Author's Note – No profit to be had here, just having a bit of fun with a show I love.

This is it for this story – I've had so much fun writing it! There's a wee bit of sexytimes here, but nothing graphic at all – definitely a T. : ) As noted before, if you're still a big Hetty fan (I say "still" because I used to be one myself), this chapter a may not sit well with you – consider yourself warned!

Thanks again for all of the lovely reviews and all of the follows and favorites (can't believe have almost 100 follows!).

The next morning, Kensi wakes up with her body molded into Deeks' good side, nothing between them but tiny gaps of space. She has her arm across his naked chest, and her bare legs are twined with his.

Waking up with him like this reminds her of that morning before everything fell apart, but this time she doesn't feel any sort of dread or worry. All she feels is safe and happy. She sighs and nuzzles her face into his neck before dropping a kiss on his collarbone. She feels him shift next to her, and she mumbles, "Good morning."

He smiles but doesn't open his eyes. He has been awake for a while, just enjoying having her with him like this. Last night was truly amazing. Their first night together had been pretty incredible, but last night was different – it felt more real and decidedly more…permanent. Their first night, all those months ago, had been about heat and connection, resolving years of pent up sexual tension.

Last night, though, while again being about connection, was also more about showing each other how they feel, truly giving themselves to each other. He mentally rolls his eyes at himself, realizing that his brain seems to be turning into a schmaltzy romance novel – but it's still the truth. He runs a hand through her hair and finally opens his eyes. "Morning, Sunshine."

She perches her chin on his chest and looks up at him. "Sleep well?"

He cups the back of her head with his hand and pulls her face towards his so that he can press a slow, deep kiss to her lips. When he pulls back a minute later, he smiles against her lips. "Yes. You?"

She grins and moves quickly so that she's straddling his hips. Kensi in all of her early-morning naked glory, lips swollen from kissing and hair tumbling every which way, literally takes his breath away. She leans forward, her hair curtaining their faces, and she starts kissing along his collarbone again. "Not bad at all. You up for round two, Agent Deeks?"

He rolls his hips into hers, making her gasp. He grins at her and grips her hips tight in his hands. "Agent Blye, your investigative skills are letting you down if you have to ask, because I'm guessing that it's painfully obvious that I'm 'up' for whatever you want to do with me." She laughs out loud at that, and he leans up to kiss her again. Right before he does, he says, "And I'm pretty sure it's round three."

**KD**KD**KD**

It's well over an hour later when he walks into the kitchen to turn the coffeemaker on. His hair is still damp from their post-activities shower, and he can hear her hair dryer running in the bathroom. He took Monty out before their shower, and he dumps some dry food in a bowl for him and refills his water bowl. The dog is on the food immediately, tail thumping happily on the floor.

Once his cup of coffee is ready, he sips at it as hers makes; when it's done, he doctors it up for her (with far more sugar than he could stomach) and takes it and his own with him back to the bathroom. When he gets there, he puts her cup on the counter and sits down on the closed toilet lid to watch her finish her hair. She's dressed in jeans and a bra right now, and he is more than willing to admit that he's enjoying the show.

A few moments later, she turns off the dryer, satisfied that her hair is dry enough and glad that her own dryer was in the big bag she brought over the day before. She shakes out her dark mane and pauses to pick up her coffee and take a sip of it. Over the edge of her cup, she sees him watching her, and she smiles. "Thanks."

"Anytime." He grins at her. "So, what's on the agenda for today, Fern?" He gets a little more serious. He doesn't want to push her, but he also knows that they have one thing left to discuss – what to do about Hetty.

Almost as if she can read his thoughts, her face falls a little. She puts down her cup and pulls on her t-shirt before brushing her hair back into a messy ponytail. "Granger told me to stay home today if I want to, but I don't think I want to. I want to go hash this out now, because if she doesn't own her part in all of this, I don't know if I can work with her." She looks at him shyly. "Will you come with me?"

He stands up immediately, taking her into his arms. "Where else would I be, Princess? Right by your side is the only place that works for me at this point."

She nods and melts into his embrace, arms going around his waist. A thought occurs to her. "How is your side?"

He squeezes her a little. "It's fine, Kens. Not even sore." He steps away. "Now let's go get breakfast and talk about how we want to approach this."

She nods. "I want to put on a little makeup, and we can go."

"You don't need it, but then I'm pretty sure you already know I think that." She blushes lightly and inclines her head, and he cups her cheek with his palm. "I'll take Monty out again, give you a few minutes."

"OK. I'll be ready in five." She watches him go, unable to believe that their Thing seems to have finally worked out and become a hell of a lot more than just a Thing. She also wonders if they can get Sam, Callen, Eric and Nell to help them move more of her stuff over this weekend. Turning to the mirror, she pulls out her makeup bag, grinning as she thinks about Sam and Callen and how they'll react to the news that she's moving in with Deeks. Parts of today will likely suck, but at least telling them promises to be fun.

Twenty minutes later, they pull up to a diner they both favor. Once they're seated in a booth and have ordered (egg white omelet and fruit for him, chocolate chip pancakes and bacon for her, causing him to chuckle and shake his head), he grabs her hand and squeezes it. "So, how do we want to do this today?"

She sighs and shakes her head. "I don't know. I think we want to find Granger first and find out what the story is. He made it clear when I talked to him yesterday that he will be here – Hetty coming back didn't seem to change anything from his perspective."

Making gentle circles on the back of her hand with his thumb, he muses, "Maybe Hetty's suspended or something. If that's the case, I bet Callen and Sam are pretty unhappy. I bet they don't know what we know."

"You're right. We don't." Callen's voice makes them jump, and they look up in surprise to see both him and Sam standing there. They look upset, and Kensi and Deeks exchange a concerned glance.

They scoot into their seats in the booth. Callen sits next to Kensi, leaving Sam to scoot in with Deeks. Kensi is briefly entertained by the sight of the two biggest members of the team somewhat squeezed together while she and Callen have plenty of room. Deeks clearly sees her amusement, and he rolls his eyes. "Laugh it up, Fern."

She snorts at that, and Callen and Sam both just look confused. Kensi grins, and looking at Sam, says, "Comfy?"

He scowls. "Not really. You could have offered to sit next to your boy here."

"And your partner could have sat there too," she shrugs, "Guess he just likes me more than Deeks."

Callen smirks. "No comment."

"Not feeling the love here, guys." Deeks tries to pout, but they can all see that he thinks it's funny.

Kensi gives him a soft smile, and he nods in return before saying, "Not that we aren't happy to see you guys, but how did you know where we were…"

"And why were you looking for us?" Kensi finishes for him.

He grins and reaches out to take her hand again. Sam rolls his eyes, and he stands up, motioning to Deeks. "Out, lover boy."

After exchanging a confused look with Kensi, Deeks slides out of the booth. Sam turns to Callen. "You, in."

Callen looks like he's going to argue, but instead, he just sighs and shrugs, moving over and taking Deeks' former place. Deeks gets the message and sits next to Kensi, and Sam slides in next to Callen. The waitress comes with their food then, and Callen and Sam both get coffee.

As Kensi and Deeks tuck into their breakfasts, Callen offers, "We had Eric ping your phones when we saw that Kensi's car wasn't at her place or yours."

Kensi swallows the bacon she was chewing on. She sees Callen eyeing one of the pieces, and she rolls her eyes and motions to it. He grabs it, and Kensi asks, "OK. Creepy, but fine."

Deeks offers Sam some of his fruit, and Sam grabs a handful of grapes as Deeks asks, "And why?"

Callen frowns. "Hetty."

Feeling Kensi tense next to him, he slips his hand under the table and finds hers. "Right here, remember?"

Sam and Callen clearly both notice, and after they have a silent conversation of their own, Sam finally huffs out a breath and says, "She's back, but Granger told us she's been on suspension the last two weeks. And beyond that, while she's 'back,' her job won't be what it was."

"What does that mean?" Kensi's voice is a little weak, but she squeezes Deeks' hand to let him know she's OK.

"We aren't quite sure," Callen answers this time, "Except that Granger is apparently mostly permanently stationed here with us, and that Hetty's role will, his words, 'not involve any sort of control over operations or personnel.'"

Deeks furrows his brow. "They're benching her."

Sam nods. "Yes. They are. And judging by the fact that you two don't seem all that surprised and the fact that Eric and Nell both took it in stride too, there is something we don't know."

"We want the full download. I think you two already have it." Callen's voice is firm but not unkind, and his eyes are on Kensi.

Deeks wraps a protective arm around her. "You or me, Princess?"

"Me," she says, surprising him. With that, clinging to his hand the whole time, she tells Callen and Sam everything about Afghanistan, from Hetty knowing Jack to her lying to Kensi about a possible mole. The only thing she doesn't share is what happened with Deeks, Makar and the cleric. No one will ever hear that story from her, and she knows it's not something he'll likely ever want anyone else to know.

By the end of it all, Sam is bristling with anger just as Deeks had been, and Callen looks a little shell-shocked. Kensi lets go of Deeks' hand and reaches towards Callen. "Callen?" her voice is hesitant, "I'm sorry, I wish she hadn't done what she did, but I don't know if I can…"

He reaches out and takes her hand. "Don't apologize, Kens. You didn't do anything wrong. Hetty did. I've overlooked a lot. I can't overlook this. Before it was just me being manipulated, but I always felt like, in the end, her number one priority was the team. This blows that theory out of the water. This abused all of our trust."

Callen and Sam exchange another glance, and then Sam looks from Deeks to Kensi. "Whatever you two want to do, we have your backs. Eric and Nell do too."

Kensi gets tears in her eyes as she looks at the two men she considers to be her big brothers. After a moment, she looks up at Deeks. He leans forward and presses his forehead to hers. "Up to you, Fern. Remember, where you go, I go. That's how we roll."

She closes her eyes, and after a moment, she takes a deep breath and opens them again, looking first at Deeks and then at Sam and Callen. "It depends on her, and it depends on what her role is. I don't know if I can ever fully trust her again, but if you guys are there, I know we'll all be OK. And you should know the same."

Deeks nods. "You have our backs, we have yours."

Sam stands up. "Then let's go call her on her shit."

Callen follows him. "Damned right."

Kensi and Deeks both blink in surprise at the anger she sees on both Sam and Callen's faces, but there's also something oddly heartwarming about it. Deeks drops some cash on the table for their breakfasts and coffee. As they all walk towards the parking lot, Kensi asks, "So, you guys really have our backs? In anything?"

"Of course we do, Kens." Callen is emphatic and Sam nods.

Kensi shoots Deeks a grin, and he realizes that she just cornered them perfectly. He takes it from there. "Great. Then we'll see you guys at nine on Saturday morning at Kensi's place."

The two senior agents exchange a confused look. "Why?" Callen asks, his voice suspicious.

Kensi leans up and presses a kiss to his cheek. "You're helping us pack up my stuff and move my furniture to storage."

"What?" Sam freezes.

"I'm moving in with Marty. Thanks in advance for your help, guys." She gives them an angelic smile before she and Deeks jump in the SRX and head for the mission.

Standing in the parking lot of the diner, Sam looks at Callen. "We just got played, G."

Callen looks annoyed for a moment, but then he shrugs before getting in the car. "Didn't think they had it in them. Our kids are growing up, aren't they?" Sam just chuckles at that and gets in, and they follow the younger pair back to the mission, glad for the moment of levity before what will likely be a fairly long, unpleasant day.

Kensi and Deeks are waiting for them when they get to the mission, and the four of them walk in together. As they enter, Granger is coming down the stairs from ops, and instead of the admonition Deeks was expecting, the man gives them a wry smile (as is his custom), and he motions with his head towards the gym.

They turn and head that way, Granger behind them. When they get into the gym, Granger says, "Figured you two would be back," he gestures to Sam and Callen, "With these two in tow."

Callen crosses his arms over his chest, and they all let him assume his team leader role. "What is really going on, Granger?"

He doesn't bother with niceties, but Granger clearly isn't bothered by it. "As I told you earlier, Henrietta has been on full suspension for two weeks, as NCIS in DC was investigating the recent action in Afghanistan. I'm sure these two," he motions to Kensi and Deeks, "Have now shared that she withheld critical intel from both myself and Agent Blye in order to achieve her objective of protecting Jack Simon. She also had Agent Blye on a wild goose chase for a non-existent mole, wasting time and effort and potentially endangering herself and Agent Sabatino."

They all nod, and Kensi feels bad, because Callen's face is pale. It was one thing having her and Deeks tell him this – it's another thing entirely to have it spelled out so matter-of-factly by Granger. They all go quiet, and it's Deeks who finally asks, "So, what's next?"

"As I'm sure Agents Callen and Hanna told you, Henrietta's role here will be changing. We've let her have her little kingdom for far too long. In the end, I believe it's part of why she felt so free to take liberties. She is going to be here for tactical and operational support and planning, but Agent Callen," Granger turns to Callen, "You will report directly to me. Henrietta is now a consultant, welcome to stay until she chooses to retire. But all final personnel and operational decisions are mine. And before you ask, when I have to be traveling, you, Agent Callen, will have charge of the office."

"What if I need to be in the field?" Callen protests, "We know that three doesn't work well."

"Jones is finishing her field training, and I think she's proven pretty capable. I trust you four to sort out who to partner her with when needed." Granger looks at all of them in turn. "Any questions?"

They all shake their heads, and Granger's eyes land on Kensi. "Agent Blye, I assume you'd like to have words with Henrietta."

It's not phrased as a question, but Kensi responds, "Yes, I would, Director. But honestly, I think all four of us would like to talk to her together."

"She may not be OK with that." Granger looks at her with a critical eye.

"All due respect, sir, but I don't give a flying rat's ass what she is OK with. I will walk away from here. I can be done right now. I will not work in the same building with her if she can't even muster the gumption to look us in the eye and apologize." Kensi eyes blaze, and Deeks drops a hand to her lower back.

"And to be clear, Director, if Kensi walks, so do I. Maybe the shortest tenure in OSP history." Deeks eyes Granger, daring him to doubt their sincerity.

"Me too." Sam nods.

Granger looks at Callen, and Deeks and Kensi find themselves holding their breath. Callen furrows his brow, but he also nods. "All for one, and one for all, Granger. We're done being pawns in her game, whatever the game actually is. We're not playing anymore."

"Indeed, you should not be, Mr. Callen."

They all turn in surprise at the sound of Hetty's voice. Granger gives them all a nod and turns to go, but not before looking at Hetty and saying, "The truth, Henrietta. That's what you owe them. Nothing less."

They all look at each other in surprise when Hetty merely inclines her head in apparent agreement. Kensi stares at the small woman, her hand automatically seeking Deeks' hand. Hetty looks much as she always does, tailored suit and pin, hair impeccable. But Kensi can see fatigue in her eyes and posture.

Hetty waits for the door to close, signaling Granger's exit, and then she says, "In my life, there has been very little that I regret more than I regret the events of the last seven months. In my fervor to protect a person I call a friend, I neglected to protect all of you. Words cannot begin to express my sincere contrition."

Kensi is surprised by the intense flash of anger she feels. "Damn it, Hetty, I didn't need you to protect me. I can protect myself. What I needed, what we needed," she gestures to Deeks, Sam and Callen with her free hand, "Was the truth. We needed you to trust us. For years, we have bent over backwards for you, even quitting our jobs to come after you in Prague – yet another example of you not trusting us enough to tell us the truth."

Hetty starts to say something, but Callen, surprising them all, is the one to cut her off. "Hetty, if you're going to do anything other than agree with Kensi and apologize for what you actually did wrong, save it. Kensi is right. We've proven repeatedly that we'll do pretty much anything for you, but when you needed something here, you just took it. You didn't ask, you didn't tell us the truth about what you needed done – you just sent Kensi off alone on a bogus mission, sent her off with no back-up or real support, to end up face to face with the man who abandoned her – you in fact relied on that happening, to suit your ends."

Deeks picks it up from there, "And you let me feel like it was all my fault that she was sent away. You didn't give a damn that I was drowning, and you didn't give a damn that she probably was too," he pauses, "And don't try to say anything about the sat phone. That was the least you could do. That in no way makes up for everything else. It doesn't even come close."

Hetty looks stunned, maybe the first time any of them have seen her that way. She clears her throat. "And Mr. Hanna, your thoughts?"

Sam gives her a hard look. "They all said it. I'm with them, behind them, one hundred percent, which, based on everything I've heard today, is clearly more than I can say for you."

Hetty looks down for a moment before looking up at them again. "You're all correct. I acted selfishly and thoughtlessly. All I can do is apologize and hope that I can make it up to all of you. I hope you all will stay so that I can have that opportunity."

Callen speaks up this time. "That's Kensi's call."

Kensi swallows hard, and she feels Deeks squeeze her hand. She looks at Hetty. "We'll stay, but I'm fairly certain I'll never take a direct order from you again, Hetty. And don't even try to get in my good graces. You have a near-unimaginable amount of ground to make up. I'm doubtful that you'll be able to."

"I understand, Miss Blye, but I am glad that you all will be staying." She inclines her head again, and she turns to leave. As her small form retreats, Kensi steps closer to Deeks, and he envelopes her in a tight hug.

"You did great, Fern. You did great." She nods against his shoulder, and Sam and Callen both pat Kensi's arm before going out to the bullpen.

"Callen, wait." Kensi stops him. She approaches him and hugs him close. "I'm sorry, I know what she means to you."

He hugs her back. "Kens, I told you earlier not to apologize. I just hope we all eventually can find a way to forgive her, even if we never trust her completely again."

Nodding, she releases him. She can see Sam watching them with a soft expression on his face, and she smiles at him before looking back at Callen. "I am going to try, Callen. Just…not today."

"I get that, Kens. To tell you the truth, I'm not trying today either." He looks back at Sam and then at Deeks. "Early dinner tonight? I could use a stiff drink and some seafood, preferably somewhere with a view of the ocean."

"Can we bring Eric and Nell too?" Kensi asks, as Deeks comes over and wraps his arms around her waist from behind.

Callen grins. "Wouldn't dream of leaving them out."

She frowns briefly. "But not Granger."

Sam comes back as he barks out a laugh. "Just because we don't totally despise him anymore doesn't mean we want to drink scotch with him."

"Amen," Deeks agrees. With that, Sam and Callen leave, both with one last squeeze to her shoulder.

Deeks steps back from her and she turns to look up at him. "You OK?"

She wipes at her eyes. "Yes. Amazingly, yes."

"Then how about we go work, Kensalina. At a minimum, I bet we both need to write up some reports on our daring rescue of our senior agents." He smiles down at her.

She sniffles a little and nods. "Sounds good to me."

Before she can turn to go, he reaches out and cups her cheek in his palm, pulling her close to him and pressing his lips gently to hers. She steps close to him, melting into his kiss. A moment later, they separate slightly. He murmurs, "I love you so much, Fern. More than that, though, today, I'm also damned proud of you. I know that was hard."

She sniffles again. "I love you too, but you know, with you there with me, it wasn't so hard." She smiles. "That was really cheesy, wasn't it?"

He laughs and reaches up to brush away the tears lingering on her lashes. "Little bit. But that's OK. In case you hadn't noticed, I kind of dig cheesy."

She leans up and kisses him again. "How silly of me. How could I possibly forget that?" He wraps an arm around her, and they walk towards the door to the gym. "Marty? We're all going to be OK, aren't we?"

He's surprised but happy at the confidence he hears behind the question. He leans down and kisses her temple. "I believe we are, Kensalina."

"By the way, I need at least a few drawers cleaned out. And half of the closet. And you need to make room for my DVDs." She makes the list as they walk, ticking the items off on her fingers.

He laughs out loud as he opens the door. "Fern, tell you what, if you agree to spend the first weekend we spend together after you move in wearing nothing but one of my LAPD t-shirts and a smile, I'll give you whatever you want."

They walk to the bullpen while she laughs too, playfully batting him on the arm and then immediately blushing and uttering an expletive. She hangs her head. "We gotta get that jar set up."

He uses two fingers to tip her face up to his before leaning down and kissing her again. "I'm looking forward to that dinner you're going to buy me, Princess."

"Damn, Deeks, no, I do not want to watch you two kiss!" Sam's voice makes them both jump.

"No kidding. And keep your damned hands to yourself. This is an office, not a bar." Callen frowns at them.

Kensi and Deeks both just laugh as they go to their desks. Deeks' face lights up. "Kens, you realize he just basically told me I can get handsy if we go to a bar tonight, right?"

She grins. "I believe he did. Can't wait for tonight!"

Deeks grins as Sam groans and Callen splutters in protest. His eyes meet Kensi's across the bullpen, and the look they exchange tells him they're both thinking the same thing. They're all going to be all right, and their Thing is going to be just fine.