Hello again my dears. I would like to thank Guest and amywegner16 for the wonderful reviews. As such I have decided to give you another chapter.

I hope you like it.

Disclaimer: I don't own NCIS: LA.

Arriving at the room Callen grabbed some clothes from his go bag and made his way to the bathroom, leaving Deeks to settle Monty and get what he needed to prepare for the night. When he came out Callen moved to sit on the bed turning out all the lights but the bedside lamp as he waited for the younger man to go and brush his teeth and do his nightly routine.

It wasn't until Deeks came out that Callen noticed something was off with the other man. Because as much as he knew Deeks was tired, he kept seeming to find things to do in the room. Things that would put off going to bed. For a minute Callen was confused, wondering what was wrong, wondering if Deeks somehow felt uncomfortable about sharing a bed with him all of a sudden, but then it hit him. Deeks wasn't uncomfortable about sharing a bed, he just didn't want to go to sleep. He was scared of what would happen when he closed his eyes. And Callen realising this, couldn't help but wonder how many nights Deeks had been like that since he was taken. Couldn't help the guilt that settled inside him at the thought the Deeks had been sacred to sleep for so long, and had no one to help him. But he pushed that aside. That didn't matter now. What did was that now Deeks was not alone. Therefore moving to the edge of the bed he waited a few seconds before the Deeks tried to walk past him. At that moment he reached out, striking with the skill of snake to grab the younger man's hand in both of his.

"Come to bed, Marty." He said softly, even as he applied enough pressure to the hand in his own to make the other man turn towards him.

"I just have to-" Deeks started to say, but Callen was having none of it.

"No, you don't. You need to sleep." Callen replied sternly. There was no question of it being a suggestion in his voice. It was an order.

And Deeks looking into Callen's eyes knew he couldn't put it off any longer. So instead he took a deep breath and closed his eyes for a moment, hoping it would help him gain his equilibrium. Then he looked back at the man sitting in front of him. "Okay." He responded softly.

That one word was all Callen needed to guide Deeks to the bed, pulling him down so he was lying under the covers on the side closest to the wall. Once he was there Callen didn't even try and stop himself from wrapping the younger man in his arms, spooning him as he had done the last two times they had shared the same bed. The only difference being that this time Deeks was awake as he eased his arm under his neck and carefully settled the other around his waist.

"Night, Marty." Callen whispered as he snapped off the light. And as the darkness surrounded the pair he couldn't stop himself from leaning forwards and pressing a sweet, gentle kiss to Deeks forehead, before settling back down, his nose pressed into the other man's hair.

Deeks felt his breath catch as he felt the closeness of Callen. As he felt the soft kiss drop onto his skin. It was different to the other time Callen had done it. Then he hadn't been… himself. But now, lying in bed with the older man pressed against him, Deeks was definitely all there. He didn't know what that kiss meant. Was it Callen's way of reminding him he was there for him if he had a nightmare… or was it something more? And Deeks being Deeks knew he couldn't sleep with that question going round in his mind. Therefore he decided to put words to his thoughts in the dark that surrounded them.

"Any chance you'll do that on my lips?" He asked making sure his cheeky tone was prominent in his voice, though he didn't doubt that Callen would be able to see through it. After all G Callen had always been the one person who could see through his words.

And Callen, lying there tensed slightly. Not so much from the question, but more the underlying tone that told him that Deeks wouldn't say no if he did. But he couldn't, as much as he wanted to. Deeks wasn't ready for that, neither of them were in truth. Not after all that had happened. But he knew he had to answer, and for once in his life Callen decided to answer honestly. "Maybe, one day." He said softly, yet in a serious tone so Deeks would know he meant his words. "But for now, sleep." He continued pulling Deeks closer to him as he did so.

"Night, G." Deeks whispered in response. And as he closed his eyes there was no mistaking the smile on his lips at the words the other man had spoken. One day. Yeah, he could wait, and maybe… one day.

They both woke the next morning, neither mentioning the conversation they had had in the dark. They had no need to. Instead they both got up and got ready for the day to begin. It was only then that Callen realised he had run out of clean clothes in his go bag. Damn it. He hadn't properly filled it since the last time he came here, and now he didn't have any tops to wear. Therefore turning to Deeks he asked, "Any chance I can borrow a tee? I've run out."

"Sure." Deeks replied before going to his draws and looking through them. Of course he didn't have many himself, what with not exactly packing much when he left LA. Therefore the only choices he had were a couple of checked shirts, one which he would be wearing behind the bar himself during the day.

"So, blue or red?" He asked holding them up to Callen with a sunny smile.

Callen took one look at the shirts and wondered if he would get away with wearing one of his used tees for the journey home. I mean it wasn't like anyone was going to see him right? But when he opened his mouth to say that, he made the mistake of looking into Deeks' eyes. And he knew he couldn't say no to the offer of clothing, even if it was a checked god damn shirt. "I'll take blue." He replied instead deciding it was the best out of the two options he was given.

"Good choice, it matches your eyes." Deeks responded with a smirk. He knew Callen didn't want to wear either of them, and as such was going to take great delight in seeing him in it. Not to mention the fact he rather liked the idea of Callen wearing his clothes.

With that decided they both got dressed, matching checked shirts and all.

Frank couldn't help but burst out laughing when he saw them both enter the bar. The matching shirts was one thing, but there was also the fact that Callen was broader in the shoulders that Deeks, and as such it pulled rather tightly across his chest.

"Nice shirt, Callen." He finally got out, though he was still chuckling.

"Oh I don't know. I think it suits him." Came Henry's voice from the door to the kitchen breakfast plates in hand, not that that stopped him running his eyes over the very pronounced muscles on display.

"Hey babe, behave." Frank replied through his tone was still full of humour. He knew his husband meant nothing by his words after all.

"A guy can look, right? Especially when it is so well displayed." Henry responded winking at Frank even while he waggled his eyebrows at Callen.

"That's it, I'm changing." Callen replied with a sigh. He should have expected this.

"Come on, G. You're only driving back to LA, no one is going to see. Plus I like it." Deeks cajoled from beside him, placing a hand on his back as he guided him to the table.

"Fine. But only because I'm hungry." Callen replied moving to sit at what it seemed had become his seat at the breakfast table.

"Can't let you go hungry now, can we?" Henry responded placing down the plates as Frank added coffee to everyone's seat. And with that the four of them tucked into the food, enjoying a pleasant morning together before they all went about their day. Enjoyed the casual conversation and friendly teasing that chased away any thoughts of the horrors that had brought them all together.

Callen left soon after breakfast, a brown bag of lunch once more in hand. He drove back to LA with a smile on his lips as he remembered the company he had left, a smile that grew as he munched on the sandwiches Henry had made for him. He had forgotten about how he had supposed to be a work the last two days. Forgotten about calling in sick. Therefore it felt a bit like a brick had hit him when he pulled into his drive only to find Sam waiting for him. It was only then it all returned, and he remembered the bad situation with the team and Hetty he had left without a backwards thought when he went to Deeks' aid. Taking a deep breath he took his time turning off the engine of his car and pulling out the keys. In that time he made sure his mask was firmly in place. He couldn't let Sam know where he had been or who he had been with. His partner didn't need to know, and more importantly, Deeks didn't need him to know.

Therefore getting out of the car he gave Sam his usual crooked smile. "Hey, Sam. What you doing here?" He asked casually.

"Well I came round to see if you were okay. Of course I did that yesterday as well. Where you been, G?" Sam asked trying to keep his worry and anger in check as he spoke.

"I went to see a friend, then fell sick. I'm feeling much better now." Callen responded innocently as he walked towards his front door.

"Right. So when exactly did you go see this 'friend'? And why are you only now coming back?" Sam asked though there was a demanding undertone to his voice.

"I told you, I was sick. Can't drive when you're sick." Callen replied, addressing the last question and hoping that he could get away with ignoring the first.

"Okay, even if I believed you, which I don't. I want to know why you thought you could go see a friend between me dropping you off at close to midnight, and then us starting work again the next day." Sam responded following Callen as he made his way into the house. He didn't take his eyes off his partner. He wanted answers and he wanted them now. And that wasn't even covering what the hell G thought he was wearing. Because Sam knew that shirt was not part of his partner's wardrobe. Which led him to believe it had to come from the 'friend' Callen had been to see. Had his partner really blown off work for a couple of days booty call? I mean really? It was the only answer Sam could come up with right then… Though studying the shirt as he followed G he couldn't get the idea that he had seen it before out of his head. Who the hell's was it?

"Drop it, Sam. I was sick, I'm better now and will be back at work tomorrow, okay?" Callen replied with a sigh. He really didn't need this right now.

"You know Kensi and I had to do the work of four between the two of us. It's bad enough Deeks left but you-" at that Sam stopped himself as the memory came back to him. He suddenly remembered where he had seen that shirt before. It was on a certain detective that had resigned. A certain detective who had left them high and dry. A certain detective who had saved his life and not given Michelle up, even under torture. Taking a deep breath he calmed the conflicting emotions rolling through him. Now was not the time to blow up. He had been sure Callen knew where Deeks was, but he had never had any proof of that fact. And the way his partner could evade questions he didn't want to answer had made sure he didn't get any. Until now. Now the proof was staring him in the face. But he knew if he railed at G for keeping Deeks location a secret he would get nothing. So letting out the breath in a long slow smooth go, he spoke in an even tone. "So, how Deeks doing?" he asked, and Sam couldn't quite feel bad at the startled tensing reaction that caused in his partner.

"I told you, Sam. I don't know where Deeks is." Callen replied determined to maintain his cover. He knew Deeks wasn't ready to see anyone else. He would protect him, even from Sam.

"That's crap, G. you're wearing his shirt." Sam stated simply, crossing his arms as he stared into his partner's eyes.

Damn it, Callen thought. He knew he shouldn't have worn this damn shirt. But he knew it was too late now. Sam would never believe it was his. Therefore with a sigh he dropped the lies. "He's okay. Had a rough night."

"And that took two days to sort out?" Sam asked raising his eyebrow, his mind already working on why G had been gone for so long. Was Deeks so far from LA it took hours to get to him? No. He couldn't see the kid running that far. There had to be another reason, so what was it?

"Wanted to make sure he didn't have another one." Callen replied. It was the truth after all, even if it was the complete truth.

At that Sam nodded. Okay, that made sense. Deeks didn't have the training they had had, he knew it had hit him hard. No doubt he would need someone there for him the night after as well. He just didn't understand why Callen was the one Deeks had called to help him deal with his 'rough night'. If anything he would have thought the kid would call Kensi, but he knew for a fact she had no more idea than he did where her former partner was. In fact from what he could find out, the only one in contact with Deeks was Callen. It didn't make sense to Sam, but he knew better than to question it. At least Deeks had someone, even if it was the most unlikely of the lot of them.

"All right. You'd better be in work tomorrow though, we have our new LAPD liaison starting." Sam responded, not being able to keep the displeasure from his voice. He really didn't see why they needed an LAPD liaison.

"Really?" Callen asked his eyebrows raising in surprise at Sam's words. It seemed Hetty had finally decided that Deeks was gone and was moving on. That was good for the team, though even as he thought it Callen couldn't help but wonder how he would feel having someone else sitting at the desk across from him. Having someone else in the place he would always associate with Deeks.

"Yep. Don't know anything else. Hetty is being real tight lipped about the guy." Sam replied with a shrug. And if he may have found out some information on the new guy, detective Jason Thomas, well he wasn't going to share it with his partner. If he'd wanted to know, then he should have been at work shouldn't he?

"Then I guess we'll see tomorrow." Callen responded in an unconcerned voice, though he couldn't help but worry. The job they did, the things they dealt with, LAPD detectives were not trained to deal with that. Deeks proved that. He didn't want to see someone else get destroyed doing their job. They would have been better off if Hetty had just given them another agent. At least they would have gone through the required training. He did not want the extra worry about the newest member of his team.

"Yeah we will. Get some sleep, G. And change your damn shirt." Sam replied before turning and leaving the house. He knew G was okay and he also knew he wasn't going all lone wolf on them. That was enough for him for now. And if he felt a twinge of worry for Deeks, Sam pushed it to the side. The kid had left, he wasn't part of the team anymore. He'd leave G to deal with him, it seemed to be what the other guy wanted after all.

And Callen, well he let out a sigh of relief that Sam wasn't demanding to know where Deeks was. Wasn't insisting they drive up there right now and bring him back. It seemed he had dodged that bullet. He just hoped he could keep doing so. Because Deeks was exactly where he needed to be right then, and Callen would do everything within his power to make sure he stayed there, safely away from the trauma that is the life he had led in LA.