Hello my darlings. I would like to thank Lic. Lu,Beepmybanana 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 here is the next chapter, it's a long one. I hope you like it.
Disclaimer: I don't own NCIS: LA.
Hetty sat at her desk and watched the two remaining members of her elite team working away in the bullpen. She was glad to see that Kensi and Detective Thomas were obviously working well together. Glad that she had made the right choice when she had decided to add him to the team. But that wasn't what her mind was mainly focused on. No that was the absence of her team leader. Oh she knew Callen was on medical leave, just as Sam was. After all they could expect nothing else after being close to an explosion and in a car accident respectively, but she had not expected Callen to obey the edict. In fact she had expected to see him that morning smiling innocently at her as he promised he would remain on desk duty, a promise they both knew he would not keep.
But he hadn't been there, and that worried her. Not that she would let anyone else in the office know, but still… she couldn't help wonder what he was using his medical leave to do. After all the last time she had seen him she had confirmed the name of his father. She would not be surprised to find out he had gone to Russia to investigate further. But she really hoped he hadn't. She hoped he was spending time was Sam, who she knew would take his medical leave, if only because she had informed Michelle of it. But still she worried. With a sigh she turned towards her computer and not for the first time was tempted to try and trace her boy. But that was not a responsible use of government resources. She knew she could not do that. No all she could do was sit there and wonder.
When the end of the day came she found herself close to breaking, and as such she determinedly shut off her computer and left the building. But as she got into her car she did not drive home. Instead she found herself making her way towards Callen's own. She just wanted to check on him, that was her excuse. She just wanted to make sure he really was all right after all that had happened on their previous case.
But when she pulled up outside Callen's house she found it in darkness and his car missing. That did not bode well in her mind. She briefly thought of going to Sam's. Going to see if he was there, but she did not want to worry the other man if he was not. Therefore she made her way home. But once through the door she realised she could not carry on this way. She needed to know. As such, much against her better judgement, she pulled out her tablet and pulled up the program that would let her track her agents. She tried to reason with herself that it was purely for Callen's safety, but she knew it wasn't true. Not that that knowledge stopped her from tracking his phone and cars GPS.
The results she got surprised her, though she had to wonder if it really should. At least he wasn't in Russia looking for his father. No he was once more at that bar in the middle of nowhere. Looking at the flashing points informing her of where her agent was she couldn't help but wonder what it was about that bar that had drawn him back once more. Because she had checked his files, and as far as she was aware he had never worked with Detective Frank Monroe, and his husband had even less of a reason to know her boy. So, why? What was it there that kept pulling him back? What was it about that place that had caused him to phone in ill when she knew he wasn't? And what was it about the place that had caused him to run there now, when he had discovered such important information to him, when he'd discovered his father's name?
Hetty wanted answers, but she knew she could not seek them right then. Because she knew if she turned up at the bar the next day Callen would not be happy with her, and that was putting it mildly. Therefore she was going to have wait for him to return and then go and investigate. Three days. That was how long he had left on his leave. She would greet him and Sam back, and then she would go and find out just what this place Callen kept running to, had that drew him back. Yes, she just had to wait three days, and then all her questions would be answers, she was sure of it.
Callen came out of kitchen just after it had officially closed, two plates in his hand. He had prepared his and Deeks dinner and he was inordinately proud of that fact, even if he had had Henry standing at his shoulder talking him through the whole process of cooking the salmon and preparing the sauce, though the carrots he could say were completely his work. He couldn't wait for Deeks to try it. Couldn't wait to prove to someone that he actually did have skills in the kitchen, despite what Sam thought.
Deeks was wiping down the bar when the door opened from the kitchen. He expected it to be Henry bringing him his dinner now Frank was back from the restaurant. Therefore he didn't bat an eyelid at the man who walked through wearing chef whites. Or at least he didn't until he registered just who it was. Because there was no way that was Henry. He couldn't help himself from freezing for a moment as he stared at his former team leader, standing there holding two plates of food, looking so much like this was his life as much as it was Deeks' own. But then he blinked and shook the thought from his head. Because G didn't belong here. Therefore with a chuckle in his voice he spoke.
"Nice outfit, G." He called out causing the other man to frown at him.
"Behave or I'll take your dinner back to the kitchen." Callen responded, half turning towards the door as if he was going to do just that.
"I meant you look great. Totally suits you. You should wear it more often." Deeks backtracked quickly. He was really hungry, and well, Callen was wearing a uniform, even if it wasn't one he'd ever imagined he would see him in.
"Okay." Callen replied with a smile turning back towards the seating area of the bar and moving towards their usual table, the one that could see all corners of the place they were in. He'd forgotten about his change of outfit during his shift in the kitchen. He'd been too immersed in learning everything he could from Henry to even think about it, until Deeks' words that was at any rate. But hey, here this was more inconspicuous than the gun and badge he using carried.
"You know, you cost me 20 bucks." Deeks said conversationally as he brought over the cutlery and drinks for them both. Arranging them on the table so they were sat next to each other without thought.
"And how did I do that?" Callen asked with a raised eyebrow as he sat, not sure how he'd managed to cost Deeks money.
"I bet Frank you'd be out of the kitchen within half an hour." Deeks grumbled in response as joining Callen on the bench sitting close enough that their elbows brushed slightly as he pulled his plate towards him.
"That'll teach you to bet on my behaviour then, won't it?" Callen replied with a smirk. He liked the idea that he had bested Deeks, even if he hadn't known he was doing it, it was still fun.
Deeks on the other hand just rolled his eyes at Callen's answer. You'd think he would know better than betting where Callen was concerned. That guy always found a loop hole. He still hadn't forgotten when he'd scammed him when he was practising his cards tricks on the support staff in the office back in his first year at NCIS.
"So it go okay? Henry didn't have you tied up in there, did he?" He asked to change the subject. He wanted to make sure Callen really had enjoyed himself working in the kitchen. I mean this wasn't his job, he didn't have to do it.
"Do you really think he could keep me this long if he'd tied me up?" Callen asked in disbelief that Deeks didn't have faith that he could have gotten out of such a situation within the four hours he'd been working in the kitchen. Did he not know him at all?
"Probably not. Not in a room filled with knifes at any rate." Deeks conceded. In truth he couldn't imagine Henry would be able to keep Callen a minute longer than he wanted to be there. Callen was the master at escaping things he didn't want to do after all.
At that Callen chuckled easily. This was good. Sitting down for a meal with Deeks after working harder than he had in a long time in the kitchen. Yeah, he liked this, a lot. He could see the appeal Deeks had for this place, though he knew he wouldn't be able to stay here permanently, unlike him. He was pretty sure he would get far too bored far too quickly if he tried. That was one of the reasons he liked his current job so much. No day was the same.
With that silence settled over them then as they both turned their attention to the food in front of them. Deeks had by then gotten used to Henry's cooking, but as he took a mouthful for the salmon and sauce in front of him he couldn't stop himself from groaning out, "Damn this is good."
"Thanks." Callen responded with a smirk, making Deeks look up at him with his mouth falling open. Because there was no way… right? I mean this was typical Henry fare.
"Wait, you cooked this?" Deeks asked wanting clarification on that. Because if he did, damn. That was definitely a plus to him. Any guy who could cook like this… well they did say the way to a guy's heart was through his stomach, and Deeks wasn't going to contradict that.
"Yep." Callen replied smiling proudly at his achievement. At doing something he'd always believed he never could. Okay so strictly speaking he'd followed Henrys instructions, but he'd done the cooking bit. That had to count right?
"Seems you have hidden talents, G." Deeks responded his eyes warm with the smile on his face as he stared at the man sitting next to him. The man whose food knowledge had only been take-out before that day. Because he knew no beginner could cook like this without some sort of talent for it, no matter what.
"More I had Henry watching over my shoulder." Callen replied shaking off the praise he could see in the other man's eyes. Okay sure it felt good having Deeks praise him, but he didn't want him getting the wrong idea. All he'd done was follow Henrys orders after all. It really wasn't that hard.
At that Deeks just grunted noncommittedly before holding Callen's eyes for a second longer, making sure the other man knew he didn't believe a word of it, before turning back to his dinner. The meal that followed passed in a pleasant peace between the two men as they enjoyed the good food they were eating, and the good company they were keeping. And if they also exchanged smiles and glances that had become so natural between the two of them, they certainly didn't notice.
Frank and Henry watched the two men from the bar. It didn't escape either of their notices at how close Deeks and Callen were sitting to each other, nor that they didn't seem to notice the lack of personal space they had given each other, not to mention the looks they kept sharing. If anyone who didn't know them had been watching them Frank was sure they would think they were a couple, though he knew they weren't, not yet at any rate. Thought he didn't think it would be long before they took that step. If only they didn't keep having real world crap to deal with, but that was life he supposed. Therefore turning to his husband he asked, "So how did it go?"
"Surprisingly well. He has good instincts. I will make a chef of him yet." Henry replied with a sunny smile at his husband. He really was surprised how much he had enjoyed having Callen in the kitchen with him all evening. He usually got fed up after a couple of hours, and that was with trained staff. "Though I did wonder if we'd have a knife stuck in wall at one point." He added, as he remembered the look of frustration Callen had had when he was cutting all the vegetables.
"Is the better or worse than broken sprit bottles on the bar floor?" Frank asked with a raise of an eyebrow as he remembered the Tom Cruise impression Deeks had tried to do when he'd first started working for them. Luckily it seemed he had stopped trying that. Or at least Frank hadn't caught him doing so lately.
"Not sure." Henry chuckled before continuing with a nod of his head towards the younger pair who were laughing together. "At least he seems better now." he said, though which of the two he was talking about he wasn't completely sure. He'd meant Callen considering how he'd been that morning, but he knew those words could well apply to Deeks as well. They both had so much pain they needed to deal with. He was glad they had each other to help them through it.
"Yeah he does. They're good for each other." Frank agreed. He wouldn't believe the Callen he saw in front of him was the same one he'd seen at breakfast that morning with red-rimmed eyes if he hadn't known. There was no sign of upset now. Frank had no idea what was going on with him, all Deeks would tell him earlier was that it was family related, but looking at the two men he realised he didn't need to know. It wasn't his place to know everything that happened in Callen's life, as long as he never hurt his son, then that was good enough for him.
"They are." Henry agreed watching them with a smile on his face before wrapping his arm around his husbands waist as he continued quietly, "They remind me of us, when we first got together."
"Yeah." Frank responded turning to drop a sweet kiss on his husband's lips before pulling away from him. "Don't you have a kitchen to clean?" He asked with a smirk and the raise of his eyebrow.
"Nah, that's the job of my trainee. Once he's finished eating I'll make sure he gets to it." Henry responded smugly making Frank laugh as he moved away from the man he loved to serve the customer who'd come up to the bar for another drink. He couldn't help but wonder just how long Henry would keep his trainee when it came to cleaning down the kitchen to his husbands exacting standards.
The bar was closed and Callen fell into his chair with a deep sigh of relief. In the last couple of hours he'd learnt more about cleaning a kitchen than he thought anyone ever needed to know. Hmm, that side he liked a lot less than the cooking. But he knew it had to be done, so he had stuck it out, cleaning the sides about a thousand times before Henry was satisfied. Damn he'd earnt his beer that night that was for sure.
"So Callen, how long am I going to have the pleasure of your company in the kitchen?" Henry asked when they were all sat, unwinding after a busy day.
"I have to go back in three days, so the next two?" Callen responded with a shrug. He might as well make himself useful while he was staying there, rather than propping up the bar.
"Excellent." Henry replied with an evil looking glint in his eyes as he rubbed his hands together as all good bond villains did.
"Not tomorrow night." Deeks interrupted before Henry made any plans. It was his night off after all, there seemed little point in Callen working when he wasn't in his mind.
"Why, got plans have you, Deeks?" Frank asked waggling his eyebrows at the younger man so all there knew exactly what he meant by that question.
"Yes." Deeks answered, though he knew his voice was not as sure as he wanted it to be. I mean, he really hadn't thought that far ahead. All he knew was he and G would do something together, the what was still allusive.
"If you want suggestions for venues, there is a lovely romantic restaurant in town. The food isn't as good as mine, but you can't have everything, and the ambience definitely makes up for it." Henry suggested slyly, watching how his words caused Deeks' eyes to widen.
"We going on a date, Deeks?" Callen asked joining in on the fun of teasing the younger man. Because seriously, he couldn't not.
Deeks looked at Callen about to deny it, but somehow it seemed his mind and mouth were disconnected, because instead he said, "If you want to." Well that was certainly not what he'd meant to say, at all.
Callen sat there stunned at Deeks' response. He hadn't meant anything by his causal words, but now the question was out there. The thin line they had both been treading ever since Deeks had left had finally been crossed. Now all he had to decide was whether he willing to join Deeks on the other side of it. Was he willing to agree to the idea of a date, and all it suggested about who they were to each other, when he knew he wouldn't be sticking around? I mean he would be returning to LA and who knew when he would next get the time to come up here. That was no way to have a relationship. It wasn't fair on Deeks or him, though he was pretty sure it would make very little difference to his own life. Except that his mileage would go up. But Deeks, he was starting a new life, away from LA, away from the job he'd done and person he used to be. Was it really fair to drag him back to it, even if was only via a connection with him? Okay sure, as friends they were still connected, but that was very different to being romantically connected.
And while these thoughts were running through Callen's head, similar ones were running through Deeks' as well. Though his were more along the lines of where a relationship with G would lead. He knew he would never return to LA and the life he'd had there, just as he knew G would never retire and join him here. So how would anything between them work? Sure they had feelings for each other, but were those feelings really enough? He honestly didn't know the answer to that. All he had was a certainty deep inside him that told him that if they didn't try, he'd regret it, just as he was pretty that if they didn't go on this date now, Callen would not return here for a very long time. No doubt for some noble reason like letting him get on with his life. But the thing was Deeks, wanted Callen in that new life, even if it was just a couple of days a week. Therefore he spoke again, before Callen could voice the decision he could see he was coming to in his eyes.
"Okay, don't call it a date. I mean I'm not ready to go out to town anyway, but maybe we could… I don't know, have a picnic on the cliff or something?" He suggested saying the first thing that came into his mind as an alternative to going to a restaurant. I mean they had to eat right? And he was pretty sure neither of them wanted to spend the whole night in the bar.
"A picnic, on the cliff, by moonlight? That's not a date?" Callen asked with raised eyebrows at the suggestion. I mean that sounded pretty romantic to him, but then what did he know? He didn't really do much dating that wasn't work related after all.
"Not if we don't want it to be." Deeks responded with a shrug. He didn't want to lose G, and if he needed to take back the idea of date to keep him, then he would do it. I mean whatever they called it wouldn't change anything. Neither of them were stupid enough to believe that the feelings his words had caused to rise in them both would go away just because they said so.
It seemed then that Callen had caught the disease Deeks had had moments earlier in the fact that his mind and mouth were not connected for the next words that came out of his mouth. "And what if we do want it to be?" He asked shocking both of them.
Deeks couldn't stop the massive smile that spread across his face at those words, once he was over the shock at any rate. As such he replied, "Then we'll figure it out as we go."
Frank and Henry had stayed resolutely silent during the conversation about the possible date. They barely breathed in case they caused the other two men to be pulled out of the conversation they were having. But with Deeks final words Henry couldn't stay quiet any longer.
"I will make you the best picnic you have ever tasted." He stated smiling broadly as his mind was already planning all the yummy morsels he would be providing for the pair. There were so many options, which was he to choose?
At his words both Callen and Deeks swung their eyes onto him. They had forgotten for the moment that they were not alone, that the couple was there watching and listening to every word they said.
Seeing the looks on their faces Frank chuckled as he decided to join in. "I'd best provide the drink then. I'm pretty sure I still have some of that decent German beer in the cellar. I'll dig it out for you tomorrow."
His words caused his husband to turn to him and one look in his eyes told Frank that Henry was already re-evaluating the picnic menu so the drink would complement it. He knew his husband well after all.
"You don't have to do that-" Deeks tried to protest, but his words died on his lips when both Frank and Henry glared at him. One was bad enough, but the both of them? Yeah, no. He wasn't taking that on.
"Of course we do, you're family." Henry stated simply. That was all the reason they needed in his mind.
"Looks like we're going on a date tomorrow night, then." Callen said smiling at Deeks. He still wasn't one hundred percent sure about this, but he also knew there was no turning back now. What would happen would happen. None of them could see the future, so there really was no point in worrying about it, too much anyway.
"That it does." Deeks agreed returning the smile, the same thoughts going through his mind. What would come would come, and hey, maybe he would finally get that kiss on the lips he wanted. And you never know, if he played his cards right, he might just get even more. And with that thought the excitement started to rise inside him. Tomorrow night he was going on at date with G, and he realised he couldn't wait.