Deeks managed to avoid Kensi for exactly 8 days and 4 hours.
They'd eaten breakfast with Caleb and played a quick game of hide and seek before packing him up to go with Miranda. Caleb had mostly stopped asking about the new setup, which made Deeks feel slightly less guilty.
Deeks rubbed his forehead, already irritated with the contract he was reading, currently in its third rendition. In general, he enjoyed his work, though it was less intriguing that working on the frontlines of a federal agency. His fellow attorneys and colleagues were kind and welcoming, and the pay was pretty fantastic. What he did not enjoy was getting stuck at endless meetings or negotiating the more dramatic actors' requests.
Like the current contract which specified that the actor would not cut his hair beyond shoulder length under any circumstances.
Shaking his head with a combination of appreciation and exasperation, he typed out an email with his suggestions and sent it off to the concerned parties.
He was just getting started on a more straightforward set of documents when his phone buzzed with an incoming call from St. Bridget's. Deeks accepted the call with a frown, hoping he hadn't forgotten a field trip or something. Damn, that's just what he needed to bolster his future for parent of the year.
"Hi, this is Marty Deeks," he answered.
"Mr. Deeks, this is nurse Meredith from St. Bridget's School." a female voice replied. "I'm calling because Caleb had a little fall during recess-"
"Oh my god, is he ok?" Deeks asked, half a dozen terrible scenarios running through his head.
"Yes, he just twisted his ankle a little bit. Nothing a couple of days rest won't fix. Are you able to pick him up?"
His shoulders slumped in relief. A sprained ankle he could handle; it definitely was the first Caleb had given his tendency to climb anything and everything.
"Uh, I'll be there in a half an hour. I just need to confirm with my office."
"Alright, we'll see you then."
Deeks called down to the building secretary to cancel his two meetings for the day and grabbed his keys.
It was turning out to be a winner of a day in Kensi's classroom. So far, she had two out with some stomach bug, another headed home with a fever, and Caleb Deeks was in the nurse's office with a twisted ankle. There wasn't enough coffee in the world to handle it all.
While the rest of the class was at lunch, she'd decided to take advantage of the "break" to run down to the office to make some copies. Nell leaned against Nicole's desk, discussing some renovations Nicole was making to her house.
Kensi scooted past her, squeezing into the tiny room that held the copy machine and also served as the file and mailroom. Of course, the copier was flashing a red warning sign that the ink was low.
"Hey Nicole, do you have another ink cartridge?" she called out, poking her head through the door. Nicole sighed, muttering under her breath as she stood. Kensi didn't take it to heart since Nicole was perpetually annoyed, no matter who she talked to.
"Let me see. I should have one–"
"Oh my god!" Nell interrupted, smacking her hand against Nicole's desk excitedly. "Do you see who just pulled into the parking lot?" She all but pressed herself against the windows with a delighted expression.
"Who?" Kensi asked, stretching her neck to see past Nell just as Marty Deeks came into view.
She gasped. He wore a full suit, tie and jacket included. It looked practically glued to his body, and his hair was far neater than she'd ever seen it before. No one should look that good, Kensi thought a little desperately. Especially not in the middle of a Monday.
"I thought the babysitter would pick Caleb up," Kensi said faintly.
"No, Meredith called, and he said come right away," Nicole said, joining them with a less impressed demeanor. She eyed Kensi speculatively. "Why, is it a problem?"
"No, no not at all," Kensi said quickly. "I just know how busy he is." She was so not prepared to see him after a week of no contact, especially with the way they'd left things last time.
"Riiiight," Nell commented in a singsong voice. "It has absolutely nothing to do with your little–"
"Nell Jones, I swear if you breathe another word." Fortunately, Kensi didn't have to finish her threat since Nicole buzzed Deeks through.
Of course, then she was faced with his unnatural beauty up close and personal.
She saw his eyes dart her way for the barest of seconds before he focused his attention on Nicole.
"Hi Mrs. Kusbal, Ms. Blye, I'm here to pick up Caleb Deeks," he said.
"Oh, we are well aware," Nell muttered only loud enough for Kensi to hear.
"Just sign him out and you can go grab him." Nicole handed him a clipboard with a half-filled sign out sheet and a pen.
"I'll take you to the nurse," Kensi said once he'd handed the clipboard back. "Just follow me." She kept her voice chipper and was gratified when Deeks hesitated before following her through the door that led directly to the hallway between the two offices.
"So…um, how have you been?" he asked after a prolonged silence.
"Great. Though things have been very quiet around here."
"Point taken," he muttered, pursing his lips as Kensi stopped in front of Nurse Meredith's room and knocked on the door jamb.
"Miss Meredith, Caleb's dad is here," she announced.
Caleb was laying on his stomach on the bed inside, his left leg propped up with a blue ice pack wrapped around it. From what Kensi could tell, he looked perfectly at ease reading a picture book.
"Dad!" he shouted, scrambling to his knees, apparently forgetting about his ankle.
"Hey Kiddo, I heard you hurt your leg? You ok?" Deeks asked, crouching down to Caleb's level. He ran his hands lightly over Caleb's ankle while glancing to nurse Meredith.
"Like I said, he should be perfectly fine as long as he doesn't put too much pressure on it for a couple of days," she said. "If it doesn't improve by Wednesday then certainly check in with your doctor."
"Got it. Though based on past experience with this guy, he'll be up and bouncing around in no time."
"It really does hurt," Caleb insisted with wide, innocent eyes.
"I'm sure it does."
Kensi pressed her lips together to hold back a smirk. While she was sure it did hurt to a certain degree, he was almost certainly playing the injury up. Based on the way Deeks' lips were twitching as he scooped Caleb into his arms, he'd caught on too.
"Alright, well thank you for your time, Ladies," Deeks said as he rose with a groan.
"No problem."
"I'll walk you out," Kensi offered. She grabbed Caleb's backpack before Deeks could protest. She hadn't been planning on saying anything to Deeks, but now her curiosity, and lingering frustration got the better of her. She followed Deeks straight out to his truck, waiting until Caleb got in the passenger seat.
Kensi leaned against the driver's side door, effectively blocking him from making a quick escape.
"You know, I'm used to guys leaving me hanging, but I did not expect radio silence from you," she told him. His cheeks flushed a little and he dipped his head.
"I'm sorry, I meant to call you, but uh, I didn't exactly have a number. Unless you wanted me to call the school," he replied.
"Oh, and you couldn't figure out any other way." Kensi rolled her eyes, disappointed in his excuse. She truly had expected more from him, though she couldn't pinpoint exactly why. It wasn't like he actually owed her anything.
Deeks pursed his lips as he brushed his bangs off his forehead. Kensi clenched her fist to stop herself from fixing the curl that poked out at an odd angle. She was annoyed at him, and not all intrigued by the way the bright white of his shirt brought out his tan or emphasized his blue eyes.
Focus, Kensi.
"I'm sorry," he settled on finally, dragging a long sigh through his teeth. "I…I'm not very good at maintaining friendships."
"I find that hard to believe," Kensi commented wryly. "You don't seem to have any trouble talking to people that I've seen."
Deeks chuckled softly, nodding in apparent agreement.
"Yeah, no, that's true. And I used to be very social, but in the last few years, uh, it's been harder." He offered a brief smile, tinged with a little sadness. "I'd like to change that though. Do you think I could make it up to you somehow. Restart that friendship?"
Kensi tilted her head, considering for a half a minute. Really, she should tell him no, even if for the principle. If only he wasn't standing there in front of her, so disarming and contrite.
And so damn hot.
"I suppose I will let you buy me coffee and a pastry from Cats and Cradles tomorrow after work," she decided finally. "But don't you dare think of being late or rescheduling on me, Marty Deeks."
"I'll be there," Deeks promised, offering that full smile that lit up his entire face. And maybe Kensi was just a little bit off-balance as she turned away and stumbled back into the school.
A/N: I know most schools don't send kids home for minor injuries, but we're letting Caleb off easy.