"The things we do for you, Hetty," Sam grumbled. "This is above and beyond the call of duty." He jangled the six pack of beer he was carrying and wondered if even that would be enough to make this session even vaguely palatable. It didn't seem likely, somehow.

"Don't be a party pooper." My, someone's grouchy today. I wonder if it's because I'm driving? Men can get so bent out of shape over little things like that. Hetty accelerated rapidly, just to make a point.

Callen tried to look on the positive side of things. "Maybe Deeks has given Kensi a few pointers?" Or maybe we could just play 'Go Fish' instead?

"I'm pretty sure he has – but I don't think we're going to get to see any of that, G. We got lucky once, but that's probably about it." And Kensi will kill us if she ever finds out.

"Yeah, for someone who was shot, Deeks sure doesn't let it cramp his style." Or anything else, come to think of it.

"From what I saw last night, Mr Deeks' wound seems to be healing rather nicely. I don't even think it will leave a scar." An absolute silence greeted Hetty's remark, one that lasted for rather too long for comfort as they considered the implications.

"Ok-ay. That was interesting. And disturbing at the same time. We don't want to know any more, do we Sam?"

Sam shook his head. "Absolutely not." He thought for a moment and then nodded. "No, screw that – of course we want to know. All the details. Don't leave a single thing out."

"Then you will have to want, Mr Hannah. Curiousity killed the cat." Oh, pussy cat, pussy cat, where have you been?

"Yeah, but at least he died with a smile on his face." Sam stared out of the car window with a glum expression. "And we're going to die of boredom. Or at least frustration."

"Deeks doesn't look frustrated."

"He's got fringe benefits. I guess this will be the last poker game then."

"Maybe Kensi had an off-day that one time she played with us?" Callen suggested. "It can happen. And she did say that her Dad taught her to play poker."

"Have you ever considered that maybe he was a lousy poker player too? G, you've got to face facts – she had four nines one time and thought they were two pairs." Sam rolled his eyes heavenwards in supplication. "Can we at least stop and pick up some beer, please?" He might get through this if he was drunk enough. But they were definitely going to need more alcohol.

"So what did Hetty say?" Kensi asked, as they lay in a tangle of sheets and intertwined limbs, in the boneless state of complete and utter relaxation of post-orgasmic satisfaction.

"About the game? Or about us?" Marty said lazily.

"Us, of course." Funny how there's suddenly an 'us'. Funny how it feels so right. "Is there going to be a problem?"

"Why should there be a problem? Don't go looking for trouble, Kensi."

"I can't help it." She buried her face in Marty's chest and felt the warm, solid comfort of his arm around her. "I'm not lucky in love."

"So how come you're such a lousy card player?" he teased.

"I am not!"

"Actually, you are. Truly terrible. The guys told me all about it."

"I can't be good at everything," Kensi mumbled.

"And you don't have to be. You're not Wonder Woman – not really. And you don't have to be. But you're the next best thing." Stop trying to be so perfect. Because you don't even have to try – not with me.

"So Hetty doesn't mind about us?"

Marty stretched luxuriously. "I think she knew before we did. All she said was 'what took you so long?' and gave me that look. The one where she's just waiting for you to say something." The look I've learnt not to get sucked in by, because therein lies madness.

"So what did you say?"

"Are you kidding? I didn't say anything. 'If in doubt, say nothing'. That's my motto." He doubled up as Kensi punched him lightly in the stomach.

"You are such a liar. You're always saying inappropriate things at the worst possible times. You never know when to keep your mouth shut."

"Yeah, but I can say outrageous things and still keep a straight face. Unlike you. That's why I can play poker."

"So that's my problem – I can't lie? Then how come I'm so good at going undercover?"

"Maybe if you work that one out, you might be better at cards?" Marty looked at his watch, "We'd better start to think about getting ready."

"Or we could just call and put them off? Reschedule?" Kensi started nibbling gently at his neck and it took all Marty's willpower not to succumb.

"Or maybe not. Come on – this is going to be fun."

As far as Kensi was concerned, that seemed about as unlikely as enjoying a root canal without the benefit of local anaesthetic, but she was willing to give it a shot. Especially as Marty was standing at the side of the bed, stark naked and holding his hand out invitingly. That settled it, once and for all: if she was willing to go through the ritual humiliation of playing poker and showing herself up, then it must be love. It was as simple as that. She'd been looking in all the wrong places and here it was, right here in front of her. And all she had to do was to reach out and take hold of his hand. That was all she had to do. It must be love – but was she willing to take the chance?

There was no choice, no choice at all. There was no need to keep moving in that finely defined line she'd set for herself, while going precisely nowhere at all, because here was the one person she'd needed all along. Here was the boy she could stand behind, the man who would always be there and Kensi knew she was right where she wanted to be, right where she had always wanted to be – at the centre of someone else's universe, and at the centre of Marty's universe, no less. She was in love and it wasn't frightening at all, in fact it felt fine. So it was the easiest and most natural thing in the whole word just to put her hand in his and know that he would be there, wherever she wanted to go. It must be love – because that was the way things were.

"Nothing's going to change our world, Kensi. Not unless we want it to."

Limitless, undying love seemed to pool out like a million shining suns, enticing and inviting and everything else seemed to slip away into infinity.

"Nothing's going to change our world," she agreed.