Kensi couldn't sit still. She was so happy to finally be heading home. Home to the warm California sunshine, home to her own comfy bed, but most importantly, home to Deeks. She had no idea how Granger managed to arrange such a nice private jet to escort her and the team from Afghanistan home, or why he chose not to travel with them, but she really didn't care. She just wanted to be home.
The team from Afghanistan was rather entertained by Kensi. They watched with amusement as she got more and more fidgety the closer they got to L.A. They had also seen her smile more in the last 14 hours than they had for the entire 4 months she was with them in Afghanistan.
Sabatino decided that since Kensi seemed to be in such a good mood, and since they were no longer working together (with exception of their debrief tomorrow) he would take the opportunity to try to get a date out of her, and maybe, if he was lucky, a little more. As he approached her and took the seat beside her he couldn't help but notice how good her legs looked in her dark, very fitted, jeans and that he could see a hint of cleavage in her loose fitting salmon colored sweater. 'Yep, I've waited long enough for a piece of that. Tonight is going to be my night' He thought. "Hey Kensi! You excited about being back on home soil?"
"Yeah. It's true you know. There's no place like home." She said with a smile.
Sabatino decided to go for it. "You know, we never did have that celebratory drink. I was thinking maybe we could do that tonight. Maybe grab a bite to eat while we're at it."
Kensi knew this was probably coming but she had yet to figure out how to let him down easy. The best she could come up with at the moment was "Sorry. I really just want to go home, take a warm bath, and crash in my own bed." It was true enough. Those were the things she planned on doing. She just didn't plan on doing them alone.
Sabatino was disappointed, but not deterred. "Come on Kensi. You can have your bath then go out with me and then crash in your bed." Of course he had every intention of being in that bed with her and only crashing after thoroughly wearing her out.
What Sabatino and Kensi didn't realize was that during their conversation the plane had landed. While Kensi was trying to think of a way to get rid of Sabatino without outing her relationship with Deeks, she looked up and realized everyone was gathering their things and getting ready to get off the plane. "Oh! We're here!" She said excitedly, thankful for the distraction and using it as a way to end the uncomfortable conversation. She jumped up and began stuffing her laptop and book into her bag.
Sabatino took the hint and got up so Kensi could exit also. Granger had said there would be a van waiting for the team to take them to the safe house where they would sleep until they completed the debrief. Of course Kensi would be allowed to go to her own home via a taxi once they arrived at the safe house. He figured he would catch Kensi and finish their conversation later. It was only 10:00am local time. Plenty of time left in the day to secure a dinner date.
Because they had a delayed start Kensi and Sabatino were the last off of the plane. After walking down the stairs Kensi raised her head and scanned the area. She saw the black 16 passenger van that she assumed was their escort to the safe house and then just to the left of the van she saw what looked like her own SRX. Then she noticed that leaning against the car was a very attractive man with blonde, shaggy hair. Deeks. He was here! She made eye contact and her face lit up with the most amazing smile. Deeks smiled back and began walking toward her. Kensi couldn't help herself. She squealed "Deeks!" dropped her bag and began running toward him. Deeks stopped and just stood there, opening his arms, and braced himself for impact.
"Ooof! God, I missed you Kens." Deeks said as he put his arms around Kensi as she slammed into him.
"I missed you too." Kensi said.
Deeks could hear the tears in her voice and to his surprise could feel them on his neck as well. He couldn't believe his bad-ass Blye was actually crying happy tears. She must have had a harder time than even he realized. "I can't wait to get you home so I can give you the welcome home you deserve."
Both of them knew they couldn't let on the true nature of their relationship in front of a team that answered to Granger. What they were doing right now, hugging each other with their heads buried in the others neck, was suspicious enough. Deeks pulled out of the hug, put his arm around Kensi's shoulder and said "Let's get out of here."
"Sounds good. Just let me get my bag. I dropped it back there" pointing toward the plane and the team that was staring at them, some with mouths hanging open, several yards back.
The team was in complete shock to see Kensi so open and excited. They had never seen her happy and assumed she was never really a happy person. One of the team members collected themselves enough to ask no one in particular "Who's that?"
Sabatino, of course, was the only one who knew the answer and said. "That's her partner. Deeks."
Another team member said "Looks like he's more than that to me." Which got an answering scowl from Sabatino.
Kensi and Deeks walked back to the team to collect Kensi's bag with his arm around her shoulder and hers around his waist. As they approached the team Kensi introduced Deeks. "Hey guys. This is my partner, Marty Deeks. Deeks, this is everybody." He heard a few people respond with a "Hey man" or "
Nice to meet you" but most of them were still in shock and could do no more than nod.
Deeks spotted Sabatino and said. "Hey Sabatino. How ya doin'?"
"Fine. You?" was all the answer he got in response.
"Good, now that I have my partner back. Being the third wheel is just no fun."
A grin and a nod was his only answer. Deeks had his suspicions about why Sabatino wasn't being very friendly but he was too busy enjoying having Kensi back to care.
Deeks disentangled himself from Kensi to grab her bag as Kensi said her good-byes and confirmed the time the team was to meet in the boat shed for the debrief. Before she knew what happened. Deeks stepped in front of Kensi, bend down and grabbed her around her thighs bending her over his shoulder as he stood.
Kensi was staring at Deeks' back upside down before she even knew what happened. She managed to squeak out a "Deeks!" and then after collecting herself for a second said "What are you doing?"
"Just following orders Sunshine. Hetty gave me strict instructions to pick you up and take you home." With a quick wink to the once again stunned team, Deeks and Kensi were headed to her car. Other than a quiet "You are so dead Deeks." Kensi was remarkably cooperative.
