hey you guys! I'm sorry this has taken a while :( but hopefully you'll enjoy it enough that it'll make up for it! :] thank you for all the lovely reviews, follows, favs, and all that jazz :] you guys are fantastic and i love you all :]
i'm so excited for the new episode in...less than eighteen hours from now! :D it's going to be amazing and then i'll be upset because i don't wanna wait until September :( fanfiction will just have to hold us over until then...
anyway, here we go! hope you enjoy! :]
Chapter 19
"Hey uh...hey Kens?" Eric asked cautiously from OPS, watching as the three agents were running an op at a rundown bar. "Are you, you know, alright?" He inquired.
Kensi arched an eyebrow at no one in particular, still scowling after the man that had tried to hit on her –which fit into their plan- but then got scared off by Kensi herself. Which was not part of the plan.
Their mission centered around the murders of several marines, and the immediate clearing of their bank accounts. The team had traced an informant down, but they had to tread lightly.
Charlie Williams wasn't only wanted by NCIS, Callen and Sam had found evidence that he could possibly be the next target if he got away from them; in addition he wasn't very fond of cops, and was sure to run if he got suspicious.
Williams was a very dark, sleazy man who liked to dwell in places similar; Nell had found he was a routine man, going to the same bar every night. Kensi remembered the red headed analyst debriefing her earlier.
"Please be careful, Kensi. He's...very shady and especially so when it comes to women." Nell stressed.
Kensi put on a fake smile to comfort the small woman. "Nell, I can handle myself, I promise." She replied.
"Well, see he's very particular about picking women up; from what I can tell he likes to watch the single women in the club, and steal the one he wants from another man if she gets approached. So you'll have to catch a civilian and then deal with Williams." Nell explained, looking at the tablet in her hands.
Great...Kensi had thought sarcastically.
Kensi firmly set her glass on the bar. "What? Of course. Why?" Kensi asked tensely.
"Well it's just you..." The techie trialed off nervously.
"I what, Eric?" Kensi demanded.
"It's just you seem a little off today, is all he means Kensi." Nell inputted, eager to save her partner from the wrath of Blye.
"A little off?" Kensi asked indignantly. "I'm fine."
"Well, alright then." Eric replied.
"Okay." Nell agreed, and the two techies turned back to their work.
Kensi sighed a bit to herself; secretly, she liked that Deeks didn't just let her say she was fine. He fought to find out what was wrong and –if possible- fix it. The others just took her word for it whenever Kensi told them she was alright.
They couldn't see through her lies as well as he could.
"Their point is that that is the second guy that's walked away uninterested after speaking to you, Kensi." Callen explained, his voice teasing.
"And? It's not like they were even the target!" Kensi objected.
"Maybe not, but one of them needs to bite at the bait so we can grab the bigger fish." Sam replied.
Kensi sighed. "Well...I'm sorry."
Callen and Sam shook their heads and looked at each other, both thinking the same thing.
"She's definitely off her game." Sam announced as the two turned their mics off.
Callen turned to look at her and frowned. It was obvious in her body language she didn't have the confidence she usually had. Kensi was tapping her fingers against her glass and was slouching her seat; two habits they normally never saw on ops, and neither of the men knew what they meant.
"I can't read her. I don't know what's wrong, or if something even is wrong!" Sam sighed frustrated.
"Deeks would know; he can read her." Callen commented, taking a drink out of his glass.
As much as Sam didn't like to admit it, he knew Deeks knew Kensi better than anyone else on the team; the detective could tell when she was upset, and could tell what her little quirks meant.
"It's like her confidence is gone." Sam said, nonchalantly glancing around the club to keep an eye on things.
"But I don't get it; she never has that problem. She looks great, as always." Callen replied, rubbing a hand over his face.
"Did you tell her that?" Sam inquired suddenly.
"Well no; I never do. I assume she knows and leave the complementing to Deeks." Callen explained. "Did you tell her?" He added.
"No..." Sam shook his head thoughtfully. "And for future reference, G, don't assume anything about women." The Seal teased, making his partner roll his eyes.
Get it together, Kensi! The female agent berated herself. She berated She sighed heavily; the others noticed something was up with her, and Kensi couldn't have that; she needed to pull herself together.
But she just couldn't; she was completely off her game tonight.
Maybe it was because Leo had been nothing but an adorable ball of energy.
Maybe it was the sleazy guy she was tasked to seduce.
Maybe it was just her nerves.
Maybe it was Deeks.
Kensi sighed again; it was Deeks. He wasn't there. And it had been three weeks now since he had been there. This was the first op she had to go undercover like this without him in years.
And it unsettled Kensi.
Earlier when she'd stepped out of Wardrobe, Kensi had looked for Deeks to be there subconsciously; to tell her how amazing he thought she looked. And for some reason not getting that compliment from him didn't allow her confidence to be boosted like it normally did.
She had found it extremely cute when Leo had told her she looked "oh so pwetty" but It just wasn't the same.
And now, sitting in a dark, shady club about to seduce a sleazy man, Kensi felt vulnerable. She could feel the eyes of at least a dozen men; several random pairs of lusting eyes, the ever watchful eyes of her team, the target's steady gazer that made her skin crawl uncomfortably.
But Deeks' gaze wasn't there.
Kensi was used to all the other gazes; that happened every op. But usually, her partner was there to ease her mind; his gaze among the rest comforted her. It reassured her that he was there if she needed him.
Sure Sam and Callen were there; Nell and Eric were watching from Ops.
But it wasn't the same.
Nothing was the same without him, Kensi had realized. And she didn't like it. She hated all the evening spent without him; bad TV wasn't as good, and Yummy Yummy Heart Attack wasn't as yummy without him.
Kensi needed him back.
About fifteen minutes had gone by, it was still midafternoon at this point. Kensi was chatting occasionally with the bartender, nothing major, when suddenly she felt a new gaze on her.
But yet it wasn't new at all; it was the most familiar gaze of them all and it sent shivers down her spine. Good shivers.
A slow grin grew on her face and she sat up a little straighter, flipped her hair and put her A game on; his gaze was hot on her and she had his full attention now.
Deeks.
"What's up with Kensi?" Sam asked suddenly.
The senior agents were puzzled; all of a sudden Kensi had her air of confidence back, and she seemed perfectly fine.
"She seems normal to me, now. Maybe she got her head together." Callen suggested.
"Nah, I know that look." Sam smirked, looking around, and finally his eyes landed upon the culprit of Kensi's sudden change.
"Kensi, you've got a uh, shaggy taker." Sam teased. But as he looked at Deeks a frown formed on his face. "And he's wearing a particular leather jacket as well." He added, warning Kensi that it wasn't Deeks, but Max standing there. He was starting surprised at Kensi, but when he turned and scanned the club, finding Sam and Callen, he seemed to understand.
Kensi sighed slightly; she'd hoped Deeks was finished and coming to join them with their op. But maybe, she thought, he still can help. She could tell he was walking over to her, and a smirk grew on her face.
"You know, if being beautiful was a crime you'd be guilty as charged." Deeks' drawl appeared by her side.
Kensi couldn't help the grin and laugh that escaped and turned to look at him, arching an eyebrow teasingly. But her grin faltered a bit as she looked at him; covered in bruises and had bags under his eyes. There was a lot of darkness and pain swirling around in his eyes; showing the effects of having to be Max and the toll it was taking on Deeks. Kensi's eyes softened sadly, but then as Deeks looked at her that twinkled she loved so much appeared.
Going back to his cheesy pickup line, Kensi decided to tease him. "Wow. Tell me, does that usually work?"
Deeks chuckled softly and leaned against the bar. "That's one of my best lines, it doesn't usually have to work."
"Can't imagine why." Kensi laughed lightly, smiling genuinely. "I'm Melissa." She added.
A spark of recognition flashed across his eyes. "Max." He replied. Deeks glanced down at her hand laying on the bar, and smiled softly. "That's a nice ring."
Kensi couldn't help but feel a flutter in her heart; she couldn't believe he'd noticed. It was the same ring she'd worn when they were an undercover married couple.
"Thank you." She replied.
"Is it worth much anymore?" Deeks inquired.
Kensi paused. "Well it was worth more...but then my man left me." She said.
She could tell he caught her double meaning and his eyes cleared slightly; as if he was completely coming out of his alias. "I'm sorry..." He whispered softly.
"It's okay." Kensi replied quietly.
Deeks moved closer to her, leaning down to whisper in her ear. "What're you three doing here?" He inquired.
"Need some information outta the guy in the back. He'll run if he gets suspicious but he won't make it far and NCIS probably won't get to him first." Kensi explained softly.
Deeks nodded against the side of her head, sighing. "Wish I could help you." He told her.
"You could help now." Kensi told him, extending her hand to him, giving the illusion that they were meeting for the first time.
"Darling you look absolutely beautiful. Too beautiful too be here all alone." Deeks smirked, putting no the charm and looking her up and down.
Kensi giggled and flipped her hair. "Well I'm just a girl looking for a good time."
He chuckled huskily. "Sweetheart I can show you a good time."
"Is that so?" She teased.
"It is. Come dance with me." Deeks told her.
Kensi raised her eyebrows at him as he tugged her hand. But when he gave her that look, his puppy eyes and a smile that made her melt, she gave in.
Deeks led her out to the crowded dance floor and grinned down at her. ""Can you keep up, Princess?" He teased her.
She arched an eyebrow at him before she turned and started dancing; her hips matching the beat of the music and immediately enraptured his attention. Deeks stepped behind her and moved along with her, the two falling in perfect unison.
"I really don't wanna watch this." Sam chuckled as they watched from the side.
"They are laying it on thick." Callen shrugged.
"I don't think they're laying it on at all, G." Sam told him.
Deeks and Kensi lost themselves in their dance and the feel of each other. Suddenly the song changed to a slow song and Kensi turned into him and wrapped her arms around his neck.
"Max doesn't dance like this." Deeks said in a teasing voice, wrapping his arms around her nonetheless.
Deeks wasn't about to pass up the opportunity to hold her in his arms.
"Is Max expecting friends?" Kensi asked him.
Deeks sighed and looked at her; she was so beautiful, but her eyes looked so sad as they stared into his. "Max doesn't have friends." He explained. "But yes, I am waiting on someone to come get me; take me to a rendezvous point.:
"Who?" Kensi asked.
Deeks paused; he didn't really want to go into a lot of detail. "Not really a friend, but the nicest person in Max's life. My inside lead, very easy to convince...very easy for Max to manipulate." He sighed again.
She frowned, but nodded her understanding. "How we doing, Sam?" Kensi asked quietly.
"Oh, he's interested." Sam replied.
"Maybe just a little more and he's sold." Callen added, and Kensi relayed the information to Deeks.
"A little more?" He repeated. "My pleasure." Deeks said huskily, bending his head down and pressing small kisses up and down her neck.
Kensi let out a small moan that had Deeks smirking. "Or should I say your pleasure?" He teased..
He could feel her breath starting to become uneven and Deeks struggled with his self-control; Max was screaming at him to take her somewhere private so he could continue, while Deeks was yelling at him for being so bold.
Kensi's hands tightened their grip on his neck as his ministrations continued. Sam and Callen watched as their target finally got up and moved towards the pair.
"Incoming." Sam announced.
"Incoming." Kensi passed along between sighs.
"Aww." Deeks pouted.
The feel of her in his arms, allowing him to hold her and place kisses on her skin; it was incredible. But Deeks was extremely conflicted. He wasn't sure if he was being Max at the moment or if he was Deeks; though he felt neither one truly deserved her, he knew for definite that Max did not.
He was so ready to be done with this alias.
"Ca-cause a scene or something." Kensi told him softly, trying to get a hold of herself.
The feel of him holding her was too much on her senses; she needed a minute to compose herself. But unfortunately Kensi didn't have a minute.
"C'mon baby, lemme see what's underneath all these clothes." Deeks said loudly, playing the part.
""Wha-what?" Kensi faked outrage.
"Baby you know you want me." Deeks said shadily, letting his hand run down her body; but he didn't touch her too inappropriately, which made Kensi melt a bit at how he was still trying to be respectful under the hardest circumstances.
"No..." She lied, shaking her head.
"I believe you should leave the woman be." A new voice announced.
"C'mon man, I almost got this honey comin' home with me." Deeks snapped angrily.
"Well you don't. Come with me, sweet thing." The target almost purred to Kensi.
"Get away from me." Kensi said to Deeks, wiggling out of his grip.
Deeks shoved his hands in his pockets and shook his head. "This is bullshit. Whatever." He huffed.
"Would you like to join me?" Williams asked, giving her a sleazy smile and resting a hand on her lower back.
Kensi giggled and nodded, allowing him to lead her away. She looked back and saw Deeks at the bar, holding a beer and starting at her.
"Be careful." She mouthed to him.
He titled his head and arched an eyebrow as a small smirk grew on his face. Kensi rolled her eyes; she could perfectly read his expression, "You be careful" he was telling her. She smiled and he winked, making her roll her eyes once again.
Sam shook his head, smiling, before standing up. "I'll be right back." He told Callen.
"Where you going?" His partner asked.
"I'll be back." Sam said again.
The Seal made his way over to the bar and ordered a beer. He glanced to his left at Deeks and saw the frustration, and –Sam smirked- jealousy.
"She mopes when you're gone. A lot." Sam said, seemingly to no one in particular.
The detective's eyebrows rose slightly. "No way; Badass Blye doesn't mope." He shook his head in disbelief.
"She does when her partner's gone." Sam replied.
"I'm doing my best, pal, alright?" Deeks snapped, falling back into Max's alias.
Sam didn't care; though it wasn't like Deeks to snap out and get mad like that, it was like Max. And Deeks seemed to have slipped back into the role of Max.
"I...sorry. That wasn't... yea, no that wasn't me." Deeks sighed.
Sam turned to look at the man and was surprised at how calm Deeks looked. He expected to see anguish and anger, but the man seemed fine to him.
If he was Kensi he would've seen all that and more in the detective's eyes. But he wasn't, and he didn't.
"How much longer do you think you've got?" Sam asked.
"As long as it takes." Deeks replied roughly.
"You know if you need anything, just call us." The senior agent told him.
Deeks downed the rest of his drink and firmly placed it on the bar. "Well I don't. Got it?"
Sam sighed. "In case you're worried about him, Le-" but Deeks interrupted.
"No." The shaggy man said firmly. "Don't go there... Please. I-I can't..." Deeks' voice cracked.
Deeks couldn't afford to think about Leo; if he did he would think about all the things Max Gentry had to do, and how terrible of a person he was, and that Leo didn't deserve to have to be around him. Deeks didn't want to give Max the pleasure of thinking about such a wonderful child either.
"Look, man, I understand-" Sam tried, but was interrupted again.
"No, Sam. You don't. You have no idea what this alias does to me." Deeks said, emotions lacing in his voice.
Deeks glanced around and saw Samantha standing near the door, .looking around for him. "That's my cue. I've gotta go." Deeks sighed.
"You'd better come back in one piece, or Kensi will hunt you down. She's going nuts without you." Sam smirked.
A small smile grew on the detective's lips and he spared a glance over to Kensi. "She ain't the only one." Deeks replied softly.
It seemed like no matter how much she scrubbed, Kensi couldn't get the feel of him off; the disgusting way his hands had trailed up and down her body as she sat in his lap at the cub; the sickening feeling of his lips on her neck as he whispered all the dirty secrets NCIS wanted to know.
Kensi felt repulsed.
But after forty-five minutes scrubbing away in the showers of OSP, Kensi figured it just wasn't working.
It had never bothered her to this extent; the horrid touch of a target to get her information. Sure it didn't feel good, but it had never felt this wrong. Kensi didn't even try to deny the source of the change; Deeks.
As she walked out of the showers and into the gym, she saw Eric, Nell, and Leo all playing with a basketball. Leo was giggling and running between the two techies as they threw the ball over his head between each other.
Kensi couldn't help but smile, and she walked over towards the three. "Hey guys, thank you for watching Leo." She said.
Eric smiled and held the ball. "You're welcome!" He replied.
Nell paused and looked at Kensi. "Hey Kensi, I can babysit him tonight if you'd like." She suggested.
Leo's jaw dropped and his eyes lit up with excitement. "Sweep ober at Nelly's!" He exclaimed, bouncing up and down.
Kensi shook her head. "No, Nell I can't ask you to do that."
"You're not asking and neither am I. You look exhausted and you deserve a night off; you've been working so hard these past three weeks and you need to rest." Nell insisted softly. "I can handle one night." She added with a smile.
Kensi bit her lip, shifting on her feet. It was a very tempting offer; she could use a night of peace and quiet and not have to worry about anything but feeding herself and crawling into bed.
But she didn't want to throw Leo off onto someone else, and Kensi would most likely miss Leo if he wasn't at home.
"Pwease, Kens? I be weally good!" Leo pleaded, jutting out his bottom lip and giving her the famous Deeks' Boy Puppy Eyes.
"Yea, Kensi, you can take a break." Eric smiled encouragingly.
"Well, if you guys insist." Kensi nodded.
"YAY!" Leo exclaimed hugging Kensi's legs tightly before jumping into Nell's arms.
"His go bag is in your car, we'll grab it real quick and then you can head home and relax." Nell smiled, glad that she was able to give Kensi the night off.
Kensi smiled appreciatively. "Thank you, Nell." She said quietly.
Nell smiled as Kensi turned quickly to go grab Leo's bag for her, before turning to Eric. "So whaddya say, Beale? Wanna tag along?" She inquired.
Eric looked surprised. "M-me? You want, you want me to help you babysit? Like at your house?" He asked.
"That's right." Nell smiled.
Eric's surprised face turned into a rapid growing smile. "Y-yeah, that sounds good."
"Great!" Nell grinned, grabbing his hand and tugging him out of the gym.
Kensi couldn't sleep. It was three in the morning and she'd yet to have even gotten one wink of sleep.
She wasn't sure if it was the case that kept her awake, or missing Leo, or missing Deeks, but whatever it was had pissed Kensi off because Kensi loved her sleep.
But apparently sleep did not love her tonight.
After turning over for what had to have been the 100th time that night, Kensi heard a noise and she froze, her hand going towards her gun stashed on the nightstand. She could hear moving throughout the apartment and she got out of bed, not even bothering to put pants on; going in just the t-shirt she was wearing.
Quietly Kensi walked into the living room, prepared for almost anything. She looked around the dark room and saw nothing; then suddenly the door burst open and the lights came on.
Kensi turned on her heel with her gun raised, but was shocked at what she saw. Standing in the doorway, holding his keys in one hand, gun in the other, was Deeks.
Deeks, in a plaid shirt and jeans.
Not a leather jacket.
A smile twitched on her lips and she watched his eyes widen at the sight of her; he obviously was not expecting to see her.
"Wow..." Deeks said, breaking through the silence...
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