Kensi been warned not to expect Marty to be released before midday and took full advantage of the luxury of not having to leap out of bed and rush around madly before heading out to the hospital at the crack of dawn. By some miracle, Densi behaved like a perfect angel that morning. She just hoped this wasn't a bad sign and that he was planning to behave for the rest of the day. Given his track record of going from smiling delight to screaming, red-faced fury in the blink of an eye, she wasn't holding out much hope. Night-times had been particularly trying without his beloved bunny: Densi just refused to settle without it and would howl piteously before falling asleep with exhaustion. There were some nights when Kensi was so tired by the time she finally put him down that she was sure she would sleep through an earthquake. She'd hunted everywhere and practically turned the house upside-down in her search, but the toy rabbit was nowhere to be found.

"Daddy's coming home today, so you'll be a good boy, won't you?" she begged. "Because Daddy's not been well." The last thing Marty needed was a baby crying all night. She could do without it too

Densi beamed happily and then let out a large belch, which seemed to please him even more. Taking that as a sign of acquiescence, Kensi gave a final check around the room to make sure everything was perfect and then looked out of the window anxiously. It was nearly eleven thirty and in another three minutes Nell would be late… Just as she was about to check her watch again, Nell's familiar red Mini pulled up.

"Everything's in the usual places and Densi's been fed." Kensi just about bowled Nell over as she rushed through the door.

"And good morning to you too, Kensi," Nell muttered and went into the family room, where Densi sat in his bouncy chair, kicking his legs straight out in the air. "Hey there, gorgeous! Want to see what Auntie Nell's bought you?" She pulled a stuffed bunny out of her purse and the kicks grew quite frantic as Densi stretched his hands out imploringly, while burbling away.

"Okay, okay. Bun-bun's coming." Nell held out the toy and watched in fascination as Densi promptly shoved one ear into his mouth. "You really like bunnies, don't you?" At least he was content with the furry variety, rather than the ones that appeared in Playboy magazine. She was pretty sure Callen didn't know that she found his stash, hidden in that pocket in the side of the leather recliner chair. Nell hated that chair and had plans to get rid of it as soon as possible, only she'd have to be sneaky, as Callen had some unaccountable fondness for it. There really was no accounting for men and their lack of taste, whether it was Callen and that awful chair, or Densi with that rabbit, which had a rather evil expression on its face. But it had been the only one left in the shop, and Kensi had sounded desperate, so Nell had grabbed it and run. And Densi didn't seem to mind in the slightest, so that was fine.

Anna grabbed Kensi as she rushed past. "I hoped I'd catch you. I just wanted to wish you and Marty all the best."

"That's so sweet of you." Kensi was genuinely touched.

"Listen – I don't want you to take this the wrong way, but I've seen how you two are together and…" Anna blushed. "And it's just that he has been very ill. So, when you get home, you might want to take things slowly?"

Kensi could feel herself blushing too. "Were we that obvious?"

"Kind of." Definitely. All of the nurses felt quite jealous.

"I'll be gentle with him," Kensi said magnanimously. Because I can do gentle. And I can do slow and soft and all the things that make it feel as if you're going to make love forever and ever and you're so wrapped up in the moment that it feels like time has stopped.

Marty was sitting on the side of the bed, swinging his legs idly to and fro. It was still a shock to see him without the familiar rumpled hair, but already there was a good half inch of regrowth. "At last!" he complained. "I've been waiting for ages."

"I got here as fast as I could," Kensi said mildly. "Going stir crazy, are we?"

"Kind of." Marty slid off the bed and then hitched frantically at his jeans as they slithered down onto his hips.

"God, you've gotten skinny." He'd dropped a good ten pounds, Kensi reckoned, and looked taller and leaner than ever. "I'm going to have to feed you up."

"I can think of other things I'd rather have you do."

"You just keep thinking, Marty – that's what you're good at." Kensi took another look at him. "Do you want to tell me why you shaved?"

"It looked stupid, having a beard that was longer than my hair. This way, they should grow in about even."

"You are not having one of those big, bushy beards and looking like you're trying out for the remake of Grizzly Adams."

"I could have a really long beard and look like one of the guys from ZZ Top?" he suggested hopefully.

"You could – but then you'd have to find yourself another wife." Sometimes Kensi thought Don Johnson had a lot to answer for, making designer stubble fashionable. Of course, in Marty's case his look was mainly predicated by the fact he was too lazy to shave on a regular basis.

"Guess I'll have to keep it under control then."

"Does that mean I'm stuck with you?" Kensi rested her head on her shoulder and wrapped her arms around his waist. "I've missed this."

"Me too." Marty rested his cheek on the top of her head. "I've missed you."

"So how about we go home?"

"You've no idea how good that sounds."

Kensi delved into the holdall and pulled out hat. "I thought you might want to wear this – for old times' sake." It was a slightly battered Stetson that they had bought over a year ago in Galveston. "All the nice girls love a cowboy, after all." She perched it on his head at a rakish angle.

"Are you wearing the boots?" Marty watched as Kensi hitched up the leg of her jeans. "Cool." He fidgeted anxiously. "Come on, let's get out of here."

"In a rush to leave us, Mr Deeks?" Anna raised one eyebrow and handed across a large paper bag. "Don't forget your medicines. And don't forget to take them either."

"I'll make sure he takes them," Kensi promised. "If I have to stand over him."

Anna took a look at the cowboy boots and the Stetson and sighed inwardly. She was pretty sure they would have a bull whip back home. "I know I can rely on you to look after him. Just don't forget what I said, will you?"

"Of course not." Kensi looped her arm through Marty's and propelled him towards the door before he could ask any awkward questions.

Watching them walk slowly down the corridor, Anna wondered why all the really cute guys were taken. "Make sure you get plenty of rest, Marty," she called out and then wondered why she was bothering. Rest was clearly the last thing on their minds right now.

"Please tell me you haven't organised a surprise 'welcome home' party?" Marty begged as he caught sight of not only Nell's Mini, but Hetty's Jaguar parked outside their house.

"It wouldn't be much of a surprise, would it?"

"You know what I mean." It was incredible how tired he felt, after doing something as simple and basic as walking a few hundred yards and then being driven home. For some reason Marty felt completely done in, and his legs were shaking when he got out of the car. I am so out of condition.

"They came over to look after Densi." Kensi looped her arm around his waist. "You want to lean on me?"

"Yeah." He stopped just short of the front door and looked around with satisfaction. "It's so good to be home." There had been a few days when Marty had wondered if he would ever get home and reclaim his old life back.

"Tell me about it." Kensi pushed open the door and they went inside, to be greeted by the sight of Hetty sitting cross-legged on the floor and building a tower of bricks for Densi, who was completely absorbed in the whole process.

"Welcome home, Mr Deeks." Hetty unfolded her legs and stood up in one fluid movement. "Although you are looking a little peaky." Actually, you look positively scrawny. Although the hat is rather dashing. I've always been partial to cowboys, but then most red-blooded American women are. I blame Bonanza – all those handsome men on their horses…

"How about you sit down before you fall down?" Kensi steered Marty towards the couch and watched as he collapsed gratefully.

"Nice hat, Marty." Nell came through with Densi's bottle. "You want to feed him?"

"I guess." This was what he'd been waiting for: just being home with his hot wife in those boots and his cute son, who invariably had a nap after a feed. Now, if Hetty and Nell would just say goodbye, we'll be all set, Marty thought. Just me, Kensi and a world of possibilities.

Densi, however, had other thoughts. He took one look at the stranger in the hat and burst into tears. Things didn't get any better when Marty took off the Stetson and Densi just glanced at his father's new skinhead look in abject horror before screaming in a manner fit to bring the house down. It really was no surprise at all when Hetty and Nell made a quick exit, but it didn't look as if the adult members of the Deeks household would get any quality time any time soon.

"Welcome home, Marty," Kensi said wearily, as she paced up and down the room, patting Densi on the back and trying to turn his head so that he wasn't screaming directly into her ear. When she got no response, she turned around to find him sprawled out on the sofa, dead to the world.

"Looks like it's just you and me, kiddo. Again." Men. Sometimes she wondered why she bothered. The one she wanted in bed and asleep was shrieking like a banshee and the one she wanted in bed and fully awake was crashed out on the sofa. How come real life couldn't be more like the movies?

Flip - evil plot bunny has metamorphosised and got himself back into the story. Now that's sneaky...