Chapter One
How long had Kensi been sitting there? A few hours, a few days, maybe a week? All she knew was that her partner had been tortured and almost didn't make it. The rescue team had carried Deeks and Sam out of the house, both barely alive, while Sidorov and his cronies were taken into custody. One had been shot and killed when he had opened fire on the SWAT team.
Kensi and Callen rode with their partners to the hospital where Sam's wife was being cared for. Deeks had been unresponsive the whole way there. He didn't even stir when Kensi had called out his name.
Kensi exhaled heavily. Gosh, he was a mess. Not so much now as he had been –when blood was dripping from his mouth, nose, and who knew where else. The nurses had cleaned him up after surgery, but he still looked bad. Kensi held onto his hand.
The memory of the kiss was burned into her mind. One minute they were about to fight, and the next, his lips were on hers. Sparks flew. Time stopped. All noise was silenced. All that mattered was them, right there, in that moment. Deeks placed his hands gently around her jawline –as though she were a precious and delicate thing that could break so easily.
"How's that for communication?" he had said.
Oh gosh. Had Hetty heard them?
It didn't matter, Kensi reasoned to herself. Because in the next moment, she was gone. Michelle needed her. And then, here they were. Kensi laid her head down on Deeks' bed and fell asleep.
"Kensi, wake up." Callen tapped her shoulder, stirring her from her fitful rest.
"What time is it?" asked Kensi, yawning and glancing down at her father's watch. 9:00 A.M.
"Time for you to go home, shower, change and eat. Honestly, Kensi. It's been two days." Kensi looked mutinous.
"But I need to be here when he wakes up," she protested.
"He'll be fine. We'll look after him," said Hetty, as she walked into the hospital room. Kensi gritted her teeth and marched out the door.
Two hours later, Kensi was freshly showered, dressed, and properly fed. Hetty and G were standing over Deeks' bed, talking about… her.
"Is he awake?" asked Kensi, pretending to be oblivious to Hetty and G's conversation.
"No. But I think that he will be soon," replied Hetty, with a slight, almost imperceptible smirk. G and Hetty left the room and Kensi resumed her spot by Deeks' side. She watched his face for any sign of oncoming consciousness. It was so unlike him to be so silent for so long. Usually he was jabbering on about something or other, driving her up the wall.
Kensi studied his face –the sharpness of his nose, the way his eyelashes fluttered, the curve of his jawline. She could still feel his hands on hers. Kensi rubbed her jawline compulsively at the memory.
And what did it all mean?
What happens now? wondered Kensi. Things couldn't go on the way they had been since practically the day that they met –dancing around each other, alluding, making jokes, but neither one admitting that they had feelings for each other.
Until three days ago, when everything had all come to a head.
Kensi leaned forward and brushed some hair away from Deeks' forehead. He looked so small lying there on the bed.
Kensi looked away and brushed tears from her eyes. She choked down the growing lump in her throat and sniffled.
"You crying, Fern?"
Kensi's heart jumped. She turned around slowly and looked straight into Deeks' eyes. Neither one said a word. Kensi adjusted herself in her seat, putting herself closer to Deeks' head. They never broke eye contact.
"How do you feel?" Kensi asked.
"Like hell." Kensi remained plain-faced.
"Deeks."
"Kensi."
"Stop it."
"Stop what? What are we doing?"
"That's the question, isn't it?" Kensi looked down at her hands. There was a long, awkward pause, filled with tension and unspoken words. Kensi's heart started to pound, threatening to burst out of her chest.
"Kensi… I'm so sorry." Deeks' voice was soft. Kensi paused, preparing her words carefully.
"For what?"
"I shouldn't have let you leave. After we… after I…"
"I had a job to do."
"Still. I shouldn't have let you go." Kensi shook her head and folded her lips together. Deeks looked up at her with his penetrating stare. She felt like drowning in the blueness of his eyes. This wasn't fair. They were supposed to be partners. Period.
So are you two, like, together-together?
Are you upset because Mr. Deeks was a good partner? Or something more?
Are you in love with your partner?
I wouldn't want to step into the middle of something… If you were my partner, I'd end up falling for you. Hard.
"Oh crap." thought Kensi.
So, this is my first-ever work of fanfiction. Let me know what you think!