#deek beloved

[fizzytoo]

my shawtyyy

[densi-mber]

A/N: Happy first day of Densimber to you all! As always, we begin with decoration day. Thanks to @mashmaiden for collaborating on this story.

***

Traditions Come and Go

“Baby, I told you I could get that,” Deeks said, hurrying towards Kensi as she toted a storage container of Christmas decorations through the house.

“It’s not that heavy,” Kensi insisted, shifting the box out of his reach as he attempted to take it. “You’ve been doing everything around here for weeks. Or at least attempting to. I can manage this.”

“I don’t want you to strain yourself.”

“Baby, I appreciate that, but just because I’m pregnant—”

“32 weeks pregnant,” Deeks interjected smoothly. Kensi sighed, accepting his point.

“Yes, I am. I can also squat with a 15 pound dumbbell in each hand,” she reminded him gently. “I don’t think this is going to strain me.”

“Ok, touché.” Deeks grinned self-deprecatingly. “Sorry.”

“It’s ok, I know you mean well.” She stretched to lean over the container and kiss him. “And who knows, in a couple weeks, I might change my mind and want you to do everything.”

“You just say the word,” he said, stealing another kiss.

***

Rosa arrived home just as they were unwrapping the now dozens of decorations they’d collected over the years. An entire bin is dedicated to various ornaments Roberta had passed down.

“Oh, I’m glad I didn’t miss everything,” Rosa sighed, hurrying to set her backpack and shoes to the side. She’d woken up early to pick out a tree with Kensi and Deeks before heading out for classes.

“Like we’d start without you,” Deeks scoffed. He patted the spot on the couch next to him. “Grab a seat and start unwrapping.”

“What is this?” Rosa asked, grimacing at a freshly revealed horse with pink hair and an oddly creepy expression.

“Grandma Deeks’ idea of a joke.”

“She said it was a family heirloom,” Kensi added.

“I don’t remember seeing it last year.” Rosa turned the ornament from side to side, seeming caught between interest and mild disgust.

“Yeah, that’s because we usually never, ever take it out,” Deeks explained. He took it from Rosa, tucking it back in with the rest of the unwanted and boring ornaments. “I’m thinking maybe this year it should meet with an unfortunate and tragic end. Do you think a fiery death is plausible?”

“Or we could just pass it on to our beloved oldest child,” Kensi suggested with mock innocence. “Keep the tradition going.”

“Oh, no thank you,” Rosa said quickly, raising her hands as she chuckled nervously. “I’m good. Though I wouldn’t say no to that aqua one over there.”

“That’s one of my—mmm.” Stopping mid-thought, Kensi rubbed a hand over her lower ribs, wincing for a few seconds.

“Was it croissant or donut this time?” Deeks asked.

“Donut, I think,” Kensi replied, arching her back. “I swear these kids are practicing for a soccer match with how much they kick.”

“Are you ok?” Rosa checked.

“Yeah, they’re getting stronger, but I’m fine. I guess they just wanted to join in on the fun.”

“But maybe hang out for a couple more weeks,” Deeks suggested, resting his hand over Kensi’s stomach.

“So, do you want to put the outside decorations up when we’re done here?” Rosa asked once they had lights strung around the tree.

“Actually, since things are going to be extra crazy this year with all the baby prep, we decided to just decorate inside this year,” Deeks explained.

“But you love Decoration Day.” While initially bemused by Deeks’ excitement last year on December 1st, Rosa had quickly been caught up in the general festivities and greatly enjoyed the entire premise.

“I do, but it’s only one year.” Deeks couldn’t deny he was a little disappointed at the thought of missing out on one of their traditions. He knew they’d barely notice though as everything picked up in the next few weeks.

“You know I’d help,” Rosa offered. “I can hold the ladder and even go on the roof if you want.”

“I really appreciate that, Rosalind, but you have your classes and finals to study for. It’ll be ok.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yeah. It’s not the first time it’s happened,” Kensi said. “The year we moved here, we were so busy packing and going to showings that we never got around to it.”

“Next year we’ll just have to do something extraordinary to make up for it,” Deeks suggested.

“Now, that worries me a little bit.” Not sounding worried in the least, Kensi pushed herself off the couch.

“Where are you going?”

“To get those Christmas cookies you guys made,” Kensi replied. “You should never decorate on an empty stomach.”

[typingtess]

 NCIS: Los Angeles Season 14 Rewatch:    NCIS episode:  “Too Many Cooks”

The basics:  The teams from Washington, Los Angeles and Hawai’i investigate the death of a respected and beloved FLETC instructor.

Written by:   Christopher J. Waild, who wrote over 50-episodes of NCIS.

Directed by:  Michael Zinberg, who directed 20+ episodes on NCIS, 13-episodes of NCIS: New Orleans.

Guest stars of note:  Some of the Hawai’i (Jane Tennant and Jesse Boone) and Los Angeles (G. Callen and Sam Hanna) stopped by. 

Our heroes:   Finally get to be part of a big crossover!

What important things did we learn about: Callen:  First at the crime scene. Sam:   Grateful McGee escorted him to interrogation. Kensi:  In Los Angeles. Deeks:  In Los Angeles. Fatima:  In Los Angeles. Rountree:  In Los Angeles. Kilbride:  In Los Angeles.

What not so important things did we learn about: Callen:  Knew Gibbs from way back and knows the rules. Sam:    “300-pounds of muscle” according to Parker. Kensi:  In Los Angeles. Deeks:  In Los Angeles. Fatima:  In Los Angeles. Rountree:  In Los Angeles. Kilbride:  In Los Angeles.

Where in the world is Henrietta Lange?  I’m guessing she knew Dale Harding/The Professor/The Cockroach and his secrets.

Who's down with OTP:  Jess and Jimmy seem to be doing well and encouraging and Jane-Nick love connection.

Who's down with BrOTP:  Thought the Nick and Parker scene near the end of the episode was interesting.  Don’t see Nick as much of a big sharer of his feelings and Parker being the guy he shares with to be honest.

Fashion review:   Callen wore blue, Sam wore black.  Everyone else was better dressed, maybe except Jesse Boone.

Music:  Barry Manilow got a mention.

Any notable cut scene:  Nope, unless it is on the NCIS DVD (which I don’t have).

Quote:  McGee:  “I can't believe this. You guys are accusing me of treason?  In my own house?” Callen:  “It is nothing personal.” McGee:  “Really? Then why aren't we doing this in the conference room?” Sam:  “We didn't know where that was.” McGee:  “You didn't know where this room was.  I had to show you.” Sam:  “And we appreciate your cooperation.”

Anything else:  In Washington DC, an older gentleman, Mr. Harding, is explaining his houseplants to his young house-sitter Libby.  Libby is working cheap monetarily but is also going to pick ten albums from his record collection.  Harding wants to preserve the Barry Manilow albums.  Libby notices a Hawaiian shirt and some other warm weather gear.  She now wants 12-albums as part of an envy tax.

Harding’s phone rings so Libby departs.  The person on the phone is a surprise to Harding who is unhappy the caller has his number.  He doesn’t want this person calling again.  As he is trying to wrap up the call, there is a hard knock on the door.  He asks if it is Libby at the door but two very hard knocks change that thought.

Harding runs to his computer and types something on his keyboard.  The person at the door is picking the lock.  Before the person at the door can enter, Harding takes a gun out of his desk drawer and kills himself.

In the NCIS elevator, Nick and Jessica picked up some party essentials – cups, streamers, champagne – for Kasie.  Kasie runs a very tight ship when throwing a party.  This party is for “The Professor”, a legendary instructor at FLETC, who is retiring.  Nick doesn’t like The Professor, Jessica loves him.  She see him as a mix between Robin Williams in “Dead Poets Society” and the Professor on Gilligan’s Island.  Nick is thinking more of the instructor in “Whiplash”. 

Walking into the bullpen, Nick and Jessica see people lurking about at their desks.  It is Jane Tennant and Jesse Boone from the Hawai’i office.  Everyone is happy to see everyone else.  Hugs are shared.  Both are in a day early because they didn’t want to miss the party.  Jane talks about how much she learned from The Professor about threat assessments, Jesse was a D.C. Metro Police Officer who was recruited by The Professor.  Parker and McGee arrive with stats of all the feds The Professor trained – both are big fans.  Parker was a fan from the FBI where The Professor was known as The Cockroach. 

McGee says he had lunch with The Professor a few days earlier.  The Professor was looking forward retirement.  With the mention of retirement, Gibbs’s name comes up.  Would he show up for the big party?  McGee doesn’t think Gibbs is coming though Gibbs and The Professor went fishing a few times.  There is a “so you say there is a chance” joke but an arriving Leon Vance ends all the joking.  Professor Dale Harding was found dead in his apartment that morning.  The teams are shocked.  When Vance says it is likely a suicide, Parker and the DC team start to work.  As they leave, Jane and Jesse join them.

There is some ‘who is in charge’ scuffling between the DC and Hawai’i teams arrive at Harding’s apartment when Jimmy rolls Harding’s body out on a gurney.  Both teams want to know who cleared Jimmy to take the body from the crime scene.  Callen and Sam did.  Jane recognizes “Agents Callen and Hanna”.  McGee gets a shout out from Callen – how it has been a long time - but wants to know what they are doing there.  Sam realizes maybe it hasn’t been a long enough time.

McGee is taking photos at the crime scene.  Callen comments on using an old fashion DSLR.  McGee comments on the type of gloves Callen is using – black gloves where the dye could contaminate the evidence.  Callen says he and Sam were in DC for Harding’s retirement party.  They heard about his death getting of the plane and went straight to the crime scene.  Nick implies that it may not be Harding but Sam assures him it was and things were “not pretty”.  Single gunshot under the chin, gunshot residue – it was a suicide.

McGee brings up the lunch with Harding again, how he had big retirement plans.  Jessica finds a plane ticket to Cabo.  Sam comments about Harding, calling him The Cockroach as well, but offering it as a sign of respect.  Jessica thinks Parker and Sam have too much respect for “primitive insects”.  Parker disagrees – cockroaches are survivors.  Dale Harding was a survivor – he taught all his students to adapt and survive.  Nick disagrees but Callen and the rest of the teams think they are missing something.  Harding may have committed suicide but he had to be pushed. 

Jane and Jesse join the others in living room.  She jokes about the most number of senior NCIS agents in a single place but has more serious news.  Harding’s cellphone is missing.  She also spoke with Libby, who heard the gunshot at 7:40AM and had the building manager open the door at 7:50AM.  Libby told Jane and Jesse that she was with The Professor when he got a call on his cell – the now missing cell.  McGee does McGee things on Harding’s computer.  It was last accessed at 7:45AM, after the gunshot and before the body was found.  Someone was in the apartment.

As Nick and Callen break down the party room, Nick brings up Rule Number Three – always double check.  Callen knows what Rule Number Three is.  He and Gibbs “go way back.”  Nick isn’t sure it is a suicide, Callen is.  There is talk of a friendly wager over the difference since “there are no rules against that” according to Nick.  Jane arrives explaining that there are actually rules against it.  “Number 15.”  Nick is sure that he and Callen aren’t dating but Callen says Rule Number 15 is about lawyers.  Jane isn’t going to run through the rules but if Harding killed himself, maybe he was coerced. 

An arriving Jessica has news of a blocked call at 7:38AM.  The call went through all sorts of VPNs and without Harding’s cellphone, no back-trace.  They are going to adapt and solve the case for The Professor.  Well, most of them are – Nick brings up that The Professor tried to have him thrown out of FLETC but he deserves justice.

In Autopsy, Jimmy is a bit sad that McGee dropped by.  He’s happy to see McGee but was hoping one of the visiting NCIS agents would drop by.  Jimmy wouldn’t mind an invitation to the Los Angeles or Hawai’i offices.  McGee hasn’t been to the Hawai’i office and hasn’t seen the Los Angeles office since “OSP moved into that Mexican restaurant.”  Jimmy thought it was a Spanish Mission. 

Back to The Professor, Jimmy has a towel over the dead man’s face.  The way he shot himself, the bullet bounced around Harding’s head, shattering bones in his face.  “It’s not a good look.”  Jimmy has question about Harding’s body.  There are signs of bullet wounds, burns, deep scars from cuts.  With the tissue buildup, some of the scars are decades old.   McGee brings up Harding’s time with the Marines as a gunnery sergeant.  Maybe he was wounded in battle.  Jimmy thought of that but Harding was never wounded in action.  Whatever happened to him was kept a secret.

Kasie is working in her lab, debating with Jessica about eating the cupcakes ordered for the party.  They all have a little topper with a smiling photo of The Professor.  Jessica could eat them without the topper – makes it less creepy.  Kasie thinks eating it without the topper is creepy.  Kasie believes that The Professor was a noble man who was forced to do what he did.  She also says whoever worked on Harding’s computer knew how to cover their tracks.  Going through some of the data, Kasie sees that the computer was used less than a minute before Harding ended his life.  He typed “extra homework” into a text program. 

Digging a little deeper, Kasie finds some old DOD files – TSSCI – Top Secret Sensitive Compartmented Information.  That is not something a civilian employee would have either on his computer or really at all.  Harding deleted the files.  Not the actions of a noble man according to Jessica.

Vance is on the phone with the head of cybersecurity of DOD.  Harding did not have clearance to have the TSSCI files on his computer.  In fact, the DOD didn’t even know the files were missing until NCIS contacted them.  Parker asks what was in the files.  The DOD calls it need to know and Parker says he needs to know.  DOD needs to know how a FLETC instructor got the files.  Vance thinks Harding knew he was caught and killed himself.  Parker thinks there is more and Leon agrees – more resources on this case than any other NCIS is investigating.  Parker has all the different teams are looking into Harding’s life.  Maybe he was going to sell what was on the computer files.  The investigation is starting at FLETC’s Maryland campus.

On a crowded subway car, toxic gas has been released.  The passengers are trying to get out.  There is a loud bell and an instructor pops up.  He asks a group of probationary officers/agents how would they stop public panic like what is happening on the train.  “You can’t,” Nick says as he walks into the class with Callen and Sam.  The instructor tells Nick he’s right before asking the class what is the next course of action.  Callen says to identify the threat and Sam adds to neutralize the threat.  Again, the instructor agrees.  Sam dismisses class, which is news to the instructor.  Badges are flashed and class is dismissed.

As Nick, Callen and Sam look through Harding’s office, the instructor and his class are learning how to search an office through the office’s window.  Nick, Callen and Sam are doing an excellent job with resource management and evidence preservation.  Callen and Sam shut the blinds to the office, ending the lesson.

Nick finds a scrapbook of former students – promotions, commendations, etc.  Callen asks if he is in the book – he’s not.  Nick is, however.  And Nick is surprised since Harding hated him, calling saying Nick had a “lone wolf mentality and not a team player.”  Sam disagrees – Harding never hated any of his students.  Nick says just before he was going to graduate from FLETC, Harding asked him to quit.  Sam says his father always told him if the coach is yelling, it’s a good thing.  It means he cares.  If the coach isn’t “riding” you, then you have a problem.

Sam finds a case of old floppy discs – how could a man still using floppy discs hack the Pentagon?  Callen has a more disturbing discovery.  Harding never missed a class but he had a substitute teacher planned for his final class. 

The final class was a driving class, watching a controlled car chase.  Jessica was chasing Jane.  Jane was complimented on her evasive driving, Jessica complete a perfect pit move.  Instructor Greta Ford was impressed.  Jessica and Jane were favorites of Ford.  Ford was surprised when Harding asked her to fill in for his last class.  Ford almost said no – their teaching styles couldn’t be more different – but Harding said he was moving up his retirement a few days.  He couldn’t wait to go on vacation.  Cabo is mentioned but Ford says Harding was going to Hawai’i.  That caught Jane’s attention.  Harding was going to meet an old friend.

Sam arrives in Kasie’s lab with everything from Harding’s office.  She is on the phone but once off, she wants to know “who are you?”  Sam introduces himself, “Sam Hanna.  Los Angeles.  OSP.”  Kasie is not happy – Los Angeles didn’t RSVP – but gets back into the case.  She was on the phone with the airline.  Harding have a ticket to Cabo but changed it to Hawai’i a few days ago.  The ticket to Hawai’i was for early that day.  He would have missed his retirement party.

Kasie is confused.  There is nothing from Harding’s apartment that would indicate a friend or family member in Hawai’i.  Sam thinks it was an excuse to skip town with the stolen files, sell them and pad his retirement account.  Kasie tells him they don’t have proof Harding stole the files.  Sam admires Kasie is a positive thinker.  Kasie’s computer beeps – there is a security alert from DOD.  Harding wasn’t the hacker.  They have a new suspect, however. 

McGee can’t get into a locked MTAC.  Callen and Sam approach him – he’s under arrest for treason.

A very unhappy McGee is on the wrong side of the interrogation table “in my own house.”  He’d rather the questioning go on in a conference room.  Sam says they didn’t know where the conference was.  McGee says they didn’t know where interrogation was either – he had to show Callen and Sam the location.  Sam is grateful for McGee’s cooperation.  Callen wants some answers and hands a file to McGee.

Vance is in the interrogation observation room when Parker walks in.  Parker isn’t pleased that an outside team is interrogating McGee.  Leon tells Parker it was either an outside team interrogating McGee or it is DOD interrogating McGee.  The server hack at the DOD goes back to McGee’s credentials.  So Leon was given a choice of turning McGee over to the DOD or having an outside, neutral party talk to him. 

McGee is able to figure out what happened – his credentials were used to create a backdoor into the DOD server.  That would be the way he’d break in.  Callen thinks maybe McGee did break in.  McGee asks if Callen and Sam really think he broke into the DOD server.  Sam doesn’t, neither does Callen but DOD does.   McGee thinks someone took his credentials and did this.  Sam can’t believe that “the computer guy” lost his password.  McGee brings up that Sam, a car guy, lost Charlene once.  And Callen had his identity stolen.  So let’s not get “judgey” about someone taking McGee’s log-in info. 

Going through how someone would get his log-in info, McGee uses two-factor security for his laptop and a six-digit alpha-numeric code on his phone.  McGee stops for a second.  For the third time, McGee brings up the lunch with Harding.  He unlocked his phone when Harding asked about McGee’s kids – wanted to see photos.  McGee used the restroom shortly after that and Harding likely accessed McGee’s phone.

Kasie is on her iPad with Jesse.  She cannot believe that Harding not only broke into the DOD’s server but that he used a former student’s credentials to get in.  Jesse has more bad news and to Kasie’s great relief, it is not that Harding was a Cylon the whole time.  He can’t find the cellphone and he’s been all over Harding’s apartment.  The two share their love of Battlestar Galactica when Kasie complains about Sam arresting McGee.  Sam is barred from Kasie’s lab, which is going to be a problem since Sam just walked in.

Kasie wants an apology for arresting McGee.  Sam isn’t apologizing and he didn’t arrest McGee.  He never believed that McGee was a criminal.  Kasie is in a better place.  She has some news.  After going through all the old floppy discs – and the files on them were decades old – she did find one file created last week.  It also said “extra homework” just like the file on his home computer.  That means the disc is important, except there is nothing else on the disc. 

Sam thinks there was something in the disc.  A girl named Heather Richardson use to send Sam notes inside floppy discs.  Kasie takes apart the disc and finds a note that reads “The answer is in the files.”  Kasie is disappointed – Harding deleted the files.  But there is a photo with the note of the fireplace in Gibbs’s old cabin.  It looks familiar to Kasie.  Sam, not so much.

Nick and Jessica arrive at Gibbs’s cabin.  Nobody has been around for a while and almost nobody knows about the place.  Someone knows about it, however, when they open fire on Nick and Jessica.  She wonders if it is Gibbs shooting at them but Nick tells her if Gibbs was shooting, they’d both be dead.  Nick and Jessica return fire.  The find a grey jacket near the cabin covered in blood.  Inside the jacket is a cellphone that took a bullet for the shooter.  They hear a motorcycle take off.  He may be wounded but the shooter is in the wind.

McGee is getting roadblocks set up all over near the cabin.  Jane is running the search, Jesse is working with the county police.  The mystery shooter found the files.  Callen is on his way back to Los Angeles.  Kasie found wire transfers coming from Malibu to Harding.  He and Sam are going to check things out.  Callen and McGee exchange a manly handshake as Callen exits.

Kasie runs into the bullpen.  The phone the shooter had wasn’t a personal phone, it was Harding’s.  The mystery shooter was the person at Harding’s apartment.  Going through the phone, Kasie found a program that recorded all of Harding’s calls.  The damage to the phone, however, left the audio file a mess.  The caller says he’s “Simon Williams”.  Kasie hasn’t run the name yet but she doesn’t have to, McGee points to Williams on the NCIS Ten-Most Wanted wall.

In Vance’s office, Vance, Parker and Nick listen to the whole call.  Harding stole the files from the DOD because he knew Williams was trying to get them.  Parker again asks what was on the files and again, the DOD won’t share.  Harding’s plan failed since Williams now has the files.  Parker brings up that Simon Williams is a Ten-Most Wanted suspect on most law enforcement walls.  A rogue operative who has committed about every crime in about ever country over the last 30-years.  No law enforcement agency has come close to catching Williams.  Nick and Jessica wounding Williams is the closest anyone has come to catching him.

Vance wants to know how Harding got involved in this in the first place.  Why would a wanted career criminal be involved with a FLETC instructor and vice versa?  Parker found out the two men knew each other.  Williams was a FLETC trainee who Harding failed for a “lone wolf mentality and not a team player” – the same thing he said about Nick.  Nick looks stricken but wants to look through some files.

Jessica is negotiating with some local county police when McGee calls.  The locals do things a certain way and that includes not help Jessica.  Kasie is monitoring the local officers radios – just chatter.  Kasie hears one squad car is missing – 117.  Kasie is tracking the GPS for the squad car.  It is nearly 40-miles away near a farm.

McGee, Nick and Parker move in on a barn on the farm.  They find blood in the car and blood all over a first aid kit in the car’s trunk.  In the barn, Simon Williams is burning all his ID’s.  The man is much younger than the photo of Simon Williams on the NCIS Most Wanted wall.  He claims “we’re all Simon Williams” before he passes away.

In autopsy, Jimmy tells Jessica and Jane that their Simon Williams is 30-years younger than the Simon Williams on the wall.  Jane thinks “We’re all Simon Williams” is a bad omen.  As Jessica and Jane are about to leave, Jimmy wonders if they all shouldn’t get something to eat.  It has been a long day.  Jane wouldn’t mind some blueberry pancakes.   Jimmy is going to text Torres to join them, make it a double date.  Jane shoots Jimmy a look, Jessica gives him the cut sign and it becomes a share professional meal among colleagues. 

In his nice home, Parker wants some info from his friends at the FBI, all the files they have on Simon Williams.  Nick is at his front door.  Parker lets him in as Nick hears from Jimmy – dinner at 10PM.  When Parker ends his call, Nick updates Parker on the files.  They were in the things Simon Williams burned in the barn.  Parker doesn’t think this is the only reason Nick is by. Nick brings up the “lone wolf mentality and not a team player” comparison with Simon Williams.  Parker offers a good pep talk – he’s nothing like Williams.  When his phone chimes, Parker has the Williams FBI file.  An associate of Williams was going to meet with Harding in Hawai’i. 

Nick shows up at the diner (Gibbs’s diner maybe) where Jimmy and Jane aren’t there.  They left together before Jessica left the NCIS office.  Nick sees Jimmy’s “Dadmoblie” parked near the diner.  When Jessica calls Jimmy, his phone rings in a nearby trash pail.  She tries calling Jane.  Jane's phone is in a dumpster.  Jimmy and Jane are tied up in a van with a gunman watching  over them.

What head canon can be formed from here:  I have a lot of thoughts about this three-show crossover but I’ll save them for the problematic episodes.  This was a good set-up episode with one huge flaw.  “The Professor” was such an important part of the NCIS world (and FBI for Parker) that Jane and Jesse flew 5,000 miles, Callen and Sam flew 3,000 miles for this huge retirement party and 20-seasons in NCIS, 14-seasons into NCIS: Los Angeles and two seasons into NCIS: Hawai’i, this dude was never mentioned once.  NCIS foreshadowed Gibbs’s family tragedy for three seasons, the first half of season three of NCIS: Los Angeles was setting up Sam’s trips to Africa and Kensi’s investigation into her father’s death.  These programs have done that work in the past.  Didn’t do any of it here. 

Also, Robert Picardo is a big TV character actor.  He worked on two television series on ABC at the same time (The Wonder Years and China Beach).  He didn’t make it past the teaser.  What a waste.  There was also Stephanie Hodge as FLETC Instructor Greta Ford who had a delightful season one NCIS appearance as Sheriff Dupray and was Tangerine in “The Sounds of Silence” season 10 episode of NCIS: Los Angeles.  Another quality character performer woefully underused.

Episode number:   This is episode 10 of season 20 of NCIS, the series 445th episode (wow!).  This is the first part of a three-series, three-episode NCISverse crossover.

[ncisladaily]

The Los Angeles and Pearl Harbor offices will be represented when CBS‘ well-watched NCIS franchise airs its 1,000th episode in a few weeks.

TVLine has learned exclusively that both Daniela Ruah, who played Special Agent Kensi Blye-Deeks throughout NCIS: Los Angeles‘ 14-season run, and Vanessa Lachey, who currently leads the NCIS: Hawai’i team as Special Agent in Charge Jane Tennant, will appear during that milestone hour, which will air as the Monday, April 15 episode of NCIS.

Though neither Kensi nor Jane will appear “in person” alongside the D.C.-based NCIS team, I am hearing the characters’ appearances will nonetheless be quite fun.

Also appearing during the episode — as first reported by TVLine’s Inside Line column — will be Director Leon Vance’s son Jared, to be played this time around by Spence Moore II (All American, Superman & Lois).

Previewing the franchise’s 1,000th installment, NCIS co-showrunner David North told TVLine during our recent set visit, “One of our own beloved characters is going to end up in grave danger, and you’re go to see all of the different franchises brought into this in a little bit of a different way.”

Added co-showrunner Steven D. Binder, “There’ll be a personal storyline, and this one will circle around Director Vance,” played by NCIS vet Rocky Carroll.

Along the way, fans can be assured, “We’re going to play plenty of homage to the past,” said North, and scatter “some Easter eggs for longtime fans of the show,” Binder added.

“If you’re watching it in 4K, you might have to blow somethings things up,” the EP quipped, “but they’re going to be there.”

Ruah has not strayed far from the NCIS-verse since filming her final scenes as NCIS: LA‘s Kensi a little over a year ago. Most recently, she directed the March 4 episode of NCIS and the April 15 NCIS: Hawai’i (aka the franchise’s 1,001st episode, titled, ha, “The Next Thousand”).

 “If I get asked [to play Kensi again], I will certainly figure it out at the time,” Ruah told TVLine toward the end of NCIS: LA‘s run. “If it makes sense, why not, right?” (Ruah’s NCIS: LA co-star LL Cool J of course is currently reprising his role as Sam Hanna on NCIS: Hawai’i.)

Lachey’s Tennant meanwhile has popped up on the NCIS mothership thrice before — as part of a pair of two-show crossovers (in March and then September 2022), and in the January 2023 three-show crossover event that also folded in NCIS: LA.

[ejzah]

In lieu of writing a story, I decided to spend far too much time writing an essay like post on a topic that’s been on my mind recently.

***

Recently I’ve been thinking about characters who change over the course of a series. Particularly, characters who start out fairly normal or serious and then become increasingly more silly, ridiculous, or stupid. For instance, Frank Burns from MASH, Marty Deeks and Eric Beale from NCIS: LA, and Eric Matthews from Boy Meets World, and Tony from NCIS to name a few.

It could be argued that each of these characters had a comedic quality from the beginning. However, comedy was not their sole or defining characteristic. At some point though, the writers seemed to realize that they had a gift for comedy and leaned into that side. The problem is that this occurs with increasing frequency and often without reason.

Some start out as an antagonist, such as Frank Burns. In his first season, he’s described as a “fair” surgeon. He can be ridiculous at times, but is competent enough and mostly known for being overly by the book and military crazed. By the end of his run on the series, he’s a terrible surgeon, constantly makes a fool of himself, and finally ends up chasing after his now married mistress. In this case, instead of making Frank increasingly nasty or, he was made ridiculous to highlight why he wasn’t a suitable leader or surgeon.

In many shows that lean towards the more serious, it’s common to have a character who breaks up the angst, drama, and heaviness. Enter the likes of Eric Beale and Marty Deeks. Though they remained comparatively unscathed compared to some, both characters suffered in the name of comedy.

Eric Beale was a highly skilled tech operator who kept things running from behind the scenes and was critical to the team solving cases. Yet as the series progressed he went an eccentric genius to often odd and ridiculous.

From the beginning of his introduction, Deeks was established as a master at undercover, uniquely intelligent, and capable of using people’s assumptions about himself to his own advantage. Yes, he always talked a lot, but there was usually a purpose. Even in moments when he rambled, it was genuinely funny and not overplayed. However, as the series progressed the very writers who created this extremely intriguing, intelligent, and competent man, seemed to forget these aspects.

In an arc where Deeks is sent to the federal academy, we should have seen him excel. He had years of experience and knowledge compared to his younger peers. Instead, he seemed to forget how engage in arm-to-arm combat, fell asleep during an important task, and could barely keep up during a run. For many fans, this felt like a betrayal of a beloved character we knew.

Often, funny characters are sacrificed to promote a new character. Particularly as a series progresses, instead of letting the newbie gain popularity naturally, they force their merits by downgrading an established character.

You might be wondering, what’s the point of all this? Well, a lot of fans care when their favorite character changes drastically, especially not in a positive way. There’s a difference between a character who can be funny or has select silly/stupid moments, and one who becomes a caricature. We build fandoms our these characters. We invest hours and time, energy and love into writing about them, drawing, and discussing them. Of course it matters when it feels like that same character has been mistreated and disrespected.

I wish that before writers decide to go for the easy laugh, for the stupid joke, for the ridiculous, that they consider the impact on the character and show. It not only destroys your audience’s trust, but also makes it unbelievable when the character is given any content of substance.

[shanaraharlyah]

The Gentlest of Beasts

I rendered a wide angle version of this which I need to postwork, but I wanted to share the first one now. I wrote a scene to go with it that follows In the Shadow of the Mine quest. Sebastian has just called Hellendil ignorant for befriending a goblin and he's not taking it well.

Setup and rendered in DAZ Studio 4.21.

Postwork in Photoshop Elements 8.0.

---

Feeling hurt and fed up with his ungracious behavior, Hellendil crossed his arms and turned his back on Sebastian, waiting for him to leave the Undercroft. When the door slammed behind him, he counted to ten before exiting and heading for the closest floo flame to take him to the room of requirement. On his arrival, he stormed off toward the swamp vivarium. Deek watched him quietly, wanting nothing more than to help, but aware that the frustrated Ravenclaw did not seem receptive at the moment.

Once into the cool moonlit forest, he began to pace. "Who is he to call me ignorant! He's the one being closed minded! What would he do if I just stopped helping him? He wouldn't have gotten this far without my aid! …" His body was tense and he balled his fists, shaking his head. Sensing his distress, the perceptive Sepulchria ambled up to him to nuzzle his back. He turned to find his beloved thestral standing behind him and he reached out to stroke her soft coat. He let out a sigh, releasing the tension in his shoulders, "At least I can count on you, eh, Sepulchria?"

She raised her head with a snort as if confirming his statement, before lowering it again toward him. He stepped closer reaching to guide her so he could press his forehead to hers. As he gently scratched her jaw she let out a sigh and a small smile crept across his face. He didn't know why being around thestrals had such a calming effect on him, but he was glad it did. The vivarium where he kept his family of thestrals had become a safe space for him. He knew he had made good friends that he could talk to, but there was something deeply comforting in the gentle nature of these oft misunderstood beasts.

"You don't find me ignorant do you, girl?" he whispered. Sepulchria nuzzled his chest with her beak in response. His smile grew and he reached into a pouch to produce a treat and, stepping back, he opened his palm for her. She gingerly took the treats from his hand and stepped back to enjoy them.

Hearing the rustling of the pouch, Sepulchria's young foal rushed over, weaving around Hellendil in anticipation. He laughed, opening the pouch again, "Well, it seems your family is doing well and learning quickly." He tossed the treats and the youngster bounded after them. He watched as it bounced from treat to treat, making short work of them.

Meanwhile, Sepulchria pawed the ground, softening it before laying down. She let out a screeching cry before reaching for Hellendil's cloak and pulling on it. He turned to regard her and she dropped the edge of his cloak. He smiled again, "You're supposed to be my ward and yet here you are being a mother to me." He sat down beside her, leaning against her solid, but bony side and gave the magical creature a hug. He nearly jumped as a weight dropped into his lap.

Finishing its treats, the foal had trotted over, plopped down beside them and laid its head in his lap. "You gave me a fright, little one," he said with a smile as he turned toward it. He patted its head and it lifted its wing, looking for a scratch. Hellendil chuckled and gave it a good rub before leaning back again. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath, continuing to stroke the youngsters muzzle until he drifted off to sleep.

[chicgeekgirl89]

Well, it’s been a week since the end of our beloved NCIS LA, and Sunday nights will never be the same. I’ve been meaning to post something that feels like a farewell and the first Sunday night after seems to be the right timing for it.

I found NCIS LA when I was in grad school. My first time out on my own, living in a crappy apartment with a roommate named Karen who was exactly as whacky as you’d imagine a person getting a master’s degree in opera could be. I don’t even know how I found the show, it must have been a rerun. But there was Deeks and there was Kensi my brain immediately said, “Wait, okay, one of them must have been injured at some point, right?” And I found Personal and the rest is history.

I had written and posted fanfic before, but nothing to the scale at which I posted Densi fic. I don’t even know how I had time to watch the show and write in between classes and working basically forty hours a week, but I made it happen because I had to. These beautiful characters had a grip on me that wouldn’t let go and the ideas just refused to quit.

Halfway through my first year I found Tumblr and was very excited to have a place to chat about Supernatural. Instead I found a happy little corner of the internet and friends I didn’t even know I needed.

@raccoonsmate4life, @aprylynn, @ejzah, @glenncoco4, and @wanna-be-bold you all have become such an incredible encouragement to me. I don’t know where my writing would be without your constant support and validation and endless kind words. 

@mashmaiden, the keeper of the fandom, the person to whom no question was too small or too obscure, thank you for your service and kindness. I have often said you are the kindest person in the world, and I do truly mean that!

@chrisodonline, my saltiest of friends, I have enjoyed our chats so much. You made the highs feel higher and the lows feel bearable. I am lucky to know you!

And @bluenet13...well, I don’t even know what to say about our friendship. LA started it, SEAL Team cemented it, and now you’re stuck with me forever. Thank you for listening to my ranting and raving and sobbing and being the first person I ever trusted to read a fic before posting it.

And to everyone else who has interacted with my posts or read my fic, thank you from the bottom of my heart. I didn’t know fandom could be like this, and it has truly been such an incredible experience because of all of you!

It seems only fitting that a show that had such a beautifully tightly knit cast has handed me the best online friendships I could ask for. The show might be over, but this definitely isn’t goodbye! 

In retrospect, maybe the real NCIS LA was the friendships we made along the way...

[chwedout]

beloved mary !! i associate you with vernon ofc, you're both fun and creative while being chill and approachable! i also associate you with deeks bc you're both bright sunshine types to me, who are always there to cheer someone up when they need it. as well as jeonghan bc thoughtful and observant, paying attention to things even if it doesn't seem like it to others 🥺🫶🏻

wahhh this is so🥺 ive never been described as the sunshine type before so im like !!! hehe the vernon + jeonghan association strikes again tho🙂‍↕️

make an assumption about me: bias edition

[roohuh]

Ominis Gaunt x reader visit to Feldcroft

My first time posting to be kind 😅

Apparition, while in theory seemed like an easy way to see your friends in Feldcroft during the long summer months, turned out hard to master as almost the entire summer had passed and you still could not get more than across the lawn at your families estate. You let out a sigh in frustration and returned the book that you had picked up from your fathers library. Scanning the directions for the spell over and over again you close your eyes clenching the small paper package you were determined to deliver. All at once you felt an enormous amount of pressure then your eyes popped open and you felt like you would vomit; knees buckling. But it was a cool afternoon breeze that met your face in stark contrast to the hot summer sun that once was warming your cheeks. You see Sebastian and Anne having an animated conversation through the window of their home.

“Y/N” a beloved voice calls behind you making your heart stop.

“Ominis!” You half shout turning around to see his confused but not displeased face. “How did you do that? Are you alright? ” Ominis questions you having heard your appearance followed by a not so ladylike fight with your stomach.

“Practice makes perfect.” you wink at him.

“I’m glad to see you and Sebastian here. Anne forgave him then?” Ominis nodded

“With the concession he gives up trying to find her cure and no more dark magic. Things are still weird but they are healing.”

“I wasn’t sure if you would be here but I am glad you are” you admit. Ominis takes a couple of steps to close the gap between the two of you quietly. You can feel the heat rising to your cheeks. Enthusiastically swinging the door open with a crash against the wall behind and before Ominis fully closed the gap Sebastian runs toward you.

“Why haven't you returned my owls? I have so much to tell you!” He bellows bounding towards you. Ominis blushes stopping his advance. Was he going to kiss me? You wonder. Sebastian had grown over the summer; he was taller, trimmer, and tanner.

“Wasn’t allowed to send a single owl all summer.” You shrug off the questions and pull a small parcel from your cloak.

“I need to see Anne.” Sebastian furrows his brow face growing  serious. Stopping in his stacks unsure what to do for a moment remembering his promises to Anne but eventually he trustingly leads you in the house.

“I found something that might help Anne.” You start as everyone sits at the small table in the main room. As Anne opens the box you continue. “That is a powerful talisman” you gesture at the small blue stone on a silver chain.

“I stole it from an unfortunately unsavory friend of my fathers. It wards off physical pain. It works well against curses so it should be exactly what you need.” Anne placed the chain around her neck. Almost instantly her eyes filled with tears. Hovering over her with worry etched into his features Sebastian placed a hand on her shoulder.

“It’s alright Anne, something has to work eventually.” Anne shook her head through the tears and said

“No, no, these are not sad tears Sebastian. My pain… it’s gone!” Sebastian leaped into the air with a whoop and holler rushing to hug his sister.

“This can not be a permanent solution though because you won’t feel any pain and I am worried you will be hurt by not noticing something so we all have to be extra attentive to watch you this year at Hogwarts.”

“Hogwarts?” The three of them echo back.

“I’ve seen to it all Anne, you are enrolled back at Hogwarts. But before you thank me, thank Deek and Professor Weasley. Deek has been my connection to the school and we all have been conspiring to bring you back.” Anne hugs you crying and you uncomfortably pat her head. You never have been good at comforting people.

“I’m sorry I haven't written any of you. My family forbids my sending owls. The only person I have talked to all summer has been Deek who apperated into my room secretly to check on me and update me on my beasts in my vivarium… I really should go back now if I can.”

“You have to leave now? There is so much to discuss!” Sebastian complained loudly. You smile apologetically.

“We will see each other in two weeks when we are all back at Hogwarts.” You approach Ominis blushing holding a letter under your cloak. He had also grown. He wore his hair more relaxed, he was now without a doubt taller then Sebastian, and his shoulders had broadened. Pale blue eyes smile at you causing your heart to melt.

“I’m sorry you have to go.” He said sadly, taking your hands in his. Large slender hands envelope yours. Blushing you put your forehead on his chest. You can feel the expansion as he breathes in your scent.

“I missed you this summer.” He quietly says so that only you can hear. You feel so safe and calm in his embrace. Feet turning to led at the thought of having to leave. The fear of what your father would do to you if he ever found you sends shivers through your body. Ominis puts his arms around sensing your trepidation. You remember the letter you intended for Ominis. You never had expressed feelings for the other but you knew you were closer than friends you intended on telling him how you felt through this letter.

“Get a room!” Sebastian yells, throwing an apple at your back bringing you back to reality all of your courage gone. You sigh and take a step back slowly drawing your hands from Ominis reluctant grasp, sad worried expression making it all the harder.

“I should go. Although I’m still not sure if I can” a laugh escapes your lips “ I only got here by accident. I'm not entirely sure how I did it.” You admit.

“How did you get here?” Sebastian asks. You explain how you spent the summer trying to learn and this afternoon was just a flook. You all make your way out to the lawn.

“See all of you in two weeks.” You try to make light of your departure. Letting your eyes take in the image of Ominis one last time for the next few long weeks.

“1…2…3” you say to yourself as you squeeze your eyes closed. Enormous pressure, vomit, and a warm summer sun. You are home.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Thanks for reading tell me if I should do more or leave this stuff to the pros! I have a whole HC where the MC comes from a pureblood family but her father fell in love with a muggle and got her pregnant but after she died he got super mean and married a pureblood who is horrible. And you and Ominis fall in love and stuff.

[aladaylessecondblog]

Severed Destiny, ch. 8

POVs in this chapter: Adoring Fan & Haj-deek

-----------------------------

Adoring Fan

-----------------------------

It had all happened so quickly, but it would play on an endless loop in his head forever, he was sure of it. Every time he closed his eyes he saw it again.

The Grand Champion, there before him, still covered in some blood they'd missed after winning their match against the Gray Prince. Posed as if for a portrait, a sword being put back into a sheath as they left the arena's doors. The very model of a heroic figure.

A vision of perfection and might, he'd devoured the Grand Champion with his eyes, worshipped silently, before approaching at a walk, then a jog, then a desperate--

He'd leaped. He'd JUMPED, in his eagerness to get his hands on his beloved Grand Champion, and for some reason or the other they hadn't seemed entirely prepared for him to do that. But they had dodged--just slightly, just enough. An inch to the left or right and nothing would have happened.

As he leaped he struck the Grand Champion's shoulder. A second later they were falling, and the eyes that had widened in shock went blank as their head struck the jutted out corner of stone brick behind them.

"G-grand champion? Are you alright?"

Nothing.

He moved off them, trying to lift their head off the ground, and winced when he felt something wet.

Blood.

"No...no..."

He hardly knew what happened in the blur afterwards, for at first all he could see at every waking moment was his shining Grand Champion dead on the ground, dead from his own hand. That it was an accident didn't matter--he had still snuffed out a great light and all everything was pain. And to think that they could fall to so simple a thing, in so small a way! That one single corner could be their demise, it was ridiculous!

NOTHING so small could possibly kill the great and glorious Grand Champion!

So he lied.

He admitted to murder.

It was all he could do for his beloved Grand Champion's reputation. Without their shining presence, what did he really have to live for, anyway?

They believed every word of his laughably terrible lie, and sentenced him to life imprisonment--the judge seemed to think from his fanaticism that he was not of sound mind, which was the only thing that saved his life.

Then...once it was all over, he was tossed into prison.

"You're going to die in this cell," the guard growled, before he closed and locked the door behind him. "And only the fleas will be sad of it."

-----------------------------------

*Haj-Deek*

-----------------------------------

"I don't understand," Haj-deek said, once Sunchaser had come back to her. "I thought--everyone says that the Tribunal--you--want me dead. Why...why should I trust you?"

"A wise question, especially from one so young." Vivec gave no smile, though his tone had a mote of humor in it, "One I am glad to hear, for the journey you must embark on is a dangerous one. Caution is--"

Here he stopped, and took a deep breath.

"A thousand pardons, my child. When once one has begun to speak in the godly fashion, it is difficult to change it. You have many questions, some of which I will answer, some I will not. Ask."

"Why did you call me here?"

"To avoid the pre-ordained future." Vivec's tone hardened. "Do you know what waits for us all if you follow the prophecy?"

"M--Dagoth Ur perishes," Haj-deek's words stumbled as she forced herself not to say certain words, "And the heart is released from...Azura says it is imprisoned."

"I mean after that."

She looked away, and then back at him. "I don't know what happens after that. You lose your godly powers...and..."

Vivec raised a hand, and the air in the room shifted. Suddenly they were not in his temple, but outside Vivec City.

"This is what shall happen," he replied, "Look to Baar Dau, and see the devastation it wreaks."

Haj-deek watched in horror as the scene before her played out. Baar Dau, motionless, suddenly struck the ground. Screams echoed all around them, as amid the earthquake and explosion a wall of water rose to wash over them. So quickly--so quickly did the destruction happen, that she had barely time to comprehend one horror before another took its place. The crumbling of the cantons, the flooding of those unlucky enough to survive.

Faster, and faster still the scene moved--

"Not all of them will die," Vivec's impassive voice said beside her, "But thousands will, from drowning or debris."

"Because you lose your godly power?"

Silence.

"Because even with CHIM I could not save them."

Suddenly everything before her stopped. Hearing the word was like a painful, strangely empty headache. Like a memory she could not recall that nevertheless echoed its agony through her mind.

"I may alter the world as I please, but Baar Dau is beyond my ability...only because those beyond the Divine did not mark it as an entity that could be so altered. They did not think it necessary."

Beyond the divine...Sithis, maybe? She had no time to think, because Vivec went on.

"But that was only the beginning."

In the distance, there was a thunderous roar, and Haj-deek held her hands over her ears--to no avail, because the boom left her ears ringing anyway. Red Mountain seemed to explode, and spat skyward a stream of hot lava and billowing black clouds. Debris rained down, striking here and there, even as the earth began to shake. The screams were more distant now, since Vivec lay now in emptiness and ruin.

"Stop it. Make it stop--"

The decision was already hard enough, but now to see what it would cause? She had no reason to doubt it, at least. Not everyone spoke of it, but something in her memory stirred. A thought, someone else's--while they worship him, he has power, however slight...how many people would die if he could no longer hold it back?

No answer. The scene sped back up, and then changed. A smaller group of Dunmer, making their way across a snowy border.

"Lady Azura warned her most faithful," Vivec's voice went on, "And they were warned of the disaster to come. No others."

Anger that wasn't her own moved about in Haj-deek's mind. Moon-and-star burned furiously on her finger, and she cringed at the pain.

"Do you understand, Nerevarine?"

The burn spread through her hand, shooting in agony up her arm.

A voice surged through her mind, carrying itself down to her jaw, which opened and spoke words definitely not her own, "Why should I believe you, Vehk?"

"I didn't say that!" she called out, falling to her knees. Her should was now aflame too, with the pain filling her entire world soon after. Yet still that voice spoke through her mouth and her voice.

"If you wish me to believe you, tell me only the truth."

"This is what I have seen with my own eyes, Neht," said Vivec, sweeping his arm over the devastated landscape. "Why do you burden the child with your presence? Does this mean you WISH to believe me?"

He cares no more for you than any other in this city,, Azura's faint voice whispered, He lies. He lies, as much as the demon's followers would. Do not listen. Do not listen. DO NOT--

"Please--please, make it stop--"

Sound was cacophony, memory was typhoon, feeling was torment. Haj-deek shut her eyes and, shaking, collapsed entirely.

"Leave my child be!" Azura's voice grew louder. "It was I who pulled her from the ether! I who gave her new life!"

Haj-deek's hearing went in and out. It seemed a shifting series of voices sounded off then, Azura, Vivec, and chattering beyond.

"Azura..."

"...by my Charges I put you down..."

"She is MY CHOSEN!" the booming feminine voice burst from Haj-deek's throat, "And I shall not allow you to have her! You mock me, devil, in your foolish attempts to try."

"Make it stop--"

Confusion, pain, in endless turns. When she was not wondering when it would end, she would fall into rushing water of the mind, tossed and turned until she knew not which way was up or down.

"...remember which mortal...bound...jealousy and...spite?"

Azura...mother, father...right, wrong...kill, mercy...Seht, Vehk, Ayem...

Endless noise.

And then, silence.

"Child-spark of Nerevar." Vivec's voice stilled the waters, calmed the rapids. And most relieving of all, ended the pain.

She felt pulled in every direction at once. Azura wanted one thing, Lord Vivec another, and somewhere in the back of her mind she was sure she felt her father's presence, urging her to make another choice still.

Do I even have one of my own to make?

"L...L..." Her mouth wouldn't cooperate at first, and her head throbbed painlessly as she finally managed to speak in a shaky voice. "V...ivec...?"

"I see into your mind," Vivec said, his tone somewhat softer now, "And I hear the cry of a heart denied its own path in this grand design."

"Why...can't it be you...?"

"I cannot risk Baar Dau falling," Vivec replied, "Nor the Ghostfence failing."

"I don't w-want this--" Haj-deek broke suddenly, "I didn't a...ask for this, I only--I only want to know my family. I want..."

"You want what you saw others have, which was denied to you because the Lady of Dawn and Dusk only cared for cruelty. For no other reason could I see that you would be the Incarnate, the Chosen, than for punishment on all sides."

There was silence, for a moment. A sorrowful tone soon followed.

"And it is my fault you were denied a mother."

"W-what?"

"I returned with knowledge of the future, and sought to change things," Vivec said, "I informed the Ordinators to track your mother, and in their eagerness to do their duty, they attacked her, thinking it was what I desired. I meant not for this to happen. I meant not for her to die. But from what I could gain news of...her wounds did not heal."

"The j-journal." She managed to sit up, and take a shaky breath, "I r-remember. But how--?"

"I am a god, that is how I know. A god who wishes to correct his mistakes."

Haj-deek took a deep breath. She didn't want to think about any of this. She wanted to go back to Ebonheart and maybe work at the Six Fishes, or something like that. But she'd known there was no staying there before she'd even left.

"T-then...what now?"

"That will depend upon you, Nerevarine." Vivec said, "You, and the answer you give to my next question."

She waited.

"What do YOU want?"

Haj-deek sobbed. "I j-just want to know my father."

A great weariness rose, and threatened to overwhelm her with darkness. She pulled off the helmet, exposing her face--expecting she might be smited at any moment. Struck, with a bolt of magic, or his fist, or Muatra.

But Vivec did none of those things.

A stirring of nausea in her gut made her lay back on the stone floor. Vivec appeared beside her, kneeling, a glow in his right hand as it moved over her face. She heard most of his next words, not all, though what she did hear would remain evermore.

"When the time has come...speak these words of power: AE GHARTOK PADHOME CHIM AE ALTADOON."

[tinytinybumblebee]

DEACON YES I AGREE… BELOVED. - kitty-cutie-zack

! A a a a a!!!! Yes !!! I love this game ao much aaaaaaa

Sarah is definitely his carer and she's the sweetest pea in the wooorld! She loves to bring him out for flower/material picking, telling him all about what each flower is- but the kiddo is more interested in playing in the dirt but nods along because he loves hearing her voice ;u;

Ricky lets tiny Deek 'help' her with fixing bikes (aka: he gets to hand her the tools but that's a very important job!!)

And Boozer 1000% is the cool big brother that lets Deek do all the fun (lowkey dangerous) things the others don't let him do xD But is also the best at getting Deek to sleep (Boozer will start to sing some random song off-key and Deacon will instantly say he's sleeping so Boozer will stop singing xD)

[leavingautumn13]

WIP asks: 1, 2, 6, 7, 9, 11, and 14

Give a 5-word summary of this chapter/fic.

Sometimes violence is the answer.

2. Give the first line of this chapter/fic.

Once they were safely inside the security perimeter, Nick decided he couldn’t stand it anymore and pulled his matchbook and empty-but-for-the-last cigarette pack of his pocket.

6. Does this chapter/fic have any twists that you’re proud of?

Yes--it's not really a twist, necessarily? It's more an implication that never gets resolved. It's up to reader interpretation. (I'm being vague because, y'know, spoilers.)

7. What is your favorite scene you’ve written so far?

Glory pulled [Nora] forward into a tight hug, and the pressure from her metal breastplate against her chest and her strong arms around her back forced the air from her lungs. For a second, staring over Glory’s shoulder at bullet-chipped concrete of the opposite wall, Nora’s muscles ached too much to breathe. This was how she went, then—survived the most dangerous man in the Commonwealth just to be crushed to death by an overenthusiastic gesture of appreciation.

Nora’s eyes slid shut. Her head was heavy. Glory was warm and solid, and smelled like sweat and gunpowder and hot metal. Nora’s head dipped, her chin pressing against the cool leather of Glory’s coat. It was the adrenaline winding down, some part of her knew. Like the end of a race, when you’ve just passed the finish line. A temporary feeling.

And then Glory released her, leaned back, and clapped a hand on her uninjured shoulder. Her perfect teeth were bright white in the fluorescent lights as she smiled, and her eyes glinted with something feral as she cupped Nora’s face in her hands.

“You did good, sister,” she said.

9. What is your favorite dialogue you’ve written so far?

There's a lot of Glory in this fic:

“So, if this doesn’t work—”

“I swear I will avenge your swift but incredibly painful death,” Glory said solemnly.

Nora wrinkled her nose. “Gee, thanks. But I was going to say, if this doesn’t work, we don’t tell Nick about it.”

“Oh, no, agreed. My lips are sealed, sis.”

“Or Deacon.”

“Pssh. You don’t have to worry about Deeks. He knows what I’m like; he’d assume I bullied you into it. I’d just put him in a headlock if he bitched about it.” Glory pointed a finger at her. “And you should too. It’s Dez you don’t want to let catch wind of this. She’ll sideline your sorry ass faster than you can even think to apologize.”

“Are you speaking from experience?”

Glory drew an imaginary zipper over her lips, and raised her eyebrows significantly.

“No comment.” Nora nodded once, and took a deep breath. “Got it.”

Glory chuckled. “You’re quick. I knew there was a reason I liked you.”

11. What scene are you most hyped for this chapter/fic?

One of the ending scenes when all of Nora's previous decisions lead her to making one big, life-altering one. No spoilers, obviously. It feels like low-hanging fruit to say part of the climax is my favorite, but if that scene could have the same impact without all the words that come before it I'd just write it instead. Alas, I'm longwinded and like context.

14. What have you been finding frustrating with writing this chapter/fic?

Settling on a voice for Nora has been tough--not because she's underdeveloped, but because I'm indecisive. There are a couple different ways I could take her character, all of which have benefits and drawbacks. I just need to pick a lane and stick to it or find a way to mesh them.

Fortunately for me, my beloved beta reader is really good at voice and keeping it consistent, so I've got her watching out for me.

[blogger360ncislarules]

I’ll definitely write a longer version of this scene. But till I do, here’s a sneak preview of everyone seeing Hetty again 💗

------------------------------

The Greatest Surprise

‘Dude, this feels like a trap of sorts.��� Deeks remarked as he and the wedding party made their way up to the dark party hall.

‘Well, did anyone bring their weapons at least?’ Kensi asked.

‘Sure, we’re always prepared.’ Sam replied. ‘Got anything hidden in those dresses?’

‘Certainly!’ Fatima quipped.

As everyone made their way into the very dark hall.

‘Helloooo? Anyone?’ Callen calmly asked

‘SURPRISE!!!!’

Everyone jumped. Deeks even let out a bit of a squeal.

Turns out, the entire hall was decorated for a big reception party!

‘When I heard you were eloping, My 1st thought was ‘How are you going to have a party at the last minute?’ So, I found this place, rented it, and with help, had it decorated and stocked up at the last minute!’ Arkady said.

‘This, is amazing! How did you get all this so quickly?!’ Anna asked, very surprised at her dad’s quick efforts.

‘I have friends who owe me a few favors, That Nina girl brought the food, and well. I co rented this place with a dear friend who hasn’t been around in a long time.’

‘Who?’

Arkady walked away, and there was Hetty. Smiling proudly at the table with the big wedding cake.

‘You didn’t think I’d miss this happy celebration , did you?’ She asked.

Everyone was shocked. Their beloved leader, who had been overseas since Fall of 2021, been thought to be dead more then once by either a drone strike or a horrific ambush, had finally come home! 

‘What are you all staring at? Get over here!’

That seemed to snap everyone out of their shock, because then they all rushed up to her, and talking really fast.

‘When did you get home? How did you survive? I’m so glad you’re home!’ were just some of the questions they were all asking at a rapid pace.

‘Whoa whoa whoa! I’ll get to answering all your questions in due time! (chuckle). There’s someone I need to talk to first.’ Hetty said. Then she turned to Callen, who was still standing where he was, still looking shocked. The most important mother figure in his life really had made it home for his big day after all, even after he decided to elope! (and also deciding to wear 1 of her tuxes from work, which she really didn’t like without permission).

She happily walked up to him.

‘I, I really was waiting for you to return before doing this! But after what happened today, I just couldn’t wait any longer! I really did want you there.’ Callen softly said, sounding really emotional.

‘It’s okay. There were times where I thought I wouldn’t make it home either.’ Hetty replied.

‘I know everything. I know you pulled me out of that project when you heard.’

‘I couldn’t stand what was being done to you! I just wanted you to reach your full potential, but not like what was being done to you. You, are the closest to a son I’ve ever had, and I love you, Grisha. Now can we please hug before I start crying in front of everyone?’

Then they shared a long, and definitely emotional hug. Everyone, even Kilbride, were very touched.

‘Thank you for coming home!’ Callen happily said.

[ncisladaily]

Okay, we’ll admit we were among those hoping for an appearance from Special Agent Kensi Blye tonight, considering the episode was directed by Daniela Ruah, who played the badass agent on NCIS: LA from 2009 to 2023.

But we’re happy to have Ruah (who previously directed episodes of NCIS: LA) bring her knowing eye to helming NCIS. “It was the first time I was directing on ‘the mothership’ as we lovingly call it,” Ruah tells us in Case Closed, our NCIS aftershow. “It almost didn’t matter what came my way in terms of storyline, I just wanted to be part of it and work with the crew and cast of NCIS. I was received with open arms – like a wonderful, warm hug.”

Her passion for directing showed in this classic case-of-the-week storyline where the team chased down a petty officer’s murderer, who turned out to be someone a little too close to home. It also included a comedic through line about Torres (Wilmer Valderrama) trying to hide the fact that he sometimes cheated on his strict fitness regimen from his new temporary roommate, boss Alden Parker (Gary Cole). “Wilmer’s a funny guy,” Ruah says. “He brings a comedic timing. My job is just to capture it. Maybe I throw in a possible improv.”

Sonja Flemming/CBS

Considering we last saw Kensi in the NCIS: LA series finale, discovering that her dream had come true, and she was finally pregnant with hubs/fellow agent Deeks (Eric Christian Olsen), we had to know if Ruah wonders as much as we do what her alter ego is doing now. As Ruah was sharing with us that she calculated Kensi’s due date and would always love the character she’d played for so long, she realized she was wearing an outfit she’d taken home from set that had been part of Kensi’s onscreen wardrobe – sweater, jeans, and signature boots. She cracks about how the writers might have worked Kensi’s motherhood into a script: “Do we now have an episode with Kensi fighting with a baby in her arms? I wouldn’t put it past her. Or is she out of the game for a couple months?”

Ruah also told us how she feels about the upcoming Paramount+ series (nicknamed) NCIS: Europe which reunites beloved NCIS couple Tony (Michael Weatherly) and Ziva (Cote de Pablo). “I think it’s the best thing ever,” Ruah says. “They had time to go off and do other things. These roles are so establishing for us who have been cast members on the show. For them to pick up these two characters that people fell so madly in love with — even I was shipping ‘Tiva’ —  it’s a wonderful idea, and I’m so excited to watch it.”

As for a Kensi and Deeks spinoff? “I don’t know that I could see one in the near future,” Ruah says. “Eric’s really busy doing what he’s doing and loving that. I’m loving this. I would never say never, but in the near future, that’s probably not on the table. It’s important for us to go and find ourselves in other things. The show was important and special to us, but it’s like leaving the nest.”

You’ll get to see Ruah’s behind-the-camera talents again in an episode of NCIS: Hawai’i coming up in April. Ruah, who does not appear in the hour, reveals that the plot takes deep dives into the characters and, “I think it’s the darkest episode they’ve ever had. The crime that’s committed and what we find out over the course of the episode…it’s not a pleasant story.”

Check out the video for more from Ruah about working with Sean Murray and LL Cool J; what Agents Kensi, Knight (Katrina Law), and Ziva have in common; and more of her thoughts on what it takes to direct a top-notch hour of TV. Hey, we may even see her pulling double duty at some point. Ruah tells us, “I am not opposed at all to showing up as Kensi in one of the NCIS shows.”

[ejzah]

There’s someone I sort of follow on Instagram who have struggled with infertility for years. They adopted a little boy a few years ago, and recently started the process for another adoption. Then the wife was late and her husband convinced her to take a pregnancy test even though she didn’t want to and kept saying it’s going to be negative. And yeah, turns out they’re pregnant.

It made me think of Kensi and Deeks so much. After years of trying and all the fertility treatment that didn’t work and likely being told she’s too old and her body just isn’t compatible with pregnancy, they both probably ignored a lot of signs.

She’s been nauseous and sick for days? Must be the shawarma. Weird aches and mood swings? It’s all the stress and she did roll down a hill the other day. Her beloved donuts sound disgusting right now? The damn food poisoning again. It’s what sells them not expecting that pregnancy could be the answer. When Kensi tells Deeks, he’s stunned, not quite letting himself believe it, then overwhelmed, and finally a little giddy. Because, once again, they thought this was impossible. He’d convinced himself, trained himself, to believe that they would never get a positive test, he would never see Kensi pregnant outside his dreams, that they would never hold a baby of their own in their arms.

So despite it being so obvious to us, that’s why the pregnancy scene worked so well to me.

[fruitcoops]

Awe Reg, my beloved! Eve, I adore your writing, you're amazing! Would you perchance be interested in writing some Regulus cuddles? Maybe after testimony, or whenever really, Sirius cuddling the life our of his baby bro or just a bunch of times various Lions snuggled him? I can just imagine Leo being like yup that's my new best friend and he is in sore need of a snuggle lol

Anything for you Deek! This is a prequel/ sequel to Testimony for anyone who isn't caught up <3 SW credit goes to @lumosinlove

TW discussion of past abuse by teammates and parents (physical and mental), PTSD (not explicit), physical remnants of past abuse (scars), dry heaving mention

“Reg?”

No answer. Leo hesitated, letting his knuckles linger on the outside of the door for another few seconds before lowering them. The sounds of dry-heaving had stopped a few minutes prior, but he could hear Regulus’ harsh breathing even through the wood. He glanced back down the hall; Remus’ socked foot disappeared around the corner, and Sirius leaned against the wall with his arms crossed. Watching. Waiting. Sadder than Leo had ever seen him.

He sighed through his nose and knocked as lightly as he could. “Reg, it’s me. Please open the door.”

Regulus spit. Leo heard a rustle of clothes and unsteady footsteps before the bathroom door swung open at last and immediately wrapped his arms around Regulus’ narrow frame, squeezing his eyes shut at the shaking and shivering he could already feel under his touch. “Fuck,” Regulus said fervently as he clutched at the back of Leo’s shirt.

“C’mon.”

“Fuck.” It came out more choked that time—Leo kept holding him until the door shut behind them and guided Regulus to lean against the tub, though he kept their sides pressed together and let him collapse into his ribs. “Fuck, Leo, I don’t know if I can do this.”

“C’mon,” Leo repeated, remaining as solid as he could while Regulus pulled his knees up and trembled from head to toe.

“I’m so fucking scared,” came the whispered response several long moments later. Regulus buried his face in his knees and shook his head. “They’re gonna kill me for this.”

Leo was pretty sure his heart ripped in half at the broken terror in Regulus’ voice. His best friend was wry and sarcastic, a force to be reckoned with on or off the ice—this frightened boy looked like nothing more than…

A child. He paused. For the very first time in their friendship, Leo remembered just how young they both were. “They’re not gonna kill you,” he heard himself say. We’re children. We’re just kids. We shouldn’t have to do this. Leo cleared his throat, then rested the side of his head on top of Regulus’. “Reg, I need you to listen real close.”

“Okay,” he answered thickly.

“They don’t—” Leo faltered as tears burned his eyes. He upset and hurt and fucking furious that his best friend had to deal with the shitshow he was slogging through, so upset it burned inside. He held Regulus close and pressed their temples together. “They don’t get to hurt you anymore. I won’t let them.”

He didn’t need to see Regulus’ face in the depths of their sweatshirts to know he was crying. It was a funny thought, Regulus crying. He had always been untouchable, even though Leo knew the wall against his emotions had been 20 years in the making and was stronger than the Hoover Dam. It was fucking crushing to see him like that, huddled on the bathroom floor with his hoodie as a tissue.

“I won’t go in if you don’t want me to,” he promised. “I won’t listen. I’ll wait in the car and drive you home afterward, no questions asked.”

“Sirius is gonna be pissed,” Regulus mumbled.

Leo frowned. “He won’t be mad at you—”

“No.” A series of hitching breaths followed before he sat up a little more, though he kept himself tucked under Leo’s arm. “No, Sirius is going to be so pissed at the Snakes.”

“I hate to break it to you, but I think he’s always pissed at the Snakes,” Leo tried to joke. It fell flat and he internally winced. “But you’re right. He will be. If you don’t want to drive home with all that, I’ll be there.”

“It’s just—” Regulus raised his head and shuffled into a sitting position. His hands hung uselessly in front of him. His eyes were red-rimmed, face pale. He looked lost. He looked 20. “I don’t know how to say it. Any of it. I’m not good at this.”

“Good at what?”

His face twisted and he scrubbed angrily at his damp cheek. “Emotions.”

Leo tilted his head in thought, drawing his arm back until Regulus pulled it over his shoulders again. “Would thinking of it like a list help?”

Regulus slumped. “I tried. I tried thinking of it like it didn’t happen to me, but it did, and the media’s going to eat me alive for it.”

“Fuck the media,” Leo said firmly. Gray eyes flickered up to him. “Fuck the media, Reg, this is your life and nobody else’s. You’re doing this for you to make sure it doesn’t happen to any other players.”

Silence fell over them. Sirius and Remus were rummaging about in the house, their footsteps padding on the floor as if they were trying extra hard to be quiet. A deep hum of appreciation rumbled through Leo’s bones. “Can I tell you?”

He blinked. “Tell me what?”

“What I’m going to say.” Regulus swallowed hard, picking at his hoodie cuffs. His skin was blotchy and red in places—Leo wondered how many other people had been able to see The Regulus Black with anything less than perfect composure.

Then again, he wasn’t The Regulus Black to Leo. He was just Reg, his best friend. Just Reg, and there was nobody else Leo wanted him to be.

His gaze was sharp when they made eye contact. “Leo, can I practice with you?”

“Course you can.”

“It’s fucked up.” He saw his throat bob. “Leo, some of this is really fucked up.”

Next time we see the Snakes, I’m drawing first blood. He shifted to sit in front of Regulus and held his hands out, palms-up. “Shoot.”

The creasing worry on his face gave way to bewilderment. “What are you doing?”

“Hold my hands.”

“…why?”

“Because.” Regulus stared for a moment longer, then tentatively reached out and rested his palms over Leo’s. They were cold, per usual, but steadied somewhat when they made contact. “Ready?”

A nod answered, and then an almost challenging look bored into Leo’s face. “I was a member of the Slytherin Snakes organization for just under a year, and I was abused by my teammates. They disguised their abuse as hazing rituals meant to break my self-esteem, both physically and emotionally. I dreaded stepping foot in that locker room every day. I received more bruises from my coworkers than I did on the ice. I was pressured to cut contact with my older brother and threatened with more harm if I refused. You okay?”

Leo exhaled. Regulus’ voice was a clipped, perfect monotone, but that didn’t stop the words from driving right down into his soul. “Yep. Is it working?”

“I have no idea.” A faint tremor ran through Regulus’ hands, and Leo felt him tighten his grip. Hs words were clearly pre-rehearsed; the waver in his voice was not. “The older members of the team routinely targeted me and the other rookies and I—I tried to stay out of the way, but as soon as they turned their abuse to others I couldn’t just stand there and let it happen.”

He swallowed again; Leo watched his shoulders begin to shake. “Reg?” he asked gently.

“Some of the injuries on my hands and heels will scar for the rest of my life. I took the fall for my few friends whenever I thought I could get away with it, but—but—but there were so many where I c—”

Leo bit down on the inside of his lip as Regulus broke off, breathing hard as tears welled up once again. One hand ripped away from his own and slammed down on the tile floor.

“I couldn’t protect them,” Regulus finally forced out, hoarse and quiet. His mouth twisted in familiar frustration and he hit the floor again as a riot of emotions played out across every pointed angle of his face. The clinical tone vanished in an instant and the wide-eyed guilt flooded his features. “Shit, Leo, I couldn’t stand up for anyone.”

“You stood up for yourself—”

“No, I didn’t,” he sobbed, though no tears fell. “I didn’t, I just let them hurt me because it’s what I’ve done my whole fucking life and this time Sirius wasn’t there to take the hits.”

Leo’s heart skipped a beat. He thought back to Sirius in the hall, then the one and only time he had had the misfortune of seeing their parents in person. He thought about the ever-present wariness on Sirius’ face in early pictures of the team. He thought about Regulus’ suspicious looks to Dumo in those quiet, early days.

His silver eyes were bitter and angry and so ashamed Leo could taste it like blood on his teeth. “Don’t act like you didn’t know.”

“I…” Leo trailed off, then shook his head. “I knew they were strict. I thought maybe, but…”

“Sirius never told you where that scar on his lip came from, eh?” Something cruel curled on the corner of Regulus’ mouth and he looked away, swiping a hand under his nose. “I broke maman’s necklace and he said he did and dear old dad made him get four stitches. We had to lie to everyone and say he fell. And it was all my fault.”

Leo knew that defensive glare, the one like a cornered bobcat. It was the look Regulus got when he was boiling for a fight and trying to press every button so someone would snap at him first. Sirius’ anger was white-hot and quick. Regulus simply simmered until he couldn’t keep it down. “It’s not your fault,” Leo said, barely above a murmur.

Regulus’ eyes flashed and he yanked his other hand back. “I sat there for twelve years as Sirius got hurt for me because I was too much of a coward to stand up for myself against my own shitty parents. I sat there for another year as those fucking sadists took out their problems on me and the only people who treated me like a human being because I was scared. And then you come barreling into my life and try to tell me it’s not my fault?”

Leo shrugged one shoulder. “I’m your best friend. I can’t lie to you.”

“Well you just did, so how about you shut the fuck up and let me get through this so I don’t cry like a little bitch in front of a million cameras who have been waiting for me to fail since I could skate.”

A gentle knock made them both jump. “Reg?”

“Fuck off, Sirius!” Regulus shouted.

Leo folded his hands in his lap. “Look, if you want to yell at me—”

“I don’t want to yell—”

“How about you shut the fuck up for a second, ouais?” Regulus closed his mouth, apparently stunned into silence as Leo raised his eyebrows. “Your parents suck, and fuck the Snakes. They had no right to hurt you and no cause to do it because you didn’t do anything wrong. And as your goddamn best friend, I get to remind you that I’m on your side in this. I’m going to be there, for you, no matter what happens in that room. I get to care about you.”

Regulus’ bottom lip quavered even as defensive fury raged hot over his face. “I don’t know why you want to be around me, Leo. You’re…nice. People like you. I’m mean, and angry, and a wreck of a person who can’t pull himself together for an hour to stop other people from getting hurt.”

The wounded shreds of Leo’s heart pulsed with a bone-deep ache. “You’re not any of that.”

“How do you know?” Regulus bit out.

“Cause I know you.” Leo nudged his knee with one foot. “I like to think I know better than to have a mean, angry best friend. Gimme a little credit here. You’ve been through things nobody should have put you through, and now you’re going to go in there and kick some ass because it’s what you do best. Then we’re going for a drive, and then you can crush me at Smash Bros.”

Regulus sniffled, picking at the bathmat. “You do suck at Smash Bros,” he mumbled.

“It’s not your job to throw yourself in front of every bad thing that comes at other people, Reg.”

“Sirius did it.”

“Sirius has a hero complex and higher blood pressure than an eighty-year-old man.”

That startled a snort from him. “Yeah,” he half-laughed, glancing back up. “Yeah, he really does.”

“Alright, up we go.” Leo stood with a groan and held out a hand to hoist Regulus to his feet, then dragged him into a hug the second he was steady. Regulus didn’t hesitate before returning the embrace just as fiercely. “Are you gonna throw up again?”

“Not right now. Maybe later.”

Leo held him tight, burying his nose in the folds of Regulus’ hoodie. “Ready to head out?”

A few beats of silence passed before he felt a sigh by his ear. “Ready as I’ll ever be.”

“You only need to tell them what they need to know. And that’s up to you to decide.”

Regulus pulled away and clapped Leo hard on the shoulder, then splashed some cold water on his face with a grimace. “D’accord,” he said, bracing his hands on the sink. “D’accord, let’s kick ass.”

---------------

“Oh, you little fucker,” Leo snarled, leaning as far into Regulus as he could get.

“Ow!” A hand shoved him away by the forehead; when he finally regained his vision, his character was knocked out cold on the animated stage. “Ha!”

Leo swore under his breath and tossed the controlled onto the cushions, dragging their shared blanket tighter around himself with a grumpy noise. “I hate this game.”

“Cause you’re a loser,” Regulus singsonged with a grin as Leo hauled him down to ruffle his hair. Dark circles were stamped beneath his eyes and he had been even quieter than normal on the drive home, but slowly, life had come back to his guarded expression. It was a comforting sight.

The top of their pillow fort shifted. “What’s the password?” Leo called as he watched Regulus gleefully set up a new game.

“Is it ‘my little brother is a mole-person that eats more popcorn than the rest of the city combined’?” a dry voice asked.

“It’s actually ‘fuck the Snakes’, but ritual offerings of apology are always accepted,” Regulus answered, sticking his hand out of the fort.

“Oh, well in that case, fuck the Snakes.”

“And the offering?”

Sirius’ heavy sigh rolled over the entire Eastern seaboard. A moment later, Regulus pulled a fresh bowl of popcorn under the blanket with a devious gleam in his eye. “Have fun, children.”

“We will!” they chorused.

The TV beeped as they chose their characters, but Leo lowered his controller just before pressing ‘play’. He bit his lip, then bumped Regulus’ shoulder with his own. “Hey.”

“Bonjour.”

“I’m proud of you.”

Regulus blinked twice, cheeks still full of popcorn, before a faint smile tugged at the one side of his mouth Leo could see. “Merci, mon ami.”

“Will you let me win this next round?”

“Mmm. No.”