2-3 Weeks Later

"Wait, is that hair?" Deeks asked pointing at the tv screen where a young woman had just walked up wearing a bizarre looking dress. Kensi nodded enthusiastically.

"Yup. That's Krista. She's definitely going to win this challenge," she said, like it was perfectly normal to wear dresses comprised of wigs.

"Why?"

"Um, because she's awesome."

"No, I mean, why the hair dresses?" By now, Deeks wasn't that phased by the bizarreness, but he was definitely morbidly fascinated.

"Because it's art," Kensi said, like it was obvious, gesturing to the screen again as she popped a French Fry in her mouth. "Oh, and that's Angela. She is a witch with a B." Deeks smiled, thoroughly amused at Kensi's enthusiastic commentary.

Over the last few weeks, they'd had dinner together on a increasingly frequent basis. So far it was always at his place, which Deeks was fine with for the time being.

In that time, he'd discovered that Kensi had a truly awful sense of humor, had strange tase in TV, loved junk food, and was fairly messy.

The messiness had surprised him most; given Kensi's military upbringing, he'd expected her to be neat and orderly. After her first few visits, he'd discovered that was not the case at all. She had a habit of shedding things and never returning for them.

Already he had a growing collection of her clothing and accessories, including a pair of sunglasses, a hoodie, a spare evidence glove, and for unknown reasons, a pair of jeans, housed in one of the spare bedrooms.

He'd also discovered that she was fiercely loyal and protective of her team. Although she couldn't give him too many specific details, when she talked about her day, he could tell how much she cared about them all. It was like a strange little family.

If he was honest, it made him a little jealous. It had been a long time since he'd anything resembling a family.

"So you catch any bad guys today?" Deeks asked during a commercial. It was a question he'd started asking after their third dat-dinner.

"Yeah, but not before he murdered three people." Kensi shook her head, finding solace in her food.

"You wanna talk about it?"

Nope," she said firmly, turning on a bright smile. "What about you, how was your day?" Deeks sighed heavily.

"Well, not super great. Last week I got a client's sentence reduced to community service. He got in an "altercation" with his barber and broke the guy's nose. Then today I found out he beat up his girlfriend. Which he was able to do because I kept him out of jail." He realized his voice sounded incredibly bitter and he forced a smile. "Perks of being a lawyer, right?"

"That's awful. Is there anything you can do?" Kensi asked and he sighed again, leaning against the back of the couch.

"Not really. The original complainant settled out of court for damages. This will be an entirely new case against him and he has the money to make it go away," he said, turning his head towards Kensi. She had her bottom lip trapped between her teeth and he fought the urge to gently tug it free. That would definitely earn him an elbow in the ribs.

"You don't have to represent him again, do you?"

"Hell no." He'd resign before that. "I'm pretty sure he'd like me to and some of the other partners at the firm will probably try to push for it, but I'll decline. I do have some morals."

Kensi frowned at him.

"I know you do, Deeks," she assured him. "You seem pretty disillusioned with the law right now."

"I am," he admitted. There was something in her expression he couldn't quite identify as she stared at him contemplatively.

"If this is leading into another joke about my hair, I'm not really feeling it tonight," he warned her and she rolled her eyes.

"I was actually thinking that maybe you need a change from being a fancy lawyer all the time."

"What kind of change?"

"You could always accept Hetty's offer," she suggested and he snorted. Kensi looked mildly offended, leaning towards him earnestly. "I'm serious. I happen to know she hasn't filled the position yet and she is still interested in having you."

"I don't know," he said doubtfully. Kensi pushed the remnants of her burger onto the table, tucking a leg underneath her as she turned to face him.

"Four of the five last times I've come over you've had some issue with your law firm, whether it be the the actual cases, the other lawyers, or the way the law is so easily subverted. You're obviously having serious questions about what role you play in that world," she said with a shrug. Deeks shifted uncomfortably, but didn't deny what she said.

He was quiet for a minute contemplating her suggestion. The day he'd gone undercover, had been one of the most terrifying and exhilarating experiences of his life. It had been nice to the bad guys not win for once, as brutal as their deaths were. Still, he wasn't sure he really wanted to be around that constantly.

"You really think I would make a good consultant?"

"Well, you're clearly a decent lawyer-"

"Such praise." Kensi glared at him briefly before continuing.

"You definitely have enough confidence, you can handle us (not everyone can) and I think with a little training, you'd have no problem with criminal law. It might make a nice change."

"But if I work with you guys, won't that make this-" he gestured between them- "a conflict of interest?" It was one of his bigger concerns. He wasn't willing to risk his growing relationship with Kensi, whatever it might turn into, for a job he might not even like.

Kensi leaned a little closer, the scent of something (he thought it might be her shampoo) fanning across his face. This close he could see the distinct coloring of her eyes and he had to force himself not to get lost in staring at her.

"Well, in order for it to be a conflict of interest, you'd have to actually ask me out on a date," she started, giving him a pointed look.

"Touché," he said, earning a slight grin from her.

"Plus, Hetty's pretty relaxed about relationships as long as they doesn't disrupt the team in any way."

"So you'd be fine with me being around almost every day?" Kensi gave him a once over.

"I think I can handle it." She snatched a French fry off his plate and added, "Especially if you wear suits to the office."

"Did you have any particular suit in mind?" he asked, his voice lowering as Kensi's eyes skimmed over him again.

"I don't hate that black one you were wearing for your LinkedIn picture," she said, definitely flirting now as she leaned to whisper in his ear. A shiver went up his spine. "With a blue shirt." Her nose just barely skimmed his cheek and he felt puff of breath against his cheek before she pulled back.

"Any other demands you want to make?" he drawled. Kensi shrugged, gesturing to his head.

"You might want to do something about that. Maybe wash it, run a comb through it." He chuckled, shaking his head.

"Alright, if, and it's still a big if. If I decide to accept Hetty's offer, then I will definitely wear a suit and comb my hair."

"Good," Kensi said, grabbing her phone and slipping it into her back pocket. "Ok, well I need to skip out a little early tonight because Hetty wants us in early tomorrow. Something about mandatory safety trainings." Deeks stood and watched as she tugged on her boots. "See you on Tuesday?"

"Sounds good," he agreed. Kensi leaned back in to press a kiss to his cheek. She pulled away before he could react, her eyes twinkling.

"Have a good night, Deeks," she whispered, smirking at him.