AN: [standing up in front of everyone] "Hello, my name is Psyched and I'm addicted to writing Densi proposal fics." Sigh. They say the first step is admitting you have a problem. I say TPTB can cure me of my addiction if they give us a good proposal and actual engagement tonight. Problem solved, right?
I had no intention of writing yet another proposal story (What is this, my fifth? And what kind of fool am I to post this on the same day that starvingstudent and Sweet Lu updated their stories and think that anyone will read it?) but I needed a way to spend some time waiting for the real one that better be happening later today. That said, credit for this one goes to Ed from wikiDeeks, who proposed (sorry, getting punchy here) the ending scenario of this story and then graciously offered to let any fic writer run with it. Hope I did it justice, Ed.
Also, I don't own, nor have I ever eaten at a Baby's Badass Burgers food truck. I simply searched the internet for real LA food trucks, and the names of their burgers worked the story.
Spoilers for Uncaged (8x23).
"Home is that way, Magellan," Deeks pointed behind them as they passed their freeway exit. It'd been a hellish couple of days, and as much as he didn't relish having the time to reflect on the missed opportunities of the past forty-eight hours, he was looking forward to finally being home.
"I'm not ready to go home yet," Kensi confessed.
"No? I was just fantasizing about a hot shower, our comfy bed, maybe some cuddle time."
"Which one of us is going to wake up screaming first?" Kensi glanced at Deeks and then back at the road. "Who is going to come up with more ways we could have figured it out sooner? That Michelle was in that building, alive, when we were there the first time?"
This was exactly what he didn't want to consider right now. "Kens, don't do this to yourself." Deeks gently pried her right hand from the steering wheel and laced their fingers together.
"I can't help it." Nor could she stop the tear that ran down her cheek. "But I can't go home right now. I need…I don't know, I need something to distract me for a while."
"Want to head to the beach, watch the sunset? Grab some grub from a truck, place bets on how long the best surfer out there can ride a wave?"
Kensi nodded and planned the best route to their favorite spot. They didn't speak again until the SRX pulled into the parking lot.
"Sweet!" Deeks exclaimed, "Baby's Badass Burgers is here. I can really go for another woman tonight." If his ladybird needed a distraction, he'd give her a distraction.
"Excuse me?" Kensi challenged as they got out of the car.
He played dumb. "My favorite burger there. You know, the one with bacon, sautéed onions, ranch dressing, and bleu cheese? It's called The Other Woman."
She rolled her eyes and shook her head, a small chuckle escaping her lips. "Guess I can go Au Naturale, then," Kensi played along, referring to the truck's veggie burger.
"Touché, Kensalina. And I fully support your desire to go au naturel any time you want, for the record."
Ten minutes later they were sitting on a seawall, bottles of water tucked between their legs as they ate their burgers and talked about nothing of consequence. "I don't know what it is, but this is one of the best burgers ever," Deeks raved as he finished his.
"I think it has more to do with the Burger Babe making and serving it than anything else," Kensi accused as she swiped a couple of the Sweetie Pie Fries they were sharing before Deeks could.
"I can't help it if I appreciate the human form. Must be my artists' soul."
"Especially when that form has D-cup breasts and is wearing a tight tank top."
"Eh, more than a handful is a waste," he shrugged. "But I sure am glad I have big hands, sweetie pie." Deeks wiggled his eyebrows and smiled winningly at Kensi.
She laughed and bumped into his shoulder, "Nice save. On both counts." As Kensi finished her burger, she marveled at how easily Deeks could make her smile and laugh no matter the situation. It wasn't the first time she'd appreciated this about him, but she was more grateful for it today than ever before.
Thirty minutes talking with Deeks and her heart felt lighter than it had for two days. Kensi wanted to prolong the feeling, and hopefully share it with him. And she thought she knew exactly how. When he returned from tossing their trash in a nearby can, Kensi asked, "Hey, do you still carry my ring around with you?"
"Maybe," he hedged, remembering that he was not supposed to show it to her until…when? Deeks was replaying that conversation in his head when Kensi's voice broke through his memories.
"I'd like to see it again. Maybe even try it on this time. I think it'll help lift my spirits a little more."
"Oh no, I'm not falling for that, princess. I can keep a promise. No ring for you," he turned on the weird accent he'd used that day in the courtyard at the VA hospital.
"You did keep your promise! You weren't supposed to show it to me again until I was out of the hospital. I've been home for months now. Some might even argue that you're overdue in letting me see it," Kensi taunted.
"Well, we can't have that, can we?" Deeks declared as he reached into his pocket. He held the ring out for Kensi to take, but instead she presented her left hand to him, palm down. Deeks raised his eyebrows, "You sure about this?"
Kensi bit her lip and nodded, never taking her eyes from his. He found her hand and slid the ring on the correct finger without breaking their gaze. Several long moments later, Deeks managed to look down at her hand in his. "Yup, still spectacular, if I do say so myself," he whispered, his voice for some reason suddenly rough.
Wiggling her fingers so the diamonds reflected the waning light better, Kensi agreed, "It really is, Deeks. I'll be proud to wear this every day."
"When the time comes, I'll be proud to see it on your hand every day." With that, he opened his palm expectantly.
"What?" Kensi asked innocently, quickly closing her hand into a fist so Deeks couldn't remove the ring.
"Time to give it back. You haven't said yes yet," he reminded her.
"You haven't asked ye –" she stopped before finishing that thought, catching the look of rebuttal on Deeks' face. "Recently," she corrected.
Deeks studied her intently, trying to figure out if Kensi was in fact saying what he hoped she was saying.
Kensi settled it when she demanded, "So ask already, before I do. Because I'm not taking this ring off."
They wore matching smiles when one of them asked, "Will you marry me?" and the other answered, "Yes."