Prologue
Deeks and I are checking into a motel deep in the valley. I went off the reservation to catch Jack's killer, and we have been hounded daily, by email, to come in and let the team work on it. We dump our phones and get fresh phones to break away clean. Deeks knows well enough to say that we should let the team help once, that way when the crap hits the fan he can say that I was warned, but I ignore his warning. I almost didn't bring Deeks along, but I could use the company and the backup. I maybe the best hacker that N.C.I.S. has ever seen, but I have my limits and I know them well. I give Deeks a kiss as he walks out the door. We've been gone for two weeks, and from what I can tell; it might be longer. The jerk that killed Jack is hiding well, and it might take me some time. So I boot up a laptop that I grabbed from the bunker, and run background checks on the people that were involved in the case.
Two hours later Deeks returns with food from a burger joint, and puts it on the table. The search I was running would take a few more minutes to run, so I push the laptop out of the way and start working on lunch.
"How are we looking for that Gala in two nights?" Deeks asked.
"The pieces are coming together, but I'm having some problems with facial rec. software." I say.
"Why?" Deeks asked.
"Well we are going to be looking for someone in particular, so I want that to be operational but I can't seem to work out the final kinks." I say.
"I wouldn't be surprised if the team has made its own link to the Gala by now." Deeks says.
"Why would they?" I ask.
"They work the same case as we are, but with official authorization." Deeks said.
"Well I guess we should keep to the shadows and keep a low profile." I say.
"You think you could work me into that program you wrote." Deeks said.
"Why?" I ask.
"If the team is going to be there, better to not tip them off to our presence by showing up on the video surveillance." Deeks said.
"Fair enough." I say.
I get started on writing Deeks into the program that erases his digital image from video surveillance, so the both of us can move without being seen. It takes me an hour to get the program straight, and then we head to an internet café to test it out. Deeks is sitting so the video feed is in his field of vision; I upload the program and tweak the program until Deeks gives me a thumbs up, and then we leave. We head back to the motel. By the time we get back the sun is sitting on the horizon, and I start to yawn. As we are making our way back to our room I feel Deeks wrap an arm around my shoulder, and I lean into him.
"Do you think the Eric and Nell will track us to this location?" I ask, sleepily.
"This is a place that I set up with the F.B.I. a year or two before I hook with you guys, so the only way they would find this place is if the hacked the F.B.I. database." Deeks says.
Deeks opens the door, and I put my laptop on the table as Deeks is shutting the door. I barely get my shoes off as Deeks picks me up and walks over to the bed. Any other time I would have protested him carrying me, but I like how his arms mold to my body, and I'm reminded of when we were Mr. and Mrs. Waring. I gently kiss Deeks cheek, and slowly drift off to sleep.
N.C.I.S. L.A.
Two weeks ago-
"Jack." I say, weakly.
Deeks rushes to grab me as my legs buckle under me. Deeks takes me off camera, and around the corner to cry in peace. Deeks doesn't say anything, he just holds me and lets me cry. When I'm better and regained my composure I can see Deeks has something to say.
"I'm pretty sure you know what's going to happen when you walk back into OPS." Deeks says.
"She can try." I say.
We walk back into OPS, and Hetty was waiting at her desk.
"Miss. Blye, Mr. Deeks." Hetty said.
We didn't wait for an invitation; we walk over to Hetty's desk, and take a seat.
"I'm pulling you off the Jack Simon murder case." Hetty said.
"Why?" I ask, with no real fire or anger in my voice.
"You're too close to the case. I need you to have a clear head. Go home, and come back tomorrow when you feel better." Hetty said.
I won't be coming back until I catch Jack's killer, or when I need more resources. I think.
"Yes, Hetty." Deeks says, and then grabs my arm.
"Miss. Blye can take care of herself, Mr. Deeks. I have other leads I need you to look into." Hetty says.
Deeks leans in and whispers in my ear.
"Wait by my car."
I nod my head, and head out to his car. Three minutes later Deeks is coming out to his car with a folder in his hands. He unlocks the car, and we get in.
"So what's your plan?" I ask
"Hetty said that I need to look into these leads, she never specified that I had to do it from OPS." Deeks said.
"You know that Hetty is going to really mad that you went rogue with me." I say.
"She's going to be even madder that I didn't, and let you go without back up." Deeks says.
"So this is what it's like when Callen goes rogue." I say.
"Except those cases are usually over in a day, or two." Deeks says.
N.C.I.S. L.A.
Present day-
I wake three hours later to the laptop beeping. Deeks begins to stir, but doesn't wake. I get out of bed, and check what has my laptop on the fritz this late at night. I lift the lid to see that the facial rec. software has been formatted, and I feel waves of relief flow over me. I think of a way to use the software, and being tactful about it. The idea of writing the program into the lens of a pair of glasses is the most relevant idea, and I know a man who owes me a favor. I crawl back into bed, cuddling with Deeks.
Come morning we get a shower, and go get some breakfast, and then make our way to the shop. When we get to the shop Deeks looks at the sign out front.
"We're going to be talking to Jenson. Jared Jenson?" Deeks asked.
"Yeah, is that a problem?" I ask.
"Should I stay outside because last time I went in there I wound up remodeling the place… with his head." He said.
"No. Seeing you will give him second thoughts of doing something stupid." I say.
"Fair enough." Deeks says.
We get out of the car, and then make our way towards the front of the shop. Deeks had some strange idea; he signaled that he would go around the back, and I just shrugged my shoulders. It seemed that Deeks was right because Jenson was already scrambling out the back door. The next thing I heard was a punch, and then thud.
"Hello again, Jared." I hear Deeks say, as I'm approaching the back door.
"Hi, Caine." Jared said, as he was gingerly touching his nose.
"I really like what you did with the place." Deeks said, after picking Jared up off the ground and then forcefully shoving him back into his shop. "I hate to have a repeat of last time."
"Okay! Okay! What do you want!" Jared exclaimed.
I looked at Deeks and gave him a looked that said told you.
"I need some hardware made." I said.
"When?" Jared asked
"By tomorrow." I say.
Jared looked and Deeks, and then consider the work.
"What do you need?" Jared asked.
"I need this program loaded into lens of two pairs of glasses." I say, handing the program to Jared.
"I'll put this bluntly, if I found out that you put a bug into the program and our instruments fail, I'll be back to finish the job." Deeks said.
"That won't be necessary." Jared screeched. "It will be ready at noon tomorrow."
Jared went into the back room, and began working on the equipment. Deeks and I went and got lunch. While we were out Deeks started to zone out on me periodically, but it was only for a couple of seconds. Then the gaps became longer.
"You okay?" I ask.
"I thought I saw a ghost." Deeks said.
I turned and looked behind me, but I didn't see anyone. When I turned back to him, he had a smirk on his face.
"Of course you wouldn't have seen them because I wasn't even sure if I saw them myself." Deeks said.
"Shut up." I say.
Deeks laughs. Our food comes out, and then we chit chat about old case that we investigate. Ones we like, ones we hated, and ones that were just plain weird. I know we've had this conversation before, but it's fun and it passes the time. There are dumb, or worse things to do to pass the time. After we finish our meal, and pay the bill we head back to the motel. We want to stay away from camera system as much as possible. Granted I uploaded the program for both of us, but no need to be spotted in person and be followed back to our motel room.
"After the Gala, do you think we should just head to the bunker to hide out?" Deeks asked.
"We would have to park your car a few blocks away, as to not give away the location." I said.
"Good because we might need to move on before the F.B.I. gets suspicious and tells Hetty." Deeks said.
"That would be bad." I say.
When we get back to the motel it was early evening. We decided to go to bed and get some rest. In the morning Kensi does some last minute computer work, doing facial rec. for their names; in case they have a scanner at the gala. At eleven thirty we leave to get the glasses from Jared, and then go get a clothes for the event tonight. We head back to the motel because the Gala starts at six, so we take a shower and get dressed. I pull my dress on, but it has a zipper on the back.
"Deeks." I say.
Deeks looked up to see my back to him, and that I needed help with my zipper. Deeks walked over, and started to zip up my dress. I feel his hand glide across my spine as he pulls the zipper up, and its sending chills down it. When he finishes with the zipper he kisses my neck, and nips at the muscle package between my neck and shoulder. I turn around and kiss my boyfriend. I pull my hair into a pony tail after I break the kiss, and then grab my clutch. Deeks offers his arm, which I take with a huge smile on face, and then we leave. The ride to the Gala is made in silence, but we have the occasion laugh at people on the street. When we get to the event we try on our glasses to make sure they work. We walk up to the doors, and are cleared without problems. We take in the lay out of the building: The foyer has three floors, with stairs connecting the floors.
"I'll mingle on the second floor, and watch the third." Deeks said.
"I'll take the first." I said, and then kissed Deeks on his cheek. We split ways, and then mingle with the crowd. We were there a half an hour before I find one of our targets.
"I found one." I say. "Moving to engage."
"I have them my line of sight, and it seems that nobody has shown any interest in you." Deeks says.
"Ah, but I'm interest in you." A voice said from behind Deeks.
Deeks groans, and rolls his eyes.
"Who is it?" I asked, without breaking cover.
Deeks turn to his right to see that it was Sam that was talking to him.