This is my first story, and it is inspired by many of the stories I have read on this website in the past week. I haven't been able to get enough of your guys' stories, and so I thought it would be cool to share my take on what could happen, and what I think would be interesting to see happen! This story may or not be good, and it may or may not be easy to follow, I just hope that is something that everyone who reads it can enjoy!

I would appreciate any and all reviews! Don't be gentle, be genuine!

Disclaimer: I do not own NCIS: LA or any of it's characters.

Chapter 1

It was another long day for the team, Agents Callen and Hanna had just closed up a smaller case concerning an accidental overdose of methamphetamines that a sailor had smuggled into the States on board a Carrier. The sailor in question had actually been thoughtless enough to sell the drugs from his actual home, and so had very little chance of denying the charges when questioned by the two intimidating men. In the mean time, Agent Blye and Detective Deeks were both stuck filling out paperwork the entire day, jealous of the senior agents getting to do some field work and still dealing with much tension between themselves.

KENSI'S POV

Why is it that those two get to do the field work every time a small case comes in, while I'm stuck here listening to Shaggy tap his desk with his pen, drum on it with his hands, hum some already irritating song completely out of tune, or talk, no whine, to himself about how being the Liaison Officer is so difficult because 'both Bates and Hetty want me to themselves, so they both try to remind him that he belongs to them by making him do paperwork. Don't they realize he would be more appreciative if they gave him less paperwork to do?' He's humming again...!

"DEEKS!" Kensi burst out in frustration.

The detective looked up, and seemed honestly confused by her sudden outburst when he responded, "What?" He then looked back down, "Fern, you need some sugar? You haven't had a snack all day." He did not smirk, he did not chuckle, he did not laugh, and he did not smile. The question was an attempt to get back to the way things used to be, but he was not really into it, and his partner realized this.

Her facial expression softened at this, as she remembered he didn't keep a drawer full of snacks for her anymore. And then she remembered the day Deeks had shocked everyone.

*** FLASHBACK ***

It was his first day back from his leave after being tortured by Sidarov and subsequently rescued by Callen, Kensi, and Michelle. Nate had just cleared him for desk duty for half a day, a few days a week the day prior, but no one on the team had heard, for Deeks had told nobody, Nate could not tell anyone but Hetty without violating his Oath of Ethics, and Hetty knew that Deeks would not want his return to be a big deal.

Deeks walked in as the clock struck 8:25, five minutes early. A few people up and about had noticed him walk in, but all had simply frozen out of shock. He walked right into the bullpen without missing a beat, right past Sam, Kensi, and Callen, who were all completely unaware of his presence at first. It was not until he pulled the bottom drawer on the right side of his desk completely out that they looked up, but none of them registered his actions, barely being able to comprehend his mere presence.

Callen had sat there, with some control over his thoughts and his facial expression, and quietly, after a moment's pause, said to the man, 'Welcome back, Deeks,' proffering a hand to shake. A hand that was completely overlooked.

Sam sat there, stoic and calm on the outside, but his mind spinning on the inside, trying to figure out what to do in response to the presence of the man who had endured unbelievably horrid and cruel tortures, refusing to tell Sidarov that 'Quinn' was actually a Fed, just hours after Sam had blatantly insulted Deeks character, insulted who he was as a man.

Kensi had simply sat there her mouth hanging open, shocked to be seeing the face of the man she had not seen in a couple of months, nor heard from in nearly as long. Her mind was spinning out of control. Should see squeal in surprise in delight at seeing the man she could not get off her mind, maybe run to him and give him a hug and tell him how much she's missed him? Should she barely acknowledge his presence as he seemed to desire? Should she just welcome him back, and tell him she's missed him, without showing too much emotion outwardly?

None of them realized what exactly Deeks was doing until he unceremoniously dumped the contents of the drawer onto Kensi's desk, revealing two boxes of Twinkies, candy bars, other pastry snacks, and even some healthier protein and breakfast bars. He then turned back, returned to his desk, put the drawer back on the track, opened his bag, and got to work.

Upstairs, Nate had noticed his presence, and knew from his conversations with the Detective that he felt like everyone at NCIS did not appreciate his efforts prior to being captured by Sidarov, despite the heroic things he had done on several occasions.

Thus, when he saw the Detective sit back down, he did not yell out, he did not hoot and holler, he let only admiration and respect show on his face, and he began applauding for the young man, who deserved so much more but desired so much less. However, it wasn't long until everyone who had seen him caught on, and everyone who hadn't were drawn out to see what was going on. Pretty soon, the entire Mission was applauding for Detective Deeks, who simply looked up, and gave a slight nod to Nate, whom he knew had begun the applause, before smiling at everyone else, and then quickly got back to work.

While this had completely distracted almost everyone from what he had just done moments, Kensi was still sitting there, clearly in shock, staring at the pile of food, the man who had dumped it there, and back again. It was just now beginning to register in her mind what that could mean for their partnership in the long run.

Tears began to gather in the corners of her eyes, she fought to maintain control and to not let one fall. The same was true for the Detective, however, his were for the grand show of respect, admiration, and even awe the entire NCIS: OSP had just shown him, for these were people he looked up to every day, and they just told him, without expecting anything at all from him, that the feelings were very much mutual, at least now, even if they might not have been before.

*** END FLASHBACK ***

Since his rescue, the partners had not once hung out after work to watch 'America's Next Top Model', they no longer would bicker seemingly without end, and whenever someone approached him about what he had experienced, he would withdraw into himself for the rest of the day, and then come in the next day, obviously having not gotten any restful sleep the night before. He no longer fawned over Kensi's every move, he no longer catered to her every sugary need and desire, and he no longer tried his very best to make her smile. It was not lost on her that, in the past, the only reason she always had snacks available to her was because Deeks had spoiled her in an attempt to woo her, and now she did not have snacks on hand because for her, it was hard for her to accept that Deeks no longer kept her supplied, he no longer seemed to be wrapped around her finger, and she wouldn't ever admit it out loud, but she sorely missed the attention.

Unbeknownst to both of them, Nate had observed Kensi's outburst, Deeks response, and Kensi's inward response to Deeks'. He made a mental note to talk to Hetty, because he had an idea...perhaps it was once again time to switch up the seating arrangement of the agents.

Again, I would appreciate all reviews! Don't be gentle, be genuine!