"Ok, this goes in your ear and then you push this button to activate it," Kensi instructed, holding up Deeks' comm to demonstrate. He watched her with a mildly amused expression, and she dropped her hands in frustration. "What?"

They'd spent the last hour working out a plan and then started getting ready for his shift. Kensi still didn't feel completely comfortable with the idea of Deeks purposely trying to incite their killer without any of who it might be. Still, he'd proven himself resourceful so far and he would be monitored from now on.

"It's not that I don't appreciate the presentation, but I have used communication devices before," Deeks informed her, clearly amused. With a roll of her eyes, she handed him the tiny earpiece.

"You know, you could have told me that before I went through all that."

"But it was so fun to watch."

"You're not nearly as cute as you think you are."

"Which implies that you do find me a certain amount of cute," he threw back at her with that infuriating smile that said he knew he was right.

"Hey, watch the comments like that. Nell going to be able to hear everything both of us say once we put these in," Kensi warned him as he poked the comm into his ear and adjusted it with a look of concentration.

"That kind of sounds like a challenge."

"Deeks, I'm serious."

Gently resting his hands on her shoulders, he gave her a reassuring look. She ignored how comforting she found his touch.

"It's going to be ok. I'll watch your back, you'll watch my back, and we'll catch a killer."

"That's putting a lot of trust in me," she pointed out. She was used to fighting for trust and respect. Odd that Deeks apparently gave them so easily.

"You haven't given me any reason to doubt you so far," he said. "Well, aside from when I first met you. Tracey is very sketchy." His hands still rested lightly on her shoulders and Kensi had the distinct feeling she'd forget her decision to keep things solely business between them.

"Hilarious. You better get going or you'll be late."

Stepping back, Deeks grabbed his back from the couch and headed for the door. "Hey, I'm wearing leather pants tonight, so try not to stare at my butt too much." He winked and was out the door before Kensi could do more than make outraged noises at him.

The bouncer at the door gave Kensi a nod of recognition as she walked into "Love and Lust". She felt a spike of embarrassment before remembering that she was Tracey and with any luck, wouldn't ever be setting foot here again after the next few days.

It was less busy than usual, so Kensi ordered a drink and tucked herself in at a corner table. Through her comm, she heard Deeks chatting with someone about a new routine and getting food after their shifts.

"So, how's the rumor mill?" she whispered once there was a lull in the conversation.

"Nah, not enough people here yet," he answered. "Too easy track and won't spread far enough. I'll wait until a few more guys come in."

"And what's this new routine I heard about?"

"Oh you'll love it. It's lifeguard themed. Halfway through, we venture into the audience and choose a lovely damsel to rescue. I wonder who I'll pick?"

"Don't you dare," she warned him. Deeks just chuckled, responding to someone in the room instead of her.

An hour later, the building had filled up significantly and Kensi felt more comfortable engaging in occasional conversation with Deeks. He hadn't enacted his plan yet, claiming that he was waiting for just the right moment.

After the third routine of the night, the emcee announced a new routine and Kensi straightened, filled with a mixture of anticipation and trepidation. Five dancers appeared on stage, Deeks closest to her.

She swallowed heavily at his "costume", which was comprised of nothing more than an exceptionally small and tight pair of red swim trunks that left absolutely nothing to the imagination, and a prop life ring. Taking a hasty sip of her water, she pressed the cold glass to her cheek in an attempt to quell the flush making its way through her entire body.

Any attempt to contain herself went out the window the second the music started and Deeks swiveled his hips. He played it up more than usual, thrusting his hips so hard several women cheered. Just like the first night, he caught her eye, and winked before he hopped off the stage along with the other dancers.

Kensi gave slight shake or her head as he headed directly towards her with a teasing smirk. At the last second, he veered off, choosing to "save" a woman two tables over from Kensi. Despite everything, she felt a twinge of jealousy towards the other woman, who very happily accepted Deeks checking her pulse and pretending to perform CPR on her. He finished off with a toned-down lap dance.

As he returned to the stage, Kensi had the strange urge to follow him up there and kiss him. It would certainly wipe the giddy smile off the woman sitting next to her. Instead, she gripped her drink tightly while Deeks accepted several bills from his adoring fans, then headed backstage again.

She had just decided to make around the room when Deeks made a strangled sound.

"Jason?" she hissed. He didn't answer, but she heard further sounds of a struggle. Abandoning her chair, she bypassed the tables, rushing backstage. She burst into the changing area, startling several men in various stages of undress.

Deeks wasn't among them.

Turning back around, Kensi raced the other direction, eventually pushing through the back exit.

Her breath rushed out in heavy pants into the air as she stared at the empty alley.

"Nell, I need you to trace, Deeks," she gasped out.

A/N: You didn't think I'd write an undercover story without a potential kidnapping, did you?