#marty deeks

***

On A Wave’s Edge, Part 13

By the time Kensi was back at the mission, she’d confirmed a time and place for her date with Branston. As terrible as it sounded, she was disappointed today might have been her last lesson with Deeks. Maybe they’d need him in the future, but since she had an open dialogue with Branston, that seemed unlikely. She had a feeling Sam and Callen might start to notice if she scheduled unnecessary surfing lessons while on the job.

She’d thought Deeks was interested in her, but now she’d started to doubt herself.

Kensi found the bullpen empty, so she headed upstairs where Nell was working alone.

“Hey, where’s everyone at?”

“Hey. Sam and Callen were called out to the district attorney about a prior case and Eric is somewhere around building, hoping a change of scenery will help him find wherever our money is being rerouted,” Nell responded. “So, how was surfing today? What did Deeks wear?”

“I am not giving you anymore fuel for your new obsession,” Kensi said, ignoring the hint of jealousy that sprang to life. Deeks wasn’t hers to feel anything about. “And Branston was repulsive, but I still managed to get him to ask me out.”

“Oh, wow. That was fast. How did you seduce him?” Nell wiggled her eyebrows and Kensi grimaced.

“Eww. I mentioned Melissa’s inheritance and two seconds later, he was suddenly enthralled by me.” Kensi rolled her eyes. “It was kind of pathetically easy.”

“Or, you’re just that good,” Nell suggested with that smile. Her expression dimmed a little. “Now that you’ve secured a date, we’re pretty much done with Marty Deeks’ services. That’s a shame. I never got to meet him.”

“Yeah,” Kensi said. It came out more regretfully than she intended and Nell stilled instantly, looking askance at Kensi.

“What was that?”

“What was what?”

“That was your sad voice.”

“It’s nothing,” Kensi insisted. “Just, Deeks was easy to work with. I don’t get that with every civilian. I mean, remember that guy who told his mother I was his girlfriend?” A forced laugh escaped Kensi before she could stop it.

“Uh-huh.” Nell glared at Kensi a little harder before her face brightened with absolute delight. “Wait, you like him,” Nell said with an air of awe. “You like like him. Oh my god, this is the best day ever!”

“That is not true. He’s a nice guy, and seemingly honorable, and passionate about his work—”

“All things you find attractive in a man.”

Kensi rolled her eyes at Nell’s interruption. “I think you’ll find that popular among most women,” she pointed out with enough snark to hopefully get Nell to stop.

“Right. So, let’s review. Deeks is super cute, charming, a lawyer and a surfer, and an actual good guy.” Spreading her hands apart, Nell gave Kensi a look that suggested she’d made her case. “It’s the beginning of a perfect love story.”

“I am not admitting anything, but if I were to have any interest in a certain…person, you know I couldn’t do anything about it,” Kensi reminded Nell softly. “Conflict of interest, right?”

“Well, if he’s no longer involved in the case, then there’s no conflict.” Nell shrugged. “Problem solved.” When Kensi started to object, she raised a finger. “Nothing wrong with you deciding to take a few more lessons. If you know what I mean.”

“Oh my god,” Kensi sighed.

Eric walked in then, talking into his earpiece, and effectively ending the conversation. He set his tablet down with a sigh.

“Still not getting anywhere?” Nell asked sympathetically, which Eric answered with an exasperated noise.

“No. I haven’t tracked any of the missing money yet. It’s going somewhere encrypted and it’s infuriating because he’s not nearly smart enough to do this on his own.”

“And you still haven’t found a coconspirator?”

“Nope.” Nell said as Eric shook his head.

“Then I guess it’s a good thing I’m seeing Branston in three days. Pray he’s stupid enough to make a move on my “inheritance” right away.”

***

(late season seven)

Deeks was about half-way through his workout when Callen walked into the gym.  "You're in early," Callen said as he put his briefcase on the weightlifting bench before sitting next to it.

Slowing down a little on the exercise bike, Deeks said, "I went to surf this morning but there was the police had everything cordoned off."

"What happened?"

"Two bodies washed up.  Young girls – teenagers probably.  Offered to help but wearing my wetsuit probably didn't give the 'I'm here to work vibe' the officer in charge as looking for."

"Did they have any ideas about the bodies?"

"Seems some social media thing is going on to go to marinas and take out some wave runners or jet skis for a joyride.  Stupid in the daytime but at night...nobody realizes how dark it is at night on the water until they are out there."

"That's terrible."

"I told LAPD if they needed anything and we could help, give me a call.  So far, no call."

"Things seem better between you and LAPD," Callen noted.

"Absence makes the heart grow fonder."

"Cleaning up your old squad probably didn't hurt."

"Yeah, Steadman, Quinn and Flynn weren't poster boys for LAPD recruiting efforts."

"You think about going back?"

"Should I be thinking about going back?" Deeks answered a question with a question.

"If Hetty wants you here, you're here."

"And if you don't want me here?   I mean, we had a conversation after I came back from all of my unauthorized Russian dental work and you seemed not so on board."

"You weren't ready to be back in the field."

Deeks stopped peddling the stationary bike.  "Hetty popped up in my apartment – literally, she was hiding in the curtains – and said I was ready to return to work.  I returned to work."

"You should have been eased in."

"Probably but here we are.  So, should I be looking to return to LAPD?"

"No, but you have a record of changing careers every few years."

"I've been LAPD for over ten-years."

"A couple of years in vice, a couple of years with the undercover unit, a couple of years with us.   Before that, it was the public defenders office then the DA's office."

"You had a few stops before making it here."

"True."

"Not going anywhere voluntarily, Callen."

Callen nodded his head.  "I always thought Hetty would offer you a fulltime position."

"She did.  About a year after I got here.  She did all the paperwork, all I had to do was sign."

"When did she do this?"

"Right before our springtime visit to Romania."

"Getting her ducks in a row," Callen mumbled.  "If she filled out all the paperwork, why aren't you NCIS?"

"I said no."

Callen's eyebrows shot up.  "Brave man.  How did she react?"

"I'm still here so I guess she was fine with it.  I have the paperwork in my desk."

"Why did you say no?"

"I like being LAPD.  It's where I belong."

"As long as you're not actually there with them."

"I think of it as a long distance marriage.  We show up together for big events, hang around from time to time, talk on the phone a lot but they have their lives, I have mine and everyone is happy."

Callen chuckled as he stood.  "Well, if you plan to move back in together, or you decide to move on to something else, I'd like a head's up."

"Sure, can I ask where this all came from?"

"I'm thinking Sam may have to take a step back to be with his family.  I need to know the status of team if he's gone for any significant time.  Plus, you showed up about six-years ago, wanted to make sure you weren't getting antsy."

"Not antsy. And I'll be showing up for a while longer," Deeks said as he started pedaling again.

"You are part orangutan." "You're looking at my butt, aren't you?" "I could have just picked the lock!" "Yeah, and miss this opportunity to impress you?"