Author's Note: Thanks for the great critique. I very much appreciate it. I'm still working on my language, but... even in my native language I speak and write long sentences that sometimes make no sense. I'm trying my best to improve, though. So, sorry if my sentences are confusing at times... I'm just a bit nuts and so is my writing ;)
Anyway... I give a fair warning that this will contain minor hurt!Deeks, and it may seem a bit far-fetched here and there, but... I just can't help it. I love him pulling through and showing that he's more than the goofball we all love and enjoy so much ;) And I read on the internet that this is possible!
As I said, this is implied Densi-relationship, and this might be AU-ish now (about how they act and all, but when I wrote this, I didn't know the new season, so this was my imagination anyways, so... forgive me) ^_^
Investigation will follow soon, don't worry, but for that I have to set the stage a bit, which will be undertaken in this chapter.
Hope you'll enjoy ^_^
Read and review... I just love it when you do that ;)
A few days later, all are working on some files. The murder case was put on a hold until (and if) Deeks gets access to the orchestra. If not, they have to take up a different angle, so all agreed.
"Why are you here again? I thought you should practice," Sam makes a face as he turns to Deeks. The detective just came in a while ago, flopped down in his chair, and... did nothing much since. Upon hearing Sam's remark, Deeks glances up wearily and holds out his left hand, which is over with band-aids and explains, "I played my fingers bloody, literally. Hetty said that I should give my fingers a moment to recover."
"That works?!" Sam asks, not quite believing it. He thought this was more of a saying.
"Do you think I wear those for fun and look like someone who's too dumb to use a hammer?" Deeks snorts, to which Callen and Sam simultaneously shrug. Those two really share a brain, Deeks thinks to himself, but then he understands that they actually meant it. "I don't!" he exclaims. Seriously, guys?!
"But you're okay?" Kensi asks with concern. And Deeks would love to kiss her for that. He can always count on her when it comes to these things... unless she joins the torture, but it became less frequent.
"Yeah, it's fine. It doesn't even hurt much. It's just that I didn't play for so long that I press down on the strings too hard and coz I don't have calluses to prevent that, yet anyways," Deeks explains, offering a soft smile.
"Too many manicure sessions, huh?" Callen snickers. Deeks makes a face, letting out a weird-sounding laughter, before he snorts, "Sam's not the only one whose body is a temple."
"Well, we just didn't think you'd be that much into it," Sam admits, grabbing another paper from his stack.
"Whatever," Deeks huffs, now actually feeling offended. He is the only one working this case at the moment, so really, Sam would do better at simply leaving him be. Deeks doesn't have the nerves for that. It's enough of an inner fight for him to play in general.
"Hey, now don't take it personal. I just say that...," Sam argues, holding his hands up in surrender, but Deeks completes the sentence for him, "This is not how I usually act. I get that. It's not a usual case, though."
"He's got a point," Callen shrugs, looking up from his papers briefly. Really, this case is very unusual. To pose as a musician for an ensemble is something even he didn't have on his list, and Callen had many weird roles to enact throughout his career.
"What's the wrist splint for?" Kensi asks, and again with such sweet concern. That's why Kensi is his partner, and not one of the Dynamic Duo... and because Deeks loves her, but that is beside the point now.
"My wrist's no longer used to holding the bow that long," Deeks shrugs. He could take measurements to take a better and healthier position when he plays, but that is time Deeks doesn't have or doesn't want to invest. His focus is solely on the case and the violin... and even if he hates to admit it, at this moment, it's solely on the violin.
"Geez, you look like you've been in two street-fights – at once," Kensi makes a face.
"Right, didn't know playing the violin was that much of a dangerous sport," Sam laughs.
"I actually wear the splint as a provision. Then I don't have to wear it if, big if, I make it the ensemble somehow," Deeks shrugs. Why are they talking about him again? Because he surely doesn't like to be the center of attention when it comes to this!
"I'm sure you will," Kensi flashes a smile at him.
"Then that makes two, Hetty and you," Deeks says, biting the inside of his cheek. He still doesn't see it. Even if Mr. Parker seemingly has a keen on his play (for whatever the reason), it just seems too outrageous to be true.
"Why are you...?" Kensi wants to discuss that with him, but doesn't get the opportunity, because Hetty is suddenly standing in front of them.
"Mr. Deeks," the petite woman says, turning to the detective, who raises his hand like a student whose name just got called out.
"Present," Deeks smirks.
"I just received a call from Mr. Parker," Hetty tells him, causing the detective to smirk, "Let me guess – he liked what I did, but the others weren't too convinced?"
"On the contrary. They want you for the ensemble. Mr. Parker just informed me that you are the newest member. And I may hereby congratulate you to that success," Hetty smirks at him. Deeks's jaw, if not attached to his face, would probably fall to the ground now.
"Wow!" Callen grimaces, visibly impressed.
"Deeks, that's wonderful!" Kensi smiles at the detective, who is still busy mulling this over inside his head.
"Even I gotta say: respect, man," Sam nods.
"Well, okay, uhm... that's... great, for the investigation and all... so... when do I start?" Deeks asks, trying to focus on the case again, because the rest just makes him want to crawl out of his skin and hide in the corner.
"First audition is scheduled for tomorrow morning. Mr. Parker has sent me a list of pieces you are supposed to practice, if you don't know them already," Hetty nods with a smile on her face. Deeks can't help but make a face at that, though, "They test me."
"Quite right," Hetty nods.
"What?" Callen frowns.
"They wanna see how much I manage to learn within a short time slot before majorly screwin' up. That's their way of testing a newbie, I suppose," Deeks huffs, trying to smirk, but it's clear that he is beyond nervous already.
"It reveals at least how well someone can deal with pressure, they say," Hetty agrees.
"Wow, okay...," Callen grimaces. That surely means pressure for Deeks, that much is clear.
"Now please tell me that it's not all pieces I don't know, or I'll just die now, Hetty," Deeks sighs, desperation tugging at him. He re-learned some techniques and pieces faster than he had pictured, but some talent doesn't make up for... so many years of lack of practice.
"We practiced three of them already. The other four, you tell me, did you ever play them?" Hetty asks, handing him the sheets. Deeks grabs them hastily and skims through the pages, managing a somewhat relieved sigh by the end, "Okay, so I gotta practice two today – great. The others I know pretty well. Playing them through couple of times should be fine."
And that is a big "should". It's just that Deeks sees that he can't practice them all in perfection. They just don't have the time for that, so he has to focus on the new stuff... and hope that the old stuff just comes back to him... somehow... yeah, this definitely sucks.
"Well, I'd suggest that you rest your fingers some more before we tackle the last two, then," Hetty smirks at him. Deeks already starts to peel off the band-aids, though, as he mutters, "I gotta learn those two in one day - I need any minute I can muster, Hetty."
He throws the band-aids into the trash can before he proceeds to the gym. Hetty is short up behind him.
"You know what to do," she calls over her shoulder as she heads out.
"Wow, a new side of Deeks, huh? I mean... so hard-working," Sam smirks.
"Hetty tells him all the time to take a break. Deeks hasn't gone home ever since this started, pretty much. He lives off of coffee and the donuts I feed him, coz otherwise he wouldn't eat at all. He crashes a few hours on one of the mattresses in the gym before he starts practicing again," Kensi admits with concern filling her voice. She really doesn't like that attitude of his. Kensi knows that her partner can actually be quite obsessive once he set his eyes on something, but she never saw him... that much into it.
"You can say about him what you want, but if he's set his eyes on something, he works it till the bitter end," Callen shrugs. Sam can only agree, "Yeah, bullhead through and through."
"I just hope he doesn't overdo it," the Junior Agent sighs, putting the next stack of papers away.
"Kensi, he's an agent. I think some music won't kill him," Callen argues. Really, maybe he played his fingers bloody, but as far as Gknows no one died from playing music yet... oh well, other than the dead Marine, but that has other causes.
"I know that – I'm not stupid, okay? I'm just saying that I don't like it how he does it. This is just not...," she grimaces and Callen completes her sentence with a nod, "Deeks."
"Yeah," she exhales through pursed lips.
"The moment the case is over, he'll fall back into the Deeks-pattern. And then he'll be just as annoying again – I'm sure," Callen assures her with a wink of the eye.
"Yeah, you're probably right," she nods.
"Okay, Sam? It's about time we take some more pictures," Callen declares, getting up. Sam grunts, "Do we really have to take pictures of those musicians every single day now?!"
"Until Hetty decides otherwise... yeah," Callen shrugs, "c'mon, Big Guy. If you behave yourself, you get some ice cream by the end of the day."
Sam makes a dismissive sound before heading out.
"You okay staying here? We're gonna talk to some renegades and all, but we may also return to some of the ensemble, so... we can't have you around for interrogation, sorry," Callen shrugs.
"Yeah, no, that's okay. I wanted to polish my... orchestra knowledge a bit anyways, and then I'll just see what Eric and Nell have for me," Kensi smirks at him. Callen knocks on her table before exiting, too.
Meanwhile, Deeks is busy practicing in the gym.
"Darn!" he cries out. The detective quickly runs a finger over one of the strings, which is colored in red. He quickly grabs the small rag off the stool, which already has red streaks on it. With that he quickly wipes over the string in question, careful not to do any damage to the pricy instrument.
"Mr. Deeks, I can only remind you that we may just as well leave it for the day. I still highly doubt that they will expect of you to be able to play all of them right away, in absolute perfection," Hetty tries to calm her liaison agent. It doesn't take a genius to figure that Deeks is stressed-out and pushing himself, even if Hetty has to admit that she doesn't know why exactly he is so distressed ever since the case began.
"Oh, I think that's exactly what they expect of me – and no less than that. Mr. Parker may be generous, but the ensemble will be harder to convince than any of the committee, so I think. They despise each other about as much as do ballerinas," Deeks argues.
"I did not know about you having been in ballet courses?" Hetty cocks an eyebrow at him.
"God forbid – my parents saved me at least that humiliation. This time I really watched a documentary about this kinda stuff, because there was only junk and/ or commercials. They'd rather die than give the other ballerina credit for making it the prima ballerina just once. And I think that's no different from an ensemble. Everyone wants to play the first and get a solo," Deeks shrugs. At least that's what he figures. He never played in one, but if you are passionate about something... you easily get competitive.
"That is of course true," Hetty agrees with a shrug of her shoulders.
"So... your wonderful violin will have to suffer through my play a bit longer," Deeks smirks.
"Maybe you should reconsider on putting on some band-aids, Mr. Deeks," Hetty advises him.
"I can't play with those. I gotta feel the string, or else I'll be off. You heard it, I tried and it didn't come out right. I promise you that I'll clean that violin of yours so thoroughly that it will be as good as new, or as antique as antique... you know what I mean," Deeks makes a face.
"I'm more concerned about your fingertips at that point, Mr. Deeks," she laughs.
"That heals in no time – and just shows I didn't play in ages. Normally, you don't play your fingers bloody," Deeks shakes his head... but other things can make you bleed... don't think about it, Deeks. That's leading you nowhere, he reminds himself.
She smirks as he takes the violin back up to start all over.
Sam and Callen come back after their next round of investigation.
"How did it go?" Kensi asks as they settle back down.
"Well, we did thorough check-ups on five of the renegades – no one fits the pattern. And they have a waterproof alibis," Sam shrugs. So that was pretty much a waste of time.
"And seven of those who were turned down weren't even in the city, with valid proof," Callen adds.
"And I could rule out another three: Mr. Parker was out of country by the time of the concert. He was over to an audition in Paris. We have boarding, video footage in Paris, and witnesses. The other two who were turned down by him... are now married, thanks to them meeting there. So, they are actually glad they got turned down. They have three children, are utterly content with their life – and they were in their daughter's school theater performance as Tree Four in Little Red Riding Hood," Kensi snickers. To her it's still a miracle how Eric and Nell can find out even that, but... she long since gave up to figure it out.
"I bet she had to work really hard to get that role," Callen can't help but smirk.
"Oh, the parents were out of their minds about how convincing she was!" Kensi laughs. She talked to them on the phone briefly, posing as another parent who wanted to know if they took pictures they could upload to the school website (as if anyone cared).
"How are you convincing as a tree?" Callen makes a face. Kensi shrugs at him, "You don't move?"
All nod at that. Might be the best fitting solution.
"Okay, so how many remain?" Sam asks.
"According to the list... another five renegades, six more turned down, and the entire orchestra, plus the committee except for Mr. Parker. And of course all those from Gallagher's personal background," Kensi sums up.
"Went through his records – it's damn perfect. Doesn't seem like anyone bore him a grudge," Sam shakes his head. That guy was a Marine out of the handbook, pretty much: highly decorated and liked by anyone.
"We'll talk to some of his former troop morrow," Callen nods.
"And I'll be doing observation by tomorrow, as Deeks's personal slave," Kensi rolls her eyes. Because that is the absolute downside of this job... Deeks will torture her, that much is for sure. And he'll be enjoying himself, that's set into stone.
"Well, he's working really hard, then you might play his slave for good measure," Callen winks at her. However, that only makes her pout, "What-ever."
Deeks and Hetty come into the office.
"And? Successful? Or did he demolish the violin?"
"Mr. Hanna, would you be so kind to fill this bucket over there with ice?" Hetty asks, ignoring Sam's comment.
"What?" he frowns.
"And old musician trick is to put the fingers into ice to increase the play. And this will certainly help Mr. Deeks ease some of the pain. So would you?" Hetty asks again. Sam nods, "Sure..."
He shakes his head as he takes the bucket and walks over to the ice machine.
"What, Deeks? No joke about water carriers now?" Callen snickers. Deeks still won't look up, just shakes his head and waves his hands in surrender.
"Are you alright?" Kensi asks, patting him on the shoulder lightly. Really, that he didn't comment on Sam being his water carrier... means something is not okay.
"Too much music inside my head. Just Reprises and Codas and... Scherzos and... major key and minor key... Beethoven, Brahms... Ugh. Way too much," he grunts, sounding like a teenager freaking over the next math exam. Sam comes back with the bucket and says, "Hetty, I think you finally managed to overload that small brain of his."
"Too. Much. Music," Deeks mutters in a low voice. His mind is not working.
"You really fried his hardware... here," Sam grimaces sympathetically as he puts down the bucket in front of the detective. Deeks plunges his right hand into the ice, not even twitching for a second. You can see the others cringing at that – because it's a bucket full of ice, still.
"And his software right with it," Callen makes a face.
"Oh, Mr. Deeks was just a little too much into it. He overdid it a little," Hetty tells them, patting Deeks on the thigh lightly. Callen points at the detective with a grimace, "A little?"
Hetty shrugs innocently.
"Kensi, I think you got yourself a job already," Sam smirks, then.
"Yeah?" she blinks at him. Now what?
"I won't be there to play water carrier for him, so you'll have to," Sam snickers, to which she grunts, "Ugh."
"Deeks, you need anything?" Callen asks, bowing down a little. Deeks manages to shake his head, his bangs covering his eyes. Callen straightens back up again, "I take that as a 'no', then."
"I think we'll handle, Mr. Callen. Mr. Deeks just needs a moment to regain his focus," Hetty assures with a soft smile.
"Either way, I'm heading home. G, you coming with?" Sam suggests. It's not like they can help him anyways. And from the sound of it, the nicest thing they can do is to save Deeks the embarrassment for once and leave him be.
"Sure. See you around. And Deeks? Get better," Callen says, clapping the detective on the shoulder lightly. Deeks manages a small nod, but no more. He is really wasted. Kensi comes over to him with tentative steps as she says, "Deeks? How about I take you home, too?"
"I gotta practice, still," Deeks mutters, but this time Hetty intervenes in a stern voice, "By no means, Mr. Deeks. If anything you need rest. We can't have you like this tomorrow."
"She's right. You did enough," Kensi agrees. And in that state, she doubts he'd manage to bring the bow down on the strings anyways.
"But Beethoven and...," Deeks mumbles, but Kensi interrupts him, "Deeks, you barely stand upright, how you wanna play, huh?"
"I can sit?" Deeks suggests childishly. Kensi pats him on the back, "C'mon. Now be a big boy and let the Lady take you home."
Deeks takes his hand out of the bucket, rubs it against his jeans, and then trots after her wordlessly. Hetty shakes her head with a smirk before walking off, too.
Inside the car, Deeks absently stares out the window while she drives.
"And you're sure you're alright? You don't look too hot," Kensi grimaces uncomfortably. Truth told, it kind of scared her to see him like this.
"I always look hot," Deeks smirks, turning to her briefly.
"Ha, yeah, as if... at least you're acting a bit like you again," Kensi sighs in a soft voice.
"What?" he blinks at her. Now what is that supposed to mean?
"You're not acting like yourself ever since this whole... music-thing started," Kensi explains.
"I do my work, even if sometimes I seem rather easy-going about it, I still do my job," he mutters.
"I know that, Deeks," Kensi assures him. Of course she knows.
"I'm just saying. The others act as though I never worked for anything yet. I do. Just coz I do it with a smile and some comment doesn't mean I don't do it," Deeks exhales. He is a bit thin-skinned, he knows, but it pisses him off when he is really trying and he gets nothing but a stupid comment.
"Deeks. I know. I'm your partner. I see it, I witness it. It's just that you are not smiling – and that's what gets me concerned," Kensi admits, tilting her head.
"This is just draining," Deeks sighs wearily, sinking further into the seat's leather.
"Obviously," Kensi shrugs.
"It's just...," Deeks says, taking a moment before he carries on, "this brought up a few things that I... I just wanted to forget about, that's why."
"Are you going to tell me?" Kensi asks tentatively.
"I'm sorry, that's contrary to trying to forget about all this, Fern," Deeks smirks.
"I'm just saying. We're like...," Kensi makes a face. Deeks scaffolds with a smirk, "Together."
"Let's not go that far yet," Kensi grins. They didn't make it official and Kensi wants things to stay that way. It's their little bubble, and she likes that bubble.
"Whatever," Deeks laughs. They agreed that they aren't too relationshippy, if they can help it, even if everyone is thinking it already anyways, which makes it kind of stupid again, but... he's fine with it. Deeks doesn't have to make it official. Like Kensi, he very much enjoys that little bubble they live in. It's a fancy little bubble.
"I'm just saying. We are... like that now... and still you won't tell me," Kensi sighs, now showing more emotion. It really bothers her that there are these things Deeks doesn't talk about, at all. Whenever something hits too close to home, he just puts up his defenses and then even she can't reach through to him.
"You know that I care about you," Deeks insists, now sitting up straighter again. Kensi argues, however, "Yeah, but you won't talk to me about... such things. Is it coz you don't trust me or...?"
Deeks scratches the back of his head nervously before he admits, "No, this is solely about myself and being, well, not ready to talk about this yet. This is just... too much... but... if the time comes that I'm ready to talk 'bout this... be sure you'll be the first one I tell. Sounds like a plan?"
"I take all I get," Kensi shrugs. That is something she learned already. Deeks shares stories on occasion, but only if he feels like it. If he doesn't... well, then he doesn't. Already when he got shot, Deeks hardly admitted anything other than what he felt "comfortable" with telling. And even if the detective admits such things, it's usually the what-questions and not the how-questions he answers. Deeks says that he shot his father, but he never says anything about the circumstances that led them there. He says he used to play the violin as a kid, but nothing about how it came to it or why he stopped. That's just how Deeks works, seemingly.
"Or let's make a deal," Deeks suddenly says with a grin on his face, causing her to frown, "Yeah?"
"When I tell you that, you tell me why you wanted me to play the Moonshine Sonata, of all pieces in the world," Deeks bargains. He sensed that there is some catch to this, so if he's supposed to say something, then so should she, right?
"Fine, know what? If that gets you into talking, then we have a deal," Kensi takes the challenge. That is another thing she learned about Marty Deeks: challenges actually work at times, though not always. Which is why she usually takes them if they arise.
"Deal," Deeks winks at her.
"Okay, we're there," Kensi says as she parks the car.
"Thanks for the lift," he salutes at her.
"Think you manage to the house in one piece?" she asks.
"Normally, I'd just ask you to join me," he waggles his eyebrows at her, "but then I won't get any rest, at all."
"Shut up," Kensi grunts, punching him in the arm lightly, but Deeks already leans over to give her a gentle yet firm kiss. She smirks against his lips.
"No coffee for us over at my place this time," he adds, "Maybe next time."
"In your dreams," she huffs.
"Sure, because you are the woman of my dreams," Deeks beams at her, to which she can't help but smile. He always says things as though he doesn't mean them, though he means them exactly just like that... Deeks-logic, really. Yet, Kensi learned to appreciate it. It's like a secret code between them. They know when they mean something and when they don't, while others fail to figure. That makes it even more special, and Kensi likes that, a lot, more than she'd like to admit at times.
"I'll see you morrow. And really get some rest. You look beat," she huffs.
"And you look as stunning as ever, Fern," he smirks, giving her another kiss. With that he leaves the car and halfway staggering to the house. Kensi shakes her head and then speeds off home, too.
Really, only Marty Deeks manages to make her smile like that.
Such a dork.