Chapter 2

She knows what he's trying to do. She has seen it before. She knows that he's trying to make her trust him because the truth is that they are partners and they need to trust eachother at all times.

She knows that he's trying hard and she wants to let him in, she truly does.

She can't.

It's nothing new, really. It has happened with Renko, Callen and Sam. But she still tries. She tries to let him in because she has the feeling that he wants to stick around for a very long time.

She sees him staring at her. Sometimes, she pretends that she doesn't notice it. There are other days, though, in which she acknowledges his intense stare and offers him a small smile before turning back to her work.

Sam notices what's going on so he talks to her during one lazy afternoon.

"You need to build that trust" he says, using his calm and relaxed voice "because without it, your partnership means nothing and your lives will be in danger every single time that you go out to the field!" She knows exactly what he means by that but she just can't bring herself to open up like that, not yet anyway.

Callen notices it too and she's not surprised when he shows up at her door one night with a six-pack. She lets him in because that's what she always does with him. They sit on her living room couch and he starts the conversation. His speech is a lot different from Sam's because he understands what she is feeling better than anyone else. He has the same fears, the same nightmares.

"Don't rush things, Kenz! Take your time to trust him but do it because Deeks is a nice guy." She knows that he's right but she's not sure if she is ready to admit that out loud.

Kensi knows that Deeks doesn't know much about her so she decides to try and starts by giving him little things, small hints that will hopefully give him a glimpse of who she really is.

It will take time but she hopes that he won't give up on her because she has the feeling that he is already close enough to break her fragile heart.

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It happens the first time during a hot afternoon.

He takes her out for ice cream because she complains about the uncomfortably hot weather felt outside. They are happily eating their ice creams when it happens.

She has the sudden feeling that something is changing between them. That's when she confesses that she likes having him as her partner.

She knows that he sees something in her eyes because he looks surprised for a moment but he recovers quickly and smiles at her, that goofy smile that never fails to amuse her even though she often tries to disguise it.

He's a good partner and a good guy. It will take time but she knows that she will let him in, as long as he plays his cards right.

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The second time that it happens she acts upon her instincts.

She hides in Nate's office when she can't stand to have people looking at her any longer.

She misses Nate, even though he's not one of those people that she trusts blindly. He always tried to make her talk but he often failed to understand that she'd rather be silent.

She sits on the floor of his office and starts and the white wall in front of her. She hears the footsteps and hears the door opening but doesn't look up.

She knows that it is Deeks.

Callen knows where she is, he always does, but she knows that he would leave her alone because he knows that she hates to appear weak in front of anyone.

Sam wouldn't follow her there because he knows that sometimes she needs time and space to think about her problems. As he doesn't know what's going on, he leaves her alone.

Eric wouldn't follow her there because he never does. Everyone knows that he cares but he is a lot better with machines than with people so no one takes it personally.

Nell wouldn't follow her there because she is the new girl and has yet to find out how to deal with the members of the team.

Hetty wouldn't follow her there because, even though she cares about every single agent in her team, she knows exactly what's going on and knows that she'd rather be alone.

Deeks followed her there.

He knows that she'd rather be alone.

He knows that she hates to let people see her in a moment of weakness.

He knows that she doesn't like to be followed.

He knows that she needs time and space to think about whatever it is that is bothering her.

He knows all that but he still follows her there because his stubbornness is just one of the things that make him be Deeks.

She hears him closing the door and feels him sitting next to her. She doesn't turn to him because she knows that he will be able to see the tears in her face. She doesn't turn to him because she knows that that movement will bring him closer to that special place that would allow her to place her trust on his hands.

Deeks grabs her hand and that's when she understands what's really going on.

He's not there to judge her.

He's not there to mock her for her weakness.

He's not there to have something to make jokes about.

He's there because he cares.

He's there because he wants her to know that he will always be there for her, even though he has absolutely no idea of what's going on with her.

She rests her head on his shoulder to let him know that she's happy that he's there. Somehow, she is sure that he already knows that. She feels him squeezing her hand and find out that this is comfortable.

She feels the light kiss that he places on the top of her head, something completely out of character for him. She doesn't mind because she needs that, even though she wasn't fully aware of that fact yet.

He doesn't ask her what's wrong. He stays in silence.

He doesn't tell her to stop crying. He lets her cry on his shoulder.

He doesn't whisper words of comfort. He squeezes her hand instead.

He doesn't tell her that everything will be okay. He kisses her head from time to time.

She doesn't know how long it takes her to calm down but knows that he stays with her through the entire time, right by her side. She gets up as soon as she is sure that she's strong enough to do so and he gets up too. He stands in front of her and cleans all the evidences of her crying with a tissue.

She sees something in his eyes then. She sees that he cares, more than what he'll ever admit out loud.

Something inside of her snaps and she places her arms around his waist for a much needed hug. He wraps his arms around her to return the hug, just like she knew that he would. He has never denied her anything and for that she's grateful.

She finds out that she feels safe in his arms, something that she's not used to feel. She realizes then and there that she trusts him.

Kensi doesn't know how long it goes by but she's sure that she stays in his arms for more than five minutes and she feels that he lets her go reluctantly when she finally pulls back.

She looks up and sees in his eyes once again just how much he cares. He doesn't treat her like a damsel in distress and doesn't act like her knight in shining armor but that's good because she has never been one to believe in fairytales.

She doesn't know why but she feels the sudden urge to tell him what's bothering her this much so she does just that, knowing that he deserves that after his endless patience with her.

"Today is the anniversary of my father's death. I always get this emotional during these days…" He shakes his head and strokes her cheek in a tender gesture of affection that she had never thought that he was capable of.

"That's not being emotional…I'm pretty sure that it is called being human!" She smiles at him and they walk downstairs together. They're halfway down the stairs when she leans in and gives him a kiss on the cheek as a way of thanking him for what he had just done for her. It catches him by surprise but it's a good one because getting Kensi to show any signs of affection wasn't easy and this was a step in the right direction.

She know that what had just happened had been huge and she knows that she's letting him get too close but she doesn't feel scared this time, not anymore.

She has the feeling that he's not going to hurt her.

She has the feeling that he wants to stick around for a very long time.

She has the feeling that he can make her happy.

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Thank you for all your amazing support. I'm sorry that it took me this long to post this chapter but school drove me crazy for the past two weeks and my life got turned upside down too so…

Anyway, please let me know what you think about this chapter.

I might consider posting another one but only if you want me to.

Reviews are highly appreciated and make me happy,

Sarah