Hello my darlings. I would like to thank French fan (Guest), No1 DB (Guest), LKK (Guest), Mulderette, Beststoriesever (Guest), Petunia3116, lulu625, for the wonderful reviews. I would also like to thank those of you who have followed and favoured since my last update.
So here is the next chapter, it is set at the beginning of season 2, episode 11 'Disorder'. I hope you like it.
Disclaimer: I don't own NCIS:LA, nor any of the lines I have taken from the show.
It was a few days before Christmas, and Deeks was extremely excited. Not only was the holiday season now in full swing, but the last evening he and G had gone and gotten the perfect Christmas tree. It took a while for them to find it, and when he said them he really meant him. G was all for buying the first one they saw, but Deeks was having none of that. Instead he made sure he dragged G around the whole lot to find the one which would have a home with them until they took it down.
Callen hadn't been all too pleased with this concept, but he did it anyway. Because it was what Marty wanted to do. So even if he was bored out of his head, and his hands were covered in sap from holding all the damn trees out so Marty could study them from all sides, then so be it. Though he still couldn't understand the purpose of that. They had all looked the same to him. But anyway, upon their return home he had flatly refused to decorate the thing. He could only cope with so much Christmas crap in one go. After spending hours trapesing around the tree lot, all he wanted to do was lie on the couch with a nice cold beer and Marty in his arms.
So that brought Deeks back to why he was so excited that morning as they made their way into work, sharing a car as it was easier. Tonight he and G would be decorating there first ever Christmas tree. It was something real couples did, something that was normal and fun, and he couldn't wait to be able to experience that with G at his side. It was going to be awesome.
But first they had a day at work to get through. Making his way to his desk Deeks saw the present on it and it made his smile even bigger if that was at all possible.
"Awesome." He said grabbing it with the intention of ripping it open. He could see the others had presents as well, which lead him to believe that there was only one person who could have given them to them. Hetty.
"Hold on there, little drummer boy. Let's talk about this." Callen said stopping his actions. The idea of Hetty giving them presents confused him greatly. She really wasn't one for doing stuff like that, so what was she playing at here?
"Aye, aye. Ebenezer." Deeks replied with a smirk at his boyfriend. He was always so cynical.
"Hetty's never given us anything for Christmas before. Why this year?" Kensi asked looking warily at the large wrapped present on her desk. What was going on? What was different this year from the last? Of course turning to her team leader and her partner she could tell you one difference, but she didn't see how them being a couple could have brought about Hetty buying them all presents.
"Exactly." Callen agreed to her words, having no idea of her thoughts. He was very worried about this development. This year he hadn't actually got her anything even as a front at work. He had decided that him being in a steady relationship would have to be enough. He'd had a hard enough time finding something for Marty. And the shopping trip for that had made Sam declare he was never going shopping with him again.
"Because she knows I like surprises." Deeks replied, answering Kensi original question about why the presents. He didn't understand why everyone was looking so scared by this turn of events. I mean it was just Hetty, how bad could it be?
"You guys ever feel like we're stuck babysitting some kid whose parents won't come get him, ever?" Sam asked in response to Deeks words. Though he was glaring at G, because if anyone was responsible for Deeks, it was his boyfriend, Sam's partner.
"Sam is like the Grinch who stole Christmas, except for bigger." Deeks responded quickly. He loved bantering with the big guy, safe in the knowledge he wouldn't kill him. G wouldn't let him.
Before anyone could say anything else, Hetty appeared with a knowing smile on her face which made Callen even more on edge. "Ah, you all have your gifts." She said happily.
"Dare we ask what we did to deserve this, Hetty?" Callen asked wondering if this was going to be some kind of punishment. He just didn't trust it.
"Rest assured Mr Callen, I never give gifts… unless they perfectly suit the recipient." Hetty responded though Callen was pretty sure she should have just stopped at the words never give gifts. Because he had known her a long time, and she had never given him anything before. Or at least not at Christmas time, so why this year?
"And perfection struck four times today?" Callen asked in disbelief, just what was she up to now?
At that Hetty gave him a smirk before walking away with a casual, "happy holidays, everyone."
Oh she was so up to something.
"What's everybody doing for Christmas?" Deeks asked as all four of them turned to their presents and started to open them. Though he knew full well what he, G and Sam were doing. So it was really more a question aimed at Kensi rather than anyone else.
"I'm gonna buy G as much beer as he can drink." Sam replied smiling over at his partner as he remembered what they would be doing Christmas day afternoon. They were gonna have so much fun, just the two of them.
"Explain, please." Kensi said, wondering just what Callen had done to deserve that from Sam.
"I scored two tickets to the Lakers-heat. Courtside." Callen replied with a smile to the woman next to him. He wondered if she had any plans, if not, maybe she could keep Marty company while he and Sam were gone. He had invited his lover to come with them, but he had turned him down. Callen could understand that, it was a him and Sam thing after all. No doubt Marty would have felt in the way if he had accepted.
"Nice." Kensi responded though she did wonder if Deeks would be going with them too. She wouldn't be surprised if he was, though thinking about it, her partner didn't seem to be that interested in sports, so maybe he was staying at home. Hmm, she would have to find that one out.
"Wow, enjoy Kobe and LeBron." Deeks deadpanned, trying to maintain his cover of not knowing exactly what G would be doing. He was actually pleased that G would be spending time with Sam, he loved how close they were together. And sure, G had offered to get him a ticket too, but he had turned him down for two reasons. One he wanted to let Sam and G have time together alone, he knew they didn't get as much of that now he was in the picture, and two he was pretty sure his friend Kip was playing. He really didn't want to have to explain that relationship to G on Christmas day thank you very much. Just as he didn't want Kip getting wind of his and G's relationship. He wasn't sure he was ready for those two to meet, like ever.
"Am I sensing a little jealously over there, Deeks?" Sam asked with a chuckle. He knew Deeks was fine with their plans, if he wasn't there was no way G would be going. So he therefore felt it safe enough to wind the guy up about it.
"About you guys, on your man-date? A little bit. That's okay, that's okay. I'll be seeing somebody special." Deeks replied with a smile as he looked over at G and thought about the plans they had for Christmas evening, where they would be going to have dinner with Hetty. Though he still hadn't got her a present, he really needed to work out what he was going to get her, especially now as it seemed she had got him something that was apparently the perfect gift for him. Of course he was pretty sure she had already got him the perfect gift. G had let slip about how she had suggested he write down his feeling for him after all.
"Oh, you have a date on Christmas? With your boyfriend?" Kensi asked smirking to herself as she watched both Callen and Deeks' faces out of the corner of her eye. She really hadn't had much of a chance to wind them both up together before now, but there was no way she could let that go.
Deeks response was to glare at her while Callen looked kind of amused, or at least he had a small smile on his face that she took as amusement.
"You got a boyfriend, Deeks?" Sam asked understanding exactly what Kensi was doing the second the words were out of her mouth and deciding to give her a helping hand. Anything to wind up the other two there. His comment made the reverse expressions appear on the faces of the two men, with Deeks now openly amused while Callen glared at his partner. But Sam was okay with that.
"I do Sam." Deeks replied as if he was sharing a big secret and the man in question was sitting opposite him. Though the twinkle he had in his eyes did ruin the effect somewhat, making Callen wonder just what he was going to say next.
"Well that explains the hair, I bet he loves to run his fingers through it." Sam smirked out though he was more looking at G than at the Deeks, and found it really hard not to laugh when he partner started to cough at his words.
Damn Sam. why did he have to say that? He was going to kill him, Callen thought as he tried cover up his surprise at the words with a cough or two.
"Good thinking Sam. Hmm, I bet he's older too. And Deeks his is boy toy." Kensi added enjoying this immensely, she hadn't thought Sam would join in. It made it so much more fun.
As Deeks opened his mouth to reply Callen beat him to it. It was time for that conversation to end. "What about you, what are you doing?" Callen asked Kensi before she or Sam could think of anything else to say about his and Marty's relationship. She was far too pleased with herself, it made him wonder just what it was she knew. If she had worked out who it was Marty was with. If she knew it was him.
"Family." Kensi responded simply, not wanting them to know that she would be alone. That she actually had no plans for the holidays expect curling up on her couch and eating crap while watching movies.
"You have family in LA?" Sam asked curious. He hadn't heard Kensi mention them before.
"Nope, in, um, Seattle." She replied thinking quickly before turning her mind to opening her present as a way to distract from the questions, though when she did her eyes winded. Why would Hetty think this was the perfect gift for her? I mean seriously? She could barely cook an egg for crying out loud, and Hetty got her a spice rack?
"Hetty's idea of the perfect gift for me is a spice rack?" She asked the group, making Sam frown at the object now in her hands.
"That's a nice spice rack." Sam said in a confused and slightly hurt voice.
Deeks on the other hand was already moving from his chair. If Kensi didn't want it, well then… "If you don't want it, I'll take it." He said grabbing it from her and carrying it back over to his desk. He could do with a spice rack. I mean he was the one doing most of the cooking at home after all.
"No, no, no. That's a nice spice rack." Sam stated trying to make everyone understand what he was trying to say.
"I know." Deeks agreed happily. As he sat back down.
"I brought that for her myself. I brought that for Hetty. Christmas 2008." Sam replied getting agitated. He had thought she would love it, but she had given it to Kensi? What the hell?
"A scented candle? It smells like sage." Callen said interrupted Sam's words by the confusion in his voice. Just what was Hetty trying to tell him with this? He really had no clue.
"Jasmine. I gave that to Hetty two years ago." Kensi replied closing her eyes. She couldn't believe what she was seeing. Hetty had given her gift to Callen, of all people.
"Same scent?" Callen asked even more confused by the present now.
"Same candle." Kensi responded making Callen suddenly understand just what was going on.
"I'll take it." Deeks said taking it out of Callen's hands, making him realise he was going to end up with all these presents that they had mistakenly gotten Hetty over the years, back in the other guys apartment. And really, what was Marty going to do with a scented candle from Hetty? Or did he really want to know?
"What? No, no. excuse me mister I did not give that to you. Hand it over." Kensi snapped. She wanted that back. If Hetty didn't want it she would have it herself. She liked having some scented candles burning while she relaxed in the bath after a hard day at work after all.
"No, you gave it to Hetty, who gave it to Callen, who is right now realising he has absolutely no use for a scented candle." Deeks replied simply. Plus, he and G both knew that even if G had kept it, it would end up in his apartment anyway. So he was just removing the middle man. It would be nice to have something to burn when Monty got that wet dog smell before he gave him a bath.
"I gave those. Christmas 2008, I… I don't believe it." Callen said not paying any attention to Marty's words. He was too focused on the book ends in Sam's hand. He had given them to Hetty as a joke. I mean he had spent so many nights sitting on her library floor when he was younger and unable to sleep. It was supposed to be a little reminder between the two of them. Okay he had known she wouldn't have liked them, but still. She gave them away?
"Cool bookends." Deeks said, taking them from Sam. He could use some of these as his collection of books was growing. Mainly due to someone, naming no names G Callen, was reading everything he could get his hands on when he was supposed to be sleeping.
"Hetty's a re-gifter." Sam said in disbelief. How had they not known this about the woman?
"Hetty's a re-gifter." Callen agreed, though then he remembered the words she had spoken before. That she only gave gifts that were perfect for the recipient. This was her way of telling them to stop buying her stuff that she didn't need or want. A convoluted and roundabout way of saying it, but it was as clear as day that was what she was saying. Typical Hetty.
At that Deeks finally opened his present, now he had collected everyone else's, only to find a blue scarf inside. He liked it. "Oh, are you kidding me? That is what I'm talking about. That is awesome. Scarf. Do you know what this is? Favourite colour." He said as he wrapped it around his neck.
"What? I gave that to Hetty a year ago." Kensi said in a sad voice. It looked like Hetty hadn't liked any of her presents to her.
"Evidently she thought it would look better on me." Deeks replied, though he did start to wonder what the hell he was going to get the woman who seemed to give away any gift she didn't like. It really did put pressure on him to try and find Hetty the perfect gift for when he and G went round for dinner. Damn, what was he going to get her?
"That's not the point." Kensi replied to Deeks words, not seeing the worried look now in his eyes, but Callen did. Though he knew now was not the time to bring it up, but he would find out what was wrong.
At that point there was the sound of a bird-calling whistle. Turning they saw Eric standing on the balcony with it in his hand.
"Join me my friends. The crime gods have given us a holiday gift. It's, ur, from Hetty. She said she thought it was the prefect present." Eric said when they all turned to look at him.
"Me, three years ago." Callen replied standing, but rather than leading the team up the stairs he hung back so he could walk beside Marty.
"What's up?" He asked in a quiet tone as they made their way to ops.
"I thought you said you never gave Hetty presents." Deeks replied, deciding to get an answer to that fact rather than explain how he was still trying to work out what to get Hetty for Christmas. He knew both she and G had told him that he didn't need to get her anything.
"I don't. These are just from work." Callen responded simply making Deeks shake his head in disbelief.
It seemed his boyfriend and Hetty had the separation of work and family down perfectly. He really didn't understand it, but then he wasn't sure he ever would. I mean he had never been where G had, and he had never had Hetty as his mother figure. It would no doubt make anyone very good at drawing a line. She was after all the pinnacle of keeping secrets.
Therefore shaking all thoughts of Hetty and G from his mind he moved through the door to find out about the case they had.