A/N: Thank you for the continous support, it really well and truly drives me towards wanting to write more!
The following weeks had proved to be increasingly busy, working nonstop on cases and lacking severely in the sleep department because of the several all-nighters they had pulled because of lesser undercover operations. The agents were both physically and mentally exhausted when the first non-work weekend since the one they had had when Deeks first joined the team, now an entire month ago.
The synergy of the elite unit had increased tenfold with the addition of the shaggy haired military man. He did seem like the perfect fit for the team, the military part appeased the navy SEAL, the ability to somehow blend in to any environment appeased the former CIA agent turned team leader, and, well, everything appeased the only female agent on the team.
Because of the incredible busy schedule that the team had performed under, Kensi and Deeks had not been able to spend hardly any time together outside of work, which, because of their agreement, meant that they had not had any time to further explore the aspects of their relationship, if you could call it that yet… their thing seemed like a better non-descriptive way to relate to it, at least for the time being, until the two had fully worked out what exactly was between them.
They had agreed to try and remedy that fact this weekend, having no plans except for spending time together, doing whatever they felt like. Deeks had, however, made Kensi promise not to be steadfast on whatever sappy movie was showing on television, claiming that they needed to spend time together outside of their apartments and off the job. She pouted slightly at that, but it bore no weight, as she knew he was right in thinking that.
...
The Friday evening was spent like they had the first week he had joined the team, on the couch with her precious rocky road ice cream, which he sometimes managed to steal a spoonful of. Deeks had quickly learnt to keep it in stock in his freezer. Despite half-heartedly arguing against the choice of movie, he eventually gave in and let Kensi pick another sappy one to watch.
He woke up to an unfamiliar feeling of someone pressed up against him, and in his groggy, sleepy state it took longer than he would care to admit to figure out that he had fallen asleep on the couch with his beautiful partner. Trapped between the back of the couch and Kensi, he decided to just close his eyes and revel in the comfort that waking up alongside her gave him.
About an hour later, Kensi started to awaken from her slumber, feeling the closeness on her backside she pressed further back without conscious thought, wanting to prolong the feeling of safety and contempt that she felt in the moment, knowing her partner was right behind her.
"Morning sleepyhead," he whispered, the heat of his breath on her neck and ear and the slight touch of his scruff sent tingling feelings down her spine and through her entire body.
"Just a few more minutes," she mumbled back, not yet ready to leave the comfort of having his body so close, she scooted her body even more flush up against him.
He chuckled at her antics, enjoying spending time together and learning all her facets, such as her definitely not being a morning person. Thinking to himself, that her love of food might be the best, and safest, way to ease her sleepy form into action, he decided to be a good… friend, boyfriend? Titles are such a hassle in these instances, he laughed inwardly. Anyways, he wanted to make breakfast for them.
Nudging her slightly so he could extract himself from the valley that had been created the pillows and her.
"What are you doing?" An annoyed, half-sleeping Kensi asked him.
"I figured it wouldn't be safe to try and wake you up without making some breakfast?" He cooed.
"S'ok then." She responded sleepily, moving slightly to make room for him to get up, before taking up all the warm space now left for her.
He took a moment to just look at the gorgeous, snoozing woman before he went into his kitchen and started absentmindedly making some breakfast frittatas. Midway through he heard some movement towards the kitchen, but he did not turn around. Aware that she was watching him, he let her indulge the view as he had previously. He was rewarded when he felt a pair of arms sneaking around his midsection, she leaned her head between his shoulder blades and hummed contently.
"Smells good," she expressed in a low murmur.
She loosened her hold on him slightly and he turned around, still in her embrace. Before either knew what had happened he stole a kiss, not long enough to be heated but not chaste either. She just smiled at him, unable to find words in that moment.
"Hopefully it'll live up to your expectations then."
The double meaning of what he said not lost on either of them. Their relationship, their thing. Somehow it made her feel better that he shared the same doubts surrounding the commitment as she did.
They drove around to Kensi's place to pick up a change of clothes and a book to read. They then headed towards the ocean, and spent most of the day relaxing at the beach. Deeks continuously attempted to coerce her into trying surfing, but she claimed she was content with reading and watching him battle the waves. The evening was spent with some Yummi Yummi Heart Attack, a greasy favourite of Kensi's, and soon to be one of Deeks' as well, and watching mindless reality TV. Programs that would usually have Deeks pulling out his hair by the root, but somehow seemed manageable and almost okay in the company of the woman currently cuddled into him.
Sunday morning started much like the day prior, with the two of them cuddled together on the couch, although this time there was no momentary confusion from Deeks, who, as usual, was up at daybreak. He manages to wiggle out of the embrace of the woman he had come to care a great deal about in a very short time. It must be the fact that he is back home for good and could for once attempt to set down roots, he thought to himself and smiled.
After visiting his restroom, he moved silently into the kitchen to start making breakfast, wanting to continue the trend of bribing the sleepy woman with food when waking up. Deciding to appeal more to her sweet tooth this morning. Deeks settled on pancakes for breakfast, something he had not made in what seemed like forever, but with a recipe that simple, it is hard to forget how to make.
"Good morning!" He chirped in a voice much too cheerful for Kensi considering the time.
She was about to retort with some snappy saying when she smell of the food permeated the living room, in which she was sleeping.
"Is that pancakes?" She asked, slowly sitting up and stretching, even as comfortable it was sleeping next to Deeks, the same compliment could not be given for sleeping on a couch.
"Yup! With syrup and sugar on the side. Wasn't sure what you'd prefer" He sat down next to her and pressed a kiss to her temple, "Didn't think it'd be safe to wake you without food." He chucked.
Kensi had already demolished the first pancake. "Good choice," she said, and started on number two, with her mouth full, she mumbled a, "Thank you."
After cleaning up breakfast and taking showers… separately, even though Deeks jokingly asked if she wanted to join him, she had blushed but declined the offer, steadfast on approaching this relationship in a slow manner to ensure it working out. They decided to play tourists in their own city, knowing that it would take several weekends to see everything, but liking the idea that they would have a project of sorts to work on as a couple. Seeing as Deeks had been travelling all over the world for more than the past decade, never home more than a few weeks at a time, barring injuries, he never really had time to go sightseeing in Los Angeles. Of course Deeks insisted on starting said sightseeing with Venice Beach, followed by an afternoon at Santa Monica Pier.
When the sky started darkening, they decided to grab something to eat. Picking a small restaurant Kensi knew, just off the beaten path, they got settled in a cosy booth. The restaurant had an old western flair to it without going too overboard. It obviously appealed to a wide audience seeing as there were families with small children, a few younger couples as well as a quite a few other groups taking up most of the booths, all having a great time.
Even though it seemed very busy, the service was excellent and the food even greater. They both had decided on the restaurant's speciality, a porterhouse steak with a side of oven-baked potatoes and a red wine sauce. Deeks had to call it quits at one point, but Kensi of course managed to down her entire meal, even stealing a few of his potatoes in the process, but for once opting out of having any dessert.
They sat for quite a while talking, even after finishing their meals, neither wanted to leave the comfortable bubble they had created around them and end their evening together.
Finally willing himself to move on from the magically world that was Kensi, Deeks tried to grab the attention of their waiter to get the bill. As he did, the door to the establishment was opened forcefully, and a voice yelled into the crowd, "Everybody stay where you are, eyes down and shut up! This is a robbery!"
A second man chimed in, "Everyone do as you're told and nobody is going to get hurt!"
Quickly assessing the situation Kensi noticed that there were three robbers in total, one hastily moving towards the register and the two others making their way around to the patrons, collecting their phones, watched, and jewellery. She quickly relayed this information to her partner since he was sitting with his back to the action, and turning around would have been too suspicious.
Even though they had only been working together for roughly a month, they had already learnt to communicate with one another through their eyes and slight movements, undetectable unless one was specifically looking for it. Wordlessly deciding that their best option would be to wait for the two collecting valuables from the customers to make their way to their table and then strike.
Deeks moved his phone onto the table, but away from the edge of said table, which would force the robber to reach past him to get it. Kensi picked up on this, and nodded to him, signalling that she knew to take out the one holding the bag of valuables, each taking care of one, then dealing with the last accomplice.
The moment came when the two men reached their table and the larger of the two scowled at Deeks but reached over him none the less. Deeks made his move, pulling the reaching arm further in causing the man to slightly lose balance, using the shock from being grabbed, Deeks took his left and knocked the guy's head into the table making him stumble backwards. Having the suspect dazed, Deeks grabbed the man's gun arm, locking his wrist causing him to drop his weapon and taking him to the ground within seconds, as he landed on the ground a swift punch from the Master Sergeant rendered him unconscious.
As Deeks pulled the man's arm, Kensi stood up, and quickly kicked the other robber's popliteal, forcing him down on one knee. She quickly placed another kick at the perpetrator's hand, also forcing him to lose his weapon. Having disarmed the man, she used her height advantage on him, manoeuvring past his shoddy defence and behind him to sink in a rear naked choke, leaving him unconscious in seconds as well.
Before he was able to register what had just happened to his two accomplices, the third, and last, robber found himself staring down the barrels of two Sig Sauer P229 E2s, the standard carrying weapons for the NCIS agents. Realizing that he was both outnumbered, out positioned, and outgunned, he laid down his own pistol in surrender. Deeks kicked away the weapon and kept his gun trained on him whilst Kensi phoned in the event to both LAPD and NCIS.
Thirty minutes later both LAPD and their teammates were on the scene, as protocol dictates when agents are involved in any type of crime. The three would have been robbers were cuffed and handed over to the officers on scene for processing.
"Sooo… what were you two doing here on a Sunday evening?" Callen asked.
Unsure of weather or not the team lead had picked up on the relationship they had, but not wanting to give anything away in case he had not, they looked at each other, silently agreeing to attempt to keep their status a secret in the event, that he did now have any knowledge of it yet.
Using his well-practiced humorous facade, Deeks answered first, "Pretty sure we were eating."
"You know what I meant." He shot back, no malice in his words, seemingly just curious, but perhaps an agenda of digging for information behind the questioning.
"He owed me dinner." Kensi lied easily.
"Yup. Lost a bet a few weeks back on who could eat a burger the fastest, and since we've been so busy the last few weeks, she didn't have a time to cash in on it until now." Deeks shrugged his shoulders, following up the lie, perfectly in sync with his partner.
Sam laughed at him, "You know how Kensi eats, and you still took the bet?"
"She doesn't eat, Sam. She devours food." Callen chimed in with the banter.
"Hey!" She attempted to protest, but knowing they were technically correct, she left it at that.
Her three co-workers just laughed at her half-hearted attempt at protesting, and followed her lead, leaving it at that. Both Callen and Sam appeared to be pleased with the answer they had been given as to why the two youngest members of the team were spending a Sunday evening together.
When they were finally finished with both giving and taking witness statements at the restaurant, it was just past eleven and the team said their goodbyes and 'see you tomorrows.' Seeing as they had driven there in Kensi's SRX, they both walked towards where they had previously parked.
Halfway between the car and the restaurant, Deeks realised that he had completely forgotten to pay for the meal they had just shared. Kensi tried to convince him that it would be just fine, but he was having none of it, and insisted on running back to quickly have that taken care of. She could only roll her eyes at him, when not undercover he was honest to a fault.
He returned not even five minutes later slightly out of breath, and told her what the manager had told him, that she had not only insisted on him not paying, but also pushed that they were to come back and eat for free any time they wanted to. Happy that he made the right decision to go back, they made their way to the Cadillac and now found themselves in the parking lot outside Deeks' apartment, once more having her drop him off.
She looked almost sad when he reached for the handle to let himself out of the car, and he stopped in his tracks and turned towards her, gently lifting her chin with his index finger and thumb, "I had a really great weekend, Kens." He said softly.
That made her smile slightly, but it did not reach her eyes, "Yeah… me too."
"What's bothering you?" He nudged, able to read her expression flawlessly.
She sighed, "It's just that… I really hated having to lie to the guys tonight."
"Me too." He confessed, before gently moving his and to caress her cheek, "But I think it's important that we figure out us,before having to prove we can work together whilst being in a… before having them also judge us for having this… thing."
"I know, I know," she mumbled under her breath and moved her hand to where he was caressing her cheek and placed it over his. "I know we've agreed to take it slow, but… these last weeks haven't really let us have any time together outside of work and… and I kinda want us to progress a bit." She confessed shyly to him.
He, too, was feeling uncomfortable. They were finally able to air some of the thoughts they had regarding their relationship, partnership, whatever. Neither of them was very good at that, both so used to bottling up their emotions and dealing with them alone, and her confession left an uncomfortable silence for a few seconds before Deeks spoke up.
"Why don't you come in with me and spend the night?"
She just quirked her eyebrow at him, she had spent the night at his place, the last two nights in fact.
He clarified, "The couch doesn't count. Why don't we sleep in my bed? Together. Just sleep."
She knew this was one of the next few logical steps they could take, but having him ask her directly had sucked out all remaining air in her lungs. When he noticed her being at a loss for words, he pushed gently, "You have your go bag in your car, and we can get up early tomorrow to go to your place to freshen up and change into new clothes before heading into work."
Considering his arguments she realised, that she really did not have any good, or even decent, reasons not to agree with what he was saying. "Okay," she finally agreed, barely above a whisper. The acceptance was enough to bring out the sight that was quickly becoming one of Kensi's favourite, his wide, joyous smile, and she suddenly felt such a confidence in him, in herself, in them. It would work out, whatever happened they would work out.
Stepping out of the vehicle, she decided to bring back some of the banter that always seemed to take leave of absence whenever they were discussing their thing. "Only sleeping, Deeks!" She faux threatened.
"I'll be the perfect gentleman, scouts honours!"
She bumped his shoulder and laughed at him, "You were never a boy scout, were you?"
He shrugged nonchalantly and flashed his cheeky grin, "Doesn't mean I can't respect their honour system."
She could not do anything but laugh at his silly antics, a hearty, warm laugh that softened Deeks to the very core filling him with warmth beyond belief. He found himself pondering how he got to this exact moment, how he had become so lucky to find a woman like Kensi, who not only were amazing beyond any comprehension, but who could also understand, and appreciate, the military background that he had, and what he had been through. What he had been through, he got stuck at that part, because she really did not know exactly what he had gone through. All his Special Operation Group missions were one thing, he did not have any qualms regarding those. No. Where he was nervous was regarding his childhood, knowing he would soon have to share his past with her, and just hope that she would still be able to look at him the same way as before.
He was pulled out of his thoughts when Kensi gently leaned into him and wrapped one of her arms behind his back and the other around his midsection. Suddenly all his doubts about letting her into his past dissolved and he rejoiced in having her near him.
He closed the door behind them and they immediately started getting ready for sleep, both absolutely exhausted after a day of playing tourists combined with the adrenalin surge they had during the attempted robbery at the restaurant. He left her to get ready in the bedroom whilst he went to change in his bathroom.
A few minutes later and they were both lying in bed, he had made sure to leave ample space between them when he laid down keeping his word to be the perfect gentleman, but she had immediately scooted over to him and moved his arm over her midsection, making the choices for him. That was the best nights sleep they had both had in a very, very long time.