Title: Season Six Snippets

Chapter 7: Adrenal Fatigue

Rating: T

Disclaimer: I do not own NCIS LA or the characters

Summary: A series of added scenes based on season 6 episodes. This snippet begins near the end of the episode Spiral (6x12).


Adrenal Fatigue

Deeks's attention is draw from Callen to Kensi as she places a hand on the back of her neck. They've been standing there helpless for what seems like forever as they've waited for the CDC to arrive. In truth it had probably taken the CDC less than a half hour to get on scene and begin aiding Callen. Deeks notes that Kensi looks pale and tired. Is this adrenal fatigue thing a real illness he wonders? Or worse, could she somehow have inhaled some of the toxin? He takes a half side step closer to her and slides his hand across the small of her back.

Even though she wants nothing more than to sink into him and have his big, protective arms wrap around her, they are at work. Sam and Hetty are mere feet away. As she turns her head slightly so she can look at him, her eyes ask, 'What on earth are you doing?' He rubs his thumb back and forth letting her know he's simply offering comfort. She allows herself to accept that comfort for a brief moment.

"Ms. Blye, Mr. Deeks," Hetty addresses them. Having been caught in their own private moment, Kensi and Deeks feel like they practically jump apart. In reality she steps toward Hetty quickly. He discreetly drops his hand and snaps his attention from his partner to Hetty. "There's not anything for you to do here. You are free to go. We'll keep you updated."

"I'm not going to leave him," Kensi declares as her worry returns. Her hand returns to her tense neck as she turns her attention back to where they are placing Callen in a full bodysuit.

"Yeah, we'll stay until they get him in the ambulance," Deeks supports Kensi. He almost reaches up and places his hands on her shoulders to ease some of her tension, but remembers the look she gave him a few seconds ago and decides he better stick to their agreement about keeping physical contact out of the workplace.


"Oooo," Kensi grunts in pain as she gets in the car after they've seen Callen and Sam into the ambulance that will take them to a private airstrip. She reaches around to gingerly touch her back where a bruise must be forming.

"Want me to drive?" Deeks offers.

"No, I'm good," she comments as they both carefully maneuver into the car. "You look like you have a touch of adrenal fatigue," she adds reaching over and caressing his cheek. She's noticed that he hasn't regained all the color back in his face that had drained while he was disarming those bombs, and his forehead is creased with stress lines.

"So is this a real thing? Have you really been seeing a doctor?" he asks concerned.

She puts the key in, but doesn't turn the car on. She looks at him as she shares, "I've been talking to Nate. And yes, adrenal fatigue is a real thing. It can be brought on by stress. Nate thinks mine stems from the post traumatic stress from Afghanistan."

"So is this why you pass out as soon as we start a movie?" Deeks teases.

She rolls her eyes, but he's kind of right. As soon as her body has the opportunity to relax it just completely shuts down, and she's usually most relaxed when she's with him. "It's also why I drink three coffees to get through the day," she explains.

"Can I ask how long you've been talking to Nate?" he asks not sure how far he can delve into this before she clams up.

"Since someone helped me to realize that I wasn't going to be able to heal and get back to feeling like myself until I dealt with what happened." She places a hand on his thigh and gives it a gentle squeeze as she leans over the center console and places a kiss on his cheek. "Thank you."

He turns his head to give her a kiss on the lips. "Is it helping?" he wonders as he caresses her cheek.

"I'd say he's been quite helpful," she answers with a mischievous and playful smile before giving him another peck on the lips.

"Does Nate have something to do with being bold?" he asks picking up on her playful innuendo.

"Maybe just a little," she admits.

"Hmmm," Deeks ponders about his own discussions with Nate about his partnership with Kensi. "Well, I know Nate is the medical professional, but if you ever need to talk about it," he offers.

"I know, It's just hard to share what happened there with you. I still only want you to see the best parts of me."

"I get that, but we're all in. I'm in it for the good, the bad, and the ugly. Okay?"

"Okay," she agrees.

He senses that she is done with this conversation, so he complete changes the subject. "Got any food in here? I'm starving!"

She gives him an 'Are you seriously asking me this' look as she lifts her arm from the center console. He lifts it up to reveal her stash.

"Nutty bars!" he exclaims. He opens it as she begins to drive.

He hands one of the sticks to her as she asks, "Want to talk about today?"

"Not yet," he replies. He's still processing.

"Want to go to the beach and decompress for a bit?"

He doesn't have to give a verbal answer for her to know he is onboard with that idea.

At the beach they find a blanket in the back of the SRX. The late afternoon sun is warm on the sand, so sweatshirts are left in the car. Kensi lies on her stomach facing the ocean. Deeks sits and watches the waves. This is his idea of meditation. He begins absentmindedly running his hand over her back and she is asleep within minutes. He smiles to himself as he lies beside her staring up at the sky watching the clouds change color as the sun sets. He falls asleep for about twenty minutes and only wakes due to his growling stomach. They had grabbed breakfast on the run and hadn't eaten since then besides the Nutty Bar in the car.

He lets Kensi sleep for five more minutes before rolling onto his side and rubbing her shoulders as he kisses her neck. "Wake up Sugarbear. Let's go get some dinner."

Wanting to stay asleep on the warm sand, she reaches out and pushes him away with a protesting whine.

"Common," he says tickling her sides. "I've been listening to your stomach growl for the last five minutes."

As they are walking back up the beach to where a row of restaurants are, Kensi links her arm through Deeks's and rests her head on his shoulder. Deeks is enjoying cuddly Kensi. She's especially cuddly when she is sleepy.

"You did good today," she tells him testing the waters to see how he is doing with what they went through today.

"Almost didn't," he says sounding a bit disappointed in himself for his moment of panic. He's not sure he likes this new let's analyze and talk about our issues Kensi as much as cuddly Kensi.

"Hey, You took charge in there. You came up with the plan and carried it out. You had a moment of doubt, but I knew you had it. You're a better agent than you give yourself credit for."

"Thanks, I don't know if I'm good or just crazier than the bad guys. I mean in the course of one day we purposefully got ourselves taken hostage, I hung out a window to get cell reception" When she looks up at him with a 'WHAT?' look on her face and wide eyes he remembers that she doesn't know that he actually went through with that part of the plan. He responds to her look by justifying, "Hey, at least I acknowledged that it was a crazy, dumb idea before I did it." He continues to list the events of their crazy day, "Then we took on a guy with a deadman switch that was at least three times your size."

"We survived," she sums up the moral of the story as she comes to terms with the fact that there were a few times today that she wasn't so sure they would. "You okay?" she asks.

"You're here," he says adjusting their arms so he can slide his hand into hers. "I'm here. Sam's good, and we should know about Callen soon. I guess I'm as good as I can be. You?"

"I'm good too. I'm tired and hungry and worried, but you're right, we are both still standing and after today that's a good thing."

He stops walking, leans down, and presses his lips lightly to hers. This alone is worth all the crap they went through today he thinks. "So pizza or burgers?" he asks running his hands up and down her arms.

"Pizza sounds good," she replies.


Later that night they have put in a movie at Deeks's apartment. Neither of them is really watching it though. Every two minutes one of them is checking their phone to see if there is a message from Sam. Kensi is getting antsy so she crawls across the couch and places kisses along Deeks's stubble. His arm comes around her and pulls her into him. "Let's go to bed," she whispers in his ear as she takes his phone from his hand. "We're driving ourselves crazy."

He follows her to the bedroom after checking locks and turning off lights. He notes their phones are both on the dresser instead of in their usual place on the nightstand next to the bed. In response to his questioning look she explains, "We'll hear if Sam tries to call or text. In the meantime…"

"You'd rather we be driving each other crazy," he finishes her thought. She smiles a little shyly because yes, that is exactly what she wants, but on the other hand, this part of the relationship is still relatively new.

After removing his watch and his shirt, Deeks joins her on the bed. Her hands skim up his chest and over his shoulders as their lips meet. "I love driving you crazy," he informs between kisses.

"I know." She had meant for her response to come out sounding as if he drives her crazy in more places than the bedroom, but the breathy way it comes out due to the placement of his lips on her neck doesn't allow her to convey that meaning.


His arm is wrapped around her holding her against his chest and her fingers are lightly caressing that arm when their phones finally go off. Deeks kisses her shoulder as he untangles himself from her to retrieve them. He hands Kensi her phone as he reads his message out loud. "Doctors think the antidote will work. Callen is comfortable. It might take awhile for the toxin to leave his system and for him to wake up."

Kensi looks disappointed. "More waiting and more worrying," she sighs reaching over to set her phone on the nightstand next to the bed.

"I know something that will take your mind off worrying for a bit," he offers with a wink as he rejoins her in bed.

She turns toward him and wraps an arm around his waist. As their lips meet, she is for once glad for his one-track mind. They'll work off the remainder of their adrenaline and then sleep should come.


This is one that I've been working on for awhile. I had some issues finding the right tone and the right words for this one, but I thought it turned out well enough to post. As always, thanks for reading! Reviews are welcome.