A/N: Takes place after "Borderline", but before "Personal".
It's the end of the day, Deeks is finishing up something on his laptop. Every week, he has to turn in extra paperwork to LAPD—Kensi does not envy him that—which means he'll probably be there later than everyone else.
Callen and Sam left 20 minutes ago, and Hetty had drifted off with a cryptic reference to some celebrity, leaving Kensi to search for busy work to occupy the time. Normally she'd be gone by now too, but she's trying to be a better partner. Plus, something Deeks said the other day has been nagging at her.
"You don't have to keep me company." Deeks' comment in the otherwise silent bullpen makes Kensi jump just as she's contemplating attacking the mess of…stuff covering the surface of her desk.
"Oh please, get over yourself. I was not waiting for you," Kensi retorts automatically, because that's the status quo they established, and she doesn't feel comfortable admitting that she just might care about him just the tiniest bit.
"Uh-huh. You just organized your entire inbox and color coded your pens. You're hanging around for something," Deeks points out, because of course he'd noticed. He's way too observant for his own good.
"Fine. I just have been thinking about something you said when we were in the desert."
"If this is about my bodily functions—"
"No," she cuts him off before she lets him derail her. Tucking a strand of hair behind her ear, she clears her throat. "You said your dad hates you and that…that he aimed a shot gun at you." Her voice softens at the end. Like saying it too loudly will make it real.
Deeks stops, head tipped downward so his hair falls over his forehead, concealing his eyes. He's still in a way he only ever is when he's completely serious.
"I did."
"How much of it was true?" She hopes it's a case of him embellishing, as he tends to do. Yet, he'd been so nonchalant, lacking any of the grandiose behavior she's grown used to when he's crafting a story. Besides, as far as Kensi can tell, there was no reason for him to lie.
"Parts of it," he replies finally, closing the lid of his laptop.
"Which parts," she can't help asking.
"Eh, you haven't unlocked that level of the Marty Deeks story yet, I'm afraid," he jokes. She hears the request to end the subject, loud and clear. "C'mon, let's get out here before the Chinese place closes."
Kensi follows him out, letting him fill the air with chatter about the last time he went surfing. She nods along appropriately, but her mind is still elsewhere.
Though she doubts he'll ever confirm it, she certain at least one of the truths he'd told involved his dad aiming a weapon at him. It makes her shudder, makes her rethink the man she so often teases, makes her feel an unexpected wave of protection for him.
Jogging a couple steps to catch up, she falls into line with Deeks.
A/N: Since Deeks' first mention of the shotgun incident contradicts what we find out later, I've always thought that it was Deeks' way of telling a part of his past, without revealing the full truth. Likely because he'd be worried about Kensi's response to his age and actions.