A/N: I wrote this highly indulgent story for my birthday (as if I'm not indulgent all the time) and once again completely ignore canon events for Deeks' FLETC stay. In previous stories I've written, I gave Deeks some friends (and a minor nemesis), Charlie, Jake, Omar, Abigail, and a few others who appeared throughout.

"Oh my god, there is no way I can remember all this," Charlie groaned, pressing his hand over his eyes. "My brain just won't accept anymore."

"I know it feels that way, but yes you can," Deeks told him patiently. "It's all about memorization and figuring out a way to group the laws and rules in your mind. Which I fully realize sounds like terrible advice."

"How do you do this, Man?" Jake asked, getting up to pour himself another mug of coffee from the little station they'd set up in the common room. Technically, they weren't supposed to "cook" in the dorm facilities, but so far no one had called them on the Mr. Coffee machine or teapot Omar had added. There were also a few bowls of snacks to get them through the trying times.

"Lots and lots of practice. Plus, it helps that I've already studied most of this in law school and had a lot of hands-on practice over the years." Deeks shrugged and squeezed Charlie's shoulder. "You'll get there."

"I just assumed my days of mindless studying were over with grad school," Omar commented sadly. He was hunched over a notebook marked with rows of his signature scrawl. Every so often he would squint at the ceiling and silently mouth something to himself.

Deeks chuckled, not meanly, remembering having similar feelings over the years when it came to continuing education and professional development.

"It's trying to reason through the laws and how they affect the way respond that's getting me," Jake sighed. "They didn't teach us any of this in my undergrad."

"Yeah, unfortunately that happens a lot."

"Hey, how's this look, Deeks?" Omar asked, passing Deeks his notebook with a copied practice question and his answer with defense below. Deeks read through it, nodding, and a smile growing as he went along.

"Obviously I'm not the instructor, but this looks great," Deeks praised Omar. He grinned, seeming pleased by Deeks' remarks.

"Thanks, man."

Once again, Deeks was slightly astonished and overwhelmed by the level of faith the younger men put in him. It was a huge responsibility in many ways, something he wasn't used to. He just hoped he lived up to those expectations.

"Show off," Charlie teased with mock disgust, tossing a spare pretzel at his friend.

"Alright, why don't we take a break and study something else for a little bit," Deeks suggested, sensing their attention was waning.

"Yes," Charlie said immediately. "And I think the perfect way to relieve our stress is for you, Detective Deeks, to show us that blocking maneuver you used during hand-to-hand combat practice today."

"No, definitely not happening. I already have a bruise from when Parker kicked me."

"You told us you once road out of an exploding building on a metal door," Jake reminded him. "Which was attached to a moving vehicle by a rope."

"And you hung out of a fifty story building so you could get a good cell connection."

"Or what about the time he ran through an entire hospital with two bullet wounds to save Agent Blye?" Omar added.

"I don't think a little bruise is going to stop you," Jake finished, spreading his arms wide like they'd proved their point.

"Nice defense," Deeks complimented him. "But you forget that I was a much younger man then."

"Oh sure, now he pulls the age card. Unbelievable." Charlie shook his head in apparent disappointment.

"Or, I have an even better distraction," Jake said, holding up Deeks' phone which was flashing with an incoming call. Before Deeks could stop him, he pressed the accept button. "Hi Agent Blye, how are you," he answered cheerfully.

"Who is this?" Kensi asked, her voice slightly distorted.

"Jake Jaminski, one of Deeks' classmates."

"Hey, can you tell your husband to show us his ninja skills?" Charlie asked.

"Where is Deeks and why do you have his phone?"

"I'm right here and they're nothing but troublemakers Kens," Deeks shouted, making a grab for his phone. Jake danced out of reach, looking much more like a mischievous teen than a 26 year old man. "Don't listen to a word they say."

"Ooh, Kensi, can you send some more cronuts? Deeks didn't share the last one," Omar added. "Or maybe a cake."

"I'll see what I can do," Kensi decided, sounding vaguely amused now. "Now can I please talk to my husband?"

"Sure thing," Jake said cheerfully. "Thanks, Agent Blye!" Grinning, he handed the cell to Deeks.

Shaking his head again, Deeks turned speaker phone off and headed towards and empty conference room. As he walked away, Charlie shouted,

"We're not giving him back!"

"So, that was Jake, Charlie, and Omar," Deeks said once he was out of ear shot.

"I see you've had a positive effect on them," Kensi observed dryly.

"Oh no, they were that way when I found them," he insisted. "I'm the responsible one in this group."

"I'm sure."

Deeks allowed a half-grin, poking his head out the door to see the three younger men. It looked like they were quizzing each other.

"They're good kids."

"Good. I'm glad you have friends there," Kensi said sincerely. She sighed and heard the rustle of material. He pictured her lying down on their bed after a long day. "So, tell me about your day."

As Deeks ran through his schedule, he decided that when all was said and done, FLETC wasn't all that terrible.

A/N: I may be making FLETC courses out to be far more difficult than they are, but I enjoy writing competent Deeks and this is one way to do it. I also think that he would be an excellent, if unique, teacher.