AUTHOR'S NOTE: Well, here we are, at the end of yet another story. Where it goes from here, I'm not sure. I do suspect it could be awhile since I'm not committed as to which direction to go with the next one. I have one in mind but it might be one that sits in the shadows until the right spot shows up for it in this storyline. If you have any ideas for what you would maybe like to see, NOW is the time to share. Hope you enjoy this final entry.

The following day found both men calmer and more settled.

"So, regarding Max… do we put him to rest now? Time you create a new alias."

Deeks stared down into his coffee.

"Deeks, I get he's a part of you and he served a purpose… but you have a wife who loves you and a life worth living. As long as you allow Max Gentry to be a part of that life, I promise you, it won't end well. He's not worth it… but you and Kensi are."

Deeks cast a glance across the table and noted the sincerity of what his friend offered.

"That's all I'm going to say on the subject… just know, you let him back into your home and I will put him down before I will allow harm to come to Roberta, Kensi, or any other member of my team, we clear?" Callen warned.

"Fair enough," Deeks smiled sheepishly as he bit his tongue over Callen's use of the term, 'my team'. He wasn't sure if Callen was even aware he had said it… but there it was…

"Good. Now, you ready to go home?" Callen offered calmly.

"More than…"

"Okay. I'll let Hetty know and they can meet us at the bar after work for drinks." Callen informed him.

"Sounds good."

"From now on, Deeks, you need to decompress after a mission, let me know. You can use the beach house. But it stays between us, you hear me?" Callen stated.

"Yes, I hear you," Deeks replied. He respected his friend's need for something all his own. Sam could be overbearing in his desire to protect his partner and it sometimes left Callen feeling suffocated, "and thanks, I appreciate it."

- NCIS LA - NCIS LA - NCIS LA - NCIS LA - NCIS LA - NCIS LA - NCIS LA - NCIS LA -

Later that evening, Callen and Deeks walked into the bar. It was still early and so the place remained quiet.

"You're back!" Roberta shouted as she rounded the bar to give Deeks a hug before turning her motherly affection on Callen as well, "You kept your promise…good boy," She whispered only for him.

Deeks let out a quiet chuckle at the look that crossed Callen's face, unsure of how to respond to the woman.

"Have you eaten? I've got some Lasagna in the fridge. Sit, here, have a drink and I'll be right back," she ordered them.

"We're fine, Roberta," Callen assured her, stopping her in her tracks as she turned back to face them, " I said sit. You're too thin… you need to eat more," and with that, she disappeared back into the kitchen.

Callen just shook his head as he settled himself onto the barstool, accepting the offered drink as Deeks came back around to join him.

"You're lucky, Marty." Callen said sipping his drink.

"Not going to argue. Yes, I am." Deeks agreed, "but so are you."

Callen thought for a moment before answering. "Not going to argue," then raised his glass slightly before taking another sip.

They sat quietly as they listened to Roberta puttering through the kitchen.

"Uh, Callen, don't look now but we have a problem." Deeks voice a mere whisper.

"Now wha…," Callen started asking while turning his head toward the object of Deeks's concern. "Great. Just great." His thoughts of needing to move due to once more having his home compromised was quickly put to rest by the obvious surprise their presence caused the newcomers.

"You two! Thought you were dead!" The one growled as he looked toward Deeks, then Callen, "and you! Traitor".

"Here we go," Callen muttered as he turned on his stool to face their present threat. Two men who worked for the mastermind Callen had put away while his partner on the case, Deeks, was hospitalized with life threatening injuries and the rest of his team turned their backs on him creating a five-year split in the group. They needed little more provocation than that before the four men were in a heated battle that afforded them only one possible ending.

Roberta had just removed the freshly made garlic bread and warmed lasagna from the oven when she heard a crash come from the main room. Immediately putting the food aside, she headed for the bar only to find Callen and Deeks fighting off two very large and unfriendly looking men and while they appeared to be winning, she didn't take lightly to anyone who threatened those she cared about. Grabbing the shot gun she knew was under the bar, she cocked it then aimed for the ceiling. The shot brought a shocked silence to the entire building, including those in the back hallway.

Just as Sam was ready to bust in with guns drawn, Kensi at his side, Hetty pulled them to a halt. "Look" was all she said.

The sound of the shot had brought the fight to an abrupt end. Deeks had his man against a wall with his arm pulled back prepared to swing while Callen's man was in a headlock with a poor end in sight.

"All of you just back up… NOW!" Roberta yelled. Her gun now aimed at the intruders… "I don't know who you think you are, but nobody messes with my boys!"

Deeks shot a quick glance at Callen who seemed uncertain over what he heard and he could have sworn Callen's cheeks had reddened slightly when he glanced at Roberta and she returned it with a smile and a wink at the two men.

"Welcome to the family," Deeks whispered, catching Callen off guard.

"What?" Callen shot a look at Deeks, who simply shared a big goofy grin.

Callen refocused his attentions on the men in front of them.

"Do we call the police or shoot them?" Roberta asked.

It seemed to worry the men when Callen actually appeared to be considering the choices.

"Mama, put the gun down. They didn't do anything but start a fight." Deeks stated.

"That's right and to make amends before they leave, never to return while keeping their traps shut, they are going to pay for the damages." Callen stated gruffly.

"Now why would we do that?" The one man growled, making Sam shake his head at the man's stupidity, "I almost feel sorry for the idiot," he muttered.

"I don't" Kensi added.

Callen's hand flew for the gun at his back and pulled it as he advanced.

"Callen!" Deeks yelled, pulling his gun on the other man.

Sam, Kensi, and Hetty moved further into the room.

"I'll tell you why…" Callen began as he moved in close enough till the only person able to hear what he said was the man he and earlier fought with.

"What the hell is he telling that guy. He is as white as a… Ghost… never mind, I can imagine," Kensi answered her own question.

Hetty looked up at her two team members with a smirk…

"Now, do we understand each other?" Callen asked as he patted the side of the man's head with the gun, "because, I will be watching and you will not see me coming should you choose to go against our agreement here."

Quickly the men both laid the contents of their pockets on the bar before leaving."

"Wow, what did you say to them." Roberta asked counting the pile of bills, "There isn't this much damage in here."

"Let's just say they won't be a problem… and you can put some of that towards the hole behind that picture over there," Callen smiled as he holstered his weapon and turned around to see the rest of the team.

"Hetty" Callen stated glancing at Deeks who looked equally nervous.

"Mr. Callen, Mr. Deeks… Welcome home." Hetty greeted, saying nothing of what had just occurred.

"Uh, Thanks" they answered in unison.

Kensi cautiously walked towards Deeks, uncertain of what to expect.

"Hey" she greeted quietly.

"Hey, yourself." he returned equally uncertain.

"You okay?" she asked.

"Yeah, Look Fern, I hope you know how much I love you and I am soooo sorry for the other day. That wasn't me. I would never… I mean…"

"It's fine baby, I love you too. Just promise me, no more Max Gentry."

"promise." He smiled taking her face gently between his hand as he leaned in and kissed her ever so softly on the lips.

"Welcome home, babe" Kensi breathed.

"Drinks all around thanks to my boys!" Roberta hollered to everyone's delight.

"Like I said, welcome to the family," Deeks offered as he sat down next to Callen.

"Really." Callen replied.

Deeks looked at him in confusion but before he could reply Sam walked up, "So, who were those two?"

It was the question he'd dreaded answering but Deeks spoke up first, "Just dumb luck. They walked in and recognized me from an old case." Deeks shot Callen a look that said he had his back.

"You? Seemed pretty personal to YOU, G"

"My home, my t… turf" Callen caught himself.

"Your… turf?" Sam joked, "Okay… fair enough. So Deeks's dumb luck aside… you okay? I mean we aren't going back to house hopping again, are we?"

Deeks didn't give Callen a chance to answer, "Are you kidding? This is the very reason I wanted him here. I mean besides him needing a home… Having Callen here means Mama Deeks is safe from idiots like that."

"Couldn't agree more," Sam replied as Hetty called him away, leaving Deeks and Callen alone.

"Deeks, we got lucky tonight. There was only two. This is the very reason I SHOULDN'T be here. I don't want to endanger your mom."

"Callen," Deeks started, with more understanding of his earlier remark. "My mom is safer with you here. I have no fear or concern for her safety when you are here. Please… stay."

After a pause, Callen finally nodded his agreement.

"Good, now I'm going to go see about that lasagna waiting for us."

Hetty followed Deeks into the kitchen, "Mr. Deeks" she stated, alerting him to her presence.

Jumping in surprise, Deeks turned to face the woman, "Hetty… didn't hear you come in. Do you need something?" he asked, obvious to Hetty that he was on edge.

"I do, Mr. Deeks," she replied watching him fidget… "Am I to presume you have put Mr. Gentry to rest now?"

"Uh, yes. I have." He answered, offering none of his usual quips.

"Is that for good or are we to be forced to deal with him again in the future?" she asked, looking over the rim of her glasses, lips pursed, brows raised.

"I think it's best if we retire that alias permanently," he replied carefully.

"Agreed. Are you able to do that or is he too deeply ingrained?" Hetty asked, eyeing him carefully.

Unsure of exactly what to say he sighed, "Hetty, I am so incredibly sorry for my behavior the other night. That was quite an eye opener for me. I had no idea how much a part of me Max had become. I promise you, nothing like that will ever happen again. Callen will attest to that."

Hetty chuckled at that. She knew her boy would have had this talk with him and knowing how difficult releasing these imbedded aliases could be, would have encouraged Gentry's retirement.

"Very well, Mr. Deeks. I expect you will be at the office tomorrow, yes?" she asked.

"Uh, yeah, for sure." He breathed a sigh of relief as she turned to go.

NCIS LA === NCIS LA === NCIS LA === NCIS LA === NCIS LA === NCIS LA === NCIS LA = NCIS LA

After Deeks walked away, Kensi took the opportunity to go sit next to Callen. "Thank you," she offered softly, "and I feel like I owe you an apology as well."

Callen shot a sideways glance at her, "You don't owe me anything. You were worried about your husband. No one can blame you for that."

"But I shouldn't have accused you for going off on him like you did. You were simply protecting me. Why won't you look at me? You did that the other night as well… are you that angry with me?" she asked worriedly.

"How could I be angry with you? You did nothing wrong. I, on the other hand, just keep putting your happiness at risk, it seems," he replied.

"Callen, no… I promise you… I do not feel that way towards you." Kensi cried, "Please look at me… I'm worried about you."

"You don't need to be," Callen again offered, pausing a moment before continuing, "I've spent a lot of time thinking the last few days."

"About what, exactly?" Kensi asked nervously, "You aren't planning on leaving again, are you? I couldn't bear it."

"No, I'm not leaving." Callen answered her concern then sighed as he collected his thoughts. "They say the eyes are a window to the soul… If that's true… then no one needs to see that. I imagine my soul must be pretty dark by this point, when you consider all the demons that reside there… everything I have done. Seeing Max Gentry reminded me of just how bad so many of my aliases are…" Callen dared the briefest of glances her way. He loved Kensi from the first time they met. She was one of the bravest, brightest, strongest women he knew but there was a fragility to her that he wanted to protect… even from himself. "No one needs to see just how damaged I really am," he finished, looking down at the bar.

Kensi frowned at the thought of her friend believing such a thing. She then forced Callen to turn on his stool until he faced her and was forced to look her in the eye. She smiled then, " You may have faced a lot of darkness in your life, played at being a lot of mean even evil people for your job, and yes, you did things for the government they had no moral right asking of you…but Callen, no one can have a soul as dark as you claim… have demons so bad as you suggest and still have eyes as blue as yours. There's no way! There is nothing you will ever do to convince me not to love you for you." Kensi leaned forward and kissed him on the cheek.

Callen looked at her then… his eyes lit with a look on his face she wasn't quite sure how to read… but rather than reply to her, he simply smiled and then turned to find where Deeks was standing.

"Okay, so Deeks, you are my landlord, correct?"

"Yeah, same as before, why?" Deeks replied catching the attention of the others.

"Well, your mom kinda shot a hole through my floor," Callen explained as both men looked up, "Gonna need to have that fixed as soon as possible," Callen took a drink from his bottle as he cast a glance over at Deeks.

Deeks just shook his head, raking his fingers through his hair as the rest of the room erupted in laughter.

FINI