As Kensi and Deeks entered the bullpen after their session at the gym throwing their usual banter back and forth, a piercing whistle came from the balcony. "Finally got jurisdiction on this case, guys" Eric yelled. Immediately the two young agents ran up the stairs, closely followed by Sam and Callen.
"What've we got Eric" Callen asked as he strolled into Ops.
"One Petty Officer Eduardo Sandoval, found dead early this morning, two gunshot wounds to the chest, one shot execution style to the head"
As those words filled the room, Kensi was thrown into the memory of the night before. How she had pulled the trigger and shot the man that she had tried so hard to help. Her eyes began to mist up, although she knew she had done the right thing, for some reason it still hurt. Quickly she wiped her eyes and ducked her head, avoiding eye contact with anyone. An act that did not go unnoticed by her partner who had been watching her from the corner of his eye the moment he heard the words 'gunshot wounds'. He knew how fragile Kensi was at the moment, all he wanted to do was make her pain go away.
"Sandoval?" Deeks questioned.
"Yeah, why, you know him?" Eric asked.
"He wouldn't happen to be related to Javier Sandoval by any chance?"
"His brother actually" Eric replied, wondering why Deeks seemed to know about the suspect, or at least his family.
"Who is Javier Sandoval and how do you know him, Deeks?" Callen asked, now very intrigued. The family obviously had some serious history if they were well known by the LAPD.
"Javier Sandoval is a low life scumbag who runs one of the most bad ass drug Cartels in Los Angeles, Ayala Deleon Cartel. It's a family business, passed down through the generations, Javier's father ran it before he was gunned down in a drive-by from a rival Cartel three years ago. Before him, Javier's grandfather was head of the Cartel, LAPD have been trying to nail these guys for years" Deeks explained to the team.
"That's why Hetty had such a hard time getting LAPD to hand the case over to us, they want to be the ones to finally get these guys" Callen added in. "So what have we got on Eduardo, apart from his obvious Cartel ties Eric?".
"Eduardo Sandoval" Eric said, as Nell bought up pictures on the big screen. "He has served in the Navy for almost 3 years, and has a spotless record. Even before he joined up, he had no criminal record at all, as far as we can tell he has steered clear of the family business".
"Okay, so his shooting could be related to his brother, some kind of gang rivalry, gunned down like the father?" Sam asked.
"Yeah, could be" Callen agreed. "We got any leads Eric?"
Nell threw Eduardo's cell phone call history up on the screen as Eric began to speak. "He made one call the morning he died, a call that lasted a good twenty minutes. We traced the number, came back to a Santo Rivera"
"Kensi, Deeks, you two catch up with Rivera, find out what that phone call was about, Sam and I will have a chat to big brother Javier" Callen said as she turned toward the door.
"Sending addresses to your phones now" Eric called after them as the other agents followed Callen out of Ops.
Kensi and Deeks jumped in the car and made their way to the auto shop where Santo Rivera worked, the trip had been uncomfortably silent. Deeks took the opportunity to break the silence and make sure his partner was doing okay.
" How you holding up Kens?" Deeks asked, a little hesitant that he might receive a punch in the arm.
"I'm fine Deeks" she replied a little too quickly for his liking. As though she had expected him to ask the question. Of course she knew he would, Kensi knew Deeks better than anyone, just like he knew her so well. Deeks wouldn't just sit by without questioning her about how she was feeling, making sure she was okay every chance he got. That was just… Deeks.
"C'mon Kensi, we've talked about this, you say your fine when you're not fine, please just talk to me" Deeks said, almost begging.
"You know, sometimes I hate that you know me so well" Kensi said, half laughing. There was a long pause before she decided to give in and tell him. "In Ops, when they showed the pictures of Eduardo Sandoval, and were talking about gunshots… I… I…"
"You pictured Aaron?" Deeks finished off.
"Yeah"
"Kens, it's okay, things like that are going to happen, there's not much we can do about that. I know it's not easy, but I'm here for you okay, every step of the way. I got your back partner… always" Deeks told her as he gave her knee a soft and reassuring squeeze. Sparks shot through Kensi's entire body with that small touch from Deeks. There was no denying that he did something to her, something she couldn't quite explain. Something she had not felt before.
"Thank you Deeks" she whispered, trying to mask the shakiness in her voice. Her heart was thumping hard in her chest. At that moment her desire for Deeks felt as though it was almost impossible to control. Here was a man that would do anything in the world to keep her safe, make her happy. He would die for her, make the ultimate sacrifice. Every moment that she spent with her partner, her feelings only grew stronger and stronger. The more she got to see the softer, caring and protective side of Deeks, the more she fell hopelessly in love with him.
"Kens? The auto shop is just up ahead" Deeks said snapping Kensi out of her little day dream.
"Oh yeah… right of course" Kensi stuttered, a little embarrassed about what she had been thinking, when Deeks was sitting right next to her. She wondered if he knew, or if he felt something too. No. Kensi stop thinking like that, she told herself. He is your partner, you can't do this just focus on the case instead of being like a love sick puppy over Deeks.
As the two agents pulled up outside the auto shop, they could immediately tell that something dodgy was going on. There were a lot of wannabe gangsters hanging around outside with their low rider cars and there ridiculously baggy pants hanging far too low for anybody's liking.
"Great…" Deeks moaned. "How do we wanna play this?"
"I got an idea, pop the hood and switch a couple of spark plugs around so the car won't start" Kensi instructed.
"What are you gonna do?"
"I'm gonna go get us some help" she replied as she took of her button up plaid shirt, so she was now just in a tank top and tight jeans. Deeks couldn't help but smile at the fact that she was stripping off in front of him. She tousled her hair and jumped out of the car, walking toward the auto shop. And god was it a sexy walk, like a super model but somehow even sexier. She knew how to get any guy to do what she wanted just by her subtle flirting and her tight fitting clothes. Kensi never had to throw herself at a man to get his attention. Whenever she walked into a room, all eyes were on her. Deeks loved that she had such a power over any man, all she had to do was flash her gorgeous smile. She certainly had him wrapped around her finger, and he wouldn't have it any other way…
Thanks for all the fantastic reviews guys, please keep them coming!
Hope you enjoyed the chapter, got a few good ideas coming up in the next couple chapters so keep an eye out.