Title: Closer

Author: annaliesegrace (formerly CSIphile)

Rating: T

Summary: A sting gone bad brings Deeks and Kensi closer.

Pair: Kensi/Deeks (I love these guys and I love how their relationship has evolved over the season)

Disclaimer: Yeah, no own-y.

AN1: Well, hello readers. This is my first NCIS:LA fic, but have written many for NCIS as CSIphile. I decided to write NCIS:LA (and any other new shows that strike me) under a new name. Same old author, shiny new name! Needed to be done, honestly…my old name didn't reflect me at all anymore.

This fic is a quick two shot that depending on how it goes I may add more to as a supplement to the season's action. Reviews are welcomed, so please leave one to let me know how you are enoying it!

One last item, the stuff in italics is conversation over the earwigs.

There's a drumming noise inside my head
That starts when you're around
I swear that you could hear it
It makes such an all mighty sound

There's a drumming noise inside my head
That throws me to the ground
I swear that you should hear it
It makes such an all mighty sound

Louder than sirens
Louder than bells
Sweeter than heaven
And hotter than hell

Drumming Song, Florence + The Machine

Chapter One: Drumming Song

It had seemed like an easy op, one they had done a hundred times before with little trouble. This case, though, Callen had a feeling would not be so easy. Maybe it was because LAPD had so easily turned it over to them when their last victim was a Marine on leave. Maybe it was because despite six weeks and four victims the LAPD had shockingly little to go on on a case that was receiving increasing media attention. Initially Hetty had balked at taking the case because of said attention; their division didn't exactly do media.

And then they had seen the case file.

And the pictures of the victims, and it had been a silent agreement they would do it.

Because when the victims were the spitting image of one of yours it brought it home with blinding force. They could each picture Kensi in those autopsy photos and it shook each of them more than they would admit aloud. In a way it was a reminder that it could be any of them, at any time, their line of work made no guarantees.

But by Callen's estimate it hit Deeks the hardest. Ever since they had agreed to take the case and Kensi offered to be bait the liaison officer had been shockingly quiet. And while usually the team lead would find relief in the younger mans sudden silence, now it was just…disconcerting. It was very similar to his behavior during the hours Kensi was held hostage by the Russians. That case and Talbot had changed their relationship for the better, even Callen could see that. Kensi's attitude toward Deeks had softened considerably; her irritation with him – while quite real and usually justified – had an air of respect and joking in it now. And Deeks had eased up on the frequency with which he pushed her buttons. It was clear they now each trusted the other with their lives and were partners instead of two people thrust together for work. And there was a difference between the two, a big one.

When Kensi had readily – and quickly -offered herself to the sting operation, Callen watched concern settle on her partners face. And somewhere inside he sighed, because he had seen that kind of concern before, the kind that sometimes preceded work partners becoming something more.

But for now he had filed it away and focused on the job, he could talk to the junior agent and liaison officer at a later date if it became an issue.

Which, in retrospect, was a mistake.

Though he wasn't sure anyone would have seen what happened next coming.

All the victims had been to one of two bars in downtown LA, each had disappeared on a Saturday night, taken to an unknown location, raped and beaten before being strangled and dumped where the bodies would be found quickly Sunday morning. The date rape drug had been found in their systems, which explained the lack of defensive wounds and there had not been a shred of physical evidence where they had been before their deaths. Whoever was doing this was good.

Each had been remembered by the bartenders as party girls, dancing with multiple partners – and flirting their way through the night. The LAPD file had also included a brief psychoanalysis of the suspect. White male between 25 and 40, loner, probably rejected by a woman who looked like their victims for another man. Marty had talked to the detectives on the case and hadn't gotten much; they were considering their own sting operation before NCIS had pulled the case. Callen had decided that was probably good thing.

Undercover was their thing.

Every angle had been considered before sending her in; they were all in the club – Sam as a bouncer and Callen and Deeks acting as two guys out for a good time. Eric was locked into the bar's closed circuit TV from a van in the alleyway. They even had LAPD on standby if necessary. But that didn't stop an unsettled feeling from dropping into Callen's stomach as he and Deeks found a table directly above the expansive sunk in dance floor that they could see most of the bar from. It was a big place with lots of alcoves and hiding places a couple could disappear into, not the most ideal, but three victims were here last, so they took their chances. It had been three weeks since the last murder; they hope was their man was getting itchy and would be looking for a target.

And she made the perfect target.

They watched as she entered, turning heads right away in a pair of tight, dark low slung jeans, a sparkly dark red fitted halter top and black stiletto heels; her makeup was heavier than usual, accenting her features just right and her hair fell in long, loose curls down her back, large dangling earrings hung from her ears.

Both men stared at her a little longer than necessary, neither would deny their female partner was attractive on a daily basis, but tonight she was downright hot. Model hot. Way above their leagues hot.

Deeks watched his partner smile at every man that looked her way and something that he tentatively identified as jealously sparked in him for a brief second before he pushed it down and took a drink of his beer.

Looking over at Callen, Deeks got the distinct impression that the other man knew exactly what he was feeling.

"Are you sure this is a good idea?" he finally asked as a distraction.

Callen eyed him. "You think Kensi can't handle it?"

"Oh, I know she can. It just seems…dangerous to toss her out there to the wolf."

"It's what we do, Deeks. It's what she's good at," he responded and indicated their partner who was standing by the bar with her best charming smile on, clearly flirting with the man next to her.

"You don't like it either." Deeks finally concluded, taking a sip of his beer.

Now Callen let out a loud sigh. "No, Deeks, I don't like sending my junior agent out as bait for a serial rapist and murderer. But what's the alternative?"

The object of their discussion's voice floated into their earpieces. "You do realize I can hear you, right?"

"Yes, princess," Deeks replied and both watched as a fake annoyed expression flitted across her face before she broke out into a small genuine smile. Deeks had taken to calling her that on occasion and at this point it had become an inside joke between them and an easy way to break tension.

For the next two hours she flitted around the bar, smiling, touching arms, accepting drinks (which she never actually drank) and being her first-date best. In the van Eric had run facial recognition on each man she encountered using the CCTV system, coming up empty on all.

"Not sure our guy is going to show," Sam's voice rang through their ears.

"He'll be here, I know it," Kensi answered quietly and glanced at her watch. "Let's give it until 1."

Callen and Deeks exchanged glances before the NCIS agent agreed. "But let's up the ante, really get his attention."

Deeks flashed him a questioning glance.

Nodding in Kensi's direction, Callen gave Deeks a pointed look that he got immediately and the Detective stood, heading in the direction of his partner as he straightened the ice blue polo shirt that he knew made his blue eyes stand out more than usual.

Deeks easily sidled up to her at the bar and leaned into her personal space, placing his lips at her ear.

"Care to dance?" he breathed and she turned to look at him, leaving their faces inches apart, and for a moment she froze, her gaze locked on his a moment longer than necessary.

"Sure," she finally stammered out and placed the glass of what looked like vodka - but he was sure was just water – onto the bar top.

Leaning into her back as they walked, Deeks spoke quietly into her ear that didn't have the earwig and carefully covered his so his next words would go mostly undetected by the group.

"You look totally hot tonight."

"As opposed to all the other times when I don't?" she asked and turned around to face him, a broad grin on her face, she knew she had him.

"No, that's not what I meant…I just mean you look good…not that you don't normally…you do. But tonight…" he trailed off, realizing now they all could hear him and the distinct sound of Callen stifling a laugh came through loud and clear.

"You know what I mean…" he finally muttered, giving up on the explanation.

As they moved to the center of the floor she wrapped her arms around his neck and started moving sensuously to the song playing. "Just dance with me Deeks; you know how to do that, right?"

"Yep," he replied as she released his neck and turned around leaving inches between them, her body still moving at a leisurely pace, but picking up the tempo along with the song. To his credit, Deeks moved confidently with her, if their man was paying attention the two weren't hard to find.

Eventually she turned back around to face him and smiled broadly at him. "What do you know, you can dance, Deeks."

Now it was his turn to smile. "I can do more than just dance…" He let the implication hang and dipped his head toward her, kissing her neck gently while one hand landed on her hip.

At the contact from his lips, Kensi felt a jolt through her body and she had to physically resist arching into him as his hands made their way around her back, pulling her closer. Her partner mumbled something into the skin at her jaw before kissing her there as well, but she was so lost in the sensation of his lips on her that whatever it was went unheard.

When he sucked gently on the skin below her ear she actually let out a small "oh" that Kensi only hoped the pulsating music of the dance floor helped drown out to their colleagues. Sure, Callen and Sam could see them, but they didn't need to know how she was reacting to Deeks' touch.

Because it surprised her as much as anyone; though maybe it shouldn't have. Their working relationship had grown significantly stronger in the last couple months and even she had to admit there was a spark of…something the first time they met. And she was certainly having a physical reaction to him, one she hadn't experienced in a long time. Sure, they flirted, but it all seemed so harmless and in fun…until of course his lips moved to her pulse point and she felt a familiar warmth rush, desire was flooding through her and for a brief moment she wished this wasn't an assignment and they were somewhere more private.

It was bizarre and yet natural all at the same time as they continued to move together to the music, at some point he had pulled away from her, his eyes locked on hers and she could tell that this wasn't all an act, there was something else fueling their actions. Pure attraction or something more she wasn't quite sure. All Kensi knew was that of the many times she had made out with her partners – Callen more than once - for a cover, not one other time did her body tingle like it did now as Deeks' hands started to roam across her bare shoulders.

Pausing as the song changed, they just stared at each other, completely still, each very aware of what was happening between them - until Eric's voice came through, breaking the moment. "Have a possible. Callen, at your twelve, green polo and khaki pants, blonde…I think. Seemed very interested in Kensi and Deeks. Running facial now…"

"Got him. Keep it up guys; let's see if we can get a bite." Callen responded.

Kensi gave Deeks a quick look before yanking her partner to the side of the dance floor, pressing him hard against the wall directly below where Callen was standing and couldn't see them but their mark could, his face surprised at her sudden aggressiveness. Slowly she moved her hands up his torso, across muscles, over shoulders then behind his neck, pulling him down to her lips.

And that was that moment that she wasn't sure how much they were actually pretending anymore. So she just…let go, pressing her smaller body against his as their tongues met between now open mouths. Well, she had certainly never done that with Callen.

Just as she was considering breaking off from him for some much needed space and a reminder what they were supposed to be doing, he spun them so she was now pressed back against the wall and his arms boxed her in at shoulder level. Those deep blue eyes staring at her, as confused by the turn of events as she was, but equally unwilling to stop.

He returned to her desperately, pressing his lips to hers again, his fingers digging into the slightly exposed flesh at her hips while her hands gripped onto the front of his shirt, pulling him closer to her, covering her body with his. Her mind was fuzzy, lost in the feeling of Deeks body pressed against her, his fingers sliding back and forth along the skin above the low waistband of her jeans and his lips moving unhurriedly against hers, his tongue darting into her mouth gently. It took all her might not to let out a low moan as he…

At that moment Eric's voice snapped through the fog and they paused. "Got him, Aaron Andrews, thirty five. Computer programmer…still looking here…"

"Give me everything Eric…" Callen said sharply.

Broken out of their little world, Kensi gave him a broad smile and asked, "Drink?"

"Shouldn't I ask you that?" he returned.

"Then ask…"

"Care for a drink?"

"Sure."

As they got to the bar, Kensi ordered two beers – her first actual drink of the night - and Callen was back in their ear. "He's taking the bait, following you guys…"

"Hey, guys…" Eric's voice cut in. "I found a wedding announcement; he was going to marry a Megan Shannon approximately 8 weeks ago, but as far as I can see the wedding never happened."

"Sounding good," Deeks said into his beer as Kensi stared at him intently while she drank her own - her body was still humming from their actions on the dance floor. Clearly they were going to have to have a talk after this.

Setting her nearly empty bottle down, Kensi nodded toward the back. "Ladies room, wait for me?" she asked seductively and Deeks noticed the bartender staring at her closely.

"I'll be waiting…" he said and kissed her again. And again that feeling flushed through her.

Walking away she swung her hips, knowing that Deeks was watching and spoke quietly enough that only the team could hear. "I'm turning off the mike unless you guys really want to hear me pee."

"Off is good…"

Laughing she pushed the door open and clicked off the mike.

As she washed her hands, dizziness suddenly overcame Kensi and she had to grip the sink to keep from falling over. Taking several deep breaths she gathered herself enough to take four steps toward the door before everything around her began to spin and she put out one hand, leaning against the wall for support.

It seemed like the door should have been right in front of her, but reaching for it, it seemed like a mile away. Anxiety ripped through her.

No, no. no…

She knew the symptoms; she had been drugged. But her increasingly foggy brain couldn't put together how it happened, they had been so careful.

And yet, here she was, alone in the bathroom, out of contact…

The mike…

Reaching up she fumbled with the small button, unable to reactivate the device as her limbs refused to cooperate fully with her.

Finally she reached the door and opened it only to have her vision start to go blurry, but she was aware enough to realize she was in serious trouble.

Because standing in front of her was Aaron Andrews.

"We have a problem…" Eric said quickly. "I finally got a picture of Megan Shannon, I'm sending it to your phones now and you won't believe it."

"Believe what, Eric?" Sam asked testily.

"Wait…"

Suddenly all their phones indicated a new message and as they looked at the picture fear settled in each of them. Because while the other dead women looked like Megan Shannon, Kensi could have been her sister.

"Where is Kensi?" Callen snapped.

"Heading to the bathroom now," Deeks responded.

"We're right behind you…" Deeks wasn't sure who it was responding; he was busy pushing through the crowd.

"Eric, where's Andrews?" Callen asked as he moved equally quickly toward the back.

"I…lost him. He was watching Kensi and Deeks by the bar then…" A long pause came from the tech then. "Oh…he went toward the bathrooms..."

Just then Deeks made it to the hall and without knocking opened the women's room door, shouting his partner's name. When no response came back from the small room, he quickly swept the area, not finding anything. Walking back out to the hall Deeks looked right and saw the back entrance to the club, the door propped open.

"Kensi…" he yelled and bolted toward the door, pushing it open into the cool December LA air, looking both ways with desperation. "Kensi!"

Nothing. She was gone.

TBC…