Kensi and Deeks made their way into OPS and were greeted by Callen and Sam who both had slightly anxious looks on their faces.
"What's going on, what was the lead about?" Kensi asked.
"When we sent the trace to the lab to check for DNA, they found something else." Sam explained. "There was a small bit of cat hair. Not just any cat either, a Lynx."
"It's illegal to own a Lynx." Deeks pointed out.
"Exactly." Callen nodded. "Nell and Eric are trying to find if there are any reports about someone owning that type of cat. We're hoping that whoever owns the cat is our suspect."
"Bingo!" Eric yelled and swiveled around in his chair. "Officer Gregory Heinz was reported to have that type of cat."
"An officer?" Deeks asked.
"Yes, he was a Marine for years but stopped when…Oh god." Nell gasped and slowly looked around at everyone. "His son was killed by another Marine's son."
"That could explain why he has the boys fight each other to the death." Deeks crossed his arms over his chest. "He could take one boy in like a replacement for his dead son and try to play out the situation in a way that works for him."
"That's just wrong." Sam shook his head. "But sadly it could happen. He could have had a break from reality after his son's death."
"I agree." Hetty said, appearing out of thin air. "I suggest you get a move on."
The team nodded and Callen directed them out of the room and outside to their cars before they headed to the address that popped up on all of their phones. Though none of them voiced it, they were all truly hoping that this guy was the one taking the boys. They all just wanted it to be over and for the boys that were still alive to go home to their parents.
When they got to the address, Callen ran up to the door and pounded on it with the side of his fist.
"Mr. Heinz, Federal Agents! Open up!" He yelled out.
They then heard the sound of something falling over and the scurrying of feet, prompting Sam to kick in the door and for him and Callen to head in through the front while Kensi and Deeks quickly circled around to meet out back.
They were only there for a few seconds before the back door burst open and their suspect barreled out only to be unceremoniously tackled into a rose bush by Deeks.
Kensi rushed over and cuffed the guy before she looked around the yard, her eyes falling onto the metal doors of a bulkhead. "There's a basement!" She yelled out and watched Callen and Sam exit the house, Sam pulling the doors opened and Callen made his way down the short flight of stairs as Deeks marched the guy to Kensi's car.
"They're not here." Callen stated and held out a shirt that one of the boys had been wearing. "They were here at some point in time though."
"Son of a…"Sam growled and stormed over to where the guy was standing next to Kensi's car.
The others watched him pin the guy to the SUV, and though they couldn't hear what he was saying, they could see the fear that crossed Heinz face and the way he started to visibly tremble. It only took less than three minutes before Sam made his way back over to them.
"They're in a warehouse a few miles away." He said and directed them back to their cars.
"Kensi, Deeks, bring Heinz to the boatshed. Sam and I will go get the boys." Callen stated.
He knew that the younger partners were not happy with his call, but that they would be worse for wear if those boys were as bad off as Callen feared they were. They didn't need to see boys so close to Wills age, beaten and crying for their parents.
"You've got it." Deeks said, having picked up on Callen's train of thought.
Once at the boatshed, they stuck the guy in the interrogation room and locked the door before they headed into the observation area and waited for word from the rest of their team.
"When this is over, I think we should take a week off and just spend time with the kids." Deeks stated and ran a hand down his face.
Kensi smiled and then bit her bottom lip in thought for a minute. "Deeks, when we go to pick a ring…I want the kids to help pick it out."
"Yeah?" Deeks smiled.
"Yeah," Kensi said, her smile matching his. "We're getting married Marty, and I want them to be a part of everything."
"Yes we are." Deeks said and slipped his hands into his pockets. "It also brings up a subject that we haven't talked about in a while. Once we're married, are we going to adopt the kids?"
"Do you still want to adopt them?" Kensi asked.
"Yes." Deeks nodded. "They're our kids Kens. I can't even begin to imagine life without them in it."
"Me either." Kensi admitted. "So yes, I think that once we're married we should file for adoption."
"Okay." Deeks beamed before his smile fell at the sound of Kensi's phone.
She pulled it out of her pocket and looked at the caller ID, before she answered. "Callen what do you have?" She asked.
Deeks watched her face go through a series of emotions before she hung up and turned to look at him.
"So?" Deeks slowly asked.
Kensi let out a sigh of relief and visibly relaxed. "They found the boys and are bringing them to the hospital to be checked out but they seem to be okay."
"Thank god." Deeks said and pulled Kensi into his arms
It was hours before they got to leave, Heinz having admitted to the kidnapping of each boy and having pit them together to literally fight to the death. And while he had sobbed and claimed that he was incredibly sorry for what he had done, none of them were sad to see him get lead away in cuffs.
"Where are we going?" Elijah asked from the backseat on the car.
Kensi and Deeks had picked the kids up from daycare and had explained that there was something that they needed to tell them, but that they were going to go somewhere first.
"We're almost there bud." Kensi said her heart beating erratically at the thought of going ring shopping, not to mention the fact that she was indeed going to marry her best friend and the man that she loved and then going to adopt the three children that completed their lives.
It was less than five minutes later when Deeks pulled up outside of a Zales store and cut the engine before he turned in his seat to face them.
"Kensi and I have some news." He said, getting the kids attention. "Kensi and I are going to get married."
"Really?" Will asked excitedly.
"Yes, really." Kensi nodded. "We're going to go into a store that sells rings and want you guys to help pick out my engagement ring."
"We get to help?" Elijah asked, seeming to like that idea.
"Yes." Deeks said turned to Isla. "What do you think little one?"
"Pretty ring," Isla said with a surprisingly serious look on her face.
"We'll pick out a really pretty one." Kensi agreed. "We need you all to be really good in the store though okay?"
Each kid promised to be good before Kensi and Deeks got them out of the car and led them into the small store. It was brightly lit inside with half dozen glass cases filled with jewelry of all kinds.
Deeks hoisted Isla into his arms and the boys went to different display cases to look at the different rings, pointing out random ones that both adults at least pretended to consider.
"How about this one?" Elijah pointed to a rather large and gaudy piece that had a burnt orange gem set in the very middle.
Deeks cringed when he caught sight of it and shook his head. "Not that one buddy, let's keep looking."
"Pretty," Isla said and pointed to a display in front of them.
Kensi walked over and looked at what the little had pointed to. It was in fact a gorgeous silver ring that had a band that twisted in the center to enclose three diamonds, and had several, smaller diamonds to each side of the center.
"Marty." Kensi said in a slightly awed voice.
He looked down at the ring and then at her with a sparkle in his eyes. "Is that the ring?" He asked.
"That's the ring." Kensi agreed and tickled Isla's side. "Someone has a good eye."
"Not even potty trained and already picking out jewelry." Deeks shook his head. "What are we going to do with her when she's a teenager and is big into jewelry?"
"I think we'll be doomed." Kensi smiled and called the boys over. "What do you guys think?"
"I like it." Will smiled.
"Me too." Elijah nodded.
"Let's get it then." Deeks said and called someone over to get the ring out of the case.
Once it was purchased, Deeks took it out of its box and slid it onto Kensi's ring finger and pulled her into a deep kiss.
"What do you guys say about going to get some ice cream to celebrate?" Kensi asked when they pulled apart.
"I think that's a great idea." Will said in all seriousness and saw his sibling's nod, their eyes glowing with the thought of the sugary treat.
"Well then by all means, Mr. Will, lead the way." Deeks said and allowed the little boy to lead them out of the store and back to the car.