Marty Deeks stared at the ocean, his eyes tracking each wave that swept to the shore. He had been tallying the number of rideable waves, wishing he was out there, and knowing he couldn't. His heart just wasn't into it, not yet at least. So he sat, wishing everything would…

The number seven for most people held luck, or good feelings. For him, it was a symbol of a life left in carnage. It had taken seven years for him to 'win' Kensi's love. For him to find and have the family he had craved for his entire life. It took seven days for that life, that dream to evaporate like so much smoke. He wondered how something so perfect, so…beautiful, could be ripped to shreds so quickly. He always knew he was running against the odds. Guys like him, as damaged as he was, they rarely wound up with the happy ending. They usually had to settle for the glimpse of heaven, then crash and burn back to reality. Problem was, he didn't know how to go back. Alone, few real connections, just work, then home. Seven years of being part of a team, a family, then finding love, that's a tough thing to walk away from. Yet Thursday, if felt like that's exactly what he did. Or rather than walking away, he had it ripped from him. To see them, sitting and laughing, a family completely at ease with one another, to see his arm around Kensi, her smile…he wondered how he didn't drop dead on that very spot. And somehow, someway, he had to rebuild his life.

"Is this seat taken handsome?"

The voice shook him, so intent on his thoughts he never heard anyone approach. A small voice, sounding suspiciously like Sam, chided him. "I'm sorry, I'm really not in the mood for com-" He had turned, hoping to persuade whoever she was to leave, when is eyes widened in shock, his jaw dropping at the person standing behind him

Julia smiled, stepping lightly to sit beside him, sharing the towel Deek's currently was sitting on. " I think you'll make an exception for me," she said, smiling at the frozen look on his face. "Marty, you're goggling. Is there something wrong with me?"

He snapped out of his near death, shaking his head. "No…not at all Mrs. Feld- I mean Julia. It's just…I." His voice trailed off, words refusing to form.

She laughed, leaning to press her shoulder against his. "I do believe I have left you speechless! I imagine that doesn't happen very often. That puts me in rare company." With a smile, she turned, looking out over the water. "It's beautiful here."

Deeks turned back, his mind on near overload, trying and failing to comprehend what was happening. The silence settled, comfortable but charged. Neither spoke, both content in the silence.

"Are you alright Marty?" She took his hand, a gentle squeeze, letting him know he could trust her.

"I feel like I've been turned inside out, then left out in the sun."

"Kensi feels the same way."/

She felt his whole body tense, just from his hand. Amazingly he didn't pull away, just a slight pressure.

"She's made her choice. I saw that with my own eyes. Heard it with my own ears."

"Bull-shit."

Deeks stared, the sheer shock of a curse word coming from her nearly sending him into spasms. He turned, now seeing a fierce woman ready for battle./

"I happen to know that she is at my house, having arrived there last night. I could tell she was upset, but when she fell into my arms sobbing that she had lost you, I knew then things were bad." She leaned against him, whispering softly. "Then, when she called me 'momma' and started hyperventilating, that was when I knew it was worse."

"But I saw…"/

"Yes, you saw. And anyone in your position, having gone through what you had, would have done exactly the same thing. No, I think they would have reacted worse. I give you credit for not exploding."

Deeks dropped his head, silent./

"What you saw and heard was not what was going on."/

The silence fell back in place, the charge lessened.

"I need a favor Marty. One that will be hard for you to give me, but I need it all the same. I need you to talk to Kensi."

"I don't know if I can do that Julia."

She nodded, sighing as she gave his hand a squeeze. "I know, I…"

"No offense Julia, but you don't know." His words came out harsher than he intended and he winced, not wanting to hurt her.

"Kensi told me everything Marty."

The look of horror and shame on his face twisted her heart, his letting go of her hand, quickly standing and walking away nearly made her cry out.

"Oh God! Is my humiliation for everyone to know about?", scrubbing his face with his hands.

"Not at all," she said, rising to walk to him. She took his hands from his face. "Hey, look at me please." He stared at her, tears on the verge of spilling.

"You have not a single thing to be ashamed of. You had your world shaken by the man who should have protected and loved you. Your own father, who in no sense of the word, hurt you. All because he isn't man enough to admit his mistakes. I know what he tried to get you to do. And you resisted, you fought and won. The last week, has been one shock after another, and you're still standing. That takes strength Marty, the strength most men don't have. Certainly not…that person who did this to you!"

Julia would swear later what happened next was a spur of the moment decision. She pulled him to her, wrapping her arms around him, holding him as a mother does a hurt child. She could feel him want to let go, to release all the hurt. "Let it got Marty, it's ok."

Like a dam breaking, the tears, the hurt, all of it he let go, as he sobbed into her arms, the first time in years he had ever been held like this. Like someone was there for him, no judgement, just being there. They stood, a nearly broken man, clawing his way back to the light, held by a woman who wanted nothing but the best for the wonderful man who held in her arms. Finally, they pulled apart, his tears spent, staring at one another.

"Julia I…"

"Hush."

He smiled, shyly glancing at her shoulder. " I believe your shirt is a little wet."

"And when it dries, it will be fine."

"I still need you to talk to Kensi," she said, bringing them back to the issue. He hesitated, still unsure.

"Tell you what. Talk to Kensi, listen to what she says. And if after, whatever your decision, I will respect not only it, but you. But I think you owe it to yourself, and her, to try. Don't you?"

He nodded, softly agreeing to her favor.

Smiling, he drew his head down, gently kissing his forehead. "You brought my daughter back, even though I said it was impossible. The least I can do is return the favor." She stepped back, a twinkle in her eyes. "And now, I am going to have a talk with my daughter."

"Julia?"

"Yes?"

"Don't be too hard on her, ok?"
"And that right there is proof you're a good man. She hurt you, not on purpose, but she did. And you're still looking out for her." She nodded, turning to leave. "Oh, Marty, also it lets me know you still love her. So there's hope yet." With that she left, leaving Deeks standing, thinking.