AN: Yeah, this just hit me, and I wrote it in like ten minutes, so it's a tad rough. I just feel like this needs to be addressed. I guess I'll just put any other ideas that beg to be addressed here… So if you have any, please feel free to tell me, and I'll write them up!

Blessings,

bookdiva

"Alright, what did I do now?" Deeks calls, running to catch up with his partner. Kensi was striding out to the parking lot, still in her work out clothes.

The partners/something-mores had been in the middle of a sparing match when Kensi suddenly got up in a huff and stalked away, leaving Deeks stunned behind her.

Kensi whirled around at his question.

"You want to know what this is about?" she yells, pointing her finger at him.

"Uh, yeah…?" he answers hesitantly. "That is the purpose of my question, Fern."

"Ever since we've, we've… we've—you know…" she furrows her eyes and waves her hands around, unsure of how to phrase it.

"The point of this whole conversation, Kens," Deeks said, smirking at her in frustration, "is that I obviously don't know."

This caused Kensi to get angry again.

"Ever since we've been… whatever it is we've been," she says, taking a step toward him, "you've been going easy on me. You don't even try when we spar. You never even leave a mark, but I've seen the kinds of people you can take down. What, you think because we're… you know… that I can't take care of myself anymore?"

"What?!" Deeks's eyes widened in surprise and anger. "No! How can you even—"

"Well, what is it then? Huh? Huh?" Kensi demanded. Deeks opened and shut his mouth, obviously trying not to say something. "Seriously! Just say it! You don't think I can watch your back anymore? What! Just… just say it!"

"I'm not him!" The words burst out of his mouth, and both their eyes go wide in surprise.

"Wh-what?" Kensi manages. Deeks looks down at the ground, backing away from her like she's going to hurt him. It breaks her heart a little. "You're not who?" she asks softer.

Deeks sighs, still not looking at her.

"Deeks…" she implores, genuinely frightened by the way her partner looks.

"I'm not my dad, okay? Are you happy now?"

His words hit Kensi harder than any physical blow ever could. She feels so stupid, and she wants to beat herself up at the moment. A million things rush to her mind.

You're absolutely not your father, she wants to tell him. You're an amazing man, and you've accomplished so many things—things he could never dream of.

It takes her too long to process, though, and Deeks misinterprets her silence.

"Look, I know you can take care of yourself. And I trust you with my life and with yours. I really do. I know you could take it. It's just…" he trails off, and his eyes glaze over. She can only imagine what he must be seeing. "Every time I start thinking about finding your weak spot, or even striking out at you, I see…" he squeezes his eyes shut.

"You are not your father," Kensi says, coming up and pulling his head onto her shoulder. She hates the way he flinches at the contact, but she pushes it down.

I probably deserved that, she tells herself.

"Listen to me," she says after a long moment, pulling back to look into his eyes. He reluctantly meets her gaze. "I'm sorry. I was being stupid. But," she adds quickly, "so were you. You are nothing like your father. You are kind and strong and you've accomplished more than he could even know. You. Are. Amazing. And I'm sorry I don't tell you that enough."

"No," he mumbles automatically. "It's not your fault—"

"Yes it is," she says, cutting him off. "You have been so patient with me, even when I don't deserve it. So I'll be patient with you. I'm sorry I pushed. I wasn't thinking, and… well, that's no excuse. I'm sorry."

"I-I… It's okay," Deeks says, attempting a smile. But she can see that it's not. At least, not really. She still has a ways to go before she fixes it.

"Look, I may be your girlfriend," she says, smiling as his eyes widen. It felt surprisingly good to her, putting a label on them. "But I'm your partner first. We'll figure this out, okay?"

He smiles a real smile.

"We always do."

Thanks for reading! Leave a review or pm me some ideas?