I couldn't resist doing a story speculating about the finale. I am positive, this is not how it will be resolved, but I couldn't shake the idea. I apologize for the unrealistic plot line, but everything had to be written as such to accomplish my goal.

Hope you enjoy it!

After quickly neutralizing the other operative, Kensi gathered all of her strength and hauled Michelle slowly but steadily to the stability of the building. Heaving for air, Kensi called Callen to report that "Quinn" was possibly compromised, but Callen started talking first.

Words taut with anger and nerves, Callen spit out, "Janvier betrayed us…again. They know Sam is an agent and they used a ploy to smoke Deeks out as his back-up. Sidorov has both of them at an unknown location."

Kensi's hand tightened around the phone, this could not be happening. Time seemed to freeze and she looked at Michelle with wide eyes, "I was calling to tell you I thought Michelle was probably compromised because the two Sidorov sent with her turned on her trying to get her to flip."

"There is the small chance she isn't compromised so you two sit tight. I'm sending two other agents to watch Michelle's back so we can get you back here to find Sam and Deeks," Callen nearly growled his frustration. "See you at OSP soon."

Without saying good-bye, Kensi hung up the phone and briefed Michelle on the current situation. The inexplicably deep pain that flashed through Michelle's eyes at hearing Sam was at the hands of Sidorov matched the constricting pressure around Kensi's own heart.

By the time other agents arrived, Kensi thought she was going to explode. Not knowing was the worst. Jumping on her motorcycle in the alley, Kensi's mind flashed to her last moment with Deeks. It had been quite the moment and it had been so unexpected.

Sure, she had been giving him a hard time about communication, but that was purely because her own feelings were frustrating her. She was attracted to Deeks and it was more than a physical attraction, but the way they flirted and bantered, she was never able to get a good read on his true feelings. So when he had taken her face in his hands and captured her lips under his, her heart nearly stopped. Even though, the shock and reality of the situation kept her from responding, that kiss had been better than she ever imagined it would be. He asked huskily, "How's that for communication?" Kensi felt tears fill her eyes for so many reasons. Deeks had kissed her implying his feelings ran deeper than their surface-level banter. This was the moment she had been longing for. He was every bit as sweet and gentle as she had hoped. And now she didn't have time to respond so she rasped out that she had to stay with Michelle and pulled the helmet over her ridiculously emotional face. Then she drove away from him…hinting at nothing, resolving even less, and leaving things even more undone.

Now speeding down the highway, condensation gathered on her helmet's visor from the moisture of her tears. They had to find Deeks and Sam for her and for Michelle.

Rushing into Ops, Kensi went straight to Eric, "Any word on their location?" At his solemn shake of his head, Kensi demanded, "Get me, Deeks' com channel leading up to losing contact."

Scrambling to appease the clearly angry agent, Eric accidentally hit the wrong button starting the recording from much earlier in the day at the park.

Not caring that Eric accidentally played this part of the feed, Kensi held up her hand to him. The tension between Sam and Deeks was palpable even through the recording. Deeks was asking Sam what his issue with him was and Sam responded by insulting not simply Deeks' hair, but his character. Bristling at the conversation, resentment filled her chest. Since Deeks was her partner, she knew him well and he would not take his character being questioned easily especially from a fellow agent and supposed friend.

With shocked eyes, Eric looked up at her waiting for her cue. She nodded that he could fast forward to right before they broke contact. She heard Deeks say, "Hetty, I'm going in, Sam's in trouble." His breathing increased as his adrenaline built and then she could hear him running. She could hear the faint voice of Sidorov telling Deeks to give up his gun for the keys so Sam wouldn't die. Then she heard Deeks say, "Gimme the keys….GIMME THE KEYS.!" And then static.

Clenching her hands together to stop the shaking, Kensi swallowed, "That's all?"

Eric spoke quietly, "That's all. We assume they let Deeks save Sam and then took them to a secure location. Nothing was left at the pool or that house."

Kensi gave him a curt nod and spun to find Hetty standing there with the door still open behind her. Callen helped a clearly exhausted Sam into the room and Eric scrambled for a chair for the drained agent.

Feeling her heartbeat pounding, Kensi looked at each of them questioningly. If Sam was here safe and nearly sound, then Deeks was okay too, right? Before the question could pass her lips, Hetty spoke, "It seems Sidorov released Sam as a message."

Sam sat up to the best of his ability, "If Michelle is found out to be an agent, they will kill Deeks."

Fighting panic, Kensi asked, "Was he okay when you left?" She hadn't intended for her voice to sound so cold, but its how she felt.

Closing his eyes briefly, Sam answered, "When they were convinced I wouldn't break with electrocution, they began to torture Deeks with some sort of mouth drill. When he still refused to flip on Michelle, they blindfolded me and got me out of there. So I guess the answer is no, but he was alive."

The resentment that had taken root inside of her at hearing Sam's disapproval of Deeks earlier in the day grew and Kensi folded her arms over her stomach, "And you questioned his character earlier today?" Her voice held betrayal, accusation, and anger. Pressure built behind her eyes, but she refused to cry. It was not the time.

Callen looked surprised as he looked at Sam for his response. Again he closed his eyes, Sam answered, "I can see now my doubting Deeks' character was unfounded."

Balling her fists at her side, Kensi nearly shouted, "Oh and he had to be tortured to prove his character? Deeks has the most upstanding character of any man I know and if he dies because he is protecting you and your wife, I will never forgive you."

Kensi stalked from the room without so much as a backward glance and straight out the doors of the building. Once outside, she lifted her face to the sky and let the sun warm her. Her whole body seemed cold. Still shaking, Kensi tried to calm herself down.

Acting like this would not bring Deeks safely home, but being inside the building seemed to add stress to the already urgent situation. Taking two more minutes to regain her composure, Kensi took a deep breath and closed her eyes pleading with God to save her partner. Then she turned and entered the building.

Hetty was waiting for her knowingly, "Sidorov has decided to take Deeks' strength as honesty and he has contacted 'Quinn' to finalize the deal. Would you like to listen to the proceedings?"

Kensi shook her head, "Not from up there. I will put my ear piece in and wait in my car for a possible location to find Deeks."

Hurrying up the stairs, Hetty nodded in understanding, "Keep in mind Ms. Blye, that the way you are feeling now for your partner's well being is very similar to Mr. Hanna's feelings and actions regarding his wife."

Stiffening, Kensi nodded in acknowledgement, but was no where near ready to process all her feelings and definitely not ready to forgive Sam for the hand he had played in Deeks' situation. Once in the room, Hetty asked Eric for Kensi's ear bud and instructed Callen to join her in her vehicle to await instruction. She also alerted a SWAT team to be at the ready.

She could feel Sam's eyes on her, but Kensi refused to look at him the entire time she and Callen prepared.

Sitting in the car, Kensi's entire body seemed to be humming with anticipation and pent up adrenaline. Callen was too smart to attempt conversation, but she could tell he would have questions for her later.

They listened to Michelle's flawless interaction with Sidorov, who would be dealt with later to the full extent of his crimes. In parting ways, Sidorov said, "Quinn, I would not advise any more time spent with this David fellow. He is a traitor."

Michelle quickened her breath perfectly and tears were evident as she answered, "Are you positive? He seemed so genuine."

"People can seem all sorts of things and I am certain," Sidorov could be heard retreating to his car.

Then all was quiet.

Callen's phone rang a moment later and Kensi hear him mutter, "Praise God. Where is he?" He snapped the phone shut as Kensi pulled out of the parking lot. Sidorov gave Sam, Deeks' location."

Gripping the steering wheel as if her life depended on it, Kensi felt a batter between hope and dread at war inside of her. Pulling up to an abandoned building, they met SWAT and quickly communicated a plan. Gun raised, Kensi fell into step with the other law enforcement officers as they swept the building.

Her ear bud crackled, "We have a body in the east side of the building"

Time seemed to slow down for the second time that day and Kensi was afraid she was going to pass out. She realized she had stopped moving and was standing frozen with her gun drawn in front of her and tears threatening her eyes. Another SWAT member yelled that the building was clear.

Turning to where they had discovered the body, Kensi numbly made her way past the SWAT members toward the east room holding her partner. Returning her gun to its holster, she reached the doorway and tried to steel herself for what was to come.

Walking slowly across the dim, dirty room, Kensi's eyes were frozen to her partner's still form. His head was lolled forward and his shaggy hair hid his face from her. His body was secured to a chair and he was limp against it. Knowing Callen was standing in the doorway behind her ready for any reaction she was going to have, Kensi tried to remain strong and stoic, but her carefully placed wall could not remain standing forever.

Reaching his side, Kensi swallowed hard scared to touch him and see what had already been declared…that her partner was gone forever. With feather light touches, she tipped his head back and choked on a sob. Covering her mouth with her other hand, she smoothed his hair out of his eyes. Tears coursed down her cheeks against her will, but she could do nothing to stop them. His skin was still warm to the touch.

Kensi looked at his swollen right eye that was nearly black with bruising. She saw the bloody marks on his mouth where a metal bit contraption had held his soft lips open to their torture. Pausing Kensi thought she saw his chest move, but was scared to hope. Grabbing for his wrist, she frantically searched for his pulse holding her breath.

Before she could feel anything past her own heartbeat, Deeks' eyes fluttered open looking at her with a confused expression on his face. Realizing that she was there to bring him home, he tried to give her a reassuring smile, but instead it turned a grimace.

Face breaking into a smile more tears poured from her eyes and she turned to Callen and shouted, "He's alive!" She didn't even wait to watch Callen run from the room to call for an ambulance. Leaning close to him, Kensi continue her soft stroking of his hair. As he grimaced, she glimpsed the bloody mess of his mouth and knew he was going to try to say something for her sake because that was Deeks. He was always looking out for others before himself.

Putting a finger lightly to his lips so she wouldn't further his pain, Kensi whispered, "It's okay," her voice was raspy and the emotion was evident , "help is coming. You're okay." With her left hand, she cut his hands free taking his right hand in her left, she held on tight and whispered again, "You're okay." She was trying to assure herself more than him at this point.

What was wrong with her? No matter what she did, she could not stop the tears that were trailing down her cheeks. Mustering all his strength, Deeks lifted his right hand out of hers and brushed gently at her tears and managed, "Are you?"

Her eyes fluttered closed at the feel of his tender fingers against her skin and more tears washed against them in response to his question. She was okay, because he was okay. She had never so badly wanted to touch someone in all her life, but she resisted tracing her fingers over every feature of his face in the fear of hurting him.

Searching her face, concern for her was evident in the ocean blue depths of his eyes, she saw the pain he was suppressing and she wanted to take it away. She brushed her fingers again through his hair and he let his eyes slide shut as if her methodical touch eased his mind.

Callen burst back into the room leading paramedics and came to guide Kensi to the side. Sliding a reassuring arm around her shoulders, he leant her his silent support and she sagged against him with relief.

The paramedics were unsure the extent of his injuries so they transported him from the chair to a gurney securing his neck in a C-collar. They asked him yes/no questions and checked his pupils with a flashlight before rolling him out of the room and to the waiting ambulance. Callen and Kensi followed closely behind. Once Deeks was loaded into the back of the vehicle, Kensi wordlessly handed her keys to Callen and climbed in next to her partner. Callen smiled and nodded before turning toward her SRX.

Sitting on the bench to Deeks' right, Kensi couldn't take her eyes off him until the paramedic said, "Ma'am, we are going to be poking and prodding him to make sure there are no other injuries besides his dental issues so if you want to distract him that would be very helpful." She gave a quick nod and returned her attention to Deeks, swallowing against the possibility of additional injuries.

Resuming her earlier action because it seemed the least painful for him, Kensi began to slowly run her fingers through his hair careful not to be too rough. He opened his eyes again to look at her and she felt her heart quicken, but this time it wasn't from fear.

Easing almost all of the way off the bench, Kensi positioned herself so she could see Deeks' face and talk quietly so the paramedics wouldn't hear. Kensi twisted one lock of his hair around her finger and took a breath, it was now or never. Continuing to brush his hair to the side, Kensi spoke quietly to him, "Marty, I was so scared when I found out you had been taken and then Sam showed up and you weren't with him…" she swallowed the lump in her throat and dashed a tear away, "Then a SWAT guy yelled we had a body and I thought you were dead. I thought I imagined your chest moving until you opened your eyes."

With his left hand, Deeks took her hand in his and squeezed to convey his comfort and understanding. His head was slightly elevated so he didn't choke on his blood and cotton had been shoved into his mouth to stop the bleeding so he couldn't even try to talk.

She wanted to hear his voice so bad. But instead she kept talking, "We kinda suck at communication, but today you said more than you could with words and I hope I understood you right. All I could think about was you kissing me and that I didn't even respond. I have a lot I need to tell you and some things will take longer than others, but I want to tell you." Letting her eyes close for courage, Kensi felt his grip on her hand tighten and she smiled softly.

All this time he had been telling her how he really felt with actions and she allowed herself to be so confused by their words that she missed it. When she opened her eyes, Deeks' steady blue gaze was on her and yet another wave of tears washed over her. Barely able to speak, Kensi whispered, "You're the best man I know and quite possibly my favorite person in the world and there is nothing I would rather do right now than kiss you back."

Kensi was surprised to see a sheen of tears in Deeks' eyes and he tried his best for a cocky grin, but failed due to the blood and cotton. Arriving at the hospital, the paramedics prepared to move him. Raising their joined hands, Kensi pressed her lips against the back of his hand never breaking eye contact with him and promised, "I will be right by your side for your recovery and hopefully that is just the start."

With a final squeeze, Deeks let go of her hand and trailed his fingers across her cheek before dropping it by his side and winking at her. She walked hurriedly next to him through the hospital halls until a doctor told her they were taking him into emergency dental surgery. As they wheeled him down the hall, Kensi stood alone, but she knew she wouldn't be alone for long.