Disclaimer:I do not own NCIS:Los Angeles or any of the characters. I only own the ones I made up in this story.

A/N: This story starts out in the middle of a case, but it will calm down and get fluffier in subsequent chapters. Just had to set up everything else... I hope you enjoy. Please read and review - constructive criticism is always appreciated!

CHAPTER 1

"OK, there he is – Kensi you're up. Remember, you have to convince him that you are the best one to work for him and his organization. Gain his trust and get him to hire you," Callen directed through the ear buds.

Kensi took a deep breath and walked through the main exhibition hall. It was a typical trade show at the LA Convention Center: rows and rows of tables and booths set up, each company hoping their PR display would be enough to entice the wealthiest clients. Kensi casually made her way over to their target, Victor Meszaros, who was pretending to look at displays along the way. Meszaros was suspected of using his company as a front for illegal arms dealings, but there wasn't enough concrete evidence to charge him yet. Today he was at the trade show talking to various people – just enough of a show to keep his company looking legit enough to the common observer.

Hetty had decided they needed someone on the inside of Meszaros' company, and Kensi became the perfect option. From various sources, they had learned that his last bookkeeper, the man they were trying to turn into an informant, was found dead under mysterious circumstances that morning. While Callen could usually pull off the determined businessman better, intel had also provided rumors that Meszaros had a deep appreciation of brunettes in skirts.

"Excuse me, Mr. Meszaros?" Kensi stood in front of him. "My name is Samantha Miller, and I am so excited to finally meet you in person! I admire you and your work, your business ethics, everything. I have been following you since business school." She excitedly held out her hand for him to shake.

He looked her over. She was young and brunette, two points in her favor. She was wearing a deep red satin blouse, buttoned up just far enough to be decent in public but not far enough to impede the imagination. Her black pencil skirt hugged every curse of her lower body, and her black heels finished off the look perfectly. She definitely had his attention.

"Ms. Miller, is it? It's nice to meet you." Meszaros shook her hand. "Did you want an autograph, or is there something I can do for you?" he inquired coolly.

"This is my resume," Kensi offered him the piece of paper. "It's not about what you can do for me, but what I can do for you. I was hoping that we could talk about the open bookkeeper position you have. I have a proposal for you, Mr. Meszaros, because I'm sure I have just the right skills you are looking for," Kensi offered with a seductive smile.

"You definitely have the skills I am looking for, Fern," Deeks spoke over the comms. She would so get him for that later, and it would hurt, but he couldn't help it; she made it so easy sometimes.

Meszaros seemed interested. He took Kensi's arm and started guiding her out of the crowd to a side hallway, which lead out of the main exhibit hall. He had an entourage of men – body guards, assistants and such – that followed. "Where did you hear about the job opening? I don't think we have anything available right now, but I'd love to hear your proposal," he said as they walked down the hallway.

"Uh guys, I've lost visual on Kensi. Can any of you see her?" Eric broke in from ops.

"Not yet. She went over to the side, talking with Meszaros, and I'm not quite there. Too many damn people in here. I'm on my way over there now to track her down," Deeks said.

"Nothing for us either. We're completely on the other side of this exhibit hall. It's huge, like two football fields," Sam and Callen responded.

"We've still got her on comms, and it sounds like she's still talking to Meszaros about the job. Deeks, see if you can get closer and keep eyes on her. We're still working to see if we can find any other cameras in the area," Nell said.

"I know from reliable sources that Justus is no longer with you, and I know that you are in need of someone who can be creative with numbers, shall we say, and keep their mouth shut. If you look at my references, I come highly recommended by Polansky, whom I believe you know." Kensi dropped the name of one of his former associates and allies, hoping it would help seal the deal.

He grabbed her arm and led her into a small, windowless room at the end of the hall, and shut the door after his men had joined them.

"Guys, we have a problem. They just disappeared with Kensi down the hallway somewhere. I'm not sure which way they went or if they went in a room. I'm having a hard time fighting through this crowd without yelling 'LAPD'. Meszaros' goons blocked the doorway into the hall, so I couldn't keep a visual on her. Eric, any luck getting another camera angle?" Deeks asked.

"No. This appears to be a service hallway, used mostly by convention staff. Not as many cameras in this area. I'm going to keep looking, and I'll let you know when I find something," Eric reported.

"As soon as I reach that door I am going in to find her," Deeks said.

"Not yet, Deeks. Stay out there in the exhibit hall, just close to that door. We still have ears on Kensi, and she hasn't said her distress word yet. She's a tough agent," Callen directed.

Meszaros smiled. "So Polansky recommends you? Last I heard, he doesn't hire women – for anything. How do you know anything about Justus? And what skills are you so sure you have that will impress me?" he asked as he ran his fingers up her arm to her shoulder and finally rested them on her jaw line. "Oh, and before we continue, I don't think you'll be needing this," he grabbed her cell phone out of her hand, "or this anymore," he added, reaching up and removing her ear bud, which he then crushed under his foot. He handed the phone over to one of his men, who removed the battery and threw the phone under a crate in the back corner.

"Shit, guys that was Kensi's ear bud," Eric said, referring to the strange noise they had all just heard in their own ears. "I'm also pretty sure they also took the battery out of her phone. It went dead and I can't get any tracking, no GPS, anything. We have no eyes or ears on Kensi now." Eric stated glumly.

"I'm almost over to the hallway doors where they took her. I'm going in to find her. Callen, Sam, you guys anywhere in the area to help me out?" Deeks said.

"We're on our way, but we got held up by someone trying to give us brochures and free stress balls. Don't go in alone Deeks – these guys are pros and don't mess around. Wait for us to get closer," ordered Callen.

"M-my skills?" Kensi tried to stay in character and remain composed. "I told you, I can help you with your numbers – ALL of them, making sure every digit is in the right place. More than one accounting system, to keep everything straight. Yes, I did work for Polansky. He's one hell of a businessman. You're right, though, he doesn't usually have women work for him, but I made it worth his while, if you know what I mean," she said coyly while fingering the collar of her blouse. "You can completely trust me. I do my job and keep my mouth shut – unless you like it another way," she tried smiling seductively at him. God she hated this job sometimes.

"I don't trust anyone. I certainly don't trust you. You know, I just spoke with Polansky a few weeks ago, and he didn't mention any Samantha Miller. And you are the type of woman that a man like him would definitely mention. I think something's off here, something you aren't telling me. Tell you what, we're going to go back to my office – together – and figure this all out until we get to the real truth. Frederick, take Marco with you and bring the car around to the side entrance. The rest of you are going to make sure the coast is clear all the way to that door. Dominic, I will be escorting Agent Blye out and I would like you and Nico to follow behind us. Take the long way around over to the other service hall first, before going back into the exhibit hall, in case anyone is waiting for her," Meszaros finished up.

Kensi tried not to betray anything on her face, like the fact that she had just been made. "I'm sorry, who? My name is Saman…"

Meszaros reached his hand up and slapped Kensi's face. She wasn't expecting it, and the feel of his hand against her skin stung like a thousand tiny bees were attacking her. Her eyes teared up, and she had to take a small step back to keep her balance. She could feel the heat of the pain in her cheek and assumed it was already bright red. "You can drop the act bitch. I know who you are, Agent Blye. Your people aren't the only ones with eyes and ears all over. This game you are playing is done. Now start walking with me, and act normal when we get out there – like you want to be with me. I wouldn't want anyone to get hurt," he added smirking. The group of Meszaros' men, as well as he and Kensi, started walking out and around to a different service hallway that lead back into the exhibit hall and closer to the side entrance.

"I've got something," Eric said suddenly. "Deeks, I've got her coming out from a different door back into the exhibit hall with a group of about 8 men, one of them is Meszaros. They look like they might be armed. The door is a little behind you to your right."

Deeks looked over where Eric told him, and saw Kensi walking stiffly with the group of men. Her face was red like she had been hit hard, and her eyes had a wild fierceness in them. Meszaros was holding on to her arm, trying to appear like he was escorting her rather than dragging her along. Kensi looked around as she walked, searching for any friendly face. Suddenly she saw Deeks across the crowd just as he made eye contact with her. She flashed him a quick look that said, "Help me!" He didn't see that look from Kensi very often, but he knew it when he saw it.

"Sam, Callen, I need you guys over here as fast as you can. They've got Kensi and are trying to walk her over to the side exit door, um, Exit F it looks like. There's too many of them for me to take them on alone, and they are all armed. There's also too many civilians in the line of fire to risk it until there's back up. We've got to stop them before they get her out the door. HURRY UP!" Deeks shouted into the comms.

to be continued... Let me know what you think so far, please.