A/N – to my Guest reviewer (reviewers?) who said "it is boring now. maybe you should think about finishing it. too long is never good. please. stop it soon or even better NOW " after chapter 70 and "this is beyond boring. please stop this. NOW" after chapter 73. I get it, I really do. This story took on a life of its own and it's not for everybody. I'm winding down now, I promise.

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Chapter 74

Deeks rolled over onto his back and stretched. Big mistake! He'd slept so well he'd forgotten that his ribs still weren't completely healed. He gasped and curled in on himself, waiting for the pain to stop. When it did, he slowly straightened out, only then realizing that he was alone. He wondered where Kensi was. He remembered the fire pit, music, s'mores and feeling sleepy, that was the last thing until he woke up just now. For all he knew, she'd slept on the couch. He pulled the spare pillow into him and stuck his nose in it. Nope, she'd definitely slept here. He would know that scent anywhere. He hugged the pillow in closer, breathing deeper. Lying there, he heard voices coming from somewhere in the the house. He let go of the pillow and rolled onto his side carefully, then levered himself up and put his legs over the side of the bed. He looked down and saw he was still in his jeans and t-shirt from last night. He waited a moment and when he still felt okay; he stood up and started to make his way barefoot towards the voices.

He followed them into the kitchen as he finally registered the smells and his stomach rumbled. Smiling, he entered the room to see Neal at the stove and everyone else at the huge table, tucking into bacon and eggs. "Any of that left for the poor invalid?" He said as pathetically as possible, not above using his injuries to get what he wanted.

Neal looked at him over his shoulder and rolled his eyes. "No poor invalid here that I can see, just a shaggy slacker stumbling in at the tail end of breakfast, expecting the cook to wait on him."

"Nice dude, real nice."

"Hey, I just call 'em like I see 'em." Neal turned around with a smile and handed Deeks a plate piled high with steaming scrambled eggs, bacon and home fries. Deeks's mouth watered as he mumbled a thank you, shoveling the food into his mouth even as he made his way to an empty seat at the table. Feeling less famished, he looked up to find everyone looking at him.

"What?"

"It's just good to see you with a healthy appetite Deeks." Kensi said as she stood up to put her empty plate in the sink. She moved over to stand behind him and put her arms down his chest, resting her chin on his head, meaning what she'd said. He'd had little to no appetite when in the hospital, whether because he was still sick or because the food was just so awful. She decided it was a combination of the two. Last night he'd had a burger but not much else. Either way, it was good to see him eating heartily again. Sam's distress last night over how light he was had made her hypersensitive to his weight and eating habits.

"I swear it's the ocean air! I always feel hungry when I'm by the water." He said, leaning back into her.

She kissed the top of his head and said "Neal went to all the trouble of cooking that, see that you finish it all."

"Yes mommy dearest."

She laughed at him and he went back to eating, forcing himself to clean the plate even after he'd reached the point of feeling full, with her standing behind him, watching every bite. He sat back and looked up at her. "Do I get a gold star?"

"Yes, Shaggy, you get a gold star." She said as she squeezed his shoulders.

Neal had just finished cleaning up when John stood up and said "We need to get going. It's a long ride home." Everyone got their stuff together and said their goodbyes, hugs traded all around. Deeks pulled Neal aside and told him that he really liked Cheryl and that he wished them both the best. He did the same with her, adding a request that she be good to him, to which she'd replied with an emphatic yes and a return hug.

Piling into the Shelton's town car, everyone waved from the windows as Neal pointed them back to L.A. and home. Once they were gone, the place seemed almost too quiet. They wandered out to the back and Deeks sat in one of the larger lounge chairs, making sure to leave enough room for her to snuggle in against him. She settled in and sighed, feeling content. They watched the waves crash up onto the shore for a while, the gulls floating along the top of the water, diving in when they saw something to eat, watching people wander up and down the beach. Eventually he stirred and put a finger under her chin, raising her head to kiss her. She responded and he deepened the kiss, his hands starting to roam over her body of their own accord. He shifted a little and tweaked his ribs. He let out a small groan against her lips and she drew back, looking at him with concern.

"Are you sure you're up for this?" she asked.

He responded by taking her hand and moving it down his body. "What do you think?" he asked when he stopped.

She squeezed him gently and said "What I think is that we need to move this inside before we give everyone on the beach a free show." She stood up and held her hand out to him. He took it and let her help him up. She frowned at how much help she had to give him. "I don't want to hurt you."

"Kens, I want you and I need you. Right now. If you're that worried about me, you can let me set the pace. Trust me, I won't Iet you hurt me. I have a very good sense of self preservation." He grinned at her and wiggled his eyebrows. She laughed and thought that they both needed this closeness after the events of the last weeks. She pulled him in to her, pressing her body into his, giving into the needs that had been building up since he'd gone missing. The need for him. The need to feel him beside her, inside her, everywhere.

She pulled away from him, taking him by the hand and leading him into the house and back towards their bedroom, her heart in her eyes. She loved this man to distraction and she was about to show him just how much.

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Kensi woke up several hours later when she moved to snuggle up against Deeks and found the bed empty. She felt his side and the sheets were cold, he'd been up for a while. She was trying to burrow back into the bed, happy and sated, when she heard it. The violin music was haunting and sad. She knew it was him. She got up and threw on some clothes. She padded out to the living room and saw him through the slider. He was standing with his back to the house, barefoot and dressed in jeans that hung too loosely on his too thin frame and a t-shirt. The violin was held gently in his hands and his eyes were closed as he played. She didn't recognize the music but it was beautiful. She wondered if it was something he'd written. She then noticed the pad of paper on the table beside him. It was covered in notes and scratch outs. She hadn't thought to pack his composition book when she packed the instruments.

The last notes died away and he lowered the violin as he said quietly, without turning, "Are you going to stand there and watch me or are you going to come out and join me?"

She laughed, she would never be sure how he sensed her presence at all times but it never ceased to give her a secret thrill. She opened the slider, went out and put her arms around his waist. "That was beautiful but made me feel really sad. What was it?"

"Just something I woke up hearing in my head."

"You amaze me."

He grinned down at her and said "I'll remember that the next time you decide that I'm annoying."

"I'll deny it. Play me something else?"

"Did you have something in mind?"

She just smiled at him and he shook his head. "Moonlight Sonata it is…again."

She moved off to the side as he put the violin back under his chin, closed his eyes and began to play. She watched as the lines on his face smoothed away as the music swelled around him. The bruises on his face had pretty much healed and he looked at peace. She was so glad she'd brought it with them. Playing it was so therapeutic for him. She glanced down towards the beach and saw a knot of people standing there, listening. Even as she watched, more people joined. She smiled, so proud of the man beside her. When the music ended, he opened his eyes and noticed the small crowd. He grinned and waved when they began to clap, taking a small bow. Turning towards her, he opened his mouth to say something but a weird look passed over his face and he turned to the table, writing feverishly on the pad of paper, making notes and then scratching them out, replacing them quickly. She made a quick decision.

"I need to run into town for a couple things."

"Ok. Do you want me to come with you?" he asked, not sounding very enthusiastic.

"No, you stay here. Do you need anything?"

He pulled her into a hug and said "I have everything I need right here."

She reached up and kissed him. He started to get frisky and she pulled away, laughing up at him. "If I don't leave now, I may never get out of here."

"Would that be so bad?" He growled at her, reaching for her again.

"Deeks! The sooner you let me go, the sooner I'll be back." She pressed up against him and whispered against his lips "Hold that thought."

She'd been gone about 20 minutes when his phone rang. He pulled it out of his pocket and wasn't sure if he wanted to smile or grimace at the caller id. He took a deep breath, moved to one of the lounge chairs, sat before he answered. He had a feeling he should be seated for this call. He answered.

"Hey buddy, what's up? Where are you?"

"Really? When?"

"Oh, you heard?"

"No, no, I'm doing much better."

"Yeah, I know."

"Yeah, some nightmares."

"You are?"

"Next week? Friday?" He sighed. "Yeah, Friday works for me."

"Yes, I'll be there. A very wise man once told me that if I talk about things, it will make it easier." He laughed a little.

"I'll see you then."

After disconnecting the call, he stared out at the water, not really thinking about anything until Kensi returned. She bounded into the house, surprised to see him sitting so quietly. Worried, she walked up beside him and asked "Everything okay?"

He smiled up at her. "Yeah, everything's fine." He raised an eyebrow when he saw she had a bag in her hand. "Whatcha got there, sugarbear?"

She held it out to him. He took it and peeked inside. A smile lit up his whole face. "A music composition book! Is that what took you so long?"

"Yeah, I kinda had a hard time finding one."

He pulled her down beside him. "I love you for going to all that trouble. You really do take good care of me." She snuggled in next to him, settling with her arm across his waist and her head on his shoulder. He kissed the top of her head and they watched the sun begin to set.

The rest of their time at the beach house flew by. The days had been peaceful as they took short walks on the beach, each one getting longer as he regained his strength. He mostly ate well and started to put back on some of the weight he'd lost. They'd laughed and played in the surf, Monty enjoying it as much as they did. The nights, however, were a different story. His nightmares came and went. Most times, she would awaken when he started to thrash or moan and could sooth him out of it while he still slept on. It was the one where she hadn't gotten to him in time that worried her. He'd screamed and moaned in his sleep and she'd had a hard time waking him up from it. He'd gotten up and refused to come back to bed after she finally got him to wake up. He needed to talk to a professional and she planned on talking to Hetty as soon as they got back to L.A. She considered bringing it up now but figured it would be better to wait, for now they would deal with things as they were.

They spent one last morning on the beach and then packed up the car to head home. Neither really wanted to get back to reality but Hetty had made it clear she expected Kensi back to work on Monday morning. It was a quiet ride home.

By Tuesday night he was bored out of his mind. He followed her around the house begging. "Come on. Please Kens? I won't be any bother. I'll just sit on the couch and watch. I'll even nap if I get tired. Please?"

"Deeks! You aren't even cleared for desk duty yet. No, you can't come to work with me."

"I can drive! I'll just follow you in my car."

She looked at him in exasperation but a part of her understood how he felt. She knew if she were cooped up inside the house with only the dog for company, she wouldn't be happy either. He could take Monty to the beach but he still wasn't able to surf and it drove him nuts. She finally caved in and said "Ok, ok, ok. You can come with me. But you make a nuisance of yourself and I'll have someone else take you home."

"I'll be good, I promise!"

"Hmmphf." She really hoped she wasn't going to regret this.

Wednesday morning dawned bright…and early. He was up long before the alarm and made enough noise getting ready that she ended up throwing his pillow at him. He just caught it and laughed at her, urging her to get up and face the day. She responded by putting her head under her own pillow and going back to sleep. The end result was that she ended up running late and was already aggravated when they arrived at the Mission, his practically bouncing in the passenger seat for the whole ride doing nothing to mellow her.

Hetty wasn't in her office and neither of the boys were at their desks. She parked Deeks on the couch, reminding him of his promise to be good. He smiled at her and nodded, just as Sheila came out of wardrobe and saw him. She rushed over and leaned down to give him a hug saying "It's so good to see you Marty! How are you? Are you back to work?"

"No, he is NOT!" Kensi answered for him, giving him a glare.

Smiling, he hugged Sheila back and said "No, I'm just here for a visit. It's lonely sitting at home and there's nothing on television weekday mornings! I coerced Kensi into letting me come in with her."

Shelia smiled at him. "Well, it's good to see you. We all miss you around here!"

Deeks blushed, something Kensi noted with glee, feeling her aggravation lift a little. Maybe it would be fun to have him around; lord knows she missed her partner. Two days back to work and she was already hating the feeling of being a third wheel, tagging along behind Sam and Callen. Speaking of whom, she decided to go in search of, to tell them Deeks was here. Leaving him talking with Sheila, she wandered into the gym, and, not finding them there, she tried the firing range but it was empty. She headed up to Ops, checking in on Deeks who was now in conversation with Charlie Porter. She smiled at how animated he was, glad now that she'd let him come in with her, thinking it would be good for him. She stopped outside Ops when she heard Callen's voice mention Deeks's name and something about Robinson and a video. Moving up to the door, it opened for her and she walked through, ready for a fight. Six pairs of eyes turned to her and all conversation stopped.

"What video?"

"Kens, it's nothing." Said Callen.

"Don't bullshit me Callen. I heard you saying something about Deeks, Robinson and a video! Eric, I knew there was something on that laptop from the packing plant that you hid from me. I let it go but now I want to know! I deserve to know!" She glared at everyone in the room.

Granger and Hetty exchanged glances. Neither of them wanted Kensi to see this but she had a point, everyone else had. "Agent Blye…Kensi…" started Granger.

"Don't try to put me off. He's sitting downstairs right now, not able to work because of those men, not able to do any of the things he loves to do. What video?!"

"Deeks is here?" Nell said excitedly and leapt out of her chair, running out of the room before anyone could say anything, Eric right on her heels. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Sam and Callen sidling closer to the door. She turned and speared them with a look, both stopping in their tracks.

"Someone needs to tell me about this video!"

Hetty sighed and said "Kensi, they videotaped everything they did to Mr. Deeks. From the moment they brought him into that plant to when Sam and Callen helped to get him down. It's not something anyone should have to watch, especially not you."

Kensi paled as she realized what Hetty was talking about, picturing the bruises, wounds and marks on his body when they'd found him at that damn plant. "I want to see it!"

Sam walked up to her and forced her to look him in the face. "Why?"

"I need to know what they did to him!"

"Do you think it will make a difference in how things are? Do you really think watching that will do you any good?" He paused and asked softly "Do you think Deeks would want you to see it?"

She opened and closed her mouth a few times, knowing the answer to all his questions was no, but wanting to see it all the same. She finally shook her head no and looked him in the eyes. "I wish McGonagle was still alive so I could kill him myself. I hear Deeks moaning in his sleep, I see him waking up screaming and I want to kill that bastard over and over again with my bare hands."

"I know! We all feel the same way but you need to concentrate on Deeks. McGonagle is dead, Robinson is in jail, the moles at LAPD and NCIS have been arrested and Parks's organization is broken. We all need to keep that in mind." He smiled at her and continued "And don't forget, you will shortly have the honor of telling Timmons about the additional charges against him."

Kensi nodded, picturing that scene in her mind. "I want Deeks to go with me for that." She turned and looked at Hetty and Granger, both of whom smiled and nodded. They were both thinking that they would pay money to see that particular confrontation. Hetty frowned as something Kensi had said registered with her.

"Mr. Deeks is still having nightmares?"

Kensi swallowed, not sure if this was something he would really have wanted her to share with the whole team. She had planned on talking to Hetty but privately, not blurting it out like she had. She nodded and watched as their boss marched out of Ops. She turned and looked at the three men still in the room with her. All three shrugged, none of them wanting to guess what Henrietta Lange had in mind.

Hetty walked down the stairs from Ops, seeing a small crowd around the couch behind the bullpen. She had to smile; it would appear that news of Mr. Deeks being in the building was spreading. She counted one forensics employee, her two analysts and two agents currently surrounding their detective. She walked up behind them quietly then cleared her throat. It never failed to make her laugh inside when everyone jumped, she was proud of her ability to take people unawares. She raised an eyebrow and everyone started babbling about having work to do, saying goodbye to Deeks and letting him know they were happy to see him there. They all scattered.

He looked at her quizzically as she took a seat on the chair to his left. She looked back at him, silent, waiting for him to start filling the silence as he always did, but he surprised her this time. He stayed quiet and waited for her. She finally cleared her throat again and said "Miss. Blye mentioned that you were still having nightmares.'

He frowned. "Oh, she did?"

"Don't be angry with her Mr. Deeks. It was something she said in the heat of the moment and I believe she regrets it."

"I'm fine Hetty."

"No, Mr. Deeks, you are not. You need to talk to someone."

"I know."

"Please don't argue with me. I know each one of you thinks that talking to a psychologist displays some kind of weakness but it doesn't."

"I know."

"Now, Mr. Getz will be back in town this week."

"I know."

"Whether you want to or not, you need….what?"

Deeks smiled at her, not sure when the last time he'd seen Hetty nonplussed was. "I know Nate is back in town this week. I've already spoken to him on the phone and I have an appointment with him on Friday."

"And do you intend to keep that appointment?"

"I do."

"Does Miss. Blye know?"

"No, I haven't found the right opening to tell her. I will tonight."

"You were not so cooperative last time, Mr. Deeks."

"And where did that get me? I'm not stupid, I can learn from my mistakes Hetty. Talking to Nate after Sidorov helped. I should have done it sooner but I was stubborn. I'd always gotten through things on my own. I didn't see the need to talk to someone who had a different perspective on what happened to me. I am not going down that road again."

She smiled at him. "No, Marty, you are not stupid at all." He smiled back, pleased to hear his first name on her lips. He started to say something when the rest of his team came running down the stairs. Sam reached him first and pulled him up and into a hug. Callen followed it up with one of his own. Granger stood behind them, looking somewhat at a loss. Deeks held out his arms and Granger surprised everyone by walking right into them, hugging him as well. Kensi hung back, not sure if he was going to be angry with her. She knew Hetty would've had time to let him know that she'd spilled the beans about his nightmares. When he smiled at her she felt a weight lift off her shoulders and she grinned back.

The grin slipped a little when Deeks pulled out his phone and scrolled through his pictures. When he found the one of Callen and the blonde wig, he held it up and said "I want to talk about this a little more now that I'm not drugged to the gills. You want to explain this Callen?"

Callen pulled out his own phone and scrolled through his own pictures, finding one of the best ones he'd taken of Sam carrying Deeks to bed. He held it up and said "I'd rather talk about this one."

Deeks jaw dropped open as he took in the picture and he looked around at the laughing faces. "Uh, let's call it a draw, shall we?"

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A/N2 – okay, I thought this would be the end but…there's a least one more chapter. I completely forgot about Kensi letting Timmons know about the additional charges NCIS was bringing against him (thanks to my guest reviewer who reminded me)

A/N3 – Thanks to OhBuddy66 for the prompt about Kensi finding out about the video but the team won't let her see it as they try hard to make her understand why.

A/N4 – Thanks to cbetham who reminded me that the violin is in the house!

A/N5 – to my guest reviewer who said "You realize by now it could have been a book." Wow, never thought of it like that! How cool!