A/N: I have been on hiatus for a while and I have never written a fic for NCIS: LA … but after yesterday's episode I figured, "Why not?". So here I am, hope you like it.

Promise

Promise me you'll never do that.

She had mentioned it in passing, her voice clear but without looking at him. He knew she wanted an answer, needed the reassurance that he wouldn't consciously leave her, that she wouldn't have her heart ripped out of her chest and crushed with pain.

In all honesty (and with a lot of self esteem), he suspected that Sabatino's face would be nothing compared with hers, had anyone ever passed her "Granger's condolences".

So when he had comforted her, he hadn't hugged her, even though his mind was screaming at him to just do so; a hug would made her feel vulnerable, and he was there to remind her that she was strong and confident and that she wouldn't lose him: in his experience, with Kensi Blye you didn't give hugs. You patiently waited for her to come and get them, already knowing that she'd stiffen in your arms anyway.

No. He knew that a smile and a funny comment would be ok and when he had elicited a coy laughter, despite the eye-roll and the sigh of exasperation, he'd felt proud and a good partner.

You smell like sunshine.

Whatever had made him remember their cute, embarrassing moment (her words? the flirtatious way she'd bid him goodnight? his conversation with Mr. CIA?) it was scary nonetheless: the realization that what you have wanted for so long has been in front of you the whole time and you've simply been too blind to get it.

His eyes had focused back, as he accepted it: he wanted her. She was sunshine and gunpowder, partner and friend, lethal and sexy and it was everything he needed.

He wanted her and now he couldn't think about anything else. It was huge and unstoppable and when he ran after her outside the boatshed he wasn't thinking about rules or consequences or possible Hetty-threats. When he called her name and she stopped the only thing on his mind was how, even when shaking with sobs, she was the most beautiful thing in the world.

When she wiped the tears away and gave him a brave smile, he tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and he told her. "You smell like sunshine, Kens. And gunpowder. They're two of my favorite things in the world: how could I let them go?"

And when she was about to say something, he sweetly kissed her on the cheek.

"Just, please … don't leave me either."