Changes

Chapter 4

Authors notes. Ok so I'm not really sure what Deeks had done to his teeth in the show. (Did they even say?) I'm going on my real life experience of having an implant last year. I can only guess the stress and fear that someone in his place would have felt. If they hadn't given me gas when they pulled out the broken tooth I most likely would have passed out.

We will also be looking a bit deeper into Mac's past.

Hetty had given Kensi the day off to take Deeks in for his dental procedure. Deeks was freaking out. He couldn't stop shaking as they sat in the waiting room. Kensi wondered where all the other patients were. When the nurse came out to get them Kensi asked her.

"Oh Miss Lange arranged for Mr. Deeks to be our only patient today." The young woman smiled as she led them to the room. Kensi had to grab Deeks before bolted out the door. The nurse smiled and helped Deeks to get settled. She then pulled a chair up next to Deeks for Kensi to sit next to him.

Kensi took his hand. As soon as the nurse put the tray of interments on the table next to him Deeks whimpered. "Don't worry Mr. Deeks I'm going to give you something to calm you down. Deeks nodded and closed his eyes. He felt a mask being put over his mouth and nose and he took a deep breath. After a few minutes Deeks settled down. The nurse took the mask off him and told them the doctor would be right in.

In the hospital Deeks had four root canals to try and save his teeth plus four temp caps. After letting them heal the doctor decided that implants would work better and cause him less pain and trouble in the future.

The doctor came in and took a quick look in Deeks mouth. "Ok Marty I'm going to give you several shots to numb you. In about fifteen minuet's we will pull out the teeth and put in the implants. There will be some drilling but you will not feel anything. It will take about three months to heal then we can get the caps on and you will be good to go.

Deeks only shook his head. He felt the panic starting to rise again. "Can't you knock him out or something?" asked Kensi. "I don't think he can handle the drill."

The doctor looked at them and nodded. "Sure we can put him out. It will not be all the way but he will have no idea what's going on. You will need to stay here longer till he comes out of it if that's ok?"

"That's fine. I'd rather sit here all day if it means he doesn't have to deal with the drill."

Deeks was staring at Kensi and felt a tear streak down his face. He gripped her hand as tightly as he could. Just before the mask was put back on he mouthed I love you to Kensi. In a few minutes Deeks was out like a light.

Kensi kept holding his hand the entire time. When it came time for the procedure to start Kensi buried her head in Deeks chest. She couldn't watch but refused to leave his side. Hetty had spoken to the doctor ahead of time as well as at the hospital right after Deeks had been rescued. The man specialized in dealing with dental trauma so he was fine with the conditions Hetty had placed on him.

Kensi moaned when she heard the drill. It made her sick to the stomach as she thought about what Deeks had gone thru. It was over quickly and the doctor put a hand on Kensi's shoulder.

"I'll get his instructions ready for you. He will be on pain pills for a few days. He will also have to eat soft foods for at least a month."

Kensi thanked him then focused on Deeks. He was already starting to come around from the oxygen mask on his face. His cheek was swollen and she heard Deeks groan. An hour later the doctor told Kensi she could take Deeks home. The nurse helped Kensi get Deeks out to the car.

Within the hour they were sitting on the couch. Deeks was holding an ice pack to his face and groaning. Kensi had called Hetty to tell her they were home. She told Kensi that Nell would be by with dinner for them and promised it would be something Deeks could eat without trouble.

True to her word Nell showed up around six with jello, soup, mashed potatoes, and ice cream. Kensi got a burger too but ate it in the kitchen so Deeks didn't have to see it. Nell also told Kensi she was to take the next day off too so she could make sure Deeks was ok.

"Kensi I need a new ice pack."

Kensi got him one and kissed the top of his head as she stood up. "I'm going to take a shower will you be ok for a bit?"

"Yeah I'll be ok."

Kensi looked at Deeks. He looked so sad sitting there. Monty was on the couch with him and had his head in his lap. She couldn't wait till he felt better.

Across town the rest of the team was finishing up paperwork. Sam finished first and leaned back in his chair. "So G you up for a steak dinner tonight?" Callen looked up then stole a glance over at Mackenna. Sam noticed this and looked at her too. Mac was closing down her lap top and didn't seem to notice either man looking at her.

"Well I kind of had plans."

Sam laughed. Finally Mac looked up.

"What?"

This made Sam laugh more. "I take it you two have plans?" Sam motioned between the two.

Mac looked confused. "Well I was going to take Mackenna to dinner but I guess you can come too."

Mac looked at Callen and rolled her eyes. "You know Callen I am capable of spending an evening alone."

Callen didn't know what to say to that. Mac noticed he looked a bit hurt for a second or two. Crap she didn't want him thinking she didn't want to spend time with him. Honestly she just wasn't used to anyone wanting her around so the fact that Callen was making such an effort to spend time with her was a new experience.

"But I could go for a steak." She smiled at Callen and stood up. "If it's ok with you that I come too Sam?"

"Sure I can tell you embarrassing stores about G."

Callen groaned and stood too. "Sam's afraid of clowns."

"Not funny G." Mac laughed at this.

"I'm with Sam, clowns are freaky." Said Mac. This put a huge smile on Sam's face. Finally he had someone to agree with him on clowns.

They all met up at their favorite steak place and got seated quickly. The owner was an ex NCIS agent and knew the two men well. Soon beers were on the table as well as chips and salsa.

"So Mac what's been your favorite assignment so far?" asked Sam. Callen had told him that she was moved around a lot as a fill in agent. Hell neither man even knew NCIS had filler agents.

"Actually this one."

"Really." Said Sam.

"Well I'm not the most liked agent for some reason. It's hard to get to know the people you work with when they refuse to speak to you. Then they have the nerve to call you cold because you don't speak to them."

Callen winced at her words. Sam shook his head. Mac just shrugged. "After a while you just stop trying."

"Well we all want to get to know you better." Said Callen. He also had told Sam that Mackenna was a foster kid too. Sam joked that they were made for each other. Callen told him he was crazy.

Sam decided to lighten the mood and started to tell stories of stuff Callen and he had gotten in to. Mac ended up crying over a few of the stories. She was amazed at the stuff these two got into. When they finally parted Mac was the first to drive away. Sam put his hand on Callen's arm.

"G we need to talk to Hetty and see if we can get her assigned here full time. No one deserves to be treated that way."

"I know. She holds a lot of it in. Tonight was a big step for her I think. She doesn't like to be in the way."

Sam nodded and climbed into his car. Callen knew Sam was right they needed to talk to Hetty. Callen never really had a family until he joined the OSP. It was time Mackenna knew what it was like to have a family too.

Callen didn't want to push things tonight. As much as he wanted to get her to open up more to him he didn't want to push too hard and have her pull back. Instead Callen called Hetty when he got home. He told her what he and Sam had talked about. Hetty listened closely not saying much. Finally she said she would talk to the Director.

Feeling a bit better about things Callen wandered around his empty house. For the first time the fact that it was so empty bothered him. Maybe Sam was right and he should buy some furniture.

The next day was Friday and lucky for the team they only had paperwork. About half way thru the day Hetty came over to stand in front of Mackenna. "Miss Taylor a moment of your time."

"Sure Hetty what can I do for you?"

"I was just wondering if you are settling in here."

"Everything is fine Hetty."

"So you are happy here?"

Mackenna was a bit confused at what Hetty was asking her. It had only been about a month but compared to her other assignments this one was heaven.

"Best posting I've had in years." Mackenna smiled at Hetty then noticed Callen leaning over so he could see around Hetty. He had a smile on his face as he watched her.

"Good, good." Hetty pulled a folder from behind her back. She handed the folder to Mac. "I need you to sign this for me."

Mackenna took the folder and opened it. Her eyes grew wide and she looked up at Hetty.

"I don't know what to say."

"Say yes, unless you want to be transferred?"

Callen came to stand next to Mackenna. He handed her a pen. "Just sign it already."

Mackenna signed the transfer papers and handed them back to Hetty.

"Well I guess I need to start looking for an apartment."

"Already taken care of." Said Hetty handing Mackenna keys. "I had the place furnished for you; it's ready to move right in."

"Ok. I'm not sure what to say."

"You'll like the place it's a few blocks from Kensi and Deeks so you'll be by the beach." Added Sam.

"Miss Blye told me about the apartment." Hetty said.

"Hetty how long did you have this planned?"

"Oh from the beginning." Said Hetty as she walked away.

Mackenna looked at Callen. "You had something to do with this didn't you?" Callen just shrugged. They all turned to look at Hetty as she called out to them.

"Mr. Callen, sense its quiet here today why don't you take Miss. Taylor to see her new home."

Callen grabbed his stuff and waited while Mac packed up hers. He swung by her hotel while she packed her things. Turned out she had about two duffle bags of clothing and one small box of other items.

She shrugged at him as she checked out. "When you move around as much as I do you learn to travel light."

They pulled up in front of the apartment and were both surprised to find it was really a small bungalow. It was about two and a half blocks away from Deeks apartment. The front had a long covered porch with a wooden swing. It opened to a living room/dining room combo. The kitchen was a galley style and had an open counter with bar stools separating it from the living room. A short hall way led to a bathroom, small laundry room and a bedroom.

Mackenna dropped her bags and looked around the bedroom. The windows were high up on the wall. They let in a lot of light thru frosted glass. Hetty had picked out a simple pine bed and dresser set. The linen were done in soft earth tones as was the rug.

The living room was decorated much the same. A pine couch with slats on the sides and tan cushions. The table and chairs were also a light pine and looked like a country style. Hetty had even arranged for a few pots and pans and some basic dishes and silverware. Callen laughed when he opened the fridge to find a six pack with a bow on it. He opened two bottles and handed one to Mackenna.

They made their way to the front porch and sat on the swing. "Ok I am totally blown away. Does Hetty do this kind of thing all the time?"

"Only for her family." Said Callen. "She decided I needed a house of my own not long ago. So she simply arranged for me to buy one. All I had to do was sign the paperwork and it was mine." Callen took a drink of his beer. "Turned out it was the foster home I had spent my longest and happiest time at."

Mackenna smiled at Callen. "I honestly never thought I would end up staying here. Vance was already talking about putting me on a red team after this. I guess Hetty pulled a few strings."

"She knew you'd be a good fit here. Most likely she had been watching you for a long time."

Mackenna sat there and just looked straight head.

"You are now part of one very dysfunctional family." Joked Callen. "But no matter what we always look out for each other."

Mackenna nodded her head. "I've never had that before."

"Didn't you ever have a good foster?"

"Not really. Mostly I was just ignored. Sometimes they didn't even bother to learn my name."

"How did you find out you were named for your grandfather?"

"When I was 18 I tracked down the social worker I had when I was first placed as a baby. She told me my mother was very young around 16 or 17 but she lied on her paper work and said she was 20. She refused to hold me or even look at me. All she did was name me."

Callen reached over and took her hand in his. He couldn't imagine knowing your mother refused to even look at you. At least he knew his family had loved him. Mackenna never had that.

"I'm ok with it now. I always figured she didn't want to see me so she wouldn't get attached. If she hadn't cared at all she wouldn't have named me." Mackenna looked at Callen. "I don't know about you but I'm starving how about we go get dinner and you can drop me off at work so I can get my car."

"Ok sounds good. How about pizza?"

"I was thinking tacos." Callen laughed and agreed on tacos. Mac left him on the porch while she tossed out the beer bottle and grabbed her keys and phone.

On the way to dinner Callen decided to ask her help in something. "Ok so I told you about the house. What I didn't tell you is I only own a chair and one small table."

Mac looked at him confused. "Travel light." Said Callen. "I was thinking its time I got a bed and a couch. How would you like to help me pick them out?"

"Where the hell do you sleep now?"

"Air mattress on the floor."

This made Mackenna laugh. "Ok I can't judge, been there done that." This had Callen laughing too. "Honestly I have no idea about shopping for furniture."

"Still I'd like to have your opinion. I'd ask Nell but she'd go over board and my house would look like a magazine cover when she was done. I just want the basics."

"Ok but I don't think I'll be much help."

After dinner Callen drove back to the mission. He and Mac went in to find Hetty and to tell her the house was perfect. Hetty was thrilled that Mackenna liked the place and what Hetty had filled it with. Callen also told Hetty he was going to buy a couch and bed that weekend. Hetty smiled and said about time.

As they walked to their cars Callen said he would pick her up in the morning and get breakfast first. Mackenna headed to the store to pick up food sense all Hetty put in the fridge was beer. She was still a bit in shock at how things were turning out. Mackenna couldn't wait to see what tomorrow would bring.

Next up Deeks and Kensi decide on couples therapy to help them move past some of the pain. And the fun of helping Callen buy furniture. Remember the ep where he freaked at the price of a chair. Lol.