Title: Feels Like Home

Chapter 4: Drinks and a Dinner Date

Rating: T

Summary: This story is a lot of Densi fluff with some scenes with the other characters thrown in. It is my happy version of what takes place when Kensi gets home from Afghanistan. It is probably a lot different from what will actually happen, but it is keeping me busy until we get some new episodes. This chapter begins later the same night of chapter 3. I hope you like it. Please feel free to review.

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

Drinks and a Dinner Date

"Kensi, you're up," Deeks summons her back to the dart game they had begun against Sam and Michelle about an hour ago.

"Hang on," she calls to him from the bar then adds, "Do you guys want anything?"

Michelle holds up her beer and says, "I'll take another."

"Guess that makes us the designated drivers," Sam smiles at Callen glad his wife and everyone around them are enjoying a night out. "What about you?" he asks Deeks. "You good?"

"Ice tea," Deeks reveals holding up his drink, "and not the fun kind."

"We need to do this more often," Eric insists as he puts an arm around Nell's shoulders and the other around Kensi's.

"Yes, we do," Kensi agrees clinking her glass to Eric's and a little of it sloshes over the side.

"I love dancing to this song!" Kensi exclaims enthusiastically as Kesha's 'Die Young' comes on. "Callen want to take over for me?" she asks as she sets her drink on the table near the dart game and grabs Nell's hand to lead her back out on the small dance floor at the bar.

"This definitely is the fun kind," Deeks comments taking a sip of Kensi's drink. "No wonder her aim has been so off. Catch us up Callen," he encourages handing G the darts.

After the dart game Kensi gets Callen on the dance floor before finding Deeks again and getting him back out there. She feels light and free as he spins her around to Madonna's "Open Your Heart." She's not thinking about Afghanistan or feeling trapped by the burdens, fear, or loneliness she had been feeling for the past three months. As everyone comes back to the table for a little breather Kensi declares, "I think it's a good thing Hetty left. I'm getting a little tipsy."

"Me too," Nell adds airily.

"No? really?" Sam teases them then buys one more round. They talk and laugh late into the night.

"I have to pee," Michelle announces near 1:00 a.m. Kensi and Nell agree a visit to the bathroom sounds like a good idea.

"Should I be worried?" Deeks wonders aloud at the very uncharacteristic behavior Kensi is displaying as the ladies hang onto each other and giggle and stumble their way to the bathroom. Maybe he spoke too soon when he said Kensi was good. Usually she is the first one to worry about designated drivers and he's seen her tipsy because some days she can be tipsy after 2 drinks, but he's never seen her this close to drunk.

"We've all been buying her drinks. I'm sure tonight could have something to do with Afghanistan, but on the other hand she could just be having a fun night out," Callen reasons.

"One night of overindulgence isn't cause for worry," Same assures him.

Kensi leans down, wraps an arm around Deeks from behind, and kisses him on the cheek when she returns from the restroom. "One more round," she suggests. Deeks gently keeps hold of her arm as she straightens and guides her around to sit on his lap.

"How bout I take you home beautiful," he suggests instead. He's pretty sure from the way she was dancing with him earlier that she'll be interested.

"Remember a long time ago when you said you'd be able to pick me up in a bar," she reminisces.

"I do," he says smiling at the memory. His eyes dart around the table and he sees in the humorous expressions on Sam and Callen's faces that they remember too. "Did I succeed?" he asks suddenly feeling as if the heat has been turned on in the bar.

"Let's go lover boy." She gives him a quick peck on the lips then says thanks and goodnight to everyone. As soon as they are in the car she leans over and places kisses along his jaw line before moving to his neck. He turns the car off again as she tries to maneuver into his lap and he chuckles at how his fantasy is coming true.

"Kensi, Princess," he tries to get her attention between kisses. "It's not that I'm not loving this, because I am," he assures her not wanting to incur the wrath of Kensi Blye. "So much," he groans as she slides her hand up his thigh. "It's just you're going to start feeling pretty crappy any time now and it might be a good idea to get you home before that happens."

Since she is already feeling quite dizzy, she lets Deeks give her one more kiss and gently guide her back into the passenger seat.

"The room is spinning," Kensi complains as Deeks comes into the bedroom from the bathroom once they are back at his place.

"Put one foot on the floor," he suggests as he throws her a t-shirt to sleep in.

"Why did I do this?" she groans clutching her churning stomach as she sits up to change into his t-shirt.

"Because it feels good until it doesn't," Deeks replies matter of factly as he undresses and climbs into bed next to her.

"I shouldn't have drank so much in front of Callen and Sam and Hetty," she laments as she slides under the covers.

Here's the Kensi I know and love Deeks thinks as he reassures her, "They were all buying you drinks Kens. I'm sure they think nothing of you getting a little drunk." He knows the others think nothing of it. He's the one that's starting to get a little worried. He's starting to notice signs that Kensi is more affected than she is letting on by what happened in Afghanistan.

When she bolts upright in bed a few hours later Deeks is first afraid she is going to be sick from the amount of alcohol she consumed. Then, he remembers the same thing happened the previous night. She is breathing hard, trembling, and her fists clutch the sheets.

"Kensi, what's wrong?" Deeks whispers as he props himself up on his elbow and places a hand on her thigh.

"I can't," she says in a shaky voice as she tries to slow down her breathing and heartbeat.

"You know you can tell me anything," he pushes a little harder than the previous night.

"I don't want to talk about it," she insists as she lies back down facing away from him. She might not be ready to tell him what has given her nightmares, but she does accept his comfort as he pulls her against his bare chest and kisses her hair. She rests her arm over the one he has wrapped around her waist. When he feels the weight lift off his arm for a few seconds and then return, he can only assume she is wiping away a few tears.

"Kensi," Deeks whispers in her ear coming back to bed after letting a whining Monty outside. "Kensi," he tries again this time tickling her ear as he does it. She awakens with the happy realization that some things will never change. "I know you're awake. Wanna go surfing?" he asks resting a hand on her shoulder. Her only response is a displeased grunt at being woken up.

He slides his hand down to her hip and suggestively encourages, "how about we…"

He is interrupted with a soft elbow to the gut that reflects her headache, dry mouth, and sour stomach and not her even happier realization of how much has changed.

"Guess that's a no," he grumbles as he lovingly rubs his thumb over her hipbone.

"I need sleep," she tells him as she buries her head further in her pillow, "but you can go if you want."

"Nah, I like sleep, plus it's getting too late in the morning anyway." The truth is he's not ready to be away from her yet.

"Morning Sunshine," Deeks greets Kensi over his newspaper as she wanders into the living room around 11:00 a.m. later that morning. "There's coffee," he informs her earning a smile and a, "Morning."

He gets up and follows her into the kitchen and gets her two aspirin and a glass of water. "There's cereal, or I can make you peanut butter toast," he offers knowing she likes that when she isn't feeling well.

"You don't have to baby me Deeks. I'm fi… I'm good." As she accepts the offered aspirin and water their eyes meet and she can see that he knows she is lying. She can also see that he isn't going to push and will patiently wait for her to tell him and will be there for her when she needs him.

That afternoon Kensi and Deeks spend the longest time apart since she's been home. They decide to have a real date with them getting ready at separate places and Deeks picking her up at 6:00 for drinks and a nice dinner. Kensi sorts through her mail and watches a few things on her DVR before she starts to get ready. She leaves her hair down and wavy just pulling back a little bit on each side into a clip in the back, since she knows Deeks likes it that way. She adds some makeup especially to accentuate her eyes. She chooses a dress that she wore on an op the first year she and Deeks were partners. Last she adds earrings and a bracelet.

Deeks knocks at precisely 6:00.

"Wow," he breathes when she opens the door. He didn't think she could be any more beautiful, but tonight she is absolutely stunning.

Her heart flutters at the sight of Deeks in a suit holding flowers in his hand that are for her.

"I know you don't like them," he almost apologizes holding them out to her, "but I couldn't think of anything else."

"They're beautiful," she assures him as she accepts the dozen red roses and takes in their sweet smell. "I might be able to change my mind about flowers," she adds smiling at him over her shoulder as she moves to the kitchen to find a vase.

"You look stunning," Deeks remembers to voice his earlier thought. He rests a hand on her lower back as she fills the vase with water.

"Thank you," she replies.

"So stunning in fact," he teases trailing his fingers up her back and playing with the zipper on her dress as his lips zero in on her neck.

"Oh no, no, no," she shimmies out of his reach even though his touch sends pleasant shivers of desire through her body. "You are not getting any of this until you take me to dinner," she proclaims as she gestures to her body. "We are dressed up and we are going out on a real date to eat little portions of very rich and expensive food where we do not have to pretend to be other people and where I don't have to fight anyone, seduce anyone, or get shot at."

"Ok, but maybe a little seduction," he teases as he hands her her purse.

At dinner Deeks laughs so hard at a story Kensi is telling about a conversation she had with Granger over in Afghanistan he almost chokes on his steak.

"Now that's a good one liner," he chokes out and congratulates Kensi by holding up his wine glass in salute to her. She clinks her glass to his as he is still sputtering and trying to take a drink of water with his other hand.

"You okay," she asks reaching for the hand that just released his wine glass.

"Worth it," he replies still chuckling and choking.

"Just so you know I'm considering this our second date and it's by far the best second date I've ever had," she compliments as she stares into his eyes and her thumb circles over the back of his hand.

"Mine too," he concurs squeezing her hand.

As much as she wanted to come out with him tonight, Kensi is also still adjusting to being home and the crowded restaurant is a bit overwhelming for her. As they finish their dinner she realizes she wants to be at home with just him.

"Should we get dessert to go?" she suggests trying to cover her anxiety by making it sound suggestive.

"Sure, everything okay?" he asks suddenly worried. He isn't buying that she wants to leave only because she wants him.

"Yeah, it's just…" she tries to find the words as she glances around the restaurant. "I'm…" she struggles.

"It's okay," Deeks assures her softly as her hand trembles under his. "We'll go."

As they leave the restaurant he slips his suit coat over her shoulders to help protect her from the chill in the evening air and hoping to make her feel safe.

"How about a fire," Deeks suggests when they get to his place. Kensi greets Monty and puts their leftovers and desserts in the fridge as he lays logs in the fireplace. She lays Deeks's jacket over the arm of the couch, then sits back to enjoy the view of his muscular back as he is hunched over getting the flames going.

Deeks joins her on the couch and wraps his arm around her.

"Better?" he asks.

"A little," she replies snuggling into his chest. "Sometimes everything just feels so overwhelming. The job…I don't' know… I just feel kind of lost," she admits some of her thoughts even if they are scattered and not complete.

"That's how I felt," he quietly reminds her that he went through something similar not very long ago. "Just let me know what I can do."

"You already are," she says gratefully.

"You must really like me," Deeks teases awhile later after Kensi feeds him a bite of her cake. "You're sharing chocolate."

"Haha," she replies sarcastically. He offers her a bite of carrot cake then takes one himself. She sets her half eaten cake on the table and leans back into him again. She reaches up and caresses his close shaven beard as she guides his lips to hers. The kisses are long, slow, and literally sweet. "Tastes good," she whispers as she starts to unbutton his shirt. "I like the suit," she adds kissing his chest.

When the couch becomes too restrictive for their foreplay, Deeks spreads a blanket on the floor for them in front of the fireplace.

Later as the fire is dying and hair tickles his stomach as she places soft kisses on it, Deeks wonders how he got so lucky. "You are so beautiful," awe present in his voice as he runs a hand through her hair and down her back. When she doesn't respond Deeks realizes her lips are pressed to the scar on his chest from one of his bullet wounds. "Hey, where'd you go Kens?" he asks gently as he brings his hand back up into her hair.

"How are we going to do this?" she asks looking up into his eyes. "I don't think I could handle it if anything happened to you."

"I know," he empathizes sliding his hand to her cheek as she comes up to lay her head next to his and he turns on his side so they are facing each other still. "But could we handle it even if we hadn't made love, even if we weren't together?" he asks. He cared for her long before he slept with her.

"No," she replies honestly. She's known for a long time that he is more than a partner and friend to her and that losing him would be catastrophic for her. "I know we can't go back. I don't want to. I just don't know how to go forward."

"We'll take it one day at a time. We'll enjoy it." He leans over and places a soft kiss on her lips to emphasize his point. "We'll figure it out," he promises as she laces her fingers through his.