Cupid’s Surprise

Deeks turned off the ignition and sat quietly in his car staring out the window. He knew it was just one more stupid day in a string of holidays that he wouldn’t get to celebrate with Kensi and he was getting pretty tired of wondering what each one would have been like. First it was Christmas, New Year’s Eve, his birthday and now Valentine’s Day. Every one spent alone. “Damn, this is getting old!” he thought outloud. He exited the car and walked slowly to the door of the well-manicured home and rang the bell. He pulled up the zipper of his hoodie and bounced back and forth on each foot trying to stave off the evening chill. He looked up to see the winds whipping back and forth swishing the long branches of the palm trees overhead. “Deeks! Thank god, you’re here!” Michelle cried as she swung the door wide open. “Make yourself at home,” she yelled as she ran back down the hall clutching her robe tightly around her waist. “I’m running late!” Deeks smiled warmly at Sam Hanna’s wife and wandered into the den. He could hear Sam having a heated conversation on the phone in another room. “Don’t do this to me, G!” Sam yelled. Deeks followed the sound of the big man’s booming voice into the kitchen. Sam was agitated but waved him to come in as he continued his exchange on the phone. “Do you know how long it took me to get these reservations?”  Sam demanded. He didn’t wait for a response. “You said you liked Jo, didn’t you?” Sam asked. Silence. “Then what’s the problem?” Sam turned his back on Deeks and paced back and forth in front of the sink. “Look, it’s Valentine’s Day and she is expecting you to pick her up in 30 minutes, so I suggest you get dressed and get your butt out the door… now! We’ll see you at the restaurant.” Sam punched the off button and scowled. “I see Callen is having second thoughts?” Deeks couldn’t help grinning. “I swear, the man should have become a Tibetan monk!” Sam continued to complain. “I get Callen to take two steps forward and he takes three steps right back again. He’s hopeless!” “Well, you know what they say, Sam. You can lead a horse to water….” “Yeah, I know the saying,” Sam frowned in agreement but then smiled back at Deeks. “Thanks for watching Sasha tonight, Deeks. Michelle and I really appreciate you giving up your Friday night.” “No problem, I was happy to do it,” Deeks said and crossed his arms in front of his chest. The cop was remembering another time, not too long ago when Sam wouldn’t allow Deeks to be in the same room with his family, let alone babysitting his daughter.  Their time together fighting Siderov and his thugs had changed all that; he had become an extended part of Sam’s family, earning his trust and respect the hard way. “Sasha and I will have a great time together, besides it’s not like I had anyplace special to be tonight,” Deeks looked down and then picked his head up quickly trying to hide his sadness with a big smile. “Don’t worry about a thing Sam, everything will be fine.” “I’m not worried,” Sam tried to assure Deeks and paused to find some words of encouragement that would lift his friend’s mood.  “Look, Kensi will be fine. She’ll tough it out. Now if only I could say the same thing about Callen,” Sam winked as he clapped Deeks on the back and walked out of the room to check on his wife. “Marty! Marty!” Deeks turned just in time to see a small blur of pink flannel come speeding into the kitchen only to stop short before crashing into his legs.

“Whoa! Glad to see you too, tiger!” Deeks reached down and swung the young girl up into his arms. Sasha Hanna wrapped her arms around Deeks’ neck and hugged him back tightly.

“Did you bring Monty?” Sasha asked hopefully and looked quickly around the room.

“Not tonight, sweetie,” he lamented. “I tried to talk him into coming but he was too busy watching the Olympics. I just couldn’t pull him away from the TV.”

“Aww, Marty. Dogs don’t watch TV!” Sasha giggled.

“Then you don’t know Monty! That’s ok, we’ll still have a good time without him!” Deeks replied and tried to tickle Sasha under her chin.

“Well look at you two!” Michelle grinned as she entered the kitchen. The attractive woman was eloquently dressed for a romantic night out with her husband. She was touched and amused at her daughter’s affection for Marty Deeks, but wasn’t really surprised. The man had a way with the female population, young and old. “I ordered a large pizza and there’s milk in the fridge.  Make sure you go to bed by ten o’clock, young lady,” she ordered. “And don’t give Marty any trouble!”

“We’ll be fine,” Deeks said. “You and Sam just go out and have a great time.”

“You do know we’re double dating with Callen and Jo, don’t you?”

“On second thought, good luck with that!” Deeks laughed full-heartily. “This should be a Valentine’s Day you won’t forget!”

“I think I’d rather face down Siderov again!” Michelle moaned as she picked up her purse and joined her husband in the foyer.  Deeks felt a brief shiver go down his spine as she mentioned the Russian crime lord’s name. The trauma left over from that awful day still affected him deeply even though he was good at hiding the dark thoughts that plagued him since then. He quickly cleared his mind and turned his attention back to the bundle of energy wiggling around in his arms.  He placing her down to say goodbye to her parents and as soon as the door closed, Sasha rushed down the hall and into her bedroom.

“Sasha?” Deeks swirled around quickly. “Where are you going? I thought we’d put in a movie before the pizza guy gets here?” Deeks called out, curiously wondering what happen to the little girl.

Sasha returned quickly carrying a case filled with drawing and painting instruments and a pack of construction paper.

“I want to make a Valentine’s Day card for my parents before they get back, Marty.  Can you help me?” Sasha stood with her art supplies balanced precariously in her arms.

“You’re in luck! Homemade Valentine’s Day cards are my specialty!” Deeks said and followed Sasha to the large table in the den where she laid out all of the materials. In the course of the next few hours, Deeks helped Sasha cut out pictures from a magazine, color in a few paper roses, and sprinkle gold glitter on the card and everything within five yards of the table. After he glued his hand to the stapler, he decided it was time for them to call it quits.

“It’s almost ten o’clock, Sasha. We better get you to bed!” he said as he began to gather up the remnants left over from dinner.

“I think mom and dad will really like my card,” she beamed holding the card out to admire their handy work.

“They’re going to love it,” he agreed but stopped to look pensively out the window. Sasha touched Deeks’ arm to get his attention.

“Do you have a girlfriend, Marty?”

“I do,” he grinned picturing the tall, willowy brunette. “At least I think I do.” Deeks mumbled to himself, always wondering where he officially stood with Kensi.

“Did she send you a Valentine’s Day card?”

“No, honey. Fern is far away right now and she can’t send out a card but maybe next year.”

“Fern! That’s a funny name!” she giggled and then stopped when she realized Deeks still had that faraway look on his face. “Don’t be sad, Marty. Miss Fern will be back.”

“Are you kidding? How can I be sad when I get to spend Valentine’s Day with you?” he grinned. “Now let’s get you to bed!”

Deeks helped her carry the left over art supplies back to her room and after making sure she brushed her teeth, he tucked her into bed with a light kiss on the cheek.

“Good night, Marty. I’m glad you came over tonight. I had fun.”

“Me too, sweetie… me too.” Deeks turned off the light and closed the door behind him.

As Deeks settled on the couch to watch the evening news, he thought repeatedly about Sasha’s question and wondered if Kensi was thinking about him too on this lover’s holiday? He rested his head on the back of the couch and fell into a light sleep dreaming about Kensi  and wishing she could be here with him on their first Valentine’s day together. The next thing he knew, Deeks awoke to the sound of the front door quietly opening as the Hanna’s returned from their double date.

He was about to get up to greet the couple, when he felt something fall from his hands. As he looked down, Deeks found a heart-shaped Valentine’s Day card nestled in his lap. He smiled as he took a peek inside and read the carefully written message:

Roses are red,

Violets are Blue

Even though she’s not here

Miss Fern loves you.

Love, Sasha

Deeks heart immediately filled with joy. It was all the affirmation he needed and he felt at peace for the first time since Kensi was whisked away on her mysterious mission. They would find a way to make their life together work. He had to believe in their love story in order to survive another day away from her. They had come too far for it to fall apart now.

“How’d it go, Deeks?” Sam asked as he entered the den with Michelle. “Sasha give you any trouble?”

“No! We had a great time together. She was the perfect angel, or should I say cupid?” Deeks laughed out loud at his own private joke and hid the precious card inside his hoodie, nestled close to his heart.

(I took the liberty in naming Sam’s daughter Sasha; hopefully one day we will find out her real name in a future episode.)

Phillydi is a Contributing Editor and Writer for wikiDeeks.com.