settled down; Syd and Chester were holding hands and smiling. The posters had been taken down and rolled up. Kensi was going to take them with her. They all agreed to meet for breakfast at Marty's apartment in the morning; then take care of any last-minute party arrangements.


Breakfast went well; the folks were assured that the kids were behaving themselves. Syd and Chester seemed to have their friendship back on track which warmed Kensi and Marty's hearts.

The HALLOWEEN party was a smooth, fun, safe adventure. There were a small number of select faculty invited along with a larger group of students. The students had been handpicked by Marty and Kensi, and had mostly come from the various honor rolls of the departments. Costumes were, of course, required.

Marty and Kensi had dressed as the key characters of 'Li'l Abner'; Marty was Li'l Abner Yokum complete with his corn-cob pipe; Kensi was Daisey Mae Yokum (Scragg) complete with the scanty costume showing off all her assets. They were the HIT of the party. The adult chaperones wondered what the hell they had gotten themselves into; the students LOVED it!

At one point Marty was clowning around when he tripped and fell onto a pile of straw. Kensi rushed over and kneeled down exclaiming, "Marty, are you all right?" He just lay still, simulating unconsciousness, until he opened his eyes and winked at her. "Got ya!" he said. She smacked his chest and said "Jerk!" She glared at him but couldn't hold her pose. They fell together laughing – the crowd cheered! A great time was had by all.

Perhaps the greatest benefit was the bonding occurring between the three co-hosting couples; Roger/Cheryl, James/Karen, and Donald/Julia. Kensi and Marty were stimulating the formation of a strong support group around them! This bodes well for the future.