A/N – Many thanks for the reviews and encouragement. Means more than you can imagine right now.

As you may be able to tell, the bunnies are also loving the reviews and seem to be getting a little happier with popping in to help on chapters.

Thanks to TwilightPony21 for an idea she gave me a couple of chapters ago – that Alex should help convince Kensi to go on a second date. Well, the bunnies liked the idea and ran with it, only parallel to the original idea so here goes nothing.

Hope you enjoy these snippets for this episode. I've put in italics the time frame for comparison to the episode just to keep things clear.

Disclaimer in Chapter 4

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Chapter 7 – Keepin' it Real

(pre-episode)

"You should tell him."

Kensi jumped a couple of inches off her seat and turned toward the all too familiar voice as her hand went over her heart in some misguided attempt to slow it down.

"James," she said sternly.

"Kensi." His look and tone was about as innocent as a child caught with their hand in the cookie jar but not caring at all that they had been caught.

Kensi shook her head in mock irritation. He'd never really responded to that tone.

"Tell him what?" She sat back on the couch and took some quiet deep breaths.

"What you told Nate," James said. "The real reason you don't go on second dates."

"You were there?"

James lifted his eyebrows. "I didn't need to be there. I know you, Kensi Blye. The good, the bad and the gorgeous."

Kensi dropped her head back on the couch. "You know I don't know what's worse. That you know so much – especially after … you know … you died. Or that my heart is still racing because I got scared by a ghost."

James chuckled. "I'm not a ghost."

"A figment of my imagination then." Kensi groaned. "That's even worse. I'd never live this down if the guys at work found out."

"Lucky they won't. I'm not telling anyone. And, honestly, I prefer Angel or subconscious apparition or even spiritual guide. Ghost and figment of your imagination don't do it for me."

Now it was Kensi's turn to chuckle. "So what is my reason then? For not doing second dates, Mr Oh-So-Wise Angel of mine."

"Guilty. You still loved me."

"I still do," she admitted softly.

"I know," James said in that gentle voice that had brought her back from the brink of despair more than once. "But it's different now and you don't feel guilty anymore. You have no reason to … now or then."

"So call me an irrational female then."

James laughed and shook his head. "I would but I remember your punches could hurt and I'm not game to find out if my angel status negates that kind of inflicted pain."

And with that teasing remark, somehow, in the way that was just James, he took the last of the tension out of her. Because she had been tense, she had been worrying about how things were going with Callen and the whole dating thing. Which was probably why she'd jumped so much when he popped in. She'd been so lost in her own thoughts. "So I should just go on a second date. Say yes and let it happen."

"Good grief no." James grinned at the look on her face. "Make the man work for it. You did me. Let me enjoy the entertainment of seeing how he gets around you."

"You would enjoy that, would you?"

"I would enjoy anything that makes you happy, Kensi Marie Blye. Now think about it. He's come a long way with you. Perhaps it's time for you to take another step of your own toward him."

James lent over and kissed her on the cheek.

"James."

"Yeah?

"Promise me you'll stay out of my sessions with Nate."

James paused before he grinned cheekily and finally answered her.

"I promise I'll stay out of your sessions. But I can't promise that I'll stay out of your head. You're far too irresistible."

Kensi closed her eyes, smiled and shook her head. When she opened them again, James was gone.


(During episode)

"Do you think she knows?"

"Who knows?" Callen frowned, confusion on clear on his face at Kensi's question.

"Hetty."

"What could Hetty possibly know?" A smile twitched on Callen's lips as he realised what he had said. Because everyone knows Hetty knows just about everything.

Kensi grabbed Callen's arm and pulled him to a stop before they entered the hotel. "That we were here?"

"Kenz, we paid cash for the room. We didn't even drive our cars here. No one could possibly know."

"Yeah but Hetty's not no one. What if she was here when we were?" Hetty had mentioned that this was a great place for a staycation and it definitely seemed like she had actually been here before.

"Kenz. Stop. What did we do when we were here?" Callen raised his eyebrows suggestively and ran a quick heated gaze over her.

Kensi didn't quite know what to say to that as memories of their first night together flooded her mind.

"We didn't leave the room," Callen continued. "Not even to check out the rooftop pool at night. The mojitos were from room service. We didn't go to the bar and when we arrived and left we checked things thoroughly before going anywhere. Hetty wasn't here." He frowned. He'd left before here. "You did check things right when you left?"

"Of course I did," Kensi replied with a slight roll of her eyes. "And, since I was late," she emphasised late so he knew he was still in trouble for not waking her properly, "Hetty would have already been at the office when I left anyway."

"There you go. Hetty couldn't possibly know. Score one for us."

"You know what, I think I'd be willing to place a bet that she does know."

"What do I get when I win?"Callen asked.

Kensi smiled. "Who said you'd win?"

"Hetty doesn't know. But when I win, I get that second date. We come back and check out that pool." Callen pulled her close. "Alone and forget the swimmers."

Kensi felt her blood heat at the look in his eyes. She took a deep breath and saw the desire flare in his eyes as her breasts rose and fell against his chest. "Why is it that is sounding like a bet I wouldn't mind losing, just as long as you can guarantee no one else is around?" she asked softly.

"Oh I'm pretty sure I can guarantee that." Callen waited, patiently hoping for an agreement for that second date, though with her body pressed against his and her lips so close, he also had other things on his mind.

Kensi cleared her throat. "Umm, we should get back to work."

"Hmm, work?"

"Yeah. You know that thing we do daily that we aren't supposed to be letting our personal relationship interfere with."

Callen nodded as he managed to follow her conversation, at least a little. "Or else Hetty will split us up," he added.

"That would be the one."

"Then what are you waiting for, Special Agent Blye?"

"You to let me go Special Agent in Charge Callen."

"Oh."


(post episode)

Callen made his way back to Kensi's after handing over the cash to Agent Giordano. Kensi opened the door at his knock, smiled and stepped back to let him pass.

"Hi," she said.

When Callen didn't step through the door, Kensi frowned.

"What's up?"

"Nothing. Just… Come have dinner with me."

The end of her recent conversation with James flashed through her mind.

"A Date?" Kensi queried with a smile.

"No. Just dinner."

Kensi studied Callen's face for a few moments, but she couldn't read him. Something was up. "All right," she agreed and grabbed her handbag and jacket.

Twenty minutes later they were seated in a secluded spot in a small Italian restaurant near the beach.

Callen hadn't said much on the drive or since they had been seated. He seemed preoccupied.

After a few minutes Kensi prodded. "Callen? What's going on?"

Callen looked back to her. "I'm sorry. Just … I was thinking about Alex… and about you."

"Why?"

"Agent Giordano."

"Ah." Kensi nodded. "The flirty FBI Agent."

Callen smiled a little. "She never stood a chance against you."

"So Hetty suggested."

"She never stood a chance against Alex either. Even if they did look similar."

"So you were a little interested?" Kensi fought back the jealousy that flared. She'd been fighting with it most of this op since she'd realised Agent Giordano was interested in Callen.

Callen shook his head. "She reminded me of Alex and I guess I responded to that a little. The blonde hair, cop factor." Callen shrugged. "That was where the similarity ended though. Giordano was forceful and pushy – not flirty."

"You flirted back."

"She didn't respond to the 'Don't go there' vibe." Callen smiled softly and Kensi knew he was thinking about Alex. "Alex on the other hand could read me like a book. She might not have known at the beginning what I was up to but she always knew I was up to something. She could also take a hint. But then I could read her too so knew when to continue even when she said she wasn't interested."

"She said no often?"

"Yeah. First date was a while in the making."

"Would you have pushed if you hadn't been able to read her?"

Callen shook his head. "No. Well at least I would have probably taken a different tactic with her. Tried to make friends first rather than push the date thread."

"You know," Kensi said gently, "you haven't talked much about the relationship you had with her."

"I know. And I want to change that. I don't want secrets. I know that you know Alex isn't a threat. But she was a big part of my life and I want you to know that part of me. That part I can give you. Some parts of my life I can't. I don't even know some of them."

Kensi could sense the discontent he felt, not knowing so much about his childhood or family.

"Whatever you want to give," she said by way of encouragement.

"Alex was so easy to read and she loved her job, as awful as it was. She had such a soft and gentle way about her – and I don't mean physically. Unlike Giordano who was harsh, brash and determined to steam-roll her way to what she wanted. There was something about Alex. I could never put my finger on a word to describe it but she was approachable, comforting, accepting. Once, I saw her questioning a kid who'd been through some pretty bad stuff. He'd clammed up so tight he wouldn't say a word to anyone, not even his name. Yet she got him to talk. It amazed me that she managed to make this kid feel so safe that he opened up to her."

Callen smiled. "I'm pretty sure she used that technique on me too, only it wasn't really a technique. It was a look and tone to her voice that just smashed through any barriers and made you believe in the impossible."

"She sounds pretty great."

Callen nodded. "She had a hopeless poker face for interrogation so Nathan usually took care of that. You couldn't read him in an interview even if you had a manual. But, if the case was seriously close to her heart, there was no one more terrifying to be faced with than Alex angry and questioning."

Callen reached across the table and took her hand.

"Kenz, You're not like Alex, yet you are. You are so different but you've both given me something to live for. Someone to trust and to love. Someone to have faith in and depend on. And not just as a team mate. This is different, this is personal and it's something I will always treasure."

"I think I would have liked her."

"I know you would have."

"Yeah, I would've. She gave you to me so she can't be all bad."

Callen chuckled and picked up the wine glass. Kensi followed and waited.

"To the two women of my life. My past and my future. Both who are amazing cops and I couldn't imagine anyone handling me better than the two of you." He grinned. "And God or someone else help me if you two ever gang up on me again. I don't stand a chance."

They touched glasses and took a sip. Kensi lowered hers and tried to wipe away the tears that had dripped onto her cheeks. She knew how closed off Callen usually was from personal relationships and to have him admit how much he treasured her input into his laugh had been the undoing of her calm exterior. Callen noticed and leaned across the table to take care of it.

"I'm mean it Kenz. I love you and I trust you." While he was still leaning over he asked, "So Kensi Blye, how about that second date? Give me a chance to fix the mistakes of the first one."

Kensi cleared her throat. "Hypothetically, if I agreed, what would you change?"

Callen sat back and smiled. "One, I'd make sure we didn't have to go to work the next day."

"Why didn't you do that this time?"

"Because I didn't want to wait six weeks to take you out and the hotel was booked up that far."

Kensi nodded slightly in conciliation of the fact that she wouldn't have wanted to wait that long either. "Two?"

"Two, I think we should skip the dancing and make the most of the pool as previously mentioned."

"This is sounding promising. Anything else you'd like to change?"

"Definitely improve on the morning wake up."

"Deal."

"Deal?" Callen repeated surprised that she had already agreed. He had more up his sleeve to help.

"Deal," Kensi repeated.


A/N 2 - For those unsure who James is, (that would be those who have only popped into this story and not read Letting Go) he is Kensi's Fiance who died and she still sees, a little like Callen still sees Alex. I hope you enjoyed meeting him.