Martin Deeks. Party Marty. Detective Deeks. Deeks. LAPD Liaison. Her partner. And complete basket case. That wasn't even an exaggeration.
He kind of had to grow on her, he was her partner after all. She didn't exactly get a choice in the matter. If she didn't trust him both of their lives would be at risk and that would be unacceptable. And she did. Trust him that is. He proved quite quickly, despite some (okay a lot) of personality clashes, that he had her back. He knew what he was doing, he was more than competent (and honestly, Hetty wouldn't let anyone anything less than good near them) and had good instincts. She couldn't really ask for more except maybe get him to shut up every now and then.
Trust was a tricky thing for her, lots of different levels, hard to come by and probably too easily lost. She had walls for a reason after all. So, basic trust not to get them both killed in the field came reasonably easily, as stated above that was down to his abilities. Real trust, that bond forged between partners that was difficult to explain, took a bit longer. And was a lot more... explosive than what she was expecting.
It was all down to that whole incident about that damned black book and the lasers. What sort of man would do what he did that day? Risking his life like that. And for what? He wasn't at risk then, just her. He could have gotten the bomb squad to do it or wait for back up. But he didn't. No, instead he came up with this crazy plan that actually worked. No casualties or injuries either. A damned good man did that, that's what. Her trust was the least he deserved after that. Her respect for him had skyrocketed as well. How could it not?
So, yes, she trusted him as well. Trusted him to get the job done and have her back. And maybe even with friendship as well.
Though, a person growing on you was different than trust she supposed. And it didn't take long for the latter to happen but it did take a while for the former.
Kensi didn't realise how much Detective Martin Deeks had wormed his way into her life until one day wasn't there. LAPD having dragged him away for some God-forsaken reason.
It had made her feel unsettled, like she had been set adrift. It had frustrated her at first, because she used to be able to tag along with Callen and Sam just fine. But now that she knew what having a partner was like, being around Callen and Sam annoyed her. Hurt her actually but she would never admit that, even to herself. Men weren't allowed to hurt Kensi Marie Blye. Not anymore. Never again.
And then he had come back and she wondered why she had even missed him in the first place. He was loud. He was annoying. He was obnoxious. He knew how to read her far too well and that apparently didn't change when he came back.
"You missed me!" he had crowed, a glint of knowing in his eyes despite the ridiculously exaggerated tone he was using.
She had rolled her eyes and mocked lunged at him for that comment, also made a sarcastic comment along the lines of "like a rash". He didn't look like he believed her though, much to her annoyance. He was far too smug about the whole thing. Something that even her varying death glares didn't prevent. Had she mentioned that he was infuriating? Insufferable even?
Not that she wanted him to go away. He was her infuriating, insufferable partner. Even when she didn't want to admit it.
What had completely settled it for her was the shooting. That shooting. Two shots to the chest. Low calibre weapon. A 'girl's gun'. Those words were still imprinted in her mind, even after all this time. So was the feeling of her world falling away from under her. It was the first time it had happened to her with Deeks (unfortunately not the last but the first always stands out).
She had hated the feeling of utter helplessness as they couldn't figure out why he had been shot. Why he had been targeted.
Then there was surge of adrenaline that had run through her as her thoughts were completely occupied by getting to Callen and Sam. The sudden feeling of something not being quite right as the gunshots rang around her and Deeks' voice shouting at her. Then two shots from him and it was all over. Bodies were on the ground and, thank God, hers wasn't one of them. His almost was though because he was still recovering from a bullet to the chest.
Why had he done that? Why had he saved her? Okay, she knew the answer to that one. Because if the situation was reversed, she would have the same one. She was his partner. She was his partner and she didn't want him gone. She wanted him to stay. She wanted him to be safe. He was hers. Her partner.
He was very solidly hers at that point. Beyond simply being used to each other. More than people just slung together.
And then there was that case with that bastard King. A depth came to their partnership over the course of that case. A real depth. The kind that couldn't be faked. Wasn't faked.
Deeks had kept his promise. Which had surprised her even though she knew that it shouldn't. He had been with her every step of the way. Even when it had just been just her, she could feel his presence. Which had shocked her originally. She had never had anyone or anything to truly depend on before this yet she was choosing to depend on Deeks?
Of course, she was. Time and time again he had shown them that he was trustworthy. That he was reliable. She just took a while to recognise that, that's all. He even seemed to understand that.
So, yes, he had grown on her. Slowly. Loudly. Insistingly. Stubbornly. Until, well, until it was normal for him to be there. Until she couldn't (didn't want to) imagine him not being there.