04/02/2014

"I got you" Deeks mumbled as he held the love of his life in his arms. She was broken and it was now up to him to put her back together, they same way she did 6 months ago. They stood there, Kensi clinging to Deeks for what seemed a lifetime, but for Deeks it wasn't long enough. He had waited months to see and touch her again and this wasn't how he pictured their reunion, but for now it sufficed in his eyes. He had his girl back and for now that was enough. "Come on Fern, it's time to go home"

The team got the plane they were promised and were soon boarding to leave the country that had just become Kensi's new hell. Kensi collapsed down into the window seat and looked straight out of the window. She took her last ever glances of Afghanistan and silently assured herself that she would never return. Deeks had finished putting both his and her bags in the overheard lockers and in a short 5 minutes they would be taking off for home. Callen and Sam were a whole cabin ahead due to the last minute bookings, there was not four available seats that were together.

Deeks turned to Kensi "Are you okay?"

She turned to him and gave a small smile. Staring into his deep blue eyes she simply just said "I will be."

Deeks was worried. He knew Kensi was a fighter, she was a bad ass and stuff like this didn't get to her. But this time it was different. There was a cold presence around her and it wasn't the Kensi he knew. He grabbed her hand and gave it a little squeeze and in return she refused to let go. They had been separated once and she wasn't going to let that happen again.

The flight could not have felt any longer. Deeks held Kensi in his arms the entire trip home. She lay down across the two seats, burying herself into her side as much as she could as if she was finding a safe haven within Deeks. He gently woke her when the plane was about to land. He had never seen anyone sleep through a flight like that, but under the circumstances it was very understandable.

Sam, Callen, Deeks and Kensi all stood in a small gathering at the airport, waiting for the all clear from Hetty that they could go home. It came through their phones only moments later.

"Well I guess that's it" Sam said, "I'll drop you home G, none of you guys need a ride"

Deeks replied "I have Kensi's car here, so I can drop her home"

Callen and Sam both said their good-byes, both giving Kensi brotherly hugs and telling her that they didn't want to see her at OSP for at least a week but they would call in to see her, Sam even promised to bring Michelle. Deeks and Kensi both watched Sam and Callen walk away in silence until Kensi spoke.

"My car Deeks? Really?"

Hearing her make even the smallest smart remark made him smile.

"Yeah, I guess, I didn't think you would mind"

"I don't mind at all" she said with a small amount of cheer in her voice.

"Deeks?"

"Yeah Kens, what is it?"

"Can we please go home now"

Deeks drove Kensi to her house and pulled up outside. She looked out the window at her apartment. The lawns were mowed and the mail had been collected, not that Kensi got that much mail but her bills weren't overflowing out of her mailbox so she guessed someone had collected it.

Deeks turned off the car.

"You ready"

"No"

The answer took Deeks by surprise. She was always ready for anything. He wasn't used to her having to mentally prepare for something like walking into her own home.

"I can't do this, I don't want to go inside, because once I'm inside then I'm just there and I wont know what to do and I'll get stuck" tears started to stream from Kensi's eyes. Deeks got out of the car, and walked around to the passenger door. He opened it, but did not pull Kensi out of the car. Instead he just hugged her. He could feel her tears seeping into his t-shirt, but he didn't care. All that mattered to him right now, was her. She was the only one who ever mattered to him and now it was his job to make sure that she was going to be okay.

"It's okay, you aren't alone here, you don't have to stay here tonight if you don't want to, you can stay at mine or I will stay with you, whatever you want, whatever you need, I am here for you and am not going anywhere"

Kensi decided she wanted to sleep in her own bed, but not alone. She needed Deeks there. She got out of the car and appreciated the warm Los Angeles breeze. Deeks gathered their things from the trunk of the car and helped her into her house. Pulling a spare key she had given him out of his pocket, he unlocked the door to let them both inside. All bags were dumped straight by the laundry door and he figured he would just deal with them tomorrow. Kensi went straight to the bathroom and locked the door behind her. Deeks heard the shower turn on so just let her be.

Kensi stood in her underwear in front of the mirror visually examining her body for wounds. She was black and blue all over with cuts from knives and ropes that bound her limbs together. She stood under the water for ages, just letting her tears fall down her face and combine with the water. Eventually there was no more tears, and Kensi got out of the shower and dressed herself in an old t-shirt of Deeks and some sweats. She walked out to the living room where Deeks was patiently waiting on the couch channel surfing. She sat down next to him and he wrapped his arms around her shoulders.

"Feeling better?" he asked.

"A little I guess, a hot shower was nice"

Deeks straight away noticed her top. He smiled. It was his favourite LAPD t-shirt and had wondered where it had gotten to, but never really bothered to look because he assumed she had it all along. She wore it better anyway.

It was about 1am in the morning and both Kensi and Deeks were getting tired, in fact Kensi had already fallen asleep on Deeks. Deeks tried to gently move her without waking her but he should have known from the beginning that was not possible. She woke and asked what he was doing.

"Kens, I think a proper night sleep in a bed would be good for both you and me"

"Okay" she agreed.

He picked her up bridal style and carried her to her bedroom. She sunk deep into Deeks and clung on like there was no tomorrow. She never wanted to let him go, but when he lay her down on her bed, her limbs just collapsed into a deep sleep. Deeks turned off the light and got in the other side of the bed.

"Night Kens, I love you" he whispered. No reply. She was out cold.

Kensi woke up screaming at 4am. Deeks woke in a panic trying to figure out what was wrong while still being half asleep. Kensi was shaking and covered in sweat. Deeks knew exactly what this was, she had a nightmare about what had happened to her. He calmed her down enough so her breathing went back to a regular pattern.

"You're okay Kensi, sshhhh, you'll be okay" He held her tight in her arms and that was enough at the moment for Kensi to calm down. She lay there for a long time, just thinking about what had happened and how she had been tortured. She just lay there and soon dawn arrived. Deeks was still fast asleep and Kensi managed to leave the bed without waking him.