"You okay, Kens?" Deeks asked quietly once he was sure they were out of earshot of Callen and Sam.

"Hmm?" she asked, distracted by the people milling about them. Well, milling about the best they could. He supposed using the term 'wobbling' was insulting and not to mention inappropriate in this sort of situation.

Why did their latest case have to take them all to a Rehab facility? And not a drug one like cases sometimes did but a physical one. For people recovering from serious injuries. Like car accidents. Or from getting blown up. Or maybe even both. Did that happen a lot? He bet it did. This was LA, after all and they had certainly been in enough explosions.

"You okay?" he repeated patiently.

Her gaze snapped back to him, a frown on her face.

"Yes, why wouldn't it be?" she asked defensively.

He didn't retort, knowing that all it would do was get her completely on the defensively, but he did give her a look. One that quickly made her deflate.

"Sorry," she mumbled, looking uncomfortable as she took in their surroundings. "I'm just-"

"I know," he said gently, not needing her to explain.

She didn't need to explain herself. Not to him.

"Deeks-"

"You don't need to talk about it."

He knew how difficult it was for her to talk about what happened to her on that plane. And especially what happened afterwards. He'd been through it with her. The feeling of helplessness that he couldn't do anything to help. Watching her fight so hard for what seemed like nothing some days. But he also saw her work through it and heal. Physically at least. Mental trauma took longer to heal. They were all very familiar with that. Far too familiar.

She didn't need to feel like she had to talk about any of it just because they were at a rehab centre. He was sure the memories this was bringing up was making her feel off-balance and he didn't need to unbalance her further by prying too much into her head. Though there was one thing she did need to know.

"But I'll be here if you do."

She gave him a small smile.

"I know, Deeks."

Because they always had each other's backs. That's what they did.

"So-"

Kensi took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. A peaceful look was supposed to follow a move like that but all that happened was that she got a little bit less tense. Eh, he'd take it.

"Right," she said resolutely. "I can do this."

Except, it was never a question on her ability to do this case. No, never about her ability or willingness. This was more about her mental well-being. Her memories. Hey, Deeks wasn't ashamed to admit that he got bad vibes coming back to a place like this and he wasn't the one who had to stay there.

"Are you going to be okay?" Deeks rephrased his original question.

She gave him a long look, long enough to make him feel worried, before nodding very slowly. He breathed a sigh of relief.

"Yeah, I'm going to be okay."

Hopefully there was some truth to that statement and it wasn't Kensi being Kensi and burying her emotions. But at least she wasn't moping?

"Good."

He gave her a grin, which she briefly returned. He was about to say something encouraging or funny to lift her spirits a bit when they were interrupted.

"Hey! Slow pokes!" Sam called back to them.

Deeks looked at Kensi, ready to make up an excuse to leave if she needed him to. He watched her steel herself, fists clenching.

"We're going to chat to some of the physiotherapists out here," she called back, evidently not ready to be inside yet.

[xxxxxx]

"Sure," Callen replied to their younger teammates before lowering his voice to ask Sam a question, "Think Kensi is okay?"

"Why wouldn't she be?"

"Well, she doesn't exactly have the best memories of a place like this."

Callen couldn't believe that he was the one that was more in touch with how people were feeling. Sam was normally better than this.

"She got better in a place like this."

He was about to retort with something about "a serious, traumatic injury" but then he saw the look on Sam's face. Or rather, the look he was shooting the place Kensi and Deeks originally had been. It was a look that meant he was recalling a bad memory. Like seeing Kensi nearly die bad memory.

"She got better," Sam repeated, stressing the last word like he was trying to convince himself.

"Against all odds," Callen reminded him.

Because of course Kensi managed something like that. She was Kensi Blye!

Sam nodded. "She's a tough girl, she'll be fine."

Callen wasn't too convinced. He knew she had been rattled when she and Deeks had to visit a similar centre when they were investigating Hetty's old team. She'd actually told him she had been "weirded out" though she had claimed that it was because it was weird not being a patient in one of the rooms. Callen knew better. This whole place unnerved her. Probably because she remembered all the heartache she went through here. Pain. Fear. Helplessness. Depression. Terror. More pain. Not exactly memories you wanted to revisit.

"Deeks will have her back," Sam broke through his (rather depressing) thoughts.

That was true. Deeks always had Kensi's back (and she his). Of course, Deeks would be able to handle a more cagey Mal. It seemed to be a talent of his.

Callen sent a final look in the direction Kensi and Deeks went and nodded. Yeah, she'd be okay. And if she wasn't, Deeks was there.

"Let's go track down some computers," Callen said, trying not to sound too eager.

Hey, this was basically like stealing only on the orders of the State Department. So, this was bound to be fun. If they could get past all the people. The medical staff seemed to be everywhere.

This might be somewhat harder than they thought.