AN: I don't think I've ever had to do this before, but I'm officially putting in a warning for this chapter because we've arrived at *that* episode. If you're not familiar with the first season, this chapter/episode does involve the death of a main character - Dom. I hated myself for writing it...even if I knew it was going to happen before I started this story.
I know some readers are sensitive to these things, but I also thought Dom deserved a proper send off in this story. So, if you don't want to read 'that' part, read the first two sections and the last two sections. I've added a second line of "00" to notate when to stop reading and start again only if you want to avoid the sadder part. Also, the third to last section is a bit of Kensi at the funeral, so is sad, but past the death part, so may be okay. Anyway...read at your own decision and pace and all that. This is supposed to be fun and entertaining for me and for you, so the last thing I want is to upset anyone. The very last section is important, so I'd say at minimum, read that part...
On a brighter note, this story has surpassed the 100k words mark!
Episode 1.21 - Found.
Kensi wakes up without her husband. And then she leaves the house without her husband. Just like she had come home without him the night before.
Part of her is livid with the LAPD for sending him back undercover with so very little down time in the middle.
Another part understands that they had an in and had to take it.
She had a bad night. The two duelling parts of herself had kept her up fighting it out.
She's not sure which part is winning.
She gets to work early, runs until she can barely breath on a treadmill and then beats the crap out of a punching bag.
Her workout barely takes the edge off.
She showers and dresses for work. When she arrives at her desk, Callen and Sam are already there.
"No case?" She asks.
"Not yet," Callen says.
"Also, no Deeks," Sam says. "In two minutes, he's going to be late."
She could be reading into his tone that Sam is looking forward to Deeks being late, which may not be fair seeing as the senior agent may just be stating a fact. And also may actually be worried their new liaison is late on his second (third) day. But Kensi is pissed and tired and barely holding it together right now to hide any of it.
"He's not coming in," she says.
Both Callen and Sam look surprised. And also a little disappointed. That actually makes her feel a little better. She knows he made a good impression. He's a damn good cop and he deserves to know that. She only wishes he was home so she could tell him. But he's not home, so she makes a mental note to remember to tell him.
"He didn't seem like the type to scare off," Callen comments. He's not looking for answers, because as far as he's concerned, Kensi doesn't have any.
"Mr. Deeks has been recalled by the LAPD for an undercover assignment," Hetty announces, appearing to Kensi's right.
"Already?" Sam asks. And he actually seems concerned for their new liaison. "He just came off an assignment last week."
Hetty nods solemnly. "Unfortunately, yes. He was placed under last night. I was informed this morning." She takes a moment to look at each of her agents, and sends Kensi a sympathetic glance. "He will continue his work with us when he is finished with his assignment."
"LAPD's not sending us another liaison in the mean time?" Callen asks suspiciously.
Hetty shakes her head. "No, I believe Mr. Deeks is a good fit here. We will wait for his return."
Kensi watches at Callen considers Hetty for a long moment. "You requested him."
"I hand-picked everyone in this building, Mr. Callen."
"And you're saying there's not a single other cop in the entirety of the LAPD that could act as a liaison."
Kensi feels a touch of worry in her chest that her husband will come back to find he's been replaced. She turns to Hetty, but finds the older woman staring back at Callen.
"I'm sure the LAPD is full of good police men and women."
"But you wanted Deeks."
"Mr. Deeks is our liaison. And we will wait for his return."
"But he's on assignment for an indefinite period of time. And you're not concerned about us having a replacement liaison in the mean time. Which basically means we don't need a liaison," Callen surmises with a smirk. "You don't want him as a liaison. You want him as an agent."
This catches Kensi by surprise. Her eyes snap to Hetty, but the older woman keeps her reaction in check.
"You knew who he was," Callen continues. "During the Zuna case last week; you knew who he was. You've been watching him for a while."
Hetty nods once. "There is value in being patient."
Callen nods. "So we wait."
"So, we wait."
00
And Kensi does.
She settles in for a long wait, knowing her husband's case is important and will take at minimum several months. Despite her unhappiness at the situation, she knows what her husband is doing is important and will save innumerable innocent lives.
She also does find some comfort in the knowledge that after this last case, he's home for good and they can finally stop hitting pause on their life together.
She goes to work every day, alone. She goes home each night, alone. She spends her evenings looking at houses online, wondering if her husband would like the same ones she likes and hate the same ones she hates.
She has dinner with her mother once a week and tells her about their plans to buy a starter house. Julia is happy and supportive for her daughter. Her friend is a realtor and Julia offers to introduce them when Marty gets home from his assignment.
When he's been gone for a month with no end in sight, Julia offers to introduce the realtor to Kensi now. She suggests even looking at a few houses on her own may bring up her mood.
Kensi thanks her mother, but declines the offer. She can't fathom the thought of doing any of it without her husband to share the experience with.
Deeks had barely been home for a weekend when he was send back undercover. They had gone grocery shopping while he was home, but she quickly ate through what they had bought. She makes another trip on her own when she's out of food, knowing he'd be proud of her. But eventually the effort to keep going on such a regular basis is just not worth it.
She falls back into her habits of eating takeout and spending half her nights falling asleep on the couch.
00
00
It's early one morning after she's spent her night on the couch that she's awoken by her cell phone ringing. She groans as she comes awake and swipes three times at the coffee table before she is able to locate her cell phone.
She clears her throat as she glances at the caller ID. She gets called in during the night often enough that middle of the night phone calls don't cause her to panic. But they send her heart racing each time her husband is undercover.
The caller ID tells her it's Eric. Her heart calms.
"Yeah?" She mumbles into the phone.
"Kensi," he says, and his tone of voice catches her attention immediately, causing her to sit up. "We got something."
Her heart starts thumping in her chest again. "Dom?"
"There's a video," he says shakily.
"I'm on my way."
She hangs up the call and leaps off the couch. She strips off the sweatpants and tank top she had slept in on her way to the bedroom and then pulls on jeans and a tee shirt. She uses the bathroom, brushes her teeth, and then heads for the door. She grabs her wallet, sig and keys.
She's in her car less than five minutes after the call.
When she pulls into the parking area at the mission, Sam pulls in behind her. She waits for him at the door.
"You know anything?" He asks as they enter the mission together and head straight up to OPs.
She shakes her head. "Eric just said there was a video."
When they reach OPs, Callen and Hetty are already there.
Hetty nods solemnly at both of them. Kensi takes that as a bad sign. "How bad is it?"
"Bad," Eric says.
The doors open and Nate steps in, looking dishevelled and rushed, but completely awake and ready to tackle whatever he needs to tackle to help Dom.
Kensi hopes her partner knows how much he means to this team and how much each of them are willing to do to bring him home.
Hetty motions for Eric to play the video. "This appeared on a known jihadist website less than an hour ago," she tells them.
The video plays. Two men with their faces covered stand behind a third man who is kneeling with his upper body bent forward and face downward. Despite his posture, Kensi is pretty sure the man is her partner.
Sam translates the terrorist's words for the team. They want their leader released within twenty four hours.
If not, they will execute Dom.
They raise Dom's head and there is no doubt he is the man kneeling on the floor.
"Oh my God, Dom," Kensi whispers. The video stops on a freeze frame of Dom with a knife to his throat. And all she can do is stare.
Sam turns away, clearly needing a moment.
"Eric?" Callen prompts, apparently the only one of the three remaining field agents who can focus in this moment.
"The video was uploaded in an internet cafe in Rabat, Morocco. I don't have anything else."
"Strip the hell out of that footage. Anything you can get."
Eric nods. "Already working on it."
Callen moves to leave OPs, which triggers both Kensi, Sam and Nate to follow. He barks out orders to everyone to research, gather information and find out what the hell they are suddenly up against.
"What about Dom's family?" Kensi cuts in.
"What about them?" Sam asks.
"Shouldn't we contact them?" She knows it won't actually help their case, but also knows if she was in their position she would want to know. If it were her loved one missing, she would want to know if there was even the slightest glimmer of hope.
"And tell them what?" Callen asks.
"Your son's not dead yet, but he's about to be executed?" Sam cuts in before she can respond.
She shoots them both a look. She knows Callen doesn't have a family, so he just simply doesn't understand. But Sam does have a family, so he should understand.
"At the very least they could be praying," she says. She knows Dom was not overly religious, but he had told her he grew up in a religious household. She knows his parents and his sister will appreciate knowing he is still alive now, even if that changes tomorrow. "They deserve to know. Dom would want them to know."
Callen accepts her stance with a nod. "Nate, will you speak with them?"
Nate nods. "I'll call them now."
"Good." Callen nods again. "Hopefully by the time we talk with Dom's family it will be to tell them he's been found safe and sound."
Unfortunately, Callen's optimism does not win them any points or luck as they struggle through the next several hours. At each step there are no answers, only more questions.
Hetty calls in every contact and favour she is owed.
Eric practically works his fingers raw typing so hard looking for information.
Eventually a picture surfaces of the terrorist group in question. In the background, Sam makes a startling discovery. One of the teenagers in the photo is a boy named Mo whom he had saved from the Sudan as a child and brought to the US. He had gotten close to the wrong people through a youth centre and disappeared not long before Dom was abducted.
Dawn turns to day and then day to dusk to night as they track Mo's involvement.
Time is running out as they track the man who funded the recruitment of Mo and other boys from the youth centre. He's thought to be behind Dom's abduction and funding of the terrorist group. Unfortunately, he's rich and influential in Los Angeles. He's firewalled himself by surrounding himself with lawyers.
With less than an hour until the deadline, and desperate to help Dom, the team plans an abduction of their own. They will grab Kalil Abramson, the man responsible, under the ruse of extraordinary rendition and transportation to a black site for 'questioning' in the desperate hope that fear will cause him to talk. Hetty has teams on standby worldwide near the most likely locations Dom is being held. As soon as they have a location for Dom, the closest team will make their move to get him out.
They track Kalil's phone to an old theatre under renovation. Eric tells them Kalil owns the theatre under the guise of restoring it and turning it in a center for the performing arts.
Kensi, Callen and Sam make their way into the theatre. It's quiet and immediately clear no work is currently being done or has been done in some time towards any restoration project.
They are still together and on the main floor when they hear a series of gunshots from above.
The three agents draw their weapons, but glance uneasily at one another. The shots were not close to them. As far as they know, no one knows they are here. And as far as they know, no one by Kalil is here.
Callen calls the shots into Eric, who begins looking for any surveillance cameras he can tap into.
The team moves off of the main floor and heads up. Regardless of what's going on with Kalil, they need him to talk and they need him to talk now. Dom's time is running out.
When they reach the upper floor, they split up.
Kensi heads silently down a corridor towards the back of the building. She clears two rooms, but when she enters the third, her blood runs cold.
"Oh, my God," she mutters as she recognizes the room. It's the same room from the video she had seen a little less than twenty four hours earlier. It's the same room Dom had been in less than twenty four hours earlier.
"Kensi, what is it?" Callen asks over the comms.
"I'm in the room where they were holding Dom... This is where they shot the video. Callen, he never left LA."
"I've got Dom!" Eric interrupts them both. "He's on the roof. Dom's on the roof. I have him on camera feed from the roof next door."
"Mo's here, too," Sam says into the comm. "I'm heading for the roof."
Kensi immediately backs out of the room, her mission having changed from finding Kalil to finding her partner. "Eric, are they shooting at him?"
"Uh...I don't think so? I can't see anyone else up there. He's... He's running from a staircase. Maybe he escaped?"
"That's my partner," she mumbles as she finds the stairs and makes her way up towards the roof as quickly as she can while covering herself.
"I got him," Sam announces into the comms. "I got Dom. He's alive."
Kensi feels a wave of relief as she hurries up the stairs as fast as she can while still making sure to check around each turn. A minute goes by before they hear from Sam again. "I'm with Dom," he says this time. "We're taking cover on the roof. Active shooter. Northwest corner."
"I'm on it, Sam," Kensi says into her comm. "On the stairs leading to that door."
She's on the last set of stairs when Sam calls desperately through the comms, "Dom's been hit. He's down. Dom is down."
Kensi makes it to the top of the stairs and breaches the door. There is a man with a machine gun shooting down at Sam and Dom, but she takes him by surprise with two perfectly aimed shots. He drops his weapon and his body falls down the stairs. She steps out cautiously in time to see Callen shoot Kalil on the other side of the roof.
"Kalil's down," he announces. "Kensi?"
"All clear!" She calls back. The door had brought her out a service door two flights of stairs above the roof her team is on. It gives her a good tactical view.
He motions for Kensi to cover the roof and then runs towards Sam and Dom. Kensi can't see any of the three of them behind a large, commercial vent.
She swallows hard and her chest heaves as adrenaline races through her body. There is no activity on the roof. She glances down the stairs that would take her to the roof level from the door she has come out of the stair well at, but there is a large gate chained shut between the first and second story of stairs. She is stuck; isolated from her team. She keeps her weapon drawn, just in case.
"Callen, status?" She requests. No response.
"Eric, status?" She tries, knowing he may have a better angle than her as to what is happening with her partner.
No response.
She taps at the communication device in her ear, but is satisfied it is in and working.
"Where's the damned medevac?" She hears Sam ask through the comm.
"On its way," Eric answers. "Less than two minutes out."
Kensi swallows hard. If Sam is that worried, things are not good. If no one is answering her, it's because they don't know what to tell her. She strains her neck, but cannot see anything. She glances around the roof again, just to make sure she is keeping a careful watch for her team, but there is no movement.
And then Callen steps out from behind the vent and her heart sinks.
He meets Kensi's eyes from the distance and he shakes his head.
It's all she needs to know.
Her partner is already dead.
Her legs weaken under her and she grabs the railing before sitting down. She's clutching her sig in one hand and her head in the other as she's overwhelmed with grief.
They had been so close. She had really thought they would save him.
Her chest heaves and she feels the tears well in her eyes. She does nothing to stop them as they fall to the ground.
She closes her eyes and sobs as she gives into the grief of the loss of her partner.
The rhythmic thumping of a helicopter sounds from close by and she looks up. It's the medevac called for Dom. She stands and watches from her perch as Callen waves it off. It hovers for a moment, uncertain, and then Eric clearly reports it's no longer needed. It banks slightly and flies away.
It makes her angry. Because Dom had deserved to live. She turns and walks down the stairs as far as she can get before the locked gate and dead body. She secures her gun in the waistband of her jeans and climbs over the railing. She climbs down until she's close to the stair below and then releases herself.
Her landing is a jarring, and she twists her ankle a bit, but she catches herself before falling down the stairs. She then strides across the roof towards her partner.
Callen meets her at the vent, which had been blocking her view.
"It's bad, Kens," he says quietly. His normally bright blue eyes are dulled with pain.
She shakes her head. "He was my partner," she says back.
Callen nods and squeezes her arm before stepping out of her way.
Her heart constricts when she sees him. His body is prone and the colourless clothing he's wearing is soaked in brilliant red from his multiple gunshot wounds. Callen and Sam have clearly tried their very best to save him, evidenced by the makeshift tourniquet and multiple bloody handprints from keeping pressure. But the size of the blood pool surrounding him tell Kensi everything she needs to know. There would have been no saving her partner, even if they'd had medical attention standing by.
Sam is still kneeling, defeated, by Dom's side. Kensi kneels down on his other side.
"Dom," she whispers. Despite the blood, she reaches to place a hand on the centre of his chest. She wishes she could turn back the clock and save him. She wishes he had never been taken from them. She wishes that even if he had to die that she had been able to be there with him. She was his partner and she had let him down. "I'm so sorry."
"I thought we had him," Sam says without lifting his head from its defeated position.
"I'm sorry I didn't make it up the stairs faster," she tells him. "I should have been able to take out the shooter faster."
Sam looks up sharply. "You plugged the shooter at that end of the roof, Kensi. It was Kalil who shot him."
She feels just a touch of relief at that news. Maybe she couldn't be with her partner in his last moments, but at least she can't blame herself for him getting shot.
Sam shakes his head. "Kalil was aiming for me. Dom jumped in front of me."
She feels a new batch of tears spring to her eyes. Dom had always been so desperate to prove himself. And here he had, in both the best and worst possible way. "He's a hero."
Sam nods.
Kensi pats Dom's chest before removing her hand. "You're a hero, Dom," she whispers.
00
A week later, Kensi finds herself dress in a black skirt and dark blouse, wanting to disappear.
She hates funerals.
They remind her of the darkest parts of her life. But Dom was her partner and she wouldn't miss this for anything.
The week had been dark. Her worst since starting at OSP. They hadn't taken on any new cases. Sam had spent most of the week in the gym beating a punching bag. Kensi had spent much of the week in the shooting range. Callen disappeared frequently, though Kensi didn't know where he disappeared to.
Nate was an overly familiar presence, trying to press the field agents to talk, though Kensi could tell he was struggling with the loss himself.
The only thing she wanted to help herself get through this was her husband. She knows if he were home, he'd be doing everything in his power to be there for her. Unfortunately, he was who knows where and out of contact and quite possibly didn't even know about Dom's death.
When she had gotten home that first night, she had showered until the water turned ice cold and then crawled into bed wearing only her husband's tee shirt, wanting as much comfort as possible. When she had finally drifted to sleep, she had dreamt he came home to be with her. But when she had woken up, she had been alone.
She had tried spending a night at her mother's, wanting to be around people and Monty, but her mom had asked too many questions Kensi hadn't been able to answer.
"How you holding up, Kens?" Callen asks, appearing to Kensi's right.
Kensi turns and offers Callen a shrug. "As well as can be expected, I guess. You?"
He nods. "About the same. Hate funerals, though."
She actually laughs. "I was just thinking exactly that."
"Dom would hate this."
"Agreed."
"At least it's a nice day."
She nods. The service is being held outdoors. It's sunny, but not too hot. "I kind of can't believe it's been a week already."
"Me neither. But it's good. We need to move forward. You lost your partner and I feel like I'm losing mine."
He doesn't have to explain further for her to know what he's talking about. "It wasn't Sam's fault," she states. "I don't know how to convince him of that. I've tried."
"You've tried. I've tried. Nate's tried. Everyone has tried."
"Maybe he just needs some time, Callen."
"I hope so." Callen pulls his phone from his jacket pocket to glance at the time. He frowns. "I'm going to call him, make sure he's on his way."
She nods and Callen steps away and over to a quiet area.
Kensi runs her right hand over her left, wishing she could be wearing her rings. She can't have her husband with her right now, but her rings would offer just a hint of comfort in their reminder of Marty. She glances around at the amassing family and friends. There is a couple not much older than herself a little ways away with two sad young girls. Kensi's heart clenches because she knows without a doubt that the girls are Dom's nieces. Their mother catches Kensi's eye with a questioning look.
Kensi hesitates before walking carefully over to the young family.
"Hi," she says to the woman who looks sad, but strong. "You must be Sarah."
The woman nods. "Yes, hi..."
"Kensi," she says, introducing herself. "I'm..." She trails off before trying again. "I was Dom's partner."
Sarah visibly reacts to the news, but then offers Kensi a smile. "It's really nice to meet you. Dom didn't get to tell us much about what he was doing. But he said he'd met some really nice people."
"It's nice to meet you, too. He talked a lot about his family." She offered the older woman a sad smile. "He had lots of good things to say." She looked down at the two little girls. "And you two must be Dom's favourite nieces?" She asks, knowing they are his only nieces.
They both nod.
"Your Uncle Dom was so proud to be your uncle, did you know that?"
They both shake their heads.
"Well, he was. I think his most prized possessions were the drawings you used to send him."
This makes the girls smile and glance up at their mom. Sarah has tears in her eyes, but smiles at Kensi. She mouths 'thank you.'
Kensi nods and excuses herself.
She quickly locates Nate, who appears resigned to be at the funeral.
They make the same small talk she and Callen had made.
"At least it's a nice day," Kensi says.
"Funny that people always mention that?" Nate comments. "You'd think bad weather would be more fitting for a funeral."
"Isn't it supposed to be celebration of life?"
Nate eyes her. "Do you really believe that?"
"No."
He sighs. "Me neither; not right now, anyway."
They both fall silent.
"It's nice that so many people came," he says.
"Yup," she agrees.
"And lots of people sent flowers," Nate comments.
"I hate flowers."
He eyes her for a moment. "You hate flowers," he echoes, as if he's hearing her for the first time.
"This is not new information, Nate," she points out.
"No, I just always thought you were being..." He shakes his head and trails off. "I thought the attention embarrassed you when you were dating," he says with a wry smile. "But you weren't ever dating or interested in dating?"
She shakes her head, not quite smiling back, but also not quite not smiling.
"But you actually hate them," he continues.
"I hate them like this." She motions towards the multiple arrangements. They look beautiful now, all freshly cut and perfectly set, but she knows they will wither and die in a matter of days.
"Because of your dad's funeral when you were a teenager?" Nate questions.
She sighs and runs a hand through her hair. "Yup."
"I'm sorry I didn't put that together before."
"You don't need to psychoanalyze me and my hatred of flower arrangements," Kensi points out.
"No," he hedges, "But it must have been a hard time for you."
"I really don't want to talk about this now, Nate."
"Of course. Sorry." He pauses. "Have you heard from Deeks?"
She sighs. "No. And I don't expect to. He probably doesn't even know about Dom. And even if he does, he shouldn't risk breaking his cover to contact me."
Nate nods. "Understandable. Do you have any idea when he'll be home? Do you get to know that kind of information?"
She shakes her head. "It's going to be a long one. And it's only been a month. Probably at least a couple more months to go. But I don't get to be in the loop. He'll just show up at home one day."
"That's not easy."
"No." She stares at him for a moment. "It's his last assignment," she tells Nate. "After this one he's home for good. We can finally stop hitting pause on our life."
"That's something to look forward to."
She stares around at the sad and grieving faces. "It's about the only thing keeping me moving forward right now."
00
00
Kensi curled herself into the corner of the couch and stared at the Christmas tree across the room. With less than a week to Christmas, it was fully decorated and adorned with a small pile of presents. They had discussed splurging and buying a new tree this year, for their first Christmas as a married couple, but they'd both grown fond of the slightly decrepit tree from their first two Christmases together.
It wasn't that cold out, but she pulled her blanket tighter around her shoulders, looking for comfort rather than warmth.
She'd been okay for most of the day. She'd woken early and left the small apartment before her husband was awake, knowing he'd gotten home late the night before from one of his part time jobs. She'd worked at one of her jobs until early afternoon before heading home.
It was the quiet, empty apartment and perfectly prepared tree that had set her off.
She'd changed into lounge clothes and curled herself up on the couch.
She had a good life. And she was building a good future. And she'd found a man who loved her as much as she loved him. But still, she missed her dad.
She sniffed as a handful of silent tears streak down her cheeks.
A year earlier, she was able to be happy and celebrate the holidays. She had been overwhelmed with the knowledge that Marty Deeks was 'the one.' It had boosted her spirit and confirmed her decision to commit to him.
She wasn't sure why it seemed harder this year than the last. Another year passed should make it easier, not harder, right?
She sighed and closed her eyes for a moment. She ran the fingers of her right hand over the rings adorning her left. She hadn't had either ring this time last year.
She had definitely felt her father's absence when she had gotten married. But she'd also known her father would have been happy for her. He may not have approved of Marty's haircut, but he would have approved of everything else.
The door cracked open across the small living room and her eyes opened. She watched as her husband made his way into the apartment. He slipped off his shoes and turned to her.
"You're home early," she commented. She hadn't expected him home from work for at least another hour.
He padded towards her with a soft smile and sat beside her on the couch. "I wanted to be here with you today."
She felt tears sting her eyes again. "You remembered what today is?"
He nodded. "Of course." He wrapped an arm around her shoulders and pressed a kiss to the side of her head.
"It's been five years," she whispered as she leaned into his comfort.
He sighed and hugged her a little closer. "I know."
"I really miss him today," she admitted.
"I know you do." He kissed her head again. "And wherever he is, Kens, he's proud of you."
"I hope so."
"I know so," he insisted. "You're smart. And beautiful. And have a little bit of an attitude," he said, which succeeded in making her laugh. "And you're so strong. No matter what happens, you keep moving forward."
She turned into him and wrapped her arms around his neck. "I think you're what's keeping me moving forward right now."
He hugged her tight. "I'll always be there for you, Kens. I'll always keep you moving forward."
00
The day after the funeral, Kensi goes to work. It's still quiet and caseless. The only change is the alien bobble head that had been sitting vigil on Dom's desk for the four months he had been missing is now gone. No one mentions it's absence.
She uses the gym and the shooting range. They have no paperwork left to catch up on. Hetty sends them home early. Their operations manager has been acting strange since Dom's death, but Kensi can't bring herself to push the older woman. Everyone is struggling. Maybe she just needs time.
Kensi heads home and collapses onto the couch. The mountain of stuff on the coffee table has grown to the point where it is overflowing onto the floor. She knows she should tidy up. And soon. But she just doesn't have the energy to care.
She watches an hour of bad television as she eats cold leftovers from the fridge. The food is pretty tasteless, but she hasn't exactly been hungry lately.
When her phone rings, she groans, thinking it could only be work calling her back in.
The caller ID is not a number she recognizes.
"Hello?" She answers.
"Hi, is this Kensi?" A female voice that Kensi vaguely recognizes asks.
"Uh, who is this?" Kensi counters.
"This is Jessica Traynor."
Kensi immediately sits up as her memory connects the familiar voice with the name. She's suddenly on alert, concerned her husband's handler is calling her with bad news. "Yes, Jess, hi. Is everything okay?"
"Everything is fine," Jess says casually. "I just wondered if you...wanted to come by this evening?"
Kensi feels her brow furrow. She had met the detective a few times at LAPD functions and she was friendly, but they had never interacted outside of those functions.
"We have a friend in common, who would love to see you," Jess adds.
Kensi feels her breath catch as she suddenly understands exactly what is going on. Her husband is reaching out to her through his handler because he can't call her himself.
"Sounds great," Kensi says, playing along. "What time?"
Jess gives Kensi her address and a time.
An hour later, Kensi leaves her apartment, on her way to see her husband.