A/N: Thanks to everybody for all your comments and encouragement! I can't believe the response this crazy story has gotten so far.

"Mr. Deeks, you already know Agent Blye. And these are Agents Sam Hanna and Callen. Gentleman, this is Martin Deeks, attorney at law," Hetty said by way of introduction. Callen nodded at Deeks, but Kensi noticed he was scrutinizing him.

"You're letting a lawyer consult," Sam said, looking at Deeks with obvious distaste.

"Yup," he answered, popping the "p" and grinning even more widely. Kensi swore she saw a vein in Sam's head twitch. "Is this seat taken?" Wordlessly, they all watched as Deeks sat at the spare desk, making himself comfortable.

"Why?"

"Because Mr. Deeks happens to have relevant information to the case," Hetty said, smiling indulgently at Deeks.

"I think I know why Greg was killed," Deeks offered. "And it's just Deeks by the way."

"How on earth did you find that out in two hours?" Kensi demanded, annoyed and, even more annoyingly, impressed.

"I told you, I can be persuasive."

"And annoying," Sam said under his breath. Ignoring him, Deeks added,

"I asked Greg's paralegal if he knew anything and it turns out the man is a natural gossip. I learned way more about Greg's sex life than I ever need or wanted to know. Anyway, he told also me about several calls he overheard and then got me access to one of Greg's private emails. After a little digging, I figured out he was involved in some kind of money racketing scheme."

"I can't believe it." Kensi knew her tone was less than flattering, but Deeks didn't seem to notice or care.

"I know where the bodies are buried," he said proudly and then frowned, adding, "The metaphorical bodies, not the literal ones. Because that would be illegal."

"Get to the point, Deeks."

"Sam-is it ok if I call you Sam?"

"No," Sam answered sharply.

"Ok. I called this guy that Greg had been in contact and told him that I had evidence linking him to the murders. I told him if he didn't let me in on the operation, I'd take my evidence to the police and I knew how to make it stick. I'm supposed to me him at six at an old AC storage facility," Deeks finished and then placed his hands behind his head, leaning back in his chair.

"Great, so me or Sam will meet this guy in your place," Callen started to say, but Deeks shook his head.

"Yeah, no, that's not going to work. He knows what I sound like. Besides, he'd spot you as a fed right away," Deeks said.

"But you're not an agent and you're definitely not qualified."

"I feel like I should be offended."

"Hetty," Sam said, turning to their tiny leader.

"Your concerns are noted, but Mr. Deeks will be going undercover. We will provide any necessary backstopping and prepping he might need," she said.

"Sweet!" Deeks said, like he'd just one a prize at the circus and not agreed to a dangerous mission.

"Hetty, this is not a good idea," Kensi said, approaching her boss's desk. They'd spent the last couple hours explaining agency protocol to Deeks and run through several different scenarios depending on what his contact might do. "He is not prepared." She lowered her voice in case Deeks might happen by.

She'd noticed he had an annoying habit of popping up at the most inconvenient times.

"Yes, I think you, Mr. Hanna and Mr. Callen have all voiced that opinion quite adequately," Hetty said patiently. When she said nothing else, Kensi sat down in one of the low armchairs without invitation.

"He has no training. I doubt he knows how to fire a weapon, and even if he did, we can't give him one. What if he gets killed?" Hetty cocked her head, observing Kensi in a way that was completely disconcerting.

"You seem very worried about him."

"Of course I am! He's a civilian. Four hours ago he was just a witness and now we're putting him in a position where it's very likely he'll be hurt, or worse." Hetty reached out and patted her hand.

"Kensi, believe me when I say that we will do everything in our power to keep Mr. Deeks safe," Hetty assured her.

"Deeks, please tell me you'll consider," Kensi said as she watched Deeks slid a tie through his collar and expertly adjusted it. Hetty had pulled out all the stops in the wardrobe department and she had a feeling when Sam and Callen saw, they would be jealous.

"Careful Agent Blye, I might think you actually care," he teased. Without thinking, Kensi reached out and touched his arm. He followed the gesture with a look of surprise. His skin was warm through the linen of his shirt and sent a shiver down her back; she pulled back quickly, awkwardly smoothing her hair behind her ear.

"You don't have to do this." He stopped fiddling with his tie and crossed his arms over his chest, emphasizing his biceps and upper chest.

"Your lack of faith in me hurts. Seriously though, why do you think I can't handle this? I actually do know how to handle myself in a rough situation."

"But this won't just be a rough situation. This guy your meeting might have killed three people. And two of those men were highly skilled members of the military," she said, telling herself that her concern was purely due to him being a civilian, and nothing more.

"That's why I have you to watch my back," he said, smirking again. "You'll keep me from doing anything too stupid, right?" Kensi squeezed the bridge of her nose, trying to hide her own smirk.

"I don't think that's possible."

"You wound me Blye." He shrugged on the suit jacket Hetty had provided, which was a dark gray, and spun in a quick circle. "What do you think?"

Kensi thought he looked even better in person in a suit and marveled at how well it fit him for not being tailored. And Hetty had definitely made a wise choice going with a blue tie, it emphasized his eyed.

Keeping her face impassive, she shrugged.

"You'll do."