The response to chapter 52 was absolutely incredible! I honestly don't think I've ever gotten that many reviews on a single chapter before. It was overwhelming, to say the least! I really hope you all enjoy this next installment.
We are nearing the end, and I'm so excited for you guys to see how I wrap everything up. There will be a few more chapters though, I promise:)
-Hazel
Again and again, Kensi's fingers continued to gingerly trace over the present lying in her lap. She lifted it slowly so the rest of the team could see, her cheeks stained with fresh tears.
"It's-it's an NCIS badge."
Deeks grinned widely, eyes sparkling.
"It's mine."
"Yours?" She repeated, simply whispering the word.
He nodded. "Mine. Special Agent Marty Deeks, NCIS."
Her partner was her husband, her husband was her partner. It was all she'd ever wanted, really. Something permanent. Something that couldn't be taken away at a moments notice.
And then suddenly, she had it. All of it. Nothing was missing.
Kensi opened her mouth to say something, but the words just got caught somewhere in her throat and she couldn't force them out.
"I, um..."
He turned his head to one side, helping her out by filling the silence.
"NCIS is my home now. It has been for awhile now, but this just makes it official. There's no chance of me being sent back to the LAPD. Hetty was happy to help me make it happen."
"I..." She shook her head, completely overwhelmed and only able to locate a few simple words. "I love you."
He grinned, the expression massive and encapsulating his features. "I love you too."
"Congrats," Sam chimed in, forcing Deeks to remember that there were other people in the room too.
"Thanks. It's gonna be great." He titled his head down towards the badge. "Now we can just introduce ourselves as Special Agents Kensi and Marty Deeks. I'm pretty excited about that."
"I can tell," Kensi mumbled, almost under her breath. She was still grinning though, so Deeks took that as a very good sign.
"Glad to know you're with us for good," Callen added, nodding. "It just wouldn't be the same without you around."
Deeks eyebrows lifted as he spun around in his chair. "Wowza. That was absolutely adorable, G. Unexpectedly so."
Nell, Eric and Kensi all couldn't help but burst out laughing at the very truthful declaration. Deeks was right- the comment was pretty precious, and definitely not something they would usually hear from Callen.
G just narrowed both eyes, folding both arms tightly across his chest. "Ugh. Shut it, Deeks."
Giving a rather gallant bow from his chair, he just winked.
"As you wish."
"I still think you're annoying."
"I'm sure you do."
A watery snort/snicker from Kensi made Deeks refocus his attention on her once more. He reached a hand out, wiggling his fingers at her in a grabby motion.
Kensi wiped at her eyes, still giggling as she intertwined her left hand with his. He just adored that laugh.
"I can't believe you finally did it."
He merely shrugged. "It wasn't that hard. I just had to sign some paperwork, pass my physical. No big deal."
She gave him a small, toothless smile, her features lighting up. "Sure. No big deal."
"So... you're happy?" Deeks asked, jetting his chin out.
Kensi shook her head, chuckling.
"Very happy."
She pondered how that could possibly still be in question, but let it slide. He had given her everything, and then right when she thought he couldn't possibly do anything more, he did. Just because he could.
Sam cleared his throat after a moment, placing one hand on Callen's shoulder. "We should probably get out of here. Let you guys rest."
Eric nodded. "Just wanted to drop off our gift. Say hello."
"Did you ever, um, get your face checked out?" Callen asked, motioning around his own features for emphasis.
"What, that bad?"
Sam grimaced. "Have you looked in a mirror yet?"
"Ouch. That's insulting."
"Answer the question."
Deeks scratched the back of his head, thinking. "No, oddly enough I haven't."
"It's almost been a full day. I bet that's a record for you."
"Well, I did have a child, so... ya know. Kinda busy."
"We had a child," Kensi interjected, clearly feigning annoyance as she delivered the sentence with a subtle smile.
"Oh, yes- I appreciate the correction, but I can add on. My wife had a nineteen hour, stress-induced labor, and almost broke my hand in the process."
"How?"
Deeks massaged his palm for emphasis. "Kensalina has a rather tight grip."
"It hurt!" She exclaimed, lightly slapping him on the shoulder. There wasn't much force behind it. "Either I held your hand or I shot someone. You're just lucky that I gave you the choice."
He rotated around slightly to fully face Sam and Callen. "Whoa. That was dark."
"Super creepy."
"Gave me chills."
Kensi yawned, a smile poking through. "It's an expression used for emphasis. Not literal whatsoever."
"You know, come to think of it, you didn't seem too happy with that nurse yesterday."
"I was in labor. That automatically gives me the right to bitch out whoever I please. It wasn't personal."
"Right."
"Of course."
"Nobody believes you," Nell whispered, speaking quietly over Olivia's head.
Kensi smirked, leaning her head back against the bounty of pillows that supported her. "I can tell."
Sam nodded and chuckled, patting Deeks on the shoulder twice as he took a few slow steps away from the bed, Callen and Eric trailing close behind.
"Congrats you two. I mean it."
Deeks squeezed Kensi's hand, beaming up at him. "Thanks."
"Are we leaving?" Nell asked, making a whiny sound- her tone reminiscent of a five year old.
It wasn't really a question though, more of just a sad declaration. Nell stared at Olivia as she walked towards Kensi's bed, her lower lip jetting out.
"Auntie Nell loves youuuuuu," she said, lowering the baby girl down into Kensi's arms.
Eric smiled, gently grabbing her hand as he pulled her towards the door.
"See you soon."
"And call us if you need anything!"
Deeks nodded at Nell. He knew she was already thinking about when she'd get to babysit.
"Will do."
"Good luck," Sam threw in with a small, knowing grin.
"Thank you. See ya."
And just like that, their three coworkers snuck back out just as quickly as they entered.
"Not much has changed," Kensi murmured once the door was pulled shut, her voice slurry from exhaustion.
"How do you figure?"
She shrugged limply. "They're still mocking us."
"Mainly you, actually."
Kensi snorted. "Yeah. A nice change of pace, I'm sure."
"We can't let Olivia hear her uncles talking smack about you though," Deeks whispered, pretending to cover his daughters ears.
"I think it's gonna be a little while before we have to start worrying about that."
"Terrible twos?"
"I dunno. Whenever she starts repeating after us."
"You'll need to learn how to use 'touche' properly. We can't have her picking up bad habits."
"Hmmm."
She simply hummed the sound, her eyes fluttering open and closed.
"Do you want me to take her? Let you get some rest?"
"Um..." Kensi didn't want to give her up, but sleep was tugging at her and she knew that within a matter of minutes she'd probably be out like a light. "Sure. I'll give you some daddy-daughter bonding time."
That easily produced a massive, crooked smile.
"Sounds pretty good to me."
He lifted Olivia from her arms, careful to hold her head up properly and securely. Although he was trying to suppress it, Deeks was still genuinely terrified that he was going to do something wrong. It always seemed like a possibility- that he'd somehow manage to break her.
Knowing the fear was completely irrational helped, sure. Sam had told him that enough times.
And on top of that... she really was the perfect baby. Hardly ever cried, to an extent which he found almost disconcerting.
"Babe, am I the only one who finds it worrisome that..."
Deeks trailed off after lifting his eyes to find that hers were already closed. He smiled softly, looking back down to Olivia.
She really was incredible, he couldn't stress it enough. Just seven pounds, twelve ounces of utter perfection.
That barely noticeable, but still completely adorable gummy smile. The way she yawned, her features expanding widely and then shrinking back to their normal size. How she breathed. That little button nose. Her ten tiny fingers. Her ten tiny toes. All of it.
He wanted to soak it in, relish in the moments. Sam had warned him that they would pass by far too quickly, and that he should try to take advantage of them while he could. Deeks wondered how that could actually be possible though, because when he was with her time seemed to stand totally and completely still.
More than anything else it just felt like the past nine months had flown by, and that things were finally beginning to slow down. Kensi had made it through the full extent of her pregnancy without consuming a single drop of alcohol or caffeine, which truly was a miracle considering all the obstacles they'd faced along the way.
Multiple gunshot wounds, one wedding, a mysteriously reappearing ex-fiance, a nearly fatal child abduction case, and most recently, a blown undercover op. They were lucky to be alive, that was for damn sure.
Mainly though, they were just lucky to have her. To know what their purpose was, and why they'd made it through.
Both were still breathing, still charging on, just for her.
