Chapter 2
"How are things going with Ms. Blye?" asked Hetty as they walked toward her desk.
"Great, really good." Deeks smiled broadly. "I've already learned a lot from her about how you guys roll."
"I'm glad to hear that." Hetty stopped and looked up at Deeks. "This new partnership is a big adjustment for her. She may require some . . . some extra time and consideration."
"Because of Dom," said Deeks quietly.
They walked on for a few seconds.
Hetty sighed. "His death was a blow not just to Kensi, but the whole team. Each person processes a tragedy of that magnitude in their own way."
"Copy that. But don't worry about Kensi. From what I've seen, she's a very strong woman and I'm here to support her, and the team, in any way I can."
"I know you are, Mr. Deeks, and I appreciate that."
Five minutes ago, Kensi wanted to lose Deeks and hide out in the armory. Now, for some yet-to-be-determined reason, she missed him. Her hands automatically broke down her weapon while her mind wandered into the realm of all things Deeks. This new partnership still had some kinks to iron out.
Okay, make that a lot of kinks. He's annoying, boisterous, nosy, flippant, constantly tries to invade my personal space . . . just to name a few things.
But one thing Deeks said bothered her. One of my few friends on the force. She'd heard that regular cops didn't like undercovers because they considered them cowboys, loose cannons, working under the radar and without much supervision. She could totally see Deeks in that role, wisecracking his way through assignments. But she was certain he got to the bottom of things because as he'd pointed out, he was persistent.
It must be awfully lonely and stressful though. Out there with no one to have your back. She felt an unaccustomed pang of sympathy for Deeks. But now he has me. Wait. What? I didn't say that out loud, did I? She touched a finger to her lips. Deeks might appear at any moment and somehow take the words out of context. Then his head would fill up with unnecessary ideas. He has enough ideas already.
Ever since Deeks barged into her life she'd felt so . . . unsettled. He was the polar opposite of Dom. Dom. She sucked in a deep breath and ruthlessly pushed down thoughts of her late partner. Comparing the two men would be pointless. It would be like comparing apples to oranges or Dom's video games to Deeks' surfboards. They were all different and unique.
Deeks finished up with Hetty and was on his way to the armory to get Kensi. There was a briefing in Ops in a few minutes. Sure, he could have called her, but it was more fun to go get her in person. As he walked, he considered his partner's name.
Kensi, Kens, Ken-sa . . . Kensalina! Yeah, I like the way it rolls off the tongue. I'll spring that one on her later.
Footsteps were heard coming down the hall.
"Kensi, are you there? We're needed in Ops."
She looked down in horror and realized she had only taken a couple half-hearted swipes with the cleaning rag. "Be right there," she yelled. She re-assembled her weapon in record time even for her and tossed the rag into the box in the corner. She'd allowed thoughts of Deeks to override everything else.
"What's up? We have a case?" she asked when Deeks came through the door.
"Uh no, we're having cake and ice cream."
Her eyes rolled up. "Hilarious."
Deeks grinned. "I am pretty funny, aren't I?"
"You're something all right. I just haven't determined what."
Deeks studied her for a moment. "Give it time. You'll get it. You'll get us."
"Come on," said Kensi. "Hetty doesn't like us to be late."
Tonight I'm going for a long, long, very long run to get him out of my head.
"Bring it up, Mr. Beale," said Hetty.
"You got it," said Eric. He tapped some keys on his tablet. A picture of an older couple in front of the Great Pyramid of Giza popped up on the big screen. "The Korinths."
"SECNAV's college roommate, Winifred Korinth, is dedicating a new wing at the Los Angeles Museum of Ancient History in memory of her late husband, renowned Egyptologist Bernard Korinth. Their daughter, Dr. Elise Korinth, has followed in her father's footsteps and is giving the keynote lecture on Thursday evening."
A photo of the stunning, blonde Dr. Korinth appeared next. Deeks gave a low whistle. "Smart and a babe!"
Kensi turned slightly toward him with an incredulous look. Sam noticed and said, "You better be describing somebody in this room," warned Sam ominously.
"What can I say? I'm a red-blooded male. But brunettes are my preference." His head turned fractionally toward Kensi and he winked. I love messing with her.
"Gentlemen, could we stay on task here?" asked Hetty with raised eyebrows. "The opening will be an international gala."
"New guy's distracting us," grumbled Sam.
The way Sam was treating Deeks ticked off Kensi. "His name is not 'new guy,' it's Deeks," said Kensi.
Sam glanced at Deeks. "No offense."
Deeks shrugged. "None taken." He was quite surprised, and pleased, at the way Kensi defended him. My partner doesn't take crap from anyone!
Hetty continued. "This is a high-profile event. SECNAV and Director Vance will be in attendance as well as numerous academics and philanthropists from around the world. We will be coordinating with LAPD to provide security. Mr. Callen and Mr. Hanna, you will touch base with Major Ramsey at LAPD while Ms. Blye and Mr. Deeks consult with museum security.
"We're on it," said Callen.
When Sam and Callen returned from LAPD, they headed to the gym and began grunting and sweating through their workouts. A short time later, Kensi and Deeks were back from the museum and sat down rather reluctantly to finish some paperwork.
Sitting across from Kensi, Deeks kept up a running commentary about anything and everything, but mainly about the gorgeous Dr. Korinth, while she rummaged through her purse and then the desk drawers.
Deeks paused. "What are you doing over there, Kensi? Are you on a scavenger hunt?"
"Looking for something," she huffed.
"Obviously," said Deeks. "Can I help?"
Kensi was bent over, her head practically in the bottom drawer. Finally, she popped up with a half-eaten candy bar in her hand. "Nope. Found it." She peeled the remainder of the wrapper down, devoured it in two seconds and heaved a big sigh of relief.
"Ahhh."
"Really? A moldy remnant of chocolate?"
"It's not moldy. And it's better than nothing."
"You sure about that?" Deeks had never seen anyone enjoy chocolate as much as Kensi.
The phone rang and Kensi began rifling through folders and papers for a file that somebody needed in Ops. Deeks took the opportunity to slip out of the Mission for an errand.
"Here it is," she said and ran it up the stairs to Ops. When she returned, she noticed Deeks wasn't at his desk. She looked around. "Deeks?" Various agents and support personnel were coming and going, but no Deeks.
Probably went to the gym. But why didn't he wait for me? she thought in irritation.
She stacked some folders on one corner of her desk, shoved a pile of papers to the other side and declared it organized. To punish neatnik Deeks for leaving her, she stepped over to his desk and tipped over the coffee mug that held his pens and pencils.
With a smirk she stomped down to the gym. But Deeks wasn't there.
Callen and Sam were lifting weights and arguing about the best steakhouses in Los Angeles. "Lose your partner, Kens?" asked Callen.
She looked around to be sure Deeks wasn't hiding somewhere just to annoy her. "So it would seem." With that, she turned and left.
"Something's brewing there," noted Sam.
Callen picked up a towel and wiped his face. "What are you thinking?"
"The new guy's distracting her." Sam wasn't yet on board with Deeks joining their close-knit team and harbored some doubts about him.
"You mean Deeks." Callen was thoughtful for a moment. "Distracting . . . or attracting?"
"It spells trouble either way."
"Guess we'll have to keep an eye on the situation," said Callen. In an effort to diffuse Sam's bad mood he said, "Want to check out that new steakhouse on Alameda?"
"Why not. Michelle and the kids went to visit her sister."
"Last one to the car is a rotten egg," said Callen.
Sam snorted. "You're on, G."