AN: Just a random discussion that popped into my head a while ago. After the darkness of last night's ep, here's a little bit of light. Takes place sometime in the not-too-distant future. Spoilers for The Silo (9x07).

Pulling into their garage, every minute of the past day seemed to hover over Kensi, a weight as heavy as if had taken physical form. Yet peaceful and comforting just the same. Her hand fell to her thigh after turning off the engine and moved no further.

"Don't get me wrong, I could definitely fall asleep right here too, but we'll be much more comfortable if we make it to bed," Deeks muttered, exhaustion clear in his voice.

Kensi smiled slightly. Those were his first words since leaving work. His uncharacteristic silence, owing to the slumber he'd fallen into almost immediately, left Kensi time for reflection on the drive home. Now that she'd followed her thoughts to their logical conclusion, she was ready to talk but Deeks wanted to sleep.

"It was a good day, wasn't it?" Kensi asked, hoping he wasn't too far gone for this discussion.

"Good?" he muttered on a yawn. "Twenty-four hours running around LA trying to find a Marine suspected of selling military secrets only to find it was his neighbor setting him up. Not exactly the most exciting thing we've done recently."

"Right, but we used solid investigative techniques to discover the truth, kept an innocent man from prison, found the real guilty party, and got her to confess. And we didn't have to draw our weapons once. I'd say that's a good end to a day."

Deeks shrugged, "I guess. But I can think of a better way to end it. After we get some rest, I'd be willing to show you."

"Looking forward it," she grinned. Sliding her hand from her own thigh to his, Kensi asked, "You remember our talk on the roof, after I got back from Colorado?"

"Uh, yeah. Sure." Deeks couldn't hide his confusion at the change in topic.

"I asked how long we were going to keep this up."

"Neither of us seemed to have an answer."

"That's not entirely true," she corrected. "You'd have walked away that night if I'd said I was ready, wouldn't you?"

"Yes."

"And I didn't understand why, but I knew I couldn't then."

When Kensi explained no further, Deeks took a moment to study her. She was as physically drained as he. But there was something else in her eyes. A subtle excitement. He sat up straighter, recognizing the need to pay closer attention.

"Kens?" he finally prompted.

"I figured it out. Why I didn't quit that night. Why I couldn't just walk away, after calling you to say goodbye in case I died."

"The hardest thing you ever did," he whispered.

She nodded. "That was a bad day. A bad assignment that didn't end well."

"You stopped a nuclear holocaust, Kensi. I'd say that was a pretty good outcome."

She shook her head, "Someone I'd once known was determined to start World War Three, and I was willing to die to stop it. Instead I killed him and shattered his sister." Kensi blinked slowly, the weariness creeping up under the weight of the memory. "And I hurt you."

Deeks covered Kensi's hand in gentle support.

"But it occurred to me today that the reason I couldn't leave then was because it would have felt like we were running away. That the only reason we'd left was because something bad almost happened."

"There's no shame in that, baby."

"No, but that's not how I want my time at NCIS to end." She shrugged. "It's like I had something to prove, so I couldn't quit after Syria, or Ferris, or Colorado, no matter how much part of me wanted to. Even though I had something to look forward to, not run away from. Does that make sense?"

Deeks picked up their hands and kissed the back of Kensi's before speaking. "Yeah, it does."

She smiled and repeated, "Today was a good day."

He knew the time it took him to make the connection was directly related to how dog-tired he was, and even then Deeks wasn't confident he understood. "Kens, what are you saying?"

"It hit me that today was a damned good day. No car chases, no one trying to kill or blow us up. If every day was like that, with cases like this, we wouldn't need to leave. We could have kids and not be afraid one of us might be killed. It feels good to come home, albeit tired, after a day like today, doesn't it? And know you could do it all again tomorrow, without wondering if it's time to get out."

"Okay, can I admit I'm totally lost? A few seconds ago I thought you were about to say you're ready to leave, but now you sound like you never want to go."

"I realized I want to walk away on a high note, Deeks. I don't want to decide to quit because I'm afraid to go back, or we had another close call, or because I'm worried I can't handle it anymore. I want a good day, where I can say I had a great career, I've had a positive impact, and I'll miss it, but I'm ready to move onto to the next incredible thing in my life."

"And today was that good day?"

Kensi nodded resolutely, "Yes."

"So just to clarify, you're saying you want to leave NCIS?"

"Only if you're ready to leave LAPD too."

"You are prepared to write up our letters of resignation, hand them in tomorrow, and figure out the next incredible thing in your life?"

"Well, I'm pretty sure I already know what that'll be." Now Kensi kissed Deeks' hand. "But work-wise, yeah, let's decide what else we want to do."

Deeks smiled brightly, "Then let's do it. Sleep first, though."

"What about showing me a better way to end a good day?" she teased.

Deeks pulled Kensi close and kissed her. "Princess, after we're done, you're going to reclassify this as a great day."

He knew it already was for him.