A guest reviewer on one of my other stories offered me a story idea "The seasoned agent shivered against the stiff ocean breeze as his blood seeped through the wooden boards and dissipated in the cold water below." It's taken a while but I now have the outline of a story. It involves the whole team although there will be a lot of Kensi and Deeks and possibly even Densi (although I never thought I would say that!)

Odyssey

Chapter One

It was quiet in the office. They'd finished their last active case forty-eight hours earlier and had nothing new to occupy them. After action reports had been written and signed off by Hetty giving the team some unaccustomed free time. Callen, Sam, Kensi and Deeks gathered in the break area to chill out and eat pizza after a morning spent in the gym honing their unarmed combat skills. Callen's concern about Deeks' lack of training in that area were starting to recede although he still took great delight in watching Kensi slamming her partner onto the mat time after time.

"I need a vacation." Deeks finished his slice of pepperoni pizza before lounging back on the sofa and stretching out his long legs. He was pretty sure that he was already developing some spectacular bruising courtesy of Kensi's overenthusiastic efforts.

"Why?" Callen asked, wiping his hands on a napkin. "Vacations are overrated."

Sam paused in the act of reaching for the coffee pot. "How would you know, G? You've never taken a vacation in your life."

"That's not true."

"Going overseas on a mission isn't the same thing."

"That's right," Kensi said. "Vacations are all about sun, sea and…"

"Sex," Deeks interrupted.

"I was going to say relaxation." Kensi glanced sideways at her partner, the image of lying by a pool with him nibbling at the edges of her mind. She pushed the idea back where it belonged. They had a professional relationship and that was how it would stay.

"Working with one of the mobile teams sounds like a permanent vacation," Deeks continued, oblivious to Kensi's thoughts.

Callen and Sam exchanged a knowing smile. "You wouldn't say that if you saw their facilities. It would be like living in a trailer park," Callen said.

"Yeah. Maybe. But you get to bunk with hot chicks."

"No. You get to live in cramped conditions with no privacy," Sam said fervently. The memory of bunking with Callen and Granger remained indelibly etched on his mind. Being forced into sleeping on the top bunk and almost getting a concussion when he smacked his head on the roof was one of his least favorite aspects of their recent joint operation with Red team.

"Have you heard anything from Paris?" Deeks plowed on, digging a deeper and deeper hole.

"No," Callen said. "There's no reason why we would hear from her."

"I thought the two of you had a 'thing'. Ow!" Deeks sat up and rubbed his shin where Kensi had kicked him. He glared at his partner. "What was that for?"

"Just reminding you to think before you open your big mouth. I know that's asking a lot but I've always felt that negative reinforcement provides an incentive to learn."

"I respond better to positive reinforcement," he said hopefully.

"Not going to happen."

Eric's whistle brought an end to their down time. "Hetty wants to see you in Ops," he called. "We've got a case."

Callen stood up and stretched the kinks out of his back. "Time to go back to work."

"Deeks might be right for once," Sam commented as he and Callen followed the two younger members of their team. "There was a bit of a spark between you and Paris."

Callen stopped and grinned. "Harmless flirting. Besides she and Roy have history. Don't think I didn't notice Hetty trying to set us up though. She wasn't very subtle."

"She just wants you to find a nice girl and settle down," Sam said light-heartedly.

"You and Hetty need to find another hobby," Callen responded placidly. "I don't need anyone managing my life for me."

They entered the Ops Center to find everyone waiting for them. "Nice of you gentlemen to join us," Hetty said looking somber. "I'm afraid we've lost one of our own."

"What happened?" Callen asked.

"Special Agent Afloat Adam Wheller has been taken by Somali pirates."

"Pirates?" Deeks asked.

"Yes. He was stationed aboard the USS Bainbridge which was on patrol in the Indian Ocean. Unfortunately his wife was killed in an accident. He was given compassionate leave to return home to be with his two young children. The nearest port was only a few kilometers away and he was on his way there when the skiff he was traveling on was hijacked."

"How do we know he's still alive?" Sam asked.

"We have received a report which suggests that he and the other crew members were taken by a group led by Mohammed Omar Ali. This group has been particularly active in recent months. They take their hostages to the town of Eyl in the northern province of Nugal. The Secretary of the Navy has authorized a rescue mission."

"Why us?" Callen asked. "We can't take on a town full of Somali pirates and we won't exactly blend in with the local population."

"An excellent question, Mr. Callen. There is a SEAL team on standby but they don't want to take the chance on attacking and finding that the hostages are being held elsewhere. Director Vance has asked that this team infiltrate the pirate stronghold to ensure that Special Agent Wheller and the others are there before the order is given."

"How are we supposed to do that?" Deeks asked.

"It's very simple, Detective. We will arrange for you and Miss Blye to be abducted by the same group of pirates."

"Seriously?" Deeks said. "That doesn't sound like much of a plan."

"Mr. Beale," Hetty said. "The photographs please."

A series of pictures appeared on the screen. Callen folded his arms and studied them, not liking what he was hearing. "What about Sam and me? You're not sending them in alone."

Hetty walked over to the screen and pointed to a picture of a sleek white motor yacht. "This is the Odyssey. An appropriate name for this undertaking. Isn't she a beauty? She's on loan to us so I would be grateful if you could take care of her. Detective Deeks and Miss Blye will be posing as newlyweds on their honeymoon." She looked over the rim of her glasses at Deeks. "Stop smirking, Detective. Mr. Hanna, you will pilot the boat."

"Hey, Sam, do you know how to drive a boat?" Deeks asked.

Sam glared at him without answering.

"Mr. Callen, you will be on board as their bodyguard. The yacht will be too tempting a target to resist."

"How do we know we'll be grabbed by the same group?" Kensi asked, a trace of nerves threading though her voice.

"These pirates are quite civilized in their own way. They don't encroach on each other's hunting ground."

"I assume the intent is for us," Callen gestured toward his partner, "to stay free to act as the link between Deeks, Kensi and the SEAL team."

"You are correct."

"That's not so easy," he continued. "When a vessel is attacked they either take everyone on board or kill the crew and take the passengers."

"You and Mr. Hanna are resourceful. I'm sure you will think of something."

Deeks sidled up to Kensi and put an arm around her shoulders. "You hear that, Light of my Life? We're going on our honeymoon."

Kensi rolled her eyes. "I don't know what's worse…being kidnapped by pirates or having to pretend to be in love with you!"

Tbc

Caroline

March 2013