Changes

Chapter 9

Deeks came over around two pm after about a half dozen texts from Callen. Mac wasn't answering her phone and Callen was in the middle of a case and couldn't leave. Deeks left himself in and found Mac asleep in her bed. The phone was in the living room on the charger.

Sending Callen a photo to prove she was ok Deeks grabbed a yogurt from the fridge and turned the tv on. An hour later Mac came out into the living room.

"Hey Deeks how long have you been here?"

"Bout an hour. Callen was freaking out you didn't answer your phone." Deeks looked at her iPhone. "14 missed calls and about 32 text's."

"Mac sat carefully next to Deeks and started going thru the texts. She then listened to the voice mails.

"I sent him a photo of you sleeping just to show you were really ok."

Mac groaned and put her phone down.

"Just so you know yesterday both Kensi and I both referred to you as Callen's girlfriend in front of him and he never corrected us." Deeks looked over at Mac and she was staining off into space. "If you don't feel the same way you better tell him before things get even more complicated."

"It's not that. I just don't do relationships. It's too hard for me to let someone in." Mac looked at Deeks. "When you're a foster kid that gets tossed around every few weeks you quickly learn not to trust anyone with your secrets."

"Well Callen had the same kind of childhood." Deeks turned off the tv and moved to face her on the couch. "Hell my child hood was worse than both of yours. My dad liked to use me as a punching bag. I even shot him when I was a kid."

"Ok that's bad." Said Mac. "Most of the homes I was in were mostly just for them to get the money. The one's that did care about me were never allowed to keep me for more than a month. It was like I was being moved around for a reason but I could never figure it out."

Mac looked out the window behind the couch. "When I was sixteen I went to live with a family in Trenton NJ. The dad was an ex NCIS agent. It was the closest to a real family that I ever had."

"That's why you became an agent?"

"That's the reason."

"Does Callen know this?"

"Yeah we've talked about our time in the system a lot."

"Well you both know how hard it is to trust. That should make it a bit easier."

They were interrupted with Mac's phone ringing. Of course it was Callen.

"I'm perfectly fine." Said Mac. "Yes Deeks is still here." Mac looked at him and rolled her eyes. "Italian is fine." She smirked and shook her head. "Yes I will be awake when you get here." She listened for a minute. "Ok I'll see you around six. Ok I'll tell Deeks."

"Kensi is bringing pizza home for dinner."

"I've missed pizza." Deeks rubbed his jaw. "Just hope I can eat it."

"How long until you get the new teeth?"

"Just about a month and a half. Then hopefully I can get back to work." Deeks then smiled hugely. "By the way check this out." He tossed her his new badge.

"Seriously, you left the LAPD?"

"Yeah. Hetty thought it was about time."

"Well congratulations Deeks."

"I didn't want to be forced to leave Kensi for an undercover op." Deeks ran his fingers over the badge. "Now I don't have to worry about that."

Deeks looked back at Mac. "I meant what I said in the hospital, I owe you big time for saving her. She's my world and I don't think I could have handled it if something would have happened."

"I promised you I'd have her back didn't I?"

"Yeah but I didn't expect you to take a bullet for her."

"Well let's hope I never have to again. I don't like getting shot."

They spent some time talking about surfing and the differences between being a cop and an agent. Around five Deeks headed home so he could be there before Kensi got back.

He was glad he got a chance to talk to Mac one on one for a while. He really liked her. Deeks really hoped that she and Callen worked out.

Callen walked in the door a little after six. He walked in and put his bag down next to the couch and the bag of food onto the table. He called out to Mac but she didn't answer. He heard something hit the floor in the bathroom and rushed to make sure she was ok. Callen didn't even think he just opened the door and got the shock of his life. Mackenna standing there in nothing but a towel.

"Callen haven't you ever heard of knocking?" Mac smirked at him and cocked her head to one side.

"Um, yeah, sorry, heard something drop."

"I dropped the hair dryer."

"You do know you're not supposed to get your stitches wet?"

"I know I taped a baggie over them. They are just fine." Mac looked at Callen and tried not to laugh. The poor guy was standing there with his mouth hanging open.

"Callen eyes up here please." Mac joked. Callen snapped his head up and swallowed hard. "Give me a few minutes to get dressed ok."

"Yeah, I got dinner we don't want it to get cold."

"Ok. I need to change the dressing before I come out."

"I can do that."

"Ok but let me put clothing on first ok. I don't need you passing out on me."

Callen totally missed that comment and backed out of the room shutting the door behind him. Mac shook her head and lost the towel before pulling on shorts and a tee shirt. She opened the door again and Callen came back in. It took him a few minutes to make sure there was no infection, put on the cream and then tape some gauze over it. Mac didn't miss the way his fingers ghosted the skin of her side and back as he finished. She was starting to think Deeks was right.

Callen was quiet during dinner. Mac started telling him about what her and Deeks had talked about. Callen only nodded.

"Ok Callen what's wrong?"

"Nothing."

"Callen you've been way too quiet even for you. What is wrong?" Mac put her fork down and looked at him. "I'm sorry I didn't hear the phone today."

"It's not that."

"Ok than what is it?"

"Like I said in the hospital I don't want to mess this up."

"I don't really see how you're messing anything up."

Callen stood and started clearing the table. Mac moved to the couch and watched him move around the space like he owned it. Finally Callen came to sit next to her on the couch.

"It's been a long time sense I was in a long term relationship. The one was for undercover work at the CIA, the other was a woman I had to use to get close to her brother on an undercover op about six years ago."

"If it makes you feel any better my last serious relationship was over ten years ago. He was an agent and he died in the line of duty. I have pretty much avoided relationships after that."

Callen laughed. "We are really messed up."

"Yes but at least we understand where the other is coming from." Mac reached out and took his hand in hers. "Look how about we just keep doing what we've been doing and take things slow."

"Slow is good. At least as long as I don't have to see you in a towel again." This made Mac laugh a bit too hard and it pulled at her stitches.

Callen reached out and put his arms around her. "You ok?"

"Yeah just don't make me laugh for a while." Mac snuggled into his arms and rested her head on his shoulder. They sat that way for a while enjoying the quiet.

Deeks chewed his pizza as carefully as he could. It took him about half an hour to eat one piece while Kensi had eaten about five. Finally he gave up and got some jello. He told Kensi about the talk he had with Mac not leaving anything out. Kensi was surprised to find out how much that Mac had been moved around. She didn't understand how people could be so cruel to any child. Kensi also agreed with Deeks that she hoped that Mac and Callen would work out, they seemed to be made for each other.

Once they were done eating Kensi excused herself and came back ten minutes later in a sexy little outfit she had picked up on lunch to surprise Deeks with.

"Wow Kensi, what did I do to deserve this?" Deeks smiled as Kensi straddled his lap and began to kiss him.

"Not a damn thing. I just wanted to do something to take your mind off the pain."

"Oh it's working as planned then." Deeks lifted his arms so Kensi could take his shirt off.

"So Deeks the couch or the bed your choice."

Deeks groaned and felt Kensi move her hands to his jeans. "Babe I don't really care right now."

Kensi laughed and kissed Deeks gently before moving so he could take off his jeans and boxers. "Ok couch it is."

Deeks thanked his lucky stars that he had found this amazing woman.

Later that night they finally made it to the bed. Deeks lay there with Kensi on top of him. "Kensi when did you know you loved me?"

"The day you got me out of that laser room, that's when I started to fall. I guess I just kept on falling."

Deeks played with her hair with one hand and ran his fingers down her back with the other.

"Why did you want to know?"

"Nate said that once I had some answers to long asked questions that I would start to move forward. That was one question I wanted answered."

"Ok, can I ask you the same question?"

"The time I had to lie to you about getting fired and I couldn't tell you why." Deeks held her tightly. "That about killed me."

"What did you think about me the first time you met me?" asked Deeks.

"That there was something hinky about you."

"I thought you were the most beautiful woman I had ever seen in my life. To this day I don't think I have ever seen anyone that could match you."

Kensi looked up at Deeks. "When I found out you were taken with Sam I promised myself that when I got you back I would make sure you knew just how much I wanted to be with you."

"Well you have showed me that over and over again the last few months."

"And I plan on showing you the rest of my life." Kensi put her head back down. "What other questions did you need answered."

"Why do you always have to punch me?" Deeks took a deep breath. "You know that my dad beat me I don't understand why you always have to hit me too?"

"Deeks I already promised you I will never hit you again. I am so sorry that I ever did, I just wish I could take it all back." Kensi was crying now. It broke Deeks heart to hear her cry.

"It's ok Fern please don't cry."

"I love you so much Deeks." Kensi snuggled into his body. "I'll do anything to make it up to you."

"How about you just keep loving me ok."

"That's something I can do."

"Well I'm going to bed, are you staying here tonight?" asked Mackenna around ten pm.

"Yeah if that's ok with you."

"It's fine. You can take the couch or share the bed it's up to you." Mac smiled at Callen and headed to bed. She took an over the counter pain pill so it wouldn't knock her out too much and slipped into bed. She was almost asleep when she felt Callen slip in behind her, he carefully wrapped his arms around her and pulled her in tight. Mac sighed and snuggled in close. She was soon fast asleep. Even though Callen itched to get up and do something he stayed put. He didn't want to make noise and wake her up. Right now she needed the rest and having him roaming around the bungalow all night wouldn't be good if it woke her up.

Soon Callen was asleep himself. The stress of the last week finally taking its toll on his mind and body. Tomorrow was another day and another step forward for both couples.

Authors notes: Who wants to see some Eric and Nell? Let me know. Again thanks for reading.