"So…" Deeks held his hand out to Kensi and wiggled his fingers. "I'll take the truck back, you go with Sam?" He was heeding to Hetty's request, somewhat. It wasn't like they could avoid each other, but until he knew more about his super secret lady follower he would try to do as she asked.
Kensi shook her head, gripping the keys. "No. I'll drive, you talk."
Self-consciously he looked around them before nodding and climbing into the SUV, as if he thought the boogeyman was going to jump out from behind a car and get them. The anxiety he was feeling was getting worse and worse as his day progressed, and the irony of the whole situation wasn't lost on him. Everyone, he assumed, was worried that his relationship with Kensi would affect their work performance when in fact, being with her made him stronger. He didn't begin to feel on edge until he didn't have her by his side.
As soon as she started driving, she slipped a business card in his hand - Detective Jacqueline Rivera, LAPD Internal Affairs Department. "This is her?" He asked, swallowing down his anger that always consumed him when he felt that Kensi had been threatened somehow.
She nodded and spoke calmly. "She was tailing me on my way back to the bodyshop."
That was explanation enough of how she'd met the other detective. He knew his partner well enough to know what went down. "What did she tell you?"
"Just that they have opened an investigation. On you," she added softly. "And please don't take my next question the wrong way."
Deeks glanced out the window and sighed. "No, I don't know why."
The black Excursion pulled to a stop at a red light, so she turned to face him. "That's not what I was going to ask."
If only there was a simple answer to the question she really wanted to know. He wished he could tell her no, they won't find anything. He also wished that saying it could make it true. The longer he remained silent, the harder it was for him to find the words she didn't want to hear.
"Deeks." Her eyes bore holes in the side of his face until he finally turned to face her, his eyes so full of distant memories and regret that she didn't need to hear the answer to the question she never thought she'd have to ask. "Okay," she whispered, returning her attention to the road.
"We all have skeletons in our closet, Kens."
"You don't have to tell me that. I have your back, like always," she said, tightening her grip on the steering wheel. "And we can tell each other where our bodies are buried later. Right now, we need a plan."
"We need a plan?" He sputtered. "I don't think I understand."
"You said that Hetty was looking in to this and to let her worry about it. But that's not good enough for me."
They needed a plan, he realized. Not as a team, but as a pair. "You don't trust her…"
"I didn't say that," Kensi bristled. "But my faith and my trust is not as strong as it used to be."
Deeks got it, he really did. There were times when Kensi was in Afghanistan that he questioned why he still allowed himself to follow Hetty blindly. Perhaps he was blind because of the wool over his eyes. "So. Plan."
"You need to find out why they're gunning for you. Quietly."
Her pursed his lips. "Agreed. Do you think Hetty knows why?"
She nervously smoothed her ponytail. "One way to find out. We go in, you let Hetty know about Detective Rivera and ask her what she knows about the investigation. If you're satisfied with her answer, tell her what you think she needs to know."
"I mean, this is Hetty we're talking about. She's an enigma wrapped in a riddle tipsy on Pappy Van Winkle's. What if I can't read her?"
"Trust your gut," she said, dropping her hand from the steering wheel. She curled her fingers around his tightly clenched fist and he relaxed it instantly. "If she's honest with you, be honest with her."
And himself. "And if she's not?" That was a strong possibility and he knew it. It wasn't that their boss was malicious, but more so an incurable control freak. Everything that went on in their building, she knew. Everything about their lives, she knew. Everything in their past, she knew. There were probably things about his life that she was aware of that even he didn't know. She was the keeper of all secrets.
"If she lies…" Kensi squeezed his hand. "Lie back."
Easier said than done.