"Welcome back, Mr. Deeks." said Hetty, scowling at his choice of clothing, "You are back for work, am I correct?"
Deeks flushed, "I am. It's not my fault, Callen backed a bag for me." he explained.
"If you will accompany me," Hetty smiled, "I'll see to it that you are more suitably attired for the office."
Deeks followed her back into the wardrobe area.
"You think this was a good idea?" asked Sam.
"Dr. Lassiter suggested it." Kensi leaned back in her chair. "He seemed to think Deeks needs to have something to occupy his mind instead of worrying about whoever he thinks is after him."
"Why would someone be after him?" G said. "Deeks killed Lansing; the only ones who might come after him would be Lansing's buddies."
"Chris Santori is top of that list." Sam growled.
"And we are oh for two on our cases so far."
"Thanks for the update, G." Sam grumbled, "It's nice to be reminded that we haven't solved anything since Deeks murdered that guy."
Kensi sat up, her heels sounding like a gunshot as they hit the floor. "We don't know for certain that Deeks murdered Robert Lansing," she said angrily, "We don't know what went on at that restaurant. It could have been self-defense for all we know."
"Sorry Kensi, you're right. We just need Deeks to remember what happened." Callen apologized.
Deeks returned a short time later. Sam whistled and Callen hooted, Kensi tried to keep from grinning but was unsuccessful.
"Shut up." Marty grumbled good naturedly. He was smiling too.
Hetty had given him a blue plaid button down shirt, a pair of khakis slacks, black loafers and had combed his hair and shaved his beard.
"Who is this kid?" Sam teased, "How did he get past security?"
"I'd say send him home but I don't think he's old enough to drive himself." Callen said.
"Ignore them, they're just jealous." Kensi pulled her partner away from them. "You look fine."
"Thank you." Marty sat at his desk, "I feel like I just walked out of the academy."
"You look like it too." Callen said.
"You feel up to taking a ride?" Kensi asked, "I though maybe we could go up to Café Bel Flur and see it helps you to remember anything."
"Yeah." Deeks nodded, "I'd like to do that."
XxXxX
Kensi drove up Robertson Boulevard and finally found a parking place half a block north of the café. She's impatient and Deeks practically had to trot to keep up with her long legged strides back to the bistro.
The outdoor patio was crowded and people jostled him as he tried to keep up with her. She grabbed a table, glaring at the well dressed older couple who had reached it at the same time. They glanced nervously at her, and then walked away.
"Sit down." Kensi said. "Not there, over here." She pointed to a chair that faced the trees.
He does as she tells him.
"Does anything look familiar?" she asked as she sat across from him.
He looked around, brow furrowed with concentration.
"Well, does it?" she asked, edgily.
"No." he sighed.
"Concentrate Deeks, you came here for some reason. What was it?"
A slim, dark-haired waitress came to the table with her pad and pen ready, Kensi waved her away, "We're not ready." she said gruffly.
"Water, to start." Deeks said, smiling at the waitress, "easy ice with a slice of lime and a cherry, please?"
Kensi threw up her hands, aggravated. "You came here to flirt?"
"I'm thirsty, Kensi and there's no need to be rude." he leaned toward her and said quietly, "Besides it's lunch hour and you can't take up a table without ordering something."
"Of course. Sorry." chastened, Kensi smiled at the waitress, "I'll have a pomegranate spritzer."
When the waitress had gone she started questioning him again, "You're meeting Robert Lansing here, why?"
"Who?"
"The guy you killed in the trees. Come on Deeks, you have to work with me." she leaned across the table, "Lansing, crew cut blond hair, blue eyes. Why did you meet him?"
Deeks shook his head, "I can't remember him."
"You followed him to the trees." she pointed, "You got into a fight and you killed him."
He looked around; searching the people and the place, nothing even remotely seemed familiar. The noise of all the voices and the rattle of silverware and china made his head ache; he rubbed the heel of his right hand across his temple.
The waitress brought their drinks and Kensi told her they weren't ready to order anything else yet.
Deeks picked up his glass and drained it without taking a breath. He signaled the waitress to bring him another.
"Are you alright?" Kensi asked.
"Fine." he said, "It's just hot out here."
Kensi took a sip of her drink, "It is." she agreed.
Marty sipped at his next drink, wiping sweat off his brow.
Kensi waited until he'd set the glass down and leaned back in the chair and then held out her phone, showing him a photo of Lansing.
"This is Robert Lansing, he was a Navy Seal set to deploy soon. You met him here at this restaurant and you fought with him."
Marty shook his head, "I don't remember that guy."
"Okay Deeks, if you can't remember Lansing, try remembering why you called me. Why did you want me to meet you here?"
"I'm serious Kensi, I can't remember. I try but everything after breakfast and waking up here is a total blank." His hands tightened around the tall glass. "You keep badgering me and I CAN'T REMEMBER!"
People at the surrounding tables looked up at his raised voice.
"Calm down Deeks." she reached out for his hand and he flinched away.
"Don't," he said, "just leave me alone."
"Maybe this was a bad idea." Kensi stood and tossed some bills on the table. "Let's go."
Marty got up and looked at Kensi but she wouldn't meet his eyes. He sighed, shoulders slumping and followed her back to the car. Their pace was much slower this time and they didn't speak.
He could tell Kensi was upset by the way she walked, hands fisted at her sides and eyes on the sidewalk. He glanced back at the café; all that brought to him was a pounding headache.
Kensi went down first, and Deeks fell seconds later. They are both stunned by the taser hits and unable to fight back as they are dumped into the white panel van double parked beside her car.
The van lurched forward as two men jumped in beside them. Tape was slapped across their eyes and hands search through their pockets.
The agents could hear the contents of their pockets being discarded on the bare metal floor – the click of keys, the heavier sounds of wallets and phones. Hands slipped across their clothing, patting them down, searching everywhere.
Deeks heard Kensi protest and he understood why as the hands invaded their clothing but there is nothing either one of them can do about it.
The van made three right turns then slowed down. The door opened and they were shoved out and onto the sidewalk. The sliding door slammed and the tires barked as it sped away down the street.
"Could you get your elbow out of my pancreas?" Marty groaned. "Please?"
Kensi rolled off of him, yelping as she tore off the tape and apparently some of her eyelashes.
She yanked the tape off him.
"Ouch!" he complained, "You just love to rip tape off of me don't you." he smiled but her grim expression made him cut short on any more joking.
"They took my phone!" she patted her pants pocket, "Dammit, they kept my car keys!"
"I don't think that's going to be a problem." said Deeks, pointing at the Cadillac, "They opened the car for us."
The window on the passenger side had been shattered to gain access and the doors were wide open. The glove box was open, the contents scattered on the floor, the back seat had been pried up and the floor mats tossed on the ground.
"Oh, that does IT!" Kensi shouted, "When I find them, I'm shooting off essential body parts!"
Deeks winced; it may have been her volume or the threat. Whichever, it didn't help his headache any.
It took fifteen minutes but they finally located a payphone.
"Who uses payphones when everyone has a cell phone?" Marty said when Kensi complained about the lack of public phones.
By the time Callen arrived to pick them up, the tow truck had already taken Kensi's car back to the garage.
"I'm headed back to the boathouse," Callen explained, "Santori insisted on coming over for an update and I don't trust Sam not to pulverize him while I'm gone."
Kensi gave Deeks a strange look, and then shrugged her shoulders. "Fine."
Callen opened his mouth to say something else but Kensi held up her hand in a stopping motion.
"One word, Callen and I will have you singing soprano for the next week." she threatened.
Deeks stifled a laugh, "Just ask the four other guys she's …"
Kensi slugged him on the arm, "Shut up Deeks."
"Ooh, somebody needs a nap." said Callen.
Kensi got in the front and slammed the door.
Deeks shook his head and got in the back.
Sam was just escorting Chris Santori out of the building when they arrived.
Chris stopped, stared for a moment then shook his head, "That guy…"
"It's not that guy;" Kensi said, pushing past him, "he's an LAPD detective who is helping us out on the case."
"That kid?" Chris snorted, "Fresh out of the academy, I bet he's loads of help."
"Hey," Deeks protested and Kensi grabbed his arm and dragged him inside.
"Just stay away from him, Deeks. I think that guy would like to kill you." she told her partner.
"Kill me? Why? What did I ever do to him?"
"It's a long story, sit and have a cup of coffee while we talk about it." she poured a cup and set it on the table.
"First how about you explain how come you needed a ride back?" asked Sam, pulling out a chair at the table and sitting down in it.
Kensi paced, her arms crossed and eyes blazing, "We went to the café and Deeks couldn't remember anything so we started back to the car and some guys jumped us and threw us into a van."
"Someone got the drop on you?" asked Callen.
"These guys were pros." Kensi grumbled, "They took us down, searched us thoroughly and dropped us in a matter of minutes."
"Yeah, I usually insist on at least one mixed drink before I let anyone grope me like that." Deeks quipped.
Kensi glared at him and he shrugged and grinned back at her.
"They were looking for something and whatever it is they want it bad."
"Deeks what the hell are you involved in?"
Zzzzzzz
I would have had this chapter up last week but the heat has apparently fried my brain. I cannot string words together in a coherent manner without making a ton of basic mistakes. Betas appear to be frightened of me – I haven't been able to locate one person willing to take this story on, even my beta for Elegant Agony has disappeared…
So anyway, my apologies if this chapter completely sucked as bad as I think it did but I'm sick of looking at it.
If I can get a working brain, the next chapter should be up in two weeks.
Thank you very much to everyone who has kept reading, you make the muse happy!
Amblue36, if it weren't for you, I think I'd give up on this. I can't thank you enough for all the prodding to continue.
BlueEyes444 and LostForeverInHisEyes, thanks for your continued support.
Ealasaid Una. welcome, I hope you'll enjoy the ride!