Chapter 12

Deeks pulled up to the curb at Studio 6. The valet opened the door for the girls and then for Kensi. Deeks walked around the front end of the car, handing the keys to the valet who said "Hey Marty! Great to see you! You here to see Chris and the guys play tonight?"

Deeks smiled back. "You bet Tim. Hey, how did your big biology test go?"

"Aced it, man!"

Deeks laughed and pulled the young man into a hug. He whispered in his ear "There's a violin case in the back of my car. Could you grab it and bring it back to Chris? Quietly?" Tim grinned and nodded. Deeks thanked him and joined the three women waiting on him.

"Who's that?" asked Kensi.

"Tim? He's been a valet here for ages. He's going to UCLA during the day. Had a big test that he was worried about but he's smart, passed with flying colors. He's a great kid!"

He looked at Meaghan and Val, both of whom looked like they were close to tears. "Hey! Hey you two! What's the matter?" he started looking around, wondering who or what had caused such a drastic change in the teenagers.

"Marty! Do you see the line? We'll never get inside in time to see the band play! They come on in just over a half hour. It's going to take us two or three hours just to get to the front door!" wailed Meaghan. Relieved, he laughed and began to usher his charges past the long line, earning some glares along the way. When they neared the front of the line, they found the rest of their party waiting. Sam and Michelle, Callen and Joelle, Eric and Nell, HETTY AND GRANGER? Deeks stopped short and took in the sight of the two of them waiting with the rest.

"Surprise!" said Nell, looking guilty.

"Hey Deeks, about time you got here. They won't let us in. I thought you said we'd have no problem?" said Sam.

Deeks just grinned at him and walked up to the bouncer guarding the rope that everyone was lined up behind, reminding Kensi of the night they had gone to The Keen to rescue Meaghan and Val. Like that night, the guy's face lit up when Deeks said "Jessie! Looking good my friend!"

Jessie smiled and pulled Deeks into a hug. "Marty, good to see you! Is this the party Barry told me you were bringing in tonight?" taking in the odd selection of people now standing behind his friend. Deeks nodded and Jessie unhooked the rope, bowing them in. Once everyone was through, he rehooked it behind them and said "Hey, just want to say thanks again Marty! Gina is so relieved to have our wills in place now that we have the baby."

Deeks smiled and said 'No problem! How are your beautiful wife and daughter?" Jessie swelled up with pride and pulled out his cell phone, proudly showing Deeks his screen saver picture of Gina and Kelly. Smiling, Deeks handed the phone back "Getting more beautiful by the day buddy! We'll probably see you on the way out later?" Jessie nodded and told them to have a good time.

Once inside, they were immediately approached by a tall, good looking black man, dressed in a beautiful Armani suit. All the women in the group, including the teenagers, watched him approach with appreciation. When he reached them, he pulled Deeks into a hug and said "Good to see you Marty! I have the best table in the place reserved for you and your guests, right in front of the stage." The man turned and looked at the group saying "I'm Barry Shorter. Any friend of Marty's is welcome at my club!"

Meaghan gaped and finally said "You own the club? How do you know Marty?"

"Yeah." said Callen. "How do you know Marty?"

Barry smiled "When I first opened this place, some guys showed up one day telling me that I had to pay a monthly fee to their boss so that nothing bad would happen to my club. I know extortion when I hear it. I told them to get the hell out and that I wouldn't pay anyone a dime. Suddenly, I'm having trouble with the permits we had already been awarded, orders for food and drink mysteriously got cancelled. I asked around and found out these guys were seriously bad news. The last person who had a business here had refused to pay even when they pulled the same stunts on him. Eventually, he was found dead in an alley, his throat cut. They all told me to just pay and deal with it as if it were any other business expense. Vivid Dreams was one of the first bands I booked to play here. I complained about the situation one night to Chris, who said he knew a cop who might be able to help. I think you can guess who that cop was?"

"Marty?" asked Val.

"Yup, it was me. I came in and met with Barry while the club was closed. I got all the info I could and went to my boss with it. He thought it sounded like something we should pursue and we came up with a plan that involved me going in undercover as Max. We ended up arresting them, not only for extortion, but also for arms trafficing and drug dealing as well. We were even able to get a confession from the guy who had killed the previous owner of this building. The whole group of them are doing serious time right now." Deeks supplied.

"Everyone with a business in this area owes Marty one." Barry said.

Deeks shook his head no. "I was only doing my job Barry."

Barry raised an eyebrow at him and sighed, obviously this was an old conversation between the two. "Come on, your table's in Cassie's area."

"Cassie? That's great!" responded Deeks. Kensi frowned at him, wondering exactly who Cassie was and why Deeks seemed so happy that she would be waiting on them. They moved as a group, but kept stalling when someone stopped Deeks to say hello or give him a hug. Finally, they reached their table. Barry pulled over more chairs as the group was larger by two than what was originally planned. He stayed and talked for a few minutes until someone informed he had a phone call. Telling them to have a good time, he informed them that drinks were on the house. Deeks protested but Barry paid no attention, just walked away.

Callen looked at Deeks and said "Is there anyone who works here that you don't know, Deeks?"

Deeks laughed and started to reply "Of course, I don't know every…" but was interrupted by a tall, beautiful redhead in a scanty waitress uniform.

"Marty! Barry told me you were coming tonight and that I was to take good care of you, like I wouldn't have any way!" she pulled him out of his chair into a hug, his arms going around her, enthusiastically returning it. Kensi immediately went into fight mode, getting ready to get out of her chair and physically remove the redhead's hands from her Deeks, when the woman let him go and held up her left hand. "Notice anything different?" she asked.

Deeks grinned and said "You're engaged? That's awesome! Who asked who? I want details!"

Smiling, Cassie said "Paula asked me! Oh Marty, it was so romantic! She took me out to dinner and then for a long walk on the beach. She said the most beautiful things to me about wanting to spend the rest of our lives together and then she asked me to marry her!"

Deeks kissed her on the cheek and said "Congratulations Cassie! Let Paula know how happy I am for the two of you?"

Cassie said "I will! Actually, we have a favor to ask you. Would you officiate at our wedding? After all, you were the one who introduced us!"

Deeks smiled, flattered that she had asked. "I'm not licensed to do that but I am sure I can apply for one. How soon is the wedding?"

"Oh, not for a while yet. You have plenty of time. We haven't told the parental units yet. Now, what can I get everyone?" Congratulations were said by everyone at the table and Cassie proceeded to take their drink orders, asking the girls if they would like virgin mojitos, to which they eagerly replied yes. Deeks looked at his watch and realized he would need to get backstage if the band was going to go on in time.

Standing up, he leaned over to Kensi and said "I'll be back in a bit. I just want to go back and wish Chris and the guys good luck." She nodded and went back to her conversation with Michelle and Nell. Backstage the guys were relieved to see him. They went over the playlist one last time, Deeks pleased that he knew all the songs and shouldn't have any problems.