"Kens?" Deeks calls out as he walks down into armory, awkwardly shoving both hands into his pockets.
He pushes the door open upon seeing her without any ear protection, and assumes it's safe to proceed.
She's not shooting her gun, she's throwing knives. Of course.
"Hey."
Her voice is quiet and low, almost shaky. Even from the angle at which Deeks is standing, he can still gather that she's misty eyed.
"You good?"
Kensi just chucks a knife towards her target at the end of the range before she turns around to face him, her aim accurate and precise.
"Not really," she says, crossing both arms.
"And why is that?"
Kensi shoots her partner a look, both eyebrows raised.
"Why do you think, Deeks? You couldn't take the shot!"
"Y-you were right in front of him!" He swallows hard, tossing both hands in the air. "There was a chance that I could've hit you, Kens. So yes, I waited to take the shot."
She shakes her head, extending one arm out towards the upper floor.
"They're gonna know something's up."
"Who? Sam and Callen?"
"Yeah, plus Nell and Eric and-"
Deeks slowly takes a step towards her, lowering his voice.
"Why does it matter?"
Kensi opens her mouth to say something, but no words will actually come out. She can't come up with a valid answer.
"Exactly," he says, placing a hand on each of her shoulders. "It doesn't matter."
"Yes it does."
"Why?"
"Because what if they don't like it?" She asks, a hint of fear creeping into her voice. "What if we can't work together anymore? What will we do then?"
Deeks shrugs, hoping that some of his calmness in regards to their newfound situation will rub off on her.
"I don't know. But whatever comes next… we'll just deal with it."
Kensi takes a deep breath, looking to the ground. "I'm not sure how this is gonna play out."
"Neither am I. But I'm sure as hell not losing you. Not now."
She lifts her gaze to meet his, her breath hitching.
"I don't want to loose you either. But I think you're being overly optimistic."
Deeks shakes his head, defiant. "That's not true."
"Than what would you call all of this?" Kensi asks, gesturing between the two of them. She can't seem to figure out how he's remaining so relaxed, as she's clearly not.
"I'm just trying to make this work."
Kensi's eyes are glossy, her voice rising.
"It's not going to work!"
He doesn't relent. "Yes, it will."
"How? How can you be so sure?"
Deeks pauses, his eyes beating directly into hers.
"Because I love you, Kensi. So that means we're going to figure it out."
She practically turns to mush right there in front of him. Nearly drops to the ground.
"You… what?"
"I love you," he repeats, hoping to engrain the statement into her memory. "So I'm gonna do whatever it takes to make this right. I'm staying with you Kens, no matter what."
She tries to take solace in his words, hoping desperately that he's telling her the truth- because she feels the exact same way.
"No matter what?" Kensi asks, eyes wide.
Deeks nods, a small smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.
"No matter what."