Not mine…not mine…my minions are in tears. As always, I don't have a beta reader so any and all errors are mine alone. Thanks to everyone who has reviewed and those who are reading the story. It's very gratifying!

Enjoy.

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Rounding the corner and peering into Deeks' hospital room later that day, the entire team stopped dead with smiles plastered on their faces at the sight before them. Both Kensi and Marty were asleep in his hospital bed. She had him wrapped in her arms as if he was her child and had one of her hands resting over his heart.

"It looks like Miss Bly is finally getting some sleep. She's been running on fumes" smiled Hetty.

As they continued to watch, Marty opened his eyes and saw the team standing in the doorway. After looking over and noticing Kensi asleep, he motioned for them to come into the room. "I think she's been missing some sleep" he whispered.

"You're right Mr. Deeks. She's been very worried about you, as have we all"

"Really…aw Hetty…I knew I was your favorite." he smirked as he looked at Callen and wiggled his eyebrows. "She hasn't told me everything yet. All I know is I was drugged. Did we get the weapons? Was anyone hurt?

"Yes we did. And no one was hurt, except for Riccardo and you, at least not badly"

"What do you mean? not badly? Who got hurt besides Riccardo and me?"

Callen had been waiting for this moment. "Well you laid Harvey out like a sack of potatoes when he shot Riccardo. I had to handcuff you to keep your cover intact. Once the remaining members of Riccardo's team and the buyers were rounded up and taken away, I took your handcuffs off but instead of thanking me you slugged me in the face!"

Marty looked at Callen with horror "God Callen, I'm so sorry. I don't remember that at all. You did hit me back, right?

"Nope, you were too out of it for me to take a punch at you. But you and I…we have a date in the gym once you're back on your feet and feeling better." Callen waved his hands between them while giving him a deadpan stare.

"Um, okay…Hetty…help…" Deeks pleaded.

"I think you'll be okay Mr Deeks. You don't have to worry about anything else right now except getting better. Oh, and I've kept my promise. I'm sure you'll be relieved to know Max is dead. He died of an overdose the night you were admitted to the hospital."

"All Marty could think to say was "Thanks, Hetty."

Kensi had been sleeping soundly, but the talking, though quiet, woke her up. Realizing that the entire team was in the room, she began blushing. "It's okay Kens, Marty assured her, "everyone knew you were tired and the bed is more comfortable than the chair anyway…and I'm in the bed…and you want to ravish me because you think I'm awesome."

"Keep it up Shaggy, and I'll punch you in your arm even if you are in a hospital bed. And who said you were awesome…either your head is swelling or you're hallucinating again." she retorted.

There came the pout she was looking for "You'd punch me after I've just woke up…Really…not nice Kens, not nice at all."

Everyone began laughing at their antics and forgot to tease Kensi which was what Marty was trying to accomplish. He knew she was still a little leery about the team knowing just how close they had become over the last few months. Giving him a look of gratitude, she slid off the bed and asked "Did anyone bring me some food. I'm starving here."

At that, everyone sat down and passed out the food they had snuck into the room. Marty was even able to eat a few bites while everyone was talking and laughing over past cases and life in general. He couldn't believe how lucky he was to be part of this dysfunctional little family group. He was taking it all in and smiling whenever someone caught his eye, even though he was pretty quiet. As they continued to talk, Sam looked over at him and realized he had fallen asleep again. He just pointed at the bed getting everyone's attention. Taking that as their cue, they left the room.

Hetty told Kensi she could spend the night, but then she expected her to go home and get some actual rest in a real bed…"I'll be here in the morning to spell you Miss Bly."

Kensi climbed back into bed with Marty and snuggled into his side. With a sigh, she closed her eyes and fell asleep.

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August 9th

"When can I go home, I'm bored" Deeks whined.

"You can't be bored, you just woke up yesterday. You haven't even been out of bed yet. I'll bet you're going to have to build up your strength just to walk."

"Will not, I'll show you…I bet I can get up and walk right now" he replied starting to push his blanket down to the end of the bed so he could stand up and show her.

"I don't think you're going to be able to get out of bed with the IV, the nasal cannula, the heart monitor and…oh yes, the catheter still in place Marty" she snickered, watching as he blushed furiously.

"They catheterized me? Seriously?"

"Oh come on now. You were unconscious for five days. What did you think they did, put you in a diaper?" she was outright laughing now he looked so pathetic.

"Kill me now…just put me out of my misery why don't you. I'm never going to hear the end of this if the guys find out I didn't even realize I had a tube up my…well you know…my 'man parts' pointing his hand toward his groin." and grimacing.

Kensi was laughing so hard now, she could barely stay in the chair. "God Marty, the look on your face…it's priceless!" she chortled.

"Laugh it up Kens…You're mean you know that…laughing at a man when he's unable to defend himself…that's just mean…and evil. How can you laugh at me? I almost died you know."

She sucked in a breath so hard, Marty realized he had reminded her of the last five days when she hadn't been sure whether he would live or not. Then she started crying with huge tears rolling down her face. He felt like an absolute heel and quickly tried to get her to stop "Shh Kens, I'm sorry, shh. It's okay, I'm here and I'm never going to leave you Princess…light of my life. I didn't mean anything by it, I wasn't thinking. Don't cry please, I hate it when you cry. I'm so sorry. Come here sugarbear." He gathered her up in his arms and continued apologizing while wiping away the tears with one edge of his hospital gown. "Shhh, I'm sorry, I'm so sorry. I know you've been worried, and here I am being a complete ass."

"Yes you are" she cried, "but you're my ass." Marty was caught off guard by her answer but then started chuckling which which in turn caused them both to begin laughing hysterically at the vision her words conjured up.

"Wait…if I'm your ass doesn't that mean you're my ass? Marty said once he caught his breath. "I don't know, I think I like your ass better on you than on me, by the way. It would be kinda yucky…and creepy for me to be feeling up my own ass now, don't you think?" That set both of them off again. They were both laughing so hard all they could do was hold onto each other and try not to fall out of bed.

The nurse couldn't understand why they were so red in the face when she entered the room and just looked at them with a puzzled frown which again set them off. Once Kensi was finally able to speak, she said "You had to be here. It was kind of an inside joke."

Okay…it's great to see you two laughing together. Can you give me a little time with Marty? I'm here to remove some of the equipment he's attached to."

Neither she nor Marty could look at each other. Kensi managed to choke out "I'll just get a breath of fresh air and be back in about five minutes"

When Kensi returned, all she and Marty had to do was look at each other to start laughing again. It felt so good. She had been worried for five long days. Five days that felt like an eternity. Hearing him laugh again and yes, even give her a hard time, reassured her that he was truly getting better. He was giving her a mock glare, but there was a definite twinkle in his eyes.

"So, were your 'man parts' damaged?"

Marty almost choked "Kensi, I can't believe you just asked me that! How could you? Oh I know, you just can't get enough of this awesome body. You want to take a look and make sure my equipment is still in good working order, don't you?"

"Was it ever in good working order?"

"I have it on the best authority that it was!" He was grinning like crazy. "This really hot chick, name of Fern, checked me out thoroughly and declared herself completely satisfied I'll have you know. She said I was the best specimen she had ever seen and I lived up to the hype."

"Fern huh." Kensi was trying hard not to start laughing again. "Who is this Fern and should I be worried?"

"Fern is this awesome chick I met at an MMA gym and got lucky with. She has insanely long legs and the 'bod from God' and for some reason she thinks I'm great."

"She does huh? Don't you mean she's insane, not that she has insanely long legs? Anyone who thinks you're great has to be insane" she teased him.

"Aw Kens, you know you're the only girl for me." Marty's eyes were twinkling and he was grinning like a fool.

She decided to change the subject before they both went into hysterics again. "Do you want to sit on the edge of the bed and dangle your feet?" she asked him.

"Why can't I just get up and walk around?

"Let's wait until Dr. Wilson gets here and gives you the okay. I don't want you falling and hurting yourself. And if you want to get out of this hospital any time soon, you don't want to either. She couldn't help herself. "And you never know, he might want to examine your 'man parts' while he's giving you a good looking over" she giggled as he began to blush again. "You wouldn't want anything to be wrong with those 'parts' now would you?" she whispered. "I know I wouldn't."

"I'd rather have you examine my 'man parts'" he pouted.

"Just wait until I get you home alone. I'll examine your parts very thoroughly"

He waggled his eyebrows at her while smirking. "Promises, promises, Kens…you're an evil, evil woman. Just what are you planning on doing to me? You will be gentle with me right?"

"I'll be gentle…after I punch you in all your bullet holes. And then I'm going to give you a thorough examination…very thorough."

"Isn't that my department" Dr. Wilson commented as he came into the room causing both Kensi and Deeks to blush bright red. "I hear there's been some talk on your part, Marty, about wanting to get out of here. Tired of us already?"

"Don't get me wrong Doc, I'm really grateful for all the care you've given me, I just want to go home." Giving the doctor his attention, he had his fingers crossed behind his back that he would get good news. Even though he hadn't been awake that long, he was becoming stir crazy having to stay in the hospital. He had never liked them, they reminded him of when he was a kid and the emergency rooms he had been in after each of his father's drunken rages left him bruised and bloodied.

"Let's see how you do standing up, first" Dr. Wilson positioned himself on one side while Kensi positioned herself on his other side. "Slide off the bed slowly. Let me know if you feel any dizziness."

Marty did as he was told and felt like a million dollars when he was able to stand on his own without them having to steady him. Sure, he felt as weak as a kitten, but he was standing on his own two feet. "Let's see if you can walk to that chair in the corner now" Dr. Wilson continued. "We'll be right beside you if you need any help." Marty carefully put one foot in front of the other and after what felt like a mile but was in reality only 10 steps, he sank gratefully into the chair. He couldn't believe how tired those ten steps had made him feel. He was definitely out of shape.

"Great job Marty." Kensi felt like singing for joy. "How do you feel?"

"Well to be honest, it really tired me out. I can't believe I'm so weak!" he groused.

"Marty, your body has been through a lot. It's not just because you've been in bed; your body experienced some major trauma, you stopped breathing at one point and also developed pneumonia from all the drugs given to you. I'm impressed you've done as well as you did this morning. Do you feel like trying to make it back to the bed now?" the doctor asked.

"Um, can I go to the bathroom first, Doc?"

"If you think you can make it, sure" he replied. "But let me or Kensi help you to the door just to be on the safe side. If you do that, we'll get you up again this afternoon and see how you do walking a little further. If that goes well, and you do what you're told, I may be persuaded to let you go home tomorrow if someone stays with you."

"Really…I can do that… I just want to get out of here and go home!" Marty was ready to leave right then, but he realized just how much the short walk had taken out of him and was trying to be patient for Kensi's sake.

After making his way to the bathroom with Kensi's help and then getting back into bed, Marty felt as limp as a wet noodle. She climbed up in bed with him so they could snuggle and told him to just close his eyes and rest for a while. Within five minutes he was completely asleep, so Kensi slipped out of the bed to let everyone know the good news.

Over the course of the afternoon and evening, Marty was able to make several trips from his bed. Each trip was longer than the previous one until he was able to slowly walk down to the nurses station, rest for a bit and then walk back to his room. The nursing staff that had been taking care of him marveled at how fast he was recovering. They knew how close he and Kensi were and were pleased they were getting their happy ending. It didn't always happen with their patients, but when it did, it reinforced their desire to continue helping people.

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AN: He's up and moving. Going home is next.