Sam huffed loudly while throwing himself in a chair at the boatshed. Kensi and Deeks looked at each other, debating with a glance whether they wanted to question his state of mind.
He huffed again, this time more pointedly. Okay, he wanted to be engaged. The question was, did any of them want to engage with him?
Not really wanting to put her partner through Sam's ire (They were just starting to work well with each other) Kensi bit the bullet with a deep breath.
"How did the meeting with LAPD go?" she asked, trying to keep the conversation on a safe topic.
There was no point in asking him outright what was wrong, that was a sure way of getting snapped at. No thank you. They could all do without that.
Deeks was looking resolutely at the screen to the interrogation room. Callen was currently in a stare-off with a suspect. They were supposed to be observing but there wasn't much talking going on at the minute.
Sam's eyes narrowed and his mouth opened then closed again as he debated what to say. Kensi stared, eyebrow raised. That wasn't a good sign.
The silence stretched.
"Something happen at the precinct?" Kensi ventured.
Sam still didn't answer. She made an impatient noise - not wanting to play any silly games. She was sure that Sam recognised the signs so he should just say it already. He sighed heavily.
"They think I'm the definition of insufferable," he admitted sulkily, pointedly looking at Deeks.
Kensi had to hide a smile. It had to be hard for him to admit that the very people who did not work well with Deeks found him insufferable.
Insufferable! Him? They found him insufferable? And to make matters worse, they found Deeks to be merely annoying. The nerve of them!
Kensi elbowed her partner sharply, hand trying to hide her amusement. Which she was failing at. Miserably. And it was something Sam did not appreciate.
"Mhm."
Sam glared harder; the corner of Deeks' mouth twitched slightly.
"They obviously haven't met you." Sam said loudly.
Kensi looked like she was about to jump to Deeks' defence, insufferable was such a strong word, when Deeks turned towards the older agent with a lazy grin on his face. Thankfully, she decided against jumping to her feet for the moment.
"Oh, really?" he asked. "And how did you determine that?"
Sam settled himself more comfortably in his chair before responding, "One, they were quite obviously new. Very positive and enthusiastic. Quite young."
Which meant that they had probably not met Deeks, only heard about him.
Deeks nodded in acceptance, agreeing with him, and using the universal gesture for 'carry on'.
"And two, they didn't seem to realise I was the better option, every person who has worked with you prefers interacting with us." Sam gestured at himself and Kensi.
"They don't like Callen either," Deeks pointed out with a pout.
Just because he knew what Sam was saying was true didn't mean it still didn't sting a little. Because it did. As nice as it was to be accepted like this, and dare he say liked, it was something that had yet to happen at LAPD. Which sucked.
Sam knew that it rankled Deeks a bit that his own people wouldn't back him up against "outsiders" like federal agents. Actually, Sam didn't really like that either. Stank of disloyalty which he couldn't stand. You stuck by your team, your people. No matter what. And he supposed Deeks was "his people" now. Someone had to have his back after all. LAPD certainly weren't going to do it.
"Who doesn't like me?" Callen asked, leaving the interrogation room and shuffling the pictures he had been showing their suspect. "I don't think our buddy in there is going to lawyer up, by the way."
"LAPD."
"At least they still talk to me," he retorted, knowing instantly what they were talking about.
"Can I help that I'm good at my job?" Deeks protested.
The three federal agents hid their smiles, there was no need to encourage him.
"Like, you have to punch a few cops to establish your cover and suddenly a whole shift hates you." Deeks continued.
"You did more than punch Officer McHughes," Kensi pointed out.
That particular LAPD officer couldn't stand even being in the same room as Deeks, he always pointedly left whatever room Deeks was in. It was almost amusing if it wasn't so annoying. Still, him leaving was better than him running his mouth at Deeks. Which he did at nearly every opportunity. It got old real fast. Especially since the man couldn't come up with anything original to save his life.
"He knew that we were meant to mock up a fight in that bar," Deeks complained. "He was a major part in that investigation."
Kensi patted him on the head. It didn't matter, he was theirs now. And McHughes wasn't going to get to him. Sam frowned, wishing that he could do something to McHughes for being such, for lack of a better word, a dick.
Suddenly, the screen on the wall flickered and Hetty appeared. When she saw Sam, her eyes narrowed. The ex-SEAL gulped and shifted slightly.
"Mr Hanna?"
Kensi and Deeks exchanged grins and moved to the side. They didn't want to miss any of this. Callen leaned against the wall and shot his partner a smirk.
"Yes, Hetty?" he said in a slightly strangled voice which he inwardly cursed.
But when Hetty used that tone, it never boded of anything good.
"Why did I get a complaint from LAPD abut an agent 'intimidating' their newest recruits?"
He winced. They actually tattled on him to Hetty? Really? The sneaks.
"Uh, um. You see- "Sam stuttered.
Deeks folded his arm and smirked smugly.
"Looks like I'm not the only person who LAPD will dislike now."
For some reason, Sam really didn't appreciate that comment.
