Trope: Cannot Spit It Out
Typically an aversion of Dying Declaration of Love and Anguished Declaration of Love, with the characters usually acknowledging this being their last opportunity and deciding not to, often explaining their reasons in thought.
"I don't like this," Kensi says quietly as Sam and Callen head for the Ops door. She glances over at Deeks to back her up, but he just sadly shakes his head at her. Callen turns and looks at her with a smile that doesn't reach his eyes.
"It doesn't look like we have a choice."
Kensi looks over at Nell, whose eyes remain resolutely on her keyboard, refusing to avert her eyes to the team lest she show how insanely wrong this entire mission is.
Deeks' hand clasps her shoulder, and she turns her head towards him at his murmured, "Kens." His bright blue eyes bore into her own, and she wants so badly to just close hers and lean in.
So naturally, she doesn't.
"We could die," she whispers to him. Behind them, Eric not-so-subtly puts in earphones. Deeks chuckles without humor.
"Yeah," he agrees, "We could." His hand stays on her shoulder. The other hand reaches for hers, grasping it and bringing it up to his mouth. He kisses it lightly, eyes never leaving hers. "I've got your back, Kens."
She nods mutely, and he drops her hand and steps back, shoving his hands in his pockets. He turns to exit Ops and grab his gear, and Kensi is hit with a wave of panic, knowing that could very well have been their last real conversation. And if they're going to die, she can't let him go without saying-
"Deeks!" He turns around, eyebrows lifted.
"Yeah?"
Kensi steadies herself, closing her eyes. She thinks of every teasing comment, every simmering glance. She thinks of his hands on her body that one, amazing, infinite night, of his lips on hers and his voice in the morning. She thinks of his call on Christmas, of the box, of his astounding patience, and with all of those things in mind, she opens her eyes and says-
"I've got your back too."
He nods, understanding but not understanding, and as he leaves Kensi's hands ball into fists. She hopes, desperately, that she won't have to regret her cowardice.
(By some miracle, she doesn't)