Well, here I am again. Every time I think this story is done, someone comes up with a great idea to keep it going. Hopefully, I didn't get too wordy this time. It just took on a life of its own. This has now more than doubled in size... lol. Let me know what you think!

Thanks to honus47 for the suggestion that led to chapters 10-13!

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Chapter 10

Three months later

Deeks pulled into the Mission parking area, a wide grin on his face. Last night had been one of the nights he and Kensi had agreed to take off from their relationship, to allow them some personal space. But, he'd missed her badly. He was only too glad to be heading into work so he could see her beautiful face. He thought back over the last few months. Things had seemed to shift between them after the waltz in the gym. They had started to move forward in their relationship again, culminating in Kensi lacing her fingers through his at the ice skating rink and stating she wanted to go all in with him. He had kissed her right there, several times in fact, not caring who might see them. Fortunately, none of their other team mates had been witness to their impromptu make out session. The trip to Mammoth had been one of the best of his life, even if they hadn't gotten much snowboarding in.

His grin faded a little as he remembered the day of their first official fight that had ended with this agreement to take a night off once in a while. It had started off so good, with her waking him up by softly kissing her way up his arm and then onto his back, but then, it had gone bad. Then it had gone from bad to worse to horrific. He'd tried to tease her about her friends who they had spent the previous evening with but she had been hurt by his words, something he would never intentionally do, but she teased him about his friends all the time. Things had escalated and words were said on both sides that hurt feelings. He'd been glad when both their phones rang, figuring it would be a case and they could stop this before something was said that couldn't be taken back. He would do anything to take back that thought when he heard the words that Sam had been shot and was in surgery, fighting for his life. When they'd gotten to the Mission they had found Thapa in the middle of things once again.

For whatever reason, he and Thapa had formed a connection that the others didn't share. He found the older man to be wise, philosophical, funny and dangerous. It was easy to forget he could, and had, separated a man's head from his body with one stroke of his blade. The day had progressed to horrific as Thapa died on the floor of the hospital, having taken a bullet meant for Sam, while Deeks had knelt by his side, begging him to hang on. That night had been the first time he and Kensi had gone home to their own places since Mammoth. He had wanted to grieve alone and she had been happy to go her own way. He had lain on his couch for what felt like hours, trying to figure out what he could have done differently, something, anything that would have changed how events had turned out. From the perspective of hindsight, there were so many things that they could have done, but nothing would bring him back.

Making a decision, he had gotten off the couch, gone into his bedroom closet and dug around in one of the boxes marked Touching Wood. He had pulled out his old music composition notebook. This was something he hadn't done in years. At one time it had been his refuge, putting his fears, hopes, thoughts into words and setting them to music. After two of his fellow band members had been gunned down by the South Land Kings, he had not only put away his violin, but also his compositions. Since playing for Meaghan and then for Kensi, he had been taking the violin out more and more, playing for her, playing for himself. He had wondered if this old therapy of his would take away the pain he felt at the loss of someone he had considered a friend, a mentor. Sitting back down on the couch, he had written until 3:30 the next morning, putting together a rock ballad full of new found love and the grief at the sudden loss of a friend.

The work had been rough, but he'd polished it up over the next few weeks. The song required not only a guitar, but a violin. He had remembered his words to Meaghan about violins not being just for classical music and he'd incorporated movements for it into the song. Eventually, he had shown it to Chris who'd loved it and asked if his band could play it. He'd agreed, with the caveat that no one else knew the song came from him. Chris hadn't really understood why but had agreed. He didn't play the violin but the other guitarist, Brad, at least had a rudimentary knowledge. They were still practicing it, hoping to get good enough to add it to the band's repertoire. Chris had said he'd let him know when they were ready.

Things with him and Kensi were back on track, apologies made and more care taken when teasing. No one at OSP knew about them. They'd kept it quiet to prove the point that their relationship wouldn't interfere with how they did their jobs. Now, after two months of being together, they had finally decided to tell the team tonight at Studio 6, where all them were going to see Vivid Dreams play. He'd even gotten permission from Admiral and Mrs. Shelton to take Meaghan and Valerie's parents had also agreed. He was looking forward to it but with some trepidation, still not sure how everyone would react. Tomorrow, they would tell Hetty who would, most likely, then tell Granger. They'd already promised each other that they would leave NCIS if either Hetty or Granger threatened to split their partnership up.

Putting the car in park, he started to get out when his phone rang. He pulled it out of his jeans pocket and smiled at the caller id. "Chris? How you doing man? I'm looking forward to tonight!" Then frowned and pulled the phone away from his ear, looking at it in confusion. Putting it back to his ear he said "Say again?"

"Marty, you gotta help me out tonight! Brad got called home to Chicago. His mom took a turn for the worse." Brad's mom had early onset Alzheimer's and was in a care facility. He often had to fly back home on the spur of the moment to help out his family. When that happened, Marty would sit in with the band to cover for him. This way they wouldn't have to cancel the gig and lose out on the money. For most of the guys, this was their only source of income. Marty had always made sure that Brad got his cut; the facility his mom was in wasn't cheap.

"Chris, I've got people coming with me tonight! I can't just leave them hanging." he responded.

"Well, if I can't find someone to take Brad's place tonight, I'll have to cancel and you won't be seeing us play anyway!" Chris lobbed back.

Deeks sighed, knowing he was trapped. "Ok, I'll do it." He wasn't sure how he was going to be able to tell Kensi they would probably need to change their plans to tell the team. Maybe they could still work something out.

Chris sighed in relief and said "Thank you! Oh, Marty? Bring your violin, we've added the song and were going to play it for you tonight as a surprise. Now the surprise is that you get to play it with us for its debut!" He hung up before Deeks could respond, not that he was sure he could have formed a coherent thought anyway. Sam and Callen had heard him play at the Sheltons, but tonight Eric and Nell would be there as well, along with Michelle and Joelle. Things were going sideways quickly. He sighed; he'd had such high hopes for today. It was time to head into the Mission and let Kensi in on the change of plans. Maybe a case would come up and he'd have to back out on Chris. Everyone else would have to cancel as well, so he wouldn't be letting anyone down except Meaghan and Valerie, and he could always find a way to make it up to them.

Suddenly, he stopped and thought. Why tell her? Why not surprise her along with everyone else? He could have Chris dedicate the song to her and let that be the way the team found out. She would find it romantic! At least, he hoped she would….