A/N: Thank you for all the kind reviews for Fern's Angel. Hope you enjoy the next installment. :)

Disclaimer: Still do NOT own NCIS: LA. I only own the laptop I am writing this on. :o


The remainder of the week went by fairly uneventful; Ray was back with his family and doing well. Deeks and Kensi were moving forward with their relationship. Things were going well. They got a few cases here and there, over the past few weeks, and they had no complaints. Everything was normal; well, as normal as it could be when Kensi and Deeks were going at it like rabid bunnies every free second they had. They were surprised that no one had caught on yet. Sure, they were their usual bantering, bickering, flirty selves, but there was a lot more touching and the heated glances lasted a few moments longer.

Angel was almost six months old and a little holy terror. She still got into everything and was just as stubborn and hotheaded as her owners. Although, much like her owners, she knew how to rock the puppy eyes and they worked like a charm, most of the time.

Kensi and Deeks were spending more and more time together, switching between both their places, but slept together almost every night with both dogs at the end of their beds.

The week of January 6th, the team received a new case involving an ex-marine that was shot and killed at a point-blank range. While Kensi and Deeks were chasing a lead, their suspect opened fire. Kensi was hit. It felt like a ton of bricks crushing onto her chest with incredible force. She slowly fell backwards, her aching body tumbling to the ground, her head bouncing off the ground. Deeks stopped and ran to his partner. She insisted he go after the suspect, informing him that she was 'fine'. Deeks hesitated before chasing after the suspect. He caught up with him and tackled him to the ground, digging his knee cap into the back of the man's back.

Meanwhile, Kensi was struggling to breathe; the wind was knocked right out of her. Callen and Sam were on their way, but the pain was excruciating. The ground was damp and cold. Her jeans felt soggy. She heard pounding feet coming towards her. She couldn't turn her head; it hurt too much, but she clutched her weapon and aimed it towards the sound, ready to shoot if need be. It was Callen and Sam. They raced to her, Callen cradling her head, stroking her hair soothingly in his lap while Sam draped his jacket over her shivering form. She heard sirens in the distance, and heard Callen's muffled voice saying, "Stay with us Kensi. Stay with us, come on stay awake." But everything faded to black.

Deeks hoisted the man up and shoved him against a nearby wall and frisked him, finding a pocket knife and one other gun. Cuffing him, he dragged the man back to where he left Kensi. When he got there, she was being lifted into an ambulance. He shoved the man into the back of a squad car and made eye contact with Callen, who simply nodded in understanding and jogged after his partner. Once there, the paramedic said to meet them at the hospital. Kensi argued, telling them that he had to come with her.

"So, how did they get you into this ambulance? You aren't sedated." Deeks joked.

"Callen said he'd tell Hetty that I told you to go after the suspect instead of checking on me."

Deeks nodded before looking over at the paramedic who let him sit beside the gurney Kensi was lying on. "What's the damage?"

"We don't know yet. It looks like a cracked rib, but we won't know for sure until we get her to the hospital." The Detective looked down at his partner, offering a small smile.

"I think it's a cracked rib. It hurts the same as the last time."

"I can check for you." Deeks said, lifting his eyebrows suggestively.

"Pig."

After a trip to the hospital, they were right. It was two cracked ribs. Kensi was told to rest and relax, and that she was extremely lucky to have been wearing her vest as the outcome may have been very different.

They made their way to the Mission to inform everyone that everything was relatively okay. They also told the team that the two were going to head home so Kensi could rest and that she couldn't participate in field work for 4-8 weeks. Hetty called the pair into her office and informed them that she didn't want to see either of them until next week. Later for Kensi, if she wasn't feeling up to it yet.

Once they arrived home, Angel and Monty jumped up and started assaulting their owners, peppering them with kisses. Kensi hissed in pain as Angel pounced on a sensitive area. Angel sensed something was wrong and backed off, looking up at her owner with puppy eyes. Kensi called her to the couch, not wanting to lay down in bed and aggravate her ribs. Angel jumped up almost immediately. Kensi started scratching her behind her ears, and Angel rolled over.

Deeks offered to take the two dogs for a walk, telling Kensi to sit and rest. She agreed and sat on the couch, flicking through TV stations. An hour later, Deeks returned to find his partner sleeping on the couch, her pain medication laying on the coffee table. He felt guilty. He should have taken the dogs for a quicker walk. He should have been here when she was in pain. Heck, he should have been there this afternoon. His partner was shot. He should have stayed by her side instead of chasing the stupid suspect.

Deeks was shaken from his thoughts by the ringing of his phone. He answered quickly, so as not to wake up his partner. "Detective Marty Deeks," he answered.

"Hey Deeks, it's Callen."

Deeks heard the serious tone in his co-workers voice and quietly slipped outside.

"Hey, what's up?"

"It's about Kensi and today. There's something you need to know."

Deeks sighed, "I know. I shouldn't have left her to chase the suspect, but I couldn't let him get away. He shot my partner."

Callen replied, "You did what you had to do, but that's not what this is about. It's about Kensi and what I'm assuming she didn't tell you."

"What do you mean? She's fine." Deeks was getting worried.

"She passed out at the scene right before the ambulance arrived. It was less than 30 seconds, but she passed out, and I know how stubborn she can be. I thought you should know, even if she doesn't want you to. Anyways, I have to go, take care of her."

Deeks nodded and said, "Thank you for telling me, and you're right, she wouldn't have told me. Thank you for being there for her when I couldn't. It means a lot to me, knowing that she was safe."

He hung up after their good-byes and made his way back into the house. Kensi was beginning to stir awake, so he walked over and started stroking her hair. He was mad at her, but he was angrier with himself. She was going to be okay. That's all that mattered to him right now. She was safe.

"Hi," she mumbled.

"Hey. How was your nap?"

"Okay. I have to pee though."

Deeks laughed and rose to help her up, not wanting to jostle her injured ribs. She sucked in a deep breath and held it as she stood up and Deeks stopped. He saw her mask the pain and let her stand for a moment to get comfortable again. Then they made their way to the washroom.

Following that, Deeks brought her to the bedroom where she'd be more comfortable. "I have a bone to pick with you."

"Hmm?" Kensi was exhausted. She could sleep forever.

"You passed out today. Why didn't you tell me? Don't say you didn't want to worry me. Did you at least tell the paramedic? Do you have a concussion? Are you supposed to be staying awake for the next 24 hours?" Deeks was in a panic.

"Yes, I told the paramedic, and he said it was just from the pain. I showed no signs of a concussion, just a small bump. I didn't tell you because the paramedic said I was fine, and it was nothing to worry about, so I didn't bother. Plus I wanted to get out of the hospital as soon as possible. I heard it's someone's birthday tomorrow."

"Hey, don't change the subject, but thanks for remembering. Any hot dates this time?"

Kensi yawned and said, "Yeah, he's this tall, surfer dude, really athletic with a beautiful cheeky smile." Kensi was teasing him, and he loved every second of it.

He leaned over and brushed his lips against her forehead. "Go to sleep, since I know for a fact, you are allowed to do that. Don't scare me like that again."

"It comes with the job, but the same goes for you. Now rest with me."

The next morning Deeks woke up and took the dogs out while Kensi slept.

"Happy birthday, handsome. I have a surprise for you today."

"Really, on my actual birthday, not months after the fact."

Kensi's face fell, "I don't know how many times I have to apologize for forgetting the date of your birthday. I was hoping the surfboard helped make up for that, if even a little. And this year, well you'll see what I have planned. Though, one thing will have to change slightly, since I was injured, but it should still be fun. You should go get your wetsuit on and your board though if you want to catch some good waves."

"Are you taking me surfing?" Deeks was excited. He hadn't been in what felt like ages. They'd been so busy at work.

"Yeah, but part of this will have to be put on hold. I was going to let you give me surf lessons, but that can't happen right now. So, rain check? I'll watch you surf out there. We can bring the dogs, and I can play with them or something?"

Deeks leaned over his girlfriend and placed a tender kiss on her lips, "It sounds perfect. I'll pack the lawn chair from the backyard, so you are comfortable. Are you going to wear a suit, or no water right now?"

"I'll wear it. I may go in to cool off a bit. It's still pretty hot for January. Please, no funny business from you. My ribs can't take it."

"Okay, I promise. Now let's get moving. If we hurry I'll still be able to catch some of the morning waves."

Kensi slowly got up from the bed, feeling the stiffness from being in the same unmoving place for so long and gritted her teeth to help with the pain. She made her way to the bathroom and brushed her teeth, while Deeks was packing the lawn chair, board, and dog toys into the back of her vehicle.

She made her way back into the bedroom and looked through the drawers for a suit to wear. She came across one that she'd left at Deeks' almost two years ago after one of their assignments. She thought she lost it. It was the one that she was wearing in the photo that was used for the sketch on Deeks' board. "This will surely knock his socks off. I even have the shorts to with it," she thought to herself.

She got dressed in the suit and shorts and added a long dress cover up over top. She didn't want to scare children with the nasty red and partially purple bruising around her wound. It looked red and angry and hurt like a bitch. The cover-up was dark blue, so you couldn't see through it. She picked a pair of canvas shoes, wanting something with a little more support than just flip flops with the current state of her body.

"Light of my life, are you ready to go. Times a wasting!" Deeks was already at the door with everything packed. Kensi rolled her eyes, she knew taking him surfing would be tiresome. Worst part, they weren't even at the beach. She quickly grabbed a hat and sunglasses and followed him out to the car where the two dogs were waiting.

Kensi slipped into the passenger seat, per doctors orders. She didn't want to, but it was Deeks' birthday and she would behave and not be stubborn, much.

To be continued...(the rest of Deeks' birthday)


A/N: Hope you enjoyed. More to come... :) Comment. Review. Share. :)