Story: Their Thing
Chapter 9: Cleaning Up
Rating: K+
Disclaimer: I do not own NCIS LA or any of the characters.
Summary: This chapter takes place the day after Blye, K part 2 and also the day after chapter 8 in this series.
Cleaning Up
Deeks groans and stretches in his chair in the Office of Special Projects bullpen. As he lowers his arms from above his head, he checks his watch for the 8th time in the past hour. Sam and Callen had discreetly headed to the gym an hour ago and Deeks had been antsy ever since. He had tried to get Kensi to disappear with him to meet the guys for a game of 2 on 2, but she had solemnly stated that she wanted to finish up the paperwork on her case and put it behind her. As much as Deeks loves basketball, he didn't want to leave her alone.
"5:30 which means its quitting time," he announces looking over at his partner. "You order the pizza and I'll get the beer and the pup."
Kensi looks like she is mulling it over, which is exactly what she is doing. On the one hand she knows she owes Deeks a lot, on the other, she is used to handling things alone and just feels like dealing with this by herself.
As she slowly gets up from her desk wincing with every movement, Deeks is reminded of another reason Kensi didn't want to play basketball. She took a bullet in the vest yesterday. "Common Kens, I can help you pick up your place. Plus, the pup always cheers you up," he adds flashing his most brilliant smile.
She gives a tentative smile back and relents. "Ok, I'll see you and Monty in a bit."
Kensi had stayed over at her mom's last night. She had come home quickly this morning to change, but had left her place the mess her father's killer had left it. When she arrives home after work she picks up a chair and a few papers, but she is so sore and tired she decides to use her energy to change into yoga pants and add a zip-up sweatshirt over her shirt.
A little while later as Deeks works on straightening up her living room and kitchen and she tries to restore some order to her closet, which to be honest didn't have much order to begin with, Kensi realizes she made the right choice in giving in to Deeks. It is easier dealing with the aftermath of having her home broken into by her father's killer, the man that was trying to kill her, with Deeks in the other room and Monty lying on the floor right next to her.
"What the hell kind of filing system is this?" Deeks asks coming into her bedroom with a box and a stack of receipts and bills in his hand.
"A perfectly good one," Kensi replies smartly as she looks up at him.
"Ha," he replies. "There aren't even labels on theses tabs."
"Give me that," Kensi says reaching for it both exasperated and liking that he is picking on her.
"I saw you picked up a lock. Want me to change it out?" Deeks asks referring to the lock Kensi picked up from the hardware store on her way home.
"I can do it." Kensi doesn't know why it is so hard for her to accept help.
"Kensi, where's your toolbox?" Deeks asks not giving his stubborn partner a choice.
"Bottom of the kitchen closet"
"I can finish," Kensi offers about 10 minutes later as she holds out a beer to Deeks who is kneeling by her open door working on the lock. Deeks takes the offered beer, but ignores her offer to finish and keeps working.
Kensi wanders to the kitchen and gets out paper plates and napkins. When she finds that is all they really need for their pizza, she brings the items with her setting them on the coffee table as she eases her sore body onto the couch. Monty scoots up right against Kensi's legs and places his head in her lap.
"That's a good boy. Keep her company," Deeks praises his pooch.
When the pizza arrives Deeks is at the advantage of seeing the car pull up from his position at the door. He takes his wallet out of his back pocket and holds up a hand in Kensi and Monty's direction ordering, "stay."
Kensi is pretty sure he is commanding her more than the dog. She emits a huff of outrage and protests, "I owe you, remember."
"You owe me a conversation, not food," he corrects. Kensi nods her acknowledgement of this fact before Deeks turns to pay the young lady delivering their pizza.
By the time Deeks returns from washing his hands, Kensi has plated the pizza and is half way through her first slice.
"Sorry," she says giving him an embarrassed smile. "I was starving."
Deeks grins at the stubborn, strong, adorable, hungry woman he sits down next to on the couch and digs into his own plate. He doesn't know quite how to start a conversation about her dad, so after they put seconds on their plates Deeks raises his beer and toasts, "To Donald Blye, may he rest in peace thanks to the efforts of his amazing daughter."
"To dad," Kensi clinks her bottle to his in memory of her father.
"So how are you doing, you know with everything?" Deeks asks.
"I'm glad to finally have answers," she shares. "It was hard not knowing why. Part of me was so angry for so long, and now I feel like I can start to let that go."
"You didn't have to do this by yourself you know." Kensi feels Deeks's sincerity in his steady gaze.
"I did," she refutes quietly. "It wasn't your mission, wasn't your fight."
"You're my partner Kensi. From now on your fights are my fights."
"Thank you," she states simply, truly appreciating this offer. "Thank you for being on my side. Thank you for protecting my mom."
"You're welcome. How did things go with your mom?"
As Kensi sets her plate on the coffee table and sinks back into the couch curling her legs up, Deeks realizes how tired she is. She tugs the blanket off the back of the couch and pulls it over her. Deeks reaches for her feet and pulls them into his lap. He begins massage one of them through the blanket.
"Deeks, what are you doing?" Kensi asks warily. It would be too easy right now to take comfort in him. His gentleness and care for people no longer surprise her, but they easily disarm her.
"Just giving my partner a foot rub," he replies nonchalantly, realizing that her guard is starting to go up since he is pushing the boundaries of their thing. "I expect one in return the next time I get shot."
Kensi gives in figuring they'll be fine as long as he stays by her feet. Plus it feels too nice to put up much of a protest.
"So your mom?" Deeks interrupts her thoughts and brings her back to the conversation.
"It was actually easier than I thought once we started talking. We both made mistakes. We both want to reconnect. I'm hopeful," she tells him yawning as she scoots closer to a laying position on the couch.
"Hope is a good thing to have," he comments as he runs a hand over her calf, which is now across his lap since she scooted down the couch.
They watch an episode of Grey's Anatomy. About half way through Monty comes out of Kensi's bedroom with one of her shoes and drops it in the middle of the floor.
"Sorry buddy, not now," Deeks tells the pup, knowing he wants Deeks and Kensi to take him for a walk. He checks to make sure Kensi is sleeping then whispers to the dog, "mommy is sleeping."
As Deeks watches her sleep he notes how innocent she looks. A great contrast to the determined, strong, out for revenge partner he experienced yesterday. Both yesterday and now he sees the pain she carries with her from living and seeing more tragic events than any 29 year-old should. He's always felt protective of her, but he knows it is becoming more than just being protective of his partner. He wants to wrap his arms around the torso he'd seen in the flesh yesterday. He wants to fall asleep with her head on his chest and her knowing that he isn't going to go anywhere, that he is the man that is going to stay. His wayward thoughts tell him it is time to go. He slides out from underneath Kensi's legs, returns her shoe to her bedroom, and cleans up the remains of their dinner.
"Kens," he says softly touching her arm.
"Mmmm," she replies half awake.
"Monty and I are going to go. Don't sleep on the couch," he mandates, knowing that when she has a lot on her mind she often falls asleep in from of the TV and will stay there all night watching infomercials and other mindless drabble. "In fact," he adds moving his hand down to hers, "why don't you go to bed now and I'll take the extra key from the new lock and lock you in."
She lets him help her up from the couch and with her hand in his she wonders if he really has to leave. As soon as she thinks it, she knows the answer is yes, but can't help teasing, "What, no joke about joining me?"
"Someday," he promises as he places a hand on her lower back and guides her towards her bedroom, "someday"
"Night Deeks" She gives him a quick hug to keep things platonic. She knows they both keep flirting with the line.
"Night partner," he replies, using the word he uses to remind himself not to cross the line as he quickly turns to gather his coat as she busies herself bending down to give Monty a pat goodbye.
