AN: Things are getting better in real life, but still taking up a lot of my time... I really appreciate the continued patience and all the wonderful reviews and PMs of support! This chapter delves into the past a lot and was a fun challenge to write. Just a heads up for when you're reading; these snippets are Deeks's thoughts/mindset at that point in time and change as time progresses. Also, what was planned to be one chapter is already two (and may end up being three...got a little away from me...) as I tell the story of Kensi/Deeks preparing for 'today.'
"When did you get brought in?" Sam and Callen ask Kensi at the same time.
"Ah, partners in sync," Deeks teases.
"Why not from the beginning?" Sam asks.
Kensi glances between Hetty and Deeks as Deeks sighs.
"That," Deeks begins, "Is a very long story..."
000
November 2011
"Can I tell Kensi this time?" Deeks asked.
Hetty shook her head. "Not at this time. Right now this is just between you, the director and myself."
February 2013
"You look like you have something on your mind, Mr. Deeks," Hetty inquired.
Deeks offered her a soft smile. He had stayed back after the team left in hopes of speaking with Hetty alone. "About the, uh, thing..."
Hetty nodded, motioning her understanding of the subject matter.
"Before it was just, you know, look suspicious and wait and see if I get recruited. But now things have changed."
"We're going to be a little more proactive," Hetty voiced. "Are you having second thoughts about the new plan?"
"Not about the plan." He shook his head.
"About Kensi," she surmised.
He nodded. "Last time I pretended to shoot an unarmed man. I hated lying to her, but we made it look like it could been an honest error in judgement. Hetty, if this plan works - and it's your plan, so in all likelihood it will - this ends with me looking her in the eye and admitting to treason." He pauses to release a slow breath. "I don't know how we come back from that."
"Kensi will understand the importance of everything you have done." Hetty gave him a nod and walked away.
Deeks felt himself deflate as he watched her walk away. "Maybe," he whispered, "But how will she ever trust me again?"
October 2013
"What can I do for you, Mr. Deeks?" Hetty asked.
Deeks, who had spent the better part of ten minutes pacing by his own desk before stumbling his way over to Hetty's, sighed. "Can we talk?"
Hetty motioned to the seat opposite her desk with a nod.
Deeks sat, but said nothing. He ran his hand through his hair, disconcerted that the words he wished he had just wouldn't come to mind.
"You seem to be adjusting well now that you have returned to work," Hetty said.
Deeks absently brushed his fingers against the side of his jaw. "I am," he agreed. It had been a month since he had come back. At first he had felt out of place, but he had gradually settled back down into his normal routine, with no small amount of support from his partner.
"What's on your mind?"
He glanced around to ensure privacy. He had waited until everyone else had left for the day as to not draw attention to this conversation. "I wanted to let you know that...even with...you know," he motions to his jaw, "I'm still on board with...everything." He saw the flash of recognition in her eyes and knew he didn't have to explain further.
Hetty nodded her appreciation and leaned forward. "I'm glad to hear that, Mr. Deeks. I'm looking forward to the day we can put this to rest and I can call you Agent Deeks."
He smirked at her. "You know you're just going to keep calling me Mr. Deeks."
She smiled back at him. "You know me well, Mr. Deeks."
He smiled, but sobered quickly. "We haven't talked since I got back...or while I was off. I assume if there was anything new, you would tell me?"
Hetty nodded. "I would. I have nothing new to report at this time. Any active investigations by NCIS are being monitored by the intelligence gathering network which is the focus of our investigation. Unfortunately for us, all active investigations by NCIS continue to be centered on the east coast. Until there is a security breach on the west coast, you will not be activated. But once you are, your cover is in place. Mr. Janklow will be making his statement about your cover alias Jason Wyler from prison if he is approached. And there is a bank account in his name to which we have been making payoffs."
Deeks nodded and jumped in. "And I have a bag of documents buried under a bush by my front door. And NCIS is prepared to stage a security breach or theft or murder to be the smoking gun, so to say, that catches me, when the time comes. I know."
"Then what troubles you?"
"For this to work, the team needs to believe I'm guilty."
Hetty nodded solemnly. "An unfortunate but necessary evil."
"That's the thing, Hetty... When we first set this plan up I thought I could make it happen."
"And now you doubt yourself?"
"Not exactly." He took a breath and slowly exhaled. "Callen and Sam; I can make them doubt me." Though he appreciated Sam's recent change of heart in behaviour towards him, he could still vividly see the fear in the older man's eyes through the dirty glass doors in that auto body shop. Because even after more than three years, Sam hadn't trusted Deeks to have his back. He hadn't trusted Deeks not to break and give up Michelle. And Callen was still second guessing every move he made in the month since he'd returned to work and been told by Callen he wasn't wanted there. Ordinarily, he wouldn't have a problem with it, but it rubbed him the wrong way because he knew Callen had accepted his own partner back with open arms and zero hesitation.
But Kensi was different. She knew Deeks was damaged, but she accepted him as is. She knew him better than anyone ever had before. She saw him like no one had before. "But Kensi? We've been partners for three and a half years now, Hetty. She'll see through me."
Hetty shook her head. "See that she doesn't."
He ran his hand through his hair. He half rose from his chair, but then sat back down. He didn't want to argue, but the highly experienced undercover operator in him knew there were operational issues that needed addressing. "I don't think it's that simple, Hetty. When we started this, I was supposed to be mole bait. My background was desirable and could be augmented in the hope I would be recruited or approached by a mole working within the network," he states flatly, having said the same thing many times over the years.
Hetty nodded.
"But it's been two years and things have changed. We say we're still hoping for those things to happen, but we both know with my classified status it's a solid plan B. What was plan B has become plan A. We're basically waiting for the security breaches to get worse so the investigations become more in depth in the hope that a mole imbeds himself as part of the investigation and in the hope that I'm identified as a suspect. And if that happens I have to put on a good show."
"To which I have no doubt you have the necessary skills to put on a very convincing show," Hetty told him.
He runs his hand through his hair. "Most of the team, I can convince. But Kensi... The last time I had to deceive her we'd only been partners for a year and a half. And we made it so she saw me shoot someone with her own eyes. And even then she figured it out," he pointed out. "Hetty, it's been another two years. She's going to look me in the eye and she's going to know." And then she's never going to forgive me, his mind added to himself.
Hetty narrowed her eyes at him. "Your partner will understand your deception as a necessary part of your job."
"She won't understand," he asserts. " And it will forever damage our partnership. But more specifically for this operation, which I'm getting is more important to you, she won't believe it."
"Make her believe it, Mr. Deeks," Hetty said, dismissing him.
April 2014
Deeks had had his partner back for two weeks, and for the first time in almost five months he felt like he could breathe again. She'd spent much of her time recuperating with Deeks by her side. They hadn't talked about anything important as they spent most of their evenings on her couch or his, watching mindless television and eating takeout. But each time she looked at him, he saw trust in her eyes. And each time she looked at him like that, he felt his heart crack apart a little bit further. Because he was keeping something so important from her, and one day he'd be asked to break her heart. He could only hope and pray he wouldn't completely destroy the trust they'd spent four years building.
When Hetty had first asked him to be part of this assignment, he hadn't been able to foresee a future where he would fall for his partner. Sure, he'd had feelings for her. He'd known how incredible she was. He'd known she was strong, fierce and super smart. Not to mention that she had the ability to be simultaneously adorable and terrifying. And her tendency to both be thrown off by his remarks and fire back her own kept him on his toes. The fact that she was breathtakingly gorgeous didn't hurt either. After a challenging start, she was fast becoming the perfect partner and a damn good friend. He had already started becoming fiercely protective of her life in ways he didn't always understand at the time.
But he understood it now. Because the emotion of 'love' was once a foreign concept to Marty Deeks. Sometime over the years of being Kensi Blye's partner, partnership and friendship had become something more. And now he was in love with her. And she may actually love him back. And he had already allowed it to go too far once in a moment of weakness when he just couldn't keep away from her any longer. But he couldn't let it happen again. Regardless of what he felt. And regardless of what she may feel. Because he couldn't set them up for him to break her heart any more than he was already going to.
On her first day back to work, he had been disappointed Hetty stuck her in OPs with Eric. But by the end of the day, she was in front of him and she was smiling and she was back. She looked full of hope and optimism, both about returning to her job and about the two of them finally taking time to talk about their thing. After her ordeal and recovery, the hope shining in her eyes now nearly broke his heart.
The team spent the better part of an hour celebrating her return before dispersing for the night. Deeks sent off his partner with the promise to be over with takeout. He waited until he was the last one left and then he approached Hetty. He needed to convince her to let him bring Kensi in this time. Not only did he know she would never believe him to be a mole, but he couldn't let himself move forward with her without full disclosure.
More confident this time than last, Deeks strode up to Hetty's desk and sat in the chair opposite her.
"Mr. Deeks," she greeted.
"Hetty," he responded evenly.
"How can I help you?"
"I think you know exactly why I'm here."
Hetty stared at him for a long moment before nodding. "I can make an educated guess. And I can tell you my answer will be the same as last time."
Deeks shook his head. "But see, you don't understand-"
"I understand perfectly, Mr. Deeks."
"She won't believe it."
"You have to make her believe it."
"And I can't lie to her anymore. It's not right. She's my partner," he emphasized.
Hetty considered him for a long moment. "You and I both know there is a difference between a true lie and a lie of omission. Just like you and I both know Kensi is more than just your partner."
Deeks opened his mouth to argue, but closed it just as quickly. He wasn't sure if Hetty's words were supposed to sound like a threat, but they kind of did. He stood. "We're not done talking about this."
"No, Mr. Deeks, I'm sure we're not."
The next day, Hetty assigned Deeks and Kensi to interview a suspected dirty agent. Deeks was on edge during the entire 'interview' with Agent Angelo because he wasn't sure if it was part of his long term assignment or not. He let himself appear vulnerable to the agent, because if he was a mole, Deeks needed to stand out. Internally, he knew Kensi would never hurt him. Just like he knew Kensi knew the same about him. And at the end of the day, Angelo was dirty, but not guilty of being a mole. If anything, Deeks was left more confused and stressed than the day before. He wanted to continue his conversation with Hetty, but she was apparently avoiding him, because she was nowhere to be found when he returned to the Mission.
Kensi approached his desk, her gaze open and hopeful, wanting to talk. And his heart broke, because he knew he couldn't do this to her. Not like this. Not until he could bring her in. Not until he got his head on straight. After two and a half years of keeping this secret, he couldn't keep the edges from blurring anymore, especially not when he knew the end result would be breaking her heart and her trust.
It almost killed him, but he let her down as gently and as vaguely as he could, with the promise of the future in his words. He hoped he could one day explain and make everything and more up to her. He could feel Hetty's eyes on him as he was walking out, and he couldn't help but hope she felt bad for the part she had played.
May 2014
A month later, Deeks was still angry at Hetty. He had decided to take a few weeks to settle his thoughts and prepare his arguments. He wanted to be ready for the next time he and Hetty spoke, because he wasn't taking no for an answer again. But just when Deeks thought he was about ready to make his next attempt, Hetty was called to Washington for an investigation into her actions as Operations Manager.
It wasn't long at all before it was discovered that Hetty's personal information was provided to an outside source and sold on the internet.
And, just like that, after all that time waiting, something had finally happened and Deeks was isolated from anyone else who knew as much as he did; or anyone who knew there was anything to know, really.
He spent several days on edge, knowing if he was at any time accused of anything, no one would be there to back him up because no one else knew anything. He also realized he was the right person on the team to choose for his assignment now more than ever. Hetty had been right when she said he was underestimated by other federal agencies. That was proven when the DoJ team sent to investigate the entire OSP operation didn't even bother to interview him.
When Hetty finally returned and the rest of the team was finally aware of the existence of a mole, things changed. Hetty was furious her personal information was compromised. She made it clear she was not approachable. Also, Granger was suddenly around all the time. Deeks didn't have a chance to say his piece. So, he did his job.
He prepared for an investigation, but nothing happened.
June 2014
When another month had passed without any new movement in the investigation, Deeks had finally reached his breaking point. Hetty had been understandably upset by the release of her private information. Deeks had known better than to corner her when it was all fresh and raw. He had made himself wait a month, and then a couple days just to make sure and suitable amount of time had passed. But now he was done being blocked by her.
Like many past conversations, he waited for his team to leave before approaching her. He had caught her eye prior to everyone leaving, just to make sure she knew he wanted to talk. She kept her eyes focused down on the paperwork on her desk as he approached, not looking up at him until he sat down, whether as a tactical choice or not, Deeks didn't know. And he didn't care. Because he was done. He used to respect his boss, and her opinions and thoughts on cases. Now, taking into consideration the events of the past year, his views had changed. He still respected his boss. But he saw holes in her opinions, in her views and her thoughts. He knew she didn't always see the whole picture for the finish line.
"Mr. Deeks," Hetty greeted evenly.
"Hetty," he responded.
"I presume you wish to discuss our little operation?"
"I do."
"And more specifically, you wish to request - again - Ms. Blye's involvement?"
"I do."
"And you know my opinion on the matter."
"I do."
Hetty cracked a small smile and nodded. "But you're going to make your case again?"
"I am."
She waved her hand, granting him permission to go ahead.
"I have two main points for bringing her in," he began. "The first is we need someone else in on this, Hetty. Last month you weren't here when we found out your information was compromised. If that had resulted in a different investigation right away, this whole plan could have been for nothing. Because no one else knew what was going on, not the whole story. And if I had been accused of anything, what should I have done? If I had gone through with playing a mole, first of all, as I've said before, Kensi would never have believed it, but we'll get to that. Let's assume I've managed to convince everyone I'm guilty and you're not here. If and when I identify the real mole, there would be no tracking, no audio support and no tactical support because, again, no one knows what's going on. And, oh, either the real mole kills me, or I'm stuck in prison."
"Last month was an oversight, Mr. Deeks, and we got lucky, in a matter of speaking," Hetty said dryly. "But I do agree that someone more than yourself and myself needs to be aware of this operation, in case I'm unavailable again."
"So, we're in agreement."
"Nice try. I'm not convinced that someone needs to be Ms. Blye."
"Okay, well, the second part of my first point addresses that."
"A large first point. What about your second point?"
He shook his head. "Much shorter. But I don't want to go there yet. Or at all, if I don't have to." He paused. "We've been partners for more than four years now. We hold each others' lives in our hands on a regular basis. She knows me as well and as deep as I know her, Hetty. And I know she's not going to believe me as a traitor."
"Mr. Deeks-"
"I wouldn't believe it if it were her," he said fiercely, cutting her off. "If the situation were reversed. No matter the evidence. No matter what she admitted to. I wouldn't believe it. Not ever."
Hetty was silent.
"She's the person I know and trust most in the world. And I'm the person she knows and trusts most in the world. From a partner standpoint, this could break us. From an operational standpoint, this could be the linchpin that either makes this work or destroys years of preparation. Because if she isn't read in and she's on site when this all goes down and I admit to treason, she'd not going to buy it. She may recognize we're running an OP and try to go along, but she's not going to know enough to play the right cards. And whoever the real mole is will be watching closely and even a hint of hesitation will be noticed immediately."
Hetty considered him for a long moment before slowly nodding. "What's your counter plan?"
Deeks took a deep breath and exhaled slowly, all the while biting back the urge to grin. Because he'd come prepared with a counter plan. "We read Kensi in and only Kensi. We know a taskforce is being assembled. I say we drop some more breadcrumbs and lead them to me. Maybe set up that security theft or murder we talked about to be the smoking gun; something really concrete so they really have me. Set up an interrogation, probably best in the boatshed. Call in for reinforcements, so others are free to show up. And then call in the team so you can 'surprise' me with the interrogation. They can present evidence. I'm sure the guys will want to run everything down." Although even as recently as the last October, Deeks had believed he could convince Callen and Sam of his guilt simply by admitting to it in interrogation, he was beginning to have his doubts. He'd spent a lot more time than usual working closely with Sam and Callen in the last year with Kensi being away. He'd been surprised to find a lot more trust and camaraderie existed than he'd expected.
"At some point, Kensi needs to be in interrogation with me," he continued. "And then we'll do what we do best and put on a damn good show. If Callen and Sam doubt my confession, they'll sympathize with Kensi's emotional response long enough not to question their doubts."
Hetty nodded. "A fair point."
Deeks took another deep breath in and released a slow exhale. "So, what do you think?"
"I think I want to hear your second point."
He only hesitated for a moment, but realized he was speaking with Hetty and she probably already knew what he was going to say. "Fine, but I did say I didn't want to go there. This will be my last attempt to convince you. If you say no, I'm done."
"Done with the assignment?"
"Yes. And NCIS."
Hetty sat up a little straighter. "Because you're not getting your way?"
"Because it's the wrong way. I've put my life and career on hold for two and a half years for this assignment. And I've been telling you since October that there are significant operational flaws, but you keep brushing me off. Either you have faith in my abilities and judgement or you don't. This assignment is important, and I'm committed to continuing as long as necessary to finish it. But not if I'm doing so knowing I'm working towards a final day certain of failure because my partner doesn't know what's going on. Because that is a waste of everyone's time and I'd rather cut my losses now." He forced himself to hold Hetty's gaze as steady as he could.
To his surprise, Hetty smiled. "That was a very mature argument, Mr. Deeks. I've seen you struggle with your uncertainties in regards to your...personal relationship with Ms. Blye. I wondered if you would use that as part of your argument."
He offered his boss a soft smile in response. "I won't break her heart," he acknowledged her statement. "As much as I would like to include my personal life as part of my argument, I won't, because this is more important than me and Kensi. I took some time and looked at everything as objectively as possible to make sure I was asking for this for the right reasons. And I come to the same conclusion every time. I need my partner with me on this. It's like I said, I'm willing to put my life on hold as long as necessary, so long as the plan is set up for success."
"You've already sacrificed quite a lot."
"It's important," he said. "We need to stop these people."
"That we do, Mr. Deeks. That we do." She nodded. "I find I agree with your assessment."
"Really?"
"Really," she confirmed.
Deeks felt a wave of relief wash over him. Finally. After so much time, he wouldn't be alone in this anymore. He'd have his partner to watch his back. They'd be able to choreograph that final interrogation and guarantee the outcome. And he wouldn't have to break her trust or her heart.
"Thank you."
"No, thank you, Mr. Deeks. You made very persuasive arguments. I was convinced before you had to result to threatening to quit." She smiled at that.
He smiled back. "I did say I didn't want to result to that. But I thought it added dramatic flair."
She shook her head. "It did add effect. But the sentiment rang true. And your commitment to this assignment has never wavered. I'm sorry we couldn't talk like this sooner."
He offered her a shrug. "Well, I didn't have my thoughts together right away." He motioned to his jaw, knowing she'd understand his thoughts in the months after he'd returned to work. "And then after Kensi came home from Afghanistan I was...angry."
"Understandably so."
"It took me a while to calm down and collect my thoughts. I knew I'd have one chance to make my case."
"You did a admirable job, Mr. Deeks."
He nodded.
"I will need to run the new plan by the director. He and I have a video call scheduled for next week to discuss this new taskforce being assembled, so I will discuss it with him then. And then you and I will set up and time to read in Kensi when the assistant director is not on site. How does that sound?"
He smiled. "Sounds great."
"And Mr. Deeks?"
"Moving forward, you don't need to put your entire life on hold..."
July 2014
When Hetty asked Kensi to stay back after work for a few minutes to discuss a case report she had completed for the prior week's case, Deeks jumped in with Callen and Sam in heckling her. He jokingly wished her good luck in the 'principal's office' and headed out towards his car. He waited exactly three minutes to make sure Callen and Sam had left before circling back into the Mission. It was a Friday night, so the support staff had cleared out as well, leaving the building quiet and empty; just like they had planned.
Kensi was sitting alone at her desk. Across the room, Hetty was on the phone at her own desk. Deeks exchanged a quick glance with the Operations Manager, who nodded to him.
When he got closer to the desks, Kensi's head turned when she heard his footsteps. She smirked. "What did you forget?"
"Uh, nothing." He dropped his shoulder bag down onto his desk before turning back towards her and dropping into Callen's chair so he was beside her.
She rolled her eyes at him. "What, are you here for moral support? She just wants to discuss a report. It's probably nothing." She glanced over her shoulder. "And as soon as she's off the phone I'll-" She cut off when Deeks reached across the desk to lay his hand over hers.
"It's not about a report, Kens," he said softly.
She stared down at their hands for a moment and then turned her head to look him in the eye. Her jaw clenched as she took a calming breath. Then she nodded once to herself. "That was just a cover to get me to stay here."
"That's right."
"And you're here."
"Mmm-hmm."
"And Callen and Sam aren't."
"Yup."
She took another breath. And then, after more than four years of partnership, she proved to him that she could still surprise him. Her nose scrunched as she made a face. "I knew there was nothing wrong with that report! That report was awesome!"
He laughed out loud at her words. He'd been nervous all day about how she'd react to being read in to this assignment tonight. But her first priority being the quality of her report was actually pretty funny.
She grinned back at him as he tried somewhat successfully to quell his laughter.
"I'm sure it was the most awesome report ever, Kens," he told her.
She bumped his shoulder. "Better than yours."
"And still a one upper."
"You'd be heartbroken if I changed."
He bumped her shoulder back. "I would."
She stared down at where his hand still laid over top of hers for a long moment before flipping her hand over under his and threading their fingers together. It was more contact than either had risked in weeks, but she clearly sensed something significant was about to happen and needed the connection. "So...what's going on?"
He squeezed her hand, wanting to rid her eyes of the uncertainty he saw there. "Oh, Kens...I don't even know where to start."
"You're not leaving, right?"
"What? No. Of course not. Never."
She smiled at that. "Okay, good. It's just...the last time you and Hetty had something going on you ended up going back to the LAPD."
"I'm not going anywhere," he told her firmly. If only she knew he wasn't ever going back to the LAPD. Although, after tonight, she would know. The thought made him pause, because he hadn't realized that before. It had been so long since he'd agreed to delay his application to become an NCIS agent. He'd really settled into the liaison role so becoming an agent wasn't really something he thought about all that often. The fact that his partner may sometimes consider his position as her partner non-permanent hadn't entered his mind.
"Good," she repeated, just as firmly. She offered him a smile and he was surprised to note that all of the uncertainty he'd seen earlier in her eyes was gone now. Not a trace remained. And that humbled him more than a little. Because it meant only one thing.
She trusted him implicitly. She had confirmed her fear of him leaving wasn't what was going on, which had been the cause of the earlier uncertainty. And now she was waiting for answers as to why she had been kept back after work by himself and Hetty, who clearly had something going on that she knew nothing about. And the earlier uncertainty was now replaced with trust shining brighter than the uncertainty had in her eyes.
His heart swelled with the mirroring trust he had in her, with the love he felt for her and with the hope he had for them. "I don't even know where to start..."
"That's alright, Mr. Deeks," Hetty said, surprising them both, "I know where to start."
Kensi and Deeks both jumped at Hetty's words and turned their attention to find their boss standing close beside Kensi's desk. They dropped hands, but didn't move far away from each other.
"I will allay your fears, Ms. Blye," she began, before smirking as only Hetty could do. "Yes, your report from the case last week was, in fact, awesome. And, come Monday, you are welcome to advise Mr. Callen and Mr. Hanna I kept you back to compliment you on your attention to detail and grammatical correctness."
Kensi smiled brightly at Hetty's comment, causing Deeks to start laughing again.
"Now, why don't you two join me at my desk? Anyone want a cup of tea?"
Once they were settled beside each other in front of Hetty's desk, Hetty nodded and leaned forward, laying her hands on her desk. "To address your other concern, Ms. Blye, I will confirm that your partner is not going anywhere."
Kensi nodded.
"In fact, he's with us for good," Hetty added.
Kensi glanced towards Deeks and then back to Hetty, not quite understanding what she was being told.
Hetty smiled. "About three years ago, I provided Mr. Deeks with an application to become an NCIS agent." She paused to allow that to sink in.
"Three...three years?" Kensi glanced at Deeks again.
"That's right. And then about six months after that, he signed the application and turned it in to me."
Kensi sat up a little straighter and turned to Deeks again. "You want to be an agent...but...I don't understand. Six months later. That's still two and a half years ago. Why..." She turned back to Hetty, her tone angry, prepared to defend her partner. "Was he not approved?"
Hetty smiled and shook her head. "His acceptance was assured the moment I gave him the application," she assured. "But the timing of him signing the application coincided with the beginning of a very important case. And Mr. Deeks agreed to put his application on hold to be part of this assignment."
"On hold for two and a half years?" Kensi looked to Deeks again.
"As long as it takes."
"Why didn't you tell me?"
He smirked. "Classified."
She rolled her eyes at his tone, but nodded to Hetty in understanding.
"Ms. Blye, you're about to be read into a highly classified assignment, which cannot be discussed outside of the three of us."
Kensi glanced to Deeks and then back to Hetty. "I understand."
"Mr. Deeks has been with this assignment since the beginning. And he's spent quite some time trying to convince me - successfully, might I add - to bring you in."
Kensi glanced at him again, one eyebrow raised, sending him a look that screamed 'you actually convinced Hetty of something?'
He shrugged and widened his eyes ever so slightly, telling her he'd explain later.
"Now, you are very much aware of the recent security breach regarding my personal information."
"Of course."
"What you are not aware of is this was not an isolated incident. We don't need to identify a single mole, but an entire intelligence hacking organization set up within NCIS and other agencies..."
Deeks sat back and allowed himself to breathe in relief as Hetty explained the entire operation detail by detail, right from the beginning to his partner. Kensi nodded thoughtfully and asked for clarification as she was slowly read into the assignment and plan to identify the mole and obtain as much information from the mole as possible.
"Wow," Kensi commented when Hetty finished. "That's quite the plan."
"I wanted to call it 'Operation Wac-A-Mole' but Hetty and the Director wouldn't go for it," Deeks said, causing Kensi to laugh.
Hetty cracked a smile and shook her head. "And I'm still not going for it, Mr. Deeks."
Kensi was still smiling, but sobered quickly as she turned to her partner. "So, this ends with you...admitting to treason?"
He nodded. "That's the plan."
"Mr. Deeks assured me the two of you can put on a good show when the time comes," Hetty said.
Kensi nodded and shared a glance with Deeks. "I'm sure we can."
"Good. We will depend on your emotional reaction to your partner's betrayal to distract the rest of the team from their doubts of his guilt."
"We can definitely do this." She nodded to show her confidence. "But Deeks was right. I would never have believed it myself."
Hetty smiled. "And he convinced me of such." She folded her hands together. "Any questions?"
Kensi shook her head.
"Alright then. Now that this organization we are hunting has moved their breaches to the west coast, we are officially active in this assignment. The NCIS-FBI taskforce has been assembled and has begun the preliminaries of their investigation. NCIS in Washington has confirmed that their investigation is already being monitored, so they should notice when the taskforce flags Mr. Deeks as a potential mole. With any luck, we should be wrapping up in the next few months."
000
"Of course, the taskforce was much more useless than we had anticipated," Hetty explains. "Their investigation dragged on for over a year. And though we were monitoring things on our own, there was nothing we could do to speed up their progress."
"They had to at least have Detective Deeks on a short list of suspects for us to stage a murder," Director Vance adds.
Sam nods thoughtfully.
Callen nods as well, his mind on the previous explanation. "You know, I remember the evening Kensi was held back after work because of that report." He meets Kensi's eyes now. "I always thought something else was going on."
"So did I," Sam adds.
"No you didn't," Callen counters. "You were jealous she was praised for writing good reports."
"That is not true."
"You spent the next two months staying late to polish each and every report you wrote."
Sam keeps his mouth shut, but shakes his head.
Deeks laughs, while beside him Kensi is struggling to hold back her own laughter.
"So, what happened while you waited?" Nell asks.
"We planned for today," Deeks says. He glances at Kensi and they exchange a smile. "And we lived our lives..."