Chapter 13

Back at their table, Kensi looked at her watch and frowned. If Deeks didn't get back here soon he was going to miss the band coming out. Just as she finished that thought, the lights dimmed a bit as the band came out on stage. She really wasn't paying attention, still scanning the crowds for him when she heard Meaghan gasp and say "Marty!" Looking at the stage, she was stunned to see Deeks pick up one of the guitars that was waiting for them on the stage. Looking around the table, she saw the same stunned looks on everyone's face except Hetty's. The older woman was smiling smugly, looking for all the world like this was exactly what she had expected to happen tonight. Kensi wondered if she actually had expected it, why else would she have invited herself and Granger along?

Chris walked up to the mic and said "Who's ready for some rock and roll?" The crowd erupted into yells and whistles. It was obvious the band was popular. They began to play and Deeks was right in the middle of all it, playing so well that Kensi couldn't stop her grinning. That was her boyfriend up there! They played seven songs, Meaghan and Val singing along, knowing all the words to each one. When the notes from the last song faded away, Chris said "We're going to do a new song tonight. One that was written by a member of this band. We hope you like it!" He started to play his guitar and Deeks joined in on the violin. While everyone had been paying attention to Chris, Deeks had changed instruments. The haunting sounds of the violin complimented the guitar as Chris sang about love and loss. Midway through the song, it called for a solo by the violin and Deeks leaned into the music, playing with all his heart, remembering the man he had cared for, thinking about the woman he loved, sitting out there in the audience. When the solo was done, Chris seamlessly joined back in and by the end of the song, the club was mostly silent. When the last words were sung, the applause was deafening.

Kensi sat still, her mind on the words Chris had just sung. She was pretty sure that Deeks had been the one to write it. There was something about it that reminded her of him so vividly. She knew the loved one lost had been Thapa. While she had sort of liked the little man, Deeks had quickly established a deep bond with him that had surprised the rest of them. She knew how devastated he had been when Thapa had died. Looking up, her eyes met his and he smiled at her, letting her know he was good now. She smiled back, not noticing that everyone at the table was watching the silent conversation going on between the two. Callen and Sam exchanged troubled glances, if this was what they thought it was then the whole team dynamics could be thrown off, not to mention that Hetty or Granger might split the partners up if they suspected a romantic relationship between the two. Worst case scenario, it could mean Deeks going back to LAPD full time. Something neither man was willing to contemplate. Years ago, maybe, but not now. He was family and they would fight for him.

The band announced they were taking a break and would be back in half an hour. Deeks headed to the stairs closest to his friends, trying to get to them, but being stopped every few feet by someone who wanted to know who wrote the song, to talk about how beautifully he had played the violin. By the time he made it to them, he only had a few minutes left before the next set. Meaghan threw herself into his arms and said "Marty that was the best song they've ever played! You were so good! Do you know which member of the band wrote it? I loved the violin solo!"

Deeks hugged her back and said "I'm glad you liked it Meaghan! I told you violins could be played in rock and roll." Meaghan pulled back and looked at him suspiciously, wondering if he had written the song. It was too coincidental that some member of her favorite band had suddenly written a song for the violin, an instrument that had never surfaced during any of their gigs before. She opened her mouth to ask him directly but didn't get the chance as the band started to come back on stage. He said a quick good bye and headed back up, this time no one stopped him, everyone wanting the band to start playing again.

Taking their places, the band played for another hour before calling it quits. They were applauded off the stage and came back for three encores. When Deeks finally made it back to the table the second time, everyone clapped him on the back and told him how impressed they were. He asked if anyone wanted to go backstage and meet the band and was surprised when everyone took him up on it, even Granger. They made their way to the room where the band was relaxing, only being stopped one more time by Barry who had just looked at Deeks, shaken his head and walked away, leaving Deeks grinning after him.

Thankfully the room was fairly large as there were a lot of them. Meaghan and Val had the guys sign their t-shirts, practically bouncing off the walls in all their excitement. Chris pulled Deeks aside and said "That was one of our best sets ever Marty. Cindy is going to be pissed she missed it. I told her you were sitting in tonight but we couldn't get a baby sitter on that short notice." Christopher Martin Peterson had made his appearance a little over a month ago. Deeks had been able to talk them out of naming him Martin, but they had insisted on using it for the middle name. Little Chris, or LC as Deeks had immediately nicknamed him, had already wrapped the detective around his little finger. He immediately requested pictures, which Chris had plenty of on his phone. Before anyone knew it, the phone was being passed around and the baby ooohed and ahhhed over.

Looking at his watch, Deeks realized it was getting late. "Time to go Cinderellas 1 and 2. We are rapidly approaching the time where I turn into an unemployed bum because I didn't get you two home on time!" Everyone laughed and said good night to the band. Deeks picked up his violin case and they walked out of the club, he waved good bye to Cassie and stopped to say the same to Jessie, sending his love to Gina and Kelly. Exiting the building, each turned in their ticket to the valets, hearing more congratulations heaped on Deeks as rumors of the band's successful evening had filtered out to those working the outside. Callen and Joelle left first, followed by Sam and Michelle. Deeks SUV was pulled up and he placed his violin in the back once again. Meaghan and Val climbed into the backseat and were almost instantly asleep. Deeks grinned in at the sight and then turned to say good night one last time to Hetty and Granger. He was surprised when Granger held out his hand. He took it and they shook.

"It was a pleasure to hear you play Deeks. I think we need to hear more soon." he grinned at the silent detective. Deeks paused and then nodded reluctantly, but not as reluctantly as he might have before the evening's events. He turned and got into the car with the girls, pointing it towards the Sheltons home. Granger watched them drive away and turned to Hetty. "How do you find them, Henrietta?"

Hetty replied "Whatever do you mean, Owen?"

"You know darn well what I mean. Every time I think I get a handle on your pet detective, he throws me for a loop. They all seem to do that and I know you handpicked each one of them for that team. Where in the world do you find them? And what's going on between Deeks and Blye?"

"I keep my eyes and ears open, Owen, and I don't judge. Sometimes, they just find me. As for Mr. Deeks and Miss. Blye, I think we are both well aware of what is going on between them. I'm just surprised it's taken them this long. If ever two people were meant to be together, it's those two."

"We may have to split them up, Henrietta. You know, as well as I do, that romantic entanglements between partners can be hazardous. Their performances will begin to suffer and it could lead to someone getting hurt."

"Did you know that they've officially been a couple for over two months now, Owen? I've seen no degradation in their performances; in fact, they are becoming even better every single day. I also think you will meet with strong resistance from everyone in OSP, even those outside their core team."

Granger looked down at his old friend/nemesis and smiled. He was well aware how the people under Hetty Lange would react if he tried to pull that team apart. For now, he would wait and watch. If the two were able to make it work, he would support them all the way. If for one moment, it appeared that they were endangering others, he would pull the plug immediately, whether the team liked it or not. His first responsibility was to make sure the missions were completed and that everyone came home alive.

Hetty's car was brought around and she said her good byes. His car was brought up last. He tipped the valet and got in. Driving home, he found himself humming the song Deeks had performed on the violin. He had experienced the love and loss the song had spoken of. He feared the words would haunt him for days to come.

In Deeks's car, Kensi turned to check on the girls, making sure they were really asleep. Assured that they were, she took his hand in hers and asked "Why didn't you ever tell me you could write music as well as play it?"

Smiling down at her, he replied "It was something I locked away for a long time. It seemed like the only time I could produce anything was when I was hurting. It wasn't sustainable. I'm hoping that that song is the last one I will ever have to write." He brought her hand up to his lips and gently kissed the back of it. She smiled back, determined to make sure his hopes were realized.