FIC Nine Month Bug (3/3)
Title: Nine Month Bug (Part 3/3)
Characters: Kensi Blye, Marty Deeks, G Callen, Sam Hanna, Eric Beal, Nell Jones, Hetty Lange, possible appearances by others, OCs
Fandom: NCIS: Los Angeles
Series: An Unlikely Family
Written For: N/A
Prompt: N/A
Summary: Kensi gets some unexpected news and gets support from what most people would think was an unlikely source.
Rating: PG to R (might rate higher later)
Spoilers: takes place after season 2 so anything is far game
Warnings: language, slight violence
Disclaimer: No one recognizable belongs to me, more’s the pity.
Author's Note: This is part two of a series of vignettes about an issue Kensi has. First time writing in the NCIS: LA fandom. Thanks muchly to illfindmyway and also to irishjeeper for their help with this.
Part 1 and Part 2 are here.
Part Twelve
“Hey.” Deeks paused in the doorway to Kensi’s room. “You okay?”
She made a face at him. “I can’t seem to get comfortable. I swear this baby is sitting in the most uncomfortable place it can.” She sighed. “I don’t know if I can do this for another two months.”
For a few minutes, Deeks watched as Kensi shifted on the bed as she tried to get comfortable. “Roll onto your side,” he instructed as he entered the room. “I’ve got an idea.”
Kensi flailed as she tried to follow his directions. “Arg!” she groaned. “Damn it!”
Deeks stifled a laugh, trying not to let it out and reveal how much the unwieldy motions of the normally graceful woman was amusing him. Moving quickly across the room, he grabbed her arms, hauling her onto her side. “I cannot believe how quickly you went from thin as ever to this well…whale.”
She punched out, catching him in the ribs, although not with her normal strength. “You did not just call me a whale!” she yelped.
“Kens, I hate to tell you this, but you’re huge!” He leaned over and kissed the top of her head. “Absolutely beautiful, but huge.”
“What was your idea?” she asked. “Because if all you’re going to do is keep insulting me, you can go sleep in your room.”
“Aaaww there’s just more of you to tease,” Deeks replied. “Settled on your side?”
“I guess. Yeah. I don’t know.” Kensi tried to shift a bit. “It’s just really…awkward.”
“All right,” Deeks said. “Try this.” He slipped a pillow under the baby bump and made sure she was settled before walking around to the other side of the bed. “Don’t hit me again,” he warned her.
“What are you planning, Deeks?” she asked.
“Trust me,” he murmured. He kicked off his bunny slippers (the ones he’d bought specifically to make Kensi laugh) and sat down on the bed. Lying down next to her, he moved up behind her. Carefully, he slipped his arm under her neck and waited until she untensed at the movement. Settling his hand on her belly, he began rubbing soft circles on the distended skin. After a few minutes, she relaxed back against him. “Feel better?” he asked.
“Yeah,” she murmured. “Thank you.”
“Okay, good.” Shifting, he started to get up and Kensi grabbed his hands. “What?” he asked.
“Don’t leave,” she requested softly. “It feels better when you’re here.”
He settled back down, resting his hand against her stomach. “I’m glad. You need your rest.” Grinning as he felt a kick against his hand, he added, “And you need your rest, too, Blob. Stop keeping your mom awake at night.” He started rubbing his hand against her belly again until it seemed like the baby was settling down. Soon Kensi was a heavy weight against him and Deeks realized she had fallen asleep.
His hand stilled and he debated whether he should slip out of her bed. She was so much more relaxed now though and he knew she’d roll right onto her back if he moved. Reaching up, he brushed a tendril of hair out of her face and pressed a kiss to her temple. Closing his eyes, he figured he’d rest just for a little while. He’d get up in an hour or so, when he was sure Kensi was sleeping deeply.
He didn’t wake up until the next morning with Kensi wrapped tightly in his arms.
Part Thirteen
The Name Game
Round One-Deeks’s First Attempt
“No. Absolutely not,” Kensi was saying as they entered the bullpen.
“Aw, c’mon, Kensi. I think it’s a great idea.” Deeks trotted a little to keep up with the quickly moving agent. “Why wouldn’t you want your baby named after the Marine Corps’s mascot?”
She spun around and faced him. “Because I am not naming my child ‘Chesty’.”
He stopped dead in the middle of the bullpen. “Really? That’s the name of the mascot? That is so…wrong.”
“It’s fine for a dog, but you are not naming my child that,” Kensi replied. She dropped into her seat, shifting the pillow someone had placed on it around. “Try again, Deeks.”
Round Two-Eric and Nell
“Binary,” Eric greeted her with. “It works for a boy or a girl.”
“That. Is worse than Deeks’s suggestion last week,” Kensi answered. “Please try to suggest actual names and not computer terms.”
“What’s wrong with Binary?” Eric asked as she went to find out what research Hetty wanted her to do that day.
“No more computer terms!” Kensi reiterated.
The stack of papers colliding with her desk jerked Kensi out of the daze she’d fallen into. The busy work that Hetty gave her did just that…it kept her busy and while it was intellectually stimulating; it wasn’t very action oriented which was what she craved. Kensi looked up and had the strange sensation of viewing Nell from a different angle than usual. “What’s all this?” Kensi asked.
“Research,” Nell answered. When Kensi indicated the pile already on her desk, Nell hastened to explain, “Oh, no. Not for you. Or well, sorta for you. I don’t know if you have a name for the baby yet, but,” she separated the pile into two. “This is a suggestion of all the names that astrologically fit you baby; based on a guess on when you conceived and when you should be delivering. And this one is a list of all the names from the family Blye. I just thought…they’re just suggestions. And I don’t…I just wanted to help if I could.”
The OSP agent eyed the stack of paper that Nell had dropped on her desk. Since the news of the baby had become known, she’d been regulated to a desk and she’d seen way more paper than she wanted, but maybe this type of research wouldn’t be so bad.
Round Three-Deeks’s Second Attempt
“Isadora. Beatrice. Jenice. Trudance. Buffy,” Deeks called from his desk.
Kensi tossed a wadded up piece of paper at his head. “No more late night TV for you. I am not naming my child after an airheaded vampire slayer.”
“Faith then. Or Dawn. Or Glory,” Deeks offered. “Martina!”
“No, Deeks,” she replied. “I swear I will hide the remote from you.”
He stuck his tongue out at her and bent his head over his work again. Kensi watched him for a few minutes. She was glad he was suggesting names because it meant he was getting more involved in the baby, but his names were getting more and more ridiculous. She frowned as something about the names he’d been suggesting tried to pick at something in her brain, but she couldn’t quite figure out what.
Round Four-Callen and Sam
“Good morning, Kensi,” Sam greeted her as she walked in. He frowned as she glared in response before stomping over to her desk and flipping her computer on. Deeks trailed along behind her, balancing his messenger bag and a cup carrier with four To Go cups. As he set cups on Sam and Callen’s desks, Sam asked, “Doctor’s appointment didn’t go well?”
“It was fine. I don’t want that,” she added as Deeks set a cup on her desk.
“Kens, it’s this or nothing. Well, this or tea.” He moved the cup so it wasn’t on the edge of her desk. “He said he’d re-evaluate at your next visit.”
“Fine. But decaf is sacrilege,” she complained as she accepted the cup.
“Better than instant,” he pointed out, taking his own cup and tossing the container in the garbage. He lifted his bag over his head, taking a seat at his desk and kicking back. “We get a case yet?”
“Nah, nothing,” Sam replied. “Hey, Kensi, did you decide on a name for the baby yet?”
“No. I have not. And, no, I do not need any more suggestions,” Kensi replied, not looking up from the file she was reading.
“I was just going to mention that we didn’t name any of ours until after they were born. It didn’t seem right giving them names until after we’d actually met them,” Sam told her.
“That’s an idea,” Kensi mused.
“Of course you could just give him or her initials and let the kid choose their own name when they get older,” Callen broke in.
“That…is worse than some of the names Deeks has given me. You don’t let a child chose his or her own name, Callen,” Kensi answered.
“Why not? It helps with personal identity and a sense of belonging,” Callen explained.
“And a sense of disconnect when I register the kid for kindergarten and she hasn’t picked a name yet,” Kensi shot back.
“Blob’s a girl?” Deeks asked.
“No, Deeks, I don’t know what the baby is. And stop calling my baby ‘blob’.” Kensi got to her feet. “I’m taking these files to Hetty.”
Round Five-Hetty
“Hetty?” Kensi paused in the entryway to Hetty’s office. “I have the latest files for you.”
“Thank you, my dear.” Hetty held her hand out for them accepting the folders from the agent. “How are you feeling today?”
“Stressed apparently. The doctor cut off my caffeine.”
Hetty nodded. “It happens. It’s better for the baby. It will lower your blood pressure and relax you. I can recommend a nice herbal tea?”
“Normally I’d say no, but yes, thank you,” Kensi replied.
“And I know everyone else has been weighing in on baby name ideas.” Hetty passed her a book. “I hope this might assist you.”
Kensi turned it over in her hands, looking at the title. “Scottish Names Through-Out History. Interesting.”
“A name is something personal and meaningful to the family. Since it’s just you for the most part, I thought getting in touch with your roots might give you an idea.”
“Hetty, that was really…thoughtful.” Kensi looked at the book with new eyes. “Thank you.”
Hetty inclined her head. “You’re welcome. Also may I give you another recommendation?”
Kensi heaved a sigh before saying, “Yes. Because you’re going to tell me whether I say yes or not.”
“Go visit your father. You might be surprised at what you find there.”
Round Six-Deeks’s Third Attempt
“Deeks?” Kensi called as she entered the house. “Where are you?”
“Kitchen!” his voice answered. “Come on back.”
“Hey,” she said as she made her way into the room and slid into one of the chairs at the kitchen table. “Smells good.”
“It’s almost ready. How was your visit?”
“All right. Thanks for letting me go alone.” She ran her finger around the placemat by her hand, bumping up against the book there.
“I didn’t like it, but I suspect even with the Blob, you can kick my ass.”
Kensi rolled her eyes. “Would you please stop calling my baby ‘the Blob’?”
“Figure out the sex and pick a name and I will,” Deeks answered as he turned off the stove. “Give me a minute and I’ll have this dished up.”
She grinned at him. “You make such a good little house frau.”
“I don’t know what that means, but I’m pretty sure you just insulted me.”
“Nah, I’d never really insult you, Deeks. You make my life…” Kensi paused. “Never mind.” She tilted the book up. “What’s this?”
Deeks set a plate in front of her and took his seat next to her. “Since you don’t seem to like any of the names I’ve suggested. Or any of the names anyone else has suggested. I got you a baby names’ book. So you can look at your own suggestions. And I have one last idea for you.”
She sighed at the idea of another name from him. As the weeks wore on, Deeks’s ideas had gotten more and more outlandish. “What now?”
“Hope. I was thinking for a middle name since Hope Blye really doesn’t sound that good.”
She considered it for a few minutes as she picked at the chicken and pasta he’d given her. “I like it,” she finally told him. “I actually do. Okay. Middle name is settled. And thank you for the book.”
He grinned at her before returning his attention to his own dinner. “Not a problem. Just doing what I said. I wish you’d let me go with you to the cemetery today though.”
“I just…I needed to do that by myself,” she explained. “I couldn’t…I didn’t want company.”
“Kens, I get it. I do. I just didn’t like the idea of you driving up there by yourself.” He nudged her plate closer. “Eat.”
She made a face at him. “Yes, mother hen.” After picking at it for a little bit longer, Kensi set her fork down and asked, “Why haven’t you given me any boys’ names?”
“Huh?” Deeks set his glass down slowly and looked at her in confusion. “I didn’t know I needed to. I just assumed if the baby was a boy that you’d be naming him after your dad. I didn’t think there’d be any question about that.”
Kensi stared at him. For all that he was a joker, there was a serious side to Deeks that she’d come to appreciate in the last few months; a caring and nurturing side that she found she needed more and more as she struggled with becoming a mother. Not able to express how she felt about his understanding in any other way, she leaned forward, cupping his cheek with her hand before kissing him lightly on the lips. “Thank you,” she said softly.
A faint blush spread across his cheeks and he ducked his head. “Not sure what I did to deserve that, but um, okay. Yeah. You’re welcome.”
Round Seven-The Decision
“So I was thinking…” Callen started as Kensi and Deeks walked into the bullpen a few mornings later.
“No,” she replied. “No more suggestions. I’ve had enough of all of you.” She sat down at her desk and started to move in before remembering she couldn’t fit all the way behind it. “Actually I’ve made a decision.”
“You did? Why didn’t you tell me?” Deeks asked. “I would have liked to know.”
“I just decided recently. And I kinda wanted to tell everyone together,” she answered him. “Would someone get Eric and Nell? And…” she paused as she realized Hetty was already standing there. “Never mind.”
“You’ve made a decision, Ms. Byle?” she asked.
Kensi nodded, resting her hands against her stomach. Deeks returned from Ops; Nell and Eric bouncing behind him. She almost winced from the amount of energy the two techs exuded. Deeks made his way over to her desk, perching on the table behind it so he could see the rest of the team as they arranged themselves around the bullpen. A moment later, she felt his hand on her shoulder. “Hetty made a suggestion a few days ago that I go visit my father. After I got home from the cemetery, Deeks and I had a discussion.” She looked over her shoulder at him and reached up, covering his hand with hers. “If the baby is a boy, I’m going to name him after my father for a first name with the middle name Martin for the guy who’s been such a help this whole time.” She glared at the grin on Deeks’s face. “Unless his ego gets out of hand.”
Deeks held his hands up in surrender. “Not a word, Kens.”
“Thank you.” She accepted his hand as he put it back on her shoulder. “If the baby is a girl then she’ll be Lara Hope.” She glared around at her teammates. “So I don’t want to hear anymore suggestions, got it?”
“Laura?” Sam questioned.
“No, since I figure with the spelling everyone will be mispronouncing it anyway. Lar-a pronounced the way it’s spelled which is L-A-R-A.”
“I think they’re wonderful choices, Kensi. Well thought-out and well-chosen,” Hetty said. She looked around at the group. “I believe all of you have work to do?”
The team quickly scrambled to get to work and for a moment Hetty observed them. Deeks hovered over Kensi for a minute until she smacked him and he dodged away, grinning at her. Hetty watched them, noting the change in their interaction and wondering when they’d realize it.
Part Fourteen
“Dad, would you like to hold her?” the nurse asked.
“Ah, I’m not ‘Dad’,” Deeks protested.
Kensi rolled her eyes at his automatic protest. “Deeks, just hold her if you want to.”
“But I might drop her or…”
“You’ll be fine,” she assured him. “Figure it out now while we’ve got doctors and nurses and stuff here.”
“Thanks for the vote of confidence,” Deeks replied as he allowed the nurse to settle the little girl in his arms. For a moment he simply stared at her as she appeared to stare back. Kensi smiled softly at the look of wonder on his face. “Hey, little one,” he cooed softly. “You have the most kickass mommy ever.”
“Deeks. Don’t say kickass to my daughter,” Kensi said with a sigh.
“Your mommy’s silly,” Deeks replied. He turned to look at Kensi. “She’s so tiny.”
“Yeah, keep telling yourself that.” Kensi shifted on the bed. “Why don’t you take her out to show the others? I’m sure they’re anxious for news.”
“You sure?” he asked. “It can wait.”
“Do that. And then bring her back.”
Cautiously, Deeks shifted the baby in his arms and walked from the room.
Characters: Kensi Blye, Marty Deeks, G Callen, Sam Hanna, Eric Beal, Nell Jones, Hetty Lange, possible appearances by others, OCs
Fandom: NCIS: Los Angeles
Series: An Unlikely Family
Written For: N/A
Prompt: N/A
Summary: Kensi gets some unexpected news and gets support from what most people would think was an unlikely source.
Rating: PG to R (might rate higher later)
Spoilers: takes place after season 2 so anything is far game
Warnings: language, slight violence
Disclaimer: No one recognizable belongs to me, more’s the pity.
Author's Note: This is part two of a series of vignettes about an issue Kensi has. First time writing in the NCIS: LA fandom. Thanks muchly to illfindmyway and also to irishjeeper for their help with this.
Part 1 and Part 2 are here.
Part Twelve
“Hey.” Deeks paused in the doorway to Kensi’s room. “You okay?”
She made a face at him. “I can’t seem to get comfortable. I swear this baby is sitting in the most uncomfortable place it can.” She sighed. “I don’t know if I can do this for another two months.”
For a few minutes, Deeks watched as Kensi shifted on the bed as she tried to get comfortable. “Roll onto your side,” he instructed as he entered the room. “I’ve got an idea.”
Kensi flailed as she tried to follow his directions. “Arg!” she groaned. “Damn it!”
Deeks stifled a laugh, trying not to let it out and reveal how much the unwieldy motions of the normally graceful woman was amusing him. Moving quickly across the room, he grabbed her arms, hauling her onto her side. “I cannot believe how quickly you went from thin as ever to this well…whale.”
She punched out, catching him in the ribs, although not with her normal strength. “You did not just call me a whale!” she yelped.
“Kens, I hate to tell you this, but you’re huge!” He leaned over and kissed the top of her head. “Absolutely beautiful, but huge.”
“What was your idea?” she asked. “Because if all you’re going to do is keep insulting me, you can go sleep in your room.”
“Aaaww there’s just more of you to tease,” Deeks replied. “Settled on your side?”
“I guess. Yeah. I don’t know.” Kensi tried to shift a bit. “It’s just really…awkward.”
“All right,” Deeks said. “Try this.” He slipped a pillow under the baby bump and made sure she was settled before walking around to the other side of the bed. “Don’t hit me again,” he warned her.
“What are you planning, Deeks?” she asked.
“Trust me,” he murmured. He kicked off his bunny slippers (the ones he’d bought specifically to make Kensi laugh) and sat down on the bed. Lying down next to her, he moved up behind her. Carefully, he slipped his arm under her neck and waited until she untensed at the movement. Settling his hand on her belly, he began rubbing soft circles on the distended skin. After a few minutes, she relaxed back against him. “Feel better?” he asked.
“Yeah,” she murmured. “Thank you.”
“Okay, good.” Shifting, he started to get up and Kensi grabbed his hands. “What?” he asked.
“Don’t leave,” she requested softly. “It feels better when you’re here.”
He settled back down, resting his hand against her stomach. “I’m glad. You need your rest.” Grinning as he felt a kick against his hand, he added, “And you need your rest, too, Blob. Stop keeping your mom awake at night.” He started rubbing his hand against her belly again until it seemed like the baby was settling down. Soon Kensi was a heavy weight against him and Deeks realized she had fallen asleep.
His hand stilled and he debated whether he should slip out of her bed. She was so much more relaxed now though and he knew she’d roll right onto her back if he moved. Reaching up, he brushed a tendril of hair out of her face and pressed a kiss to her temple. Closing his eyes, he figured he’d rest just for a little while. He’d get up in an hour or so, when he was sure Kensi was sleeping deeply.
He didn’t wake up until the next morning with Kensi wrapped tightly in his arms.
Part Thirteen
The Name Game
Round One-Deeks’s First Attempt
“No. Absolutely not,” Kensi was saying as they entered the bullpen.
“Aw, c’mon, Kensi. I think it’s a great idea.” Deeks trotted a little to keep up with the quickly moving agent. “Why wouldn’t you want your baby named after the Marine Corps’s mascot?”
She spun around and faced him. “Because I am not naming my child ‘Chesty’.”
He stopped dead in the middle of the bullpen. “Really? That’s the name of the mascot? That is so…wrong.”
“It’s fine for a dog, but you are not naming my child that,” Kensi replied. She dropped into her seat, shifting the pillow someone had placed on it around. “Try again, Deeks.”
Round Two-Eric and Nell
“Binary,” Eric greeted her with. “It works for a boy or a girl.”
“That. Is worse than Deeks’s suggestion last week,” Kensi answered. “Please try to suggest actual names and not computer terms.”
“What’s wrong with Binary?” Eric asked as she went to find out what research Hetty wanted her to do that day.
“No more computer terms!” Kensi reiterated.
The stack of papers colliding with her desk jerked Kensi out of the daze she’d fallen into. The busy work that Hetty gave her did just that…it kept her busy and while it was intellectually stimulating; it wasn’t very action oriented which was what she craved. Kensi looked up and had the strange sensation of viewing Nell from a different angle than usual. “What’s all this?” Kensi asked.
“Research,” Nell answered. When Kensi indicated the pile already on her desk, Nell hastened to explain, “Oh, no. Not for you. Or well, sorta for you. I don’t know if you have a name for the baby yet, but,” she separated the pile into two. “This is a suggestion of all the names that astrologically fit you baby; based on a guess on when you conceived and when you should be delivering. And this one is a list of all the names from the family Blye. I just thought…they’re just suggestions. And I don’t…I just wanted to help if I could.”
The OSP agent eyed the stack of paper that Nell had dropped on her desk. Since the news of the baby had become known, she’d been regulated to a desk and she’d seen way more paper than she wanted, but maybe this type of research wouldn’t be so bad.
Round Three-Deeks’s Second Attempt
“Isadora. Beatrice. Jenice. Trudance. Buffy,” Deeks called from his desk.
Kensi tossed a wadded up piece of paper at his head. “No more late night TV for you. I am not naming my child after an airheaded vampire slayer.”
“Faith then. Or Dawn. Or Glory,” Deeks offered. “Martina!”
“No, Deeks,” she replied. “I swear I will hide the remote from you.”
He stuck his tongue out at her and bent his head over his work again. Kensi watched him for a few minutes. She was glad he was suggesting names because it meant he was getting more involved in the baby, but his names were getting more and more ridiculous. She frowned as something about the names he’d been suggesting tried to pick at something in her brain, but she couldn’t quite figure out what.
Round Four-Callen and Sam
“Good morning, Kensi,” Sam greeted her as she walked in. He frowned as she glared in response before stomping over to her desk and flipping her computer on. Deeks trailed along behind her, balancing his messenger bag and a cup carrier with four To Go cups. As he set cups on Sam and Callen’s desks, Sam asked, “Doctor’s appointment didn’t go well?”
“It was fine. I don’t want that,” she added as Deeks set a cup on her desk.
“Kens, it’s this or nothing. Well, this or tea.” He moved the cup so it wasn’t on the edge of her desk. “He said he’d re-evaluate at your next visit.”
“Fine. But decaf is sacrilege,” she complained as she accepted the cup.
“Better than instant,” he pointed out, taking his own cup and tossing the container in the garbage. He lifted his bag over his head, taking a seat at his desk and kicking back. “We get a case yet?”
“Nah, nothing,” Sam replied. “Hey, Kensi, did you decide on a name for the baby yet?”
“No. I have not. And, no, I do not need any more suggestions,” Kensi replied, not looking up from the file she was reading.
“I was just going to mention that we didn’t name any of ours until after they were born. It didn’t seem right giving them names until after we’d actually met them,” Sam told her.
“That’s an idea,” Kensi mused.
“Of course you could just give him or her initials and let the kid choose their own name when they get older,” Callen broke in.
“That…is worse than some of the names Deeks has given me. You don’t let a child chose his or her own name, Callen,” Kensi answered.
“Why not? It helps with personal identity and a sense of belonging,” Callen explained.
“And a sense of disconnect when I register the kid for kindergarten and she hasn’t picked a name yet,” Kensi shot back.
“Blob’s a girl?” Deeks asked.
“No, Deeks, I don’t know what the baby is. And stop calling my baby ‘blob’.” Kensi got to her feet. “I’m taking these files to Hetty.”
Round Five-Hetty
“Hetty?” Kensi paused in the entryway to Hetty’s office. “I have the latest files for you.”
“Thank you, my dear.” Hetty held her hand out for them accepting the folders from the agent. “How are you feeling today?”
“Stressed apparently. The doctor cut off my caffeine.”
Hetty nodded. “It happens. It’s better for the baby. It will lower your blood pressure and relax you. I can recommend a nice herbal tea?”
“Normally I’d say no, but yes, thank you,” Kensi replied.
“And I know everyone else has been weighing in on baby name ideas.” Hetty passed her a book. “I hope this might assist you.”
Kensi turned it over in her hands, looking at the title. “Scottish Names Through-Out History. Interesting.”
“A name is something personal and meaningful to the family. Since it’s just you for the most part, I thought getting in touch with your roots might give you an idea.”
“Hetty, that was really…thoughtful.” Kensi looked at the book with new eyes. “Thank you.”
Hetty inclined her head. “You’re welcome. Also may I give you another recommendation?”
Kensi heaved a sigh before saying, “Yes. Because you’re going to tell me whether I say yes or not.”
“Go visit your father. You might be surprised at what you find there.”
Round Six-Deeks’s Third Attempt
“Deeks?” Kensi called as she entered the house. “Where are you?”
“Kitchen!” his voice answered. “Come on back.”
“Hey,” she said as she made her way into the room and slid into one of the chairs at the kitchen table. “Smells good.”
“It’s almost ready. How was your visit?”
“All right. Thanks for letting me go alone.” She ran her finger around the placemat by her hand, bumping up against the book there.
“I didn’t like it, but I suspect even with the Blob, you can kick my ass.”
Kensi rolled her eyes. “Would you please stop calling my baby ‘the Blob’?”
“Figure out the sex and pick a name and I will,” Deeks answered as he turned off the stove. “Give me a minute and I’ll have this dished up.”
She grinned at him. “You make such a good little house frau.”
“I don’t know what that means, but I’m pretty sure you just insulted me.”
“Nah, I’d never really insult you, Deeks. You make my life…” Kensi paused. “Never mind.” She tilted the book up. “What’s this?”
Deeks set a plate in front of her and took his seat next to her. “Since you don’t seem to like any of the names I’ve suggested. Or any of the names anyone else has suggested. I got you a baby names’ book. So you can look at your own suggestions. And I have one last idea for you.”
She sighed at the idea of another name from him. As the weeks wore on, Deeks’s ideas had gotten more and more outlandish. “What now?”
“Hope. I was thinking for a middle name since Hope Blye really doesn’t sound that good.”
She considered it for a few minutes as she picked at the chicken and pasta he’d given her. “I like it,” she finally told him. “I actually do. Okay. Middle name is settled. And thank you for the book.”
He grinned at her before returning his attention to his own dinner. “Not a problem. Just doing what I said. I wish you’d let me go with you to the cemetery today though.”
“I just…I needed to do that by myself,” she explained. “I couldn’t…I didn’t want company.”
“Kens, I get it. I do. I just didn’t like the idea of you driving up there by yourself.” He nudged her plate closer. “Eat.”
She made a face at him. “Yes, mother hen.” After picking at it for a little bit longer, Kensi set her fork down and asked, “Why haven’t you given me any boys’ names?”
“Huh?” Deeks set his glass down slowly and looked at her in confusion. “I didn’t know I needed to. I just assumed if the baby was a boy that you’d be naming him after your dad. I didn’t think there’d be any question about that.”
Kensi stared at him. For all that he was a joker, there was a serious side to Deeks that she’d come to appreciate in the last few months; a caring and nurturing side that she found she needed more and more as she struggled with becoming a mother. Not able to express how she felt about his understanding in any other way, she leaned forward, cupping his cheek with her hand before kissing him lightly on the lips. “Thank you,” she said softly.
A faint blush spread across his cheeks and he ducked his head. “Not sure what I did to deserve that, but um, okay. Yeah. You’re welcome.”
Round Seven-The Decision
“So I was thinking…” Callen started as Kensi and Deeks walked into the bullpen a few mornings later.
“No,” she replied. “No more suggestions. I’ve had enough of all of you.” She sat down at her desk and started to move in before remembering she couldn’t fit all the way behind it. “Actually I’ve made a decision.”
“You did? Why didn’t you tell me?” Deeks asked. “I would have liked to know.”
“I just decided recently. And I kinda wanted to tell everyone together,” she answered him. “Would someone get Eric and Nell? And…” she paused as she realized Hetty was already standing there. “Never mind.”
“You’ve made a decision, Ms. Byle?” she asked.
Kensi nodded, resting her hands against her stomach. Deeks returned from Ops; Nell and Eric bouncing behind him. She almost winced from the amount of energy the two techs exuded. Deeks made his way over to her desk, perching on the table behind it so he could see the rest of the team as they arranged themselves around the bullpen. A moment later, she felt his hand on her shoulder. “Hetty made a suggestion a few days ago that I go visit my father. After I got home from the cemetery, Deeks and I had a discussion.” She looked over her shoulder at him and reached up, covering his hand with hers. “If the baby is a boy, I’m going to name him after my father for a first name with the middle name Martin for the guy who’s been such a help this whole time.” She glared at the grin on Deeks’s face. “Unless his ego gets out of hand.”
Deeks held his hands up in surrender. “Not a word, Kens.”
“Thank you.” She accepted his hand as he put it back on her shoulder. “If the baby is a girl then she’ll be Lara Hope.” She glared around at her teammates. “So I don’t want to hear anymore suggestions, got it?”
“Laura?” Sam questioned.
“No, since I figure with the spelling everyone will be mispronouncing it anyway. Lar-a pronounced the way it’s spelled which is L-A-R-A.”
“I think they’re wonderful choices, Kensi. Well thought-out and well-chosen,” Hetty said. She looked around at the group. “I believe all of you have work to do?”
The team quickly scrambled to get to work and for a moment Hetty observed them. Deeks hovered over Kensi for a minute until she smacked him and he dodged away, grinning at her. Hetty watched them, noting the change in their interaction and wondering when they’d realize it.
Part Fourteen
“Dad, would you like to hold her?” the nurse asked.
“Ah, I’m not ‘Dad’,” Deeks protested.
Kensi rolled her eyes at his automatic protest. “Deeks, just hold her if you want to.”
“But I might drop her or…”
“You’ll be fine,” she assured him. “Figure it out now while we’ve got doctors and nurses and stuff here.”
“Thanks for the vote of confidence,” Deeks replied as he allowed the nurse to settle the little girl in his arms. For a moment he simply stared at her as she appeared to stare back. Kensi smiled softly at the look of wonder on his face. “Hey, little one,” he cooed softly. “You have the most kickass mommy ever.”
“Deeks. Don’t say kickass to my daughter,” Kensi said with a sigh.
“Your mommy’s silly,” Deeks replied. He turned to look at Kensi. “She’s so tiny.”
“Yeah, keep telling yourself that.” Kensi shifted on the bed. “Why don’t you take her out to show the others? I’m sure they’re anxious for news.”
“You sure?” he asked. “It can wait.”
“Do that. And then bring her back.”
Cautiously, Deeks shifted the baby in his arms and walked from the room.