And There He Was…Gone.

Chapter 1

It was the start of a new week, the team had just completed two full and wonderful weeks of vacation. Heddy went off to Europe, to places unknown. At least that is what she said. Knowing Hetty, she could have been anywhere in the world and still kept her eyes on all of them.

Callen had managed to coordinate his time off with Paris from Red Team and they spent some time getting to know each other a little better.

Sam took a much needed family trek back east to see his folks. Actually, Sam was looking forward to getting back to work. Love them as he did, fourteen days with family and the kids, was his limit. Now if it was with Michelle only, on an island somewhere, then that would have been a different story.

Kensi had decided to indulge herself in a retreat, completely cut off from the rest of the world. NO phones. NO text messages. NO emails. NO Deeks either. He had try to convince her that they should spend the time together, saying that after all that happened maybe this would have been good for them. But Kensi still had issues to deal with and decided she needed the solitude to "get things straight in her head". Those were the exact words she used when refusing to vacation with Deeks.

Nell and Eric combined the time off with a conference on some new computer system deemed to change the way we all assimilate and sort data. It was not only cutting edge, it was also being held in Hawaii, so Eric could get a little surfing in as well. Win, win.

Now Deeks, no one ready knew what he ended up doing. Callen and Sam just naturally assumed he was off with Kensi somewhere and were very surprised to find out that Kensi had opted for the retreat instead of some sun and fun with Deeks.

By nine in the morning the team was in the bull pen chatting and laughing, everyone except Deeks. Kensi had looked over at his desk and then at her watch several times, wondering where he was and why he was late. Not good, she thought. Hetty is not going to be happy that he is late. But there is nothing she can do about that, he knew the rules. As if she could read her thoughts, Hetty enters the area with someone following her. She was a young lady, maybe late twenties, with dark Latin features, black hair, brown eyes, about 5'-7" tall and a similar build to Kensi. She had a pair of glasses in her hand and dressed in jeans and a loose fitting sweater. First appearances would suggest she was a little reserved; however, she had a sense of confidence about her that was undeniable.

"Good morning everyone, I trust you all had a splendid time over the last two weeks." Hetty stated. They all nodded or muttered a "yes" or "yeah, great" under their breath.

"Now, getting back to work, I have a few announcements to make."

"First of all, Mr. Deeks will not be returning to us for some time. He has accepted an undercover assignment with a new task force comprised of the FBI, CIA and NCIS. It will be deep cover and quite lengthy. That is all I know at this point."

The smile on Kensi' face disappeared. The air had been completely sucked out of her lungs. Her stomach was in knots and her head was spinning to the point that she needed to steady herself against her desk. Both Sam and Callen watched her and noticed her reaction. Callen moved closer to her and readied himself to catch her should she need help. She opened her mouth but nothing came out. Not a sound.

Hetty continued, keeping an eye on Kensi as she did.

"I would like to introduce Special Agent Rachelle Daccus; she has just transferred from the Seattle office and will be joining us on a full time basis."

"Please make her feel welcome."

"Ms. Blye, a word in my office please."

Hetty turned and moved to her office, with Kensi close behind and still a little shaky.

Rachelle moved into the bullpen area and started shaking hands to formally introduce herself.

"Hello everyone, please call me Elle, all my friends do. Hetty gave me a quick tour and a brief run down on the office dynamics. I know Mr. Deeks will be missed and I hope I can do half the job he did."

"I am sure you will do just fine." Sam offered. "Let us help you with the stuff on Deeks' desk. Some of these files need to be reviewed for further processing."

Eric moved back up to Opts and Nell, Sam and G concentrated on helping Elle with the items on the desk.

Kensi was sitting waiting for Hetty to say something that would possibly calm her down, but feared that would not be the case.

Hetty opened the top right drawer of her desk and pulled out a white envelope with "Kensi" written on the front.

As she handed it to Kensi she said "it would appear that Mr. Deeks did not inform you of his new assignment."

"I…I…I was at a retreat. No phone service or email. He couldn't reach me." Was all Kensi could stammer as she stared at the envelope, which seemed to be floating in the air. She didn't want to touch it, fearing what it might say. Hetty just looked at her and raised an eyebrow silently asking her to accept the envelope. Slowly Kensi moved her arm and reached for it, almost fearing it would burn her skin once she touched it.

Of course it did not and she just held it there, in mid air, just staring at it. Hetty moved away from her desk saying "I will give you a little privacy Ms. Blye."

With the envelope in her lap, she opened the flap and pulled out the letter. Unfolded it and with a deep breath began to read.

Kensi,

I tried to contact you over the past two weeks to let you know that I had accepted this assignment and that I will no longer be working with you and the rest of the team.

I would have parachuted into to the complex had I known where it was, but I'm sure they would not have appreciated that – so I left this letter with Hetty.

I am truly sorry you had to find out this way, not what I had intended.

Please forgive me, if you can.

I really wanted to see you before I left.

Talk to you face to face.

There were so many things I wanted to say to you, but I guess time has conspired against me, us.

Please take care of yourself. I know I can't be there to watch your back, but you have the rest of team and I'm sure a new partner to help as well. Maybe cut him or her a little slack. Surely they can't be as annoying as me and I'm not sure if they can take the punch like I did.

You were the best partner I ever had and I will miss you. More than you will ever know.

You are one amazing person and you gave me something I never thought I could have with anyone. You will always have a place in my heart.

I didn't want to leave this way. It was just that I couldn't stay.

Keep searching Kensi, you will find the one that makes you happy and has all the qualities you are looking for. If anyone deserves to be happy it's you.

Smile. You are absolutely beautiful when you do.

I gotta go, duty calls.

Stay safe.

Marty

Ps.

If you need to see Monty, just ask Hetty for the details. He is in good hands with a large yard to play in and plenty of other dogs to keep him company.

She could hear herself saying "I already did" over and over again as tears ran down her face. Frozen in time with her vision blurred she just sat and stared at the letter. Finally, her mind kicked in and she bolted from the chair. She ran out the door and to her vehicle, wiping the tears as she ran, started it and drove recklessly to Deeks' house.

Her mind was focused on one thing only – talk to Deeks before it's too late.

But she knew that time was not on her side either.

Skidding to a stop in front of the sidewalk she jumped out and ran up the steps to his door.

She pounded on the door yelling "Deeks", but no answer. So she picked the lock and burst in. The furniture was there but everything else, all his personal belongings, were gone. She checked the bedroom and found the same thing. He had moved out and he was gone.

He was gone from her life for good.

That realization was the final straw this morning. She couldn't take it any more and she broke down sobbing uncontrollably and fell on to the bare mattress and let it all out.

She actually believed that she could still smell his scent on the mattress and it only made the moment worse.

A flood of memories hit her hard. Like repeated blows to the body and head.

Her crying was coming in waves, uncontrollable sobbing tearing her apart.

She felt like her chest was going to explode as her heart burst into a million pieces.

After what seemed like hours of crying, the tears slowed and she just repeated the single phrase "I already did" over and over again.

Emotionally exhausted and physically drained, she succumbed to sleep.