Hello my darlings. I would like to thank Reader (Guest), French Fan (Guest) and Petunia3116 for the lovely reviews. I would also like to thank those of you who have followed and favoured since my last update.
Now, I have moved and stared my new job, so hopefully updates will become more regular on Fridays now. Fingers crossed.
Anyway, this chapter is set at the beginning of season 2, episode 18 'Harm's Way'. I know it's not long, but I hope you like it anyway.
Disclaimer: I don't own NCIS: LA, nor any of the lines I have taken from the show.
The Monday following the barbeque Callen returned to work as his suspension up. It felt strange to him in a way he had really considered it would. He had thought he was looking forward to being back at work, getting back to normal. But every time he looked up from his desk and found the one opposite his own empty he had to forcefully stop himself from reaching for his phone and calling the man he loved, just to make sure he was okay. He knew he was fine, and Marty's mom was still staying with them for a few more days before she returned home. He was glad he could give them time together without him around. Though when he returned home and Roberta kept giving his what he guessed were her attempts at convert looks, he had to wonder just what it was they spent their time doing.
But soon she left and it was just him and Marty together in the evenings, and it returned to how it had always been between them. Causal conversation about work, and what Marty had been up to all day, though Callen still felt he was being secretive. He wanted to know what was going on, but he trusted Marty. He knew if he was not telling him, then he had a reason for it. Callen just couldn't for the life of work out what the hell it was.
Deeks for his part had spent his time dodging Sam's calls suggesting extra training, and arranging G's birthday present. Because he knew the day was coming up soon, and he wanted to make it special for the man he loved. He found it hard to keep his plans from his superspy boyfriend, but he had to appreciate the way G didn't ask, even if he knew something was going on. He would find out soon enough and it was going to be totally awesome. Deeks couldn't wait, and at least it gave him something other than physical therapy to pass the time. He would have been bored out of his mind if he hadn't had some sort of project.
Then came the day Deeks was returning to work. Callen suggested they drive in together that morning, but for some reason Deeks declined. But when questioned all he would say was "you'll see." Callen had to be content with that, even if he really wasn't. he wanted to know what his boyfriend was up to, but he was trying his best to respect Marty's privacy now that they lived together.
Therefore he was getting himself coffee when Sam arrived, Kensi having already done so, while Deeks was still nowhere to be seen.
"You're late. Too many margaritas at happy hour last night?" Callen asked as his friend and partner walked into the bullpen.
"I don't drink margaritas. Deeks is back today, right?" Sam asked his partner as he put his stuff down, wondering where the fluffy haired detective was. Maybe he had changed his mind? Maybe he wasn't well enough to come back today? Maybe he was still in the house he had given up watching when Deeks became a no show.
"Yep." Callen replied sipping his coffee. He was very aware that Marty had been avoiding Sam's calls, just as he knew his partner wanted to put his boyfriend through his paces. Callen had sensibly decided to stay well out of it. Leaving it up to the other two men to sort out between themselves, something he had made sure they were both aware of, even if Sam did berate him for the fact.
"So where is he?" Kensi asked turning around as if she had somehow missed seeing her partner in the room, even though she had seen Callen enter alone. Surely they would come in together now they lived together. I mean they had been coming in together even before Deeks moved to Callen's place, so why wasn't he here yet?
"That's what I'd like to know." Sam replied giving Callen that look that said he had something serious on his mind.
"Why?" Callen asked casually, trying to figure out what Marty not being here had to do with Sam being late, because there had to be a connection. Though he was also wondering just where the man he loved was, and he couldn't stop himself hoping he was okay, his fingers already itching for his phone. No he needed to trust Marty to arrive. He was fine, he was sure.
"I went to check on him, okay?" Sam explained though that made no sense to Callen.
"Checking?" He asked, wondering just what his partner had done to his boyfriend. He should have made Marty come with him this morning. He knew it. He did not like Sam playing spy on Marty.
"Just watching his back." Sam replied, though he did notice the hint displeasure in Callen's eyes. But seriously, the guy had been shot, he needed to sort out his personal security, and well he had been avoiding him. What else was he supposed to do?
"We live together Sam, I think I can manage to do that." Callen responded an edge in his tone now as he realised that Sam didn't trust him to protect the man he loved. He did not like that idea at all.
"Never hurts to have another set of eyes." Sam answered in a pacifying tone, not wanting to rile G up. It was never good idea to get on Callen's bad side after all, especially when he was going to have to spend the day with him, no doubt in the car together alone. He didn't not want G giving him the cold shoulder.
At his words Callen stood as a thought came to him. "Wait, were you waiting outside my house this morning?" He asked in disbelief, though it was more at the fact he hadn't spotted his partner rather than Sam had been there. What was wrong with him not to see his car? It looked like Marty wasn't the one who needed to sort out his personal security. Damn it. Sam was never gonna let him live this one down, neither was Marty for that matter.
"Yep. Saw you leave, but Deeks never did." Sam responded sounding a tiny bit smug that he had manged to hide from G, though he failed to mention that he had actually parked two blocks away and was hiding in the bushes around their house. Let G think he had got one over him was so much better than the truth.
"Really?" Callen asked raising his eyebrows at the idea that Sam hadn't seen Marty leave. he knew he was coming into work, just as he knew that the younger man had for some reason parked his car a street over the previous day, though that now made sense. He could have gone out the back way and driven off without Sam being any the wiser. It seemed Marty was well aware of what his partner would do, even if Callen himself hadn't been.
"Better call him then." Kensi said, turning to look at Callen expecting him to be reaching for his phone already, but all he did was take another sip of his coffee, causing her to pull out her own cell and dial Deeks number.
But when it started ringing she had not expected a responding sound to be coming from Sam's bag. What was going on? Callen for his part just sat back against his desk drinking his coffee, though he couldn't stop the smug smile that appeared on his face. Marty was good.
"That's my bag." Sam said in confusion, reaching into the pocket and pulling out the ringing cell phone. "What the..?" He asked but before he could get any further another person joined the team.
"That would be for me." Deeks said taking the phone out of Sam's hand and answering it. "Marty Deeks."
"Hey, it's Kensi." Kensi replied smiling in glee at the look of confusion still on Sam's face as he looked down at his now empty hands.
"Hey." Deeks responded as if surprised to hear her on the other end of the phone, and not that they were standing practically opposite each other having this conversation.
"How'd your phone get into Sam's bag?" She asked down the line, wondering just what her partner had been learning from his former-spy boyfriend.
"I must have slipped it in there while he was waiting in line for coffee. Middle triple, low fat, hold the foam." Deeks answered in a contemplative tone as he sat down and hung up. Damn he was glad to be back at work, and to be able to be pulling this on Sam. The big guy deserved it for all the calls and emails he had been sending him about setting up training. He didn't need training, he was fine. I mean seriously, did Sam really think G was gonna let him get into a routine again? Come on, the guy was higher aware personified, not to mention he knew G still thought it was his fault he had been shot in the first place. There was no hope he would get out of him making sure it never happened again.
Callen couldn't help but chuckle at this turn of events, score one for Marty. He had to confess he was impressed. He liked it when Marty proved he was more than just a pretty face, liked it when he proved his abilities to the team.
"You didn't follow me to the coffee shop. I would have spotted you." Sam stated, there was no way he wouldn't have noticed he was being followed.
"All right, I staked out the coffee shop." Deeks agreed. He had known following Sam would never work, but as he knew where he was gonna go, it really wasn't that hard to wait for him to arrive. Hmm, he was gonna have to thank G for his innocent mention of where Sam liked to get his coffee in the mornings. It really had helped him out on his little plan.
"I go to three different coffee shops. A different one each day." Sam replied finding the flaw he perceived in Deeks plan. But when all the younger man did was look at him he realised the weak link in his own argument. "G told you, didn't he?"
"Oh no. Don't bring me into this." Callen responded holding his hands up, he was not getting involved. But he wouldn't be surprised if Marty had been staking out the coffee shop every morning since he returned to work. He was nothing if not dedicated to his work, and it seemed his lovers work while being off sick, was finding a way to get one over his partner. Well that certainly explained the secrecy that had been going on in his home. Marty was trying to find a way to get Sam, and he knew he didn't want to be involved so he hadn't told him. Yes, that all made perfect sense. Glad that he had finally worked that out, Callen relaxed back to watch the show.
"He did get his phone into your bag." Kensi said, deciding to join in, she could see Sam glaring at her partner, and did it really matter how he knew where he was going to be? He had succeeded in beating Sam at his own game. She was impressed.
"I would have seen him." Sam stated, not believing it, even if the evidence did point to that fact. No, there was something else going on here. Deeks wasn't that good.
Before anyone else could say anything they were interrupted by a whistle from Eric, causing all heads to turn his way. "You hear the shrill, you know the drill." He called down the team, smiling at seeing Deeks back in his chair. Everything was as it was supposed to be.
At that Sam stood and made his way towards the stairs with Kensi following as she said, "welcome back, partner."
"Thanks." Deeks replied pulling off his bag as he too made his way towards the stairs, but he was held back by G.
"Who did you pay, and how much?" Callen asked smiling cheekily at his boyfriend. Because he knew even he wouldn't have been able to slip a phone in Sam's bag without him noticing. Plus he knew Marty was very resourceful when he wanted to be.
"School kid, 20 bucks." Deeks replied with the same grin as they shared a look of understanding before both joining the move towards ops. It was time to get back to work. Everything was just as it should be.