A/N: From the Angst/fluff list, prompt 60: "You look like you could use a hug."


Deeks sighed, tossing his pen on the tablet beside his laptop. He scrubbed both hands over his face, drawing Kensi's attention to the circles under his eyes. He'd stayed late at work the last few days, doing some pro bono work and it was clearly wearing on him.

Walking over to his desk, she sat on the edge and brushed his hair out of his eyes.

"You look like you could use a hug," she said and he smiled sadly at her.

"Maybe just a small one," he agreed, resting his head on her shoulder as she embraced him. She smoothed her hands up and down his spine and over his shoulders. His muscles felt tight and knotted from tension so she spent a few minutes gently massaging them.

"What's going on?" she asked, pulling back but still keeping her hands loosely on Deeks' shoulders.

"You know I've been helping out one of my ex clients from when I was a public defender?" he began and Kensi nodded.

"Yeah, wasn't he charged with drug possession?"

"Yup. I managed to get him off with time served, provided he completed community service and substance abuse classes."

"Sounds like you did your job," Kensi commented. Deeks shrugged, as if to say he wasn't so sure about that.

"He wasn't a bad person. Just a kid who made some really bad choices," he continued, his eyes unfocused as he remembered. "At first he couldn't stand me. Though to be fair, I don't think he liked anybody. But eventually he warmed up to me."

Smiling at the image of a 20-something year old Deeks, presenting in court Kensi said,

"I'm sure used your irresistible Marty Deeks charm on him." He snorted at that and shook his head.

"No, actually I told him that he was an idiot and he needed to do exactly what I said if he didn't want to end up in jail."

"That does not sound especially lawyerly."

"Hey, it worked," Deeks said defensively, then added, "It probably didn't hurt that he also spent the previous night in a cell."

"So what changed?" Kensi asked. He sighed deeply again.

"He screwed up. He'd been clean this whole time and didn't get as much as a speeding ticket. But then two weeks ago one of his friends asked him to do deliver a package which contained two pounds of cocaine."

"And he got picked up."

"Yup. He's been charged with possession with the intent to distribute. And since he already has a drug charge on his record, and considering the amount of drugs he was carrying, they're charging him with a felony," Deeks explained, leaning back with a tired groan. "He asked me to represent him again and I said yes, but I don't know if there's anything I can do."

He sounded so bleak that Kensi's heart ached for him.

"What are the chances he'll get it a reduced sentence?" she asked.

"Not good. The district attorney is out for blood."

"I'm sorry, sweetie," Kensi said and he blew out a slow breath.

"I just feel so useless."

"Well, if there's anything I can do, even if it is just listening, I'm here," she said, leaning down to kiss his cheek. "And don't sell yourself short. You're a good lawyer and a good man. If anyone can help, it's you."

"Thanks, baby," he murmured, looking oddly shy for a moment. Kensi smiled and kissed him briefly.

"Anytime."