Wednesday came and Deeks prepared to meet with Nate at the boat shed. Cases had been fairly light and routine enough that Callen and Sam were able to keep it under control, with little assistance from Deeks, as he worked through his demons with Nate. DeChamps and Arlo were on standby if assistance was needed. As Nell loved field work, she also loved OpS. Many cases as of late, she was needed more there. Due to that, Turk had been working more with "My Man Deeks" as he liked to call him. Attempting to persuade the detective to become a full fleged agent and partner with him, if Kensi in fact gave up her field activity permanently. Turk had no problem joining in the gang up on Shaggy days, but at the end of the day, he was the first to openly let the detective know how amazing he was at what he did. Turk admired him in many ways, especially after Deeks made it known he was adamantly against being a so called assassin for higher. Turk respected the fact that he stood his ground, but was still their for his team, never wavering in backing them up. Kensi and Turk formed an easy bond after Mexico and as he began working with the team more, in her or Nell's place, she needed to make sure he'd have her husband's back.

When Kensi found out she was pregnant and would be out of the field, she felt good with Nell watching over Deeks. Nell has been a trusted friend for years, her maid of honor, and the named Godmother to their baby to be. She knew the woman would throw herself in front of a bullet to save Kensi from the heartache they watched Sam go through. As Nell's skills were needed more back in OPS, along with Hetty's growing need to finally retire and possibly hand Nell the ropes, Turk was implemented more and more. He was ready to be back in the mix, as he was done in Mexico, since his undercover op was compromised.

"I didn't drag him through the desert, to watch him die in LA," Kensi immediately warned Turk, eyes glaring.

Turk had more respect for that woman, than any one else in his life. He watched her drag Deeks' lifeless body through that desert. He watched the love she showed for him, placing support under his head, never leaving his side, except to provide protection for her team outside of the hospital in Los Mochis. When he met her in the hospital and easily reassured her, that she in fact saved her lover's life. Now he watched her carry their child, and place an ever protective warning to the man temporarily taking her place.

"He's my World, Turk."

"I kinda got that vibe in Mexico."

"We're letting you in our family."

"I obviously have big shoes to fill. Don't worry, I don't plan on keeping him warm at night, like you do," he winked.

"Oh, you two are gonna get along just fine. Just please keep him safe."

"I will, Kensi. You have my word. My word is all I have, and it means everything. If you don't believe me, ask Hetty."

Kensi nodded and headed back to do paperwork.

"You're wife's already got the Mama Bear look going on," Turk joked.

"You ain't seen nothing yet. Don't let me come home with even a scratch."

Deeks smiled waiting in the boat shed as he remembered that conversation.

"Hey Nate," Deeks said as Nate entered.

"You look well rested."

"Last night was good, I slept well."

"Good to hear. And your homework."

"I did. It was good Doc, you know what you're doing, after all."

"Ha," he laughed. "I guess that's why I have the degree."

"Touché"

"So, what did you come up with?"

"Well, I love so much about her. Everything actually. I don't think there is one thing that I don't. Even her starfish bed hogging and hoarding issues have grown on me. But, if I had to come up with the top thing, I realized, it would be her strength. She's so strong and amazing in everything she does. She's been strong enough to save me, I don't think anyone else would have."

"Ah, I see. Are you worried less now about turning into John Gordon Brandel."

The name still made Deeks shutter. "For now. As long as I have Kensi by my side."

"Can we talk about the night you shot him?"

Deeks thought for a minute. "I'd rather not," he paused. "Yet, I think I want to discuss it with Kensi first. I've never really talked about it to anyone. Not even Ray, not the events anyway. My mom was there, but we don't hash it out either. I just think I owe it to Kensi. Is that ok?"

"That's fine, it's actually better than fine. It's a huge step, if you actually do it."

"This weekend, I decided last night. She has the right to know all my dark secrets. She already loves me through so many, what's a few more." He laughed nervously running his hands through his mop again using his tell tale nervous tick.

"What about your mom, Deeks?"

"What about her?"

"I think we need to talk about your relationship with her."

He shrugged, "she's my mama, Mama Deeks, Roberta."

"How was your relationship with her growing up?"

"It got better after I shot him, I told her that when I was locked up by IA."

"Yes, that's another subject we should probably visit."

"You want all my skeletons, don't ya?" Deeks anxiously kidded.

"If you're truly gonna heal, we have to."

"I know."

"Which would you prefer to focus on today?"

Deeks thought, trying to decide which would be easier. "How much time we got?"

"Probably not enough," Nate tried to tease him back which Deeks acknowledged with a grin full of veneer.

"My mom was weak before I shot my father. She tried to be there for me when he was out drinking, but as soon as he was home, it changed. She was rightfully afraid to stand up to him, but parents are supposed to protect their kids at all costs. Not the other way around. I resented her for not being stronger. I know her overbearingness now stems from her trying to make up for the past. I know she feels like she let me down, that she didn't protect me. She's told me that. And She kinda didn't. I had to protect her. Which was fine. It made me realize that's what I was meant to do in life. Protect people."

"What about wanting to leave the job though?"

"I want to protect my wife and child now. And the bar, I think the way I run it, not letting people leave when they are wasted, maybe I'm protecting a mother and child out there somewhere, so they don't have to go through what I did."

"Maybe you are. So what will you and Kensi do, if you aren't doing this."

"If you can answer that, well, that would be amazing."

"Our time is up for today. I'm thinking next Wednesday before work. Hetty is going to have my head if I keep taking up half the work day with you. 7 ok?"

"Sounds great."

Deeks met up with Sam and Callen in the bullpen.

"Caught a case, Shaggy" Sam informed him. "Turks coming to partner with you."

"That bad? So much for easy weeks," he sighed.

"Hey," Kensi said coming down the stairs.

"It's bad?"

"A load of C-4 being transported was hijacked. Eric has eyes on the truck but it's heading towards Camp Pendleton. They received a threat, saying the base was a target. Nicole DeChamps is waiting for you guys to arrive."

"You gonna be ok. I could be gone a few days."

"I'm pregnant, not crippled, Deeks. Besides I'll probably be here helping on this end with phone calls, etc."

"Make sure you get some rest."

"Make sure Turk keeps you safe. I love you."

"I love you too, both of you," he kissed her quickly as Turk walked in.

"I know, I know, keep him safe at all costs! I got it," he smiled.

Kensi nodded and headed upstairs.

"You good?"

He watched his wife walk away, "I'm good. Let's get these bastards, so I can get back home."

He loved the word "home". He never felt like he truly had one, until Kensi. With Kensi, her smile, her laugh, he was home, just like Thapa had told him all those years ago.