Hey guys! Sorry for the long wait! hopefully this chapter doesn't disappoint! thank you for all the reviews, follows/favs! I'm astounded at the support this fic has 3 i even searched Daddy Deeks on twitter yesterday, and i actually saw a couple people talking about it! I got so excited and i almost replied but i didn't wanna be a stalker so XD and i also had a couple really cool people tweet me directly! Both of which i replied to, btw!

P.s. go check out sometimestheyfindyou, she's really cool and has a new fic that i am liking! (she's one of the twitter peeps btw!)

Chapter 16

Deeks had been gone a week now. An entire week without her partner. Kensi was completely off balance.

An entire week with no fights over who got to drive.
An entire week with no partner banter.
An entire week without him teasing her about her junk food and hoarder habits.
An entire week without him making her laugh.
An entire week with him not there to drive her nuts.
An entire week without him there for her to turn to.

An entire week too long, Kensi thought with a sigh.

Kensi had done ok watching Leo so far; he'd thrown a few more tantrums, but over smaller things; wanting ice cream when he'd gotten up to see Kensi having some late at night; not wanting to leave OPS because 'His Nelly' was still there.

Stuff Kensi found that she could actually handle.

She was becoming proud of herself; never before did she think she could handle taking care of a kid. Michelle had watched him once a few days ago, but other than that Kensi had been on full twenty-four hour par... babysitting duty.

It was almost scary how attached Kensi was becoming to Leo. Sometimes she had to take a step back and remind herself that no, she wasn't his actual parent.

It cracked her heart a little each time she remembered.

Kensi was really starting to get the hang of it, taking care of Leo; getting the boy up and ready every morning; they'd brush their teeth together and make funny faces in the mirror; they'd help the other pick out an outfit for the day; making sure that Leo ate three meals a day and reminding him that no, ice cream was not an option for a meal.

(Kensi couldn't help but feel like a hypocrite when she told him that ice cream wasn't a good choice or that he couldn't have it. She could just feel Deeks teasing her about it wherever he was in the city.)

Nell had offered to help Kensi out with meals; the red headed analyst had taught the agent how to make simple, home cooked meals. The women wanted the boy to have decent meals while his dad was gone, and Nell was very patient while Kensi was learning.

Kensi could now make spaghetti and tacos, a fact that she was very proud of. She couldn't wait for Deeks to come back so she could tell him that she wasn't the worst cook in the universe.

Leaving out, of course, the many, many, times she'd burned food. Deeks didn't need that in his arsenal of things to tease her about.

Kensi liked eating dinner with Leo, and spending time with him in general. He was funny, and always happy; he could bring a smile to her face anytime any day. It was nice having such a positive, sweet kid in her life.

Leo reminded her a lot of Deeks.
Which made her miss him more.

Their caseload at work as was almost nothing; with no new cases, Kensi just sat around missing her partner. It got worse every day they sat at OSP and Deeks wasn't there cracking jokes. A little Leo running around giggling at everything made it better, but it wasn't the same as having Deeks there.

They'd almost exhausted pass times in the bullpen; with an abundance of time they'd all gotten their paperwork done and had little to do. They had already sparred several times, and had several shooting competitions (all of the latter Kensi won).

Callen and Sam had now moved from playing HORSE with paper wads and a trash bin, to intense 'Champion of the World' basketball tournaments in the gym; with two sideline cheerleaders, Kensi for Sam and Leo for Callen.

"Git him, Uncle Cawwen!" Leo yelled as Sam dribbled in place, deciding how to get to the hoop without his partner stealing the ball.

"No way, Sam you got this!" Kensi laughed.
"Ten seconds left, this shot is make it or break it for ya, Sam." Callen smirked.

Sam grinned and faked Callen, moving right instead of left and went for the shot, when suddenly an air horn echoed through the gym; startling Sam and making him miss his shot.

Sam turned on his heel, his eyes flashing with anger. They all turned to see a once smiling Eric now fading into a slightly terrified Eric wielding the air horn.

"Eric! You just cost me Champion of the World!" Sam snapped.

"Don't worry about it Eric, he wouldn't have made that shot anyway." Callen grinned smugly.

His partner's eyebrows rose high onto his forehead. "Oh really now? How about we add those ten seconds back and see me make it without Eric butting in!" Sam exclaimed.

"How about we pause that because we have a case!" Eric suggested, jerking his thumbs towards OPS.

"A case?" Kensi perked up; she was dying for something to do other than watch Sam and Callen banter back and forth. It made her want her own partner banter.

"Yes, a case! Hetty awaits you all upstairs. I am on Leo duty during the debrief." The techie explained.

"Hi Uncle Ewic!" Leo waved across the gym, making Eric smile again.

The agents hurried out of the gym, Callen and Sam grabbing towels on the way out, and Sam sent a small glare in Eric's direction.

All three of the agents were excited about being let out; they'd been cooped up in OSP so long they were more than eager to chase some bad guys around town. As soon as the three entered OPS, Nell began the debrief, pulling up a file on the big screen as the agents took a place around the center console.

"Petty officer James Winterbourne was murdered at his house last night." She announced, pulling up his picture. "Now, none of the neighbors heard anything but they did notice that he hadn't been out of his house like he normally was; someone went to the door to check on him and saw blood through the window."

"We got any surveillance?" Sam asked.
"No." Nell said awkwardly.
"Forensics? Fingerprints, crime scene analysis, murder weapon?" Kensi inquired.
"No." Nell replied once again.

Callen quirked an eyebrow. "Well what do we have?" He asked impatiently.

"Technically, we don't really have anything other than the case file." The red head sighed.

All three agents looked at her quizzically, not believing this was all they had. "Ok, if they found him early this morning that would've given a forensics team plenty of time to get to the scene by now. It's after lunch." Kensi announced.

"Yea, Nell we've got to have some kind of evidence." Callen agreed.

"That's where the problem is. We don't have the evidence. The LAPD does. They were called first." Nell replied.

Kensi tensed slightly. Bates, she thought bitterly.

Hetty emerged from the shadows, startling all four of them. "The LAPD is not feeling like sharing any of the information on this case." She said.

"Well they don't have much choice. Our case, our evidence." Sam said, crossing his arms.

"Lt. Bates has told us that since we are 'determined to make his job as difficult as possible' he is now 'returning the favor'. He says if we want the evidence we'll have to go down to the station to get it ourselves." Nell explained.

All three of the agents rolled their eyes, groaning.

"I need one of you to go down to the LAPD and collect the evidence on this case. Be mindful that you'll have to endure the full processing that Mr. Deeks usually cuts into a fraction." Hetty announced.

Before Sam and Callen could even start to argue who would go, Kensi spoke up. "Me. I'll go." She said.

The senior agents exchanged a hesitant glance. "You sure, Kens?" Callen asked.

"Yup. This way it doesn't' split you guys up. And besides, I've got a few words for Bates." Kensi said firmly, leaving no room for further argument.

As she turned and walked out, Sam and Callen chuckled. "Pity Bates right now." Sam announced.

"She had that evil spark in her eyes." Callen smirked.

"You two can go check out Winterbourne's house, see if you can find anything LAPD might have missed in the meantime." Hetty told them.

"We're on it." Callen nodded, the senior agents walking out. –line break-

After they'd left, Eric turned to see the little boy holding the basketball and walking towards him. The techie set his air horn on the top of the lockers and smiled.

"Uncle Ewic can you shoot the basketball?" The little boy inquired.

Eric glanced at the hoop before looking back down at Leo. "Of course I can!" He said, smirking.

Leo grinned happily and handed the man the ball, running towards the hoop to watch. Eric dribbled a few times as he walked towards the free throw line, preparing for his shot.

"No Uncle Ewic you gots to shoot at dah tree point wine!" Leo objected.

Eric glanced behind him and frowned. "How come I can't shoot here?" He inquired.

Leo gave him a look that clearly said 'duh'. " 'Cuz Uncle Ewic you gots to shoot back there! Uncle Cawwen and Uncle Sam do it!" The boy explained.

"Well... ok." Eric nodded, backing up.

The techie took a deep breath, dribbled twice, and threw the ball at the hoop; missing terribly.

Leo stared at the ball for a moment before he turned to a sheepish Eric. "You no eben hit dah rim." He said.

Eric laughed awkwardly as Leo walked over to collect the ball. He came back and sat a little ways away from Eric, looking up at the man expectantly.

"We just woll it now." Leo told him.

Eric nodded slowly and plopped down on the floor, rolling the basketball back and forth with the little boy. "So... do you like being here at OSP?" Eric asked, trying to make a conversation with the kid so there wouldn't bet the lingering awkward silence.

"Oh yea! My Kens is here, and my Nelly!" Leo grinned excitedly.
The techie paused, stilling the ball. "Y-your Nelly?" He asked.

The boy giggled. "Nelly pwetty. I wike Nelly."

"Yea... yea she's very pretty..." Eric said, a dazed look on his face. He was talking more to himself than to Leo now.

"You- you can't habe her! She my Nelly!" Leo whined.
"I can't even be her friend?" Eric asked, slightly amused.

The boy thought for a moment, his little eyebrows furrowed. Then, he nodded his agreement. "But she's my Nelly." He mumbled.

Suddenly, Hetty appeared and cleared her throat, making Eric jump. Leo gasped a bit, before giggling uncontrollably. The techie quickly stood up, clearing his throat.

"Uh, umm... Hetty! Hey there!" Eric stuttered.

"Mr. Beale I believe Ms. Jones could use you up in OPS now. I shall watch the young Mr. Deeks." Hetty replied.

"Right! Yea, yea I'm on it! I will get right up there!" Eric smiled awkwardly.

Hetty nodded slightly and Eric's smile faltered before he quickly made his way out of the gym and up to OPS; back where he belonged.

Kensi tore out of the mission as quick as she could, eager to get down to LAPD; she wanted to get the evidence quickly so the team could move on with the case, but she also wanted to talk to Bates.

She needed to know what Bates had said to Deeks that had convinced him to go along with the assignment; her partner had only told her that Bates was 'very persuasive'.

When she pulled into the LAPD parking lot, Kensi took a moment to brace herself for whatever she would face in here; the cops and more importantly what she'd say to Bates and exactly what she wanted to know.

Kensi was also slightly concerned about going in here with all the other cops; Deeks had mentioned several times that he wasn't the most liked at the LAPD, but Kensi had never seen it first-hand. She was curious if her partner was just dramatic or if the cops actually treated him badly.

Kensi really hoped it was the former; Deeks was actually very insecure and vulnerable on the inside, hidden beneath his jokes. His father had filled him with enough negative comments about himself to last for the rest of Deeks' life; he didn't need them from these cops.

She shook all of these thoughts from her mind, putting her agent face on and getting out of her car, walking into LAPD confidently.

Kensi now had a newfound respect for Deeks' liaison position. But she'd give up sugar before she told him that; he was dramatic enough about his position, Kensi thought with a small smile.

As soon as she'd walked into the building, someone had told her to wait. After a while, a new cop, someone higher up Kensi assumed, had asked what she was doing there and to show her badge.

She was then asked to wait again.

Twenty minutes of being at the LAPD, Kensi was taking to a different section of the building where she waited some more. Showing her badge again took her to yet another section of the building.

She was standing with her back leaned against the wall, her anger getting increasingly worse the longer she had to wait. Kensi just knew that Bates had authorized these shenanigans. Surely Deeks didn't do this every time, there was no way; it never took him this long, Kensi thought.

Finally, two male cops came down the hallway and stopped in front of her; the one on the right and the very short one, with a smug smirk that instantly pissed Kensi off, had "Derek" on his tag, while the one on the left, a more neutral and almost kinder facial expression, had "Matthews" on his.

"If neither of you are here to take me to the evidence department so I can get what I need for the NCIS case, I have no desire to talk to you." Kensi said firmly.

Matthews chuckled lightly. "Well, luckily we are from the evidence department and deal a lot with NCIS. We'll take you to get your stuff." He explained.

"Why didn't you just bring it to me?" Kensi rolled her eyes, standing up straight.
"Well, your request is being processed." Derek smirked, his voice full of arrogance.

"Yea, well are you still being processed too there, shorty?" Kensi snapped, extremely irritated.

She paused for a moment, expecting Deeks to calm her down, but was disappointed when she remembered he still wasn't there.

Matthews bit back a grin and Derek narrowed his eyes at her, looking like he wanted to respond. "Right this way ma'am." Matthews interjected, pulling Derek back a bit by his arm.

Kensi rolled her eyes but followed the two; there were cops all around this section, and papers and boxes everywhere.

"And Deeks calls me unorganized?" She mumbled, looking around.
"So you know Deeks then?" Matthews inquired.

Kensi quirked an eyebrow as they came to a stop by two desks –she assumed they belonged to the two officers. "Um, yea. I'm Kensi Blye, Deeks' partner." She said.

The two men exchanged looks before turning back to her, a confused look on both of their faces. "Deeks has a partner?" Matthews asked.

She froze. "Um... yea. Me. Wait, so did Deeks not talk about me?" Kensi demanded.
"Never. Not about a partner or even a woman at NCIS named Kensi." Derek replied.

Kensi's heart dropped into her stomach. "Well, do you two even deal with Deeks very much?" She asked.

"Pretty much every time he comes here." Matthews nodded.

"And he... he didn't even mention me? At all?" Kensi asked, her eyes betraying her and showing her sadness.

"Nope." Derek replied, a smirk on his face. He was enjoying this too much. Kensi wanted to punch him. "Oh look, here's the evidence you've been waiting on!" He grinned, taking a box off his desk and handing it to her.

Kensi's jaw dropped a bit and she arched an eyebrow. "You mean to tell me I have been waiting for over an hour and a half and it's just been sitting here all this time?" She hissed.

"My apologizes." Matthews grimaced a bit, moving to sit back at his desk.

"Sorry that Deeks never mentioned you, but I'd like to hear all about you. Maybe we can talk over drinks or something?" Derek smirked, handing Kensi his card.

Kensi looked at him disgustedly, shoving the card in her pocket, eager to get out of there. "How about no." She snapped, turning on her heel and walking out quickly.

She stormed out of the building to her car, practically throwing the box into the passenger seat. Then she dug the card out of her pocket and flung it somewhere into her backseat angrily, before slamming her door.

"He never mentioned me?" Kensi mumbled to herself as she walked back into the building, headed up to Bates' office.

The cops at the front knew she was there on NCIS business, so they didn't bother her again. The rest of them were smart enough to stay away after a glance at her badge visible on her belt and the anger visible in her eyes.

Kensi basically beat the door down before opening it, and shutting it closed with more force than necessary. Lt. Bates glanced up from an open file on his desk and arched an eyebrow.

"You've got your evidence, what else do you want?" Bates asked.
"My partner, would be nice." Kensi bit back, walking towards his desk.

"Well, in case you weren't informed Deeks is on an assignment for me." Bates said, almost smirking.

"Yea. When he should be at NCIS where he belongs." Kensi snapped.

"Last I checked he was still one of mine. And besides, we all know Deeks doesn't belong anywhere." Bates chuckled.

The woman's eyes narrowed and her body tensed up. "Well that's where you're wrong. Deeks belongs at NCIS. At least we actually appreciate him."

The Lt. leaned back in his chair, an eyebrow arched. "Oh really? Because your assistant director, or whatever he is, seemed pretty eager to get rid of him. Practically begged me to take Deeks back."

Kensi's eyes widened at that. So Granger had a part in this, she thought angrily. "Well Granger hates everyone on our team and he doesn't count. But the rest of us want Deeks there, we need him there."

"We as in your team or we as in you?" Bates smirked.
Kensi paused, thrown off her game. "We as in my team." She snapped.

"I bet he'd just love to know you stuck up for him. Considering it is kinda your fault he's out there to begin with." Bates shrugged.

"What are you talking about?" Kensi demanded.

"He didn't tell you about the conversation he and I had? Where he basically told me to shove this case? Yea, it got pretty heated on his part. But once I convinced him that he wouldn't get to keep being your partner he was pretty easy to get on the case." Bates said amusedly.

Kensi's mind was racing. On one hand, Deeks hadn't told anyone else at LAPD about her, but now she finds out the reason he went on this stupid undercover op with no backup is because of her?

She didn't know what to think.

"You're a manipulative bastard, Bates. You knew you were putting Deeks back in as Max, the one alias that's the hardest for him. And you didn't even care what this did for Leo!" Kensi yelled.

"That's none of my concern, I've got a desk full of homicides, bins full of theft reports, and drug cartels out the wazoo! Do you think I've got time to worry about if a little kid doesn't see his dad for a few weeks?" Bates snapped.

"No but I think you damn well have time to worry about your cops. They didn't sign up to be treated like shit and you know it. Deeks deserves so much better than this place." Kensi retorted, before turning on her heel and storming out of the building once again.

Several hours later, Kensi was putting the last dish into the dish washer from dinner. The case had been fairly simple after finally getting the evidence. She didn't tell anybody what had happened at LAPD, with the cops or with Bates.

She wasn't sure what to think about it herself.

Kensi was so sure that Deeks would've bragged about having her as a partner to the cops, but that wasn't the case. He didn't tell anyone.

Was he embarrassed to have her as a partner? Didn't want anyone to know he had a junk food junkie and a hoarder as a partner? Or did it have something to do with the fact that she was a woman? Deeks did apparently say he never wanted a female partner again...

Her thoughts were interrupted when two little arms suddenly grasped her legs. Kensi smiled down at Leo, who was grinning up at her.

"Hey there, baby boy." She said softly.
"Oh hi." Leo giggled.
"What's up?" Kensi inquired.

"Can we watch anudder mobie?" Leo asked, jutting his bottom lip out pleadingly.

Kensi glanced at the clock and frowned. "Sorry kiddo, but it's gettin' late and little boys need to be in bed!" She replied.

Leo's pout intensified, puppy dog eyes being added to the mix. "Pwease, Kens?" He asked sweetly.

"Nope. It's bed time." Kensi told him.

Leo sighed and nodded against her leg. "Can we wead a stowy first?" He asked.

"I'll tell ya what, if you go get your jammas and get into bed before I get in there, we will read one story. Then it's lights out." Kensi compromised.

"Otay! I gonna beat you Kens! ZOOM!" Leo yelled, running towards his room.

Kensi laughed lightly and turned out all the lights, slowly checking the doors and windows to make sure they were locked. She didn't mind reading Leo a story, she actually enjoyed it; the little boy always got really into it and Kensi just liked tucking him in.

"KENS I'M WEADY!" Leo yelled throughout the apartment.

"I'll be right there!" She called back, laughing lightly as she turned the TV off and made her way into the little boy's room for a story.

Something was shaking her, that was what Kensi woke up to. She felt a tiny hand moving her arm back and forth and she bolted upright. Looking around, Kensi saw a tearful Leo standing next to the bed, clutching his stuffed lion, sniffling.

"Leo, baby what's wrong?" She asked immediately, her hand moving the hair out of his eyes and wiping his tears.

"I h-had a bad dweam. Can I sw-sweep wiff you?" He asked softly.
"Of course you can." Kensi replied immediately.

Leo lifted his little arms up and Kensi reached over and picked him up, tucking him in beside her and wrapping her arms around his tiny body; soothing him. Her heart broke with each tear that fell, and she wanted nothing more than to chase away whatever had caused him to be sad.

"Do you wanna tell me about your dream? It might help." Kensi asked softly.

"There was a m-monster and he twied to eat me. Den he twied to e-eat you and my daddy." Leo told her.

"Well, there are no monsters here. And we are just fine. I promise I won't let the monsters get to you, ok?" Kensi told him, kissing his forehead.

Leo nodded, his eyes getting sleepy again as Kensi ran a hand comfortingly across his back. The boy cuddled closer into her side, his head laying on her shoulder; she could feel his breaths even out and it soothed her as well.

Kensi was falling asleep quickly, and right before she did she heard his tiny voice speak up again.

"Night-night, Mommy." Leo said, his eyes closing as he fell asleep.

Aw :] i swear i love Leo, he's adorable to write! thank you guys for your support and if you'd be so kind as to leave me a lovely review i'd be so appreciative!

ta-ta for now!

xox