Story: Tidings of Comfort and Joy

Chapter 2: Blue Christmas Without You

Rated: K+

Disclaimer: I do not own any part of NCIS LA or the characters.

Summary: This will be a collection of holiday drabbles and short one-shots. Some will be related to episodes and some will not.

This chapter takes place after the holiday episode in season 3.

Blue Christmas Without You

"No Kensi tonight?" Sandy asks Deeks when he arrives at the Soup Kitchen on Christmas Eve.

"No, our little ray of sunshine is soaking up the sunshine in Hawaii," he replies. Sandy notices that he tries to put on a light and merry front, but she can tell he is a little down.

As he serves mashed potatoes he enjoys the grateful people and the conversations, but it's just not the same as last year. Missing her company has him wanting to hop on a plane to Hawaii for Christmas, but the bigger draw is his curiosity for why she is there and who she is with. He'd never actually get on a plane, partly because she'd kill him and partly because he has Clippers games to attend with his buddies and a date with a girl he met while undercover during his days off this coming week. Absence must really make the heart grow fonder though because he has a greater appreciation for the place his partner and friend has in his life, and he definitely won't forget to pick her up from the airport this time.

Last night she was content to be in one of the most beautiful places on earth surrounded by happy people for Christmas. Today, even on a beach full of joyful vacationers and locals celebrating Christmas Day, she feels so alone. As she applies some of the oil Deeks gave her, she ponders why she didn't let him come. Last Christmas at the Soup Kitchen had been nice, fun even. She enjoys his company, most of the time, and she sure could use a new perspective on her father's case. She wonders if she didn't take him up on his offer to come because of their thing, but decides that even if there is a thing and they would have come to this beautiful island together, she would have been able to remain strictly friends and partners. No, the real reason she didn't let him come is that her father's case is so personal and she just wasn't ready to be that open with him. Though she knows if she doesn't want to spend all of her Christmases alone she is going to have to learn to open up. Maybe if she doesn't get the answers she's looking for this week, she'll get his opinion on where to go from here. After all, because of their relationship as partners Deeks is quickly becoming the person she counts on and trusts most in her life.

Thank you for reading. Reviews are always welcome.