A/N: This is the sequel to 'Six Months'. I decided to continue the aftermath of their crazy adventure in this fic. It helps to have read Six Months (it helps a lot) but this could be read as a stand alone fic. Hope you enjoy. Sorry that it took so long to show up, because my mother confiscated my laptop but now I have it back so here goes!

A whole week off. Kensi stared out the window of her apartment. I don't think Hetty's ever let us go three days without a case.

After Kensi and Deeks' return from their trying undercover work in Moscow, Hetty had demanded that her agents take a little time off. Deeks had gladly accepted his fate, but Kensi wasn't so sure. Years of working as a cop had driven her to the belief that every day was a workday.

I could call Deeks. She toyed briefly with this idea. Then again, Deeks was probably busy. Most likely drinking his troubles away at some Venice cantina.

After their arrival at LAX and dramatic reunion with the team, Deeks and Kensi had gone their separate ways. Kensi had known then, just as she knew now, that she and Deeks were too different and yet too close to ever work out. Standing under the whirling lights of the Santa Monica Ferris wheel, Kensi had suggested that she and Deeks go their separate ways, and forget about their undercover fling. Deeks had agreed, and she had nodded, and they had stood there awkwardly for a moment before Kensi assured him that they would still be partners and friends, just not lovers. What had once been a raging fire had been extinguished until it was no more than a tiny spark. And that spark was starting to trouble her.

She called Deeks.

…

He answered on the third ring, like always.

" Yeah, Deeks."

She snorted.

" Hey, it's Kensi. Where are you?"

" Venice." Of course he was.

" Are you with anyone?" She inquired carefully.

" Bon Jovi and a bottle of beer, yeah."

" I hate to ask, but I really need a ride to the hospital. Gotta get my stiches looked at."

" Sure." There was the sound of glass clinking in the background. " I'll be right over."

Kensi didn't comment on the fact that he knew exactly where she lived.

…

Deeks came by at noon, and she smelled beer in his car.

" Little early to be drinking." Kensi commented, buckling her seatbelt. Deeks drummed his fingers on the steering wheel and pulled into heavy traffic headed for Santa Monica UCLA Medical Center. A country song was playing quietly on the radio, and Kensi resisted the urge to turn it up and break the silence.

" Never too early to be drinking." Deeks countered. Kensi rolled her eyes, hiding her growing worry. Deeks was turning into the elusive Agent Gibbs: drinking before noon, answering in bluntly honest sentences. She only hoped that he didn't complete the transformation and get married to a series of bank-account draining redheads.

" You can just drop me off." Kensi told Deeks. Her partner snorted.

" I know you hate hospitals, Kensi. I'm not letting you go in there alone."

Kensi turned her face to the window, hiding the grin that she suddenly couldn't wipe off her face.

…

" Looks good, Miss Blye." A young doctor peeled back the bandages covering her shoulder. " I'd say give it a few more days, and then the bandages can come off."

Kensi grinned. Deeks squeezed her shoulder.

" Hetty will be so happy! You can go back to work."

The doctor glanced from Deeks to Kensi.

" Are you two married?"

Kensi let out a snort at the same time Deeks choked.

" What? No!" He sputtered. The doctor gave him a strange look and patted Kensi gently on the leg.

" I'll see you in three weeks. Until then, no hard work or getting shot at, huh?"

Kensi offered him a winning smile.

" Of course not, doctor."

Deeks rolled his eyes and Kensi dug her elbow into his side.

Only three weeks, and I'm back in the saddle. Or so to speak.

…

Kensi wasn't expecting any calls, and neither was Deeks, so when their cell phones both rang at the same time, it was a clue that something was up.

It was Hetty.

" Agents Blye, Detective Deeks." Their boss sounded a little agitated. " I have an assignment for you."

Kensi perked up. Deeks, who could obviously hear the exchange, slumped.

" Put it on speakerphone, Agent Blye." Hetty commanded. Kensi obliged.

" An assignment? We just got back from a six month undercover op in Russia, and Kensi here just got shot and-" Deeks' complaint was cut off mid-sentence by Hetty.

" This assignment won't involve getting shot at, or drawing any weapons at all. In fact, all that you will be expected to do is spend the night in a hotel. Does that sound easy, Detective Deeks?"

Deeks turned a desperate gaze to Kensi. His partner shook her head, smirking and mouthed the words, your choice, lazy boy.

" Of course I'm in." Deeks said. Hetty chuckled on the other end of the line.

" I'm sure you heard about the break in at the Naval Weapons Station." Hetty said. Kensi nodded. Deeks didn't.

" Well, most of the agency is attempting to solve the case, so we need all hands on deck. This is a simple deal, just a few weapons dealers from Mexico who are under the impression that they are selling guns to two assassins who will use them to attack US Navy personnel."

" Let me guess-we're the assassins." Deeks estimated.

" Very good, Mr. Deeks. All that you and Agent Blye will have to do is hand over one million dollars in cash to the dealers, and you can all go home."

" Do we get strapped?" Deeks asked.

" Concealed weapons, but be prepared to disarm if the dealers instruct you to do so. No fights, agree to their demands." Hetty ordered. " Are you in?"

Deeks was about to say,

No way in hell when Kensi spoke for them.

" Yes, of course. We'll be there tomorrow at oh-dark-hundred!"

Hetty hung up.

" Are you nuts?" Deeks moaned. " We just got back from Russia, what, a week and a half ago? And you still have a freaking bullet wound in your shoulder, in case you forgot...and let's not forget that these are armed and dangerous weapons dealers…"

Kensi gave a dismissive wave of her hand.

" Don't be a wimp, Deeks."

Famous last words.