A/N: Sorry this took so long to get up. Thanks for everyone that stuck with me. There are no excuses...but I will tell ya, I've refrained from starting any other stories until I finish this one. That's good right?

Kensi stood under the hot spray of her shower, rinsing away the stress and the tension from the past 48 hours. Though she was sure she was all cried out, a few tears leaked from her tightly closed eyes when she thought about last night – how it felt to be rid of the darkness, how it felt to win over it.

For a moment, Kensi panicked. What if it came back? What if it wasn't really gone, that she just struck it a blow, but the enemy would retrench and regather? She almost jumped, soapy and slippery, from the shower and to call Nate, but she took a deep, calming breath and knew she'd be fine until she saw him at the office. Now that she knew she could open her mouth and say things to him, and that he wouldn't run away or think she was stupid or weak, starting the next conversation wouldn't be hard. Or at least it would be easier.

Kensi quickly rinsed off and hopped from the shower, going through her remaining morning routine in a hurry. She grabbed a bagel and smeared some cream cheese on it before she flew from her apartment to head back to work.

While she drove, her resolve began to fail her. Also, she began to doubt her faith in Nate. What if everything was just an act? He said he was helping her as her friend...but doesn't his job come first? Ethically, isn't he responsible to ensure she's mentally and emotionally healthy enough to continue her job? Just what lengths would he go to to get her to talk to him? Kensi gasped and felt a hot flush go over her body. Is that what their dancing had been? Did he actually want to do something fun with her or was he just playing an angle? She burned with shame when she remembered how she leaned on him so completely the previous night – cuddled up to him even – and he had held her so gently.

Though she tried not to, Kensi started to feel a little duped. Something in her rebelled at the thought that Nate would stoop to subterfuge to get something out of her, but her pride smarted at even the slightest hint that she'd been had. Finally, Kensi could take the battle of emotions no more. She cranked up her music and focused on the traffic until she finally pulled into headquarters. Kensi took the keys from the ignition, took off her seat belt, but found that her internal conflict held her back from getting out of the car..

Do you really believe he tricked you into talking to him just for the sake of his job? she asked herself. Kensi thought back to the night after they'd danced, when Nate walked her to her door. She could remember the look on his face as he gazed at her. It hadn't been pity, or conniving...she saw in his face that he felt pain for her. Yesterday, the pain had been masked by anger when he'd dragged her to the back room and locked them both away from the world, but it was still there when he'd reached out for her, ready to catch her when she finally broke.

No, no she didn't believe Nate tricked her or ran an angle on her just to sign off on some medical clearance. Besides – he'd admitted she could still do her job just fine. Remembering that made Kensi feel better toward the psychologist.

So, why was she embarrassed? Nate said it was healthy to talk about things – and she did feel better – but she just wished...she wished...what did she wish?

Finally, Kensi forced to her mind the thought she avoided: she wished Nate hadn't seen her weak, vulnerable, and broken – she blushed in her shame that he would see her like that.

"Ugh! Why do I care?" she asked her car's ceiling. Kensi thought about last night, the feel of his arm around her shoulders – he'd kept her close to him all night. Her heart started to beat faster as she remembered waking up lying next t him. It had shocked her, true, but only because she couldn't remember how they got there...what had led up to finding herself horizontal on the couch, entangled with her team's psychologist.

She already knew she was attracted to him. Dancing with him had answered that question for her. Was it more? Is that why she cared if he saw her cry – saw the ugly darkness inside her? Kensi shook her head and got out of her car in a huff.

"Don't be ridiculous, Kensi," she berated herself. "You barely know Nate."

But, as she walked into headquarters, her memories revealed the lie. She did know Nate. She knew he could play the harmonica; she knew he loved music and was a bad shot. She knew he was perceptive – so perceptive – and stubborn. She knew he worried and cared about not just her, but the whole team, and he was smart and intelligent and savvy in his field. She knew he was a great dance teacher and a good listener. She knew that the feeling of his hand at her back, pulling her close to him, made her stomach do flip flops. She knew that tucked close to his side made her feel relaxed and energized all at the same time.

By the time she'd admitted all these things to herself – she was at her desk and feeling jittery and jumpy all over..

"So what are you going to do about this?" she asked herself in a whisper. G wasn't in the bullpen, and Hetty wasn't at her desk, so now would be the perfect time to go talk to Nate. Break the proverbial ice. And, Kensi had a feeling that seeing him would calm her down tremendously...if only she could see him.

In the end, her resolve failed her, and she sat miserably at her desk – vaguely recalling a similar situation not too many days past – and set to work.

).).).).)

Nate watched Kensi return to work. As he followed her with his eyes while she walked to her desk, he worried he might be turning into some sort of stalker. He couldn't help it – he felt like his body became instantly aware the moment she came into the building.

"A penny for your thoughts, Mr. Getz?"

Nate jumped guiltily and turned to see Hetty staring him down...er, up. "I, uh...just need to...um..." he stammered, feeling a blush creep up his neck.

Hetty chuckled. "I'm not here to bust your chops, so calm down."

The psychologist sighed and rolled his eyes. "Well, I'm always glad to see you Hetty," he said dryly but sincerely. "What can I do for you?"

"I'd like to speak with you about your plan," Hetty said and indicated he should join her back in his office. "When I came to check on you yesterday evening, I was a little surprised to find Kensi in such a state. Was that your desired goal?"

Nate heard in his bosses' voice that she wasn't angry, just curious. "Not exactly," he confessed and sat behind his desk when Hetty took a seat on the couch opposite him. "I wanted her to talk to me – freely, but I think I made a wrong turn."

"Well, what were you shooting for?" Hetty asked.

"I wanted to help Kensi with her surface issues – like helping her understanding how to run game on someone. I figured if I could get her comfortable with me spending quality time dealing with easier issues eventually she'd just open her mouth and spill about the deeper, harder problems."

"What went wrong?"

"I...I'm not sure."

"Liar," Hetty accused stoically.

Groaning, Nate swiped his hands over his face. "All right, all right," he said. "I do know where I went wrong. But I don't want to tell you."

"I'm your boss," Hetty pointed out. "I can make you tell me."

Nate glared at the petite woman, and tried to figure out how he could truthfully tell her what she wanted to know without incriminating himself.

"Okay, fine," he finally said. "I went wrong when I lost patience with Kensi. She's so stubborn and independent and no matter what I did or said or saw or heard she refused to let me help her."

"So you shanghied her until she let you in?" There was no censure, just a desire for clarification.

"Basically?" Nate answered carefully. Hetty didn't looked convinced, and he let the truth spill out. "You don't know what's it's like Hetty," he gushed. "To look into her face and see her soul screaming in pain, and not be allowed to help her. Ever since Dom was taken I have had to confront that torment, everyday. It's consumed my thoughts and I tried to help her. I offered politely to talk to her, I sat through her mandatory sessions being given the cold shoulder, and I tried to get her team to help her. Nothing worked. So I set about to take another angle at it. But when my great 'plan' didn't seem to be working either, I suppose I just lost it."

Hetty sat silently for a moment, studying Nate. She didn't point out that the psychologist wasn't the only one to have noticed Kensi's struggle. She also didn't call him onto the carpet to tell her why he cared beyond the normal parameters of his job. She didn't do these things because she wasn't sure she was ready to face what it would mean if her team psychologist was in love with one of her agents. And she really wasn't ready to face what it would mean if Kensi loved Nate back.

"Well, Mr. Getz, do you know how Miss Blye is today?" she asked, changing the subject.

"I haven't seen her yet," Nate confessed. "Not since early this morning when we parted ways to go home to shower and change clothes."

Hetty's eyebrows lifted at this news and Nate unsuccessfully tried to force away a blush. "Oh, it wasn't like that. It was all very professional and on the - " Nate started to explain but Hetty waved him off.

"I have no doubts that you were extremely respectful of Kensi," she interrupted him. "I would just ask that you make sure she continues to talk to someone – even if it's not you. Though she is fine to continue her job– something I'm glad you finally came around to – I agree that it's very disheartening to see her unhappy. I much prefer a Miss Blye who knows how to cope, one who is happy. I'm sure her team would agree."

"I like Kensi that way too," Nate said. With this assurance, Hetty left Nate's office. The psychologist closed his eyes and leaned back in his chair. Kensi's peaceful, sleeping face appeared on the back of his eyelids. He remembered how it felt to hold her while she slept, and he groaned.

"Shit," he mumbled. "I've got it bad."

"What's wrong?" a timid, familiar voice from the doorway asked. Nate's eyes flew open and he sat upright in a hurry. Kensi stood, partially hidden by the door jamb, looking uncertainly at him.

"Oh, hey Kens," Nate said unsure whether his heart was beating so fast because she was there before him or because he was startled. "You scared me."

"Sorry," she whispered, still standing behind the doorway. She kicked her toe absently against the floor, her eyelashes fluttering to keep tears at bay. Nate's gut wrenched when he realized that last night's exorcism hadn't solved Kensi's hesitation to talk to him. What did he have to do to prove he would be there for her?

Nate breathed deeply to calm his frustrations. "I'm sure you're tired of hearing this from me – but how are you feeling?" he asked.

"Fine," Kensi said quietly, not quite looking him in the face.

Nate waited patiently for Kensi to come out with what she had to say; it paid off after a short silence.

"Did you mean what you told Hetty?" she asked after a few minutes.

The questions surprised Nate, and made him panic a little too. "How much did you hear?" he asked, struggling to remember exactly what he said.

"Basically all of it," she said. "I was coming to talk to you, and heard Hetty asking you about your 'plan for me'."

Nate sighed and stood up from his desk. He motioned for Kensi to come out from behind the doorway. She slowly pushed herself away from the wall and entered his office. Nate indicated that she should sit on the couch in the corner, and when she did, he sat next to her, his fingers aching to touch the strands of hair that fell across her cheek.

Forcing that urge away, he made himself focus on the subject at hand.

"What's up?" he asked. "What do you want to talk about?"

Kensi's hands balled into fists. "Did you really know?"

"Know what?"

"That I wasn't dealing very well after Dom's kidnapping?"

Nate didn't answer for a moment. He cast his mind back to the days after Dom was taken from his car. "I did know," he said. "I knew you felt strongly about it after you went to his house and cleaned up his kitchen."

Kensi looked surprised. "How did you know that was me?"

"I went to his apartment too. It must have been right after you there because the sink was still wet and...well...I could smell your perfume."

"Oh," the agent said, lapsing into silence. She leaned forward with her arms on her knees and stared at her fingers for a few minutes.

"What's going on in your head?" Nate asked. Kensi just shrugged. "Oh, no," the psychologist protested, turning to the woman next to him and pulling her up to face him. "After all the work I put in to getting you to talk to me, I'm not going to settle for a shoulder shrug. So what are you thinking?"

"It's just that...well, it's just that," Kensi said. "Why did you put so much work into getting me to talk to you? You don't bug G or Sam like that. You don't have a 'plan' to get them to talk to you. So why me?" She stopped, doubt in her eyes. "Did you think I was defective or something?"

"Heavens no, Kens, of course not," Nate defended, grabbing her hands and sliding to his knee in front of her. "You are not defective. You aren't broken or wrong in any way. You are perfect."

"Then why try to change me?"

"Oh, Kensi," Nate sighed. "I wasn't trying to change you. It was my job to make sure you were happy."

"It's your job to make sure I'm healthy, Nate," the agent said. "And Hetty said even you admitted that I was healthy – certified to stay on the job. So why the 'plan'?"

Nate considered the unspoken question. "Well, I'm your friend, and friends have a right to see each other happy, right?"

Kensi's lips lifted in a small smile and she shyly squeezed Nate's hands. "You're my friend?"

"Of course, always."

She nodded contentedly, her smile getting a little bigger. "Good."

"What? What's with the grin?"

Kensi looked into Nate's eyes for a long moment before unexpectedly leaning forward and wrapping her arms around Nate's neck and gripping him in a fierce hug.

"I haven't had a friend in a long time."

After a stunned moment, Nate put his arms around Kensi and returned her embrace.

"So you're not mad at me?" he asked.

Kensi laughed and burrowed her face into his neck.

"I'm not mad," she said lightly. "Thanks for noticing I needed someone."

End Note: Okay, I need some help – people: where would you like this story to go? Do you want to see them together? Have I already crossed that line and I need to complete the proverbial relationship circle? Please let me know – I need some ideas of where to take this if I'm gonna keep flogging along on this story line. Thanks in advance for your help.