After weeks of patiently waiting, Deeks had finally gotten his discussion with Hetty and weirdly enough, it had gone better than he expected.
A lot of anger had been building up inside him, not only during these past few weeks but ever since Kensi had gotten reassigned and all he needed was to unleash it.
He remembered that night like as if it were yesterday. The night that was supposed to be the beginning of the rest of their lives. The night that Kensi was taken away from him.
Why did Hetty ever made him think that he was responsible? He didn't get an answer to that.
He remembered going back to an empty house that night and feeling like an empty shell. Even Monty couldn't cheer him up.
He never admitted it to anyone, but dark thoughts clouded his mind every single moment of every single day that Kensi was across the world and away from him.
Countless nights he had remained sleepless, tossing and turning, wondering what was Kensi going through.
Every time his phone rang, he feared it would be bearer of bad news.
Yet, every morning he pulled off flawlessly the mask of the carefree shaggy boy.
He had to remain strong in order to remain sane. He had to believe that he would see her beautiful smile again. Hear her weird laugh. Smell the lavender on her hair. Feel her soft caress.
He knew all too well that in their line of work,"future" is was a luxury that they may never have.
Even tomorrow couldn't be taken for granted.
That is why he had finally decided to make today count. For once in his life he knew exactly what he wanted, and he was ready to claim it. A chance to be with the one woman he loved.
Of course there was one, slight, little problem. That woman couldn't even remember him, but it didn't matter.
He had faith in her.
He was absolutely certain that her memory would come back sooner or later.
Would Kensi give him a chance? Would she still consider spending the rest of her life with him? Would she still love him after all the secrets he had kept from her? Secrets that nearly cost her life?
Yes, all those questions taunted him, but he just had to take the risk. After all life rewards the courageous few. Isn't that what they say?
He had waited for too long. It was finally time for him to follow his heart. Take a leap of faith!
He took a deep breath, stood up and walked towards the bullpen. It was easy to guess that Kensi was still there since her strong laugh echoed through the corridors.
"What's so funny?" he asked as he joined the little group.
All the gang was there. Kensi, Sam and Callen, Eric and Nell; and of course Hetty as well.
"Oh nothing," Sam shook his head "we were just telling Kensi stories about you. You know, to help her regain her memory."
"What kind of stories?" Deeks nervously run his fingers through his hair as he could clearly see behind the wickedness of their plan "you mean about the time I rescued her from a room full of laser bombs? Or perhaps the time when I rushed out of the hospital and killed the bad guys only hours after I gotten out of surgery?"
"Humble brag much?" Callen teased.
"You really did that?" Kensi looked at Deeks amazed.
"Yes! And I would do it again if I had to," he simply stated looking directly at those mismatching eyes.
"We've left those stories for you. After all we know how you love the ones where you are the charming hero, saving the damsel in distress," Sam pouted his back.
"We were just telling her about the time you peed yourself in the car after an all-nighter stakeout," Callen tried to hold back his laugh.
"And the night that you got so drunk and called each one of us to protest you love. I still got your voice mail," Sam took out his phone and pressed play and the sound of an obviously very drunk Deeks surrounded the room.
"Sam? Sam are you there? I just wanted to tell you…(long pause)…..I love you man. You may be all rough on the outside, but you are a teddy bear on the inside. Not a polar bear though. A Norweigan bear perhaps. Not that is has to do with the fact that you are….you know…brown…it's not a racist comment…anyway…oh God my head is spinning…I should probably get a cab cause I am seeing two of me in the mirror and that's not a good sign… (vomiting sounds) Oh that's definitely not good. Is there any chance you can stop by and pick me up? I don't want Kensi to see me like this. My looks right now, would be the ultimate ammo for her armory of insults. …. (more vomiting sounds…..) If you can't come….that's fine…..Just remember….I love you man!"
Everyone was literally rolling on the floor laughing. Everyone apart from Deeks who was turning red from embarrassment.
"You know, I think I've kept his voice mail too," Callen smirked and searched for his phone but Deeks was quicker and grabbed it from his reach.
"No, I am pretty sure you deleted it." Deeks shook his head.
"I am pretty sure I didn't," Callen laughed "now can I get my phone back?" he reached forward his hand but Deeks refused to give back the device.
"Ok, that's enough," Kensi placed herself between the two men clearly amused "I think we've teased my partner enough for now."
"Thank you," Deeks looked at her relieved and handed over the phone back to Callen.
"Round two of teasing begins in two minutes," Kensi giggled.
"Oh, not you too!" he looked at her like a hurt puppy.
Just one single look from him and she was gone. As much as she wanted to keep this teasing going, she certainly didn't want to make her partner feel poked or bullied.
"Fine," she raised her hands in defeat and walked towards him, her face only inches away from his "but remember this shaggy boy. We'll take this somewhere more private and I expect you to share every single of embarrassing detail with me. Do we have a deal?"
"What if I don't?" he squinted his eyes.
"Well, if you refuse to be honest with me, I know where to come to." she stepped back stood between Callen and Sam and placed both hands across their shoulders.
"No no no!" Deeks walked forward and pulled her away from them "that is not an option. I don't trust these guys. They will embellish the stories with unnecessary fictional details just to make me look like a fool. I will tell you all you want to know."
"Actually, I think I can help you with that," Eric interrupted and looked at Nell.
"Are you thinking what I am thinking?" she asked obviously reading his mind.
A simple nod from Eric was all that was needed. Suddenly, the "twins" were rushing up the stairs and into the ops shouting We'll be right back.
What on earth were they up to? No one could really guess.
Everyone was just staring at each other curiously, wandering what the wonder twins had come up with.
Within seconds, the duo were back in the bullpen only now, Nell was holding a usb flash drive.
"I think you may find this helpful," she said with a smirk as she handed the usb to Kensi.
"What's this?" Kensi examined the tiny gadget.
"It's a flash drive," Eric scoffed.
"I know what it is," Kensi snapped offended by Eric's comment "What I mean is, what's in it?"
"Just every recorded mission that you and Deeks were assigned to." Nell bragged.
"Every single mission?" Deeks exclaimed?
"Yeap! Stake outs, undercover everything…." the tiny analyst confirmed.
"I didn't even know you were allowed to have this material in your possession," Deeks stared at them surprised.
"To be honest, this kind of material is not to leave the premises without my authorization." Hetty interrupted "but considering the circumstances, I certainly approve the transfer."
"Thank you," Kensi smiled at her.
There were still a lot of questions that she needed to address with Hetty, but now was not the time. Actually, she was relieved that Deeks walked out of his discussion with the aged woman emotionally unharmed. Or at least so he seemed.
She may had spent almost 24 hours with her partner, but he still remained a mystery.
There were still a lot of details that needed to revealed about him and that flash drive might be the key to them.
"I will study it as soon as I get home," Kensi put the flash drive in her bag.
"Speaking of home," Callen continued, "When are you planning on coming back. As your team leader I am obliged to know."
"Don't play the superior card on me Callen. You know it won't work," Kensi grinned.
'Fine then, I am asking you as a friend. When will we have privilege of officially welcoming you back in our little family?" Callen rephrased his question.
Kensi couldn't help but smile. There was no doubt about it. She had missed those guys dearly.
"I don't know," she shrugged her shoulders "I am trying to take it one step at a time. I am not going to lie to you, being here feels right. But you have to understand. In order to come back, I need to find myself first. Not so much for me, but for you guys and of course my partner." she nervously bit her lip as she gazed into those blue eyes.
"I need to feel absolutely confident that I can have his back and protect him in out in the field," she continued.
"I am the last person you should worry about," Deeks softly said.
"You are supposed to be my partner Deeks. It is my job to keep you safe," she bluntly stated completely unaware of the fact that she had used that same expression only a few months ago.
A huge smile escaped Deeks lips at the sound of those words. There she was.
Kensi….HIS Kensi was still there and she was fighting to take control.
"What are you smiling about?" she asked after she noticed that usual smile on shaggy's face.
"Nothing important," he shook his head "are you ready to go?"
"I think so, "she looked around the room hoping she wasn't forgetting anything "where are we going next?"
Deeks raised his eyebrows in mischief and smiled wickedly.
"Oh dear God, where are you taking me?" she wondered in horror.
"You'll see!" he started walking towards the exit but suddenly he stopped and looked back at her "you wouldn't happen to have a bathing suit here, would you?"