Hello my lovelies. I would like to thank Amy (Guest),Adri1577, Petunia3116, Lic. Lu, ssl71, heyjode, PirateGinge and Guest for the wonderful reviews. I would also like to thank those of you who have followed and favoured since my last update.
So here is the next chapter, I hope you like it.
Disclaimer: I don't own NCIS: LA.
Callen woke the next morning with his arms wrapped around a warm body, one which had its back pressed up against his chest. It took half a second before he realised that the body belonged to Deeks and that somehow in the night he had gone from lying next to the man to spooning him. As carefully as he could Callen eased backward, removing the arm he had around the younger man's waist so that he was lying on his back staring at the ceil, even if his other arm was still trapped underneath Deeks' head. He was glad he had woken up first, as he really hadn't planned on touching the other guy in such a way. He'd had no plans to hold him during the night, no matter how much he had enjoyed it. And he knew he had, the peace that had been in him when he woke told him that much. But still it couldn't happen again, or more importantly Deeks could never know. With a sigh he finally decided he should reclaim the arm still trapped under Deeks, and as such he slowly pulled it away as he sat up, only to be confronted by the big disapproving eyes of Monty staring at him. It was obvious he had been watching him a while.
"I promise I'll try to keep my hands to myself in the future, okay?" He asked the dog in a whisper as he leaned forwards to scratch behind Monty's ears, causing the dog to settle back down. At least he hadn't woken Deeks, that was a good thing, and it didn't even cross Callen's mind that he had used the try rather than promising never to end up with the younger man in his arms again.
Once Monty was settled Callen decided it would probably be for the best if he got up. He had a long drive ahead of him, and he wanted to get back in time to submit the papers Deeks had signed if at all possible. Of course the fact that if he managed to get back in time to do that then it would most probably be after Bates and Hetty had both left for the day, would just be an added bonus in his mind. He also needed to go talk to the building manager of Deeks' apartment to find out how soon the kid could give in his notice. And how soon he would need to organise a removals company to move all his stuff over to his own house. So yes, it would be best to leave as soon as possible. With those thoughts he grabbed his go bag and made his way to the shower room.
Deeks woke to sunlight coming through the uncovered window and he couldn't help the soft moan of pleasure that left his lips at the feel of it on his skin as he stretched, in a very cat like manor. He was in the middle of his stretch when he realised something wasn't quite right. And not a second later he felt the hairs on the back of his neck rise at the feel of eyes on him. For a fraction he tensed, but then he remembered the man he had invited to share his room the previous evening and he relaxed, finishing his movements before rolling over and coming face to face with Callen who was sitting in the chair next to his bed.
"Morning." He mumbled sleepily as he smiled at his former team leader.
"Morning yourself." Callen replied with a chuckle, he had enjoyed watching Deeks wake, and he couldn't stop himself for hoping that he would get to see it again someday.
Deeks took note of the fact Callen was wearing new clothes and the smell of his body wash that was permeating the room. It didn't take a genius investigator to realise Callen had already showered. He wondered if the other man had just been waiting for him to wake so he could say goodbye, and for some reason he didn't like the idea of him leaving. Oh he knew he would. Callen had to return to LA, but that didn't mean Deeks couldn't try and keep him a little bit longer. Therefore pulling himself up so he was sitting he said, "Give me a moment to shower and dress and we'll take Monty out for a walk."
"I should really be going." Callen responded, though he made no move to do so. He liked the idea of going with Deeks and Monty for a walk, getting to see more of the area the other man had chosen to settle in.
"There is no way you can leave until after breakfast. If you try Henry will hunt you down. It is the most important meal of the day, or as he likes to tell me every morning. Although, I pretty sure he says that about every meal so…" Deeks replied with a chuckle, though in truth he wasn't joking. He was wouldn't put it past Henry to drive after Callen with a plate filled with food if he found out he had left without eating. He hadn't missed the looks the two men he now worked for had given his former boss when they had come in from talking outside the previous night, and while Frank had mainly been watching him, to make sure he was okay, he had seen how Henry had also been watching Callen.
"Well I can't let Henry down now can I? Go shower, then we'll take your mutt out for a walk." Callen responded with a smile and a nod towards the bathroom.
"Hey, don't call Monty a mutt. He's gorgeous, aren't you boy?" Deeks replied instantly as he climbed out of the bed giving the dog a good scratch on the head and a look that clearly told him not to listen to the mean old man.
And Callen couldn't help himself as before he even had time to think the next words came out of his mouth. "What, just like his owner?"
"Your words, Callen. Not mine." Deeks responded with a smirk around the doorframe before disappearing into the bathroom, leaving Callen to roll his eyes at himself. He really shouldn't be flirting with Deeks.
It wasn't much later that the two men and dog were making their way to the cliff top. They didn't talk as they walked, for one because the ascent was rather steep and they wanted to save their breath, but also because they didn't feel the need. They were both comfortable enough in each other's presence to remain silent and just enjoy the peace of the place they were in. Enjoy the moment in time where there was no need for them to do be doing anything or going anywhere, revelling in the knowledge that they weren't being shot at or chased.
Once they reacted the top they both stopped to gain their breaths back and look over the view below them. Callen was amazed at what he saw. The cove was spread out to the right of him looking peaceful and serene from the height they were at, the waves breaking on the shore looking nothing more than a ruffle of water as they rolled in. And yet in front and directly below the ocean raged against the cliff edge, storming around the rocks that dared to be in its path, stopping it pounding relentlessly against stone that would one day yield to its might. But, while he could see it all, knew the power of what was in front of him, the sounds were so very gentle from where they stood. He felt like while he and Deeks were part of what he could see, they were also separate somehow.
It was wild, yet tamed and it made him feel alive as nothing in LA ever could. Only this show of nature's force could give him that sense of peace and excitement.
"I can see why you like it here." he said finally breaking the silence between him and Deeks.
"Yeah. It's pretty awesome, and surfing is something else." Deeks agreed smiling. He might just have to take his board out later, it looked like the waves were gonna be perfect in a few hours.
"I'll take your word for that." Callen responded. He wasn't really the surfing type, never had been even if he did grown up in LA. Pulling his eyes from the scene in front of him he turned to study the man at his side. He saw the smile on his face as he stared out at the waves, and he couldn't stop himself from saying, "you're really good here."
"Yeah, I am." Deeks replied turning to return Callen's stare. Looking into the older man's eyes with an open honesty he rarely had when in LA. He had nothing to hide, not anymore. He was who he was, and he was better than he had been in a long time. Yeah, he really was good.
"I'm glad. But know, you ever need anything, call. Okay?" Callen responded gently. He may have had all his fears settled about the life Deeks was now leading, but he needed the younger man to know that he would still be there for him. He still had his back.
"Thanks, Callen. And hey, you ever need a break, my bed is big enough for two." Deeks replied with a sincere smile. He didn't want this to be the last time he saw Callen, but he couldn't see himself returning to LA any time soon, if ever.
"I'll keep that in mind." Callen answered back, a slight smirk appearing as his eyes twinkled at ways he could take those words, not that he voice those ideas. Now was most definitely not the time.
Deeks of course saw the look and just rolled his eyes at what Callen was clearly itching to say, but he was thankful the guy chose not to. He could only take so much of Callen's teasing flirtations before he might just do something that he would probably regret. Therefore turning away from the cove he spoke over his shoulder. "Come on, or we'll be late for breakfast."
"Yeah we don't want that. I don't want to see what Henry would do to me for keeping you away from food." Callen chuckle as he fell into step with the other man and Monty.
"No, you really don't." Deeks agreed with an evil glint in his eyes as his overactive imagination gave him all sorts of answers.
They weren't late. In fact they arrived just as Frank and Henry came out of the kitchen carrying plates piled high with pancakes and bacon. Once Deeks had gotten everyone coffee, the four men settled in to enjoying their breakfast and the casual conversation that flowed between them.
But soon enough the food was gone and coffee was drunk, and Callen knew it was time for him to go.
"I'd best be getting back." He said into a lull in the conversation.
The words caused something to tighten inside of Deeks. He didn't know why, or understand what it meant, all he knew was he didn't want Callen to leave, though he knew he had to. He couldn't keep the team leader here, hidden away from the danger of LA and the job he did, however much Deeks may want to. Therefore forcing the feeling down he nodded and stood as he replied, "I'll walk you out."
"Frank, Henry. Pleasure to meet you both. Good luck keeping Deeks out of trouble, I know how hard it can be." Callen said turning to the other two men and shaking both theirs hands and smiling pleasantly at them. So very different to the look he had given Frank when he had first arrived the previous day.
"Hey." Deeks squawked causing the other men to chuckle.
"Good to meet you to, Callen. Don't be a stranger." Frank replied to the man in front of him, though he didn't think for a minute he would be. He couldn't see Callen just walking away from Deeks.
"I won't." Callen agreed with a nod before turning towards the door.
"Wait." Henry called before he could take a step forwards, and then he disappeared into the kitchen once more making Callen raise his eyebrows at Deeks, who just shrugged. He had no idea what Henry was doing.
Frank for his part knew exactly what his husband was up to and he couldn't stop the indulgent smile from appearing on his face as they waited Henry to return. He did not take long, but when he came back he had a brown paper bag in his hand.
"I made you lunch. I doubt very much you would think to stop to eat on the way to LA, and this way you don't have to." Henry proclaimed handing over the bag he had prepared earlier when he was getting the breakfast. There was no way he was letting Callen drive all the way back to LA without something to keep him going on the journey.
Callen took the bag with something like shock on his face. It had been a very long time since someone had made him lunch, but he liked the feeling all the same. It reminded slightly of the good homes he had lived in as a child, when the mom would force a packed lunch on him before he headed out to school. "Thank you." he said to man with a nod, before turning to head out once more, trailed by Deeks and Monty.
They got to the car and Callen loaded his bag into the boot and put his lunch carefully on the passenger seat. "Well, I guess this is it. I'll let you know what I find out about the apartment and everything." He said straightening, not sure what else to say now it was time for him to go.
"Thanks, for everything." Deeks replied with a smile as he pulled the older man into a brief hug before releasing and continuing. "And do me a favour, try not to get yourself killed."
"No promises, but I'll do my best." Callen agreed as he climbed into the car. Deeks took a step back then, giving him space so he could turn around and drive away.
As Deeks watched the car disappear up the road he felt the presence of the two men who had taken him in come to stand beside him. For a moment he tensed, because Callen was gone now. He was no longer there to act as buffer between the three of them, and he suddenly realised that this would be the first time they had spoken without him since all they had learnt the previous evening. Deeks wasn't sure how they were going react, how they were going to behave now. He just wanted to forget about it all, but he knew that wouldn't be possible if they started treating him differently. Started treating him as if he was something fragile that would break. Because he wasn't. He just wanted to move on. He just wanted to forget.
"You know, if I wasn't married, I'd give you a run for your money with that one." Henry said conversationally from his side, making Deeks turn to him with a puzzled frown.
"What?" He asked in confusion. Of all the things he had been prepared to hear, that sentence certainly wasn't one of them.
Rather than answering him Frank came up and wrapped his arms around his husband's waist as he rested his chin on his shoulder. "Babe, I'm pretty sure even if you weren't married, you wouldn't stand a chance." He added into the conversation.
"Seriously? What?" Deeks asked so completely thrown by the whole conversation they were having. He and Callen weren't like that. They were friends. Though when he looked into the other men's eyes he could see them both twinkling with an identical look of humour making him realise they were sending him up.
"You know what. I'm going surfing." He pouted as he said before fake storming off towards the bar to get his stuff, the laughter of the others following him. He wasn't really annoyed at them, he couldn't be. The teasing, it felt good. That short exchange showed him in a way nothing else could that they wouldn't treat him any differently than they had been before... Showed to him that he was still the same Deeks to them now as he had been yesterday morning. And that, that was a gift he would cherish deeply.
And Frank and Henry both sighed, relaxing into the other as they watched Deeks walk away. Now they knew what had happened to him, they knew they would have an uphill battle to help him get better. But they also knew they couldn't force him to talk about it, couldn't force him to face what he had been through. No, all they could do was be there for him, ready to catch the kid when fell, and be ready to help get up again afterwards. And they were ready to do just that.