"How did I let you drag me into this?" Kensi whispered to Nell as they followed Rose through the car park.

"I have my ways." Nell cast her a sideward glance.

"Yeah I think Hetty has been training you in the art of persuasion."

Nell smiled mysteriously.

"I just want my DVR player, my ice cream... " Kensi's voice faltered. And my partner. I want my partner.

Nell's face softened slightly. "You need to get out." She looped her arm in Kensi's. "Besides this is for Rose, remember?"

"Yeah, yeah." Kensi grumbled as they entered the bar.

"Thanks so much for this." Rose was waiting for them. "I haven't been on a date in so long. It means a lot that you guys agreed to this."

"It's girls night!" Nell looked around excitedly. Kensi smiled wryly and shot her a questioning look.

"Well, kinda. It's three girls meeting three guys. Ok, it's a group date. Whatever..." She trailed off. "Oh, I think I see them."

Rose let out a squeak which made Kensi snorted with laughter. Nell rolled her eyes "This should be interesting." She joked as she led the way to the table.

Kensi's faint smile dropped as she begrudgingly followed her friends. The last time she had been at this particular bar had been with the guys. before Deeks had kissed her and everything had gone to hell. He had gone through hell...

The sound of her own name snapped her from her from delving any further into her dark thoughts.

"Kensi, this is Jesse, Alex and Doug."

"Hey Kensi, nice to meet you." Jesse held out his hand. Kensi forced a smile and took it. She took a seat beside Nell and Doug sat across from her, a wide grin on his face.

"It's nice to finally meet you guys" Nell smiled charmingly.

Kensi resisted a smirk. Deeks thought he was charming. She could picture his bright smile and his twinkling blue eyes as he called her "Darling" in that surfer drawl of his. So he was kinda charming. No, she knew he was even though she would probably never admit that to him. If he ever answered her calls.

It had been weeks since she had last seen or spoken to him. If he would just answer his phone ...

"Kensi... Kensi.." She looked up to find everybody looking at her.

"Sorry long day.." She offered as an excuse. It was true everyday was a long day without her partner.

"What did I miss?" She asked.

"Seriously, Kens, I hope this isn't your A game."

Kensi realised hearing your missing partner's voice in your head was not normal but lately it seemed her brain had decided that it too missed Deeks' voice. She smiled to herself which seemed to encourage Jesse.

He smiled. "So you guys work all work together?"

Nell elbowed her. Was that meant to encourage her? Fine she could do this. She was the queen of first dates. Well, lately she was the queen of her couch, sitting upon her throne passing judgment on the contestants of the new season of America's Next Top Model.

"Yeah, and that is probably how this Deeks comedy corner opened."

"Yeah. We all work together." What? You can do better. Say something else. "It's fun..."

"At the morgue?" The guy across from Rose asked his eyebrows raised. Nell looked at Kensi, uh oh. She really did have that Gorgon stare going on.

"Eh.." Rose began. "Well, you see..."

"No, erm Nell and I work in a funeral home. That's how we meet Rose."

Oh god, what was she saying? She was normally so good at this lying about her job part and coming up more... normal alternatives.

Kensi could feel her Nell's eyes burning into her. She could also hear imaginary Deeks laughing.

"This is priceless. From now on I'm coming on all your dates."

"I'd say that's interesting?" Jesse asked looking politely doubtful. "You know with the bodies and that..."

Everyone was still looking at Kensi.

"Yeah, well it's not fun.." She scrunched up her nose. "Cause that would be weird, you know cause we work with dead people." Under the table she felt Nell stand on her toe. Kensi stopped talking and laughed awkwardly.

"Right..." Alex turned his attention back to Rose.

Kensi avoided looking at Nell. God, she shouldn't be here. Her eyes swept the bar and hand glanced over her phone in her pocket.

"So Kensi," Jesse caught her attention. She looked back at him.

"What is it that you do?' Kensi blurted out.

"That was smooth , princess."

"Well, I work in an IT firm with Doug..."

For the first time since entering the bar she took a proper look at him, something the special agent in Kensi would have done when she first entered the bar. But things were a little mixed up at the moment. He had brown eyes, short brown hair and she had to admit a nice smile. He was handsome but he wasn't really her type. Only recently she had admitted to herself that her type was shaggy blonde hair, laughing ocean blue eyes and a wide smile that made her heart stop.

She would just get through this evening. Then she could go home and ring him. Again. This was for Rose... and maybe her sanity.

"... and then Alex moved in." He finished. Wait, what? Uh oh.

"Cool." She smiled brightly to cover her lack of attention. Jesse hadn't seemed to have noticed.

"So maybe I could get you a drink?' He motioned to the bar. "You look like a Cosmopolitan kinda girl." He grinned.

For a moment she felt like she couldn't breath.

"Mojito, actually." It came out more harsh than she intended.

"Huh, what a goof. I knew that."

Jesse seemed taken back by her tone. She smiled apologetically.

"Mojito it is." He made to get up.

"Uh no thanks, I'm driving." She saw disappointment flash his eyes. It made her think of another set of eyes, set in a beaten and bloody face. She stood abruptly.

"If... if you'd excuse me for a minute." Kensi stuttered. Rose looked concerned. Nell shot her a funny look but then she saw Kensi's face.

"So Jesse, Doug says you guys are into video games? She said chirpily. Kensi sighed in relief as Nell took the attention from her and made her way to the restroom. Once inside the stall, she locked the door and pulled the lid down. She sat on the toilet with her head between her knees and her hands in her hair.

"That's not dramatic at all, Kens. I might say it's a touch cliche. What's next escape through the open window?"

She laughed out loud but it came out a sob. Kensi put her hand over her mouth. She took a deep breath as she retrieved her phone from her pocket. She hit the last number dialed. It rang twice.

"Hey, it's Marty. Gone surfin'. Leave a message." She hung up and wiped the lone tear that has escaped. She couldn't do this anymore. Enough was enough. Tomorrow after work she would pick his lock, break down his door, she would do whatever she had to do. She was getting her partner back.

"That's my girl."