A.N.: THIS IS THE LAAAAST CHAPTER, FOLKS! I just wanna say a huge thanks to everyone who read, follow, and/or coment! You are all amazing and I already have another ideia for a brand new fanfic! Sray tunned!

DISCLAIMER: NCIS LA and characters are not mine. Just a few original characters from this fanfic are actually mine.

NCIS LA NCIS LA NCIS LA NCIS LA NCIS LA NCIS LA

Marty was discharged from the hospital on a beautiful Saturday morning. He hasn't yet released for surfing, swimming, or long runs, but the beach air would be beneficial to his healing if he took light walks in the morning or late afternoon.

He wore the clothes Roberta brought from his apartment. The neighbor, always solicitous in taking care of Monty, saw when he arrives with Kensi. Since he had seen the agent there before, he handed over the copy of the keys, and when he heard of Deeks' hospitalization, he wished a huge 'get well soon'.

The detective is taken home by Kensi in her car. Since the kisses exchanged at the hospital, their relationship has evolved. At that moment they liked to say they were "in a flirting stage" - but everyone already knows that it goes way beyond that.

As soon as they arrived at the apartment they noticed the delicious scent of lasagna filling the air. His mother's specialty. It lets the mind travel in the few memories that can be called "good" in their childhood.

Kensi was already going to the kitchen when her neighbor and her boyfriend brought Monty. The dog practically flies over Deeks, barking and expressing the happiness of having his human back home. The boy plays with the dog and hugs him, then thanking the couple for taking care of the animal so well. They greet Deeks with hugs and handshakes, wishing for improvement and good return before they leave.

He sits down on the couch, being careful not to move abruptly to avoid the nuisance that is still present in his body. He barely laid his head on a cushion when someone knocked on the door. He almost gets up, but Roberta walks toward the door.

- No, no. You can just sit there. I'll do it.

- Mom, before you open the door...

- See who is behind the door. Marty, I wasn't born yesterday.

He chuckles and the woman checks who knocks the door. Soon she opens and greets the two men who come to Roberta's invitation. Seeing who they are, Marty rises slowly, despite his mother's protests.

Sam and Callen walks without too much haste, but sympathetic to witness the scene ahead of them.

- Mom, I'm fine!

- And I'm Santa. Please don't let him make to much effort.

- Mrs. Roberta!

- I'm leaving now, I'm leaving. I know when I'm defeated. I'll let you guys talk.

She went back to the kitchen, where Kensi is already opening a bottle of wine she bought on the way to detective's apartment. The agent already knew about the visit of her teammates, so she doesn't even bother to leave the kitchen; that's a conversation between the three of them.

Sam greets Deeks with a handshake. Then he pulls him into a quick hug, cluttering the boy's not-so-neat hair. Callen squeezes his hand, then patting the detective's shoulder lightly.

- How are you, Deeks?

- Uh...Imma...okay, I guess. Still a little sore, but nothing I haven't felt before. What are you doing standing up? Sit down!

He leaves the couch for the two of them and sits in an armchair that he usually uses to watch the sports channel. He takes a little white and coral pillow that always stays there and lays back on the back of his neck. Sam and Callen sit on the couch, Monty next to the furniture, lying on the floor and looking at everything curiously.

- Deeks, we need to talk.

- I know. It's not going to happen again. It's my mistake, again. I know that. Sorry.

- What...Deeks, how the hell can this be your fault?!

Marty just shrugs, head down and eyes lost. He doesn't know how explain, he's just sure the bad things that happen usually involve him in some way.

At that moment Sam realizes something that ends up hurting - a lot - the LAPD/NCIS liaison: he always accepts when Sam or Callen throw anything on his back. Even if he isn't really responsible for some mistake. After seeing this reaction and listening to Roberta's reports of her and Deeks' abuse, the ex-Seal felt something twitch inside him.

- Deeks...Hetty and your mother told us what Brandel had done in your childhood. Not everything, of course, but they told...things. You're not guilty for anything.

- I see it this way: if I hadn't been born, my mother wouldn't suffer in the hands of two of the worst men I ever had the displeasure to know.

- So you're seeing things from the wrong angle. Look at me.

Callen speaks for the first time, and Sam only mentally agrees to let his friend try to convince Deeks that things are nothing the way he thinks. He notices the moment when Deeks tentatively lifts his face, the cobalt-blue orbs staring the team leader.

- When Hetty told me you'd join the team, I resisted. No, make that hated it. That's until the first case we work together. How can anyone have such a fast thinking? Then I went to research about you. What I found out is an extremely intelligent and humble guy. Who don't let all this cleverness go to his head. Someone who could be rich with such a brain, but prefers use this talent to help people. Someone who went through hell more than once and came back stronger.

Deeks realized that there was something far beyond the work on NCIS that linked him to Callen; their life histories are somewhat similar. Both with turbulent past and that could reveal the worst of them. Except it didn't happen. The two of them overcame all the odds an infernal childhood can provide and have become admirable people.

Callen saw this in Deeks as soon as he understood what had happened in the detective's life. Deeks, on the other hand, was still trying to understand how he managed to escape from what he lived and learned to be a better person.

- I understood why Hetty switched us that day. I got to stop being stubborn and finally see what she and Kensi see in you. I'm not going to say I totally changed my mind...but let's say 60 percent of the way is already covered.

- It's true for both of us, Sam. You're not the wall of seriousness that you built, for example. You have a heart. I think we all have our disguises.

Marty says it in a whisper, but there's a half-smile there. Sam gets up from the couch and pulls him into another friendly hug, which the detective immediately returns. Callen also stood up and barely speaks aloud what the three of them are thinking at the moment.

- Then is a good thing leave the disguises aside. At least between friends.

Soon Roberta's voice echoes from the kitchen. The food is ready and, according to Kensi, they are "Intimated to lunch right away". With no room for response they just head to the kitchen where the scent of homemade food already fills the air.

NCIS LA NCIS LA NCIS LA NCIS LA NCIS LA NCIS LA

He returns to work in two days. Before his "break" ends, he decides to take the time. Grab his board, put the tab on Monty's leash, and both go to the beach. He leaves his wallet and cell phone in a towel where the dog lies down. Deeks grabs the surfboard, wraps the blue cast - which will remove the next morning - with protective plastic and falls into the salt water of his beloved ocean.

He paddles for a few minutes and realize that yes, you have the balance needed to surf. But just sitting there on the board, feeling the tide cradle his body and soul...already makes him feel at home again. The beach wind seems to take away some of the young detective's worst fears, leaving some hope in better days to come.

After almost an hour in the water he returns to sand. He walks unhurriedly to his things when notices someone standing next to Monty, scratching the animal's ears. When finally approaching, sees that the person is Hetty. He couldn't help but smile because that woman always knows where her agents are - even if he's not one yet. He puts the surfboard in the sand and sits on the towel, standing next to the operations manager and the beloved dog.

- You've miss Mrs. Roberta's lasagna. The guys loved it.

- I heard the lunch was successful. Especially with Miss Blye.

At the same time Marty's face flushes and he scratches his blond hair. Laughter comes out timid and embarrassed, then replaced by serenity in very blue eyes. He knows. That is not just a friendly visit.

-You didn't come here just to see how I'm going. What can I do for you today, Hetty?

The tiny woman takes out a brown folder from her purse. Stand in front of the detective and hand it to him.

- Here's all the information about your biological father's case. He'll be condemned, I give you this guarantee. But...there are a few arrangements that must be completed, Mr. Deeks. Demyan Radivilov has a respectable wealth accumulated. With the arrest, the trial, and the confirmation of your kinship, you became his sole heir. After the government investigation, everything will be yours.

- I don't want a penny from that man.

- Mr. Deeks, I understand your anger, but-

- There's no "but", Hetty. In fact, I'll make myself clear: I don't really want a penny from that monster.

Hetty almost smiles at the words of her liaison. Of course he would act like that. He has always been honest and will not change now. She knew that long before she got in touch with the police or the detective himself. She never said that to anyone, but Deeks won her admiration before he even started working with NCIS.

- Maybe my mom can keep it. She deserves compensation for what happened.

- I already asked her. Curious...she said the same thing. That she wants nothing, and if anyone deserves this inheritance, this someone is you. You don't have to keep with the money. But you can use it for something you really want.

Deeks looks to the sea, waiting for the icy wind and the sound of the crashing waves brings some answer to his doubts. For his surprise, bring it. He will use that money, but not for himself. He doesn't need all that fortune and doesn't even want to spend all that money. His hypothetical grandchildren will still live in full comfort before that absurd amount of money ends. Then he'll do something better.

- I'm going to create a foundation for at-risk families. My mother and I suffer a lot, I don't want anyone else going through the same. But it has to be anonymous. I don't want credit for anything.

- I can help with that.

- Thanks, Hetty...means a lot.

- There's something else on the envelope. If you could read, I'd be grateful.

He gets curious and takes a look. In addition to the report and the inheritance record, there are three separate stapled sheets. He takes them and reads carefully, realizing then it's his application form for NCIS integration. The only thing missing to pursue a career as a agent and leave LAPD. He can't help but giggle and look at the manager, then back at the sea.

- I appreciate that, Hetty...but I'm not ready to leave the police yet.

- Oh, I know that, Mr. Deeks. This is for you understand something that doesn't seem clear.

- What?

- It doesn't matter where you are or what you're doing. You are not alone. So don't feel this way.

Deeks takes a deep breath, leaning one hand on Hetty's back for a few seconds, then patting Monty's head, who sleeps without the slightest trouble.

The sunset was one of the most beautiful that Deeks ever had the joy of witnessing.

Perhaps because there's no longer the haze of guilt and doubt in his mind.

Now, who knows, he can go on with life.

Because the important isn't where it comes from. It's what you do with it.

After all...the past is just this: past.

He has a whole present to live.

And a future to build.

THE END.