TISSUE
Marty Deeks is sitting on his desk, going through some paperwork he has to fill in before the end of the day when Kensi walks in. He doesn't need to think a lot to realize there's something wrong with her. She's walking slowly and, once he gets a good look at her, he notices her nose is slightly red and she looks like someone who didn't get much sleep the night before. As soon as she sits, she starts working but a much slower pace than usual, letting on how tired she feels.
He knows this is probably one of those situations in which he should stay in silence but the need to ask is just too strong to simply ignore. "Are you okay there, partner?"
Her answer is quick, as usual. "Why wouldn't I be?"
She says that so casually that someone else might have believed it but he's not falling for that one. Besides, she blows her nose and he finally figures it out.
Shaking his head, he can't help the obvious remark. "I warned you, you know that. I told you that leaving the house with your hair dripping wet wouldn't do you any good."
Kensi shakes her head and gets back to her papers, trying to look for something that will take his mind out of her state. "Let it go, Deeks. I'm okay."
But she sneezes and there's no denying it anymore. She's sick and they both know it. "Bless you…"
He hands her a tissue and she takes it.
With a small smile, she whispers after looking around to make sure no one heard her sneeze. "Thank you."
Deeks shrugs and moves closer to her, rolling his chair to her desk. "You're welcome. You should probably go home, though."
Kensi is not one to simply do as she's told without putting up a fight, even when she probably should. "I'm not going home just because I'm sneezing a bit."
Deeks whispers, because it's clear she doesn't want anyone else at work to know about her nasty cold and he's not willing to fight her when it comes to that, even though everyone will probably know even before lunch. "Do you have a fever?"
Kensi shakes her head, looking around once again just to make sure they're still alone and that no one is sneaking up on them. "I don't think so."
Deeks reacts quickly and presses his palm against her forehead for a few seconds, to try to understand just how sick she is. Then, with a smirk, he can't resist. "You're a hot but it has nothing to do with your temperature."
Kensi gives him a light punch on his arm, but a small smile on her face. "You're taking advantage of my fragile state."
The look on his face is one of victory and she realizes a second too late that she walked right into that one. "So you admit that you're fragile."
Still, she fights back. "I'm not fragile enough to go home in the middle of the day."
Deeks opens his mouth to say something but is cut off by Callen who walks in the bullpen with a frown on his face. "What's going on here this time?"
Kensi answers him, smiling to try to convince him that nothing's wrong. "Nothing's going on, don't worry about it."
But Deeks doesn't let her fool Callen, even though the other agent doesn't seem to buy her lie either. "Kensi is sick and refuses to go home."
Callen shakes his head in the same way a parent would do when his kid misbehaves over and over again, always the same way. "How sick are you?"
Kensi gives him the obvious answer, the one she always uses whenever someone asks her if she's okay. "I'm fine."
Deeks shakes his head with an amused smile on his face and answers Callen's question, seeing as they both know he's not going to get anything out of Kensi. "She's sneezing and I'm pretty sure she has a sore throat."
Kensi opens her mouth to say something but Callen doesn't give her the chance to. He keeps talking to Deeks. "Does she have a fever?"
Deeks shakes his head. "I don't think so. Her temperature feels normal."
Callen continues, obviously ignoring her presence. "Do you think she can work like this?"
It finally gets on her nerves and she can't help but snap. She's surprised she managed to hold it in for so long, anyway. "Can you two stop talking about me as if I'm not sitting right next to you?"
Callen's temper is a lot like hers and he doesn't even give her a chance to protest. He knows her too well. "You always say you're fine so I have to ask this to your partner. Deeks, do you think she can work like this?"
So Kensi turns to Deeks, a threatening glare on her eyes. "Don't you dare, Marty Deeks!"
But Deeks already knows her glare and it doesn't affect him nearly as much as it probably should. "I'm sorry, Kenz, but you can't work like this. Hell, I can't work like this! I keep picturing you all red and sweaty under a blanket but for a whole different reason that curing a cold."
Callen throws his hands up in the air, in frustration. "Seriously? Must I always be here when you make comments like that one?"
Kensi actually resists the urge to laugh at Callen's reaction.
Deeks doesn't seem fazed by the other man's frustration, though, and simply shrugs. "I was just making a statement. It's not my fault you're standing right there."
Callen rolls his eyes and turns to Kensi. When he speaks this time, his voice is much gentler. "Kensi, go home, get some rest and come back tomorrow. And don't argue with me or I'll call Hetty and we both know that will be a lot worse."
Kensi gives up, realizing this is a fight she can't win. "Fine, I'll go home. I'll take off all my clothes and I'll get underneath the blankets, sweating like crazy."
She gets up and Deeks does too, turning to Callen. "Maybe I should go with her to make sure she's okay."
Kensi laughs as she walks out of the door but Callen simply puts his best boss-face on and turns to Deeks, giving him a look that pretty much shows his over-protectiveness when it comes to Kensi. "Don't you dare, Deeks. Don't you dare…"
And the blond agent doesn't dare to try his luck, knowing that Sam would probably join Callen too.
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Dear readers, as some of you might know, all my previous works have had a bit of drama at some point.
However, that will not happen with this story. This is pretty much the build up towards a very steamy romance between Kensi and Deeks.
I will try my best to keep plot-bunny out of this and keep it drama-free.
Reviews are love…
Next one: Chair
Love,
Sarah
