2010

"Oh my god, can you please stop talking for two seconds?" Kensi complained as she leaned back in the driver's seat of the SUV. She glared at her partner of two weeks who wore an infuriating smirk. They two hours into a stake out and he been babbling the majority of that time.

"What, I have to keep my mind sharp," he replied. Kensi really wanted to punch him, but she was afraid once she started, she wouldn't be able to stop.

"You were commenting on people's drinks and clothing choices." Her tone was acidic.

"You never know when your observations will come in handy," he said sanctimoniously. Kensi rolled her eyes.

"Somehow I don't think the fact that more people are drinking almond milk lattes these days is of vital importance to the case," Kensi countered, lifting her binoculars to her eyes. Deeks was doing the same, his eyes narrowed in concentration as he watched people strolling outside the small cafe across the street.

He glanced at Kensi, startling her for a second with the intensity of his blue eyes. It annoyed her even more that she noticed.

"Ok, then do you want to hear about the time I solved a case by river dancing?" he asked, apparently oblivious or unconcerned by her annoyance.

"No! I want you to stop talking. I need a break from your voice." To her surprised, Deeks actually listened. She shook her head, muttering under her breath. She wasn't even going to make it a whole month.

December 2013

Kensi dialed the number Hetty has programmed on the SAT phone, shaking her head. She had no idea what Hetty had planned or exactly why she'd sent her the phone on Christmas, but she might as well call it. It would break up the monotony and loneliness that filled her evenings.

"Go for Santa," Deeks voice answered and she clutched the phone against her cheek, barely believing it.

"Deeks?" There was a pause and then he answered, his voice less certain than in had been a moment ago, but still wonderfully familiar and beautiful. He stumbled over his words a couple times and she found herself smiling.

As he started telling his ridiculous "plans" for him and Monty, she felt safe and content for the first time in weeks. They weren't able to talk for long, but that night she fell asleep to sound of Deeks' voice.

2018

Kensi thrashed in her sleep, choking back a scream as she woke up suddenly.

"What's wrong," Deeks mumbled beside her, lifting his head off his pillow. In the dark, she saw the outline of his hair hanging around his head. She swallowed harshly, chasing the vague remnants of her nightmare.

It had something to do with a bomb, or maybe an SUV exploding. She wasn't really sure anymore. Something from their daily lives taken to the worst possible outcome, which had reduced her to a shaking mess.

"Just a dream," she muttered, swiping her hand across her face. She was sweaty and chilly, the sheet sticking to her skin. Deeks leaned closer, probably picking up on the hoarseness in her voice.

"What do you need?" he asked, moving across the bed so they shared the same pillow. Kensi instantly curled into his chest, letting out a sigh as he wrapped his arms around her.

"Tell me a story."

"What kind of story?" He absentmindedly brushed his thumb along her cheek.

"Anything," she said. "I just need to hear your voice." Deeks pressed a kiss to her hair and shifted his arms around her in a now long-established routine.

"When I was little, my mom used to take me…" Kensi sighed again, resting her chin on his shoulder. The gentle sound of his voice as he spoke about his childhood effectively chased away the terrifying images from her dream. It soothed her better than anything else could.

"I love you," she slurred, brushing her fingers through his hair before she succumbed to a dreamless sleep.

A/N: Because sometimes the things that annoyed you the most become the things you love the best