#like deeks and roberta

[ejzah]

@mashmaiden also pointed out that the twins’ birthday would be coming up, or passed if you follow my timeline.

***

Firsts

“Are you having a good party?” Deeks asked Sophia, lying on his side while she and Caleb played with sorting cups and blocks.

“Yah,” she responded matter of factly, not looking up from the two cups she was trying to force them together.

A few feet away, Kensi and Rosa were taking turns building towers for Caleb to immediately knock down. Roberta, Callen, Anna, Sam, and Fatima had also come to celebrate the twins’ first birthday, and were currently embroiled in a highly competitive game of “Don’t Say Birthday” (with twins, baby, Sophia, Caleb, and present added into the mix of banned words to up the difficulty). At the moment, Roberta and Sam were tied.

“Alright, that’s my last pin,” Callen announced, handing it over to Fatima. “I’m out, try not to kill each other.” He wandered over, stopping beside Deeks. “When you invited me, I assumed it would be the one year olds fighting, not my partner and your mom.”

“Yeah, we probably should have stuck to bingo,” Deeks said, laughing at their antics.

“Ti,” Sophia instructed, patting the spot next to her. When Callen didn’t immediately respond to her directive, she patted the floor more emphatically, scowling at him.

“I think the birthday girl would like you to sit down,” Deeks interpreted.

“Oh, of course.” Callen hastily sat down. “Wouldn’t want to get on her bad side.”

“Definitely not.”

Sophia patted his shoulder, apparently satisfied and then lifted her light blue birthday dress to cover her face, and shouted “boo!”.

This time, Callen didn’t hesitate to hold his hands up and copy her, making Sophia giggle in delight.

“Incoming!” Kensi called out right before Caleb came running towards them, a party hat in one hand, and a green block in the other.

Deeks held out his arms, catching Caleb against his chest before he could crash.

“Hey buddy, how you doing?”

Caleb didn’t say anything, choosing to bury his head almost in Deeks’ armpit instead.

“I think he’s reaching the end of his endurance,” Kensi said, picking up a few toys as she moved closer. She brushed Caleb’s curls back from his temple, pushing her bottom lip out. “My poor baby. You’re just having too much fun.”

“Caleb reached up and clumsily forced a party hat on top of Deeks’ head.

“Thanks, kiddo,” Deeks said, pulling the attached rubber band under his chin. Both he and Sophia had started the party out with their own hats, but quickly dispensed with them. He’d seen Sophia’s discarded under the table, while Caleb had repurposed his as a container to hold a variety of snacks.

“I think it’s cake time,” Kensi told Rosa, who excitedly jumped, heading for the kitchen. She had kindly volunteered to the two smaller cakes for Sophia and Caleb to destroy and a larger cake for the rest of the party to enjoy.

“Guys, we’re about to sing “Happy Birthday” and have cake,” Kensi announced more loudly, addressing the rest of the guests. “So, I officially call an end to the game. Who has the most safety pins?”

“Me,” Anna said, raising her hand. “I have twenty-two.”

“Impressive,” Deeks commented.

“Yeah, won by nefarious means,” Sam said darkly.

“All I did was engage you in pleasant conversation.” Anna shrugged innocently.

“How’d you lose yours?” Kensi asked Fatima, who shook her head.

“Oh, I folded ten minutes ago and started refereeing these two,” she said.

“Ah, nice to know that even if we’re not coworkers anymore, the crazy still remains,” Deeks teased, picking Caleb and Sophia up and toting them over to the dining room table. Kensi took Sophia from him, getting her settled in her high hair, while Deeks worked on Caleb.

Sophia clapped her hands together, babbling about cake and other things Deeks didn’t quite catch.

“Oh, those are so beautiful, Rosa!” Fatima exclaimed as Rosa emerged from the kitchen with a tray containing two tiny cake decorated in teal and white frosting topped off with white number one candles. She brought them to the dining room table as everyone gathered around, and Caleb reached towards the candles with awe in his eyes.

“Caleb, don’t touch. Hot,” Kensi warned him, and Caleb pulled back, repeating,

“Hot?”

“Mm-hmm.”

“Let me get a picture of you all together,” Roberta said, gesturing for Kensi, Deeks, and Rosa to scoot closer to the twins and

“Beautiful.”

They sang an abridged chorus of happy birthday since the twins were starting to get antsy.

“Sophia, Caleb, blow out the candles,” Kensi encouraged then when they finished singing.

Caleb screwed up his face and blew hard, blowing out the flame and also spraying the cake with a good amount of spit. Seeing her brother’s example, Sophia let out a short puff of air, frowning when her candle stayed lit.

“Try again,” Deeks encouraged.

It took three more tries before Sophia blew her candle out and then she immediately stuffed a fist into the cake. Caleb went head first instead, getting a mouthful of just frosting.

“Oh, I don’t envy you guys tonight when that sugar crash happens,” Sam said, chuckling at their future misfortune.

“Totally worth it.” Deeks gestured to the twins, somehow already completely covered in blue frosting and cake crumbs.

***

Later, after everyone had left and the mess cleaned up, Kensi and Deeks sat on the couch, the twins between them, just taking a moment to themselves.

“It’s crazy to think a year ago, these two weren’t even earth-side,” Deeks said with quiet awe.

“I know.” Kensi brushed her fingers over Caleb and Sophia’s cheeks. “And now they’re walking, starting to talk, eating anything they can find, and getting into lots of mischief.”

“Yeah, they definitely got your sweet tooth.”

“Hey, I didn’t see you turn down that second piece of cake,” Kensi retorted.

“It was really good cake. If Rosa decides she doesn’t want to be a lawyer, she could totally open a restaurant,” he said, turning his attention back to the twins.

“We’re pretty lucky,” he murmured.

“The luckiest,” Kensi agreed.

[densi-mber]

A/N: Merry Christmas! I hope everyone has a fantastic day.

***

Santa Clause is Coming to Town

For the first time in a couple years, Kensi and Deeks were hosting everyone for Christmas again. Nell and Eric had flown in for the month and would be arriving soon, Sam and Callen had found time in their schedules, and even Admiral Kilbride had deigned to accept their invitation. The dining area, living room, and front room were completely filled, broken to little groups either chatting or eating.

Kensi and Deeks made their way around, greeting everyone and making sure there was enough food.

Fatima, Rountree, and Rosa sat on the couch, entertaining Sophia and Caleb. Or maybe it was the other way around, Deeks decided as he watched Fatima flip Caleb and break into laughter at his squeals of delight.

“Hey guys, thanks for coming,” Deeks said, giving them each a hug.

“Thanks for having us.” Fatima reached before her, pulling out a small gift box. “That’s for tomorrow when you don’t feel like cooking.”

“Thank you.” Accepting the gift, Kensi turned to Rountree. “Is Summer ok? I thought you said she was coming.”

“She’s ok,” Rountree assured them. “Not happy, but fine. She’s on call and got asked to sub in for another who’s sick.”

“Yeah, I remember those days,” Deeks said with a grimace. “Well, there’s lots of food in the kitchen, water and pop in the white cooler, and adult beverages in the blue one.” Deeks lowered his voice to a whisper. “There’s also mixed drinks in the top cabinet over the refrigerator, but don’t let Arkady see.”

“Gotcha.”

“Yeah, last year was not good,” Rosa said, shaking her head.

“What happened?” Rountree wondered with a hint of trepidation in his eyes.

“We had to retrieve Arkady from the neighbors after he had a little too much Christmas cheer and decided to regale them with stories of his past.”

“Fortunately it was an older couple who found him very entertaining,” Kensi explained.

“Well, at least he seems occupied for now,” Fatima pointed out, nodding to where Arkady held court with Colonel Hanna and Roberta. Whatever tall tale he was telling had both of them cracking up.

“For now.”

The doorbell rang and Deeks heard Nell’s voice a moment later.

“Eric and Nell are here!” Rosa said excitedly, rushing up to go greet them. Deeks title his head to see the top of a boingy elf hat that could only belong to Nell and Eric’s signature holiday top hat.

“Well, I guess we’ve been replaced as the welcoming committee,” Deeks joked.

“Up.” Caleb started to climb Deeks’ leg, and he picked him up, propping him up on his hip, then Sophia when she immediately reached for him too.

“Are you hungry?” Kensi asked.

“Cookie?” Sophia said hopefully.

“Mm, maybe after some cheese and crackers.”

“Alright, we’re going to get these guys some dinner. Or at the very least, some snacks. You want anything?” Deeks gestured to Fatima and Rountree.

“Eh, I already ate like ten Christmas cookies,” Rountree revealed with a grimace.

“I told you to pace yourself,” Fatima reminded him.

“I know.” He sighed. “But they’re so good.”

“Ok, we’ll back in a little bit,” Deeks said, hefting the twins higher. “Sheesh, you guys are killing my back.”

After Caleb and Sophia ate a well-rounded dinner of cucumbers, crackers, and cookies, they ended up chatting with Anna, Eric, and Nell.

“It’s great being back at work,” Kensi was explaining to Nell and Anna. “But I also really miss these guys.” She nodded to Sophia and Caleb, currently building a tower with Sam.

“That has to be so hard,” Nell said. “I’m so happy for you two though. Well, five.”

“Thanks. Every day is crazy, but it’s an amazing kind of crazy.”

“Ooh, speaking of crazy, remind me to get your gifts before we leave,” Eric said.

“That’s a concerning segue,” Deeks observed, pursing his lips. “Do k wanna know?”

“Probably not,” Eric told him happily.

“I would be very scared,” Anna told Deeks in an undertone. “And what is my husband doing?”

A few feet away, Callen had interrupted the block building by presenting Sam with a large white box.

“Come on, Sam,” he cajoled.

“I’m not putting that on,” Sam insisted, leaning away from Callen as he tried to make him take the box. He picked Caleb up, using him as a sort of human shield.

“There are children present. We need a Santa.” Callen pointed to the twins as evidence, pulling out a white beard and hat.

“Yeah, well it’s not going to be me. I bet it wouldn’t the suit wouldn’t even fit me.”

“It stretches.”

“Grisha Callen, leave him alone,” Anna interceded.

“Ooh, you just got full first-named,” Deeks teased.

“Martin Atticus, tell Sam he needs to participate,” Callen said. “It wouldn’t be Christmas without Santa.”

“Tanta?” Sophia asked, looking around excitedly.

“See?” Callen gestured to her as evidence. “You wouldn’t want to disappoint your little niece.”

“You’re shameless.” Sam said, shaking his head. “Ask Deeks.”

“Sorry, the twins would see through that in a second.”

“Enough with bickering. Good lord, it’s like I’m back in the office,” Kilbride grumbled, getting off of his chair with a grimace. “I’ll do it.”

“You’re going to be Santa?” Deeks repeated, fighting back a grin.

“It wouldn’t be the first time,” Kilbride responded with as much dignity as he could.

“I did not see that coming,” Kensi murmured.

“Ooh, and Eric and I can be elves,” Nell added excitedly. “We brought our costumes just in case.”

“I’ll get them out of the car,” Eric said, hurrying off. Kilbride didn’t look too pleased by this update and grumbled something about needing another drink as he grabbed the box from Callen.

“I’ll be right back,” Kensi told Deeks.

“Where are you going?”

“To get my phone. This moment needs to be recorded for posterity.”

Merry Christmas to us,” he sang, sitting down beside Caleb and Sophia. “Hey, don’t worry if Santa seems a little extra grumpy this year. He’s a big old softy deep down.”

[typingtess]

NCIS: Los Angeles Season 14 – Recap

Callen found out everything about his past including the guy who brutally abused him as a child is actually a pretty OK person because he suggested Sam as a possible partner (please don’t slip on the puddle of sarcasm – safety first!). Sam was being primed to talk over the Hetty/Temporary Nell/Kilbride position. Deeks and Detective Whiting are in a good place. Fatima saved a Naval officer from a forced marriage. Kilbride was a Simon Williams.

With the casts’ limited work schedules, there were some interesting pairings with Kensi and Fatima, Sam and Deeks being favorites. Callen, Sam and Deeks worked on a task force together, leaving Kensi to work with Lance Hamilton and Vostanik Sabatino on a case. Callen joined Sam on a taskforce leaving Deeks to be Swedish nobility to save Arkady.

As for family, Callen married Anna and I guess got Arkady in the deal. Sam was all family this season as he dealt with Raymond’s condition and Aiden’s near death experience while reminded Kam that he loves her for who she is. Kensi got to be a good Mom to Rosa before learning she was becoming a mother again. Deeks had Dad-Jokes for days and a conversation with Bertie about their past together. Fatima tried to figure out if Akhil is Mr. Right or Mr. Right Now. Rountree rekindled a relationship with FBI Agent Summer Morehurst, who he dated in the FBI. Rountree and his sister Jordyn got some money but not a lot of justice from the LAPD. Kilbride had some time with his ex-wife before visiting his troubled son in San Francisco.

The OSP worked with the NCIS teams from Washington and Los Angeles, the CIA, FBI, ATF, US Marshal’s Service and LAPD. There was Daisy the NCIS Cold Case Agent who should have joined the show in season eight or nine. Nina Barnes also would have been a delightful addition several seasons ago.

There were return appearances from Arkady and Anna Kolchek, Raymond, Aiden, Kam, Roberta Deeks, Rosa Reyes, Akhil Ali, Jordyn Rountree, Shyla Dahr, Nate Getz, Nina Barnes, Lisa Rand, Lance Hamilton, Ellen Whiting, Vostanik Sabatino, Pembrook, Leah Novak, Tom Olsen and those awful Body Stitchers people.

Agent Campbell was ‘this close’ to be a regular (and maybe getting a first name like Callen). Nell was a delightful surprise at the end of the show’s run. I’d like video of Eric’s TED Talk.

Trips included Callen to San Diego, Kensi to Utah, Kensi and Fatima to the US Allegiance, Kilbride in San Francisco, Callen and Sam to Washington DC, Sam was kidnapped to Hawai’i with Callen showing up in the Aloha State to help rescue him. Deeks passed on a trip to Costa Rica as part of being a good husband so Rountree went instead. Callen put off his honeymoon in Greece to go Hetty hunting with Sam, Nate, Sabatino and the New Guy in Morocco.

Three best episodes: “Glory of the Sea” “Flesh and Blood” “New Beginnings Part II”

Worst episodes: All the Drona drama.

Most frustrating episode: “Body Stitchers” – while I’ll happily admit that “The Monster” isn’t my “go to” episode when I want to have a good mind cleansing hour, that was a tense, well done hour. When I saw they were bringing them back, I thought we’d have a tense, well done hour where the bad guys (and gal) got caught. Instead, there were new baddies including a government weirdo in a bad tie. When a show is in season 14, it’s time to start wrapping up storylines, not introducing new ones. ---

I missed the show since it ended. I like The Equalizer, like Tracker, the new Watson series with Morris Chestnut looks right up my alley but I miss the program on Sundays (and Tuesdays and Mondays). It was a fun run.

[ao3feed-ncislosangeles]

Family Found in Forgotten Places (Like our Hearts)

by FlyFree2FallFast The LAPD Detective did not have good luck with family, but maybe that was all about to change. The NCIS Special Agent did not have a family at all, but family comes when you least expect it. Deeks and Callen have to navigate their understanding of what family is as they try and save Hetty from the wrath of their family's past. A spin off from NCIS LA season 2 Words: 5581, Chapters: 3/?, Language: English Fandoms: NCIS: Los Angeles Rating: Teen And Up Audiences Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Categories: Gen Characters: G Callen, Marty Deeks, Kensi Blye, Hetty Lange, Eric Beale, Nell Jones, Sam Hanna, Roberta Deeks, Clara Callen, Comescu Family, Gordon John Brandel, Ray Martindale Relationships: G Callen & Marty Deeks Additional Tags: Found Family, Light Angst, Half-Siblings, Past Child Abuse, Past Domestic Violence, I'm Bad At Tagging, I'm Bad At Summaries, I'm Sorry, I Don't Even Know, I Wrote This Instead of Sleeping via https://ift.tt/LGFAb8P

[dominicvail]

what are ur thoughts about anna and joelle as characters & their respective relationships with callen? love your blog by the way :)

i mostly think that ncis:la is exceptionally good at writing the core 6 characters and keeping their development on track, but to do so i think they sacrifice their secondary characters at some kind of tv show alter where any characterization sins are forgiven if it works in favour of any of the mains’ development. Anna suffered from this, though not as much as Joelle imo. 

I have nothing against either of them as characters tbh?? I think it’s clear we’re supposed to have felt a deep and ugly disdain for Joelle after The Incident (that was clearly pulled out of the writers’ asses at the last minute bc of the total and blatant lack of foreshadowing and i think i know where the got writers were taking prompts tbh) but honestly? I have always failed to see how her actions were That much different to the teams’, and they’re the heroes of the show. I just... Can’t deal with how the writers played Callen’s (understandable and valid) reaction to that betrayal with exactly Zero levels of introspection from him and the rest of the team. Joelle just thought this was a Regular job, not a screwy one, she was, in effect, doing what they do???  

Like, ur all spies... This is the territory. This annoyed me to the point where I didn’t want Joelle to show up anymore simply because the high horse the team was on was genuinely making me uncomfortable in the insinuation that some of the things they’ve done aren’t like, super messed up in this area as well??? The writer’s unwillingness to address the moral ambiguity of it was just... Confusing to me. Like, remember that time in s1 Callen legit thought he had a son with an actual genuine innocent mark he was sleeping with for a job? 

Wild. 

And before the whole random spy plot, Joelle suffered from not being a character as much as the cookie cutter girlfriend. Was there much to get attached to? No, but on the flip side there was nothing to actually get annoyed over, either, she was just there. 

I’m just kind of..  *shrug emoji* about it all to be honest, i think they missed a chance to tell an actual interesting story about the team when they did the Joelle plot, both when she was an innocent civilian and the perils of being involved with a highly trained spy, and then again when she worked for the CIA and the implications of that kind of job. In the end, the only time i really connected with her character was when she realised she couldn’t go back to her family, it’s the only time they managed to draw real emotion from me with her. 

Though, they also dropped a massive ball there tbh, b/c she did the same thing Nikita did with G and... Nobody bothered to mention it. I mean, her kid still has his dad, but there is a clear parallel there. 

So Many Missed Opportunities. My thoughts on Joelle and Callen are that at every stage of their relationship, the writers dropped the ball. It was a hard relationship to try and write no matter what hat Joelle was wearing, you couldn’t phone those stories in, but they tried, and failed. 

But, on the other hand, G’s relationship with Anna... Was easy. 

I think they both connected on a level that G’s not had with anybody before, really. I mean, how often is G gonna meet somebody else with that much in common with him with how unorthodox his life is??? Their connection was immediate and easy, from the very beginning, it wasn’t trouble in paradise, they had a genuinely peaceful coexistence. There isn’t any ‘wow i have to protect her’ or ‘is she gonna back stab me’ because they get each other in ways not many other people could. Their dads are old buddies, they’re both kids of old soviets hated by the regime, they’re both spies/law enforcement out of a genuine urge to do some good in the world, are both fiercely protective of said fathers no matter how mad they are at any given time etc etc

I feel like the writers didn’t spend an awful lot of time developing them, either, But in this case, I buy it without having it, tbh, they’d be attracted by their similarities and I don’t need a big explanation. 

Anna also is, unlike Joelle, very much her own woman from day one. She’s not Callen’s girlfriend, she’s Anna; law enforcement, half russian, Arkady’s daughter who has a tenuous relationship with Arkady. And it all went So Well for her from her intro in s6-s9 and then... That.

i have not done this but i suspect if i played the ep where she tells Callen to tell the truth next to the one where she gets arrested i’d cry over how poor the continuity is. I kinda did with the gaps between eps tbh. And now i’ve seen that season, i’m not sure At All what the point of it all even was???? like, when did she stop being  pissed??? when did she start deciding to find old man callen??? why did she do so if she was mad at G??? she’s basically bought herself a lifetime as a fugitive when she’d probs have gotten out on good behaviour in a couple of years and i’m supposed to think any of this makes sense??????!!??? 

That’s when they lost me. They could have done that entire plot without the ooc pissiness at G, in fact, it would have made a lot more sense. It was just stupid drama for the sake of drama. And while i frankly still would have side eyed her throwing her life away for G even if they had taken out the stupid drama, i could not have said it didn’t make sense. 

oh well. 

I mean, they used her kinda as a Kensi metaphor with the ‘if i lose my work who am i’ kinda plot, But I don’t have a problem with her killing the guy narratively so them kind of making a point about Kensi possibly quitting with Deeks and who she’d be without the job did not annoy me because it didn’t demean Anna, it was a parallel. In fact, i thought finding out that Anna would legit kill for Arkady an interesting facet of her character considering how tenuous their relationship can be. 

I genuinely Like Anna, she might not be the most fleshed out character ever but she argues with her dad and is annoyed by him so much but loves him enough to kill a guy for him, she wants to be a cop to help people because it’s who she is, and she plays online video games with random people on the internet to the point she stuck electrical’s in G’s home. There is personality there, there’re things to be attached to, unlike in Joelle. 

I don’t think i’m ever gonna be nuts about any of the main characters relationships with anybody Not main character simply because the writers don’t put a Lot of effort in most of the time, but yeah... Joelle was a mess of a situation to begin with and Anna got really fried for plot reasons. 

And i genuinely hope they both settle in Cuba and end up friends, Joelle’s kinda ruthless and Anna’s not but i think as a fugitive Anna could probably use somebody ruthless to watch her back. And Anna’s caring enough and i think Joelle could probably use some uncomplicated kindness, tbh. I’m imagining it, Anna can go back to being her (lets face it, arkady visits, she’s not lost him at least) and Joelle can just get some stability with no back stabbing. 

and then they end up girlfriends b/c this show is still too straight 

and thank u!!!

[glenncoco4]

Okay, but the images that are in my head right now.

She walks into the bridal suite and the image before her quite literally takes her breath away. This strong, amazing, passionate, loving, tough as nails woman, that loves her son with everything she has. This, this is the woman that her Martin so rightfully deserves.

She walks up to her, taking her hands in her own. “I’m so unbelievably happy he found you.” She takes her hand, bringing it up to the beautiful brunette’s cheek. “Thank you for loving my son like you do. Thank you for being everything he needs and deserves. I love you and I’m so glad that you two are getting married.”

Kensi has tears in her eyes. She doesn’t know how to respond. The only thing she can think of is.....pulling their hands apart, she brings her soon to be mother-in-law into a tight embrace and whispers in her ear. “I love you too, Mama B.”

They pull apart and dab their faces, careful of their make-up. All seriousness of the past moment is washed away though when her very soon to be mother-in-law claps her hands and shouts. “Alright, lets get this show on the road so you two can head off on your honeymoon and start trying to make me a grandma!”

As she watches the feisty older lady walk out of the room, a smile appears on Kensi’s face and she gives a huff of laughter while shaking her head. When all else fails, those two can can make her laugh in even the most serious of conversations. “The apple doesn’t fall far.”

[chicgeekgirl89]

How to Say Goodbye

Fandom: NCIS LA

Characters: Marty Deeks, Kensi Blye, Monty

Summary: After an extremely hard day Kensi and Deeks reevaluate their careers and consider where the road ahead might lead. A post ep for S14E12 "In the Name of Honor."

A/N: Wow, hello old friends. It's been a while. In light of the recent announcement about cancellation it only felt right that I come out of retirement and give the couple who changed my writing life a little bit of a sendoff. This may not be my final Densi fic, I'm leaving the door open for the rest of the season, but if it is, I'm happy with where I've left them. Enjoy!

Also, Monty lives for as long as I write in this fandom. Does it make sense? Probably not. Do I care? No. 

Read on AO3

Kensi slides into the passenger seat and lets her head fall back against the headrest, eyes closing as her body relaxes into the leather. She’s going to be sore tomorrow. Like take two Advil before she even gets out of bed sore. 

“Hey, you okay?” Deeks asks as he gets in the driver’s side and pulls on his seatbelt.

She nods. “Yeah. Yeah I’m just tired.”

“That makes sense, you had a rough day,” Deeks says.

She snorts. “Yeah, right, that’s what it was. A ‘rough day.’”

Deeks is quiet for a moment and then he reaches over a hand, sliding it between her head and the seat, gently massaging the back of her neck. She sighs and relaxes under his touch. 

“Let’s bail on Callen,” he says softly. “He’ll understand. Let me take you home. We can order delivery, go to bed early.”

She opens her mouth to protest, to say that it’s not fair to bail on their friend, but honestly, if she closes her eyes for too long right now, she’s probably not going to open them again, so she nods and Deeks sends a text and then they’re heading for home. 

She must doze off on the drive because it seems very short tonight and when they get inside she face plants directly into their couch without even taking off her shoes. Monty shuffles over and she blindly reaches out a hand to give him a scratch behind the ears.

She hears Deeks drop their bags and then call for Monty to go outside, the back door opening and closing so he can go out and take care of business for the night. When Deeks comes back about ten minutes later he sets something down on the coffee table. Squinting one eye open she finds a glass of wine sitting in front of her face and then grunts out her thanks as she feels him reach down to gently unlace and slide off her shoes. 

Once that’s done he settles onto the far end of the couch and pulls her feet into his lap. One hand lands on her calf and squeezes gently. “Rosa is going to stay at my mom’s tonight,” he says quietly.

At that her eyes pop open and she rolls over onto her back so she can look at him. “Oh no, I wanted to see her,” she says sadly.

“I’ll bring her by in the morning before school,” he says. 

She sighs. She knows Rosa is safe and happy at Roberta’s, but she misses her daughter and after a day like this it helps to have her presence in the house. “Okay. Thanks.”

“And dinner is ordered, it will be here in forty minutes,” he says as he begins to rub her feet.

“You are the perfect husband,” she says, enjoying the way it feels as he works the arch of her right foot.

He chuckles. “I’m going to go draw you a bath okay? You can relax until the food gets here.”

He starts to get up, but she catches his hand. “Don’t go,” she says softly.

He nods and sinks back down into the couch as she sits up, crossing her legs so she can really look at him. “What’s on your mind Fern?” he asks.

“Today was close,” she says. “Really close.”

“Yeah,” he says, emotion flitting through his eyes. “It was…yeah. Really close.”

She looks down and toys with his fingers as she tries to put what she’s feeling into words. “I thought about Rosa,” she says finally. “When they took us, when they tied us up and put us in the back of that van, before they knocked us out. I thought about everything that she’s lost. And I thought about you having to tell her that one more person she loves isn’t coming home.”

Deeks blows out a breath and shakes his head. “My mind didn’t even get that far,” he admits. “I just couldn’t stop thinking about the fact that I wasn’t there. That there was absolutely nothing I could do to stop what was about to happen to you and Fatima.”

Kensi swallows. “Deeks, if Fatima hadn’t woken up, if she hadn’t been there, I don’t think I would have been able to save myself today. I don’t think I would have made it out of that car.”

Silence fills the space as they both process what she’s just said. “Okay,” Deeks says finally. “Okay, what do we do with that?”

She shrugs. “I don’t know. I just, I can’t stop thinking that this is a young person’s game. We have Fatima and Rountree now and maybe…maybe this isn’t working anymore. I’m not sure I’m willing to keep sacrificing our family for the greater good.” She leans back against the arm rest and shoves a hand through her hair. “I don’t know Deeks.”

“You don’t have to know,” he tells her because he is good and kind and would never, ever try to make a decision for her. “Not right now.”

“We’ve been saying that for years,” she tells him helplessly. “We’ve been talking about how this is going to work with our hypothetical kids for years. But Deeks, Rosa is here now and she’s ours and we have a responsibility to her and we can’t just keep talking about it like it’s something that’s going to happen in the future. We have to make a choice.”

“I know,” he says. “I know. You’re right.”

“Yeah,” she says, with a sigh. “I am.”

“What do you want to do?” he asks after a long, heavy moment.

“I’m not sure,” she says. “We’ve had offers. Maybe it’s time for me to start seriously considering some of them.”

“Time for us,” he corrects. “If you’re going, I’m going too.”

“Deeks, just because I’m ready, that doesn’t mean you have to—“

“You’re going to leave me to third wheel it with Callen and Sam all by myself? Ha! Not a chance,” he says.

She leans forward and cups the back of his head, pressing a gentle kiss to his lips. “I never thought this would be my life,” she says. “This was…this was not something I planned for. I thought I would do the agent thing, maybe move into something else after a couple years, I don’t know. But you and Rosa, you were never part of the plan.” She runs a hand through his hair. “God I’m so glad you’re part of the plan now.”

He takes her hand, kisses her palm. “You two are the only plan I want. My girls,” he says, voice thick, eyes bright. “My two perfect, beautiful, amazing, kickass girls.”

“How are we going to tell them all goodbye?” she asks, her own throat feeling tight. “Sam and Callen and everyone else. They’re our family too.”

“We’ll figure it out,” Deeks tells her. “Nell and Eric did it and look at them now. Happy as two little clams. Really rich clams. Clams with only slightly less money than Jeffy B.”

She snorts and rolls her eyes. How is that after all these years he can still make her laugh with all his ridiculousness? “I love you,” she tells him.

“I love you too.” He stands and holds out a hand. “Now come on. We’ve run out of time for a bath, but I think I can rustle up a reasonably good shower before the food gets here.”

“That is the sexiest thing you’ve ever said to me,” she says, letting him pull her up off the couch.

“How about I do you one better and tell you there’s ice cream in the freezer? And I DVR’ed the new episode of Below Deck?”

“Best. Husband. Ever.”

[chrisodonline]

I'm trying something new where I watch the show on my iPad to see if I pay more attention because the screen is smaller and closer. We'll see if it helps. Right now I'm watching this very different cold opening. Tons of people. So many potential non-name-in-credits casualties. I feel like this is the opening flashback in a John Cena movie. I want to note I have never actually seen a John Cena movie. I have only seen him on PSYCH and PEACEMAKER. But I just think I'm right on this. My gut tells me I am.

Super quick flashing credits! Someone got paid a lot of money to make it look crappy. I always commend people who manage to get the bucks with such bad work. Like, maybe THEY are the actual geniuses. 

Deeks is trying to be the Mayor of Flavortown! Deeks = lots of protein for breakfast. Grandma Bertie is like, "SUGAR! SUGAR!"

Bertie D. is dropping ALL THE SHADE and Kensi isn't even there.

"I don't speak Spanish but I know that means." BERTIE. I love you.

Hahaha, Sam's comment about needing a really good satellite to pick up someone as small as Hetty.

I think Sam asked a very good question. "Why is this in the boatshed?" It was very professional when you know he wanted to say, "I'm tired of this motherf@!&%@*$ snake in this motherf@!&%@*$ boatshed! How dare you bring it to a professional work environment!"

"I picked it up on the way to work." As if that's still okay. Oh, G. I love you. I mean, Anna could have easily watched it if it truly needs TLC. She's Jake's future Aunt. OMG. Can she be Aunt-asia??? 

The fact that G smirked knowing that Sam was not going to like what was under the blanket. He totally planned it. I AM scared of snakes, though. More than dislike.

Why all these emotions so early??? Deeks says he's sorry Rosa's bio!mom isn't here and that he would have loved to meet her. And Rosa says she would have liked him.  😭😭😭

And he tells her he loves her, and then apologizes for her current caregiver. I mean, that’s nice she has someone. We were pretty much on our own starting in middle school in my house, sick or not. “Here’s some Sprite, Saltines, and a bucket. Good luck.”

Roberta just trespassing all over the place. And getting horny on main with those DVDs.

[mashmaiden]

My mom and I were watching old game shows last night, and this gentleman was a contestant on "Now You See It" (which I'd never heard of before yesterday).

And now he's completely my headcanon for what Deeks's dad looked like around when he was born (or when Roberta fell in love with him) ! 😂😂

What do you guys think?! 😂😂

[ejzah]

A/N: A dialogue drabble not at all based in reality.

***

Roberta, holding the twins: What’s that sweetheart.

Caleb: Bee! *he gestures to her hand*

Roberta: Oh, you want some beer? Here you go! *she gives each twin a sip from her bottle*

Deeks, dryly: Starting early. Nice, mom.

Roberta, shrugging: What? All babies like beer. You did.

Kensi, vaguely amused: And here I thought I’d have to worry about them wanting soft drinks and candy. I also thought it would be their peers influencing them.

Roberta, offering the twins another drink: A little beer isn’t going to hurt them. Besides, you keep complaining they’re fussy from teething. This’ll calm ‘em right down.

Deeks, standing up: Ok, mama, that’s probably enough. I don’t think we want to deal with one year olds with hangovers.

Roberta, speaking to the twins: See, I told you. Your mom and dad are real sticks in the mud.

[densi-mber]

A/N: Happy first day of Densimber to you all! As always, we begin with decoration day. Thanks to @mashmaiden for collaborating on this story.

***

Traditions Come and Go

“Baby, I told you I could get that,” Deeks said, hurrying towards Kensi as she toted a storage container of Christmas decorations through the house.

“It’s not that heavy,” Kensi insisted, shifting the box out of his reach as he attempted to take it. “You’ve been doing everything around here for weeks. Or at least attempting to. I can manage this.”

“I don’t want you to strain yourself.”

“Baby, I appreciate that, but just because I’m pregnant—”

“32 weeks pregnant,” Deeks interjected smoothly. Kensi sighed, accepting his point.

“Yes, I am. I can also squat with a 15 pound dumbbell in each hand,” she reminded him gently. “I don’t think this is going to strain me.”

“Ok, touché.” Deeks grinned self-deprecatingly. “Sorry.”

“It’s ok, I know you mean well.” She stretched to lean over the container and kiss him. “And who knows, in a couple weeks, I might change my mind and want you to do everything.”

“You just say the word,” he said, stealing another kiss.

***

Rosa arrived home just as they were unwrapping the now dozens of decorations they’d collected over the years. An entire bin is dedicated to various ornaments Roberta had passed down.

“Oh, I’m glad I didn’t miss everything,” Rosa sighed, hurrying to set her backpack and shoes to the side. She’d woken up early to pick out a tree with Kensi and Deeks before heading out for classes.

“Like we’d start without you,” Deeks scoffed. He patted the spot on the couch next to him. “Grab a seat and start unwrapping.”

“What is this?” Rosa asked, grimacing at a freshly revealed horse with pink hair and an oddly creepy expression.

“Grandma Deeks’ idea of a joke.”

“She said it was a family heirloom,” Kensi added.

“I don’t remember seeing it last year.” Rosa turned the ornament from side to side, seeming caught between interest and mild disgust.

“Yeah, that’s because we usually never, ever take it out,” Deeks explained. He took it from Rosa, tucking it back in with the rest of the unwanted and boring ornaments. “I’m thinking maybe this year it should meet with an unfortunate and tragic end. Do you think a fiery death is plausible?”

“Or we could just pass it on to our beloved oldest child,” Kensi suggested with mock innocence. “Keep the tradition going.”

“Oh, no thank you,” Rosa said quickly, raising her hands as she chuckled nervously. “I’m good. Though I wouldn’t say no to that aqua one over there.”

“That’s one of my—mmm.” Stopping mid-thought, Kensi rubbed a hand over her lower ribs, wincing for a few seconds.

“Was it croissant or donut this time?” Deeks asked.

“Donut, I think,” Kensi replied, arching her back. “I swear these kids are practicing for a soccer match with how much they kick.”

“Are you ok?” Rosa checked.

“Yeah, they’re getting stronger, but I’m fine. I guess they just wanted to join in on the fun.”

“But maybe hang out for a couple more weeks,” Deeks suggested, resting his hand over Kensi’s stomach.

“So, do you want to put the outside decorations up when we’re done here?” Rosa asked once they had lights strung around the tree.

“Actually, since things are going to be extra crazy this year with all the baby prep, we decided to just decorate inside this year,” Deeks explained.

“But you love Decoration Day.” While initially bemused by Deeks’ excitement last year on December 1st, Rosa had quickly been caught up in the general festivities and greatly enjoyed the entire premise.

“I do, but it’s only one year.” Deeks couldn’t deny he was a little disappointed at the thought of missing out on one of their traditions. He knew they’d barely notice though as everything picked up in the next few weeks.

“You know I’d help,” Rosa offered. “I can hold the ladder and even go on the roof if you want.”

“I really appreciate that, Rosalind, but you have your classes and finals to study for. It’ll be ok.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yeah. It’s not the first time it’s happened,” Kensi said. “The year we moved here, we were so busy packing and going to showings that we never got around to it.”

“Next year we’ll just have to do something extraordinary to make up for it,” Deeks suggested.

“Now, that worries me a little bit.” Not sounding worried in the least, Kensi pushed herself off the couch.

“Where are you going?”

“To get those Christmas cookies you guys made,” Kensi replied. “You should never decorate on an empty stomach.”

[typingtess]

NCIS: Los Angeles Season 14 Rewatch:  “Flesh & Blood”

The basics:  Investigate a Navy wife fleeing the scene of her husband’s murder.

Written by:  Chad Mazero co-wrote “Internal Affairs”, “Revenge Deferred”, “Where Everybody Knows Your Name”, “The Noble Maidens” and “Pandora’s Box”.  Wrote “Tidings We Bring”, “Can I Get a Witness”, “All Is Bright”, “Diamond in the Rough”, “High Society”, “Murder of Crows”, "Overdue" and "Sorry for Your Loss".

Directed by:  Daniela Ruah directed “Russia, Russia, Russia”, “Lost Sailor Down”, “Pandora’s Box” (co-written by Chad Mazero) and “Live Free or Die Standing”.

Guest stars of note:  Pamela Reed returns from season 11’s “High Society” as Roberta Deeks, Bar Paly returns from “Of Value” as Anastasia “Anna” Kolcheck, Natalia Del Riego is back from “Game of Drones” as Rosa Reyes, Kavi Ramachandran Ladnier is back from the previous episode “Dead Stick” as NCIS Reserve Agent Shyla Dahr, Marnee Carpenter as Alice Morgan, Lauren "Lolo" Spencer as Ella and Rif Hutton as Navy Commander Albert Burns

Our heroes:   Work with an abused wife to find some explosives while working through some home issues.

What important things did we learn about:

Callen:  Waiting for Hetty to get married. Sam:  Worried that Callen is avoiding getting married. Kensi:  Feels like she’s not prepared for motherhood. Deeks:  Bad baseball game in June of 1990. Fatima:  Absent. Rountree:   Looking to put his Beale bucks to good use. Kilbride:  Not pleased with Deeks’s attitude about the Navy spousal abuse response.

What not so important things did we learn about:

Callen:  Orphan. Sam: Once again looking for a caretaker for Raymond. Kensi:  Hanging with Bertie, buying cleats with Rosa at the mall and negotiating teen angst. Deeks:  Owes Kensi for hanging with Bertie. Fatima:  Not around. Rountree:   Called “Shark Tank” by Shyla. Kilbride:  Not pleased with the Navy’s spousal abuse response in the cut scenes.

Where in the world is Henrietta Lange?  Don’t know but Anna wants her found so she can marry Callen.

Who's down with OTP:   Anna and Callen are trying to negotiate their way around a wedding date.  Kensi and Deeks are trying to negotiate their way around Bertie.

Who's down with BrOTP:  With the teams mixing and matching all episode, not a lot of BrOTP time but Shyla worked well with all.

Fashion review:  Callen starts the episode in a black running shirt and black shorts.  Wears a button down medium blue shirt for the rest of the episode.  Sam has a wine colored long-sleeve tee-shirt.  Kensi is in a white tee-shirt with thin blue stripes.  Cornflower blue long-sleeve tee for Deeks.  Rountree is wearing a light brown long-sleeve tee.  Kilbride is in his civilian uniform with a medium blue three-piece suit, pale blue dress-shirt, blue tie.

Music: Not today.

Any notable cut scene:   Finally!  As Rountree is packing up for the day, Shyla asks him if he wants to go out for some tacos.  He can’t – he’s meeting with his friend David Packer about his investment money.  Shyla asks him not to.  Understanding that she may be overstepping, she knows Rountree has a real fire inside after what happened with Jordyn and the LAPD.  The person Rountree needs to invest in is himself. 

As they leave, Sam is find a caretaker for his Dad.  The Admiral says that gets Sam a good night’s sleep.  The Admiral also thinks Alice Morgan deserved better.  The Admiral thinks maybe they should blow up the whole damn book on abuse cases.  Then promises to if Sam tells anyone he said that, the Admiral would make sure Sam didn’t get a good night’s sleep ever again.

Quote:  Deeks:  So it's, uh... June 30, 1990.  And my mom decides she wants to take me to watch the Dodgers play the Cardinals.  And I will never forget that day.” Alice:  “I don't care about sports.” Deeks:  “That's funny, 'cause I don't care about sports either.  No, the reason I remember it is because it was so hot.  Like, L.A. had been coming off this massive heat wave and I can still see the ice cream cone melting as it's being passed down the row.” Alice:  “Now you want to talk about weather?” Deeks:  “Actually, I do, because...that is the other thing that I can still see from that day, is my mom.  And she's sitting next to me in this 90-degree heat, except for the fact that she is wearing...she's wearing jeans and a long-sleeve turtleneck.  And she was covered up like that the whole entire summer.  Not that it matters, because she couldn't cover the bruises on her face.” Alice:  “Did he spare you, at least?” Deeks:  “No.   I mean, but I was a kid, right?  Kids are supposed to have bruises.  I'd just tell the teachers that, um...I got another fight in the playground.  What do you tell people?” Alice:  “I don't have anyone left to tell.  He made me push everyone away.” Deeks:  “Yeah, they do that.”

Runner up:  Rountree:  “Was all that true? About your dad?” Deeks:  “Every word of it.”

Anything else:  At night in a suburban neighborhood, a woman is frantically packing her things.  She gets a phone call from her father and tries to blow him off.  Seeing her in a mirror, her clothes are covered with blood.  Her father is recommending a Tom Hanks movie as she is trying to get him off the phone.  She tells her father she loves him as she tries to leave the house.  A man’s dead body is making it hard to open the door.  But she succeeds.

Callen arrives home with two smoothies.  He’s worn out which surprises Anna.  She ran for six-miles, he “bailed” after two.  Since the bagel place didn’t have bagels, he brought smoothies.  Anna wanted bagels before her job interview that day.  She also wants to pick a wedding date.  Every time of the year Anna mentions, Callen has a reason not to get married at that time.  She offers him an out when it comes to getting married.  He wants to get married, Callen assures her, just find the right time to do it.

At the Blye-Deeks home, everyone is running around as the day starts.  Rosa is missing her backpack.  When Kensi tosses it, Deeks walks right into the tossed backpack.  Rosa and Deeks review her latest assignment as they hustle to leave.  Deeks gets a phone call – it’s Bertie.  She’s been on the road for six months of “eat, pray and loving” her way across the country.  Deeks thinks this is all TMI.  After seeing “Nomadland”, Bertie rented out her apartment so she is going to crash at the Blye-Deeks residence.  She needs someone to be there to let her in.  Rosa really needs to leave for school so they are going to figure something out.

Walking near the gym, Shyla hears Rountree working out and quoting “300”.  He’s working on an ancient martial arts technique to strengthen his grip and arms.  When Rountree gets a text, he asks Shyla to look at his phone – they could have a case.  Instead, Rountree has a text from “Packer” who is talking about his pants being on fire.  Packer is a friend of Rountree’s from Quantico.  Packer is starting a clothing line and Rountree is a possible investor.  He’s looking to grow some of the money Eric left them all last year.  After what happened to Rountree and Jordyn, he's looking to invest that money into a growing business.  Shyla would have taken the Eric money and spent some time in Tokyo.

Sam has a call and so does the Admiral.  Both are unhappy with their calls.  Sam lost another caretaker for Raymond, NCIS is making Kilbride go through another round of approvals for expenses.  Cranky men in Ops alert.

The Admiral looks around an empty Ops and wonders where is everyone.  On the screen is the dead man blocking the door from the opening scenes.  He is Lt. Jeff Morgan, an intelligence officer working out of a DoD Task Force.  Morgan was stabbed several times.  There are real concerns because Morgan was part of a team developing software to integrate intelligence gathered by all branches of the armed services.  If an outsider or foreign government got access to that software, they’d have access all U.S. military intelligence.  Sam asks if there are any suspects – China, Russia, Iran or Alice Morgan, Jeff’s wife.  She’s was seen leaving the house at the estimated time of death. 

In the office driveway, Kensi and Deeks are arguing about who is going to help Bertie unpack.  Deeks is owed a favor by Kensi and he’s calling it in. She’s not interested in helping unpack all of Mama Deeks’s Michael Bublé fannish things.   Besides, Deeks should help his mother.  Callen arrives but isn’t interested in hearing any of this – he’s an orphan.  Deeks says that funny, Callen doesn’t agree. 

Sam joins the trio, the most we’ve seen of this foursome together in a while.  He's been working since 8AM and everyone else just arrived.  Callen and Sam are off to the boatshed to meet with Morgan’s CO, Sam would like Kensi and Deeks to join Rountree at the crime scene.  Sighing Kensi mentions she has some accrued leave Kilbride wants her to take so she’ll help Roberta, get Rosa from school and Rosa can meet Bertie.  Deeks tells Kensi he owes her. 

At the house Morgan household, Rountree found a locked laptop – Shyla is getting a warrant to get in.  Deeks is looking through some magazines while Rountree picks up the Morgans’s mail.  One magazine has expensive furniture.  Speaking of money, LAPD found a Rolex on Morgan’s wrist and a Lexus in the garage – this wasn’t a robbery gone bad.  Rountree is confused – a junior officer like Morgan doesn’t make Rolex money.

Deeks flips through Morgan’s credit card bills – they are big.  Since Alice Morgan didn’t have a job, the only way they could afford their lifestyle was if Jeff Morgan was selling military secrets.  Deeks sees that the credit card bills include electronic toll charges – an EZ Pass.  They can find Alice Morgan’s location that way.

In the boat shed, Morgan’s CO, Commander Burns, is not thrilled to be there.  There are cellphones for meetings like this.   He should be in his office dealing with the fallout from the tragedy of Morgan being killed and not sitting in the boatshed – a “Bubba Gump’s”. 

Sam asks about the software.  According to Burns, it tracks everything from emails between intelligence offices to weapons and ordnance use and supplies.  Morgan was doing data analytics for the team but a month ago, he started visiting weapon manufacturers to make sure their software would work the with military’s new software.  Burns really didn’t have much of an opinion of Morgan except he was a good kid.  With hundreds of men under his command, he really didn’t know much about him.  He remembers Alice Morgan was quiet and unfriendly.  Burns is done with Callen and Sam.  He’ll answer any other questions by phone – he has work to do.  Callen and Sam want to check into Morgan’s travel vouchers to see where he went and who he saw.

In Ops, Shyla was able to get into the locked laptop but most accounts were logged out.  She was able to get into Alice Morgan’s text messages – the laptop and Alice’s phones were synced up.  There was a confirmation code for a company called Home Connection – discrete vacation rentals.  Shyla finds Alice Morgan booked a home on Larchmont an hour after she was seen leaving her home the night before.

In Larchmont, Rountree is really impressed with the area.  Good investments homes, water views – Rountree is talking about investments when Deeks says “Alice Morgan” who he sees leaving the rental house.  Rountree says “Alice Morgan” which has the same effect of yelling “federal agents” since Alice starts to run.  After she throws a branch cutter at Deeks, Rountree gets her to stop as she’s climbing a fence.  She is armed but surrenders. 

In interrogation, Deeks is on the right side of the table while Rountree is in the corner.  Deeks is rattling on about the “Chose Your Adventures” books when Rountree says they have witnesses who saw her flee the scene of a murder.  Rountree and Deeks can sit with Alice in interrogation all day or they can help her.  Alice wonders where they were six months ago when she asked for help.  Deeks wants to know what happened six months ago.  Alice says she talked and talked and talked and nobody wanted to help.  She moves in her chair, making sure her jacket and long sleeves cover her arms.  An obviously bothered Deeks wants to take a break.  He’s getting everyone coffee.

Callen and Sam return to the office.  Cheryl, Raymond’s latest caretaker who is very into birds according to Callen, quit when Raymond started talking about war pigeons.  Mentioning that Raymond’s previous caretaker quit when he wouldn’t ride in her Mazda – Raymond likes American-made cars – Callen thinks Sam is avoiding the real issue.  Sam loves this conversation because Callen is all about avoiding issues…like his wedding date.  Sam is sure Anna will understand whatever is holding Callen back.  The Admiral walks by – everyone to Ops.

Shyla tells an arriving Callen and Sam that Alice Morgan isn’t talking.  Commander Burns sent over Morgan’s travel vouchers.  Comparing the travel vouchers to Morgan’s EZ-Pass charges, “something is rotten in Denmark” according to Shyla.  Morgan visited a number of companies that made high-grade military explosives.  After every meeting, he would go someplace 20-miles past his home.  Using Kaleidoscope, Morgan is seen driving into a storage facility in El Monte two-days before he was killed.  Sam gets a call from the caretaker agency.  He’s taking it outside of Ops.

Deeks returns alone to interrogation with a cup of coffee for Alice.  He explains it is June 30, 1990 and his mother takes him to a Cardinals-Dodgers game.  He remembers that day.  Alice doesn’t care about sports.  Deeks doesn’t either but he will always remember that day.  It was so hot.  Ice cream cones were melts as they were being passed down the row.  Alice doesn’t want to talk about the weather either.  Deeks does.  Because all he really remembers from that day – his mother wearing jeans and a long-sleeve turtleneck.  Not that it really mattered – she couldn’t cover the bruises on her face.  She wore clothes like that for the entire summer. 

Alice asks if “he” spared Deeks.  Deeks says no but kids are supposed to have bruises.  He would tell the teachers he was fighting in the playground.  “What do you tell people?”  Alice said she had nobody to tell.  Her husband made her push everyone away.  Deeks asks how long has the abuse been going on.  Physically, Alice tells him, three-years.  “Mentally, who knows.”  She doesn’t have access to their bank account.  Morgan controlled every part of her life.

Deeks asks if a few months ago, she told the Navy.  There was a  military hotline and she called.  She didn’t hear back.  She filed a report with the family advocacy center who told her they’d look into it.  Deeks has to asks and understands if she did – did Alice kill her husband?  She didn’t – she found him dead when she arrived home.  What surprised Alice was even after everything he did, she tried to save him.  It doesn’t surprise Deeks. 

Deeks asks why did she run.  Alice explains that her husband was a valuable asset to the military, “I’m not.”  She was afraid her reports would be used as motive.  She asks for a few minutes and Deeks agrees.  As he’s leaving, she mentions that her husband would smell like motor oil after he returns from his business trips.  

At home, Bertie is telling Rosa about skinny dipping at a Ramada Inn off the Strip in Vegas.  Kensi isn’t thrilled.  Rosa is really entertained.  She would like to see Adele in Las Vegas, a friend has a condo and the family would let her use it.  The friend, Tay, is from her calculus class and Bertie is down on calculus.  With a disastrous marriage, three dead-end jobs and a brush with a pyramid scheme, she never used the Pythagorean theorem.  That’s really geometry, Kensi notes but Rosa is in love.  Bertie is the coolest.  Since Rosa needs to soccer cleats, she asks Kensi to take her and Tay to the mall.  Bertie moves on to a story about taking a sound bath behind a DQ in Marfa.

At a storage unit facility, Callen, now teamed up with Shyla, is brought to Jeff Morgan’s storage unit by the manager.  The place was cleaned out but still smells like almonds and motor oil – explosives manufacturers put the scent into their product on purpose.  Callen finds a small piece of C-4.  Shyla doesn’t think Morgan was killed for the software, he was killed after using his access to these explosive manufacturers to procure some product.  Callen worries about where the explosives are now.

The woman managing the storage unit place wants all the inside scoop if there is a dead body – she has a true crime podcast.  Three men were removing boxes from the back of the storage facility when the woman started her shift.  She doesn’t have access to the video surveillance, however, only her boss can do that.  Shyla wants the woman to call her boss – they need the footage now.  Shyla is also going to contact Commander Burns to figure out what is missing.

In Ops, Kilbride confirms that Alice Morgan contacted the military abuse hotlines to Deeks and Rountree in the boat shed.  The people running the hotlines say they take all abuse complaints seriously but there wasn’t enough information to move it to NCIS.  The Pentagon invested $1-billion to remedy this situation after past failures.  Deeks wonders how much of that money could have been saved if this was a priority from the start.  The Admiral is not pleased with Deeks’s statement.  He says since Alice didn’t kill her husband, figure out if she knows who did and disconnects.

Looking at Deeks, Rountree asks how much of the story he told Alice was true.  “Every word of it,” is Deeks’s reply.

Bertie finished doing laundry though Kensi out of the dryer sheets.  Asking for Rosa, Kensi explains that she’s negotiating between Tay and a friend over a disagreement.  She also tells Bertie that she doesn’t have to do laundry.  Bertie missed doing the laundry.  Kensi tries telling her mother-in-law that she and Deeks missed her but Bertie knows better. 

Bertie also knows Kensi is feeling a bit overwhelmed by parenthood.  Kensi notes that she’s not “technically” Rosa’s parent.  Bertie asks Kensi if she loves Rosa and wants to keep her safe.  Kensi does on both.  Bertie follows up - does Kensi fear she isn’t doing enough even though she’s exhausted from doing too much.  “Every single morning.”  Bertie doesn’t care about “technically” – Kensi is Rosa’s parent.  Kensi spent her entire NCIS career being one step ahead of everyone else.  She thought she could do that with being a parent.  She couldn’t.

Bertie offers some words of wisdom from her mother about being a parent – it’s like being pecked to death by a chicken.  That’s not helpful. 

Shyla has news for “Shark Tank” – Rountree.  She’s sending video of the three men who took the explosives from the storage unit but the footage is awful.  Rountree goes into interrogation to see if Alice knows any of the men.  Alice recognizes one of the men – she met him at a wine festival.  She remembers the date – it was her birthday.  She thought he was doing something nice for her birthday.  Obviously not.  As Rountree goes to tell Shyla, Alice asks Deeks what happened to his father.  Deeks tells her he shot him and two weeks later, he was in jail.

Callen and Shyla return to the office.  She gets a call as she returns to Ops, Callen goes to see Sam in the bullpen.  They are on a video call with Commander Burns.  He assures Callen and Sam that he’s been working with ATF.  15 to 25 pounds of C-4 is missing with a lot of blasting caps and detonation cord. Callen asks abuse complaints about Morgan.  Burns did not have enough evidence to move forward.  Before Callen and Sam could press him, Shyla needs them in Ops.  They quickly end the call but promise to call back.

In Ops, Shyla found Morgan had several bank account Alice Morgan knew nothing about.  Several of them received $9,000 deposits in the prior week – a transaction amount just under the amount of money a bank would have to report to Feds.  Met World Holdings sent the money.  It is owned by an Ivan Parson, who looks like one of the man in grainy video.  Met World Holdings is an import/export business – they move fine foods and fine wines.  Parson is connected to extremist groups in Ireland, Germany and Indonesia. 

The Admiral is looking for a sitrep.  Met World Holdings has an unoccupied space in Hollywood.  Deeks is getting Alice to a safe house so Callen, Sam and a seven-minutes out Rountree are at the unoccupied space.  The Admiral reminds everyone that the job is to get back the explosives without blowing up a city block.  The only way LA is going down in flames is if the Admiral has the match.

Callen and Sam move near the building.  They can see some shelves of items and a man but he’s not Parsons.  Going through the back door, Callen and Sam see Parsons.  Sam throws a wine bottle to get one of the men’s attention.  Sam quickly takes him out but makes enough noise to get Parsons and a minion to run.  Callen tackles the friend but Parsons gets to his vehicle.  An arriving Rountree stops him but Parsons throws his bag of explosives in the air and shoots them.  That sends Rountree flying but Sam takes down Parsons with ease.

As Parsons is being taken away, Callen tells Sam and Rountree that Morgan wanted to back out of the deal but Parsons already paid for the explosives.  Morgan was either scared or greedy.  He also wasn’t as tough as he thought he was.

Deeks joins Bertie on the back porch.  They share a couple of beers as Bertie asks if he got all the cats out of the trees.  Deeks said he did his best.  Deeks wants to talk about “Dad”.  Bertie isn’t interested in her past.  Deeks doesn’t think that’s fair – it is their past.  He only wants to know how she made it through.  “Vicodin and Sally Jessy Raphael,” is her answer.  She doesn’t know. 

Bertie explains that Deeks’s father took everything from the two of them, including the person Bertie used to be. But when he was gone, with Deeks’s help, she got that person back.  She’s made a lot of mistakes since that in her life but it is her life.  Deeks approves. 

Kensi and Rosa join Deeks and Bertie on the patio.  They’re just back from the mall.  Rosa would like to visit San Francisco and Deeks is all in on that.  Bertie invites herself – she knows a thruple up in Barstow that can rent then an RV.  Deeks is horrified by his mother being in a thruple.  Bertie assure him she’s not a part of the thruple, she just knows one. 

Anna returns home.  She thought they were going to dinner but Callen has a candles and some wine.  He also got bagels.  He loves Anna and he’d marry her tomorrow.  When they get married, he wants to be surrounded by everyone that means everything to them.  Arkady and Hetty are part of the package.  Anna isn’t happy but Callen explains Hetty has been in his life from the beginning.  He can’t get married without her.  She has more of the story and he needs her to tell it.  If he doesn’t do this, Hetty will always be the other person in the room.  He doesn’t need a lot more time but Anna is giving him all the time he needs.  She only asks the he tell the truth, even with it is hard, especially when it is hard.  He promises he will.

What head canon can be formed from here:   While the case of the week wasn’t much, that felt intentional.  The guys who stole the explosives were plot points.  They weren’t the typical bad guy – they were a bunch of dudes.  The hour instead was about family relationships.  It started with the Kolcheck-Callen and  Blye-Deeks households, moved to Rountree talking about his sister, Sam with his father and then the case of the week.

This was a terrific Deeks episode.  Light and goofy dad/husband at home, sad and serious with Alice and later with the Admiral, Rountree and Bertie.  There should be a bonus for the person who decided Pamela Reed would work as Deeks’s mom.  Just as light and goofy she could be in most of the episode, she was sad and serious near the end.  That scene with them alone wasn’t just family, it was two survivors who built themselves the lives they enjoy.

For a program and an NCISVerse that is mostly pro-military, there was a real sense of disgust by Deeks and disappoint/disgust late in the episode by the Admiral over the handling of Alice’s abuse case. 

Loved the explosion that sent Rountree flying – that’s the show I know and love.

Episode number:  Episode 307 overall, the fifth episode of season 14.

[ao3feed-ncislosangeles]

Family Found in Forgotten Places (Like our Hearts)

by FlyFree2FallFast The LAPD Detective did not have good luck with family, but maybe that was all about to change. The NCIS Special Agent did not have a family at all, but family comes when you least expect it. Deeks and Callen have to navigate their understanding of what family is as they try and save Hetty from the wrath of their family's past. A spin off from NCIS LA season 2 Words: 2598, Chapters: 2/?, Language: English Fandoms: NCIS: Los Angeles Rating: Teen And Up Audiences Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Categories: Gen Characters: G Callen, Marty Deeks, Kensi Blye, Hetty Lange, Eric Beale, Nell Jones, Sam Hanna, Roberta Deeks, Clara Callen, Comescu Family, Gordon John Brandel, Ray Martindale Relationships: G Callen & Marty Deeks Additional Tags: Found Family, Light Angst, Half-Siblings, Past Child Abuse, Past Domestic Violence, I'm Bad At Tagging, I'm Bad At Summaries, I'm Sorry, I Don't Even Know, I Wrote This Instead of Sleeping via https://ift.tt/YQE07Dc

[dominicvail]

NCIS:LA + Ladies (part 2)

[glenncoco4]

8th Wonder

A/N: I can’t not picture it now. Plus an awkward Kensi is my favorite. 😂

••••

The young couple is walking hand in hand down the sidewalk enjoying the beautiful but slightly chilly Los Angeles morning. After the last year they’ve had, things are finally feeling like they’re settling back down a bit. That is until she looks to the cafe down the street and sees something that makes her stop in her tracks, ultimately stopping her husband as well.

He’s a bit taken back by her sudden movement or non-movement. The semi-shaggy blonde quickly goes on high alert and scans through the list of possible things it could be. “Baby, what’s wrong?”

She doesn’t meet his eyes, seeing as though they’re zoned in on the scene playing out in front of her. “I think I’m having a stroke.”

His brow furrows as he turns, gauging what has her so off kilter. His jaw drops when he sees it. Sitting at a small cafe table is his mom but the shocking part is that she has her arms wrapped around a man who’s dressed in khaki shorts and white New Balance dad shoes….something that they’d never thought they’d ever see. Especially with the sound of laughter coming from the retired Admiral’s mouth, which is probably the most shocking of all.

Before they get a chance to decide what they’re gonna do, the red head spots them. “Oh, look there’s Marty and Kensi!”

“Is it too late to run away?” The blonde asks his wife, unmoving. It’s like a bad car wreck they can’t look away from as they watch Roberta get out of her seat and grab their boss’ hand, pulling him along with her.

“I-I don’t think I can move.”

Clearly the older woman is so high on cloud nine that she doesn’t notice the blank stares on the kids’ faces. Her arms wrap around each of them for a tight hug as the bald man stands idly by with his usual stone cold resting bitch face.

As they pull back out of their group hug, Deeks’ eyes trail back and forth between his mom and a man that’s made him question robotic AI more than once. “Wha-what’s going on here?”

“Well, Marty, Holly and I…we’re feeling each other out.”

At the sound of the nickname leaving her mother-in-law’s lips, Kensi mouths Holly?, brow furrowed.

“You’re what? No, wait, don’t answer that.” Deeks shakes his head, trying to rid his brain of the images that are already starting to creep in.

The only next logical question comes from Kensi, who is still trying to wrap her head around this news. Her husband’s brain is definitely about to rupture. “When did you two meet? I find it hard to believe that you run in the same circles.”

“Well, Agent Blye-“ Mama B clears her throat, cutting off the former Admiral as if giving him a signal. “Well, Kensi, I mentioned to you that I was going on an Alaskan cruise a few months back and that’s where we ran into each other.”

Mama B playfully swats Killbride, clearly telling the partners that there’s definitely more to the story and they’re fixing to hear about it.

“By run into you mean…” Kensi leaves her question hanging.

The older woman’s hand moves out of her lover’s and joins the other as it wraps around his forearm. “Well, I signed up for this nude painting class and-“

Deeks closes his eyes as he cuts her off. “Mama, please tell me you didn’t.”

“Oh, no, I didn’t…well I haven’t in a few months.” She flashes a smile at her kids and then looks up at Killbride whose already looking at her like a love sick puppy. “Anyway, there I was, sipping my wine when this beautiful man right here,” Reaching up, her forefinger and thumb find his cheek, pinching it. “walked out in a red satin robe. And well…I don’t have to tell you two the rest.”

“Wait, he-“ Kensi’s trails off, knowing there’s no need to ask her question.

“That’s right.” Killbride states in his monotone voice. The married couple clearly notices the redness as it creeps up the tough as nails, former admiral’s face.

“So naturally you two started dating.” The former detective states as if it’s the most logical thing to happen when it comes to his mother.

“Oh, we started something alright.” The redhead laughs, wiggling her eyebrow, making Kensi’s eyes go wide and Deeks cringe.

“Uh…we’re gonna go.” The blonde grabs his wife’s hand, turning around to leave without saying another word.

She knows she made them uncomfortable, its just too easy. “No, join us!”

“Oh, we’d love to but we already have plans.” The brunette begins walking backwards as her husband all but drags her back in the direction that they came from.

“Okay, then maybe dinner one night this week?”

“Well, we’ll have to see. Our boss is a bit of a tight ass. But you already know that, Mama B.” Kensi winks at the older woman  before turning in the direction her husband’s dragging her off to, her eyes immediately going wide when she realizes what she just said.  “Oh…my…god.”

“What the hell? Why would she do this to us?” There’s a bit of a whine in his voice as he pouts.

She releases his hand and wraps her arms around one of his, hugging it to her body. “Aw, come on, babe. You and I both know you can’t help who you fall in love with.” Looking up at him, she meets his cerulean blues that are still full of confusion before reaching up on her tip toes to place her lips against his for a quick peck. “Besides, think of all the ways we can make him squirm.”

“Ooooh, I just thought of the perfect thing to say next time I see him.”

“You’re gonna ask him if he’s gonna be your new daddy, aren’t you?”

He smiles, pulling his arm loose of her hold and throwing around her shoulders. His lips finding the top of her head as he pulls her into his body. His sunshine. “You know me so well.”

“Oh, and another thing to be happy about.”

His brow furrows, clearly not aboard the Kensi train of thought.

“You get to cross seeing Killbride in shorts off your bucket list.”

“It’s one of the 7 Wonders of the World.”

“You really need to take a history class, babe.”

“Nah, I’m sure Holly will tell us a few stories.”

A smirk spreads to her lips…learning from her husband, she sees her chance and takes it. “Like how your mom’s the 8th wonder and rocks his world?”

This time he’s the one that stops in his tracks, pulling them to a halt. “Why? Why would you say that?”

“Because I loooove watching you squirm.” She laughs before placing a kiss to his cheek again. “Now, come on, you need to feed your wife.”

[chicgeekgirl89]

If I had the time/energy I would write a fic explaining where Deeks went tonight. 

Did Roberta text him “911″ so he dropped everything and ran home only to find out that she needed to know where they keep the tomato juice and Deeks tells her they don’t generally keep tomato juice around and she’s like, “Then how am I supposed to make Bloody Marys for my book club tomorrow Martin?”

Or did he show back up at the Mission like half an hour after that dude fell out of Kilbride’s office, covered in sweat and dirt and blood, claiming he was kidnapped and had to fight off a dozen ninjas with nothing but his belt and a stick and how could they have not noticed he’s been missing for like five hours?

Or did he run out to get cronuts for everyone and the line was just reeeeeeallly long?

I guess we’ll never know...