Chapter 1
The Mission was busy even though no new cases had come up. Paperwork, never finished, was being caught up. Or as Deeks phrased it 'The old ball and chain on law enforcement'. Silently, Sam agreed with the statement. He always had his work completed, or at least tried to, but he would rather be out, chasing down leads, solving a case and helping people.
"Mr. Hannah?"
Sam looked up, Hetty standing beside his desk. One day, they would figure out how she could just appear, that would be the greatest case they could solve. "Hetty, everything all right?"
"Oh absolutely, I just wanted to inform you that you will be having visitors soon. Three of your old SEAL team members are in town. And you are going to join them for lunch."
He smiled, punching the air. It would be good to catch up with his friends.
Noon rolled around, and Sam stood, hearing the voices. Neal Crenshen, led two other men down the hall. Smiling, they hugged, affection genuine among them. War tended to bond people. These four men had traveled beyond war.
The doors opened, Kensi and Deeks walking through whispering. They stopped when seeing the group with Sam.
Sam turned, smiling as he took in his teammates. "Kensi, Deeks, meet my old SEAL team. This is Neal Crenshen, Mile Duggane, and Danny Simpson. Guys, Agent Kensi Blye and Detective Marty Deeks."
Handshakes and hellos were changed, Deeks noticing all three of the mens eyes lingering on Kensi. He hated when guys looked at her like that, but decided to keep his mouth shut. Kensi could handle herself, and their relationship was strong. They were in a good place with each other.
A few minutes of small talk, then Sam and his friends left, laughing as they walked out the door.
Deeks plopped down at his desk, eyeing the paperwork that had piled up while he and Kensi had been out. Stakeouts and interviewing witnesses was one thing. But is seemed his paperwork was never done. "This is supposed to be the digital age," he huffed out.
Kensi walked behind him, her arms wrapping around his neck. Kissing him gently, she whispered in his ear. "Did you get a little jealous earlier?"
"Yes, but more like irritated."
"Don't worry babe, I'm all yours," she smiled, walking to her desk. Realizing what he had said, she turned, staring at him.
"Wait," she started, walking to stand in front of him. "Irritated? Deeks I…"
He smiled at her, reassuring her with his eyes. "No, not with you Kens, I made my peace a long time ago that men are going to stare at you. You're a beautiful, sexy woman and men just are going to want to look at you. I don't like it, but I can't stop it. I just…" he blew a breath out. "It's just the way they do it. Like you're some piece of territory they can't wait to conquer or possess. You're more than just your looks. I knew that the moment I met you. It just annoys me is all. Just something I have to deal with."
She stood, staring at Deeks. Her body tingling, she walked to stand beside him, giving him a big kiss and hug. "I love you," she said, before moving to her desk, a smile shining for everyone to see. She laughed, the look of puzzlement on his face that of a child who had done something good, yet had no idea what is was. "I love you too Sugar-bear."
Kensi knew what had shocked him. When their relationship had turned serious, they both had agreed that no workplace PDA would happen. Hetty, Callen Sam, everyone seemed fine that they were together. But at work, a sense of respect for the team and work dynamics had seemed appropriate. The banter, the looks, the touching were still there, just not over the top displays.
She smiled, watching as Deeks pulled a folder from his inbox, grumbling about the poor trees. She couldn't help herself. She loved touching him. And what he had said just made her love him more.
Turning to her own work, she knew he hadn't done that. When they first met, he hadn't treated her that way. Like a piece of meat. Even before they were officially partners, he had looked at her as a person. Sure, she knew he was attracted to her, but it wasn't…creepy. And yes, she had definitely had been attracted to him. When she had stood close to him in their murder victim's house, she still could remember the chills that had run through her that day. She silently laughed at herself. Who was she kidding, Deeks still made those chills run through her.
A thought struck, turning, she saw Hetty sitting at her desk, looking over a folder. She approached her boss, waiting for Hetty to finish.
"Miss Blye, is there something I can do?"
Kensi sat, staring at the woman who had become almost a second mother to her. "Hetty, did you know when you hired Deeks?" Both women knew what the question meant.
"No, I truly didn't. But I suspected."
They stared at each other, Hetty enjoying being pushed and on occasion bested by her junior agent.
"I was convinced you two would make excellent partners on the job. Both of you just needed time to…bond. You're both different in so many ways, yet those differences compliment each other. You can be serious, determined, and focused. While Mr. Deeks, well he does love his 'occasional' joke."
They both laughed, turning to see Deeks return to his desk, a cup of coffee, steaming in his hand. He stared at the offending paperwork as if it were some dreaded disease.
"It was only after our first run in with Mattias, that I suspected there could be more. I assume that was when the trust deepened for both of you?"
"Absolutely," Kensi agreed. "He held his hands out, and when I took them, I knew it would be fine."
Hetty nodded her head. "And I watched as your partnership turned into more."
"Hetty, why didn't you stop us. I mean you could have…"
Hetty smiled. "Miss Blye…Kensi, you opened up when Mr. Deeks arrived. All of you did really, but you…laughed more. Smiled more. Far be it from me to take away your happiness."
"I never did thank you for bringing him to me."
"And you never have to. Live your lives, love each other."
Deeks approached, a frown upon his face. Kensi knew that look, as did Hetty. "Mr. Deeks?"
"Bates just called. An undercover was found murdered." His voice breaking. "I knew the guy."
Kensi stood, her hand rubbing his back. He looked up, both women seeing a fire in his eyes. "They need me to go in. See if I can finish this."
Both women hesitated, each thinking the same thing. Unfortunately, neither could stop what they knew was coming. Everyone at the Mission hated the fact that with a phone call, 'their detective' could be called away. Sent undercover with little to no backup.
"It should have been me," Deeks muttered.
"Mr. Deeks!" Hetty said sharply, Kensi rapping him in the shoulder, grabbing her…everything. "Don't say that!"
"I didn't mean that," he spluttered, waving his hands in apology. "Just that I worked the case for two months before coming here. I knew the players. We thought the gang had just disbanded, either in jail or dead. Now a cop is dead…"
"Has Lieutenant Bates…" Hetty began.
"Yeah, he's just as mad as I am. He wasn't running this and apparently it just came up. Thrown together at the last minute, looks like the crew resurfaced a couple of days ago. Seems it caught everyone off guard."
He sighed, pulling Kensi closer. "Two, three days tops Kens…" Their heads pressed together, Hetty turned, unwilling to intrude on a private moment. As they broke apart, Hetty cleared her throat. "Mr Deeks, please be careful. I expect to see you back here with us as soon as possible. Safe and sound."
"Yes mam," he replied, that small cocky grin on his face that just endeared him to both women.
"Miss Blye, perhaps you should walk out with your partner." She rose, giving his arm a firm squeeze as she walked past him. She climbed the stairs, her heart going out to both of them, their arms around each other, making their way slowly to the double set of doors.
Arriving in OPS, she motioned for Eric. "Mr. Beal, please take the cameras off the area Miss Blye and Mr. Deeks are currently in. No recordings, or audio."
He complied, Nell staring at Hetty. "They called him?" She asked softly.
"I'm afraid so Miss Jones."
Nell swore softly, so tired of seeing her Shaggy left to his own so many times. They watched a single monitor, waiting until his truck sped off, noticing Kensi standing there, her hands wrapped around her waist. "Return the cameras to normal positions and resume recording Mr. Beal. Miss Jones, perhaps you could check on Miss Blye. She might need a friend at this moment."
Two hours later, Sam and his friends returned, Michelle having joined them for lunch, walked with her husband, happy at his happiness.
"Hetty, sorry I'm so late. The time just got away…" His words trailed off, noticing the Mission covered with an air of quiet. He could see the worried looks on everyones face. "Callen, what's going on?"
Callen, having returned from the boatshed, looked up from watching Kensi. "LAPD called Deeks in. An undercover was murdered, Deeks knew the guy. Deeks went under, left about an hour and a half ago."
Sams eyes zeroed in on Kensi. She sat at her desk, her phone a quick grab away. The worry in her eyes was plain for everyone to see. Michelle, hearing Callen, walked over to Kensi, pulling up a chair. "Hey, Marty is good Kensi. He knows what he's doing. Soon he'll be here, annoying you and making everyone laugh." Kensi, sighed, a slight smile on her face, leaned into Michelle.
Nell and Eric, having came downstairs, was at a loss to do anything. Not being an NCIS op, the most they could do was keep checking all LAPD alerts, hoping for some kind of news.
The three SEALS pulled Sam aside. "Hey, should we go?" Duggans asked.
"No, it's all right. Hetty would have said something by now." He turned, forcing a smile, still worried about his desk mate. "Come on, I'll give you guys a tour of the place."
They had started down the hallway, when it happened.
"Sam, why does NCIS have a liaison?"
"Yeah, I thought he was a perp when I saw him. Looked like some surfing slacker type."
It took them a few seconds to realize the mood in the office had shifted. The entire Mission, everyone in earshot, was staring at them, an open look of hostility. Kensi jumped from her chair, her face a mask of anger. "You don't know anything about Deeks," she said, stalking to the three men, unshed tears glistening in her eyes. Callen grabbed her, holding her back as the others began to grumble, voicing their outrage.
Sam, sensing the situation spiraling out of control, began walking his buddies back, hoping Callen could handle Kensi. He had his own hell to deal with, as Michelle came up, her eyes blazing in rage. Sam turned, grabbing her waist, doing what he could to stop her. "You need to keep you mouths shut about Marty!" She fumed, Sam trying desperately to hold her back.
"Gentleman," Hetty's voice cracked the tense atmosphere, "I believe it is past time…" She was cut off by her phone.
"Lang," she answered, her anger clear. It was Kensi who noticed it. The slight slump of a pair of shoulders, the brief, sharp intake of breath. "When?…how bad…I see. Thank you Lieutenant, we're on our way."
She closed her phone, her eyes finding Kensi. "Mr. Deeks has been injured. He was rushed to Pacific Beach Medical." Her voice became softer as she spoke.
"Hetty, is he…" Callen asked, now supporting Kensi, all thoughts of what happened gone, the group worrying about their detective.
"I don't know Mr. Callen. Lieutenant Bates is on his way to the hospital now. I suggest we join him. Hopefully, by the time we arrive, more answers will be available."
The group streamed to the door, ignoring the three men who had been the target of their anger. Now they just wanted to get to the hospital as fast as possible.
Outside, Sam and Michelle were the last to leave. Sam turned, staring at his friends. "Deeks is a good man guys. Without him, Michelle and I wouldn't be here today. Because of Deeks, our children still have their parents. It was good to see all of you again, really is was. Hopefully, we can do this again." Michelle snorted, then climbed into the challenger, impatiently waiting for Sam. He climbed in, roaring off to the hospital.
Chapter 2
The waiting room was full.
Hetty, sitting with Nell and Eric stared at the floor, wondering what was happening, her frustration growing at the lack of information. Callen, Sam and Michelle staring at each other, their watches and the walls. Owen, having heard about the detective from Hetty, stood slightly apart from the group, worried about the detective, but still feeling slightly like an intruder. Kensi paced, stopping every few steps to stare at the door, willing someone to come in and tell them something. Julia, who had came when Kens called, watched her daughter's frantic pacing, sensing her fear, gently guided her to a seat, holding her and stroking her hair.
Suddenly the door opened, the three SEALS entering, looking surprised at their own actions. Kensi jumped from her seat, furious. "Get out!" She yelled at the men. Turning to Sam, her eyes pleading for him to do something, she began to cry as Julia grabbed her, soothing her, whispering soft words. The others glared daggers at the men, Hetty and Owen, angry beyond words, stepped to the three intruders.
"Sam,"Neal spoke quietly before anyone else could speak, "What did you mean, Deeks saved you and Michelle?"
The group looked at each other, everyone knowing the story but Julia. Hetty eyed the three men, making a decision in the time it took her to blink. "Exactly why are you here?"
"We served with Sam," Neal spoke. "All of us know he's no pushover, he's as tough as they come. So we were curious as to how a cop can save a SEAL." Sam, running his hand over his head, sighed. He looked too Hetty who with a slow nod, told him silently to go ahead.
He began to talk, the near drowning, the torture, the shootout on the rooftop, everything. Having lived the story, everyone still seemed in a state of shock. It would never go away.
Julia, holding Kensi tighter as she cried, listened to the depths of courage and selflessness Marty possessed. She knew he was special, of that she was sure, but nothing like this.
Kensi smiled, repeating how her Deeks had pulled her from a room full of lasers rigged to bombs. Her smile grew wider as she told about him racing down three flights of stairs, hours after surgery from two gunshot wounds to save her again, stopping her from being abducted or killed.
Nell smiled, clearing her throat. "Well, I don't have anything that dramatic, but I'll never forget how kind he was to me." She glanced at Kensi, smiling. "It was when you were on assignment. Hetty had partnered Deeks and me. I could tell he was nervous, truth is so was I. Not having spent that much time out in the field, how could I not be?"
She stood, walking to sit beside Kensi and Julia. "He was adorable. He looked out for me, answering my questions and helping me understand what it is all of you do. When I made mistakes, he never got angry, or looked down on me as 'just a female'. He just gently guided me to what I had done wrong, and helped me understand how to do it right next time. He was honest also, telling me that sometimes, going with your instincts was the best plan." She grinned, a small laugh escaping her. "Later on, at the end of one case, I pointed out something he had done wrong. God! I was so scared he would get mad. Hetty He stopped, thought about what I said, then smiled, saying 'well played Nellasarous.' For a second, I didn't know whether to hug him or burst into tears!"
Pulling the redhead closer, Kensi squeezed her friend, "That's our Deeks."
Hetty made her decision, knowing it was time her team knew the truth. "Mr Hanna, please make sure no one but medical staff enter the room."
The room grew quiet as Hetty collected her thoughts. "I trust I can rely on everyone to keep what I am about to say between all of us?"
Owen stepped forward, "Hetty…" he warned, shaking his head.
"Relax Owen. My three agents deserve to know."
"Deserve to know what Hetty," Callen asked, his voice tinged with a slight hesitation.
Hetty turned too Julia, pity in her eyes. "This will be hard to hear, and I do apologize to you and Agent Bly, but…"
"Two years ago, while on a mission to Afghanistan, Agent Blye was captured by the Taliban."
Julia gasped, grabbing her daughter. "Mom, I'm good. My teammates, everyone here helped me." She stared into her mothers eyes. "Truly mom, I'm good." Still shaken, holding her daughter tighter, she turned to Hetty, ready to hear the rest. She hoped.
"Owen and a CIA officer had begun searching for her. Mr. Callen, Mr. Hannah, and Mr. Deeks, when hearing of Miss Blye's capture, immediately flew to Afghanistan in order to rescue her. Before leaving, I had warned Mr. Hannah that Mr. Deeks would be emotional and to watch him. The decision was made to leave Mr. Deeks behind in the village to try and obtain intel on Miss Blye's whereabouts. I understand he was…less than enthused about that decision."
Sam snorted. "Yeah, that a mild way to put it." He glanced at Callen. "I never knew Deeks could say that many cuss words in one breath."
Callen laughed, remembering the anger the detective had let loose.
"Quite," Hetty said, smiling. "A…" she glanced at Kensi and her mother, Julia's eyes now wide with fear.
"Go on Hetty," Kensi whispered, hearing all of this for the first time, intrigued and dreading what would come next.
"A picture was found of Miss Blye. She was lying on the floor of a cave…it showed her throat had been cut."
Julia sobbed, holding her daughter with everything she had.
"Mr. Deeks was sent the photo after demanding to see it."
"Hetty," Kensi stared at her, horror on her face. "Why would you do that?"
Hetty smiled sadly at her agent. "I truly have no idea my dear. It's one of the things I regret the most." She fell silent, lost in the moment.
A small, quiet voice took up the story. "He sounded like a man possessed. Like his soul had been torn out." Eric stared at a point in the distance, a tear sliding down his cheek. Nell moved to him, taking his hand and squeezing, a small gesture of reassurance.
"I've seen, well, we all have, Deeks angry or frustrated. This…was rage, raw, pure hatred." He looked at Kensi. "He believed someone had taken you away Kens. I think…from the sound of his voice, I think he wanted to rip the world apart. We could hear him screaming, it became so bad, he was so enraged you couldn't even make out words…just rage." He fell silent, his head bowed.
"I was able to speak with the man who was with them. I can't remember his name, but I do remember him saying he had never seen someone that broken, and that angry at the same moment," Hetty said, picking up the story once again.
"He," she sighed, shaking her head. "He waterboarded the cleric, yelling for a name the whole time. The man said there was no life in Mr. Deek's eyes. Nothing but hate."
Kensi began to sob in her mother's arms. The room was silent, each person lost in their own thoughts. "But he stopped," Hetty's voice sounding through the quiet sobs. "He stopped, then he held the cleric to his check, sobbing that he was sorry, that he didn't mean it."
"That's why he wakes up some nights, screaming for forgiveness," Kensi said through her tears, a piece of the puzzle that was Marty Deeks being snapped into place. "It's because of that. Oh baby…" she sniffed, burying her head in her mother's shoulder.
"That's why he takes a moment, when he sees a picture of you Kens," Sam spoke, staring at her. "I think he can't help but see you on that cave floor."
A few moments passed, a new voice joined in.
"We were getting our asses kicked," Granger began, his gravelly voice thick. "Callen, Sam, all of us were low on ammo, outnumbered, and we were ready to go out in hand to hand combat. We heard this chopper fly in, a voice in Arabic blasting through the speakers." He paused, gathering himself. "Next thing we know, Blye and Jack are being brought to us, while Deeks is escorting this cleric to swap. The man saved all our asses. I've never been so glad to be so wrong about someone in my life," he said quietly.
Hetty smiled, a shiver running through her. "That day, Mr. Deeks saved Owen, my three agents, Jack, Sabatino, and gave a young Afghan girl a chance at a life."
The room grew silent, the enormity of what they had just heard filling them with a renewed sense of just who 'their detective' really was.
"Miss Lange? Are you saying that the man we met earlier and the one you described is really the same man?" Danny asked, a note of surprise and awe in his voice.
"Yes, Mr. Simpson, our detective is quite the remarkable man. Why do you ask?"
"So your Deeks is the one they call The Shaggy Savior?" Mike said, his voice low.
"I'm sorry, what?" Callen asked.
"Everyone knows that story," Neal volunteered. "Well, most of the military anyway. Definitely the SEAL's, hell damn near all the elite units."
It was strange for anyone who knew Hetty to see her surprised, even more at a loss for words. Yet the look on her face showed exactly those two things. "Please explain," she answered, the whole group turning to the men, not in anger anymore, but now in puzzlement.
Neal looked at his teammates. "Well, we were deployed for a month, then headed back to base. We needed intel and supplies. While there, a sandstorm popped up. Nothing dangerous really, but I decided to wait it out. It was only going to last a day, two tops, so we stayed at base, resting and catching out breath. Being caught in a sandstorm isn't fun. So we basically stayed at the bar, looking for a meal, some beers, and just to rest and unwind."
"That was wen we heard this crazy story about a LAPD detective," Mark began. "At first we didn't believe it. It was already spreading around the base. Then, the pilot that flew your Deeks in the chopper walked in. We know the guy, he's flown for us enough to know he wasn't lying. The pilot said is was the craziest thing he had ever seen. This scruffy looking guy, literally saving the day."
Danny stared at the other two men. "Jesus," he swore softly. "Never thought we would meet him." All three men stood at attention, ram-rod straight. "We apologize for our earlier comments and are sorry if they caused any of you any hurt."
Hetty looked at the three men, seeing the sincerity in their posture, and hearing the regret in their voice. "Apology accepted," she said, the rest of the group doing the same.
Lieutenant Bates had listened, not speaking as the people Deeks worked with told of his bravery and dedication to them. Do I tell them? He thought, not knowing what to do. They didn't know what he knew, and things had obviously changed between all of them.
A lull settled across the room, each person digesting what had been revealed.
Deciding, and hoping he was doing the right thing, Bates's voice rang out. "You guys almost lost him." The sentence cracked like thunder, gasps and shocked stares greeting the statement.
"Three years ago…he came to me one afternoon, asking if I had an assignment, any assignment, the deeper the better. I couldn't figure out why he was so eager for something he had grown to dislike. It didn't make sense."
Everyone was listening, their eyes following the Lieutenant as he moved from the window overlooking the parking lot, easing himself into a chair. Kensi wondered what would make Deeks actually want to go on assignment. She knew he at one time loved going deep undercover, but since joining their team, he had resented it more and more.
"Jenny Radson," he said, stared at the three agents, waiting for them to catch up. Kensi got their first, a small "oh my God," spilling from her. Sam and Callen weren't far behind, hanging their heads as the case began to come back to them. Hetty, remembering the name, sucked in a breath.
Seeing the confused looks on the other faces, Bates continued. "Jenny Radson was a down-on-her-luck single mother who Deeks helped when he was a Public Defender. Somehow, he got Jenny and her daughter to be allowed to stay together. Jenny was always calling Deeks after he made detective, trying to be an informant. The majority of her 'tips' never went anywhere. Then, out of the blue she calls him. Screaming and crying, she crashed her car with him still on the phone. Then she was abducted which he also heard. He takes it to his teammates," his eyes roved over Kensi, Sam and Callen, "and from what I was told, you three just basically shit on him all day. Apparently all of you tried your damndest to get out of even looking into the case. If not for Hetty, who forced you three to do something."
Standing, he moved to pour himself a coffee, his anger visible in the set of his shoulders, and the tone of his voice. "I found out all of this after I got him to my place. Set a beer in front of him, then told him to talk. And Christ, did he ever pour it out."
"You three treated him like an unwanted child. He never let on, to any of you, but that hurt him. That night, he talked about quitting NCIS, and coming back to the force. Said that you would never accept him, so I should just shut the Liaison program down, and let everyone go back to their lives."
The whole room waited, Bates staring at Hetty. "I came close to doing what he asked. In fact, I had my assistant ready the paperwork the next day. But I told him to take a few days, see where he stood then. And I did promise him, if he still wanted to leave NCIS, then I would back him. He came back days later, saying he was just venting and that he wasn't serious. Not sure what changed his mind."
Frowning at the awful coffee, he dumped the rest in the trash, shaking his head. "Didn't mean to be such a downer, but I thought all of you should know how close you came to losing him for good."
Sam, still a little shocked, spoke quietly, "When did he decide to stay with us?"
Bates sat down heavily, a sigh escaping him. "A week before you and he were taken by Sidirov."
Sam stared at the Lieutenant, his eyes then met Michelle's. "So…if he had left."
"There's a good chance neither one of us would be here," Michelle finished, her voice cracking as she began to cry. Sam held her, whispering softly.
The silence in the room was like a wet woolen blanket, everyones mind hurrying through what they had just heard, and how it could have effected them all.
Julia, overwhelmed by all the things she had heard, not only about her daughter, but the man she had come to know as hopefully a future son-in-law, cleared her throat, blowing her nose as she stroked Kensi's hair. "He brought me back my little girl," she said. "He was so cute when he knocked on my door that day. He was nervous, telling me I was in danger, and then asking me to trust him. I could see that he was prepared to actually beg me if he had to." She looked at Kensi, smiling at her. "I think he would have done anything he had too, just to help you sweetheart."
Kensi, her emotions all over the place after hearing what Deeks had done for her in Afghanistan, laughed softly, remembering how confused and frustrated he was that day, but burying all of that when she told him she needed his help. He never hesitated, just agreed.
Julia squeezed Kensi's hand, "He told me that I would see my daughter," she laughed, shaking her head. "I said he clearly didn't know my Kensi. But he just stood there, smiling that crooked smile. Clearly I was wrong. That night, Kensi knocked on my door. For the first time in fifteen years, I not only saw my baby girl, but I was able to hug her." She turned, tears in her eyes, pulling Kensi to her.
"I think your dad would have loved him, just as we all do Kensi. He would have been happy you two were together." Julia laughed. "Except for the hair. The hair would have driven Don crazy."
Kensi burst into laughter, her tears mixing as she imagined her father seeing Deeks for the first time. "Now that would have been hilarious!"
The room broke into chuckles, easing the tension they all were struggling with, for a few moments.
Voices could be heard outside the door, a note of frustration creeping slightly into the tone. The door swung open, a doctor hurrying through.
"Kensi Blye?" He asked, worry on his face.
Kensi stood, fear gripping her, "That's me. How is he doctor?"
The doctor smiled, a reassuring look on his face. "Mr. Deeks is going to be just fine. A few bruises and some minor burns is all. A few ribs appear to be bruised, but considering what happened, he's a lucky man. He just refuses to be admitted for tonight. He keeps saying that he wants to go home."
Callen chuckled, "Yeah, he is a stubborn one doc."
"I am not stubborn…I'm determined!"
Deeks walked into the room, his normal stride replaced with slow steps. "Besides, I've got the burn cream, and all the meds you gave me, I can rest at home with Kensi."
"Deeks!" Kensi yelled, running to him, her arms holding him gently, careful of his injuries. She pulled away slightly, taking in his bruises and burns on his arms. "What happened?"
Deeks shrugged, a wince escaping him. "I met the guy, made the buy, then SWAT entered, they arrested all of us. We didn't know the building had been rigged. Apparently he was so paranoid after finding out about Peterson being an undercover, he just panicked. I think he believed that he would just take everyone, including himself out."
He eased himself into a chair, Kensi never leaving his side, their hands clasped together. "Crazy idiot couldn't even get that right. Somehow, the explosives detonated, but we think he mis-wired them, so only a few went off. I got thrown through a window. Woke up in the ambulance." He noticed everyone staring. "What? Like that's the worst thing to have happened to me?"
He stood, flinching as the burn on his leg pulled. Noticing Kensi, her face a mix of worry and near anger, he pulled her to him. "Kens…truly I'm good. I'm just sore and burned."
The doctor sighed. "Seeing as how there are no broken bones, and the CT scan came back showing no damage, then as long as you rest, I think you will be fine Mr. Deeks"
Kensi pulled him to her, whispering to him softly. "You scared me Deeks. What am I going to do with you," her voice trembling.
"Well, you could take me home. I do need this cream put on. And some places I can't reach," he smiled, a grin on his face.
"I'm so glad you better Marty," a voice rose from behind him. Deeks froze, his face a look of horror, as he stared at Kensi. "Your mother is here…and she just heard what I said." Face now flaming red with embarrassment, he turned and looked at Julia. "Mrs. Feldman, how lovely to…" He stopped, staring at everyone. "Nope, I'm too tired and sore to even try to get out of this one."
The group laughed, glad that their detective was up and mending. Michelle, her eyes red, reached up, hugging him. "You need to take better care of yourself Marty."
He held her, looking at Sam, who shook his head, mouthing he would explain later. Deeks nodded, giving Michelle a gentle squeeze.
They all started to leave, glad that he was safe. Soon, it was just Kensi and Deeks, staring at each other. The door opened, and the three SEAL's they had met earlier eased into the room.
"Hey, you mind if we get a picture with you?"
Confused, he stared at Kensi, who laughed. "Sure, he'd love too!"
The three men surrounded Deeks, who was still not sure what was going on. Kensi snapped the photo, beaming at the look on his face. After they had shaken hands and left, he turned, looking at her. "What the hell Kens?"
Her arm wrapped around his waist, she watched as he signed the paperwork to let them go home. "I'll explain everything babe. First let's go home."