"Deeks!" Kensi called softly, frantically searching along the backside of a crumbling apartment building.

Sam and Callen were a few yards away, similarly, looking through the rubble for Deeks. The thought made her stomach clench and she breathed out shakily. The white cloud that lingered in the air afterwards was a stark reminder of the frigid air.

They'd been able to use Deeks' cell phone to track his location. Kensi was starting to fear that he'd lost or somewhere along the way and they were on a wild goose chase. So far though, Kensi had only managed to disturb a family of rats.

The daylight was quickly fading and with every minute, she swore the temp dropped another degree. There was no way Deeks could survive in these conditions without any kind of shelter.

"You guys are practically on top of him," Eric replied, his voice tense.

"Keep going straight Kensi," Nell instructed. "The tracker signal is about 200 feet from you."

She swept her flashlight back and forth over the shadows and piles of refuse. As she approached a row of barrels, Kensi froze as she realized there were too slumped forms, one on the ground and another against the brick wall.

"Deeks," she murmured, instantly recognizing his stained coat and the hair poking out from beneath his cap. Ignoring the second man, she fell to her knees in front of him. "Deeks," she repeated more loudly, cupping his cheeks.

His head lolled to the side as she pulled his jacket and shirt to the side, the fabric stiff with frozen blood. Underneath, there was a long slashing cut starting at the bottom of his rib cage and ending just below his armpit.

"Eric, Nell, I found Deeks." Her voice was strained and harsh. From the cold, she told herself. Not because of Deeks. Because he was going to be perfectly fine once they got him warm and medical treatment. "We need an ambulance. Possible hypothermia, frostbite, and a knife wound."

"Got it."

"Kensi, how is he?" Sam asked from behind her. She glanced back long enough to see Callen leaning over the body.

"He's not responding," she said, stripping off her gloves. His bare skin against hers was shockingly cold. She rubbed his cheeks and neck, willing him to open his eyes. "C'mon Deeks."

He made a low, pained sound, flinching away from her touch.

"Open your eyes, Deeks," Sam barked. Deeks winced again, eyes opening the tiniest crack.

"Kens?" he croaked. He blinked a couple times at Kensi, looking confused.

"Oh thank god," she sighed.

"Wha's going on?" Deeks pushed himself against the wall, but just ended up tilting dangerously to the side. Kensi caught him around the waist, her momentary relief evaporating.

"You nearly froze your ass off," Sam replied bluntly. "Now come on. We need to get you somewhere warm and away from here before this guy's friends decide to show up."

"He's only one," Deeks slurred. He straightened suddenly, grabbing Kensi's hand hard enough that it hurt. "Desiree. She got away. But I don't know-"

"Relax Deeks," Callen assured him. "Sam and I will find her."

Deeks stayed tense for another moment, then a smile crossed face before his body went limp. Kensi watched his eyes slip closed in horror and cupped his chin again.

"Deeks!" She shook him roughly, but this time he didn't give any sign that he heard or felt her.


"Ok, now you're just being stubborn. Fine, you want to be like that, I'll just eat all your jello when you finally wake up."

Deeks frowned as Kensi continued to talk to him, her words only half-penetrating the remnants of his sleep. He turned his head, squinting across the room. Kensi was pacing back and forth, hair thrown up in a bun, and talking non-stop.

"You'd steal an unconscious man's jello?" he asked in a hoarse voice. She turned mid-pace, relief filling her face.

"You're awake," she said, hurrying over.

"Unfortunately." He grimaced, glancing around and spotted a pitcher. Before he could bother trying to reach for it, Kensi interceded, pouring some water into a cup.

"Here." She watched him closely as he took a shaky sip. "Do you remember what happened?" He tilted his head back and breathed in deeply. He pressed his hand to his side when something pulled sharply.

"I had a run-in with a guy while trying to help a homeless girl," he answered, glancing back at Kensi. "Did you find Desiree? I told her to run, but I really didn't know of anyone else was waiting for her."

"Yeah. Sam and Callen found her hiding in a nearby building. From the sound of it, she put up a fight until they showed their badges and mentioned you," she explained.

"Oh, well, that's good." Shifting uncomfortably, he pulled the cannula out of his nose, tossing it to the side. He felt stiff in a way that couldn't be solely explained by the fight. "How long was I out?"

"You've been here almost two days." Kensi's fingers twitched at that. The man who attacked you, cracked one of your ribs and gave you a nasty cut that bled a lot but amazingly didn't need any stitches. Oh, and you almost froze to death."

"Huh, well, I've always been an overachiever," he joked.

"Deeks, you were succumbing to hypothermia and had the beginnings of frostbite when we found you," Kensi informed him sharply. "There's nothing funny about it."

She crossed her arms, turning partially away. Deeks swore he saw her reach towards her cheek and brush at it. Her spine was almost painfully straight, like she was girding herself against something.

"I'm sorry," he murmured softly. "I honestly did not intend to get hurt this time around."

"I was terrified when I found you," Kensi admitted, her posture relaxing a little. "You were so cold I thought you were actually dead."

"Yeah, I didn't exactly enjoy that part either. Or at least what I remember of it." He reached out to Kensi, offering her his hand. Reluctantly, she came to him, allowing him to tug her closer to his bed. When she was close enough, he clasped both hands around hers. "Hey, I'm ok," Deeks assured her softly.

"You better be." She laughed softly, ducking her head. "I don't have the strength to break in another partner."

"Touching," he teased, noticing that Kensi had somehow edged onto his bed. Nudging her knee with his leg, he added, "I promise to make a concerted effort to be more careful from now on."

"And I guess I'll just to be there to watch your back," Kensi decided, making an exasperated sound. "Cause we both know you'll do something to get yourself shot at or stabbed before long."

"That is absolutely unfair and completely untrue," Deeks protested loudly, grinning when Kensi began listing out the many ways he'd endangered himself in the past.

Neither of them mentioned when her hand somehow found its way next to his again. Or when she woke up a few hours later, curled up on the edge of the bed.


A/N: And of course we have to end with a little pre-Densi fluff and banter.