My post-ep drabble for Expiration Date (6x16). Perhaps a bit more light-hearted than others.

12:01

She's been staring at her phone, just waiting for the call. And just as she expected, her screen lights up, his name flashing. She shakes her head but there's no fighting the bright smile (which Deeks evidently thinks is perfect) that lights up her face.

A blush rises up her cheeks even now as she recalls his words in the bullpen earlier that evening. She doesn't know if she'll ever get used to him randomly surprising her with these sudden bursts of sincere, heart-stopping declarations. If she's honest with herself, she kind of never wants him to stop.

She answers on the first ring, "Hey."

"Hey… so that was fast. Almost like you were hoping I'd call." She can practically see the smug grin on his face.

She'd let him have this one, "Fine, yes. I was hoping you'd call."

She had wanted to check on him all evening, but she also didn't want to be the hovering girlfriend, especially after she jumped at the chance for a night apart.

"Yeah? Kay-Kay worried about me?"

But now it appears all her worry was for no reason. He's already infuriating her and they've been on the phone for less than a minute. "Ugh Deeks! I was, but maybe not so much anymore."

He laughs lightly but his tone quickly sobers, "I'm sorry Kens. I appreciate you're worried for me, but I'm good, really."

She thinks she actually believes him, but then he continues, "I just…"

His hesitation makes her wonder if he's really okay. Thapa's death hit him especially hard; her heart had ached for him as they watched the life bleed out of the ghurka. But his current cheeky tone sounds much more like her Deeks and she doesn't want to make him talk about his grief if he's actually managed to find some peace.

So she simply teases him, just as he would her if the roles were reversed, "You just miss me."

He scoffs, "I think I can handle one night on my own. Actually, It's kinda nice having the bed all to myself. There's no one trying to hog the covers or kicking me in the shins when she's trying to take over my space."

"Nice try, Detective. But you certainly weren't complaining about me invading your personal space this morning."

He chuckles, "Touché, Agent Blye. I can't argue with that. I did enjoy your wake-up kisses. You can wake me up that way every morning, Kay-Kay."

She rolls her eyes and glares into the phone; even though he can't see her, she's pretty sure he can predict her reaction. "You need to stop with that nickname right now or you're never sharing a bed with me again."

"I highly doubt that," he replies with his usual confidence. "But I promise no more K… that particular nickname, especially if it makes you happy."

"Was that the big lesson you learned today? Just make me happy?"

"Well it's not terrible advice."

"Okay... But there's more to it than that." She's back to feeling slightly irritated. She thought that when he had been the one to suggest a night off that he had finally understood what their fight this morning had been about.

"I'm just teasing, Kens. I get it now, okay? Or at least I'm starting to." He pauses, "Look, I haven't really done this in a long time…"

Her half-scoff, half-snort on the other end of the line interrupts him.

"What? What's that about?"

"Come on, Deeks, even you should know you never accuse a woman of overreacting. And Thapa was right, life will be easier if you just listen to us, well particularly me"

"Yeah, Thapa didn't really have my back there." There's silence for a brief moment and Kensi waits for him to continue. When he does, he sounds reflective, but not overly sad, "But Thapa also helped me understand your concerns. That maybe we are rushing things a bit and that it's okay to spend some time apart. That doing so doesn't mean anything more than just giving ourselves some space to breathe."

"He was a wise man," Kensi murmurs softly.

"Yes he was..."

"Deeks…"

"It's ok, Kens. I'm lucky to have met him and really honored to be considered a friend."

There's another beat of silence, but it's ultimately Deeks who steers them back to the lighter tone of a few moments ago. "Anyway, what I was actually going to say earlier is even though I haven't done this in awhile, I'm pretty confident that there's supposed to be some fantastic perks for making it through a fight, especially the first fight."

She smiles; she'd been waiting for this. "Perks huh? You're sure about that?"

"Yep, pretty sure."

"Hmm," she pauses, feigning consideration. "And what might those perks include?"

"Well, I could describe it to you in great detail over the phone… or I can be at your place in 10 minutes and show you, up close and personal." His voice has taken on that low, husky tone that drives her secretly wild. And suddenly her reasons for wanting to spend the night apart are rapidly dwindling.

"Deeks…" she warns. Damn him; he's ridiculously persuasive even when he's not trying very hard. But deep down she knows she needs this space, this time apart to just be on her own for a little while. She has to stick to her resolve.

"Right. No, I said I understand, and I do." He's not pushing her any further. Her heart flutters; he's listening to her, respecting her needs. She can't just leave him hanging.

"Like you said Deeks, it's just for one night."

"So that means…" She can just picture his face; his eyebrows raised, eyes flashing with desire and that lop-sided grin she loves so much plastered on his face. Adorable and sexy at the same time.

"Yes, Deeks, that means make-up sex tomorrow night."

"Awesome. Completely awesome."

"Deeks…." she takes a deep breath. She has one more thing to say to him and she needs him to really hear her. She hadn't had the chance to clear this up earlier and it's been weighing on her heavily ever since, but especially after they parted ways at the mission.

"You do make me happy. Really happy. Happier than I've been in a very long time... I just... I need you to know that."

He's quiet on the other end of the line for a moment, but when he speaks his voice is soft and cracks slightly with emotion. "Thanks, Kens. I think I really needed to hear it."

She attempts to stifle a yawn, but fails. It was a long, emotional day and now that they've talked and she's assured he's really good, she can finally go to sleep.

"So, I'll see you tomorrow."

"You sure you won't change your mind. It is after midnight, so technically it's already tomorrow…"

"Deeks!"

"Got it. I'll see you in the morning. 'Night, Kens."

"'Night, Deeks." Placing her phone on her nightstand, she snuggles deeper into her covers, breathing a deep sigh. Tonight had been just what she needed, but she's not afraid to admit, at least to herself, that she missed him. And maybe Deeks will agree a night off isn't so bad every once in awhile, especially after she welcomes him back into her bed tomorrow night.