Thank you to everyone who reviewed and put this on Story Alert! I hope this next bit doesn't disappoint. . .

I intended the second chapter to be from Sam's POV, but thought Kensi's reactions needed some explanation. It's a little darker than I thought it would be . . . but I think it works.

Please let me know what you think.

***

Kensi had driven away from OSP without any idea where she was going, but after a few turns she would have sworn were random, she found herself on Sam's street. She shouldn't be surprised, she thought, pulling up across the street from his place; she tended to end up there when she was upset, knowing that Sam would be able to calm her down, make her laugh . . .

She'd overreacted. She'd let her temper get the best of her again. Except the trigger to her temper had been something she couldn't ignore. She shouldn't have stormed out, but she know she couldn't let it slide.

Sam had been jealous. She firmly squashed the small part of her that might have been be glad that he cared enough to get mad. That was the first step down a familiar bad road.

She couldn't lose everything she'd worked so hard to become. Been there, done that.

She was embarrassed now about not seeing the signs in her college boyfriend. His mild jealousy had been flattering at first--she'd taken it as a joke, a mark of concern, and she'd done her best to make sure he felt secure in her love. He'd apologize and tell her it was because she meant so much to him.

But that never worked for long, and soon he was smothering her with his concerns and constant questions, making her prove her affections over and over by giving him control over more and more of her life . He finally told her she would never be strong enough to be in law enforcement--she didn't need to do anything but let him take care of her, keep her safe.

And she'd almost agreed at that point--until she'd come home one night from class, and he'd accused her of stepping out on him. When she'd tried to calm him down, he'd hit her.

She'd stared at him, towering over her, telling her it was all her fault for making him crazy. And something in her had said, No.

He'd reached for her again--and she'd broken his nose, thrown him out, and called the police. She'd been damned lucky they'd believed her, since he was the one covered in blood. Of course, he'd refused to press charges, trying to hold that over her head, too. But she wasn't playing that anymore.

It hadn't been easy to get him out of her life--she really had loved him once, and old habits were hard to break, especially when she was alone, listening to his pleas on her voice mail, before she'd finally changed her number.

But she'd done it.

And she was a good agent, damn it, part of a team. But she could never forget that she was the only woman on it, besides Hetty, who had already paid her dues.

Until she reached that kind of position, Kensi couldn't allow anyone to protect her or treat her differently. And how she was treated in her personal life would definitely affect her professional one. She knew that from experience . . . and back then she hadn't actually been involved with a team member.

Sam was a good man--she knew that. He was kind and gentle and strong, As a junior agent, she had to follow his lead on cases, but he'd never held her back on the job. And he'd never tried to dominate her in their personal lives . . .

But he apparently reverted to type the moment she made a personal decision he didn't like.

Except that wasn't completely fair. She hadn't told him that Renko was bunking on her couch, and she could see how he might think she was keeping it a secret. And what would she do if he had a woman sleeping under his roof and didn't bother to mention it?

And why hadn't she told him--had it really slipped her mind? The last case had been intense, sure, but she'd known for a day or two that Mike was coming back in.

Had she wanted Sam to be jealous? Would she have been happier if he'd told her that he trusted her to do whatever she wanted to do? Was she that pathetic?

She slammed her fists onto the steering wheel.

It didn't matter. She'd blown up and walked out. Traditionally, that meant it was over.

Not that there was anything traditional about their relationship. They'd never even had an actual date--Don't Ask, Don't Tell had nothing on Don't Show, Don't Get Transferred. She hadn't minded too much in the beginning--they hadn't been involved at first, it had been an unexpected extension of their friendship, fun and comforting--and she had to admit the covert aspect had appealed to her somehow. But now they were involved, and she knew a hidden relationship wasn't what she needed, not long term.

No matter how much she loved him.

So maybe it was just as well it was over. Sam would never understand that she hadn't walked out just because he'd failed to trust her.

She'd walked out before she'd agreed to kick Mike out, just to make Sam happy.

Because she wasn't going to start that again. Not even for him.

She blew her hair out of her face, wiped her eyes, and turned the ignition. She'd go home, avoid Mike, and try to figure out how the hell to get over Sam without having a major breakdown. She had at least twelve hours before she had to see him again--oh, that was plenty of time. She chuckled and sniffed, wiping her eyes again. She'd figure out her game face and go on from there. Piece of cake.

But when Kensi reached her street, Sam's car was parked right in front for her house.

***

So? Think I can get these two back together?