A/N: Sorry for the delay. Life was a bit busy with work and the holidays. Didn't have much time to write.

Callen walked into the office bright and early.

"Morning Callen," Zoë spoke as she walked down the stairs.

"Morning Zoë. You're here early."

"Yeah, had some paperwork to do. What about you? You're here early too."

"Yeah I wanted to get a workout in or do we have a case already?" Callen said as he dropped his bag by his desk.

"Nope, not as far as I know. Haven't seen Eric and Nell yet."

"Okay good. See you later."

"Have a good work out."

"Thanks." Callen wanted to walk away but then turned back around. Thanks again for last night. It was good to talk," Callen spoke sincerely.

"You're welcome Callen," Zoë replied with a smile. "My door's always open if you want to talk."

"That's good to know."

Zoë looked at him as Callen walked off. She could see a small change in him after they talked last night. He was a bit more relaxed. Maybe she was getting through to him a little bit.

….

Zoë was grabbing a cup of coffee as the team walked in. Callen and Sam sharing their usual banter and Kensi coming in and turning the conversation around.

"Good morning Hetty," Sam spoke as Hetty walked into the bullpen with a worried look on her face.

"Deeks has been shot," Hetty cut straight to the point.

Upon hearing that Zoë walked into the bullpen, a worried look on her face.

"How is he?" Kensi asked.

"He's in surgery at Pacific beach medical," Hetty answered as Sam stood up from his chair.

Sam immediately wanted to go to the hospital with the others but Hetty stopped him and told Sam that he and Callen should go to the hospital.

"Hetty, Deeks is my second partner to get shot. So I would really like to be there. Look, last time I wasn't there for my partner. He was dead the next time I saw him. So please, okay?" Kensi pleaded with Hetty.

"I think your partner would want you there when he wakes up."

Sam and Callen left. "Keep us posted," Callen said as he walked out of the bullpen.

"Thank you," Kensi said and wanted to walk off.

"Wait Kensi, I'll go with you," Zoë offered and looked at Hetty who nodded.

"Let's go," Kensi replied, eager to see how her partner was doing.

"Deeks is gonna be alright," Zoë spoke as Kensi was driving to the hospital.

"You don't know that. He got shot. Hetty didn't know how bad it was."

"This is not the same as with Dom."

"You weren't even here with Dom so how would you know!" Kensi yelled at her. "I'm sorry. I lost Dom, I failed him. I don't want the same to happen to Deeks."

"What happened to Dom wasn't your fault. I read the reports. It wasn't your fault he was taken."

"It is. I could've trained him better, made sure he knew how to handle himself and avoid being taken. Just like a should've done with Deeks."

"From what I read Dom was a hero. He got taken but he got himself out and then threw himself in front of the shot to protect Sam."

"I should've been the one to protect him, and now he's dead. I don't want to same to happen to Deeks."

"It won't. I'm sure everything will be just fine. We've gotta stay positive until we have all the details."

They were at the hospital pretty soon. They walked into the hospital to see where Deeks was.

"Excuse me, we're looking for Detective Deeks," Kensi told the woman behind the desk as she showed her badge.

"He's up on the surgical floor, I believe he's still in surgery. You can check with them there, it's on the third floor."

"Thank you."

Quickly Kensi and Zoë went upstairs and asked there again where Deeks was. Deeks was still in surgery but Kensi did get his personal effects.

"How's he doing?"

"I'm not sure, he's still in surgery. Please have a seat over there. I'll have the doctor come get you as soon as possible."

"Thanks," Kensi replied and took Deeks' stuff.

"Could you please found out how he's doing?" Kensi asked Zoë. "I mean you're a doctor. Can you ask?"

"I know someone on the surgical floor here, I'll ask around."

"Thanks."

Zoë watched as Kensi walked off. She walked to the hallway and looked out the window, clutching Deeks' stuff in her hands.

Half an hour after they got there Deeks was brought out.

"Kens," Zoë called as they saw Deeks being wheeled out on the bed.

They quickly walked up to Deeks.

"How's he doing?" Kensi quickly asked.

"Two shots. Worst was high in the chest. Luckily, it missed his lung. Second fractured a rib, deflected away from the heart. It was a small-caliber weapon. He's gonna be okay." Kensi let out a relieved breath. "You can talk to him when the anesthetic wears off. Uh, the nurse mentioned there's no next of kin listed. Is there someone you can call?"

Kensi looked at Zoë. They both had no idea. "I don't know."

Kensi and Zoë followed Deeks to him room. They sat around waiting for Deeks to wake up. About an hour later Zoë's phone rang. It was Callen. Zoë stepped out of the room to take the call.

"Hey Callen," Zoë answered the phone.

"How's he doing?"

"He's out of surgery, still out cold but doctor says he's gonna be okay. Anything new there?"

"Same gray Mustang that was at the crime scene was found this morning outside of Deeks' apartment."

"Then it wasn't just a robbery."

"No, Deeks was targeted. Visitation hours are over. You and Kensi are on protection detail now. Sam and I are headed your way."

"Okay, see you soon. Uh Callen, who is Deeks' next of kin?"

"That's a good question. I'll ask Hetty."

"Thanks, see you soon."

Zoë hung up and walked back into the room.

"That was Callen."

"Anything new on the guys who shot Deeks?"

"No, but it wasn't just a robbery. Deeks was targeted, they found a Mustang following him. Nell and Eric are looking to find it now. Sam and Callen are headed this way, we're on protection detail now."

"Who would target Deeks?" Kensi spoke with a sad voice as she looked at Deeks, memories of Dom popping back up again.

"We will find them Kensi and we'll keep Deeks safe. We're here with him, we're not gonna let anything happen to him. He's not another Dom."

Kensi didn't say anything but just kept looking at Deeks.

"I'm gonna go crab some coffee, you want one?"

"Yeah, thanks."

When Zoë came back into the room Deeks was awake.

"Hey Deeks, welcome back."

"Hey doc."

"How are you feeling?"

"Like someone is sitting on my chest."

"Yeah you have a cracked rib, but doctor said you should be as soon as new soon."

"See fern, can't get rid of me that easily," Deeks tried to laugh but it hurt his ribs.

"Easy there Deeks," Kensi said.

"You guys catch my shooter yet?"

"Working on it."

"And?"

"What makes you think there's an and?"

"You heightened security, you're checking badges. You're obviously expecting unwanted visitors."

"Deeks," Zoë started. They guys who shot your this morning, did you recognize them?"

"Well, it's hard to remember. I didn't walk in on a robbery. Is that what you're telling me."

"Eric and Nell found a gray Mustang following you from your block this morning. Looks like you were targeted."

"Why would somebody target me?"

"Hey, I'm sure we all have a very long list," Kensi said.

"Anything you can remember about this morning, anything strange you noticed?" Zoë asked.

"No, not really. I went for a run, went to the same store I always go to to get some coffee and then there were these two guys. I haven't seen them before."

"You just rest, we'll make sure we'll get these guys."

"And you're safe in here Deeks. I'm not gonna let anything happen to you. By the way, is there anyone we can call? Family, girlfriend?" Kensi spoke.

"I'm not dying, am I?"

"No, not yet."

"Next of kin perhaps?"

"Good question."

A little later they heard gunshots coming from outside. Zoë looked through the window. They had a view of the parking lot.

"It's Callen and Sam, they are shooting at two guys…in a gray Mustang."

"Looks like they're coming to finish the job," Kensi said as she felt to make sure her SIG was still in the back of her pants.

Soon the place was crawling with LAPD.

"I'm gonna check outside to see if everything's okay," Zoë said and she walked outside. "Callen, Sam."

"Zoë everything okay?" Callen replied as Zoë walked up to them.

"Yeah, here?"

"The two guys came back to finish the job. Driver's dead."

They went to check on Deeks and made sure there was LAPD back up at the hospital before going back to the office. Zoë went back with them so she could maybe help Eric and Nell. Callen went in undercover with Sam as back up. They others were watching in from OPS.

"Something feels off about this," Zoë spoke. "Something's not right."

"You think it's a trap?" Eric asked.

"Yeah but shouldn't they have come out by now. That's the perfect place for an ambush."

"So they targeted Deeks to get the rest of the team? But why?"

"I don't know, but I'm not liking this. If they wanted to take out Callen this would be a perfect place."

They were interrupted by Kensi calling telling them it was a trap.

"Guys, Kensi says abort mission. It's a trap," Eric told Callen and Sam.

"No, this is not right," Zoë stated. "If Callen and Sam are the target they would've acted by now and why would they come to the hospital to finish the job. They didn't know that Callen and Sam were gonna be there."

"So if Callen and Sam aren't the target and Deeks wasn't… that leaves."

"Kensi!"

Sam and Callen had the same idea and were already on their way to the hospital as Kensi was making her way down to them. Eric called LAPD at the hospital to make sure Kensi was safe. Zoë watched on the screen. The red dot on the screen that were Callen and Sam was coming closer to the hospital rapidly. Hopefully they would still be on time.

They were a little late in fact. Deeks had figured it out too and shot the guys and Kensi shot them as well.

Back at the office after everything was done Kensi was the last one to leave.

"You okay Kens?" Zoë asked on her way out.

"Yeah, I'm good. Rough day."

"It's not your fault okay."

"It kinda feels like it. Deeks was shot because of me. I was the target all along."

"It's not your fault, you couldn't have known and we'll make sure this doesn't happen again. Sam will make sure Deeks knows that he has to change his routine."

"Yeah, that'll be fun to see."

"Come on, I'll buy you a drink."

"Thanks but I'm just gonna go home and crash."

"You sure? Beer's on me."

"Yeah I'm sure. Rain check?"

"Definitely. See you tomorrow."

"See you tomorrow." Zoë walked off. "Oh Zoë, thanks for today."

"No problem Kens."

…

Hetty walked into the bullpen as the agents were walking on their paperwork the next morning with a worried look on her face.

"What's up Hetty?" Callen asked.

"Has either one of you seen Ms. Moore?"

"No, not since last night. Why?"

"She's not at work and I tried calling her but she's not answering, it goes straight to voicemail. I asked Mr. Beale to locate her cell phone and it's still are her house."

"Maybe she just forget it at home and is on her way here now. Or she's stuck behind an accident," Kensi interjected.

"Maybe, but something doesn't feel right. I've got a weird feeling."

"Want us to drop by her house?" Callen asked.

"Yes please, Mr. Callen."

Callen and Sam left and Sam drove them to Zoë's house.

"You think Hetty's right?" Sam asked.

"She usually is about these things and it's not like Zoë to be late for work."

"You're right about that."

About twenty minutes later they were at Zoë's place. Her car was standing in the driveway. Everything looked normal so far. They walked up to the door.

"Sam," Callen spoke and he grabbed his gun.

Sam saw what Callen saw and grabbed his gun as well. Zoë's door was open and it looked like it had been kicked in. With their guns drawn they walked in. Zoë's place was a mess, everything was tossed. They cleared the entire place but there was no sign of Zoë.