There's not a whole lot more for me to say up here besides thank you! Your support has been incredible and is always consistent, and I love you guys for it. :)

-Hazel

"What are we doing, dude?" Ray asks from his spot on the couch, seated directly next to Deeks.

"Huh?"

"Why are doing this?" He incredulously points at the TV. "It's super late on a Friday night, and we're sitting here- drinking beer and watching Nick-At-Night."

Deeks takes a swig of his drink of choice. "So? It's a fabulous source of entertainment."

Ray stares at him for just a moment before dropping and shaking his head. "Wow."

"What?"

"Nothing. You just act like you're so old, it's funny."

"How do I act like I'm old?"

"You drink my alcohol, which is illegal, by the way-"

"Whatever."

"-and you spend the night in on a Friday. Don't you and Kensi have some party to go to?"

He laughs, rolling his eyes. "Finals week just ended. We're both exhausted."

Ray nods, and no more than five seconds later Deeks' cell phone begins to buzz. It's laying out on the coffee table, so the caller ID is glaring back at them.

"Maybe Kensi isn't tired anymore?"

Deeks rolls his eyes, reaching for the phone.

"Hello gorgeous. Please say that you can save me from the jackal that I'm currently living with?"

At the sound of his voice, she crumbles. Deeks' heart pounds as her muffled tears easily emit through the line, a vague noise of sirens following closely behind.

"Kens... what's wrong?" He asks, shooting up from the couch. "Are you alright?"

There's a bit more heavy breathing, and then a vague reply.

"No."

He scratches the back of his neck, eyes dancing around the room as he searches for his car keys.

"Where are you?"

She sucks in some air, her lungs once again failing to do their job properly.

"I'm at, um... exit 14. Right off the 405."

Although Deeks has no idea what any of this means, he listens to her instructions carefully and prepares himself for whatever lies ahead.

"I"m on my way. Hang tight."

He hangs up the phone, both eyes wide as his mind continues to spin. Ray quickly chimes in though, stopping the downward spiral.

"What the hell is going on?"

Deeks knits his eyebrows, shaking his head.

"I have absolutely no idea."

"You didn't ask?"

Just as the words exit his mouth, Ray realizes how incredibly stupid the question was. It's clear that Kensi hadn't really given him a chance.

"Right, right- sorry. Is there anything I can do? Do you want me to come?"

"No. Just me."

"Alright. Call if you need anything."

Deeks nods, the movement slight and indirect. His mind is clearly elsewhere. Spinning around in one fluid motion he makes a break for the exit, grabbing his car keys from the table beside the door and managing to escape without another word.

He's thankful that it's the middle of the night, as there are just a couple of cars taking up space on the freeway. The needle of the speedometer is slowly creeping upwards, and soars to new heights as Deeks catches a glimpse of red and blue lights flashing in the distance.

Two cars sit in the center of the highway, completely crumpled into one another. His heart drops at the sight.

He drives directly up to the police caution tape and throws the car into park, his palms clammy with sweat. Almost instantly as he steps outside into a misty rainfall, Deeks knows that he's found his girl.

Kensi's figure stands out in the darkness, her petite frame contrasting all the uniformed men that surround her. Her back is facing him as she remains frozen in time, practically motionless. Deeks frantically tries to cross over into the guarded off area, but is stopped as he ducks under the caution tape.

"I need you to step back, you can't cross into this area."

"Please, that's my girlfriend over there- she called me and told me I needed to come-"

"I'm sorry, but you need to step back," he restates, a bit firmer the second time around.

His nostrils flare, anger building up inside of him. "I need to see her! You can't just..."

Kensi turns around at the sound of his voice, causing Deeks to trail off as his gaze hits her features. Bloodshot eyes and swollen, red cheeks stare back at him. Streaks of salty water stain her cheeks and she bites her bottom lip, holding back another onslaught of tears as they threaten to overcome her.

She sprints towards him and Deeks does the same, crossing beneath the tape. The officer doesn't say a word now, but instead easily allows him to pass through.

Kensi flings her arms around his neck, tucking her head into the crook of his shoulder. It fits perfectly, and for the time being- he's all she needs.

"He's gone, Deeks," she whispers after a long moment, feeling as if silence surrounds them despite all the cop cars and ambulances that are still making plenty of racket. "He's gone."

Kensi falls into him as his arms tighten and constrict around her. Without another word, Deeks understands exactly what's happened. He recognizes her father's car amongst the wreckage and closes his eyes, desperately wishing that he could make everything better, or change the outcome for her. For him. For them.

But this is out of his hands, and Deeks knows it.

He doesn't bother murmuring apologies or asking her what she needs, as that would require verbalization on both parts. He doesn't know what to say, and is positively certain that she doesn't either. The sadness, highs and lows, ups and downs... that's gonna come later, and he's gonna be ready.

He parks the car out front, dropping his hand back to rest against his leg once the key has been removed from the ignition. Once she'd cried until she practically couldn't anymore, Deeks had offered to take her back to his place. Kensi hadn't really accepted the offer, nor had she refused overtook her and encapsulated her body, prohibiting the basic ability to feel anything at all.

Kensi's hungry, but she doesn't want food. She's tired, but she doesn't want to sleep. Deeks has no clue what to give her anymore, so he asks.

"What can I do?"

She's staring forward, her brows knitted as if she's studying something in the distance. But her eyes- one brown and one hazel, are completely glazed over, void of all emotion.

And then suddenly, in a move that's both unexpected and totally out of character, Kensi hops out of the car, breaking into a jog down the street.

"Wait... Kens? What are you-" Deeks steps out of the car, immediately following after her and easily keeping pace. "Kensi! Kensi stop!"

She doesn't follow his instructions exactly but slows down the pace at which she moves, giving him a chance to move closer.

"Hey!" He exclaims upon meeting her side, gently grabbing her shoulder.

Kensi slips from his grip as she sinks to the ground, remaining in a crouching position as she buries her head in her hands. No more tears can escape her eyes- it seems as if her ducts have been dried completely.

"What's going on, Deeks?" She asks, desperation for answers evident in her tone. "I just... I just don't get it. Everything is falling apart."

It may have seemed for a moment like she wouldn't be able to cry anymore, but as Deeks lowers himself down beside her a couple of tears sneak out- large, round ones that roll down her cheeks like rivulets.

"Not everything," he says gently, trying to be consoling while at the same time respectful. It's such a fine line, and he's struggling to find the correct way to cross it.

"I'm sorry," Deeks adds, unsure if she wants to hear it but putting it out there anyways.

God, he feels like a moron. Now would be a good time to know how to form a complete sentence.

Deeks hears a door slam, and looks up a couple of seconds later to find Ray rushing towards them.

"Hey- is, um..." He sees Kensi crouching on the ground and lowers his voice to more of a whisper, as if trying to make it so Deeks would hear him and she wouldn't. "Is she okay?"

The lack of questioning proves that he already knows what happened tonight. He should've assumed that the news was already going to be blasting about it.

Kensi lifts her head to glance at Deeks upon hearing the question and springs upwards, forcing him to do the same. She doesn't want Ray to see her like this.

The fear of others knowing that she has basic emotions is irrational, but one that she has regardless of that fact. He approaches slowly and steadily, coming up to stand beside them.

"It's gonna be okay," Deeks says, hating himself for providing her with such a cliché sentiment, but finding nothing better in his repertoire.

"Look, Deeks..." She swallows, trying to collect herself but failing miserably at a task that seems undoable. "I don't have a place to stay, and-and I don't have a family..."

It takes Ray only a matter of seconds to respond, his tone definitive. "You have a place to stay."

Deeks nods. "And you have a family."

Her eyes begin to sting as he wraps one arm tightly around her waist, pulling her close.

"Come on, Kens. Let's go home."