OK, guilty. With the question about an epilogue I was kind of fishing for compliments and I got them. THANK YOU. There were so many reviews I didn't thank those I could personally this time, so again for everyone: Thank you!

Lucky you, I've already written an epilogue and this time you don't have to wait a whole week for the new (sadly last) chapter. Though I have to admit, strictly speaking it's not really an epilogue…

Well, I made the mistake of watching "Iron Curtain Rising" again to see if it fit even slightly with what I remembered. What a douse in 'reality'! Where's the brotherly love…? As I said at the beginning: This story was meant to take place between "Frozen Lake" and "Iron Curtain Rising" (Yeah, timeline, who cares…?).

So I did what fans to best and went with the saying "Was nicht passt wird passend gemacht."*

Just to be clear, some of the scenes and dialogue are right from the show (Well, the dialogue as I understood it, there may be some mistakes when I misheard.), I just couldn't be bothered to mark it in any kind.

So, here's my take on that episode (I don't think it's necessary to have seen it, but it might help if you had)…

Epilogue:

Deeks watched Sam and Callen leave the mission, feeling brushed off and lost.

Well, Callen obviously thought his little brother didn't need care right now, so business as usual with not letting the annoying little one play with the grownups. It was disappointing, but somewhat expected. Deeks would never betray Callen and tell anyone that he thought of Deeks as his little brother. To be honest, he valued that confession too much and wanted the knowledge of it solely for himself. And while he was being honest, it was Sam's brusque manner that hurt more. He had really hoped their relationship had changed for the better. It had certainly looked so while he was still reeling from his accident and the ensuing amnesia, but right now it felt more like back to square one.

Taking note of his surroundings again Deeks realized Hetty stood right in front of him.

"Mr. Deeks, stop looking like that. You know they aren't allowed to take you. You're not cleared for missions yet."

Deeks thought that the old lady for once wasn't spot on with her assumption of what was going on. He wouldn't tell her that, though. He now remembered why he had felt some resentment and bitterness towards her despite the also obvious trust. Just when Kensi and he had taken a huge step in their relationship and would have needed some time to sort out the repercussions that had followed, Hetty had told him Kensi was indefinitely reassigned. He didn't even know where to.

While Deeks mused about that fact his mouth went like it was on autopilot "Hetty, this is just ridiculous. I'm back at a hundred percent, nothing left to be concerned about. Then there is this little slip of paper missing god knows where and I'm chained to the desk. I'm good, you know that, and no amount of paper would…"

He stopped his whining when he saw her face. It wouldn't do him any good to continue and it wasn't even really his point.

Just that second Nell bounced down the stairs "I've got it, here it is. You're officially cleared for field work again now."

Deeks looked at her in disbelief. Really? She couldn't have announced that some seconds earlier while Callen and Sam were still here? But he wouldn't lie to himself; it wouldn't have changed a thing. Their working relationship was two teams with two partners respectively; he was a third wheel now, not fitting in anywhere yet without Kensi at his side.

Nell gave him an encouraging smile before she went back to OPS.

Hetty pulled a slip of paper out of nowhere and handed it to Deeks who automatically took it.

"What's that?" he asked curiously staring at the numbers written on it.

"That is the mobile number of the woman you saved, Mr. Deeks. You have an appointment tomorrow evening 7 p.m. at the Golden Dragon."

"The Golden Dragon? That's quite a fancy and expensive place, Hetty. I don't want… They don't need… I still don't remember and probably never will…" Deeks was clearly flustered. He had gained his memory back, but the funeral and what happened after were forever lost to him, it seemed. An aftereffect of the concussion the doctors concluded, not overly concerned.

"You, Mr. Deeks," Hetty interrupted his rambling firmly "need to go there and let those people thank their savior as they deem proper. You will do so gladly and politely. It will also have the benefit of them seeing that you are well again and suffered no ill from your heroic action. You may not remember it, but you did something very good and deserve a thank you." With a final nod Hetty left for her office.

Deeks watched her go and wondered not for the first time how she was always able to strong-arm him into situations he didn't want to encounter. He didn't see the need in him being treated like a celebrity, but if the family needed proof of his wellbeing to calm their minds who was he to deny it to them?

Well, time to keep himself busy with something before it was his turn to contribute to the case. Deeks turned on his heels to go and see if he could pry something about Kensi out of the wonder twins. Slim chance at that with Eric and none at all with Nell, but one never knew. And if that brought no success he would talk to Hetty. Maybe Kensi gone was kind of a retribution for what they had done and if Deeks offered to go back to LAPD Kensi could come back to L.A. and to him?

Sam caved first "Maybe we should've brought Deeks along?

"For what?" Callen sounded uncaring, but he looked curious when they stepped out of the Challenger. He really didn't see a point in Deeks tagging along.

Sam shrugged as they continued their way over the lawn "Hu, I don't know. Clearly the guy's a bit lost without his partner."

"Oh, I get it." Callen smirked "You feel bad for him so you feel like going easy on him." Then he continued with light laughter in his voice "You lost your favorite chew toy."

Sam shook his head and felt bad when remembering his earlier brusque manner. He really needed to get a grip on that if he wanted to convince Deeks that things had changed between them. Yes, Deeks still rubbed him the wrong way some times, but now he knew what lay behind that and therefore should have reacted differently.

He had missed his chance to talk to Deeks after the detective had gotten his memory back. Relieved that he was going to be OK again Sam had left the hospital later that morning not to return. He still wondered why. He had been there the whole time when Deeks had amnesia so why not after? Maybe he felt guilty because he considered 'mission Deeks' a huge failure? For the agent used to never fail at a test it was a low blow to realize how he had misjudged his own team mate for years. So Deeks was a constant reminder of how he wasn't perfect. Was it that? But that was ridiculous. And it still wouldn't explain why he had no such problems with a Deeks without memories. Maybe it was because that Deeks knew nothing of wearing masks? Sam felt leery of people doing so. Still not a satisfying answer. He admitted defeat for now and made a mental note to ask Nate should the opportunity present itself.

Bringing himself back to the present Sam kept all those thoughts to himself and chose an appropriate remark "The guy's been through a lot. And he saved my wife's life."

This was going too far for Callen's taste, feelings, weird terrain, so he started what they did best.

"Once. I saved your live what, a hundred times?"

As expected that got to Sam's competitive side and they went on with that, for now forgetting about Deeks.

They followed the leads as they came, ignoring their orders and bending some rules as it went and finally, the case was closed.

Without anything else to do Deeks started to feel off-kilter again. He sat down with his notebook, looking at photos of the team, especially the one with him and Kensi embracing each other after a basket ball match. A promise of what could be. Little did he know that Kensi would look at the same photo in her isolation, her heart no lighter than his. Deeks took no note of his surroundings, his mind going bleaker every second, a sad smile on his face.

Callen watched from his perch in the darkness. He had waived Sam's offer to drive him home off and scoffed at Sam's "Do not let me find you sleeping in the gym a fourth time, G."

"You won't find me here tomorrow, as both of us have an unpaid day off, in case you forgot."

"Well, thanks for the reminder. So, what's your plan?"

Instead of answering Callen just looked the way to the bullpen where they could see the light of Deeks' laptop.

"Oh, OK." Sam said in understanding. "Let me know how it went."

Callen nodded and watched his partner go then vanished into the shadows to sneak up on Deeks observing him for some time, not liking what he saw one bit. If Deeks continued this downward spiral he would get hurt. Without Kensi available to nip that possibility in the bud the job was his.

"Come on, Deeks, you third little blind mouse, let's go home!"

Deeks started and stared at Callen wide eyed. "What?"

"I said let's go home. Sam found me sleeping in the gym again, third time this week. Told me I remind him of a cat coming back to its old house though the master moved. I said I'm a creature of habit. And thinking about it, it seems like I acquired a new bad habit: Not being able to sleep alone in my house anymore. So it looks like I need you to come over once in a while so I can sleep there again."

"Is that so?"

"Don't smile like that, it creeps me out. And don't get used to it, I have firm plans to rid myself of that habit again."

Deeks laughed before asking "Blind third mouse? Hetty found out? And what about the fourth mouse, Nell didn't count?"

"What a question, sure Hetty found out. And, well, Nell's Nell, Hetty's special protégée. Who knows what her punishment will be. But judging by the punishment you got, there won't be any."

"Wow, I'm special, too? What's your punishment?"

"Well, you will be quite lonely here tomorrow. And because I won't earn any money either, you will buy us dinner tonight."

Deeks felt bad and Callen saw it clearly.

"Don't sweat it, Deeks. Sam and I knew it might happen. Huh, I have to admit it came as a nasty surprise when it actually did happen. One day won't pose a problem though. Sam will enjoy the additional time with his family and I will find something to occupy myself, too."

"But still, it sucks."

"Yeah, it does. But sucks, that's my cue. What about that woman lawyer? You OK? I saw Sam checking on you after you cuffed her."

"That was probably because of something she said." Deeks hedged.

"What was it?"

"That she only came because she thought it might be the last time she ever saw him. That she might never see him again."

Callen sighed. "Deeks, you will see Kensi again, OK?"

Deeks shrugged and kept silent. There was something in his eyes that Callen didn't want to see there. Maybe that had been the reason his partner hadn't been able to look into Deeks' eyes when checking on him in the marina. It had taken considerable time after Siderov for that look to vanish and that had been with Kensi in town. Callen didn't say anything yet, but turned to leave the bull pen, expecting Deeks to follow.

„I miss her, Callen, I don't think I.."

Suddenly the older man whirled around and slammed Deeks against a wall leaving him breathless. Callen crowded in on Deeks pushing on his chest so the other man couldn't get away easily. Deeks didn't make a move to defend himself, though.

"Don't you dare die on me cause you don't have your head in the game." Callen growled.

"Oh, one might think you care, better watch it unless…" Deeks started one of his usual defense strategies. Callen didn't say anything, but slammed him against the wall again this time leaning his arm against the younger man's throat.

"Don't you dare to get killed cause you don't care." he hissed.

"No?" it sounded like a question so Callen pushed harder.

"Not good enough." Callens' pale blue eyes bore into Deeks' with cold intenseness.

Something happened to Deeks. His slumped posture straightened and he carried himself in a way seldom seen by others. Callen didn't lose his grip though, he just went with it.

"NO." Deeks repeated in a low sure voice, its timbre right like the one Callen remembered from the hospital, his eyes suddenly filled with a kind of cold darkness.

Anyone else might have stepped back, Callen just smiled in satisfaction. He knew very well how much Deeks despised his darker side, but until he got his footing back again with the new situation his little brother would need it once in a while to protect himself.

Callen loosened his grip to pat Deeks' shoulder righting his shirt in the process as if nothing had happened "There it is. Come on, Shaggy, let's go. And as I said, you buy dinner." Callen turned again clearly expecting Deeks to really follow this time.

For a moment Deeks stood motionless his eyes still cold. Then, as if a switch had been turned, he suddenly smiled wide and carefree and went after Callen with a new spring in his step.

"Have I understood you right, you want me to wine and dine you? Callen, I'm sorry, but I'm not that kind of guy. I prefer my dates to be more, well, female. But maybe Juan …?"

Laughing he dodged Callens' slap aimed at the back of his head. "Easy, tiger."

Callen shook his head in mock annoyance and returned Deeks' grin.

Tomorrow might look different again, but tonight - tonight would be all right.

The' final' End

That's it. I know some would have liked something different, but to be honest I didn't quite feel up to that challenge. And it's a bit 'darker', still not sure about the mood I was in when I wrote this… I hope you still like it.

Till next time, M.

* If it doesn't fit, use a bigger hammer.