Title: A Perfect Day
Summary: This is a story about the first day Kensi is back from her secret mission in Afghanistan. It is full of Kensi and Deeks.
Rated: M
Reviews and constructive criticism are always welcome.
A Perfect Day
Kensi taps her fingers in anticipation on the armrest of her plane seat. The taxi to the gate seems to be taking forever. It has been a long 48 hours since she found out she was coming home and a very long 3 months on assignment. She was so excited to get home that she booked a domestic flight from Naples with her own money because it left 12 hours sooner than the next Navy transport.
Deeks has been at LAX for just under 45 minutes just in case her plane gets in early. He realized while she was gone just how much time they had been spending together before she left. He has missed her terribly and can't wait to see her. He has just taken a sip of coffee and is glancing at the arrival board when he gets a text 'just landed!'
He texts back, 'I'll be at the gate!' A definite perk of an LAPD badge is that he was able to get through security to meet her at the gate.
Kensi is so excited to see him, and a little nervous too. She is scared of wanting something so much. They were just starting to figure things out when she was ripped away. She had splurged on business class since she had already been feeling antsy and cramped from traveling.. As soon as the plane is parked at the gate and the seatbelt light is turned off, she grabs her backpack and is ready to follow the people ahead of her off the plane.
As Deeks watches the first 20 people or so deplane, he anxiously wonders if he should kiss her or if she is going to need space and need him to be patient with her. Their conversations on the phone had been more than friendly. He just doesn't want to mess this up.
Kensi makes it to the end of the jet way and as she enters the airport she immediately begins scanning the crowded gate area for Deeks. Her heart is pounding. Deeks gives a little awkward wave and starts to say Kens, but Kensi has already spotted him. He watches her face break into a smile as she walks toward him, and when she gets close she catches him by surprise catapulting herself into his arms. All nerves are gone as his arms come around her waist. The hand that is free of coffee rests on her lower back underneath her backpack pulling her close, and his cheek rests against her wavy hair, which is partially tied back. He is so glad to have her back safe and sound he can't come up with words.
Kensi's arms circle tighter around his neck and she rests her head on his shoulder. It feels so good to be in his arms.
"I've been thinking of this every night for three months," she says softly as she pulls out of their embrace only enough to look into his baby blues and wonder if he is going to kiss her.
"Me too," he replies sliding his hand from her back to her hip then up her side over her shoulder and into her hair wanting so much to have his hands and lips everywhere. Since they are at the airport his wandering hand rests on the back of her neck and he kisses her forehead. He is moved by the fact that she immediately has opened up by saying that she has been thinking about him.
"Can I kiss you or is Granger or someone here?" he asks unsure of what she will want and uses work as an excuse
"I don't give a damn," is her answer to the part about Granger or someone else that works for NCIS being there. She slides her hands from around his neck to his cheeks and brings his lips to hers for a sweet, slow kiss. "Why do you think I took my own flight home?" she teases in her sultriest tone.
"Welcome home Kensalina,' he says smiling as he captures her lips in another kiss keeping her distracted long enough to slip her backpack off.
"Customs?" he asks swinging the backpack over his shoulder.
"Nope, the rest of my stuff is coming on a Navy transport and will be delivered to the office. We can go home."
He hands her his coffee so she can have a sip. She takes advantage of him now having a free hand to slip hers into his. They've only done it a few times undercover, yet it still feels natural.
On the ride they talk about practical things such as her debriefing at 14:00 and cases he has been working on. He updates her on Monty's latest antics. She talks a little about Afghanistan, but most things she can't tell him because they are classified. He knows from their phone conversations, her comment at the airport about not giving a damn, and the weary and pained look in her eyes that the mission was tough on her.
Things get a little awkward again as he nears her house.
"I went grocery shopping yesterday," Deeks tells her as he pulls into her driveway. She had left most of her possessions at OSP when she left for Afghanistan including her keys. Deeks had been checking on her place and taking care of things while she was gone.
"Thanks," she replies. "Do you want to come in?" she asks a little unsure about everything, but hoping he doesn't have to work and that he will.
"Kens, I need you to tell me what you need," he urges gently as he puts his hand over hers. "I have the day off, but I can give you as much or as little space as you need."
"I want you to come in," she says decisively. "Can we just be a boy and a girl hanging out?" she requests using his words from three months ago.
"Can we be a boy and a girl hanging out who make out?" he asks hopefully and cheekily. She smiles and leans over to show him her answer.
"Mmmmm" he sighs pulling away. "I like hanging out with you."
"Want some breakfast?" Deeks asks once they are settled inside.
"Sure," she replies. "Mind if I take a shower?"
"Go ahead. I'll get some pancakes started."
He chuckles when her face lights up at the mention of pancakes. He also takes out some bacon, another of their favorites.
Kensi assesses her bruises while in the shower. The bruises are lightening up, but she knows Deeks will still be concerned when he sees them. She also still has a lump from where she was hit during an ambush when they were out collecting intel. She was wearing protection, but still has a nasty hematoma.
'Not the most attractive I've ever looked,' Kensi thinks to herself. She shaves her legs and feels a bit better. Also, the way Deeks has been looking at her, she doesn't think he's going to mind that she's a little beat up.
Kensi opens the bathroom door and immediately smells the bacon and pancakes. It feels like heaven to be home with Deeks. She sees a picture of she and her mom and remembers that she should call and let her know she is home.
"Smells great! I'm just going to call my mom quick," she tells Deeks walking into the kitchen.
"I did already," Deeks says a bit sheepishly.
"You made me bacon and you called my mom," she states incredulously as he holds out a piece of bacon for her to snack on while he finishes cooking the rest of breakfast. Her eyes tear up a little and she curses the lack of sleep for making her emotional. She busies herself pouring coffee for herself and Deeks as she gets a handle on her emotions.
"Selfish on my part really… I love bacon and I want you all to myself today Ms. Blye." He says the last part softly as he takes the coffee cup from her hand and sets it on the counter. He gently places a hand on her arm and brings her close.
Her heart melts into goo as she knows that he did both for her. She knows her partner and now lover is a really good guy. She melts into him as he kisses her. Her body starts to hum with excitement at the feel of him against her. She moans as his lips caress a bruise on her collarbone that wasn't visible with the shirt she was wearing before, but is now.
"Don't make that noise again or we're not going to make it through breakfast," Deeks warns playfully as he lets her go.
"Sorry, I'm not trying to. . . I want to. I just need a little time to adjust," she tries to explain that she is not trying to play games or lead him on.
"I know," he assures her running a hand down her arm. He gets it. He kissed her, went through hell, and then didn't make another move for months.
As they eat breakfast Deeks notices just how tired Kensi is.
"Get some sleep," he suggests. "I'll clean up."
"Thanks," she replies, "for everything."
Kensi tries to fall asleep, but her mind keeps going back to Afghanistan when all she wants to do is be in the moment grateful to be home and with Deeks.
15 minutes later she is back in her kitchen where Deeks is washing dishes.
"Hey I thought you were going to get some sleep," he says concerned when she comes up next to him.
"Can't," is her one-word reply.
She wishes she could tell him she wants him to come lay with her, and that she wants him to hold her and make her forget the past three months.
"I know something about that," he commiserates drying his hands. "Want me to show you your first Christmas present?" he asks.
"Sure," she replies intrigued. He takes her hand and leads her back to the bedroom.
"Lay on your stomach," he instructs. As she does he explains that he took a class on pressure points to disarm combatants, but that they spent a few hours of the class on pressure points to relieve the stress and tension caused by their jobs.
"Oh Kens," he says softly as he lifts her shirt and sees all the bruises.
"It's okay. I'm well on my way to healing," she tries to relieve his worry.
His hands are still warm from the dishwater. He begins gently massaging her whole back. Then, he works out a knot in her mid back. He spends a while on her neck and as he massages her scalp she almost falls asleep. He lies down beside her and continues to rub her back. She turns on her side. He pulls her close spooning her and massages one of her hands with his. He kisses her hair realizing the shampoo is part of what makes her smell like sunshine.
Soon after she has fallen asleep the recycling truck comes down the street. One of the cans hits the ground with a loud bang and Kensi jerks awake.
"Just a garbage truck," Deeks assures her getting even more of an idea of how stressed out and on edge she has been for the past three months. She turns over and snuggles into Deeks facing him.
Deeks sleeps for about an hour. After that he has trouble falling back to sleep. He had actually slept last night knowing that Kensi was on her way home. The other reason he can't fall back to sleep is that he has no feeling in his right arm due to the beautiful brunette sleeping on it. He's more of a rock and roll music guy than a country music guy, but suddenly Brad Paisly's 'Little Moments' comes into his head. Eventually the numbness in his arm and the difficulty he is having lying next to Kensi without kissing or touching her lead to the decision to get up. She wakes a little as he slides his arm from underneath her.
"Go back to sleep. I'll be here," he promises in a whisper as he readjusts the blanket so it is covering her again.
"Can you reschedule for tomorrow? Granger is not even back yet anyway," Deeks reasons with Hetty 3 hours later.
"I need to debrief Ms. Blye, Mr. Deeks. I also don't believe she will like you interfering," Hetty scolds.
"You can do it tomorrow Hetty. I'm letting her sleep. I can handle Kensi." His confidence on his last statement wanes a bit when he looks up to see her standing in the doorway not looking amused.
"You make a good case Mr. Deeks. A few more hours won't hurt. I'll see you both at 9:30 a.m. sharp tomorrow," Hetty instructs seeing that the young detective is not going to give in when it comes to protecting Kensi. She also figures if Kensi doesn't come in on her own maybe she really does need the time.
"Thanks Hetty," Deeks says before hanging up.
"Do I need to put on a protective vest or helmet?" Deeks asks holding up his hands in defense as a serious looking Kensi comes into the room.
"No, my Christmas present to you is that I've started working the steps from that anger management class." Her face relaxes into a slight smile as she voices her clever comment. "Plus I love my country and my job. I know I did what had to be done over there, but I just need today," she adds curling up next to him on the couch and running her hand over his chest.
"Touché," he chuckles about her first comment as he puts an arm around her.
"How can it be touché if I said it about myself? Nevermind, I'm going to give it to you."
"What do you want to do today? It's gotten a bit warmer," Deeks informs in case she wants to go out.
Being away so long, she doesn't have anything she needs to do. She doesn't even need to clean her apartment because Deeks has already done it. She's had a purpose and a job the past three months and now she doesn't so she's feeling a little lost.
"Want to go for a ride in my truck and get some ice cream?" he asks.
"Yeah," she replies liking the sound of that.
"Nell said she would take care of Monty, or we could go get him and take him to the beach."
"Let's get him," Kensi says suddenly eager to see the little mongrel.
"I missed you Buddy," Kensi is cooing 30 minutes later as she sits on Deeks's living room floor playing with Monty.
"You two ready for the beach?" Deeks asks throwing her sunscreen to put in the bag.
"Sure, do you and Monty want to bring your things?" Kensi asks suddenly aware that she wants to be at her own house tonight, but she doesn't want to be there alone.
"Our things?" Deeks asks hoping she means what he thinks she means.
"To stay the night," she clarifies feeling a bit apprehensive, but knowing it is what she really wants.
"Yeah, we would love that wouldn't we Monty?" Monty barks his agreement.
As they drive Kensi puts her head back and closes her eyes enjoying the warm California air, Florida Georgia Line's 'Cruise' on the radio, and the man and dog beside her.
"Hey Kens I know you promised just to talk about us, but I really think you should talk about this too when you are ready," Deeks prods.
"I will, just not today," is her reply. "I wasn't back there. I was just sitting back enjoying the ride," she shares.
Deeks isn't sure if she is telling the truth, but he is willing to let it go for now. He made the suggestion and she knows he is here.
After a toes in the water walk on the beach and letting Monty play fetch in the water for awhile, Deeks buys ice cream and they put the gate on the back of his truck down to sit on.
"Perfect idea," Kensi says after a bite of ice cream as she swings her bare feet. She is feeling more and more like herself.
"I have my girl, my dog, and my truck. Life doesn't get much better," Deeks agrees running his free hand over her back. "Don't give him that," he chastises when Kensi gives Monty the last bite of her ice cream cone. "You got too skinny over there."
"Well then how about some lunch?" she requests. "Any good new food trucks near here?"
"Yeah, there's a new Kebab truck not far from here."
"They don't serve vulture do they?" she jokes.
"No," Deeks replies confused and slightly wary. "Plain old chicken, beef, shrimp, and veggies."
"Perfect," she says smiling and hopping off the back of the truck.
They spend the afternoon lying on a blanket on the beach talking about old cases, crazy Hetty stories, their childhoods, places they've been, places they want to go, and about nothing at all.
"You're going to burn," Kensi warns lifting her head and looking over at Deeks who has had his shirt off for the last hour with no sunscreen. It's not the first time she has glanced over to enjoy the view. She may tease him about his body, but the truth is she does find him very attractive.
"This is the first 80 degree day we've had in a week woman and the first nice day I've had off in weeks. Let me be."
"Try being in the mountains for the past three months," she tops his complaint as she squeezes a glob of cold sunscreen on his back.
"Jesus," he cries out having not seen it coming. "You can be cru…" he doesn't finish the word cruel because her warm hands begin massaging in the sunscreen and that is anything but cruel.
"You were saying," she whispers in his ear before continuing the massage.
"Nothing, I was saying nothing," he stammers quickly.
"I think we've found your cooking talent," Deeks teases later that night as they prepare dinner. "Anything with a knife," he clarifies his statement as she quickly chops and scoops vegetables into their salad.
"Watch it Mr.," she warns playfully as she throws Monty a carrot.
She puts their salads in the fridge and follows Deeks outside with two beers. He lights up his little grill and she realizes he must have planned on making dinner for her if he brought his grill along with the groceries yesterday.
"You were feeling pretty confident," Kensi teases nodding toward the grill.
"You can't resist my grilling," he says turning and giving her his you love me and you know it smile as she sets the beers on a small table. "Ah don't argue," he advises putting a finger on her lips as she opens her mouth to refute. "You know it's true.. Plus, this is actually yours. Christmas present #2 is I am going to teach you to grill."
"I can grill," she counters.
"You don't grill, you char."
"Ha," she utters in response to his insult.
He takes the opportunity of her parted lips to lean in and kiss her.
When he turns back to the grill she grabs a beer off the table and wraps her arms around him from behind.
"I could get used to this," Deeks comments accepting the beer.
"Here's to that," Kensi agrees unwrapping herself from Deeks, but leaving a hand on his back as she grabs her beer and clinks it with his.
After dinner Kensi puts on some music and she and Deeks hang out on her couch.
During a lull in the conversation Deeks nods toward the Christmas tree Kensi put up before she was sent to Afghanistan. "That's for you," he tells her referring to the package that is under the tree.
Kensi has every reason in her past to hate Christmas, but she doesn't. She is glad Deeks didn't take down the tree and excited that he brought her a present.
"Ohhh thank you," Kensi breathes as she opens the box and discovers a bag she had loved when she was undercover, but had to return.
"There's something in the pocket too," he informs her.
She discovers a brochure for San Francisco and a note from Deeks about packing her new bag for a getaway weekend when she is ready.
"Thank you," she reiterates leaning over to kiss him. "I can't wait. It's not fair. I didn't get a chance to get you anything," she laments.
"All I want is you Kens," he says sincerely leaning in to kiss again.
"That I can give you," she says seductively as she pushes him back on the couch and follows him to a horizontal position.
"I didn't mean..." he begins to explain that he just wants her as his girlfriend and that he didn't mean he wants her right now. "I mean I do want you, but not if you are not ready," he continues to ramble between kisses.
"Deeks," she says gently yet firmly. "I knew what you meant. I want you like that too, but I also want you like this." She shows him what she means with a passionate kiss. "Let's go to bed," she suggests breathily as she rises from the couch and then reaches out to give him a hand.
"Wow," Deeks breathes later in the evening as he gently trails his fingertips up and down the arm Kensi has resting on his chest. "That was. . ."
"pretty incredible," Kensi finishes when Deeks hesitates to either catch his breath or decide which positive adjective to use. She places a kiss on his chest as the hand that was caressing her arm delves into her hair. As she lifts her head his other hand cradles her cheek and brings her lips to his for a gentle kiss.
"Mmmm," Kensi sighs snuggling against him. Marty Deeks definitely knows how to treat a woman.
Deeks soon falls asleep. Kensi softly calls for Monty who Deeks had earlier commanded to stay in the living room.
"Come here buddy," she says softly patting the bed behind her when the dog comes trotting into the room. Monty curls up behind Kensi's legs. She gives him a scratch behind the ears before turning back to Deeks and wrapping one of her legs over his to give Monty more room on the bed.
Kensi couldn't be more content and comfortable as she falls asleep sandwiched between her favorite dog and her favorite man.
When Deeks wakes up his first conscious thought is that having a certain brunette wrapped around him is complete bliss. His second thought is amusement at the dog snores he hears on the other side of Kensi. His third thought is that he better get moving if he is going to take Monty home and make it to work on time.
When Kensi feels Deeks stir, she holds tight to him.
"Not yet," she murmurs suddenly fearful of facing the day.
At first Deeks is pleased and hopeful she wants him to stay. Then, he realizes her heart is racing.
"What's wrong Kens?" he asks quietly as he turns to hold her.
"Nothing, I,"
"Kensi," Deeks cuts off her lie.
"I'm scared okay; scared of dealing with what happened in Afghanistan. I'm scared that yesterday was the only perfect day we're going to get. I'm terrified that your going to get pulled to go undercover and I'm going to lose you. What if I can't open up enough or push you away?" she asks raising her eyes to meet his, and he can see the worry she is voicing.
Deeks takes her hand and laces his fingers with hers.
"You did just open up Kens, and your fears are all real and justified. We'll go slowly; take things one day at a time. But we better not go too slowly today because I don't think Hetty and the guys will be on board with our thing if we are late. I think we better take a shower together." Deeks breaks the serious mood by suggestively scooting closer and kissing her.
"Oh you think so huh? How about I take a shower and you take Monty out and make your girlfriend some breakfast?"
"Go out with me tonight and you have a deal," Deeks bargains rolling on top of her and making her laugh.
"Ohhh I like this deal," Kensi agrees. "Ok, thanks for the pep talk. We have to get moving," she motivates him with a pat on the chest and a kiss.
Deeks slides on his boxers and heads toward the kitchen.
"Kens," he turns back to her still pondering something she said earlier.
"Yeah," she replies stopping to turn back toward him on her way to the bathroom.
"Whatever happens with our thing, you won't lose me. I mean where would I find a woman as classy as you who can hotwire a Cessna?"
"Same here. It's way to much work to train a partner or friend that will have my ass and hold my purse."
Both comments are light-hearted, but the sentiment behind them is deeply felt.