A/N: It's been too long since I've featured Callen and Deeks' shenanigans at the bar.
"Alright, here's the last one," Deeks announced, hefting a small keg off the floor while Callen dispensed small glasses of an umber-colored beer, and passed them across the bar.
Seated along the bar, Kensi, Sam, Eric, and Nell accepted the glasses with varying levels of caution. Sam looked downright apprehensive.
"Are you sure a beer flight, of your own microbrew, is a good idea?" Kensi asked carefully, turning one of the five choices in front of her. This particular variety had an unnaturally bright amber color.
"Why wouldn't it be?" Callen asked.
"Yeah, you'll be the first to taste the fruits of our collective labor and brilliant imaginations," Deeks added. They'd spent the last several months crafting 6 different beers, with the intent to debut them on tap the following week.
"Because you're crazy," Sam responded to Callen's question. He gestured towards Deeks, and then Callen. "And your tastebuds should be condemned."
"That's kind of harsh." Callen looked anything but offended. In fact, he seemed pretty delighted.
"Eric, Nell, back me up." Sam turned his attention to the younger pair.
"Hey, I am always open to new experiences," Nell said with a shrug. She'd changed into a bright purple dress paired with shocking green jewelry after work. If she added a pair of white boots, she wouldn't have looked out of place in a 1960s beach movie. "It sounds like fun."
"Yeah, it sounds like fun," Eric agreed with a little less enthusiasm. "These two don't look that bad," he added, sniffing a pale yellow and then coffee colored beer. "They smell decent too."
"I am proud of how hard you worked on this," Kensi said, eyeing Deeks fondly. She'd often teased him about his hobby, but overall supported the endeavor. Kensi had also acted as one his first taste testers, vetoing some of their initial attempts.
"Traitors," Sam muttered under his breath.
"Ok guys, this is the moment of truth," Deeks said, exhaling heavily. "You ready, partner?"
"Yep. I say we start with the ale on the right. It's a combination of peach and nectarine."
They all grabbed the pale-yellow beer, and Deeks raised his glass in the air.
"To the Squid and Dagger's inaugural beer tasting."
"Hear, hear!" Nell joined in loudly before taking a sip. Deeks surveyed hers and everyone else's reactions. Truthfully, he was just the tiniest bit nervous.
"Hm, that's not bad," Eric commented with some surprise.
"Uh, not bad, this is fantastic!" Nell corrected, draining her glass.
"I wouldn't go that far, but it's ok," Sam agreed begrudgingly.
"It's really good," Kensi offered, leaning over to kiss Deeks' cheek. "Congratulations, guys."
Beside him, Callen took another small sip, frowning as he mulled over the flavor.
"Yeah, I'm not really a fan," he decided.
"Of course not. You want more of the skunky beer." Sam made a disgusted sound. "What's next?"
Deeks and Callen shared a smile, and Callen held up the darkest of the beers.
"We call this one the Squid and Dagger Special," he informed them happily. "I came up with this one myself. It's squid with hints of seaweed and salmon."
"Oh hell no," Sam swore loudly.
"Oh, yeah, that doesn't sound fun anymore," Nell said. Kensi and Eric were making sounds of dismay.
"Hey, you did promise you'd try them all," Deeks reminded them, almost gleefully.
"We did." Kensi grimaced, holding the glass up to her eye.
"Then drink up," Callen encouraged, downing his in one gulp.
A/N: This is a continuation of one of my more ridiculous premises that Callen and Deeks start making beer together. Callen has a penchant for particularly vile combinations, which Deeks usually goes along with.