Kensi's eyes go wide as the shock hits her, her hand flying to her mouth. She laughs, nervously as she sees her NCIS family and her San Diego team spread across the patio and takes in the shouts of 'Kensi!' from the gathered group. She looks to Deeks who had given her space to accept the initial onslaught of greetings and is now working his way back. When he gets to her shoulder he leans to her ear and whispers his words from just a moment ago.
"I think if you gave people a chance, they'd surprise you."
She turns her head to look at him, a conversation just between them even with the others coming close to give hugs and hellos. She shakes her head that he pulled this off.
"Did you do this?"
"Me? No. All I did was get you here. This is all Nell and Hetty," he tells her as his eyes dart around the area. "And Dave got the information to your team."
When Kensi turns back to the group she is immediately engulfed by Eric and Nell. One of them is on each shoulder, hugging and congratulating her on her recovery. She looks around and finds Hetty in the crowd. When the lock eyes, Kensi mouths the words 'Thank you,' and is given one slow nod and the hint of a smile in return.
Where Kensi's first thought watching her two worlds collide was that it was a disaster waiting to happen, the evening plays out very differently. She wouldn't say that the two groups mingled, but the open bar and plenty of space led to a friendly atmosphere with lots of laughter. She polices the groups surreptitiously, knowing that if she is what they have in common, she will be what they talk about. She tries to keep the stories to a minimum.
It's easy, standing there, in this group of people, in this atmosphere, to feel lucky. Blessed. Loved.
It's also nice to not wonder about rules and regulations and just enjoy being here with Deeks. He moves among the tables with ease and confidence, playing host to a party that isn't even his responsibility. He has them make virgin cocktails and delivers them to Julie himself to make sure there are no mixups. He jokes with Blue team. He puts a plate aside for Kensi so that she gets food before it's all gone while she's laughing with friends.
They haven't talked about what they are. They've both been content to just be. Be together when they can. Be connected in a way only they can. They don't talk about the future or the past, anymore, for that matter. They live in the moment when they are together. She wonders for a second if that's confidence or fear. Maybe she doesn't know what's next, but she's grateful for what they are now and hopes he knows that.
Kensi walks over to him where he stands talking to Blue Team and slides right against him. When he looks to the side to say hello she takes his face in her hands and kisses him, long and deep. At first his eyes are wide in surprise at the timing, but they close in the feeling of the moment. When it's over it's everyone else's eyes that are wide, accompanied with catcalls.
He isn't sure what she just tried to tell him, or everyone else, with that kiss but he likes it.
After drinks and dinner there's a presentation of a cake shaped like a pirate ship. It strikes her that her NCIS team planned the party, and got her a cake that tips its hat to her Blue Team call sign. There's a message in it, she thinks. There's no pressure here to come back. There's no telling her she was wrong. There's no doubting her decisions. All she feels is how strongly they still want to be a part of her life, completely on her terms.
She takes a moment for herself in the joviality, stepping to the edge of the group and taking it all in. Then she turns to look at the view of the water, and feels someone in her personal space.
"You lied to me, Pirate," Dave says as he walks over to where Kensi is looking out over the scene. His tone is both quiet to keep the conversation private and kind to keep her listening.
"Never," she declares boldly. "You'd see through me anyway," she laughs, bumping her shoulder into his alongside her, "so what would be the point in trying."
"You called me stinging from what happened at NCIS. I got you drunk and you told me the story – they didn't value you for the right reasons. They didn't trust you. You didn't belong there." She tries to interrupt him, but he cuts off her attempts. "And I hated them before I ever met them, because who could get to work with you every day and not see how crazy good you are at what you do and how valuable you are."
Kensi lowers her chin to her chest. She feels the rebuke coming.
"But now I've met them. I've spoken to them. I watched them up in LA, and I'm watching them here at this party tonight, and they adore you. They value you. They trust you. They love you. And one of them is clearly in love with you."
She shakes her head in the start of a denial that he never lets come out.
"It's my wedding pictures all over again."
She rolls her eyes. "The two situations are nothing alike."
"That day your whole goal was to keep me pretty for my wedding, and you were willing to sacrifice yourself and face those stupid hell hounds to make it happen, but when I laughed at you, you lost sight of what you were trying to accomplish and it's on display in every one of my wedding pictures."
"Maybe I just realized you weren't that pretty to begin with," she offers.
Dave smiles because her defensive barb means she's hearing him.
"These people," he says, as he turns to put his back to the railing and take in the whole NCIS side of the patio, "this was your family. And when you thought they were laughing at you, you threw it all away."
She turns to face them, too.
"You can't imagine how I felt that day," is all she offers in her own defense.
"Pirate, they were wrong. I get that, but maybe you were wrong to give up on them. Just think about it." He gives her a hug.
She gives him a quick nod letting him know he got through, and she watches him and Julie leave. She stands alone by the railing for moment, until Deeks arrives with a drink.
"You good?"
"Yeah."
"It's supposed to be a party. Anything I can do to put a smile on the guest of honor's face?"
She clinks her drink against his as he takes the spot next to her on the railing, his free hand reaching around her waist and gripping the railing. She leans into him, momentarily resting her temple against his chest. There's no shaking off Dave's words, and now they are spinning inside her head. She just wants to still them long enough to enjoy this moment.
"You're doing it," she tells him.
They finish that drink together before Kensi starts to make the rounds to say goodbye. She's blessed, she can see it. She loves Bandit and the San Diego boys, but she misses her LA family. She's been quiet the whole way home and when they get back to her rental place Deeks apologizes in case she's mad about the party.
"I hope you're not angry about the surprise," Deeks tells her. "I know surprises aren't your favorite things."
"No, I mean, yes, you're right, they're not, but I thought tonight was really great."
"Well I'm glad to hear it."
"And to thank you for your part in puling that whole event together …"
"Really, it was mostly Hetty and Nell," he says.
"Well I have a surprise but it is for you and definitely not at all for Hetty and Nell."
"Ooh. Do tell."
"I was at the doctor's this morning, and I got cleared for another level of … physical … activity."
"And what level is that?" he says doing a funny thing with his eyebrows.
"Well, not sexy pirate level," she jokes knowing how bad he wants to see that costume. "But maybe this level."
She pulls the ends of the bow that hold her wrap dress in place. Slow deliberate movement brings the ties straight, and the dress falls open in front of him. She lacks a confidence in her stance, self-conscious about her bullet and surgery scars, but there's no question in her eyes where she wants to be and what she wants to be doing.
Deeks forgets to breathe.
She kicks off her modest heels and takes the stairs slowly but steadily. She slides the dress off her arms and tosses it behind her as she climbs. It lands on his face as he follows her to her bedroom. He laughs, now only able to smell her perfume. He clears his vision, puts the cloth over his shoulder and watches her long legs and black lace lead the way.
Deeks leaves before dawn on Tuesday because he couldn't fathom not being next to Kensi Monday night. He kisses her on the head and lets her sleep, leaving a funny note on the pillow. He sneaks out the door and gets gas station coffee on the way just to make sure he doesn't make too much noise at her place. He feels like the weekend was a turning point. There were a ton of great moments, but when she kissed him during the party in front of everyone she seemed so free, and sure.
He can't read her mind, and he's afraid to make too many assumptions, but he's hoping they are on the same page.