Story: Invincible Summer (part 5 of 7), Tess, Kensi/Deeks
TITLE: "Invincible Summer"
AUTHOR: tess_dicorsi
RATING: R A smidge of adult language and situations.
GENRE: Relationship/Angst
CHARACTERS: Kensi/Deeks with a an occasional OPS staffer showing up.
DISCLAIMER: Recognizable characters are not mine. Just playing with them and promise not to break them. There are a few original characters, they're mine. I'm also trying not to break them.
SUMMARY: "In the depth of winter I finally learned that there was in me an invincible summer." Post "Descent" multi-chapter story.
5. "Because there is nothing more beautiful than the way the ocean refuses to stop kissing the shoreline, no matter how many times it's sent away." - Sarah Kay, "B"
July 27, 2013
For the first time since they arrived, Deeks woke up in bed alone. Friday was so exhausting both physically and emotionally that he and Kensi had dinner, watched "Ferris Bueller" on Netflix and were dozing on the couch before 10PM. Kensi woke him just before midnight and they tripped into the bedroom.
Still dressed in a sweatshirt and board shorts, Deeks just plopped in bed and started to go back to sleep. He was falling asleep when he felt Kensi join him in bed. Unlike any night before, she rolled over to his side of the bed, gave him a kiss on the cheek and said "good night, Deeks." Something changed. Maybe if they were awake enough after the reception at the B&B, maybe they'd figure it out.
He took a quick shower, noticing it was almost 9AM. When he looked for Kensi, he found a note on the kitchen counter
Deeks -
Took Monty for an early walk. Had an errand to run in town. Monty wanted to tag along but since I figured I'd do the grocery shopping, I left him on the deck.
I made you breakfast which I also left on the deck. See you when I get back.
K
He saw Monty sitting by the table on the deck. There was a plate with an inverted second plate over it - he assumed that was his breakfast. Warmer than it had been for their entire trip, Deeks was able to enjoy breakfast outside with just his coffee, a tee-shirt, board shorts and bare feet.
Kensi's breakfast offering was a Pop Tart, untoasted, still in the wrapper. Breaking it into pieces, he picked up a couple that fit in his hand and took himself, the Pop Tart bits and his coffee to the edge of the deck to watch the ocean.
Deeks saw Frank, the B&B's handyman walk up from the beach. "Do you mind if I take the short cut through the driveway?" Frank asked, carrying a trash grabber in one hand and a large garbage bag in the other.
"No problem. Please don't tell me you were taking the long way around the guest house the whole time we've been here."
"Well, the two of you are usually up and out early in the morning so if you're not there," Frank smiled and shrugged his shoulders. "Just had more garbage than usual on the beach."
"Visitors for the town fair or whatever it is?"
"It used to be the town fair. Now it is some festival or something. Twenty-five years ago it was a picnic and that was fine, too." Frank smiled and shook his head. "We got some venders doing rides, selling food, carnival games. Guess they hit the beach late yesterday or early this morning before setting up. At least clean up after yourself if you're trespassing on private property."
"Are you working tonight?"
"The B&B staff runs the private reception with a catering company from Coos Bay. Everyone in town invited for a free meal and drinks. About half of them come every year. I'm there to make the lights stay on and the trailer restrooms are working. The nice thing, we work tonight, the B&B closes tomorrow at 10AM and reopens Thursday. We can use the place, having guests of our own over at the B&B. Mrs. Buchannan runs a nice business. This is her thank you to us for not enjoying the picnic turned fair turned festival."
"The Buchanans are good people."
"They are," the older man told Deeks. "Listen, I know you're leaving first thing Thursday morning. I'd be happy to help you load the kayak on the truck."
"Thanks, I may take you up on that. Bringing it down to the locker was so helpful." Deeks figured the nice envelope he planned on leaving for Frank just a nicer.
"If you don't mind me saying, you're looking much better than when you arrived."
"Feeling better," Deeks told the man, nodding his head.
"Sharon told me you were hurt in an accident. I remember you being the cop in the wedding. If you don't mind me asking, was it work related?"
"Got dimed out on an undercover case. Took the beating of my life," Deeks tried out what was going to become his cover story to the world if he got his job back.
"I'm sorry, man. That's just wrong."
"Hey, you didn't do the beating, no need to apologize," Deeks joked. "Spent some time laid up. Needed to get better and Charley and Tim were nice enough to offer this place."
"Told you, good people."
"True," Deeks took a sip of his coffee. "Can I ask you a favor, though?"
"Tell me what you need."
"We're sort of not advertising I'm a cop or that I got hurt in the line of duty. Anyone asks, bad car accident."
"I'll even make sure it was the other driver's fault but folks around here mostly mind their business."
"Folks around here have been incredibly nice. Listen, do you want a cup of coffee or something?"
"No, my wife provides the breakfast in 'bed and breakfast' so I get the first cup out of the big urn every morning. Just the short walk is fine. The restrooms should be here pretty soon so I'm off."
"Frank, thanks again for everything. This time here was exactly what I needed."
"My wife gets one of those Good Thoughts of the Day calendars every year. She mails some of the sayings to our daughter or hangs them on the fridge. The only one I remember that's worth a damn is that what happens to you doesn't make you who you are, how you react to what happens to you does. Seems to be appropriate right now," Frank chuckled to himself. "Ginny will be so pleased. Enjoy the festival-fair-picnic and the reception tonight. We like to do the town proud," Frank told him as he walked away.
Kensi returned about half an hour later with food, two bags from Target she wouldn't discuss and a smile. "Did you like breakfast?" she asked.
"Yes, it's a wonder we've gotten by on my meals with you hiding your culinary expertise," he answered.
"I like to do my share," she said taking her Target bags into the bedroom.
They left for the Tututni Beach Summer Fair-Xashi Festival just before eleven. It was part street fair, part country fair, part church bazaar. There were artists selling their works, carnival rides, photos booths, games of skill and all sorts of food. Kensi found a carnival truck with a metal duck target shooting contest. Sheriff Tate, in full uniform, warned the truck owner not to let Kensi shoot but the man didn't listen. Kensi wound up with two hurricane glasses, a three-foot stuffed Elmo and a four-foot pinata filled with candy before the truck owner crowned her queen of ducks and took the fake rifle away. Deeks warned her to keep Elmo away from Monty - Monty hated Elmo.
Deeks won a couple of games of cornhole toss which earned him a "Life's a Beach" trucker's cap. He saw a local photographer who had amazing sunset shots of the beaches in the area. He bought a large photo for his apartment and asked if it could be framed and shipped. It could. He also found a smaller photo of what looked like the view from the guest house already framed. He bought that for Kensi and hid it in the truck.
Around three, there was a "South Oregon Has Talent" show. A couple of singing children, two hip-hop teenagers, a ballet class, a juggler, a college student twirling with fire and a couple of garage bands filled two very entertaining hours. Four twenty-somethings doing their best Mumford & Sons covers won the $500.00 prize.
Deeks and Kensi made their way back to the guest house to clean up for the reception at the B&B. There was a 7PM cocktail hour followed by an 8PM seating for dinner and dancing after 9:30PM. Deeks was hoping the lack of exercise would mean he wouldn't be falling asleep in his dessert and maybe, just maybe, he could keep up with Kensi on the dance floor,
Deeks took a quick shower, towel-dried his hair and changed into his jeans, Kensi's gift of a black shirt and his Reef leather slides. He saw himself in the bedroom mirror and was surprised he looked sort of like his old self. He was still probably ten pounds lighter than he wanted to be and his hair needed to be cut but he looked, well, alright. Also alright - Kensi's idea of wearing a black shirt. The nice button down black shirt did play up his tan. Maybe he was seeing the light at the end of his recovery.
Monty walked into the bedroom, looked at him and walked to the front door. Deeks banged on the bathroom door, telling a just out of the shower Kensi he was taking Monty for a walk. Twenty minutes later, he walked back into the house hearing the blow dryer going in the bathroom with some god-awful techno music. He was going to get her to sit through The Eagles Showtime documentary before they left. She had to be introduced to some music made by actually humans.
He and Monty went out on the deck. Dragging one of the chairs to edge of the deck, he waited with Monty and watched the setting sun on the water.
"You resting?" he heard Kensi say as she walked out on the deck.
"No, just watching the show," he said before turning around to look at her. When he finally turned, he was wondering why she bought him the shirt. He could have walked in to the reception wearing one of his hospital gowns and nobody would have noticed if she was by his side.
She pulled out the black sundress skirt and twirled around. "You like?"
'Very much," he said with a smile. "One question: where were you wearing that on Mt. Rainer?"
"Ordered it online. Had it sent to the B&B, Sharon was nice enough to sign for it."
"Remind me to thank Sharon. The shoes? Got those online too or were you going to humiliate your fellow climbers by scaling a mountain in your Christian Louboutins?"
"No," Kensi said, now modeling the strappy black sandals. "Picked them up in Target this morning. And not Christian Louboutins, Jessica Simpson."
"Remind me to thank Jessica too," Deeks said with a smile. "You look beautiful, Kens. I mean you always do but..."
Kensi returned his smile and put her hand in his. "Thank you. Now show me a good time"
When they arrived at the B&B, they were given a table number - 10. Kensi excused herself when Sharon waved for her. She asked Deeks to order her a glass of white wine. He made his way to the bar, ordering Kensi's wine and asking about their non-alcoholic beers. He hadn't had a beer or anything to drink since the weekend before Sidorov. The prior two plus months had more than their share of humiliating moments. Getting drunk on half a beer would have ranked high.
After hearing a rather impressive list of non-alcoholic offerings, Deeks ordered a Clausthaler.
"Oh for the love of all that's good and holy, what the hell happened to you, man? Near beer? I wouldn't wash your dog with that, forget mine. Hell, I wouldn't drink that with someone else's mouth," complained a man behind Deeks.
"I'd recognize those cultured, dulcet, Harvard tones anywhere," Deeks smiled as he turned around. Extending his arms, he said "Timmy" before giving the man a big hug.
Tim Brennan was six-foot three, 230-pounds of bear-hugging joy. "Marty, man, you scared the hell out of me. I thought you were going to die the minute I walked into that hospital room. Don't do that shit to us," Tim implored before pulling away from the hug. "And don't drink that fake beer. Order a Fresca or something for God's sakes. Be a man, have some dignity."
Laughing, Deeks said, "I didn't know you were coming."
"Long story, I'll tell you in a second. Sharon said you brought up a good looking brunette. I want details."
"She's really good with a gun, Timmy. Don't mess with Kensi."
"So you brought your partner and she's hot," Tim said as Kensi walked up.
"She's also standing right behind you," Kensi told him.
Tim turned around and looked at Kensi. He looked at Deeks and then looked at Kensi. "You're Kensi? Wow, did Marty ever outkick his coverage with you."
"Kensi Blye, this is New York's own Tim Brennan. He's a Harvard man, and I'd put the under/over on that coming up tonight at six. With that fine education and his New York City roots, he's a tad shy and keeps his thoughts to himself. Tim, if you could break out of your shell and say something, this is my partner and my friend, Kensi Blye."
"Moron," Tim said as he gave Deeks a fake withering look. "Kensi, it is an honor. Marty doesn't talk about work much when we see him but he's mentioned you and how great you are. So glad to finally meet you." He pulled her into a bear hug. Tim was a hugger.
Kensi was laughing throughout. "So, what are you guys, the East Coast-West Coast odd couple?"
Letting her go, Tim said, "Marty did live on my dorm floor for two months between student loans. I made him cook and clean so I guess you're Felix."
"If I remember correctly, I cleaned because I wouldn't have been able to find the floor with all the trash you had lying around. And as for cooking, Kensi, if there is something you like at dinner, eat it quickly. Tim likes to eat his plate clean, then everyone else at the table's plate clean."
"Well, there's one plate I leave alone," Tim said with a smile.
"Charley's here?" Deeks asked.
"She's reviewing the music the DJ was planning. Too many whining acoustic bands, not enough Sinatra."
"You're rubbing off on her."
"There's never enough Sinatra west of New Jersey." Tim handed Kensi her wine and Deeks his Clausthaler, adding "lightweight" in a stage whisper. "Off to find she who must be obeyed," he said pointing to the dinner tables.
Deeks saw Charley about a second before Tim did. Her back to them, her small frame - barely five foot three - along with her long, strawberry blonde hair pulled back into an elegant braid made her easy to find. She was fussing with centerpiece at table 10.
"Mrs. Brennan," Tim called to his wife as they approached, "I found our dinner companions."
"Mr. Brennan," Charley answered as she turned. "Did you share our surprise?" Charley was obviously pregnant.
"You're mocking my beverage choices when you have this news to share?" Deeks gave Tim a friendly shove before hugging Charley. "You are going to be a spectacular mother," he told her as he pulled away from the hug. Pointing to Kensi, he said "Charley, this is Kensi Blye. Kensi, this is Charley Brennan."
"We've spoken on the phone, silly," Charley told Deeks as walked up to Kensi. The two women hugged.
"It is so nice to meet you in person," Kensi said hugging back. "This place is beautiful," Kensi told Charley as Deeks and Tim held out their chairs to sit.
"We are so screwed," Deeks joked to Tim as he took his seat. "World domination is within their reach."
Tim gave Deeks a peaceful smile. "I, for one, look forward to the rule of our totally hot and awesome female overlords."
"Wouldn't they be overladies, Harvard?"
"Ah, Marty, they'll be whatever they want to be and we'll be happy with it."
"So exactly when did you to become BFFs?" Deeks asked, waving his finger between Kensi and Charley.
"I was checking on you regularly after Sharon told me you arrived," Charley explained.
"Weren't you in Seychelles?" Deeks asked, knowing if Charley used the word 'regularly' she was calling at least twice a day.
"Place wasn't worth what they wanted for it," Tim answered. "We've been in Bellingham since Fourth of July."
"Sharon said Kensi was in the Farraige just after one of the Sunday mountain hikes and I decided to introduce myself via Skype."
"You could have mentioned this," Deeks gave Kensi the eye.
"Charley said she was thinking about coming down for the reception and we decided it would be a good idea to surprise you," Kensi defended herself. "Surprise!"
"You missed our anniversary dinner Marty, totally not your fault, and you were missed. When Tim said you were injured in the line of duty and how badly injured you were, we all wanted to see a healthier you. I wanted to go to the hospital but Tim said you weren't up to it."
"Wasn't up to much."
"Did they find who hurt you? Will you have to relive it in court? What can we do to help?" Charley was busy being Charley.
"They got a few of them, a few got away. I don't know about court, nobody's really talked to me about that." Deeks really hadn't given that a minute's worth of thought. If they ever found Sidorov, he was going to Gitmo or some Russian gulag for a good long time. Of course, everyone is going to think this is a drug/gang case. "And you've done more to help than you can ever know. I owe you guys forever."
"Funny, my Dad feels the same way about you." Charley put her hand over Deeks's.
"So, how did this happen?" Deeks asked, pointing to the Charley's baby bump.
"Well, Marty, when a man cares for his wife, they sometimes express their love in physical ways," Tim teased, speaking to Deeks as if he was a six-year old. Kensi and Charley started laughing.
Deeks looked at Tim and rolled his eyes. "Oh, here we go. It's going to be a long night."
Ruffling Deeks's hair, Tim said with all sincerity, "I'm so happy to see you, Marty."
"We both are," Charley added.
x-x-x
Dinner was a huge success. Deeks and Tim had the salmon, Kensi and Charley had the Dublin Broil ("Because no Buchanan serves or eats London Broil."). Deeks's injuries and rehab were lightly mentioned, lost in stories of telling Irish families - large and larger Irish families - that they were becoming parents, Tim's travels for his job and memories of two very broke law school students dumpster diving in recycling bins for coupons, discounts on people's receipts and bottles to return for money.
After dinner but before the desserts were served, Charley asked Kensi if she wanted a behind the scenes tour of the B&B and Kensi happily agreed, leaving the men behind.
"How are you doing, really, Marty?" Tim asked as Kensi and Charley disappeared from sight.
"I'm getting better. I was a bigger mess when we got here."
"OK, you're not a mess. I saw you just before Memorial Day. That was a mess."
"I have almost no memory of you being at the hospital."
"The nurse said you were on the 'good' painkillers. Seeing you that day, I never want to be on the 'good' painkillers."
"The sad thing is you don't know you're on the 'good' painkillers until you're off the 'good' painkillers."
"How long have you been off?"
"Except for a little codeine and Tylenol in June for some dental work, I've been off everything since I left the hospital. Alcoholic father and working narcotics left me with no interest in painkillers." They were quiet for a few minutes. "You still in touch with Mark Gold?"
"Talked to him a little while back. His way too hot for him wife, the former Lakers Girl, is bored and wants to open a B&B. I sort of talked her out of it. Why?"
"You think he'd take a call from me?"
"Of course he would. Who are you suing and how badly do they need to be pounded into the ground if you're talking to Gold?"
"LAPD."
"Uhm, Marty, as a rule, suing the people who pay you is a bad idea. Aren't they indemnified against what happened to you?"
"Not suing them because I got hurt. I knew the risks on day one."
"If they not paying your medical bills? I can float you whatever you need."
"No, I'm good there."
"OK, can I ask who you're suing?"
Deeks took a dollar out of his wallet and gave it to Tim. "This is your consulting fee. No talking to she who must be obeyed about this."
Tim smiled and shook his hand. "Always a pleasure doing business with you, Mr. Deeks."
"Well, I want to keep it Det. Deeks. I want my job back. LAPD may not give me my job back. I'll sue if that's what it takes but I want my job back."
"Gold's your man and I'll call him first thing Monday to get you in to see him."
"Let's see what LAPD does first."
"Start building a file Marty. Bring Gold in on all your meetings with the brass. You want someone to represent you in these situations. And Gold will scare the shit out of those guys."
"Timmy, those guys use to run into crack houses and chase gang members. Mark Gold will antagonize them, he won't scare the shit out of them."
"His presence is what will scare the shit out of them - a headline that includes hero cop thrown off force, punished for saving lives."
"A little hard to be an undercover cop with my name and face in the paper."
"Do you think they are going to push you out?"
"I need a plan when I go back."
"I got a better one for you."
"If it includes being a manny to Baby Brennan, I respectfully decline."
"Please, Charley's already interviewing nannies. I'm thinking we'll wind up with a retired Marine drill sergeant who thinks perfection is a starting point not the goal,"' Tim chuckled. "No, I spoke to Mal last month after I saw you in the hospital. Buchanan Ship Building needs a new security chief. Mal thought of you right away and after what happened..."
"Timmy, thanks for the offer but I'm not doing background checks on the new receptionist. I'm a cop"
"And a lawyer and as much as it kills me to say this, damn smart. There is a lot going on with Buchanan: terrorism concerns, industrial espionage, threat assessment. You wouldn't be checking out the receptionist."
"Who are you checking out?" Kensi asked with a smile as she returned.
Deeks looked at Charley in white and Kensi in black. "The two most beautiful women in the room."
"Nice save. See, damn smart. Think about it Marty. You can be based wherever you want, Buchanan builds in Los Angeles, Eureka, here, Coos Bay, Portland and Seattle. And the money doesn't suck."
Deeks looked at Kensi. "I'll think about it but I know what I want. Just took some time to be strong enough to fight for it."
x-x-x
The reception ended just after 12:30AM. Charley and Tim said their goodbyes - they were staying with her brother Patrick in town and spending Sunday morning with him before driving home. Charley and Kensi also made plans for a couples dinner at The Strand House in Los Angeles Labor Day weekend Sunday. Charley was planning as many weekend trips and meals out as possible before Baby Buchanan Brennan arrived.
Waving as Charley pulled out of the B&B parking lot, Deeks put his arm around Kensi's shoulder and lead them back to the guest house. "Thank you for being your usual awesome self tonight," he said as they got near the front door.
As he started fishing the keys out of his pocket, Kensi put her hand on his cheek and gently pulled him to her. "Thank you for all this," she told him before kissing him. "Tonight, the last few weeks, the last few years." This time the kiss was longer, deeper, more passionate.
Pulling away and now fumbling with the keys, Deeks tried to stay cool. Tried, and failed as he dropped the keys on the ground. Looking down at the keys, he chuckled. "Somehow, this was going to be so much more smooth and suave in my head."
"Forget being smooth or sauve. Be Deeks," she said as she kneeled down and picked up the keys. Standing and handing them to him, she kissed him. "That's all I want. You're all I want."
Deeks was cold when he woke up. Of course, he was cold because he was naked and Kensi was cocooned in the bed sheet and comforter. "Kens, quit bogarting the covers," he whispered in her ear as he yanked a little bit of the comforter his way. "Cold is not the naked man's friend."
"Huh?" was Kensi's well-reasoned reply.
"Covers, cold, share," he told her as he finally got enough of the covers to chase the morning chill from his skin.
A more alert Kensi moved toward Deeks. He rolled onto his back and looked at up her. She was lying on her side with her head propped up on her bent arm. He remembered their first full day here started this way. This was much better.
"So, what's the plan?" she asked.
"You do love those opened ending questions," he told her, playing with a strand of her hair.
"Among other things," she said, smiling at him.
He leaned up and kissed her. "The plan," he explained, "is to do that and do that often."
"Sounds good. Anything else."
"Serious?"
"You complain I usually am," she answered but not in a harsh way.
"Today, the rest of the trip or the rest of our lives."
Kensi's smile grew. "Totally up to you, counselor."
"Well, your honor, for today I was thinking of skipping the gym just this once since I got a little unexpected exercise overnight. I thought maybe we'd take a drive up to Coos Bay and actually see a little more of the Oregon coastline than just what's outside the guest house."
"Continue."
"For the rest of the trip, more of the same during the day, more of last night too."
"And when we leave?"
"I want this. I've wanted this for a long time but I was worried that I'd screw it up or you didn't want what I want."
"What do you want?"
"You. The happy ending. I don't know if I even have a job at this point but if I have you, I'll figure something out."
"You have me."
"Then I get the happy ending. And since I have you, I wouldn't mind having you in the shower," he half-smiled, half leered at her.
"I could be had in the shower," Kensi told him before running to the bathroom with both the comforter and sheet.
"Again, cold is not the naked man's friend," he hollered as he chased her.
x-x-x
Coos Bay was beautiful. They wound up just walking in a park with Monty, making a picnic lunch of some takeout Thai since breakfast was a Pop Tart each driving up the coastline. They walked along the beach for until about six. While not fully admitting he was tired, Deeks tossed the keys to the truck to Kensi. He had some chicken marinating in the fridge at home and figured if he was going to grill it without needing a nap, Kensi could drive and he'd watch the ocean go by.
Once back at the guest house, Kensi took a desperate to be relieved Monty for a walk while Deeks decided to fire up the barbeque. He was balancing the chicken, the marinade, some veggies and two ears of corn he wanted to grill while opening and closing the sliding door with his foot. He took about three steps on the deck with he heard the familiar sound of a gun magazine click into place.
"It took some time to find you, Detective. I had to leave in a hurry when the agents came to rescue you. We never had a chance to finish our conversation," Issak Sidorov said as he stood on the deck, pointing a gun right at Deeks.
-30-
Yeah, I know. Mean cliffhanger.
AUTHOR: tess_dicorsi
RATING: R A smidge of adult language and situations.
GENRE: Relationship/Angst
CHARACTERS: Kensi/Deeks with a an occasional OPS staffer showing up.
DISCLAIMER: Recognizable characters are not mine. Just playing with them and promise not to break them. There are a few original characters, they're mine. I'm also trying not to break them.
SUMMARY: "In the depth of winter I finally learned that there was in me an invincible summer." Post "Descent" multi-chapter story.
5. "Because there is nothing more beautiful than the way the ocean refuses to stop kissing the shoreline, no matter how many times it's sent away." - Sarah Kay, "B"
July 27, 2013
For the first time since they arrived, Deeks woke up in bed alone. Friday was so exhausting both physically and emotionally that he and Kensi had dinner, watched "Ferris Bueller" on Netflix and were dozing on the couch before 10PM. Kensi woke him just before midnight and they tripped into the bedroom.
Still dressed in a sweatshirt and board shorts, Deeks just plopped in bed and started to go back to sleep. He was falling asleep when he felt Kensi join him in bed. Unlike any night before, she rolled over to his side of the bed, gave him a kiss on the cheek and said "good night, Deeks." Something changed. Maybe if they were awake enough after the reception at the B&B, maybe they'd figure it out.
He took a quick shower, noticing it was almost 9AM. When he looked for Kensi, he found a note on the kitchen counter
Deeks -
Took Monty for an early walk. Had an errand to run in town. Monty wanted to tag along but since I figured I'd do the grocery shopping, I left him on the deck.
I made you breakfast which I also left on the deck. See you when I get back.
K
He saw Monty sitting by the table on the deck. There was a plate with an inverted second plate over it - he assumed that was his breakfast. Warmer than it had been for their entire trip, Deeks was able to enjoy breakfast outside with just his coffee, a tee-shirt, board shorts and bare feet.
Kensi's breakfast offering was a Pop Tart, untoasted, still in the wrapper. Breaking it into pieces, he picked up a couple that fit in his hand and took himself, the Pop Tart bits and his coffee to the edge of the deck to watch the ocean.
Deeks saw Frank, the B&B's handyman walk up from the beach. "Do you mind if I take the short cut through the driveway?" Frank asked, carrying a trash grabber in one hand and a large garbage bag in the other.
"No problem. Please don't tell me you were taking the long way around the guest house the whole time we've been here."
"Well, the two of you are usually up and out early in the morning so if you're not there," Frank smiled and shrugged his shoulders. "Just had more garbage than usual on the beach."
"Visitors for the town fair or whatever it is?"
"It used to be the town fair. Now it is some festival or something. Twenty-five years ago it was a picnic and that was fine, too." Frank smiled and shook his head. "We got some venders doing rides, selling food, carnival games. Guess they hit the beach late yesterday or early this morning before setting up. At least clean up after yourself if you're trespassing on private property."
"Are you working tonight?"
"The B&B staff runs the private reception with a catering company from Coos Bay. Everyone in town invited for a free meal and drinks. About half of them come every year. I'm there to make the lights stay on and the trailer restrooms are working. The nice thing, we work tonight, the B&B closes tomorrow at 10AM and reopens Thursday. We can use the place, having guests of our own over at the B&B. Mrs. Buchannan runs a nice business. This is her thank you to us for not enjoying the picnic turned fair turned festival."
"The Buchanans are good people."
"They are," the older man told Deeks. "Listen, I know you're leaving first thing Thursday morning. I'd be happy to help you load the kayak on the truck."
"Thanks, I may take you up on that. Bringing it down to the locker was so helpful." Deeks figured the nice envelope he planned on leaving for Frank just a nicer.
"If you don't mind me saying, you're looking much better than when you arrived."
"Feeling better," Deeks told the man, nodding his head.
"Sharon told me you were hurt in an accident. I remember you being the cop in the wedding. If you don't mind me asking, was it work related?"
"Got dimed out on an undercover case. Took the beating of my life," Deeks tried out what was going to become his cover story to the world if he got his job back.
"I'm sorry, man. That's just wrong."
"Hey, you didn't do the beating, no need to apologize," Deeks joked. "Spent some time laid up. Needed to get better and Charley and Tim were nice enough to offer this place."
"Told you, good people."
"True," Deeks took a sip of his coffee. "Can I ask you a favor, though?"
"Tell me what you need."
"We're sort of not advertising I'm a cop or that I got hurt in the line of duty. Anyone asks, bad car accident."
"I'll even make sure it was the other driver's fault but folks around here mostly mind their business."
"Folks around here have been incredibly nice. Listen, do you want a cup of coffee or something?"
"No, my wife provides the breakfast in 'bed and breakfast' so I get the first cup out of the big urn every morning. Just the short walk is fine. The restrooms should be here pretty soon so I'm off."
"Frank, thanks again for everything. This time here was exactly what I needed."
"My wife gets one of those Good Thoughts of the Day calendars every year. She mails some of the sayings to our daughter or hangs them on the fridge. The only one I remember that's worth a damn is that what happens to you doesn't make you who you are, how you react to what happens to you does. Seems to be appropriate right now," Frank chuckled to himself. "Ginny will be so pleased. Enjoy the festival-fair-picnic and the reception tonight. We like to do the town proud," Frank told him as he walked away.
Kensi returned about half an hour later with food, two bags from Target she wouldn't discuss and a smile. "Did you like breakfast?" she asked.
"Yes, it's a wonder we've gotten by on my meals with you hiding your culinary expertise," he answered.
"I like to do my share," she said taking her Target bags into the bedroom.
They left for the Tututni Beach Summer Fair-Xashi Festival just before eleven. It was part street fair, part country fair, part church bazaar. There were artists selling their works, carnival rides, photos booths, games of skill and all sorts of food. Kensi found a carnival truck with a metal duck target shooting contest. Sheriff Tate, in full uniform, warned the truck owner not to let Kensi shoot but the man didn't listen. Kensi wound up with two hurricane glasses, a three-foot stuffed Elmo and a four-foot pinata filled with candy before the truck owner crowned her queen of ducks and took the fake rifle away. Deeks warned her to keep Elmo away from Monty - Monty hated Elmo.
Deeks won a couple of games of cornhole toss which earned him a "Life's a Beach" trucker's cap. He saw a local photographer who had amazing sunset shots of the beaches in the area. He bought a large photo for his apartment and asked if it could be framed and shipped. It could. He also found a smaller photo of what looked like the view from the guest house already framed. He bought that for Kensi and hid it in the truck.
Around three, there was a "South Oregon Has Talent" show. A couple of singing children, two hip-hop teenagers, a ballet class, a juggler, a college student twirling with fire and a couple of garage bands filled two very entertaining hours. Four twenty-somethings doing their best Mumford & Sons covers won the $500.00 prize.
Deeks and Kensi made their way back to the guest house to clean up for the reception at the B&B. There was a 7PM cocktail hour followed by an 8PM seating for dinner and dancing after 9:30PM. Deeks was hoping the lack of exercise would mean he wouldn't be falling asleep in his dessert and maybe, just maybe, he could keep up with Kensi on the dance floor,
Deeks took a quick shower, towel-dried his hair and changed into his jeans, Kensi's gift of a black shirt and his Reef leather slides. He saw himself in the bedroom mirror and was surprised he looked sort of like his old self. He was still probably ten pounds lighter than he wanted to be and his hair needed to be cut but he looked, well, alright. Also alright - Kensi's idea of wearing a black shirt. The nice button down black shirt did play up his tan. Maybe he was seeing the light at the end of his recovery.
Monty walked into the bedroom, looked at him and walked to the front door. Deeks banged on the bathroom door, telling a just out of the shower Kensi he was taking Monty for a walk. Twenty minutes later, he walked back into the house hearing the blow dryer going in the bathroom with some god-awful techno music. He was going to get her to sit through The Eagles Showtime documentary before they left. She had to be introduced to some music made by actually humans.
He and Monty went out on the deck. Dragging one of the chairs to edge of the deck, he waited with Monty and watched the setting sun on the water.
"You resting?" he heard Kensi say as she walked out on the deck.
"No, just watching the show," he said before turning around to look at her. When he finally turned, he was wondering why she bought him the shirt. He could have walked in to the reception wearing one of his hospital gowns and nobody would have noticed if she was by his side.
She pulled out the black sundress skirt and twirled around. "You like?"
'Very much," he said with a smile. "One question: where were you wearing that on Mt. Rainer?"
"Ordered it online. Had it sent to the B&B, Sharon was nice enough to sign for it."
"Remind me to thank Sharon. The shoes? Got those online too or were you going to humiliate your fellow climbers by scaling a mountain in your Christian Louboutins?"
"No," Kensi said, now modeling the strappy black sandals. "Picked them up in Target this morning. And not Christian Louboutins, Jessica Simpson."
"Remind me to thank Jessica too," Deeks said with a smile. "You look beautiful, Kens. I mean you always do but..."
Kensi returned his smile and put her hand in his. "Thank you. Now show me a good time"
When they arrived at the B&B, they were given a table number - 10. Kensi excused herself when Sharon waved for her. She asked Deeks to order her a glass of white wine. He made his way to the bar, ordering Kensi's wine and asking about their non-alcoholic beers. He hadn't had a beer or anything to drink since the weekend before Sidorov. The prior two plus months had more than their share of humiliating moments. Getting drunk on half a beer would have ranked high.
After hearing a rather impressive list of non-alcoholic offerings, Deeks ordered a Clausthaler.
"Oh for the love of all that's good and holy, what the hell happened to you, man? Near beer? I wouldn't wash your dog with that, forget mine. Hell, I wouldn't drink that with someone else's mouth," complained a man behind Deeks.
"I'd recognize those cultured, dulcet, Harvard tones anywhere," Deeks smiled as he turned around. Extending his arms, he said "Timmy" before giving the man a big hug.
Tim Brennan was six-foot three, 230-pounds of bear-hugging joy. "Marty, man, you scared the hell out of me. I thought you were going to die the minute I walked into that hospital room. Don't do that shit to us," Tim implored before pulling away from the hug. "And don't drink that fake beer. Order a Fresca or something for God's sakes. Be a man, have some dignity."
Laughing, Deeks said, "I didn't know you were coming."
"Long story, I'll tell you in a second. Sharon said you brought up a good looking brunette. I want details."
"She's really good with a gun, Timmy. Don't mess with Kensi."
"So you brought your partner and she's hot," Tim said as Kensi walked up.
"She's also standing right behind you," Kensi told him.
Tim turned around and looked at Kensi. He looked at Deeks and then looked at Kensi. "You're Kensi? Wow, did Marty ever outkick his coverage with you."
"Kensi Blye, this is New York's own Tim Brennan. He's a Harvard man, and I'd put the under/over on that coming up tonight at six. With that fine education and his New York City roots, he's a tad shy and keeps his thoughts to himself. Tim, if you could break out of your shell and say something, this is my partner and my friend, Kensi Blye."
"Moron," Tim said as he gave Deeks a fake withering look. "Kensi, it is an honor. Marty doesn't talk about work much when we see him but he's mentioned you and how great you are. So glad to finally meet you." He pulled her into a bear hug. Tim was a hugger.
Kensi was laughing throughout. "So, what are you guys, the East Coast-West Coast odd couple?"
Letting her go, Tim said, "Marty did live on my dorm floor for two months between student loans. I made him cook and clean so I guess you're Felix."
"If I remember correctly, I cleaned because I wouldn't have been able to find the floor with all the trash you had lying around. And as for cooking, Kensi, if there is something you like at dinner, eat it quickly. Tim likes to eat his plate clean, then everyone else at the table's plate clean."
"Well, there's one plate I leave alone," Tim said with a smile.
"Charley's here?" Deeks asked.
"She's reviewing the music the DJ was planning. Too many whining acoustic bands, not enough Sinatra."
"You're rubbing off on her."
"There's never enough Sinatra west of New Jersey." Tim handed Kensi her wine and Deeks his Clausthaler, adding "lightweight" in a stage whisper. "Off to find she who must be obeyed," he said pointing to the dinner tables.
Deeks saw Charley about a second before Tim did. Her back to them, her small frame - barely five foot three - along with her long, strawberry blonde hair pulled back into an elegant braid made her easy to find. She was fussing with centerpiece at table 10.
"Mrs. Brennan," Tim called to his wife as they approached, "I found our dinner companions."
"Mr. Brennan," Charley answered as she turned. "Did you share our surprise?" Charley was obviously pregnant.
"You're mocking my beverage choices when you have this news to share?" Deeks gave Tim a friendly shove before hugging Charley. "You are going to be a spectacular mother," he told her as he pulled away from the hug. Pointing to Kensi, he said "Charley, this is Kensi Blye. Kensi, this is Charley Brennan."
"We've spoken on the phone, silly," Charley told Deeks as walked up to Kensi. The two women hugged.
"It is so nice to meet you in person," Kensi said hugging back. "This place is beautiful," Kensi told Charley as Deeks and Tim held out their chairs to sit.
"We are so screwed," Deeks joked to Tim as he took his seat. "World domination is within their reach."
Tim gave Deeks a peaceful smile. "I, for one, look forward to the rule of our totally hot and awesome female overlords."
"Wouldn't they be overladies, Harvard?"
"Ah, Marty, they'll be whatever they want to be and we'll be happy with it."
"So exactly when did you to become BFFs?" Deeks asked, waving his finger between Kensi and Charley.
"I was checking on you regularly after Sharon told me you arrived," Charley explained.
"Weren't you in Seychelles?" Deeks asked, knowing if Charley used the word 'regularly' she was calling at least twice a day.
"Place wasn't worth what they wanted for it," Tim answered. "We've been in Bellingham since Fourth of July."
"Sharon said Kensi was in the Farraige just after one of the Sunday mountain hikes and I decided to introduce myself via Skype."
"You could have mentioned this," Deeks gave Kensi the eye.
"Charley said she was thinking about coming down for the reception and we decided it would be a good idea to surprise you," Kensi defended herself. "Surprise!"
"You missed our anniversary dinner Marty, totally not your fault, and you were missed. When Tim said you were injured in the line of duty and how badly injured you were, we all wanted to see a healthier you. I wanted to go to the hospital but Tim said you weren't up to it."
"Wasn't up to much."
"Did they find who hurt you? Will you have to relive it in court? What can we do to help?" Charley was busy being Charley.
"They got a few of them, a few got away. I don't know about court, nobody's really talked to me about that." Deeks really hadn't given that a minute's worth of thought. If they ever found Sidorov, he was going to Gitmo or some Russian gulag for a good long time. Of course, everyone is going to think this is a drug/gang case. "And you've done more to help than you can ever know. I owe you guys forever."
"Funny, my Dad feels the same way about you." Charley put her hand over Deeks's.
"So, how did this happen?" Deeks asked, pointing to the Charley's baby bump.
"Well, Marty, when a man cares for his wife, they sometimes express their love in physical ways," Tim teased, speaking to Deeks as if he was a six-year old. Kensi and Charley started laughing.
Deeks looked at Tim and rolled his eyes. "Oh, here we go. It's going to be a long night."
Ruffling Deeks's hair, Tim said with all sincerity, "I'm so happy to see you, Marty."
"We both are," Charley added.
x-x-x
Dinner was a huge success. Deeks and Tim had the salmon, Kensi and Charley had the Dublin Broil ("Because no Buchanan serves or eats London Broil."). Deeks's injuries and rehab were lightly mentioned, lost in stories of telling Irish families - large and larger Irish families - that they were becoming parents, Tim's travels for his job and memories of two very broke law school students dumpster diving in recycling bins for coupons, discounts on people's receipts and bottles to return for money.
After dinner but before the desserts were served, Charley asked Kensi if she wanted a behind the scenes tour of the B&B and Kensi happily agreed, leaving the men behind.
"How are you doing, really, Marty?" Tim asked as Kensi and Charley disappeared from sight.
"I'm getting better. I was a bigger mess when we got here."
"OK, you're not a mess. I saw you just before Memorial Day. That was a mess."
"I have almost no memory of you being at the hospital."
"The nurse said you were on the 'good' painkillers. Seeing you that day, I never want to be on the 'good' painkillers."
"The sad thing is you don't know you're on the 'good' painkillers until you're off the 'good' painkillers."
"How long have you been off?"
"Except for a little codeine and Tylenol in June for some dental work, I've been off everything since I left the hospital. Alcoholic father and working narcotics left me with no interest in painkillers." They were quiet for a few minutes. "You still in touch with Mark Gold?"
"Talked to him a little while back. His way too hot for him wife, the former Lakers Girl, is bored and wants to open a B&B. I sort of talked her out of it. Why?"
"You think he'd take a call from me?"
"Of course he would. Who are you suing and how badly do they need to be pounded into the ground if you're talking to Gold?"
"LAPD."
"Uhm, Marty, as a rule, suing the people who pay you is a bad idea. Aren't they indemnified against what happened to you?"
"Not suing them because I got hurt. I knew the risks on day one."
"If they not paying your medical bills? I can float you whatever you need."
"No, I'm good there."
"OK, can I ask who you're suing?"
Deeks took a dollar out of his wallet and gave it to Tim. "This is your consulting fee. No talking to she who must be obeyed about this."
Tim smiled and shook his hand. "Always a pleasure doing business with you, Mr. Deeks."
"Well, I want to keep it Det. Deeks. I want my job back. LAPD may not give me my job back. I'll sue if that's what it takes but I want my job back."
"Gold's your man and I'll call him first thing Monday to get you in to see him."
"Let's see what LAPD does first."
"Start building a file Marty. Bring Gold in on all your meetings with the brass. You want someone to represent you in these situations. And Gold will scare the shit out of those guys."
"Timmy, those guys use to run into crack houses and chase gang members. Mark Gold will antagonize them, he won't scare the shit out of them."
"His presence is what will scare the shit out of them - a headline that includes hero cop thrown off force, punished for saving lives."
"A little hard to be an undercover cop with my name and face in the paper."
"Do you think they are going to push you out?"
"I need a plan when I go back."
"I got a better one for you."
"If it includes being a manny to Baby Brennan, I respectfully decline."
"Please, Charley's already interviewing nannies. I'm thinking we'll wind up with a retired Marine drill sergeant who thinks perfection is a starting point not the goal,"' Tim chuckled. "No, I spoke to Mal last month after I saw you in the hospital. Buchanan Ship Building needs a new security chief. Mal thought of you right away and after what happened..."
"Timmy, thanks for the offer but I'm not doing background checks on the new receptionist. I'm a cop"
"And a lawyer and as much as it kills me to say this, damn smart. There is a lot going on with Buchanan: terrorism concerns, industrial espionage, threat assessment. You wouldn't be checking out the receptionist."
"Who are you checking out?" Kensi asked with a smile as she returned.
Deeks looked at Charley in white and Kensi in black. "The two most beautiful women in the room."
"Nice save. See, damn smart. Think about it Marty. You can be based wherever you want, Buchanan builds in Los Angeles, Eureka, here, Coos Bay, Portland and Seattle. And the money doesn't suck."
Deeks looked at Kensi. "I'll think about it but I know what I want. Just took some time to be strong enough to fight for it."
x-x-x
The reception ended just after 12:30AM. Charley and Tim said their goodbyes - they were staying with her brother Patrick in town and spending Sunday morning with him before driving home. Charley and Kensi also made plans for a couples dinner at The Strand House in Los Angeles Labor Day weekend Sunday. Charley was planning as many weekend trips and meals out as possible before Baby Buchanan Brennan arrived.
Waving as Charley pulled out of the B&B parking lot, Deeks put his arm around Kensi's shoulder and lead them back to the guest house. "Thank you for being your usual awesome self tonight," he said as they got near the front door.
As he started fishing the keys out of his pocket, Kensi put her hand on his cheek and gently pulled him to her. "Thank you for all this," she told him before kissing him. "Tonight, the last few weeks, the last few years." This time the kiss was longer, deeper, more passionate.
Pulling away and now fumbling with the keys, Deeks tried to stay cool. Tried, and failed as he dropped the keys on the ground. Looking down at the keys, he chuckled. "Somehow, this was going to be so much more smooth and suave in my head."
"Forget being smooth or sauve. Be Deeks," she said as she kneeled down and picked up the keys. Standing and handing them to him, she kissed him. "That's all I want. You're all I want."
Deeks was cold when he woke up. Of course, he was cold because he was naked and Kensi was cocooned in the bed sheet and comforter. "Kens, quit bogarting the covers," he whispered in her ear as he yanked a little bit of the comforter his way. "Cold is not the naked man's friend."
"Huh?" was Kensi's well-reasoned reply.
"Covers, cold, share," he told her as he finally got enough of the covers to chase the morning chill from his skin.
A more alert Kensi moved toward Deeks. He rolled onto his back and looked at up her. She was lying on her side with her head propped up on her bent arm. He remembered their first full day here started this way. This was much better.
"So, what's the plan?" she asked.
"You do love those opened ending questions," he told her, playing with a strand of her hair.
"Among other things," she said, smiling at him.
He leaned up and kissed her. "The plan," he explained, "is to do that and do that often."
"Sounds good. Anything else."
"Serious?"
"You complain I usually am," she answered but not in a harsh way.
"Today, the rest of the trip or the rest of our lives."
Kensi's smile grew. "Totally up to you, counselor."
"Well, your honor, for today I was thinking of skipping the gym just this once since I got a little unexpected exercise overnight. I thought maybe we'd take a drive up to Coos Bay and actually see a little more of the Oregon coastline than just what's outside the guest house."
"Continue."
"For the rest of the trip, more of the same during the day, more of last night too."
"And when we leave?"
"I want this. I've wanted this for a long time but I was worried that I'd screw it up or you didn't want what I want."
"What do you want?"
"You. The happy ending. I don't know if I even have a job at this point but if I have you, I'll figure something out."
"You have me."
"Then I get the happy ending. And since I have you, I wouldn't mind having you in the shower," he half-smiled, half leered at her.
"I could be had in the shower," Kensi told him before running to the bathroom with both the comforter and sheet.
"Again, cold is not the naked man's friend," he hollered as he chased her.
x-x-x
Coos Bay was beautiful. They wound up just walking in a park with Monty, making a picnic lunch of some takeout Thai since breakfast was a Pop Tart each driving up the coastline. They walked along the beach for until about six. While not fully admitting he was tired, Deeks tossed the keys to the truck to Kensi. He had some chicken marinating in the fridge at home and figured if he was going to grill it without needing a nap, Kensi could drive and he'd watch the ocean go by.
Once back at the guest house, Kensi took a desperate to be relieved Monty for a walk while Deeks decided to fire up the barbeque. He was balancing the chicken, the marinade, some veggies and two ears of corn he wanted to grill while opening and closing the sliding door with his foot. He took about three steps on the deck with he heard the familiar sound of a gun magazine click into place.
"It took some time to find you, Detective. I had to leave in a hurry when the agents came to rescue you. We never had a chance to finish our conversation," Issak Sidorov said as he stood on the deck, pointing a gun right at Deeks.
-30-
Yeah, I know. Mean cliffhanger.