Chapter 11

Four weeks. He'd only lasted four damn weeks! Well, if he was honest, it was more like two and a half but he'd fought it hard that last week or so. He'd finally given in and called Granger. He sat at the bar, nursing a cup of coffee, and waiting for the man to show up. He'd picked this place because it was where it had all started. It was here that Hetty had offered him the Liaison position and he'd signed the paperwork. That simple act had changed his life forever. It was here he was going to make another life altering move. He'd kept his word to her and let her know how he was doing okay as he surfed up and down the coast of Mexico and California, moving from beach to beach, motel to motel. He'd worn himself out each day and then tried to sleep the nights away.

He knew she'd been keeping his old team and Kensi up to date on his wellbeing. Kensi. Kensi was never far from his thoughts and he'd come to realize he still wanted, no needed, her in his life. She was allowed to make mistakes just like anyone else. Hell, he'd made more than enough of them himself. It was just that this one had hurt. Hurt enough that he'd worried about that part of him that belonged to his dad, that part that reared its ugly head on rare occasions and made him a mean and ugly man. That was a part of him he would never want to expose her to.

His thoughts turned to the decision he'd made. He knew it was for himself but it was also for them.

Monty had been at his side but still, he'd been lonely and, the longer he stayed away, the more bored and homesick he'd gotten. The surfing had been great but he missed the action of his job, the teamwork and comradery. He hoped Granger had meant what he'd said when he'd walked out of the Mission after resigning. He looked up when the door opened, not really surprised to see Hetty by the Assistant Director's side. He had to smile, he was so happy to see both of them. Why had he fought it this long? He shook his head. He knew why. It had galled him that Granger had been right. He could be stubborn when he chose to be and he had so chosen this time.

"Mr. Deeks. It's good to see you! You look well. The surfing life agrees with you."

"Hi Hetty. Yeah, but it's not a life. It's a hobby." He got up and surprised her by grabbing her in a hug and kissing her forehead.

"Cheeky bugger!" she said as she smiled up at him.

He looked up at Granger who said gruffly "Not enough booze in the world." Then he promptly ruined it by grinning at Deeks and saying "I knew you wouldn't be able to stay away."

"Who says that's why I wanted to see you? Maybe I just wanted to say hi and see how you were doing."

"You really don't expect me to believe that, do you Deeks?" The smirk was still on Granger's face.

Deeks had to smile. "No, I really don't." He took a deep breath. "So, is the offer still open?"

"It is. Which agency?"

"Was there ever any doubt? NCIS and OSP. I want to go back to my team, if they'll have me."

It was Hetty who answered, the smile on her face warming him. "Oh, they'll have you Mr. Deeks. If one more person asks me if I've heard from you, if you've said when you're coming back, how you're doing, I think I may have to start threatening people with my letter opener." She paused and, if possible, her smile got wider. "It always worked with you."

"Now who's being a cheeky bugger?" he asked. He was pleased that everyone had been asking after him, and then his smile faded.

"Callen? How will he react?"

"Your team leader was the worst offender. He lasted three days before the silence drove him to start stalking me. Mr. Hanna was a close second. If I didn't know better, I would think Miss. Jones and Mr. Beale hacked my phone to find out for themselves. I am also aware that you turned your phone off most days, they tried to track you on several occasions."

"And Kensi?"

"That will be between you and Miss. Blye. I think you'll find that she'll be very happy to see you back. She hasn't been the same since you left. She doesn't laugh as much and we miss that side of her." She reached into the bag slung over her shoulder and pulled out a folder that she handed over to him. He flashed back seven years ago. He took it from her and, as he'd suspected, found the paperwork all filled in and needing only his signature. He wondered if this was the same paperwork she had given him early on, just before she had resigned and left for Prague. He wasn't sure what had happened to them. He looked it over, he couldn't help himself; he was a lawyer after all. When he was satisfied that all was in order, he realized he didn't have a pen. He looked up to say something only to find both Hetty and Granger holding a pen out to him. He laughed and grabbed the nearest one, signing the paperwork with a flourish.

He handed it back to Hetty who carefully stored it away. "Director Vance has already indicated that he will fast track this today. Now, let's talk about your FLETC training."

"Wait, what? Training? Don't I get a pass for the seven years I've already spent with NCIS?" He whined.

"I'm afraid not, Mr. Deeks. You will need to go through the full training if you want to be an agent. It's only two months and you'll need to go to Washington for it; the next class in Los Angeles doesn't start for three months. Class in Washington starts on Monday. I've taken the liberty of booking you a flight Sunday night. You'll stay in the residences there. I'm sure Miss. Blye will be happy to take care of Monty."

"Monday? Wow, that's…that's really quick." Today was Friday, that only gave him two days to get used to his change in status and to spend some time with Kensi.

"Miss. Blye will be very pleased to have you, and Monty, home. I hope that you will contact the others before you leave?"

"Actually, I don't think I'm going to tell any of them that I'm going or that I've applied to be an agent until I'm done with it and it's official. Would it be possible for both of you to keep this to yourselves until I'm actually an NCIS agent?"

Hetty frowned. "Why would you want to keep that from your team, Mr. Deeks?"

"I want to do this on my own. Prove that I can. I don't want Sam, Callen or Kensi feeling like they need to help me or to second guess me. I want to come back as a full-fledged agent and surprise them."

"Very well. Will you at least be letting Kensi know that you're home, even if only temporarily?"

"Yes. I can't wait to see her, I missed her so much. I needed to make sure I knew you were both still willing for me to become an agent before I saw her."

"I think I understand. It will be good to have you back, Mr. Deeks!"

"Thanks Hetty." He frowned. "So, is there any progress in my case?"

"In a manner of speaking. When confronted, Miss. Lee was most forthcoming. The whole setup was to get revenge on you. Mr. Fisk was most displeased that Mr. Quinn gave us all the information we needed to put him away for a very long time. He had counted on his hold over the man to stop him from ever betraying him. Your connection with Mr. Quinn and how you used it to talk him into giving state's evidence did not sit well with him. In his mind, you were directly responsible for his being in jail. He had gotten away with so much for so long; I believe he had come to think he was untouchable. In addition, he lost his pet lawyer due to that case. It cost him two people he had spent a lot of time and money on. You became the focus of his attention. The information Miss. Lee gave us will add quite a few years to his sentence."

"And Whiting?"

"Ah, Miss. Whiting. She is in the wind for the moment. Mr. Beale and Miss. Jones were able to dig into her financials and found that she was on Mr. Fisk's payroll for quite a while. Unlike Mr. Quinn and Miss. Lee, her education was not paid for. She was bought off the old fashioned way. Money, pure and simple. Lt. Bates took a closer look at the evidence from the Boyle case, in light of what transpired, and noticed that the entry for the bullet was written in a different hand. We confirmed that it matched hers. Even if Detective Rivera had signed a statement that the bullet wasn't in evidence before, any good prosecutor would state that it was simply her recollection, that there was no proof it hadn't been there the whole time and she had simply missed it. There's a very good possibility that, had things gone down differently, that plant would never have been uncovered. When we went to Whiting's place to arrest her, it was locked up tight and all her personal belongings were gone. We have an APB out on her but haven't heard a word yet. She must have had an escape route planned out in advance, should her relationship with Mr. Fisk come to light."

Deeks sighed, wondering why he always seemed to attract the dirty cops and the loonies. He was glad LAPD and NCIS had uncovered this information and that his name was fully free and clear. He had thought that he was done with law enforcement but had come to find out it was too much a part of his makeup. Maybe, with NCIS, things would be different, better. There would be bad people everywhere, even in NCIS; he just hoped that he didn't run up against them any time soon.

"How is Stephanie?"

"She's doing well, Mr. Deeks. She and her children are still in protective custody and will remain so until the trial. You need to know that she asked to see you before they go into Witness Protection. Mr. Callen told her it would be up to you."

He nodded and thought about it. "I'd like that. I haven't seen her in years. I'd like to meet her children. I bet she's a good mom, kids always liked her." Hetty smiled as she remembered the conversation Mr. Callen and Mr. Hanna had relayed to her. Mrs. Harper apparently had voiced the same feelings about Mr. Deeks.

"When you get back from training, we'll arrange for you to meet with them."

He nodded and then ooked at his watch, surprised at how much time had passed. "I'm going to head home now; I want to surprise Kensi when she gets there."

"I can think of no better surprise." She reached out and put her hand on his arm. "We really are pleased that you finally decided to become an NCIS agent, Marty."

He knew just how pleased she was by the use of his first name. He smiled down at her and said "Thank you. It means the world to me that you, both of you, have faith in me." He looked up and smiled at Granger as well, who smiled back, showing that he was genuinely pleased with the turn of events.

"You'll keep us updated on your progress, Deeks. We won't say anything to the others but we'll want to know how you're doing." Said Granger.

"Will do. I'll talk to you later Hetty?"

"See that you do." She pulled him into a hug one last time and then let go. Granger shook his hand and added his congratulations to Hetty's. Smiling, he left the bar and headed home.

Hetty turned to Granger and said "Shall we have a scotch, Owen? Toast the birth of NCIS Agent Deeks?"

Granger nodded and then said jokingly "I hope this isn't the first drink of many that Agent Deeks will drive us to!"

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Kensi was tired. She always seemed to feel tired these days. She hadn't been sleeping as well since Deeks left. Worried about what his plans for the future would be, if they would still include her, what he planned on doing now what he wasn't in law enforcement anymore. The updates from Hetty were few and far between. She wasn't paying all that much attention and didn't notice the truck parked out front of their place until she was almost on top of it. She'd know that truck anywhere and felt her heart speed up. He was home! Her stomach clenched with anxiety, wondering what was coming.

She parked and got out of the car. She walked slowly up the front walkway and opened the door. Entering, she threw her keys in the dish by the door where they always kept them, noting that his were already there. She could hear Monty barking out in the backyard. Then, he was there. Looking at her with those eyes. Those eyes that she had missed so much in the last month.

"Hey Kens." He said softly. He seemed nervous. She froze, just looking at him. He looked good. Tanned and relaxed. Her stomach roiled as she waited to see what he would have to say next.

"I missed you Princess. I'm sorry that I left like that but I needed to figure out my future before I could expect you to spend it with me. I've done it, I've figured out what I want to do and I hope that you still want to be with me. " He swallowed hard. "Do you? Do you still want to be with me even if I'm not a cop anymore?"

"Wrong question Deeks!" Kensi said as she raced across the room and flung herself into his arms, almost knocking both of them over. "I missed you so much!" She mumbled into his chest.

"I missed you too baby." He kissed her and she grabbed the back of his head, deepening it. Pouring all her longing for him into it. They were both breathing hard when they separated for air.

"You're home, you're really home!"

"Uh, yeah, about that. I have to leave again Sunday night."

She pulled out of his arms and crossed hers over her chest.

"What? Why? How long this time? Is this going to be what our life is like from now on? You up and leave and I don't see you for weeks? Then you come home and rile me all up again, just to leave again a few days later?" She was getting pissed.

"No! Baby, no! It's just this one time! It's something I need to do for me, for us! I'll be gone about two months and then, when I get back, I'm never going to leave you again!"

"Where are you going?"

"I can't tell you just yet. I need to do this on my own. Can you trust me? Just a little while longer?"

She searched his eyes, seeing nothing but love and sincerity there. Slowly she nodded and the relief that filled his face was too real to be faked. She reached up and touched his face, running her hand down his jaw and then passing her fingers over his lips. She felt him shiver and watched as his eyes darkened. Suddenly he moved. He picked her up in a bridal carry and headed for the stairs to the second floor, to their room. She hid her face in the crook of his neck and began to kiss him. She bit him on the ear and he stumbled. "God, Kens, don't do that or we'll never make it to the bedroom!"

She giggled and they both started laughing as he entered their room. She looked into his eyes again when he put her down and the laughter died for both of them. She took a deep breath. "I'm sorry Deeks! So sorry that I said that to you! You have to know that I never believed you were guilty. I was taken by surprise and so freaked out. I never meant to hurt you! I would never want to hurt you!"

He put a finger over her lips. "I know Kens and I forgive you. And I know that I'm just as much to blame. If I'd told you about Boyle and Tiffany, then maybe we could have figured it all out before it came to such a disastrous ending. I shouldn't have hidden it from you. Can you forgive me?"

She smiled up at him as she pulled him down to the bed. "Right question, Deeks and the answer is yes, I forgive you as you've forgiven me. Just, no more secrets."

"No more secrets."

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A/N – I have no idea about FLETC and how long it takes to go through full training. Call it creative license and forgive me for any errors!