Author's Note: Thanks for reading and reviewing!
Okay, I know I've taken considerably long to post a new chapter, but I still have to figure out some things for the case-plot and how the whole crime plays together. I'm not the most gifted crime writer, sadly. I don't have too vast knowledge of federal government and law... well, and crime. I've researched a bit, so I hope to deliver a halfway plausible storyline. I'm still new and I hope that my crime-skills will improve over the course of writing such fics. So please, be patient with me ;)
Anyway, I hope you'll like this chapter. More is still in store.
Read, review, enjoy ;)
The next day, Deeks is back to the orchestra as Julian. Kensi is roaming around once again, trying to get information from talkative staff, because one should never underestimate all the janitors, secretaries, receptionists, and cleaners. They see what others don't, and if they are only a bit talkative... only the better for the agents.
Katy comes over to him upon catching sight of the young man and greets him cheerfully, "Julian, hi!"
"Hey, Katy...," he greets her back, but then frowns, "... you sound surprised for some reason?"
"I just thought that maybe we scared you off enough with what we told you yesterday," Katy shrugs.
"Oh, no way. I'm all up for gossip, for as long as it's not revolving around me," Deeks snickers.
"Either way, glad to see you back," Katy smiles happily. Deeks claps her on the shoulder, "Glad I'm still here..."
Adrian suddenly jostles against him, obviously on purpose. "Watch out where you're standing," he mutters under his breath as he walks on.
"God, Adrian, can you stop being a jerk?!" Katy hollers after him, but the man's already walking off.
"Are you okay?" she asks, turning to Deeks with concern, but the detective waves at her, "I'll survive, okay? C'mon, he's just... testing his boundaries. Be sure, next time I'll knock him to the ground. I can do that, you know?"
"Uh, this guy's absolutely impossible!" Katy exhales exasperated.
"Well, I get it that he's pissed. I mean... not to be made first violin right away, though you would deserve it, and then have me as competition for a spot that's technically his... That must suck," Deeks argues. After all, he has to fraternize with Adrian also, or at least try. Deeks has to get more information, and he won't get it from Katy's group alone. If Adrian or the other violins are the source of the problem, he has to tackle that at some point.
"Oh, don't you have pity with this guy. He's a total jerk," she grumbles, before she calls out atop of her voice, "and that's why no one wants him as first violin!"
"C'mon, leave him alone already," Deeks exhales. He never thought that musicians could compete that much, geez.
"Hey, you're on our side, remember?" Katy argues, but Deeks replies calmly, "I just say that I don't start to fully hate a guy after he's shoved me a little."
"You have it coming then. Is not like I didn't warn you," Katy warns him. Deeks smirks at her, "And if something happens, you get to tell me that you told me so, deal?"
"Deal," Katy huffs playfully.
"And I thought you saxophones were smooth and laid-back people," Deeks jokes, "and here you yell at other members of the ensemble."
"You're like a little puppy. Someone's gotta protect you," Katy jokes.
"Aww," Deeks smirks, "that's cute."
"Now get going, or we'll be late for practice," Katy grumbles, pushing him ahead. Deeks laughs as they make their way inside. Soon, practice starts and he has to sink back into the music, finding it easier than yesterday, though he is still not comfortable with this, at all.
Later on, the ensemble (finally) gets a break. Who could have guessed that playing an instrument is that draining really?! Deeks actually finds it more challenging than some chases he had for federal government. Perhaps it's because he is forced to repeat things so many times when he practices music. When Deeks works for NCIS or LAPD on a normal case, there is always something new. Each situation is unique. He always has to find a new approach, a new angle, has to be flexible, but here... here he play Vivaldi's Winter over and over and over and then another time again, just to get told that he still sucks. Of course that's required to play it perfectly, but Deeks never was the perfectionist type of person to begin with. He always thought that for as long as he gets it done, it's okay, but now to play this instrument, this violin... it forces him to perfection. And Deeks hates that. Because this is anything but perfect. Maybe it was once, long ago when he was still a child and didn't know better, but now it's just no longer. And that makes it so hard... because the moment he thinks the tormenting memories can finally wander back into their boxes, the conductor tells them to do it again.
This job royally sucks to him. Deeks is pulled out of his thoughts as Katy approaches him. He puts his water bottle down, flashing his signature smirk, "What can I do for you, Kitty Kat?"
"First, don't call me that," Katy grumbles.
"Just Kitty?" Deeks winks at her, but she pulls him up by the arm, "Get up, you're helping me out!"
"Why?" Deeks questions.
"Because you're the newbie, and newbie's do what the elder ones say," Katy informs him.
"I'm older than you," Deeks argues.
"Still the new one, now c'mon," Katy says, pulling him up from his stool. Deeks actually wanted to meet up with Kensi, but... maybe he gets some more information from Katy. He can talk to Kensi later, too.
"So? What do we do now?" he asks curiously.
"I'll show you where we hide the spare mics, you carry them," Katy declares.
"Oh, we do that?" Deeks frowns playfully, "I thought us great musicians have little minions for that."
"You are the minion, Julian," Katy reminds him, "we torment you a bit."
"And how's that different from how the other violins hate me?" Deeks jokes as Katy leads the way to where they hide the microphones. "We don't do really mean things... and we still have a soul," she shrugs.
"And reflections in the mirror?" Deeks chuckles. She nods, "Most of us... I think, ugh, now I will have to check for that, thanks."
"You're more than welcome," Deeks snickers. They walk behind the curtains.
"Don't you have a room for these?" Deeks frowns, "In the last orchestra, we had a separate room."
Well, he saw it in a movie. That also counts, right?
"Yeah, and we have a room for them, but we're still waiting for the new mics. Those are old and suck. They always break and make weird noises, so we decided to deposit a box here so that we don't always have to run all the way to the storage," she explains.
"Efficient," Deeks smirks.
"Okay, just grab a bunch of these. Susanne's said that hers gave out throughout the play twice, so she really needs them," Katy says, going through the box to fish out the best ones, "Okay, I think that should do. You take those, c'mon."
She tosses them at Deeks.
"When's the delivery gonna come, though? I mean, if the next performance is only two weeks from now and we still miss good mics...," Deeks grimaces, but Katy huffs, "are you afraid that your performance will suffer?"
"I just wanna know. Otherwise I bring my own," Deeks smirks.
"Now, now, don't worry. We will have them before you have your big day," Katy winks at him as she puts the broken mics into a separate box with the tag "Crappy" on it.
"Why should I worry? If the mic gives out on me, then they won't hear me if I play crap," Deeks huffs. And that is something he'd actually call a blessing. Mr. Smith is giving him hell each time, and Deeks, as Julian, has to stay in character: nod, say thank you, and then do it again, and not making a comment, which would fit his character far better.
"You're good, Julian," Katy sighs, "You just need a bit more training. And even if not, you make it happen with your charm."
"Oh, you find me charming, now that's cute," Deeks chuckles.
"What? Don't tell me you didn't realize that Mr. Smith purposely pushed you so you played alone a lot more," Katy argues.
"I thought this was just to torment me," Deeks grimaces, but Katy argues, "He's prepping you up, you dork."
"Ugh, I still think it'll be Adrian, believe me. In the end you go with the tried and trusted. I actually think that you guys are just telling me that I'm supposed to be first to mock me. I don't see that," Deeks argues. At least he hopes this is a joke.
"Mr. Smith treats you just like he treated Mike," Katy argues.
"What do you mean?" Deeks asks. Maybe some new information after all? If so, he should definitely take the bait.
"Well, Mike was a performer. To be his best, he had to shine, stand onstage, play his solo," Katy shrugs, "That's why Mr. Smith made him stand up already in the auditions, you know, to stick out."
"Well, it's what I'd do with someone who isn't playing well either. You make him stand out so that you can correct mistakes," Deeks argues.
"Smith makes you stand up because you're supposed to stand out, too," Katy replies.
"Huh?" Deeks frowns.
"Julian, you're here on Mr. Parker's order. And normally that's why he should perfectly ignore you, because that is what he does with all those Parker suggests. Smith doesn't like the old man," Katy explains.
"Why is that?" the detective questions, to which she shrugs, "Well, Mr. Parker is an idealist, chip of the old block. Smith is... a tough bone and perfectionist, just like Mr. Parker, but he is more goal-oriented. He wants to earn money with this job. Parker has the philosophy of the group being the core of everything, while Smith doesn't care. He wants money. He was the one who advocated Mike so much in the first place. Mr. Smith searches for starlets, you see? He wants one to stand out to sell the tickets."
Okay, so add Mr. Smith to the list of people maybe connected to the crime. At least Deeks starts to have a bad feeling about that guy, though this of course means more pressure on Adrian also. If Mr. Smith actually favored Mike... Adrian would only be more jealous, right? One more reason to kill him.
"Okay, so Mr. Parker and Mr. Smith don't like each other, what do I have to do with it?" Deeks grimaces.
"It's as I said. Parker wanted you in, and that's what happened. Normally, Smith would be against you, but he isn't. And that means he sees something in you, something that he can make money with," Katy tells him.
"And now you think that Mr. Smith wants me as first violin... why?" Deeks questions further.
"You got starlet potential, easy as that. I mean... Mike, with the image of the war veteran sold like hell. Let's be honest. With Adrian... no chance. That guy is so... uninteresting that it hurts. There is nothing special about him other than his play. But with you... we have the freestyle musician who's played in the streets, that's an image to sell," Katy explains. Deeks is glad that Hetty and he decided to put it like that because it worked to get him a spot, but now... the prospect of being elected first violin, against really all odds... Deeks's heart beat rises tenfold just thinking about it. Till last he thought this was a crazy idea Katy bred out inside her head – and still hopes it is.
"You don't believe that yourself, do you?" Deeks snorts.
"You are a performer, and a performer is what we need. At least to Mr. Smith," Katy argues, "Mr. Parker wanted you for your unique style, but it was Mr. Smith who voted for you having at least the chance of becoming first violin."
"How would you know? You don't sit in the committee," Deeks argues.
"I have my ears everywhere," Katy snickers.
"You're just gossiping!" Deeks cries out mockingly.
"Even if this is just gossip, it stays true. Performance has a great influence on the reception. And that's why Mike was such a lucky find for us," Katy shrugs, "and that's why you're a lucky find, too."
"Katy, it's not said yet," Deeks warns her, "you have a really good second violin."
"But no performer," Katy shakes her head, "and performance and reputation get more and more important these days..."
"Yeah, noticed so, too," Deeks agrees, "I used to wear one pair of those rainbow colored balloon trousers when I played in the streets. I got like... a few pennies, out of pity. One guy actually came up to me to give me a dollar and said that I should use that money to buy myself a lighter to burn that thing."
"Those trousers are from hell, so you had it coming," Katy laughs.
"Those are my lucky pants. Always wear them!" Deeks exclaims playfully.
"What? You wear it now? You're wearing skinny jeans," Katy makes a face.
"I made lucky boxer shorts outta them," Deeks jokes.
"And those you wear everyday?! You're disgusting!" Katy snorts. Deeks laughs, "Only for the big occasions... and of course I don't wash it. That might wash off the luck, you know."
"Gah, stop it already!" she cries out. They shove each other like friends do as suddenly there is a cracking sound from above. Deeks look up to the metallic constructions still in place after the renovation, just to see boxes and sand sacks falling down. Deeks yells, "Watch out!"
He pushes Katy out of the way and both fall to the ground as the wooden boxes shatter on the ground. He towers over her protectively as both are covered in splinters and chunks of wood, the sand sacks only doing more damage.
"Katy? Are you hurt? Are you okay?" Deeks asks as he pulls away. She shakes her head, still shocked, so he asks again, "Katy? You alright? Talk to me!"
"I'm fine... thanks. You... you just saved my life, I... guess. Nice... reflexes... by the way," she stammers, still dazed. Deeks manages a strained chuckle, "Told you, all the lucky boxer shorts."
"Might be...," Katy mumbles absently.
"Didn't know they have boxes up there," Deeks winces.
"We don't, we just...," Katy wants to explain, but then she cries out in a high-pitched voice, "oh my god, Julian!"
"What? You hurt?!" Deeks blinks at her, but Katy shakes her head, "No, but you!"
She points a shaky finger at the man's shoulder. Deeks turns his head lightly, just to find a big piece of wood still sticking out of his shoulder. Katy cries out, "Help! Someone help here! Ambulance! Someone!"
"Maybe you get to tell me that you told me so sooner than I estimated," Deeks grunts as Katy runs off to get help.
Later the day, Deeks and Kensi make it back to the office. Sam and Callen are already waiting for them. Kensi sent them a text to tell them that Deeks was injured lightly, but they agreed that they'd wait for them to come to tell them personally.
"Hey," Callen greets the two as they come into the bullpen, "now what on earth happened?"
"Whoever killed Mike is seemingly after me now," Deeks explains, "Katy and I were walking behind the curtains to get new mics when those boxes suddenly fell off the scaffolds. I could prevent further harm by pushing her outta the way, but..."
"Seemingly not as successful when it comes to yourself," Callen grimaces. However, Deeks grunts dismissively, "Just a piece that got stuck in my shoulder. Not as much of a big deal, only bruising and a minor cut."
"He cried like a girl," Kensi snorts. "What? You were the one who wanted to hold my hand," Deeks retorts playfully, though Kensi actually grabbed his hand once she got to him... out of habit, of course.
"Only because you cried," Kensi replies, sticking out her tongue.
"Think you can continue to play?" Sam asks worriedly.
"What? Yeah, of course," Deeks nods, gesticulating, "it's really not that bad. Just looked like out of the movies with the thing sticking out of my shoulder. It penetrated the skin, but it only got stuck because of the fabric, and that stuff took most of the impact, so I was actually quite lucky... even if I wasn't lucky."
Kensi makes Deeks sit down in his chair, producing a cooling bag out of nowhere to put (or rather slap) on his shoulder. He lets out a yelp, but Kensi ignores him purposely, "Really, it sucks to be forced to play nurse for you all this time."
"C'mon, you dig it at least a bit," Deeks snickers, "and no sponge bath yet."
Kensi rolls her eyes, "You just get away with it coz you saved Katy and coz you're hurt. Otherwise you'd get punched now."
"It's cute when you're so caring that you stop punching," Deeks smiles.
"I had a look at the scaffold... good chances this was manipulated, but we'll have to wait for the experts to say," Kensi tells them. She wanted to inspect it herself, but it would have been out of character to climb on the scaffold, as the secretary. She could only asset visually from where they stood.
"So... possible suspects?" Callen questions.
"I don't think it's Katy. She could've gotten hurt," Kensi replies.
"Right," Deeks nods, "Well, I saw Adrian, Susanne, and Smith in the audition room when we took off, but this could have been prepared in advance. I don't know."
"So you're on a hit list now too, Deeks," Sam grimaces.
"Yay?" Deeks frowns, "I guess I'm just Orchestra's Most Wanted."
"Did you get any more information from Katy?" Callen asks.
"... just that there is something going on between Parker and Smith, they are antagonizing, kind of. And Smith, or so Katy told me, was the one who advocated Mike so much," Deeks explains.
"So?" Kensi grimaces.
"He did so for commercial reasons, at least that's what most people say," Deeks explains, "and that is why... well... this looks like I actually have... chances?"
"For what?" Sam grimaces.
"Being made first violin?" Deeks makes a face. This still doesn't sound right.
"Whoa," Sam puckers his lips, "I didn't see that one coming."
"Trust me, me neither, and it's not said yet. It's just that the rumor goes around... and even if it's not true," Deeks grimaces, and Callen completes, "That puts pressure on Carson."
"Yeah," Deeks nods.
"Well, we'll dig into Smith's files a bit more, then... see if maybe he had to do with it," Sam nods.
"Do we finally know how Gallagher died?" Kensi asks.
"It's taking really long this time," Deeks agrees.
"There are a few inconsistencies they said," Callen explains, "Gallagher was in good health, but he had some chronic pains and stuff for which he had to take medicine. That messed up their first tests."
"When you can't even count on the experts," Sam sighs.
"So... Adrian remains main suspect. Smith is maybe-shady... and my life sucks now... I think that sums it up pretty well," Deeks grimaces.
"Pretty much," Callen shrugs, "Okay, we still stick to the plan. If it is as you say and you actually get the vote as first violin, then this might push Carson so that we finally get the proof we need, though you'll have to be extra-attentive from now on."
"Yeah," Deeks nods.
"As for us... remains the same. Kensi has your back in the orchestra, we run the interrogation... and kick the experts in the butt to finally give us the information we need to do proper iterrogation," Callen goes.
"Alright," All agree. The plan is set... again.
Later the day, Kensi convinced Deeks to actually go home and not practice. Though he agreed only under the condition that she stays for at least a while. Which is why both are lying on the couch now, after some Chinese takeaway and a cat fight over which movie they will watch. And, as always, they came to the conclusion that they will just watch both. Kensi is leaning with her back against his chest, he has one arm loosely around her waist... and Monty sits in her lap as they watch Kensi's movie of choice. It's nice to have a sense of normalcy, at least in that tiny bubble they share now, well, they and Monty.
"... So, were you really not scared for me, Fern?" Deeks smirks.
"If it's Adrian, I'm gonna thank him," Kensi jokes, "maybe I buy some flowers."
"Nice," Deeks snickers.
"Of course I was concerned. I mean... if you get hurt, it should be... in battle, in the field... not coz of... falling down boxes and sand sacks... or rather not at all," Kensi grimaces, allowing a bit of emotion to show. It shocked Kensi when the news reached her that Deeks was injured... but now she is actually... scared, because Deeks suddenly became the new target. And who would want one's partner as a target?
"Yeah, I know what you mean... that's not what I pictured either," Deeks smirks, holding her a bit tighter.
"Well, you can count yourself lucky that you have me. I make sure you don't end up underneath some boxes... or in the hands of a sadistic psychopath," Kensi smirks. Deeks takes her hand and smiles silently, "Yeah, lucky to have you."
"So you're serious about becoming first violin?" Kensi smirks.
"No, I was just joking to feel better," Deeks snickers, but then turns more serious, "Of course I was honest. Though I don't see it happening. I just told you what Katy told me."
"Are you excited?" Kensi asks tentatively.
"That Adrian might try to kill me for that? Yeah, I'm totally looking forward to it," Deeks huffs jokingly.
"I don't mean on the case level," Kensi argues, "I mean on the personal level."
"On the personal level... I wouldn't like to get killed either," Deeks jokes. Kensi turns around lightly, "Deeks, I mean it."
"This is a job," Deeks argues.
"Well, you used to play the violin, and even if practice is seemingly crap... you seem to enjoy yourself here and there," Kensi replies. She observed him when he played with the ensemble. Sometimes Deeks smiled. And she noticed before that he really sinks into the music, leans into it. You don't do that if that is all nothing to you, or so she figures.
"I like music," Deeks shrugs.
"You know, sometimes when I work a cover... I... imagine how it'd be like, to live this life, you know?" Kensi goes on.
"Ah, so when we played husband and wife," Deeks snickers, but Kensi nudges her elbow against his knee.
"So you ask me if I can picture myself... as a musician in an orchestra? Violinist playing in the Great Halls? That is what you're asking?" Deeks questions.
"Yeah," Kensi nods.
"Not really. I know how hard-working these guys are... I would've given up, most likely," Deeks shrugs with a smirk.
"You're hard-working, in your own way," Kensi argues. She knows that he is just saying that to shut her up and change the topic, but... she knows, so she holds on.
"Even if so... no, can't picture myself in it," Deeks smirks.
"Not even remotely?" Kensi questions.
"Maybe the part about the cover-story... playing in the streets, freestyle... that might be more my style, you know, free spirit and all... so that, maybe... for some other circumstances changed, but... orchestra? Nah... too stiff and... too much gossip. I hate gossip," he sighs, leaning back.
"What circumstances changed?" Kensi asks. Deeks chuckles, "You're interrogating me."
"I'm not," Kensi insists.
"Kensi...," Deeks warns her playfully.
"Maybe a bit," she admits, "I'm just... confused? I mean... you don't want to play, but then you do it... and then you enjoy yourself, but then you hate it again..."
"I'm a mysterious guy, what can I say?" Deeks huffs.
"So... we play the old game?" Kensi sighs. That is typical for Deeks, avoiding things, avoiding topics, joking about it... it's nice and funny for the most part, but sometimes... it sucks when you don't know what the other one is thinking.
"For a while longer, yeah... I don't want to think about this just now. I have to stay focused on the case, you see," Deeks says, now more sincere.
"But the deal is still in place?" Kensi asks.
"That we exchange stories? Yeah, just... till after the case. For now... I just wanna enjoy the movie... or what's left of it..," he tilts his head at the screen again, "Wait... since when is that guy in the movie!? I thought he was dead!"
Kensi blinks at the screen also, figuring that Deeks won't tell her anyways. She copies his movement and tilts her head to the other side.
"... maybe it's a zombie movie after all?!" Kensi grimaces.
"It didn't say so on the cover...," Deeks frowns.
"Weird," both say simultaneously, sinking into the movie and the comfort of each other's touch.
The situation is a mess, but... when isn't it?