A/N: Sorry this update took so long. I've been throwing a few dinner parties of my own – the pleasures of the year of the 18th birthdays. But luckily I'm the one that can actually cook. Thank you so much for all the reviews! You guys are seriously awesome!

Chapter Six

Kensi poured the glass of rather expensive wine and took a deep breath. Damn her ego. She would be paying for volunteering for this for at least the next few months but she wasn't going to back down. Retreating wasn't in her vocabulary – something she'd inherited from her father. She took a sip, savouring the rich red wine, and closed her eyes. Just because she drank beer like the guys didn't mean she didn't know how to drink the more 'girly' drinks. The ring of the doorbell interrupted her thoughts and sent her back into panic mode. "That will be Sam," She announced as if no one else could tell.

"I'll get it," Deeks volunteered, leaping out of his seat with more grace that the tall man should have. He hurried down the hall and opened the door with a flourish, "Greetings gallant sir."

Sam's eyes widened as he looked at the detective. "I was going to give you this but I think you've already had enough."

"Never. There is no such thing as too much," Deeks took the proffered bottle of white wine. "Come in. Dinner will be ready soon," He lied, wishing hopefully.

"I think Deeks is drunk," Sam declared as he followed him into the dining room.

Kensi narrowed her eyes at her partner as though she was accessing him, "No, that's just normal." She skulled the rest of her wine. "Anyway, I've got to finish off the vegetables. You guys just make yourselves at home." Deeks followed her into the kitchen

"I think some of us already have," Nell poked Eric in the shoulder and he jumped, removing his feet of the chair next to him. "Manners," She muttered.

"You sound like my mother."

"Obviously she's a smart woman," Nell countered with a triumphant smirk.

"So," Sam drew out the word as he sat down opposite the techies. "How long has it smelted like charcoal?" He kept his voice low so the two intrepid cooks couldn't hear him.

"Since we got here," Eric shrugged. "I was expecting it really."

"Don't mention it," Nell begged. "Kensi's really trying."

"I know," Sam nodded, not wanting to make his teammate suffer that much. "Wine?" He picked up the bottle Deeks had abandoned.

Eric pushed two glasses towards the agent. "Keep it coming."

NCIS:LA#NCIS:LA#NCIS:LA

Kensi's finger trailed along the small print on the piece of paper she'd printed off the internet an hour ago. "Coarsely chop vegetables into pieces. Check. Drizzle with olive oil. Okay, have you got the olive oil?"

"Yes mum," Deeks rolled his eyes and held up the container.

"Give it here then," She took it out of his hands and poured a generous amount on top of the vegetables.

"Kens, they said drizzle, not drown."

Her eyes narrowed at him and she looked at him like he was an idiot. He wondered if she had patented that look just for him. "You can't drown something that's not alive."

"Fine then, drenched," Deeks corrected himself, enunciating the word.

"Gives it more flavour. And stops it from burning."

"Really?"

"I would assume so," She shrugged. "Just put it in the oven already. I don't want them to feel like we've abandoned them.

"Running away is sounding like a good option now though," The detective said honestly even though he knew his partner wouldn't go for it. He still had to say it.

"We're gonna make it through this dinner."

"Yeah, bet that's what the chef on the Titanic said," He drawled as he opened the oven and put the baking dish in.

"Shut up," Kensi hissed at him, slapping him in the arm.

"First, Ow. Second. Shall we see how our guests are faring?" Deeks rubbed his arm as he walked back to the dining room.

"Big baby, it wasn't even that hard," She rolled her eyes.

"Kensi hit me," He announced as he opened the door, pouting like a put-out child.

"I'm sure she had a good reason," Sam nodded sagely, trying to hide a smirk.

"I did," She agreed. "So what were you guys talking about when we came in?"

"Our favourite sports as children," Sam lied smoothly, proudly noting that surprise only momentarily lit up Eric and Nell's face. They were getting better.

"Really?" Deeks snorted, sitting down and opening a beer. "You played sports?" He looked at Eric with surprise.

"I surf, don't I?" The blonde man replied indignantly, not liking the assumption that he couldn't play sports. Even if it was technically true.

"True," Deeks nodded. "Colour me shocked."

"I played football and was on the swim team," Sam announced to no one's surprise.

"Colour me not shocked."

"What position?" Eric inquired, taking the edge of Deeks' sardonic response.

"Wide receiver," Sam smiled a little at the memory.

"I was a cheerleader," Kensi said, smirking at Deeks' slack jaw.

"Please tell me you still have the uniform."

"Do you want me to hit you again?"

Nell giggled, "I think he does."

Kensi looked between the petite girl and the empty bottle of wine, "I think someone's tipsy."

"Yep," Eric nodded, holding up his empty glass. "Two people."

Sam shrugged when Kensi looked at him, "We've got the weekend off. And what harm could they possibly do."

"Hey," Eric frowned. "I can hack the pentagon in hours and will Nell I can do it in half the time. We're not harmless."

"Considering Kensi's computer is so old it's made of stone, that doesn't really matter," Deeks shook his head at the tech, who deflated visibly.

"Can't you be nice for one night?" He implored, a tint of hopefulness in his voice.

"Nope," Kensi answered for her partner.

"I am nice!" Deeks objected.

"Yeah like sour worms," Sam rolled his eyes.

"What?" Deeks rounded on the agent, his expression picture perfect confused.

"You're an acquired taste. But you grow on people. Like ringworm."

"You're all mean," He took a swing of his beer then sniffed the air. "Wow, someone's having a barbeque tonight."

Kensi went pale, smelling the smoke. "Crap." She jumped out of her seat and ran into the kitchen.

"Relax!" Deeks yelled after her. "She's panicking a bit," He explained quietly to the others. In a louder voice he said, "If it was ours, then the smoke alarm would have gone off."

"Except we turned it off," Kensi's terse reply came from the kitchen as the smell of smoke increased in intensity. Wafts of grey smoke floated into the dining room.

Eric leaned back in his chair. "Is this the time to say I told you so?