DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN NCIS: LA

NOTE: THIS IS MY FIRST FANFIC SO I HOPE YOU GUYS ENJOY. REVIEW AND TELL ME HOW I CAN IMPROVE.

Chapter 1:

Kensi had arrived at the Office of Special Projects less than a minute ago and she was already being hazed by her friends slash co-workers, Callen and Sam, about last night. All of them, including her partner Deeks, had gone mini-golfing and lets just say even though she can hotwire a car, survive in almost any climate, terrain, or situation, she can not golf for her life. It didn't help that one of them, she couldn't remember who, had brought beer.

"Ooh, Kensi Blye late to work, must of had a rough night last night picking up all of those golf balls from the river." Sam teased.

"Maybe she just had a hard time driving because she hit her foot more than the ball." Callen chimed in.

"Ha ha you guys are just so funny, ganging up on a sweet ol' thing like me." She gave her most innocent smile.

"Hah sure."

"'Cause you're so harmless." Callen and Sam said.

"What, are you guys talking about Kensi's samurai-like back swing that could take you out in less than a second?" Deeks asked walking to his desk.

"It wasn't that bad." Kensi said defensively.

Deeks was about to answer when they heard Eric's familiar whistle calling them to ops for a breifing on a new case. They walked up to the stairs to Ops where Hetty was already waiting for them. On the screen were pictures of a marine, both the crime scene and the service picture. He was tall, maybe 6'3", with dark brown hair, straight nose, bushy eyebrows, and a hard set mouth. He had a stern look in his eyes that said he was probably very serious about everything he did. Kensi guessed he had a squeaky clean service record and high recomendations from his superiors, much like her father and her ex-fiancee, Jack, before he got PTSD.

"What do we got, Eric?" Callen said in the same exact way he did everyday.

"Private First Class Bryan James. Just returned from his first tour in Afghanistan a week ago where he recieved high recomendations for his good instincts and his attitude towards the higher ranking officers. This morning at 7:35am he was found in a dumpster in Venice just off the boardwalk."

Nell started talking, "He was shot 3 times, all in close proximity around the heart with a .22 caliber pistol. The weapon was registered to James and had a total of four shots fired."

"So either one shot missed or he shot first and then had the gun taken away from him." Sam said.

"The three shots suggests a pro did this." Kensi stated.

"Did he have any family?" Deeks asked.

"His mother is still alive but his father passed away six years ago from lung cancer, no siblings."

"Kensi and I call the crime scene." Deeks yelled before they split up.

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Sam knocked on Maria James' door, "Why do you think James was killed?"

"I don't know but hopefully this visit to his mother will staighten a few things out."

When there was no answer Sam knocked again. "G, go around back."

The door finally opened but it was G standing there, not Maria.

"She's not here."

Sam and G were not the first ones here. The house had been searched thoroughy with the cushions and newspapers thrown everywhere. Paintings were sideways on the walls, clothes were thrown on the ground in the bedrooms, drawers open, someone had definitley been looking for something, the question was did they find it.

"Her car isn't here, maybe she will be back soon. Call Eric and have him locate the car." Callen told Sam.

"Eric, can you find Maria James' car?"

"One sec, let me run her license plate. Okay it looks like she's at the..."

"Where is she, Eric?"

"She's at the crime scene."

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Bryan James had already been removed from the dupmster and placed on the ground. A blue tarp was over him to sheild him from the onlookers walking down the beach front. Kensi snapped on her gloves and looked around the alley for the shell casings while Deeks looked through the dumpster. She had already walked the alley three times and came up with three casings when what she really wanted was four. Kensi turned back around to see her partner lounging in trash eating spaghetti that looked like it came from the restaurant lining the alley.

"Please tell me that did not come from a trash bag."

"What? Ew, who do you think I am? Some kind of animal?" Kensi just shrugged in return. "One of the LAPD officers just handed it to me, they have one for you too." He held out a white paper bag.

"Thanks, but I'll pass."

"That's too bad, it's really good. It tastes like Italy in a sauce." Kensi grinned, only her partner could come up with something ridiculous like that. She turned back to him to say something when when he dropped his food and pulled his gun. Kensi jerked around to find a gun pointed at her.

"My son is dead. They killed him!" The women shreiked. "They killed him! Now I will never see him again."

Sam and Callen ran around the corner and were standing next to Deeks.

"Federal Agents, put down the weapon." When she didn't respond Sam shouted. "Maria James, put down the weapon."

"Oh, but I can't do that. They killed my son." And she fired the weapon.