So here's chapter 2. I've been back and forth about this one for awhile now and I've rewritten it a couple times, but I keep coming back to something like this. I like the fluff….I just can't have these idiots mad at each other for too long. Next chapter will be exploring their new home, the private beach, some adorable Monty added in, and then drinks with the team.

Deeks is truthfully not as unaffected by this assignment as he is pretending to be. It's been awhile since he has gone under for any length of time; nothing longer than a couple hours in the past year or so, but that's not what's bothering him. No, that's definitely not what's causing the dread to settle into the pit of his stomach and the lump in his throat that's so big he can barely swallow around it.

The words nuclear weapons had immediately made his heart seize up, his jaw ache, bile rise in his throat, and made him break out in a cold sweat. He was momentarily transported back to that God awful chair and can almost taste the metallic tang of his own blood in his mouth once again. He sees flashes of Sam strapped to the other chair in that body shop, only this time in his mind Sam is replaced by Kensi and that makes his blood run ice cold. He tries with everything in him to tamp down his all consuming fear, but only succeeds in heightening his frusteration.

No, he does not have a good track record with nukes; and the thought that Kensi will be anywhere near this operation if it goes sideways is enough for panic to begin to work its way into his heart and soul. He's not so sure he can do this. He wages a war within himself.

It would be nice to have her there with him and not have to leave her behind; it would be heaven to play house with Kensi in Malibu, have a reason to openly flirt with her, free reign to touch her when and how he wanted.

However, having her there with him showing the world just how much he actually cares about her puts her in danger it gives the bad guys some leverage to use against him. He knows that much of the assignment would be about the aliases, but he would be lying to everyone including himself if he said that the care, concern, and love that he would be showing Kensi in the weeks to come would simply be an act.

He buries his head in his hands thinking of how far he would take things to guarantee her safety, how far he had gone and the things he had done in Afghanistan. The thought of Kensi in danger brings out a side of himself he'd rather not show the world, if he can just leave her behind get in and get this assignment over with it minimizes the risks to her safety and it keeps her as far away from these bad guys as he possibly can.

The benefits just don't outweigh the risks in his mind, and in the end his overwhelming need to protect Kensi to keep her safe at all costs finally wins out. He knows she is going to be pissed, but he just has to find a way to do this without her.

Sensing Deeks' hesitation and seeing him turn ashen Kensi grabs his hand under the desk and gives it a firm squeeze. When he finally looks at her she can see the palpable fear and a hint of something else that she can't name in his eyes, and can feel the racing of his pulse in his wrist where she is gently stroking her thumb back and forth.

Deeks roughly pulls his hand away in a desperate attempt at regaining some semblance self control. "I don't like it….at all." He says with a cold distant voice.

While Kensi contemplates his behavior the conversation continues around her with her only catching a few words here or there. Deeks has never willingly pulled away from any contact with her or reacted to her touch in such a violent manner.

"I'm sorry Mr. Deeks but you are the only one on this team with any legal knowledge or experience and it would take too long to get Mr. Callen or Mr. Hanna up to speed."

He glances at Kensi, knowing that his next words are going to hurt her. "That part…I'm fine with. I get it…I understand, and I know I can do my part without a doubt. What I don't like is Kensi being involved. If my alias is such a playboy why would he keep any one girl around that long? I've done assignments like this before... and I find that the less entanglements the better. I…I don't need her Hetty. I don't want her there. Just leave her out of this. I'd rather do this on my own."

The venom that drips from his voice causes her to visibly flinch and Kensi can't contain the gasp that escapes her mouth as her eyes fill with unshed tears. She covers her mouth with her hand as if trying to prevent any further sounds from escaping. She can't look at anything other than the floor directly in front of her feet, knowing that if she looks anyone in the eyes right now those tears won't remain unshed for much longer. She can't decide which emotion is winning right now anger or hurt.

In his opinion there are very few things that he does exceptionally well, but one of them is read his partner. Right now he can almost feel the anger radiating off of her in waves, what he isn't prepared for is the look in her eyes when she finally meets his gaze. That's a look he's never seen before, and one he hopes he never has to see again. The hurt in her eyes is enough to suffocate him, and knowing that he is the cause for it…well that alone is enough to break him. "Kens.."

She cuts him off with a quick angry shake of her head, before returning her gaze to the floor. She hopes that he doesn't see the few tears that have escaped her eyes before she has a chance to angrily swipe them away.

"Detective, it may be common place for LAPD to send their people into undercover operations without back up, however that goes against our policy and I will not make an exception in this case or any other for that matter. Trust me I have debated the intelligence of sending you in with Ms. Blye for hours on end….however unfortunately it's the only story that makes any sense and is in any way plausible. There will be no changing the story. Understand?"

Deeks mumbles a resigned "Yes sir."

After all of the details are ironed out and the briefing is finished they both rise from their chairs; Deeks quietly turns towards his desk as Kensi spins on her heel and heads into the bathroom.

Hetty observes her agents, silently saying a little prayer that the two of them can work through this. And make it out the other side in once piece.

Her reverie is interrupted by Granger's gruff voice "What the hell was that Henrietta? Are you sure those two are ready for this?"

"As sure as I'll ever be. If nothing else Owen…they'll be able to get the job done, of that I am absolutely positive."

"Mr. Deeks….I believe this belongs to you." Calls Hetty while holding up his new badge.

"And that my man… calls for some celebratory drinks tonight, we'll meet you at seven at the usual spot." States Sam as he pulls Deeks in for a quick hug.

Deeks' eyes still have yet to leave the entrance to the women's restroom waiting and hoping for his partner to reemerge. He's fighting with everything in himself not to give in to his instinct to barge in that restroom and demand to explain his reasoning to one seriously pissed off Kensi Marie Blye.

Callen pats him on the back before adding, "That is…if you guys can. I know you need to go under this weekend."

"Uh, yeah, no…..I think we can do drinks tonight…that is…if it's ok with Kensi….I'll uh just ask her when…when she comes out of the bathroom…" He stutters.

Kensi sits on the toilet in the bathroom stall angrily swiping at the hot tears as they fall from her eyes. She feels so betrayed; just ten minutes ago Deeks was thoroughly kissing her in the gym telling her that he wanted to do it more often, and now he was pushing her away again. He'd gone as far as to say he didn't want her there, that he'd rather do it himself….what had he meant by that. She allows herself to cry for a few more minutes before blowing her nose on some toilet paper and flushing it down the toilet. She walks to the sink, looks in the mirror and splashes some cold water on her face. Looking in the mirror one last time before she leaves, she pushes the hurt out of her mind and lets the anger take over.

"Ask me what?" She bites out in a clipped tone.

"Callen and I want to take this guy out for drinks to celebrate him finally sigining those papers," says Sam as he wraps his arm around Deeks' shoulder.

"You, uh you don't have to come if you don't want to Kens," mumbles Deeks while ruffling his hair with his hand and looking at the ground.

"Sure…drinks are good. I mean it's not every day your partner becomes an agent….right?" She questions sharply. Deeks hears the inflection that she places on the word partner, emphasizing it to a point where it would be impossible for him to miss the implications.

Kensi notices that Deeks is unusually quiet and has a faraway look on his face while he is stuffing his things into his bag. She definitely takes notice but feigns indifference.

"So I guess…I'll see all of you at seven. I'm going to find my car and go pick up Monty so that he'll have time to settle in to the new house before I leave him."

Several 'See you later's and congratulations' ring out throughout the bullpen as he walks solemnly towards the garage.

Kensi grabs her bag hastily stuffing her belongings inside before angrily running after Deeks down the hallway, she finally catches up to him in the parking garage.

"Deeks…..Marty…," She calls out. It's her use of his first name that really captures his attention and causes him to stop suddenly and turn to face her.

He stops so quickly she runs smack into him, she places her hands on his chest before grabbing his biceps to steady herself, "What…the….hell…was…that?" She emphasizes every word with a poke to his chest. "You have no right….none. You may not think that you need me, and you may not think that I can handle this…..but seriously what the hell was that? Now everyone knows thatyou think I can't do my job. I mean I don't get you! You run so hot and cold…one minute you're kissing the daylights out of me, which I thoroughly enjoyed by the way, and the next you're practically telling everyone you don't trust me and don't want me to be your partner….that you'd rather do this assignment on your own! "

"Kens….…that's not what this is about. Honestly you'd be safer on the outside. I know that you're mad at me." He says tilting her chin up but in typical Kensi fashion she is still refusing to look him in the eye. "I'm just trying to protect you."

"I am not mad….angry….I'm angry, and hurt….and I don't understand…..Marty, I can do this, I can….I know you don't think…."

He interrupts her, "It's not you I'm worried about Kens….well let me rephrase that…it is you I'm worried about. What happens to you if I can't do this? What happens to you if I mess this up? I can't face the possibility of having to watch something happen to you because of some stupid mistake that I made."

"You won't!" She answers confidently.

He looks down at her then finally meeting her eyes, sparkling blue meeting mismatched brown, he sighs in defeat, "I sure hope you're right Princess."

"Pshhhh I'm always right Deeks, always. You of all people should know that by now." She says trying to infuse a little humor into the tenseness of the situation.

"So…we're good? I mean…I'm good if you're good."

"Yeah Deeks…we're good. I'm still mad.."

She's interrupted by Deeks chuckling, "Thought you didn't get mad?"

"Shut up Deeks! Ugggg I'm still angry ok…I'm angry that you want to protect me at the expense of your own safety…I'll never be ok with that…never, but it's not something we can't work through….together."

She snakes her arms up around his neck threading her fingers into the curls at the base of his neck pulling him in for a kiss.

Kensi has never kissed him like this before, the kiss is full of passion, and tinged with just a tad bit of her fiery anger. He places his hands on her hips and pulls her firmly against him before turning her around and backing her up against his blue Mercedes.

"For the record Kens, I do need you…and I want you more than you'll ever know…I was just trying to protect you and keep you out of this."

She places a gentle kiss on his lips, "I know that you big jerk….why do you think you're still alive?"