One man grapples with a life changing decision

GUIDANCE FROM BEYOND

Los Angeles Memorial Cemetery

Deeks walked down the path, glancing over the various gravemarkers. After a few moments of searching he found the marker he was looking for. He smoothed out the folds of his dress uniform and walked to the marker.

DONALD BLYE

UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS

Deek stopped and saluted.

"Hi, Donald. I was hoping to have a few private moments with you before everyone starts to arrive. I wanted to tell you just how much she means to me. I know you watch us and you know what we have gone through together. But I can honestly say that no one has ever touched me as a person then she has. You should be proud of her. You raised her right. I wish I could have met you, gotten to know you as a man and a father. But I will have to settle for this."

Deeks reached in his pocket and pulled out a small velvet box. He ran his thumb over the lid while he flashed back to a few days ago.

Mission

Owen Granger walked down the stairs and was about to head to the armory when Deeks ran up to him.

"Granger!" He called out.

"That's Assistant Director Granger, Detective Deeks." He reminded him.

"I need to speak to you, privately." Deeks said.

"Burn room." Granger nodded in the direction.

They both entered the burn room and Deeks closed the door.

"What do you want, Detective?" Granger said.

"I need to talk to you about something personal. Not Assistant Director Granger , but Owen Granger." Deeks said.

"Ok" Granger replied with a questioning tone in his voice.

"It's about Kensi. And since you were her father's closest friend then you are the one I need to ask." Deeks said.

Owen crossed his arms.

"I want to ask Kensi to marry me." Deeks said.

"Are you serious?" Owen said, slightly caught off guard.

"Dead serious." Deeks said, his eyes showing very clearly he was not kidding.

Owen rubbed the bridge of his nose.

"Do you have any idea what kind of position this puts me in?" He said.

"I do. But this is something that I take very seriously." Deeks said.

"Do you want to know what I think?" Owen said.

"I think you are the last person Donald Blye would want to marry his daughter" Owen said.

Deeks' eyes soften. He could feel his heart being ripped to shreds.

"Wow." He said, dropping his head.

He sniffed, rubbing a tear out of his eyes.

"And here I thought you finally were turning out to be an OK guy. Guess I was wrong about that. So this is it, huh? This is the moment Callen was talking about, the moment where you crush us." Deeks said.

"I wasn't finished." Owen replied.

"Huh?" Deeks said, dumbfounded.

"I said that you were the last person Donald would want to marry his daughter. But I know Donald would be the first one to admit that he would be dead wrong in that assumption. He would be the first to admit that you are easily the best man for her." Owen said.

"Do…do you really mean that?" Deeks said.

"I wouldn't be telling you that if I didn't, Deeks. I've been willing to look the other way in regards to the two of you because I see what it does for both of you. And I saw having the two of you apart did to her." Owen said.

"I would still go talk to him yourself. But you have my blessing, Deeks." Owen said, sticking out his hand. Deeks silently took it and they shook.

Cemetery

"I know Owen gave me his blessing but I wanted to talk to you about it. I want to marry your daughter, raise a family with her. I owe your daughter my life, many times over, sir. And I want to make her happy, just like she makes me happy. I hope I can make you proud." Deeks said, putting the box back in his pocket, before taking a step back and saluting. He turned and walked away back to his car. 5 min later other cars started to arrive. Sam and Michelle, with their kids arrived, Callen and Joelle next, Rose and Nate arriving shortly after then Owen, Hetty arrived afterward then Eric and Nell, and finally Kensi arrived with Julia.

She smiled as she walked up to him. "Hope you didn't wait too long." She said.

Deeks shook his head. "Nah."

He turned to the rest. "Now that we are all here, shall we?" He said.

Everyone else nodded and walked down the path toward the same marker that Deeks stood at 10 min ago. As he walked his hand brushed across his pocket, feeling the velvet box.

Dedicated to all the Fallen who made the choice to sacrifice everything in the name of country

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