82. Prompt: "Just breathe, okay?"

A/N: Takes place after Mexico, because we didn't get enough follow up after that arc.

"I cannot wait to get out there," Deeks said wistfully, staring at the ocean and tracking a distant surfer eagerly. "I mean look at those swells." Kensi linked her arm through his, pulling him against her side.

"I know you miss it," she said sympathetically, reaching out to brush his hair back from his eyes. It was pointless since the wind blew it right back. He could use a haircut, but she didn't say anything; she was just glad to have him back alive. If he wanted to grow his hair to Disney princess lengths and braid it, she wouldn't object. "But you don't want to push yourself too soon."

"I know." Deeks sighed and smiled at her, closing his eyes as another breeze ruffled his hair. "I'm just glad to finally get out here again." His doctor had only just cleared him for light exercise earlier in the week. Very light exercise, he'd emphasized.

"It is nice to be here. With you," Kensi agreed, leaning in to kiss him.

"Hey, we should see if the taco truck is–" There was a loud exploding sound–maybe a truck backfiring or somebody getting overzealous and shooting off an early fireworks–and Deeks shouted, the words unintelligible as he yanked Kensi down, dropping into a protective crouch. His eyes jerked back and forth, wild and unseeing.

"Deeks?" He grasped her upper arms tightly, his grip almost painfully tight. His breath came out in ragged, short pants and when she touched his cheek, he didn't react. Terrified, Kensi cupped his chin between her palms and forced him to look at her. "Just breathe, okay?" she told him, not sure what she would do if he didn't.

"Why aren't they running?" he gasped out, still panting like he'd just run a marathon. He sounded close to hyperventilating and Kensi did the only thing she could think of.

She pressed her forehead to his, holding him in place with her hand. Breathing in as slowly and evenly as she could, Kensi gently rubbed small circles on the skin of his neck, keeping in time with her breaths.

"It's ok, Deeks," she murmured softly. "It was just a loud noise. No one's hurt, I'm fine, everyone's fine." She kept talking, not even sure what she was saying half the time, until she felt some of the tension in his body leave and his breathing returned to a normal rate.

Deeks made a quiet sound that sounded like a muffled sob and dropped his head to her shoulder. Kensi just held him tighter, continuing to run her fingers along his back and neck in, hopefully, soothing patterns.

"Ma'am, is everything alright?" someone asked, lightly touching her shoulder. Kensi had no idea how long they'd been sitting there, crouched in the sand. She glanced up and saw a security guard, likely called by a concerned onlooker, eyeing them with an odd mixture of compassion and wariness.

Gently, she pulled away from Deeks and stood, helping him to his feet. He still looked on edge, twitching and unable to focus on anything for more than a few seconds. She could seem desperately trying to compose himself.

"Yes, we're fine," Kensi told the man firmly, hoping he'd leave so she could turn her attention back to Deeks. Instead, he shifted uncomfortably from one foot to the other and addressed Deeks.

"Someone reported that you were causing a scene, shouting and saying strange things. Can I ask what happened, Sir?"

Kensi started to object, furious that Deeks was being questioned after having a full-blown panic attack.

"I heard a loud noise," Deeks said quietly, glancing down at his shoes. Kensi could practically feel the embarrassment radiating from him. She didn't know where he'd found the strength to talk. "I'm a cop and recently had a difficult case. When I heard the noise, I overreacted."

"PTSD?" the guard asked and Deeks gave a jerky nod, even though he hadn't been officially diagnosed with anything.

"Are we free to go?" Kensi asked pointedly, not certain what she'd do if the man said "no".

"Yeah, of course. I'm sorry about that, but I have to check out any reports of suspicious behavior I get," he explained.

"I understand." Deeks nodded tightly and with another apologetic look, the guard finally left. Kensi immediately turned to back to Deeks; he had his palms pressed over his eyes, his hands shaking slightly.

"Are you ok?" she asked, reaching out hesitantly. "What can I do?"

"Just hold me," he said and Kensi instantly wrapped her arms around him. They sank back onto the sand, clutching at one another. She noticed a couple people stopping to stare at them, but she ignored them. If Deeks needed her to sit on this beach with him all night, she would do it in a heartbeat.