So..how are you guys liking this fic so far? Is the plot too confusing? Do y'all like where it's headed? Feel free to send me a PM or leave a message in a review!
Chapter Four
At midnight, Kensi decided to turn in. She was exhausted after the plane ride, although she was determined not to appear weary or worn-out. She had claimed the shower first, and Deeks had followed her. At least, he said, there was running water. Kensi agreed.
"By the way," Deeks commented as he changed his shirt yet again. "I used some of your shampoo."
Kensi rolled her eyes. "You used my Juicy Citrus shampoo?"
"It smells great." Deeks gave his head an animated shake, like maybe he was attempting to rid his ears of water. Another reason that he and Monty were similar, Kensi thought, and she couldn't help but smile. At least she had company out here, in the lonely dark woods. And she trusted Deeks. They were partners. This was what partners did—they looked out for each other.
"What side of the bed do you sleep on?" Deeks asked, stripping off his pants. Kensi looked away. Her partner might be wearing boxers, which were technically shorts and therefore it wasn't completely creepy to stare...but still. She didn't want to get caught oggling Deeks. She could imagine him taunting her for the next two months about it.
"Depends, I guess. I'm not picky." He was kind, Kensi thought. Deeks might be annoying as hell, but he had a good heart. Jesus. That sounded like something her grandmother would say.
"I'll take the right side." He offered, and Kensi was glad. It was the side closest to the windows, and the thought of sleeping beneath the cold glass frightened her, in a strange way. She slid between the thick blankets, glad that they smelled only slightly of must. At least they had warmth, if only for tonight. Kensi turned out the light and moments later the bedsprings creaked as Deeks climbed into bed next to her. It was a small bed, and she found herself closer to him than she had expected.
It was not entirely unpleasant, Kensi thought as she drifted off to sleep.
The trip of north had taken every ounce of energy out of her. Kensi slept deeply for the first time in nearly a week, curled up in the warm bed. When she woke, it was mid-morning and snow was falling fast beyond the window. That was the first thing that she realized after waking up: the falling snow. And seconds later, she realized that she was curled up next to someone. Curled up very close next to someone.
Deeks.
Mind still cloudy with sleep, Kensi shot backwards, squinting. She had practically been sprawled on Deeke's chest. He was awake. Smirking.
"You were watching me sleep?" Kensi climbed clumsily out of bed, grabbed her toothbrush and toothpaste. "Okay, I get the whole 'nice-creepy' thing you've got going, Deeks, but that's just creepy creepy."
"Hey! I didn't think that you were going to wake up anytime soon!"
"How does that make it okay?" Kensi brushed her teeth at lightening speed. "You've reached level, like, ten-thousand creepy, Deeks."
"I love you too, Kensi."
She rolled her eyes, sighing animatedly. Kensi liked the banter that they had, that easy back-and-forth. It seemed funny enough, witty, laid-back, but underneath she knew that she and Deeks could trust one another with each other's lives. It was something that she loved about their partnership—how quickly they had learned to trust each other.
Noon came and went. Kensi became antsy.
"Shouldn't our informant be here by now?" She paced under the window. "He's late. Really late."
"I'm sure that it's fine." Deeks said. Kensi noted, in the back of her mind, that it was usually Deeks stressing out about something and her doing the reassuring, rolling her eyes and telling him to calm down, that it would all be okay in the end.
"Yeah? Well, I don't know. Hetty should have given us a phone number."
"Well, she didn't." Deeks sounded terse; irritable. As if something was eating at him, too. "All we can do is wait."
"This doesn't feel—"Kensi began, but fell silent. There was no use stirring up trouble now, not when she and Deeks had another damned two months out here, trapped in the wilderness with nothing but snow and trees and quiet. "Nevermind."
Deeks went over to the little table to fiddle around with his radio. It picked up static. He cursed under his breath, twisted the knobs around a little.
"You trying to pick up KROQ?" Kensi thought fondly of LA's rock n'roll radio station, a favorite when she and Deeks were driving. It brought back memories of her childhood and teenage days, however painful and awkward they might be.
"No." Deeks snapped, then sighed. "Uh, I don't know. Anything, really. Even, like, opera, at this point."
"You don't listen to opera." Kensi laughed. She couldn't imagine anything more un-Deeks-like. Opera. "You like...hard rock. I bet you were a metal-head in high school."
"I wasn't." Deeks said, a little too quickly. Kensi flopped down in the other chair, laughing.
"You totally were! I can see it now—you wore one of those stupid denim jackets, right? And combat boots?"
"I went through a...phase...in ninth grade." Deeks rolled his eyes. "Before that, though, it was all grunge. Nirvana, Soundgarden, Pearl Jam..." He sounded wistful. "And the oldies, of course. Metallica, Zeppelin—God, when did rock die?"
"Maybe never." Kensi said. Deeks nodded, his eyes meeting hers for a brief, electric moment. "What about you? What did you dig in high school?"
"Rock," Kensi admitted. "I went through this weird phase where I really loved death metal. Norwegian. Heavy stuff. It lasted for about two weeks."
Deeks laughed. Kensi smiled, but she knew that it didn't quite reach her eyes. She had loved that death metal because it was angry, harsh. Gave her a headache to listen to it, and she never really liked it all that much. Her dad had died a few weeks ago. She needed an escape, an outlet. Deeks didn't need to know that, though, so Kensi just smiled and rolled her eyes.
Things would change soon, she thought. Alone, together...sooner or later, they would wind up knowing each other better. Kensi just hoped that she didn't have to get to know Deeks too well.
A/N: I am so, so sorry that it took about a million years to publish this! The internet in my area crashed, and it's been pretty sketchy ever since. But never fear—another chapter is on the way, dear readers! :)