A/N: As always, thanks so much for your lovely response and interest in this story.
Donald Blye was fairly young when he got married, the relationship made all the more difficult by his military career. It meant he wasn't home a lot in the first few years. However, when they found out Julia was pregnant with Kensi, he'd promised himself he wouldn't be like his own father, who had been largely absentee.
He'd managed to keep that promise for the most part, although he'd missed a few birthdays and school plays. That had all changed 7 years ago when he and Julia divorced. From their perspective, it had been a slow and relatively painless dissolution, but Kensi had naturally been broken-hearted. When the time came to decide custody and living arrangement, Kensi was adamant that she wanted to live with Don full time, and as much as it hurt Julia, she'd agreed.
Fortunately, Don had achieved a high enough rank at that point in his career that he could pick and choose his position. He'd taken a more administrative position that allowed him to be home as much as possible. It wasn't always easy, but he wouldn't change the opportunity to be Kensi's father for anything.
Though the last few years of teenage hormones had certainly tested him at times.
"Hey, where's your shadow?" Don asked as Kensi wondered into the kitchen on a Wednesday morning, dressed in a baggy shirt emblazoned with some boy from a band or show she liked and shorts, and poured herself a mug of coffee. She shot him an irritable look, which he assumed meant she'd been up late on her bedroom phone or listening to music or whatever teenagers did when they didn't have to get up early. "I haven't seen Marty around for a couple of days," he explained.
"I do have other friends," she pointed out archly. The effect was slightly ruined by a giant yawn.
"Well, excuse me, Your Royal Highness." He waited for an apology that naturally didn't come. His daughter was respectful most of the time, but like any teenager, she had her less than perfect moments. Deciding to let it go, he held out a plate of toast.
"I'm not hungry yet."
Don figured she'd be working her way through a package of pop tarts or the sugary cereal that made his teeth hurt before too long.
"Ok, but try and eat something that resembles a fruit when you do eat," he suggested. "So, what's Marty been up to? Every time I see him, he looks dog tired."
"He's been working a lot to make up for when the store was closed and he had a meeting today with a lawyer who might let him shadow him some next year," Kensi said, cupping her hands around her mug.
"Well, good for him. I hope he gets it."
"Me too," Kensi agreed softly, running her thumb along the rim of the mug. "He deserves a break."
Don nodded, wondering if she understood the true depth of that statement. He didn't know Marty Deeks' whole story, but he had heard enough when Roberta Deeks moved them into the district, and the rumors eventually made it his way. Although he knew for certain Kensi knew parts as well, he didn't think Marty had ever told her the entire truth. She'd be even more protective if she did.
"Well, if he gets done early enough, feel free to invite him for dinner," Don offered. "Feels like I'm missing a kid when I don't see him every couple of days. Besides, those pork chops are going to go off if we do eat them soon."
"Nice, dad. I'll call him later and see if he can come."
Don cleared his coffee mug and plate from the table, quickly washing them while Kensi sipped at her coffee. When he done, he stopped by the table to kiss her forehead.
"I'll be back by 6 tonight. Have a good dat. Be careful."
"So, that new Batman movie is coming out this weekend," Deeks mentioned one sunny morning as he and Kensi trekked their way along the path leading to their local surfing spot. "You wanna go on Saturday? In don't have to work."
"You hate going to movies on premiere night. People make too much noise and you can't get a good seat," Kensi pointed out skeptically.
"I know. But I know you wanted to see it, and who knows when we'll have another free Saturday like this." He shrugged, like he didn't really care either way, but Kensi sensed he downplaying how much he wanted to go.
"Ok. It's a date," she decided, gently knocking Deeks with a end of her board. It threw him slightly off balance.
"Hey. You want me to land on a stick and get tetanus or something?"
"Don't be so dramatic. I'm just keeping you on your toes. It has been a while since you've been out on the water after all."
"Oh, that's how you wanna play it, huh?" Deeks asked, his eyes lighting up with mischief. Kensi lifted her shoulder, and grinned back at him. "Ok. First one to fall has to wash the other's laundry for a month."
"Ooh, you're evil. I hate laundry," Kensi said.
"I know."
"Fine. You have a deal." She held out her hand, and Deeks took it, his skin warm on hers. As soon as they finished shaking, he hitched his board up under his arm, and took off at a run. Kensi didn't exactly know why, but competitive instincts kicking in, she chased after him without thought.
By the time she made it down to the shore, Deeks had already speared the end of his surfboard in the sand, and started pulling his wetsuit from his backpack.
Deeks tugged his t-shirt up, head disappearing briefly underneath the fabric, and Kensi got a full glimpse of his bare torso. She stopped, her own clothes forgotten in her hands. Warmth that had nothing to do with the sun beating down on them flashed across her cheeks, working its way down her chest and her mouth felt parched.
He's your friend, she reminded herself, a thought that she hadn't needed to repeat in some time. Not since their freshman dance when they'd slow danced.
"You ready to go?" Deeks prompted, oblivious to her staring, or inner turmoil. He'd somehow wriggled into his wetsuit without her noticing.
"Uh, give me a minute," she mumbled, distractedly reaching for her bag, and in an uncharacteristic show of clumsiness, dropping half its contents into the sand.
Her cheeks burned even hotter, and she dropped to her knees to gather everything up, keeping her gaze focused on the blurred sand in front of her. Deeks' hand came into view, her sunblock held out helpfully.
She snuck a glance up at him; he considered her with an arched eyebrow.
"Maybe you should reconsider surfing today," he teased.
"Oh shut up!" She snatched the bottle from him, tossing it back into the bag. "I will kick your butt."
She ended up wiping out more than usual. It was still fun, and watching Deeks in his element, grin wide, face turned up as he rode a wave was a special joy, but her attention kept shifting back to earlier on the beach. It was hardly the first time she'd seen him in a bathing suit, so she didn't know why it was turning her into a bumbling idiot today.
After a couple hours of alternating between surfing and just paddling around in the water, they made their way back to the shore, wet, happy, and Kensi's case, starving. They dragged themselves onto the sand, collapsing on the hot sun for a few minutes.
"That felt good," Deeks said, tilting his head back with his eyes closed a massive, crooked smile. His happiness was infection, and Kensi found herself smiling back automatically. "It's been too long."
"Wasn't the last time about two weeks ago?"
"Exactly."
Kensi rolled her eyes, even though he couldn't see it. Deeks deemed anything more than a week between surfs during the summer a crime. Leaning back, she closed her eyes too, letting the warmth of the sun lull her to sleep.
A loud scream woke her up sometime later, and she sat up, startled until she realized it was only a group of excited kids running past. Her stomach rumbled, reminding her that she hadn't eaten since breakfast.
Leaning over, she lightly whacked Deeks' arm. He straightened up with an impressive amount of speed, eyes wide as he oriented himself.
"What the hell, Kens?" he grumbled, rubbing his eyes. "You just interrupted a really good dream."
"I'm hungry."
"Yeah, what else is new?"
Kensi stuck her tongue out at Deeks, gathering up the rest of her belongings and shoving them back into her bag in a heap. Deeks followed along more slowly.
"C'mon, I might literally die if I don't get some food," she said dramatically, nudging Deeks to hurry up. He looked up from under his still-damp bangs with a half-smirk.
"And that'll be roughly the 100th time we've nearly experienced the tragic passing of one Kensi Marie Blye due to insufficient food," he teased, peeling off his wetsuit, carefully rolling it up to stow away, and pulling his t-shirt back on.
"Hilarious. I guess you don't want lunch then."
"Touché. Ok, you want to go to my house or yours?"
"Mine," Kensi said immediately. "It's closer." She slung her bag over her shoulder. "Race you back?"
After changing into new clothes, Kensi threw together hot dogs–something even she couldn't mess up too badly–chips, and cans of pop. Deeks has offered to but she'd waved him off. When she carted everything into the den, she found Deeks changed into loose cargo shorts and poring over a thick book.
"What are we studying?" she asked, setting a plate and can in front of him, and curling up next to Deeks with her own food.
"Intro to Law," he replied, flipping to the front cover to show her. "The lawyer I spoke to lent it to me. He said it might help my chances of getting accepted to a college if I show initiative and knowledge. Figured it couldn't hurt." He shrugged, like it wasn't a huge deal he was studying a textbook intended for college freshman.
"Nerd." She didn't hide her admiration as well as she hoped, and Deeks held her gaze for a couple extra seconds before he looked away.
"Like you don't have an advanced algebra book lying around here."
She couldn't deny that, so she just took a massive bite of her hotdog. Deeks put the book to the side, grabbing his plate, and pushing the book to the side.
"Did you hear back about that mentoring program?" he asked.
"Yeah. I'm on a shortlist for next year." She rubbed her hands over her thighs. "I'm not really sure if it's the right thing for me. I mean, I'm not that great with kids."
"I think you'd be amazing."
"I don't know if that's true, but thanks." It meant a lot coming from Deeks, who seemed to be naturally good at interacting with kids.
"Well, I don't know if that's true, but thanks."
They ate side-by-side, catching up on everything that they'd missed in the last couple of days, which was a surprising amount. Kensi had rescheduled her driver's test; Deeks was asked to join the school orchestra, and on it went.
Their food was gone in a few minutes, and Kensi headed back to the kitchen for round two. She gathered an armful of random food, including more chips, a block of cheese, leftover guacamole, and a package of cookies.
"Are you still weird about beans and rice since that time you got sick?" she called from the kitchen. "Cause we have a giant bowl. Dad's also still pushing the sausages if you're interested." Her suggestions were met with silence. "Deeks?" She walked back into the den, a sarcastic remark dying on her lips when she saw he'd fallen asleep.
He was draped over the couch, one leg dangling off the cushion, the other folded beneath him, his head cushioned on the arm rest. He looked peaceful. Quietly, she shifted the various food packages onto the table, turning to face him again.
His skin was tanned to a warm brown shade from hours spent in the sun and his hair had dried in fluffy curls, framing his face. It was the longest he'd let it grow in a couple years, much to Kensi's secret delight and Roberta's consternation. She resisted the urge to trail her finger along the length of his forearm, or brush away the curl hanging in his eye.
Ignoring the chastising voice in her head, Kensi let her gaze continue down his torso. Deeks had shot up in the last few months. He'd always been on the lankier side, but it seemed like for every inch in height he gained, he thinned out a little more. He tended to wear loose clothing, so she hadn't noticed it was more extreme than usual. She could see the faint outline of his ribs even in rest. He actually looked worryingly thin.
Kensi knew she was starving after soccer practice or track, and she was half a foot shorter than Deeks. He had to be hungry all the time between surfing, working long shifts, and all the other activities he squeezed into his busy schedule. Yet most days at school he'd brought just a sandwich from home, occasionally with a piece of fruit thrown in. If she thought about it, since the summer started, she usually didn't see him eat unless it was at her house.
Her dad inviting Deeks for dinner, and all the other times he'd automatically made a third plate when Deeks was over suddenly came rushing back to her, and she sat down on the edge of the table. She felt vaguely nauseous at what should have been obvious to her but she only just now realized.
Deeks was going hungry.
He wasn't just short on money, or eating the same meal all week like he had when they were younger. This was so much worse.
Looking at the pile of food and then at Deeks, she wondered if she should wake Deeks up, and insist he eat something. It seemed cruel when he obviously needed the sleep. Biting her bottom lip, she decided to let him sleep for as long as he needed. When he did wake up, she'd make sure he ate another meal.
Then, she was going to get some answers.
A/N: So, that got a bit more serious and angsty than you probably expected.