He looks back at the woman that he has spent the past three and a half months with, undercover. She follows behind him, in the airport. She wears her dark hair pulled into a ponytail. Her eyes are covered with a pair of aviator shades.
She follows him towards the airport exit, thankful that they are finally home. They have spent the past three and a half months on one of the toughest missions they have been on yet. The mission managed to challenge them in every aspect possible. He walks ahead of her, with confidence, like always.
They both feel a little nervous when they get called into Hetty's office on a Saturday. Against their will she forces them to have a seat. They stare at her, as she begins the conversation.
"I have been contacted by some of my sources. There is an operation that they would like to have NCIS lead."
Sam looks at the younger woman, sitting to his right. He furrows his brow. She shrugs, and shoots him an equally questioning look.
"I know that the two of you are not partners, and that you will need to adapt, but I have complete faith that the two of you can pull it off."
"What is the operation?"
"Extraction of a major terror cell. It will take time, and coordination of several government agencies. This cell is a major threat to us."
Kensi speaks up, "Why do you want Sam, and I to do the mission together?"
"Your skill sets are the most complimentary for this mission," Hetty explains.
Sam cocks an eyebrow, "What do you mean?"
"You will need Kensi's language skills in order survive," Hetty begins.
"He language skills? Are you saying there is something wrong with my language?"
"She speaks Portuguese," Hetty points out.
"That is significant because?" Sam wonders.
"It will be required to infiltrate the organization," Hetty tells him.
"Ok, so why aren't you sending her partner with her?" Sam queries.
"I need someone who can keep their cool. I need someone with a little more experience."
"Ok, what do we need to know?" Sam asks.
"You will be headed to Brazil on the next flight."
Kensi's jaw drops, "Brazil?"
"Yes," Hetty slides a pair of manilla folders forward, "Here are your covers. Learn them quickly. Memorize the details. Your lies will keep you alive," she warns.
Sam opens his and reads the name aloud, "Seth Brennan?"
Kensi furrows her brow. She looks up at her boss, "I think there is some sort of mistake here, Hetty. It lists my cover as Kasey Brennan."
"It is no mistake. You two will be going undercover as a married couple."
When she finally makes it to her desk she dumps her bag on the ground. She sifts through piles of paperwork. The other members of the team are working on a case. Hetty debriefs her, and Sam. After their debriefing Kensi returns to her desk to collect her things. Before she can leave a familiar voice interrupts her.
"How was your mission?" Deeks questions.
She turns and looks at him, with her car keys in hand, and her bag on her shoulder.
"I don't want to talk about it," she answers.
"I understand. I am sure that you are jetlagged, and just want to get some rest. We can talk about it, later."
She shakes her head, "I don't want to talk about it, ever," she clarifies.
"It can't be that bad, you caught the guys."
"Deeks, please don't bring it up, anymore."
"Sorry."
"I am going to head home," she takes a step past him.
"That is cold. I don't even get a hug, or hey Deeks I missed you when I was in Brazil the past three and a half months."
"I'll see you later," she continues for the door.
Callen enters the building, as Kensi is exiting. He shoots a looks at Deeks.
"What is her problem? She wouldn't even speak to me."
"I don't know, maybe you should ask your partner. Maybe he knows."
Callen approaches Sam, who collects his belongings, "What is wrong with Kensi?"
He shrugs, "I don't know. All I know is that it was a rough operation."
"You want to tell me about it?"
Sam shakes his head, "Nah man, I want to go home and take a shower."
"How bad could it be? You caught the guys. Not to mention you got to spend three glorious months in Brazil," Deeks asks.
Sam shakes his head, "It was all work."
"Tell us about it."
Sam shakes his head, and looks at his partner, "I can't talk about it."
Callen steps aside, allowing Sam to walk past him. He too leaves the building.
Kensi tosses her bags into the back of her car. She climbs into the driver's seat, and locks the door. She turns the car on, and feels the ice cold a/c hit her. She buckles the seat belt, and feels relief that she is back where she belongs. She finally has her car back, but she questions if she will ever get her life back. She wonders if things will ever be the same. She shakes her head in doubt, some things cannot be erased. Things between her, and Sam, they would never be the same. She turns her music up full blast to drown out memories of the past few months. She backs out of her parking spot, and heads for home.
Sam tosses his belongings into the front seat. He turns on the car, buckles his seat belt, and speeds away from the building. As he turns up the radio he knows that the things that happened in Brazil can't be undone. He grips his steering wheel in anger, as he waits at a stop lie. He wishes that he had never accepted the mission. He feels completely drained emotionally, and physically exhausted.
When Kensi gets home she throws her bags on the floor. She takes a seat on the bed, with every intention of getting up, and taking a shower. She lies down on the bed for a moment to take in the sights, and sounds of home. She watches as her ceiling fan whirs around in a circle.
Sam heads straight for his shower, when he arrives home. He doesn't even take his bags out of the car. When he climbs out the shower he notices his tricep. He stares at the constant reminder in the mirror. A deep scar is etched into his tricep like a bad memory he wants so badly to shake. A memory he can't seem to rid from his mind. He knows from the look in her eyes over the past weeks, that this mission pushed her too far. He admits to himself, now that he is in the safety of his own home, that it pushed him too far too. Both of them did things they would never do again. Both of them made choices they would regret for the rest of their lives. All their bosses cared about was capturing these guys.
Kensi watches the fan spin in a circle. As her eyes grow heavy she knows that her life, and the life of her temporary partner will never be the same. She knows they won't discuss the unspeakable things they did, with their regular partners. They didn't even want to talk about it to each other. She falls asleep, before she can get her shower.
