Chapter 10 – Home, Part I

The early morning sun woke up little Don. He quickly slid down the bed and started making noise, waking up Kensi as well. She stretched and rubbed the eyes with a yawn and called Don who immediately walked to her.

"We're going outside today." Kensi smiled just with that thought. It had been three days without seeing and walking in the daylight. She was as excited as Don to finally be leaving the house, even if it was just for a few hours.

Quickly she walked out the bedroom to find Jack. He seemed happy, putting the wallet in the pocket while whistling. When he heard the footsteps he turned around and greeted Kensi with a huge smile. "Morning, Kensi." He then ducked, saying. "And good morning for you too, little guy! How're you, little fella?" Don mumbled some things that made Jack smile, completely surrendered to his adorableness. "Come here." Jack said, stretching his arms.

The little boy clumsily walked to him and as soon as Jack picked him up in arms he kicked out for him to let him go. Jack didn't try to upset the boy and put him down again, who quickly walked to his mother. Kensi held his hand and guided him to the door. Feeling the sunlight and the wind and being able to walk out there again was amazing.

"This way." Jack said taking the right, contrary to Kensi who was walking to her left. "The bus stop is this way."

Kensi guessed they weren't very far away from LA or even from the city's downtown. By far, she could see a slight indication that they were close to the seashore, and she had smelt the sea scent. Even Don figured that they were close to the beach, as he was looking up at the sky and mumbling at the seagulls that were flying. As closer they were getting to the beach, the more excited Don was getting.

"We're close to the beach, baby." Kensi commented with a giggle, seeing Don's enthusiasm.

"He likes the beach?" Jack asked, taking a seat after reaching the bus stop.

"He's crazy about it. You have no idea of what it's his happiness every Saturday."

"You go to the beach every Saturday?"

"Every single Saturday. Deeks goes surfing and Don is completely fond with the beach."

"Da! Da! Da!" Don kept mumbling, wanting to run into the sand a few feet behind them.

"See?" Kensi said, sitting the baby in her lap. "You're a complete dummy, aren't you?"

Instead of getting angry like before whenever Deeks was mentioned, Jack was completely calm and even smiling. He seemed fascinated with the little boy, always trying to be friends with him.

"Mr. Deeks," Hetty spoke, walking to his desk. It was messy with empty cups of coffee and papers all over it. "the team has got a new case. You still have some days to use… if you cannot work the case properly, I suggest you go home."

"No. Go home is the last thing I want to do right now."

"Alright, then go upstairs. Mr. Beal and Ms. Jones will brief the team on the case."

"Thanks Hetty…" He said, looking at the short woman. "For enduring me even when I'm being rude."

"You have reasons to feel hurt. You're no different from everyone. Someone took away everyone you care the most about."

"Still… thank you." After telling her that Deeks quickly went upstairs and joined the team. Even though he was shaken and a bit away from the world, he gathered strengths to stay focus.

The doctor called Kensi in, only her, leaving Jack alone in the waiting room. Kensi entered with her son and the doctor pointed her the chair for her to take a seat. "What I have to say isn't any easier, and that's why I ask Mr. Preston to wait outside. Since he stopped taking the medication, his medical condition assumed patterns that I'm not able to describe unless I have him hospitalized. Only that way I'm able to know which medication to prescribe and how did the disorder progressed."

"For how long will that be?" Kensi asked, still looking at the door, already feeling troubled to have to tell Jack those news.

"I don't know, it all depends on his response to the treatments and on the disorder progression."

"But, do you think it will be possible to recover him again?"

"I truly believe in that, but Mr. Preston has to be open and cooperative. That's why doctors usually don't tell these kind of news directly to the patient. They need to hear it from someone who they trust enough. I cannot force him to internment, that could be even worst. He needs to be told that this is for his own sake. He's torn between reality and fiction. He wants to let you live your life, but still, he wants to be a part of the picture… But there's no need to make the situation even more stressful than it already is."

"How stressful it is?"

The man adjusted the glasses and cleared his voice, speaking low. "He told me about what he did. Under normal circumstances I'd be forced to call the police, but he reassured me you and your son would be going home today."

Kensi felt like her heart would burst with happiness. Hearing that she would go home was more than great. She had only been away two days, but she could wait to be in her own house, with her husband and her son. Right now she just needed to calmly tell Jack that he needed to stay in the hospital.

"Hey," Jack spoke anxiously, getting up when he saw Kensi walking his way. "what happened in there?"

"Take a seat, Jack. This is no easy…" Kensi put Don on the ground and let him walk around, playing safely against any action that Jack could do. "The doctor doesn't know how's your situation. He says he needs to keep you here so he can evaluate you and medicate you properly."

"Not again, Kens." He mumbled, holding tight to her hand. "Manny and Karissa once put me in here and they said they'd come to visit me, but they never did. It's horrible in there, Kens."

"Jack, this is for your own good. And, unlike Manny and Karissa, I promise you to visit you."

"What if you don't come?"

"I will, Jack. I promise you that much."

"WHAT IF YOU DON'T COME?" He yelled so loud that everyone stared at both of them.

"If I didn't give a damn about you I'd have walked away long ago! In fact, if I didn't care about helping you, I wouldn't have even talked with you in the first place. So, trust me, alright?"

"Okay, okay." He whispered, shaking as if he was scared.

"Now, let's go back to your house and grab some clothes. Okay?" Kensi got up and held Don's hand.

"Yeah, ok. Just-just don't leave me until I get in the room, ok?"

"Don't worry." Kensi stretched her hand at him, and just like a scared little boy, Jack held it and walked with her.

By the end of the day the three were back in the hospital. Jack was nervous and impatient as he and Kensi were filling in the paper for his hospital admission. He kept asking her if she wasn't lying and if she was coming to visit him.

"Kens, I'm really, really sorry for what I did to you and the little guy. I guess I just wanted to know I still can have someone by my side. I was glad when you told me you didn't forget me."

"I understand, Jack. You were broke and needed a helping hand. Just, be alright. I'll come to visit, and maybe I'll bring Don with me."

"Oh, that would be amazing!" Jack uttered happily, ducking in front of the kid. "I loved this little fella, even though he's very shy! And," Jack stood up again and this time looked at Kensi's tummy. "I hope everything goes well with the pregnancy."

"I'm sure you'll get to see me being as huge as a whale all over again!" Kensi joked, making Jack comfortable and less nervous. She pulled him for a hug, telling him. "You know I won't come in the next days. I need to let all of this settle, but I will come."

"Thank you. For everything."

Kensi walked out the hospital with a smile and hailed a cab. When the driver asked her where to, all she wanted to answer was home.

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