This chapter was a struggle-it gets us from here to there but we gotta find the shooter yet. But first our kids need to know they are ok

As Kensi was driving back to the hospital she got a call from her Mom advising her that Deeks was awake and asking for her. "Tell him I'll be there in 20 minutes."

After Kensi arrived she began filling Deeks in on what he didn't know, Julia just sat there and smiled. There IS a son in law in my future. "And that gets you up to date cutie" and she smiled as she sat back. "Oh and Hetty got the IA investigation shut down. It was all innuendo and circumstantial. She thinks it's part of the investigation into all of us due to Afghanistan and no, your addendum (written in response to Makar's report which was also hand written and never made part of the official classified document-the net of the two was it had to be done but he stopped short and saved them anyway) will never see the light of day. The greater good has been preserved.

Left unsaid was 'who shot Marty Deeks? The rest of the time was spent filling each other in on what had happened so there were no blanks and Kensi could add Marty's input to the debrief the next day. All Deeks added was that he didn't expect Nicole and the hair change was to buy time with Jack.

Finally he put his hand out for her and as she took it he said "I have to know for sure that we are good princess. Jack shook me up and a lot of old insecurities came back. The other stuff was small so not a problem but you did say one thing that still worries me. You said that you didn't love me that way referring to your girlfriends but if we are all in we are all in and I assumed that meant in love as part of the package. You do or don't Sugar Bear. I definitely love you and am planning on this relationship lasting for all time."

Kensi reacted like she was shocked but finally said "no that was a lousy choice of words. You are the best man I have ever met next to daddy. We are forever-great sex is just a bonus sex machine. Yes I love you but if you don't let your hair and scruff grow back and go back to its natural color, that is subject to change" And she gave him that 'this is your home' smile he loved. She followed that by saying "it's just been a while since I've been in a relationship. For so long I only had to worry about me away from work. Now I am remembering that a healthy relationship takes works. I promise I'm in for the long haul, just remember we both need to be patient, besides I don't wanta lose my sex machine!" This last line was delivered with an evil smile.

"I need to say this to you and you mom should hear this too- -I don't have any role models for a successful relationship and haven't had a chance to set down with Sam and Michelle. I would like us to do that. They can help us and I'm sure they want to. I know you said he talked about unexpected things popping up-or out-but you and I can deal with anything if we're together. But know that I get it princess. As I aid I've never been where we are before so we both have to be patient-you to remember and me to learn how to be in a relationship and you won't lose your- -"

"Oh my lord, excuse me, way TMI Mr. and Mrs. Sex machine" interrupted Julia causing Kensi and Deeks to both turn red and then start laughing. Tomorrow they would start trying to figure out who was after him. Kensi settled in beside him and took his hand and began rubbing circles on the back of his palm. The 3 of them talked for a few minutes bringing Julia up to date on their relationship status and what had happened. Finally she just smiled and leaned over to place a kiss on his cheek as he fell asleep.

Chucking Deeks said "ok we'll stop, but I gotta know that we're good Kens, are you good?"

"I'm good" she said with a huge smile.

"Then I'm really good cause your good also" he said showing her his best grin. "Now on to who's trying to kill me this time."

The next day at 10 am, everyone gathered at the OSP and did a complete review of the op and the ruse Kensi and Deeks played on the rest of them including Jack being an unfortunate accident. As the meeting ended Kensi offered "Deeks and I are just fine. He figured out Jack was not part of this so he knew I wasn't cheating. That's put to bed and so is the IA thing? That leaves the question of who shot him on the table. What do we have on the shooting-ballistics, video, anything?"

Before she could answer Eric's computer "rang" and as he looked at the screen he announced "ok, the ballistics are back on the bullet that hit Deeks plus the info. on the chopper- -it is owned by LA Air Tours Inc.- -no known ties to anything criminal. Also, after watching the surveillance footage on Kensi's place we found something else." He then put it up and ran it thru Jack and Nicole leaving. "This is where we stopped but now watch. We found this early this morning." The tape began rolling again. After fast forwarding thru about 10 minutes he returned it to normal speed and they watched as a lone figure in a hood entered the house. About 10 minutes later the figure came out carrying a rifle case. "We can't get a good enough visual to run facial rec. All we can tell you is that it is a woman, possibly Latin or Greek heritage with long dark hair. She either got real lucky or knew where the cameras were."

Nell interrupted "Oh crap, the ballistics say that Deeks was shot with Kensi's dad's rifle." This announcement was meet with silence as they all looked at each other. Kensi just shook her head and wondered out loud "why-what-say that again." Then she stood there dumbstruck. Her dad's rifle had shot her Deeks. No, this is unacceptable. How can I look him in the eye and tell him that was one of many thoughts running thru her mind.

As a tear threatened to roll down Kensi's cheek, Hetty offered "Eric start checking any and all cameras in the area. We need a car or a face or a tattoo-anything to help ID this person. In the meantime Ms. Blye go back and talk to Mr. Deeks and see if he has anything to add given this latest information. For the record, we all know agent Blye had nothing to do with this so pursuit of that angle is off the table. Mr. Callen and Mr. Hanna, see what you can find out from Air Tours.

The agents all filed out.

At the hospital Kensi was worrying about telling Deeks what had happened. As she paced outside his room, her mom walked up. Kensi explained what had happened and said "mom how the heck do I tell him that I am the reason he was shot?"

"Kensi Marie Blye" her mother snorted. "This is not your fault. If it wasn't Don's rifle it would have been another one. This person wanted to shoot Marty for a reason. Your rifle could have been anyone's. Yes they did it to send a message to both of you but it is not on you."

Once inside Kensi laid out everything they had learned but hesitated about the rifle. Finally her mom spoke up and announced "for heaven sakes Kensi, just tell the man. He won't be upset!"

After managing to hem and haw it out she finished by saying who is causing all this. The person who shot you has to have some tie to the IA investigation. Maybe they are frustrated that it was quashed. Any thoughts Deeks?"

After a few minutes he replied "past shooting my dad, getting a couple crooks off on technicalities as a public defender and then some shaky stuff undercover-all of which is on record and signed off on during the after action debrief, there is nothing. Only things with NCIS are Afghanistan and Romania, neither of which they would have access to or would be cause for IA to stick their nose into my past. As for stopping the investigation it had to have been Vice Chief Maddox. He and I go way back. He was the beat cop when mom and I had trouble with Brandel. He is the one who made sure they knew why I shot him and got me hooked up with some people when mom freaked. He had to be the one Bates went to with the information. He would kill the whole thing in a minute. Remind me to thank them both."

And there it is-now we have to go hunting for the shooter-time for a little feedback. You still likin' this?