"Know what day it is?" Deeks announced as he came into the office.

"The day that you stay quiet for the whole day?" Sam suggested.

Kensi snorted. "That day doesn't exist."

"No, it does not," Deeks said happily. "But you know what does?"

No one answered him, just giving him varying questioning looks. Also, wary ones. Because, let's be honest here, did they really want to know what was going on in Deeks' mind? Especially when he had that look on his face. A look that changed into an exasperated one when no one guessed.

"Oh, come on!"

"Why don't you just tell us?" Callen asked in an uninterested tone.

Deeks deflated slightly. Did no one know what day it was? Really? After the big deal he tended to make out of it? They really didn't know?

He'd give them thirty seconds and then he'd tell them. They had to have some sort of a chance, after all. Though, it looked like none of them were taking it. Urgh. You know what? Fine. He'd tell them. They were really no fun.

"It's the day after a holiday!" He said triumphantly.

Only to be met with silence. Seriously. So much silence that he swore he heard crickets chirping. He looked around and pouted, expecting at least a little reaction. But nothing. He got nothing. He looked around at them expectantly, wanting someone to say something so he could continue with what he had planned. Oh, sure, he could do it without someone asking but that had no flair, no drama.

"Really? Nothing? None of you know how important a day it is?"

"I'm not entirely sure you know what day it is," Sam said with a snort.

Kensi groaned and shook her head.

"Please don't rile him up on this."

Deeks pouted. He thought that he'd get something more than this.

"Okay, I'll bite," Callen said with a sigh. "What candy did you buy up this time?"

"Chocolate rabbits," Kensi guessed, a hopeful look on her face.

"Those weird, marzipan chicken things," was Sam's guess making everyone look questioningly at him. "Hey, I'm the one who has kids here. Aidan loves them. Always has."

"I got him a whole bag of them," Callen said smugly.

Sam gave him a dark look. "You're the reason both my kids were on a sugar high last night."

Callen seemed cometary unconcerned at this. He even grinned.

"And that's why I'm the favourite uncle."

"It's the reason I'm going to-"

"Well, you're all wrong." Deeks said loudly before Sam could threaten Caen with bodily harm.

"What other Easter candy is there? Gummy rabbits?" Kensi asked, confused.

"Nope, peeps!" He said far too cheerfully, producing a massive bag of them from his bag.

Again, met with silence. Though, this time looks of disgust were mixed in as well.

"What, does no one like peeps?"

"No one likes peeps," Kensi confirmed.

"They're just sugar and corn syrup," Sam snorted.

"Pretty sure that's all candy," Callen told him before turning to Kensi, a genuine look of surprise on his face. "You don't like them?"

"What is the world coming to?" Deeks quipped, much to Kensi's annoyance.

"I cannot like things," she said defensively.

"Yeah, but this is something sugary."

"Why do you even have peeps?" Kensi asked in a loud voice, wanting desperately to change the subject. "Instead of candy that's on sale and tastes good."

"Because for this I need peeps."

There was silence while they all looked at each other again, Deeks giving them an expectant look.

Kensi ran a hand over her face as Callen and Sam gave her pointed looks.

"Okay, I'll bite. What are you doing that only peeps will do?"

"Well, it's quite simple, actually-"

"Deeks."

"Do you want to see how many peeps I can fit in my mouth?" Deeks asked through a mouthful of the things.

Kensi gave him a look of disgust. "No, thank you."

"Don't be disgusting, Deeks," Sam said.

"Too late."

Only it didn't come out as clearly as that because, you know, he was eating peeps. Some bits even sprayed out of his mouth much to everyone's disgust.

"Gross," said Kensi, scrunching up her nose.

"That better not have got on my side of the desk," Sam threatened.

Thankfully, despite there being close inspection from Sam, it looked like no pieces had ended up on his desk.

"Can you even swallow that many at once?" Callen asked with more than a little amusement.

There was a pause as a weird gargling wet sort of noise came from Deeks and his eyes briefly bulged before he shook his head.

"No. No, he can't," Kensi answered before Deeks even tried to.

Probably for the best. He'd probably spray them all with bits of half dissolved peeps and nobody wanted that. Or choke. And he definitely didn't want that. That would not be a cool way to go. Death by peeps? No thank you.

What he did want to do, however, was to show them all wrong and that he could do this. Honestly, it should be pretty easy because these were already starting to dissolve in his mouth. He just needed to take a firm swallow...

Suddenly Deeks' face went green and they all gave him a concerned look.

"Deeks?"

"Deeks!"

"You okay, man?"

He shook his head, not opening his mouth and then looked like he regretted even that movement.

Bile rose in his throat bit he couldn't throw up. Not with peeps still in his mouth. With another swallow, he was somewhat successful. There was still some stuck in his teeth but at least he could now talk. Even if he didn't exactly feel any better. In fact, swallowing them made him feel worse.

"I feel like I'm going to barf..."

"Don't you dare," Sam said warningly, pushing himself away from their desks.

Deeks closed his eyes and held his lips together tightly, waiting. His face had a weird greyish tinge to it. Swallo3okg heavily, he quickly got up and went straight for the sink behind him, not able to make it to the toilets.

Everyone winced as the retching noises hit them.

"That many peeps would make anyone throw up." Callen said unnecessarily.

[xxxxxx]

"So," Julia asked, setting cups of delicious coffee in front of them. "How did your easter go?"

"Well, I ate enough peeps to make me sick," Deeks said cheerfully.

Julia gave him a look that said she wasn't sure how she was supposed to take that. She looked over to her daughter who rolled her eyes and shook her head.

"You're awfully cheerful for someone who was sick," she said carefully.

"Because he's insane," Kensi snorted, earning herself a disapproving look f4rom her mother. "What? It's true!"

"It's not insane. It was for science."

"They do say it's a fine line between insanity and genius."

"All I heard there is that you think that I'm a genius."

"Ha. You wish."

"Be nice to me, I'm sick."

"That you did to yourself," though she did refill his glass of water.

She even made sure that he got some more ice cubes. Okay, maybe she was being nice to him.

"You need to eat something, to have something in your stomach," Julia said coming out of the kitchen with a plate full of sandwiches.

Which normally would look fantastic to him but right now just made his stomach turn.

"Maybe later."

"And definitely not peeps," Kensi joked making him wince. "Too soon?"

"I would expect you to be more sympathetic to your own partner," Julia told her daughter reproachfully. "He is sick and you are supposed to be the one looking after him."

Kensi snorted and rolled her eyes.

"It's his own fault," she scoffed.

"Kensi!"

"What! None of us made him do it!"

Julia tutted at her.

"Make sure you drink plenty of water," she told Deeks.

He held up the massive bottle and shook it. Water sloshed inside. "Kensi's already got that covered."

"See, I am looking after him!"

Julia gave her daughter a distrustful look which Deeks just thought was unfair.

"I suppose he's learnt his lesson about silly food challenges, at least.," Julia said disapprovingly. "I just don't understand them."

"Oh, I wouldn't put it past him," Kensi said with an eye roll.

"Kensi!"

"If I'm more careful..." he began thoughtfully.

Julia gave him an incredulous look.

"You can't be serious?"

"I just need the practice," Deeks was saying. "And make sure nothing touches the back of my throat."