Prompt 18 from the angst/prompt list, also requested by wanna-be-bold: "It's late. Shouldn't you be asleep?" Takes place leading up to Parley in season 4.


Kensi walked back into the darkened mission, having forgotten her gym bag in the woman's locker room. It was after 9 and she really just wanted to be home with a bag of tacos and a mindless show on in the background, but knew that she would hate getting up an hour early to retrieve it in the morning.

There was a faint light coming from the bullpen and she made a detour, curious to see who had come back after a full day of work. Deeks was sitting at his desk, a bunch of files open in front of him and a thermos by his side.

"It's late. Shouldn't you be asleep?" she asked and he looked up slowly, his eyes slightly glazed.

"What are you doing here?" he asked, his voice throatier than normal. It made Kensi's stomach clench in a way that she refused to examine. At least for now.

"I forgot my gym bag. But that doesn't answer my question, why are you back. We closed our case."

"I got behind on some LAPD stuff. Bates is on my back to get it turned in before the end of the week," he explained. It made sense, but there was something evasive beneath his casual tone.

"Oh, maybe I can help you," Kensi offered, taking a step forward. He quickly flipped the manila file closed, tucking it beneath a stack of papers.

"Thanks for the offer, but it's confidential. I'd have to kill you if you saw these very important expense reports." He stretched as he said it, yawning hugely. Again, his voice sounded light and playful, but something was off.

If she was honest with herself, something had been off for a while now. He'd been oddly closed off, giving vague answers when he came in late and excusing himself from most of the usual team outings. Maybe he was just tired, or had other, better places to be (like with a girlfriend, her mind supplied) but deep down, she wondered if something else was going on.

"Ok. But you better not complain about how tired you are tomorrow." Deeks grinned and said,

"Wouldn't dream of it. Besides, I'm almost done here."

"Really, cause it looks like you've barely started," she said dubiously.

"I'll be fine," Deeks said pointedly and Kensi could have sworn he wasn't just talking about the paperwork.

"Well, then I guess I'll get my bag and leave you to suffer in silence." She started to walk away again and then stopped, turning back.

"Deeks…" he looked up again and she almost blurted out the question that had been on her mind for weeks. He waited expectantly but after a moment, she just shook her head. "Never mind. Don't stay too late." He smiled again, this time more genuinely.

"I won't," Deeks assured her.