Hello my darlings. I would like to thank lovepride, rozzy07, PirateGinge, Guest, GoldenEyes-65, Maria Luisa Illarnizzi, anonkp, Reader (Guest), Aim1107, Amy (Guest), Beststoriesever (Guest), Guest, CMT1992, Lic. Lu, Petunia3116, Guest, Guest, Ali (Guest), heyjode and Max and Fern 4ever for the wonderful reviews. I would also like to thank those of you who have followed and favoured since my last update.
So firstly I must apologise for my long absence, I fell down the stairs and bruised myself, making it rather difficult to sit at my desk and write. So sorry about that. Secondly from the answers I got from your reviews, I am going to continue with Deeks' story for now, but don't worry Callen will be coming in very soon and through him glimpses of the rest of the team, though they will probably play much more minor parts. I have been thinking about how I want to write this story and I think it is mainly going to be from Deeks pov, but those who have read my other stories know I can never go too long without including Callen. I also have a feeling this is going to become a long one, if I do what I'm thinking of doing. We'll see how it goes.
Anyway enough yabba yabba, time to get on with the story. I hope you like this chapter, and I hope you like Henry.
Disclaimer: I don't own NCIS: LA.
Deeks barely had time to take in the couple sitting in the corner of the bar, or the man sat at it, before his whole attention was taken by a man in his late forties wearing chef whites who stormed through the door bringing, what seemed to Deeks, to be a hurricane in his wake.
"And just where have you been, old man?" The man asked his hands going to his hips as he glared at Frank who was at Deeks' side.
"Just talking to Deeks here. He's gonna be stay with us a while." Frank responded a smile on his lips at his husband's dramatics.
"Oh, is he now?" Henry replied not even trying to hide the way he ran his eyes up and down Deeks' body when he turned to look at him. It seemed whatever he saw met with his approval though, because he nodded before addressing Deeks for the first time. "You like chicken?"
"Umm, yeah?" Deeks answered not sure what was going on, or why he was being asked that question. But before he could figure out how to find out more information, the other guy nodded and turned quickly going back through the door he had come in by. Deeks couldn't help but turn to Frank with a look that clearly said 'what the hell?' on his face.
"That was Henry." Frank answered the unasked question, a chuckle in his voice as he did so. Mainly because he knew exactly what his husband had gone to do, which was get Deeks some food. It seemed he wasn't the only one to notice he was far too skinny, not that he expected anything less from the man he loved.
"Right." Deeks replied not sure what else to say about his first meeting with this guy's husband.
"Hey, Rob. Tell me, how long was he watching us before we came in?" Frank asked the old man at the bar as he made his way round to the other side, pulling Rob another on tap beer without being asked. He knew his customers after all. He knew his husband would have noticed his absence and wanted to find out where and why he had gone.
"Since about a minute after you left." Rod responded taking the drink with a nod as he shared the information with the other man.
"Deeks meet Rob. He owns the farm behind us, and likes to come in for a tipple of a evening, don't you, Rob." Frank said to Deeks, directing him to take a seat at the bar while introducing him to one of their regulars. Rob had been coming to this bar long before he and Henry had taken over, and while it had taken a while for them to convince him that a gay couple could run a bar just as well as a straight one, he was now their staunchest supporter.
"Hmm, nice looking dog." Was all Rob said in way of greeting, having taken note of Monty who had curled up at the foot of Deeks' stool.
"Thanks." Deeks responded not sure what else to say to the glowering old guy. But it seemed that was enough as with a nod Rob went back to his beer, paying no attention to anything else in the room. Or at least that was what he liked everyone to believe at any rate.
Frank got Deeks another drink smirking as he did so. Because he, unlike the younger man, knew Rob had just given him the highest of compliments. The guy trusted his dogs above all humans from his experience, and for him to decide to accept Deeks on Monty alone, that was big.
They all fell back into silence after that. Frank going about his job while Deeks drank his beer and took in the bar he was in. It was not what he had expected from the outside. He had assumed this was some hole-in-wall type place that would be all dark corners and creaking wood. But inside it was fresh and inviting. The chairs and booths were all covered with a soft blue material, but it wasn't worn. It looked comfy, a place you'd want to sit. The windows were open and uncovered so you could hear the faint sound of the waves hitting the beach outside, and he could imagine the light the room would be bathed in in day time. It was unlike any bar he had ever been in, neither high end nor dive. It was… nice. A relaxed, easy-going, homely place that you'd happily come at the end of a hard working day or if you were passing by. He imagined the restaurant area would be the same. It reflected the men who ran it. Or at least one of them, he thought as the door to the kitchen crashed open once more and Henry walked purposefully over to him.
"Eat." Henry said, placing a plate piled high with chicken breasts marinated in some sort of sauce, surrounded by a collection of vegetables.
"I'm really not hungry." Deeks replied. But when he looked at Henry he saw a glare that would rival Hetty's in its intensity and as such found himself reaching for the cutlery. Of course when he had taken one bite he couldn't help but close his eyes and groan in pleasure before diving back for more. This was the best meal he had tasted in a very, very long time.
"Told you he was good, didn't I?" Frank said chuckling as he watched the kid clear the plate of food Henry had given him.
"Better than good. You are a god of food." Deeks mumbled between mouthfuls.
"Well, I can't deny the truth." Henry responded with an overdone smirk, though already ideas of experimenting with this new boy were crowding into his mind. He could have him try all the dishes Frank claimed he was far too old and set in his ways to taste. Oh yes, he couldn't wait to make him his Guinea-pig, and in doing so he would make sure he put back some meat on those bones of his. Deeks really did need fattening up in his mind.
"Easy, Henry. No plotting until he has agreed to stay." Frank said, interrupting Henry's thoughts of all the food he would subject Deeks to.
"Why wouldn't he stay? We're wonderful." Henry answered back with a shrug and wink to his husband. He didn't know why this kid was Frank's project, but he knew he was. And he would do nothing but support him.
At that Frank just chuckled again as Henry went back into the kitchen, both leaving Deeks alone as he ate and drank. They knew they needed to give him time to relax in this new place and come accustomed to his new surrounds.
Deeks for his part couldn't help but look on the obvious love between the two men with a fond expression. The care they had for each other, the understanding, it was like something he had never experienced before. It was refreshing in how they didn't try to hide it behind lies or subtle gestures. There was no undercurrent there. It was very much what you saw was what you got, and it was everything he needed it to be. He watched as Frank interacted with the customers, laughing at their jokes and telling some of his own. It was a peaceful sort of comradery he hadn't experienced since his time with Sidorov and his goons. And maybe even before then. Sam had never truly trusted him until he didn't give his wife away under torture, and as for Kensi, he didn't even know where to start to try and work out what had been going on there. It had all been so difficult. All he did know was that the idea of not having to deal with the tension and undercurrents of the team seemed like a blessing to him right then. It was only now that he had walked away that he had the ability to look back and realise he had never truly had the easy going friendly work atmosphere he saw in front of him. Only now did he truly see that he never had the ability to just be himself with the team. He knew that now. But as he sat there he had to wonder just who the real Deeks was. He had been playing the part of NCIS liaison for so long. Just who was the real him?
The bar closed down around Deeks without him truly realising. He was too caught up in the feelings of peace and safety he felt sitting at the bar drinking beer and scratching Monty's head. To caught up in not thinking and just being. So it was somewhat of a surprise to him when Franks plucked him out of his mind to the here and now.
"Hey, kid. Do you want to join Henry and me for a drink, or shall I show you your room?" He asked. He knew Henry wanted nothing more than to pump Deeks for answers to who he was and why he was there, but he also knew the kid wasn't ready for that. But he wasn't going to tell him what to do either way, he was just giving him the options.
Deeks for his part knew he didn't want to sit down with this guy and his husband. Sure they had been nothing but nice to him, but he wasn't ready to tell his story. Not yet. Therefore with a smile he looked at Frank in understanding at what he was offering, namely a way out of the integration. "The room sounds good."
"Follow me." Frank nodded, before leading Deeks and Monty towards the door Henry had come out of earlier. Entering Deeks saw that that it opened into the centre of a corridor with doors coming off going to the kitchen and restaurant dinning room. One end of corridor obviously led outside, while the other opened onto a set of stairs. Stairs which frank led them up. When they got to the upper floor Frank turned to the first door on the left.
"This is it. It's not much, but, it's enough." He said opening the door letting the younger man walk in without following him. "Mine and Henry's apartment is just down the hall if you need anything." He continued before closing the door, leaving the kid to settle himself him. Leaving him to get his bearings for this sudden change in his life.
Deeks looked around the room. Frank was right in the fact it wasn't much. The room contained a bed, one chair and a chest of drawers, upon which sat an old battered TV. Against one wall was a kitchenette area, complete with fridge, hob and sink. A door opened off the room to provide a toilet and shower. It was nothing like what he had left that morning. Nothing like the apartment he had walked away from without a backward glance. There was no personal touches here, just necessities. It was extremely basic. But Deeks couldn't help but think that basic was what he needed right then as he looked around. It had all he and Monty required of accommodation and it wasn't an impersonal motel room. That was given away by the star wars bedcover and matching pillow case. It was like the bar below, homely… if a little sparse.
Deeks moved towards the bed, going to kneel upon it so he could open the window and as soon as he did the room was filled with the smell of salt air and the sound of the waves crashing on the beach below. He knew that when the sun rose in the morning he would be facing the beach, he had taken note of every turn and direction they had taken to get there.
As he knelt there on the bed in a strange room listening to the sounds of the waves Deeks found a deeper sense of the peace he had been searching for, for so long. The sound of the waves was no longer some synthesized sound coming out of his tablet, there was no artificialness here. It was as far removed from his previous life as he could get, and sitting there, leaning on the windowsill Deeks couldn't help but realise it was everything he had wanted. It was so different from what he had left… he knew there was a possibility that here he could find what it was he was looking for. That in this place, so far removed from who he was and what had been, that here he might just find out exactly who Deeks really was. He might just find his lasting peace and place in the world.
It was with those thoughts that he lay down on the bed, pulling the cover around him and Monty as he drifted off into an easy sleep, for the first time since he had been taken.