Hello my darlings. I would like to thank MidnightPhoenix17, anonkp, Guest, Petunia3116 and elsje1967 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 in season 2, episode 16 'Empty Quiver'. I know its not very long, but I hope you like it anyway.
Disclaimer: I don't own NCIS: LA.
In the days after Callen opened up to Deeks, the younger man did the same. Sharing with the one he loved all he could about Ray, his friend from way back when who was currently in witness protection for flipping when Deeks saw him again when working undercover. He didn't go into any details on the op, I mean the case was due to court soon so he really couldn't tell G much, that and Max Gentry was the one undercover persona that Deeks did not like thinking about.
But he did tell him about how it had been Ray who gave him the gun to defend himself against his dad, and Callen couldn't help but feeling thankful for Marty's friendship with the guy, even if he wasn't sure he really liked the idea that if things had gone differently it could have been Marty who ended up in a life of crime. It could have been Marty who was on the opposite side of the law than him. Though Callen knew he couldn't say much. Without Hetty he too would have ended up going down the wrong track he was sure. He couldn't stop himself from wondering how both of their lives could have been different if not for the few people they let in. And he was so glad that they weren't.
Deeks' other best friend from his childhood he did not speak of. Mainly because he decided that it would be much more affective if he arranged for G to meet Kip Brigham in person. In fact Deeks couldn't wait to see how he would react to seeing who it was he knew so well, even if he knew Kip would rip into him the whole time they were together for not telling him he was in a relationship. But Deeks could deal with that, it was time to share what little life he had outside of work with the man he loved. Of course to do that he had to wait for his friends schedule to be compatible to theirs. They both needed to be in LA at the same time after all.
So while he waited for Kip to be in town when they had time off, the couple's life returned to normal. Or their normal at any rate, with Callen going undercover with Sam in the Californian Highway Patrol. Which Deeks had to say, he did appreciate. Not because the senior agents weren't around the office, no. It was more to do with the fact that he found G extremely sexy in his uniform. In fact Deeks was all for seeing if G could keep it once the op was done, though he doubted Hetty would be up for that one. Pity. They could have introduced at little role play into their love life, spice it up a little. He was sure he could still fit into his own police uniform he had at the back of the closet after all.
Of course when he mentioned this idea to G the older man just gave him a look as if to say, really? I mean they spent their day jobs pretending to be other people, why would they want to do it in the bedroom as well? Though… Marty was a cop, so it really wouldn't be pretending for him would it? And who could resist a man in a uniform? But sensibly Callen kept that thought to himself. He did not want to give Marty any more ideas.
And soon enough they both had much bigger problems to worry about. Namely the loss of a nuclear warhead.
The plan hadn't gone down as it was supposed to, as they had been led to believe it would by the guy they were investigating. And as such Callen and Sam only just managed to make sure they came back in one piece after getting shot at by the bad guys. Something Deeks really didn't like. He seriously wanted to kill the men who thought it a good idea to shoot at the guy he loved.
Callen on the other hand was more worried about the way he and Sam had gotten played. He wanted to know what the hell was so important to steal that it required the ambush they had been involved in. Of course as soon as he heard the words 'empty quiver' from Hetty's lips it all became painfully clear. He couldn't believe it. It was enough to make his head spin. This couldn't be happening. He and Sam could not have just helped someone steal a nuclear weapon. No way. This was his worst nightmare. The thought that he had contributed to something so terrible while undercover. It was… he had no words. So he stood there staring at Hetty as she talked, closing his eyes when he discovered the size of the weapon they had lost. This was all his fault, he was team leader, he was the one in charge of the operation, and it was him and him alone who had lost the nuclear warhead. How had he let this happen?
Turning away from Hetty he couldn't stop his eyes travelling to the one person who he cared for more than any other. Marty. He wasn't sure what he was going to see in the younger man's eyes, but he doubted it would be kind. I mean he was the one to blame after all. But even the idea of seeing disgust and anger in Marty's eyes couldn't turn him from staring at the man who seemed to be in shock. He couldn't make himself look away until he knew exactly how Marty felt about him. Until he saw his own feelings of recrimination and blame reflected in those beautiful sparkling blue eyes.
Deeks for his part sat and listened to Hetty explain. He couldn't believe this was happening. That this was able to happen. I mean who the hell took a nuke on a road trip? Well the Department of Energy obviously. But no. He was in shock, just as the whole team were, but they at least seemed to be taking it in their stride. Kensi was asking the right questions, and he knew G and Sam's brains would be working on the problem. This is what they did, they were federal agents, it was their job. But he could only sit there. Never in the whole of his career as a cop had he been involved in something like this. I mean this was… it was something else. Something he couldn't put words to. It wasn't what he did. This wasn't his job. Well it was now it seemed. He was part of this team, and the man he loved led it. They would find the nuke and they would save the day. Because any other option just wasn't possible.
With that determination in his mind Deeks raised his head to look at the one he was putting his trust, and the safety of LA, in. He stared into G's eyes and said without words that he would be there, every step of the way until they solved this. He would be by his side and follow him. Because he trusted him with his life, and the lives of all those who didn't know they were at risk.
Callen felt his breath hitch when he saw that message. Marty didn't blame him, he was supporting him. And with that knowledge came a calm. Because Callen knew that together they would find this weapon. They would stop this attack. He trusted his team and they trusted him. Together they would solve this.
And together they did, even if it did involve Eric having to break the internet to stop panic from taking over. Got to give the kid kudos for that one. It was an impressive move, but it was also one that Callen had come to expect from this team. They were all experts at their jobs, and together they could achieve anything. It was with these relieved thoughts that he and Deeks made their way back to the latter's apartment. Back to Monty who greeted them joyfully. Back to lying on the couch together, arms wrapped tightly around each other as they realised just how close it had come. Just what they risked everyday doing the job they did.
"You okay?" Callen asked. It was just the two of them and he finally had time to make sure the younger man was dealing with the situation they had been in. As best as he, or any of them, could at any rate.
"I'm pretty sure it should be me asking you that G. I mean, you're the one who got ambushed." Deeks replied turning in G's arms so he could stare into the other man's eyes, making sure he knew that he was fine and wanting to make sure that G was fine as well.
"Yeah. I was the one who lost the nuclear weapon." Callen responded with a humourless quirk of his lips. Even though they had recovered the weapon he knew it was still on him that they had lost it in the first place. That was his burden to bare. Part of the mantle of leadership he guessed.
"Wasn't your fault G. And we found it. Everything is good." Deeks determinedly replied. He wasn't going to let G wallow in blame. It could have happened to any of them, it was the risk they took when doing this job. It came with the territory of being undercover, that they would be the cause of something happening.
"Uh-hah. If you say so." Callen answered not sure he completely believed the younger man's words, but not wanting to upset him by saying so. And Marty was right on one point, everything was good now. They had fixed his mess, it was time to move on. It was done and he needed to make sure his head was on straight for the next case that would come along. Because he knew it wouldn't be long before one did.
"I do. And I am always right." Deeks agreed with a nod before he settled back down in G's arms, resting his head on his shoulder as he burrowed into older man's neck.
"Says who?" Callen asked cheekily his hand automatically moving to stroke Marty's hair out of his face as he rubbed it against his skin. His boyfriend really did do a good impression of Monty on occasion, and Callen loved it.
"Me." Deeks replied turning to smirk at the older man.
And Callen seeing his look knew there really was only one thing he could do. He needed to remove it. Therefore he moved his head closing the small distance that separated them, closing his lips upon Marty's without saying another word. And into that tender kiss he put everything he couldn't say. The love he held for the younger man, and his thanks for the trust he had shown him throughout the case. The trust he showed him every day that they were together. If this kiss was the only way he could tell Marty the true thoughts and feelings in his mind, then he was going to make sure he did it in the best way possible.
And if was definitely the best in Deeks' mind. It was gentle and tender and full of love and worship, and it was everything that Deeks saw every time he looked into the older man's eyes. It was everything he had ever wanted in life, and everything he ever needed. He was loved by G, and really what more could he ask for?