Chapter 11

They'd managed to get through the day without catching a case. They had all spent the majority of their time catching up on back logged paperwork, much to the delight of Hetty. When quitting time rolled around and they were leaving the Mission, Sam said "Michelle and I'll be there at 8:30 as planned, Deeks. We're looking forward to date night!" Callen had chuckled and confirmed he and Joelle would also be there as planned. Nell then texted him the same for her and Eric, the two of them still up in ops finishing up some things of their own.

Smiling at Kensi, Deeks said "I'll pick you up at 7:30? We'll go pick up Meaghan and Valerie and then meet everyone else at the club." While they usually drove Kensi's car everywhere, if they were going to have to valet, they took Deeks's SUV. It wouldn't be good if some kid got the bright idea of snooping around in Kensi's SRX and somehow found her stash of weapons in the hidden compartment. True it was well hidden, but it was better not to take chances. She grinned and nodded, already planning what she was going to wear tonight to knock her partner/boyfriend's socks off.

Heading home, Deeks thought about how tonight was going to go. He was having second thoughts about telling the team through the song. If he'd learned one thing, it was that his partner didn't always like surprises. Sighing, he decided to split the difference, surprise her that he was playing tonight but not use it as the means to out their secret. Feeling better, he started humming as he once again began looking forward to tonight. Having played with the band before, he knew he didn't suffer from stage fright, although playing the violin in public might be a bit more difficult for him. Once home, he took Monty for a walk, showered and dressed. Locking up behind him, he stowed his violin case in the back of the SUV. It had a shelf that made it impossible for anyone to see what was in the back, so no one should be any the wiser.

Pulling up in front of Kensi's he turned the car off and went up to knock on her door, feeling like a kid on a date. The door opened and the vision in front of him said "Why didn't you just use your key? Deeks? Deeks?" He couldn't speak; she just took his breath away. He couldn't believe this knockout was with him. He frowned a little; already jealous of the looks he knew she would be getting at the club. Her irritable "What the hell is wrong with you, Deeks?" shook him out of his paralysis.

Grinning he said "I'm going to be the envy of every man, and quite possibly most of the women, at the club tonight!" She blushed and then smiled widely, happy that her plan to knock his socks off had worked. Reaching out, she pulled him in through the door and into her arms for a passionate kiss. He eventually pulled back, resting his forehead against hers and said "Keep that up Fern and no one will see us tonight!" She laughed, pulled out of his arms and went back into the bedroom to put on the finishing touches to her outfit and freshen up her makeup.

He held her hand all the way to the Sheltons, both of them making small talk or just enjoying comfortable silences. They pulled up in front of the mansion and had barely gotten out when the front door swung open and two very excited teenagers flew down the stairs, making a beeline for the back seat of the SUV. Both had on the Vivid Dreams t-shirts he had gotten for them from Chris. Laughing, he made his way up the wide steps, Kensi just behind him, to greet the Admiral and Laura Shelton who were watching their daughter's antics with smiles on their faces. "Admiral Shelton, Mrs. Shelton, thank you for letting the girls go with us. We promise we'll take very good care of them. We shouldn't be too late." he said, reaching out a hand to the Admiral who shook it with a smile.

He then turned to Mrs. Shelton who smiled at him as well. "I've asked you to call me Laura many times Marty. Why can't you do that for me?" Her opinion of the LAPD detective had done a complete 180.

Deeks smiled back. "I'll make more of an effort Mrs. Shel…Laura." They all laughed and the Sheltons turned to Kensi, exchanging greetings with her as well. Kensi and Deeks had both been coming out to the house on a weekly basis to teach Meaghan and Valerie self-defense. Actually, at last count there were seven girls taking lessons on Saturday morning. The Sheltons were pretty sure it was the hot detective that was the real draw, not the lessons, but it didn't matter why they were there, just that they were learning to take care of themselves, to better their chances of not becoming a victim. Laura Shelton sat in on each class, at Deeks's request. While he hated to think that it could happen, he wanted to be sure that none of the girls would ever be able to accuse him or Kensi of something inappropriate. The lessons could get a little handsy.

Laura had actually started taking the lessons herself, liking what she saw of the class the two had put together. It stressed that the girls should always take any opportunity to get away, to only fight when it was their only option. The girls had been taught how to disarm someone with a knife, how and where to hit someone to disable them so that they could get away. They had seen a change in Meaghan as the lessons progressed; she was more self-assured than she had been. Several other parents had mentioned similar changes in their daughters as well. It had been fascinating to the woman who had grown up in a very genteel environment. She had even tested some of the things they learned on John, much to his delight.

It was a measure of the trust that the detective and his partner had earned from both Sheltons, that they were allowing their underage daughter to go to a club where there would be drinking and dancing. Marty had assured them he had talked to the owner and that he was well aware of the ages of the two girls who would be in their party that evening. No one would serve them anything other than water or soft drinks. In addition, they would be under the supervision of three NCIS agents, one CIA agent and one LAPD detective. How many other teenagers could say that? They exchanged some more small talk before one of the girls leaned into the front seat and blew the horn. It was time to get this show on the road.

Laughing they said their good-byes and headed back to the car, not even noticing when their hands linked. The Sheltons noticed however. Laura looked at John, they had both seen a change in the interaction between the partners a couple months ago and had just had their suspicions confirmed. "John, are there rules against relationships between agents?"

"Not specifically, but it's kind of a given. It would depend on their management team or if they can keep it under wraps. I think we've just seen that isn't happening."

"It would be a shame, they are so well suited!" Laura pouted at her husband, running a hand down his arm.

Laughing at her, he knew exactly what she was asking. "If it comes to that, I'll throw whatever weight I have behind keeping them together. Is that what you were trying to get me to say?"

Laura leaned into him and smiled her thanks. She reached up and pulled his head down to hers for a deep kiss and then said "We're alone in the house for a few hours, my love." John kicked the front door shut and followed his giggling wife up the stairs to their room.