greetings! haha so... who all hates me after that last ending? i couldn't help it, i had to because i am evil. lol! Thank you all for the continued support! it means bunches and bunches to me :] i am so close to 1,000 reviews and that is just...wow. i can not even begin to wrap my mind around that. thank you all :] i hope this chapter is up to par, even after all your wonderful comments i still get nervous when i post something!

please enjoy and then proceed to leave a lovely review :]
I am not now, nor have i ever been, an owner of NCISLA so yea...there's that disappointment in life.

Chapter 26

The silence of the waiting room was worse than the all the noise of the chaos. Deeks sat, his knee bouncing incessantly, and stared at the floor. Rationally, he knew it hadn't been an extreme amount of time since the gunshot rang out, but he could still hear it in his ear. To Deeks, it felt like it'd been hours, days even, since they'd gotten Kensi to the hospital.

Nell was beside him; she'd left OPS after Deeks had called –more like yelled- for the Wonder Twins to call an ambulance. Eric stayed behind to call it in and talk to Callen and Sam as they tried to quickly capture the man in the warehouse.

"She's gonna be okay." Nell said softly to her friend; trying to offer any comfort she could.

Deeks merely nodded, not trusting his voice to speak. She had to be okay; Kensi Blye had been through a lot of stuff, and she was the biggest badass he knew. Kensi had to be okay.

Deeks was going to lose it if she wasn't.

He had no idea how serious it was; he vaguely recalled being in the ambulance, but Deeks didn't remember a single thing the paramedics had said besides She's losing a lot of blood. But that he'd already known; Deeks remembered the blood on the ground after the shot rang out.

He should've been paying more attention, Deeks couldn't help but think.

"What are you thinking?" Nell inquired, breaking through his thoughts.

The shaggy agent took a moment before answering, taking in a deep breath before slowly releasing it. "I'm thinking that I should've been paying more attention... maybe then I would've seen what was happening." Deeks sighed, rubbing a hand across his face.

"It wasn't your fault; the guy ran out of Callen and Sam's section of the warehouse, it wasn't like you two had been sloppy. He slipped through their fingers and they didn't have time to warn you two before he'd shot." Nell insisted.

"I wasn't completely focused; I was talking to her... I was angry at her. Nell, I was angry at my partner and then she got shot." Deeks said brokenly, his eyes stinging with tears.

The tiny red head wrapped her arms around his shoulders and hugged him tight. "And she is going to be just fine, Deeks. I promise." Nell told him firmly.

He let out a shaky breath and sunk into her embrace. Nell thought for a moment, and then asked the question that she was dying to know the answer to.

"Are you and Kensi together now?" She inquired, trying to seem nonchalant.

Deeks tensed and pulled away from her, but he couldn't help the way his eyes lit up or the way his lips tried to curl into a smile. "Why Nelma, why ever would you think that?" He inquired, tilting his head slightly; trying to appear innocent.

Nell's eyes widened and she tried to control the grin threatening to break across her face. "You are! Aren't you?"

Deeks chuckled slightly and leaned back into his uncomfortable waiting room chair. "There may have been a slight change in our... partnership." He replied.

"Finally!" Nell exclaimed.

Deeks smiled softly, before the seriousness hit him again and he sighed. "Nobody else knows. That's kinda why we were arguing."

The analyst turned somber again, and patted his arm comfortingly. "Don't worry, Deeks. Kensi's strong, I'm sure she's okay."

Suddenly, big loud footsteps echoed through the quiet waiting room, and Sam and Callen came into view; Eric trailing behind them.

"Anything?" Sam inquired.
"Not yet." Nell shook her head.

"They called me a couple of hours ago to tell me Kensi had been placed in the hospital, but they haven' told me anything else." Callen commented.

"They? Who's they?" Deeks inquired.
"The hospital." The senior agent replied as if it were obvious.

"Why'd they call you?" Deeks asked, puzzled.

"I'm her emergency contact; it's their job to call me." Callen explained slowly.
"You? You're... you're Kensi's emergency contact." Deeks said, surprised. He didn't like Callen being her emergency contact; he wanted it to be him.

Not that he ever wanted the hospital to call and tell him Kensi was in the hospital, hurt.

The senior agent in charge stared at the man. "Deeks, I am the leader of this team; for everyone other than you and Sam, I am the emergency contact."

Sam shook his head and sighed, putting his hands on his hips. "Michelle threw a fit when she found out that she wasn't the first one called when I got hurt a few years back."

"I was not happy to be on the receiving end of that fit." Callen chuckled, but turned back to Deeks and became serious again. "Is there a reason I shouldn't be her contact?" He questioned cautiously.

Both Sam and Callen hit him with their stares, and Deeks stared right back. "No. Not besides the fact that I'm her partner." He answered finally.

"Speaking of...Kensi got shot, Deeks. Your partner got shot." Sam said slowly, firmly.

The way Callen and Sam were standing, looking at him, it felt an awfully lot like it used to be for Deeks before they'd come to an understanding and gained their respect.

The shaggy man raised his eyebrows at the men and glanced around incredulously. "Oh, really? Did that happen? Yeah, I was wondering why we were all standing in a hospital." Deeks snapped.

"Guys, let's not fight..." Nell sighed.

"We're not fighting; we're just curious as to what happened." Callen said calmly.
"And why Kensi got shot." Sam growled.

Deeks' eyes narrowed. "Oh, you'd rather it be me in there?" He asked lowly. The room became silent. "Because I would!" He yelled. "I'd take that bullet a hundred times over before I'd let it even come close to hitting Kensi." Deeks finished, his tone desperate and mournful.

Sam and Callen looked at the man who stood close to tears. "Something's changed between you two." Sam said, not a question, but a statement.

Before Deeks could reply a little boy's voice cut through the room.

"Daddy!" Leo yelled.

The shaggy man quickly wiped at his eyes before turning to see his son; surprised that he was there. The blonde boy waved excitedly at his dad as he tugged Mr. Jason's hand towards the team. The older man chuckled slightly.

"When you called to tell me you'd be late because your partner got hurt, Little Leo here heard me talking and he got worried; demanded we come to the hospital." Mr. Jason explained.

Deeks could breathe a little easier with his son so close. "Thank you, sir. I feel better with him here." He replied softly. The older man nodded and offered him a small smile of reassurance.

Leo let go of Mr. Jason's hand and ran to his dad. Deeks immediately dropped down to his knees and scooped the boy up, hugging him close.

"Daddy?" Leo said as his little arms wrapped around Deeks' neck.
"Yea, Leo?" The shaggy man replied.

"What's wrong with Mommy?" The boy inquired.

The entire team froze at his words and stared at Deeks, shocked. Deeks' face was a bit red, but he couldn't help how his heart fluttered and buzzed at hearing his son call Kensi mommy.

"Mommy?" Callen inquired.

Nell couldn't help but coo. "Aww!" She smiled softly.

Deeks chuckled nervously as Callen and Sam stared him down, but then turned his attention back to his son. "She um... year, she was fighting those bad guys out there... and she got a little hurt." He explained.

Leo gasped dramatically, drawing back to look at his father. "Did she get hurted by 'dem way guns like on dat tee-bee sho?" He asked.

Deeks couldn't help but smile at his son's innocence. "Yea, buddy, those darn ray guns got her. But you know, she's gonna be okay." He replied, sounding stronger than he had before.

"Did you give her a kiss to make it all better-er?" Leo asked seriously. Sam and Callen immediately snorted with laughter, giving their teammate teasing looks.

The man's face immediately turned red and he chuckled awkwardly. "Um, yea, no. I uh... I have not done that."

"Excuse me," A new voice broke through the conversation.

The team turned to see a doctor standing there, holding a clipboard and looking at them expectantly. "Are you all here for Ms. Kensi Blye?" He inquired.

"Yes, yes that's us." Deeks immediately replied, walking towards the doctor.

"Well, I'm happy to tell you all that Ms. Blye is going to be just fine." He smiled slightly.

"Oh, thank God." Deeks let out a deep breath that he didn't know he was holding. Relief swam through his veins and he held Leo a little tighter; the knowledge that Kensi was going to be okay gave him strength, and defeated the fear that had had a hold of him since he'd first heard that gunshot.

"What's the damage?" Callen inquired.

"She lost some blood, but it's mainly just a flesh wound. Ms. Blye will need to take it easy for a little while." The doctor explained.

The entire team broke out into laughter, causing the doctor to look at them, confused. "I'm sorry; I don't think I quite understand the joke."

"It's just... Kensi Blye doesn't take it easy." Sam chuckled.

"We're gonna have to hold her down and force her to rest if we want that to happen." Callen shook his head.

"Well, with so many people that care about her, I'm sure Ms. Blye will be just fine." The doctor smiled.

"Can we see her now?" Deeks asked softly.

"Sure, you can all follow me and I'll show you to her room." The doctor nodded, leading them down the hallway to her room. "Here we are. She's awake, so you can go in and talk to her." He added, before walking off to speak to a different nurse.

Before opening the door, Deeks turned around and looked at the team. "I know it might be asking too much, but... can I talk to her first?" He asked quietly; nervously.

Callen's eyebrows rose at the man's words, and he looked to his partner. "I don't know, what do you think Sam? Usually the boyfriend asks to go first." Callen smirked.

Sam chuckled. "Boyfriend, lover, shaggy man with a surfboard, usually all the first to ask."

Deeks couldn't fight the grin and shrugged. "Well, if that's the case then I know for damn sure nobody else is gonna be asking." He said confidently, standing tall in front of the two men who could probably kill him a few hundred ways without anyone even knowing.

The SEAL arched an eyebrow and put his hands on his hips. "Is that right?" He inquired, asking a loaded question.

The shaggy man smiled at him slightly. "Yes, it is. And actually, I'm gonna just go talk to my partner."

"Oh! Daddy wait! Me and Misser Jayson got my Kens a fwower! Gibe it to her!" Leo exclaimed, wiggling out of his father's grip and running over to Mr. Jason -who'd been holding a small vase behind his back. Leo carefully took the two roses out: one pink, one red. The pink was given to Deeks.

"This was very sweet of you, little man." Deeks smiled at his son, accepting the flower. "But um, who's the other flower for?" He inquired.

"For Nelly!" Leo beamed, before turning and running to the little red head. He stood on his tip toes and thrust the rose towards her.

"Oh my gosh. This is too cute! Thank you, Leo, I love it!" Nell grinned, taking the flower and hugging the boy close.

"Hey Beale, that's how it's done." Sam teased with a wink.

Eric's face turned bright red and he attempted to shrug it off and play it cool; which, he failed miserably at. Deeks turned his attention away from the team, letting out a slow breath and opening the door.

It wasn't what Deeks was expecting; he expected a silent room with a heart monitor constantly beeping, and a slightly out of it Kensi Blye lying on a hospital bed.

Instead, she was sitting up, a bowl of ice cream in her hand as she watched Top Model on the small television in the room.

Deeks shook his head slightly, a small smile growing on his lips. That's Kensi Blye for ya. He thought adoringly.

The opening of the door caught Kensi's attention for a moment, and she turned to look at her shaggy partner. She arched an eyebrow and looked him up and down.

Finally, she broke the silence between them. "You're a bit shaggy for a doctor."

Deeks smirked. "You get shot and immediately want to watch Top Model and eat ice cream." He retorted, a tenderness in his voice.

Kensi grinned and shrugged, silently saying and your point is?

"Leo got you a flower." Deeks smiled, holding the rose out towards her.

Her lips tilted up in a smile, and she took the flower gently. "He's so sweet." She mumbled quietly to herself.

"How are you doing?" He inquired, his voice turning somber.
"I'm fine." She replied, turning her attention back to the television.

"You and I both know what that means. So why don't we try telling the truth?" Deeks sighed sadly, sitting beside her.

Kensi sighed and put her ice cream down. "Physically? I'm in a little pain." Deeks considered it a victory that she was even admitted that to him; even though it hurt him to know she was in pain. "Emotionally? I'm... mad." Kensi huffed, still refusing to look at Deeks.

He waited a moment before responding. "At me?" He asked cautiously, afraid of her answer.

That snapped her out of whatever daze she was in. "What? Deeks, no! Why would I be mad at you?" She asked. "I'm mad at me." Kensi explained.

That threw Deeks off, and he looked at her; puzzled. "Why are you mad at yourself? Kensi, getting shot was not your fault!"

"I've been in a bad mood lately. I was paranoid about the guys finding out. I wasn't fair to you, and I can't help but think what if it had been worse?" Kensi asked heavily.

"Kensi, don't..." Deeks shook his head.

"No, Deeks seriously. What if it wasn't just a flesh wound? Or, hell I don't know, what if you'd been shot? Where would we be then?" Kensi demanded, tears in her eyes.

"I don't know the answer, Kensi. But I do know that I would have taken the bullet for you if I could have. I also know that I'm pretty damn thankful it was just a flesh wound and that I've still got you here." Deeks replied.

"Deeks, I'm sorry about the way I acted... I just, I don't want to choose between you and my job." She sighed.

"Then don't. Don't choose." He told her firmly, grabbing her hand and rubbing his thumb gently across her knuckles.

Kensi shook her head. "You know that's not how it works."
"I don't care." Deeks shot back.

She fell back against her pillows and sighed, desperately. "What are you doing to me, Deeks?"

The look in his eyes was intense as he stared at her. "I'm falling in love with you." Deeks told her.

Her breath got and her head snapped to look at him. Her mouth opened and closed a few times, but she couldn't find any words to say.

Deeks smiled slightly at her response and took her hand between both of his, kissing it gently. "I know you scared of what we have. You chose to ignore that for a little while and for that I'm glad. I know you're probably freaking out right now but I'd like to ask you to not." He chuckled nervously.

"Yes, Kensi, I am in love with you. You knew that. I want to be with you, and I don't care if the team knows it or not." He told her sincerely.

She looked at him for a moment before sighing slightly. "I guess we can try to... tell the team sometime."

Deeks tried to bite back the grin forming, but it didn't work. "Yea, see they uh... they might already have a general idea of us."

Kensi shook her head in disbelief but a smile made its way across her face. "You are unbelievable, you know that?" She asked.

"But you like me." He teased.

She shifted slightly in her hospital bed. "Deeks, I..."

"Kensi you don't have to say anything; I wasn't expecting anything from you. I just wanted you to know. I'm serious about this, about us. And when that gun fired and I saw you fall..." He shook his head as tears gathered in his eyes. "my heart stopped beating and I have never been so afraid of anything in my life as I was of losing you." Deeks told her.

She smiled slightly and squeezed his hand. "You aren't getting rid of me that easily."

Deeks smiled and leaned forward, catching her lips in a soft kiss. "Good. I don't wanna get rid of you; I just got you." He whispered.

Before Kensi could respond, the door opened and the entire team shuffled in. Deeks' head dropped as he chuckled quietly; he knew they wouldn't give him a lot of time alone with her.

"Hey Kens." Callen greeted.
"This guy botherin' you?" Sam teased.

"'Cause you know, we'll be happy to take care of that for you." The senior agent in charge grinned.

"Any time, any day." Sam added with a wink.

Kensi laughed and looked at her hand, still entwined with Deeks'. "Thanks guys but uh, I think I got it taken care of." She smirked.

"You sure?" Callen inquired.
"Of all the guys and you go with the shaggy one." Sam chuckled.
"Yeah, Kensi you sure this guy isn't bothering you?" Callen teased.

"Hey now, don't try too hard to change her mind." Deeks laughed.

"Well I think it's about time." Nell beamed.

"Hi Kens!" Leo exclaimed, making his presence known and crawling onto Deeks' lap.

"Hi Leo, thank you for my flower; I love it." She smiled at the boy.

"Is you otay? Daddy sayed that you got hit-ed by 'dem way guns." Leo said seriously.

The woman shot Deeks a look as she tried to hold in her laughter. Deeks merely shrugged at her with a smile on his face.

"Yeah, I did. But I'm okay now." She replied.

"The dobtor man sayed you lost wots of bwood. Does you need some ob mine, Kens?" Leo inquired, tilting his head.

The entire team practically melted at his words. "No, baby, I'm perfectly okay. I've got all the blood I need. But it is very sweet of you to ask." Kensi smiled.

"Is you comin' home soon?" He asked.

"It won't be too long." Kensi replied, carefully moving pieces of his long blonde hair away from his eyes.

"Good." Leo nodded firmly, then went into a long tale about a commercial he'd seen on TV earlier that day.

Deeks carefully helped Kensi maneuver into a comfortable spot in bed before crawling in next to her, close but not touching.

"Deeks." Kensi said, breaking the silence in the dark room.

"Yea, Kens? You need anything?" He asked quickly, ready to jump up if there was anything he could do for her.

"The doctors said I'm fine, you don't have to treat me like I'm going to break." She said, a bit of humor in her voice.

"I know, Kensi, I just don't want you to be in any more pain." Deeks sighed softly.

"Well I don't know how you expect me to sleep if you're way over there." She teased slightly.

Deeks chuckled quietly and scooted closer to her, turning on his side facing her and wrapping his arms carefully around her. He drew her close and buried his nose in her hair.

"I'm glad you're here." He said quietly.
"Me too." Kensi replied, sinking into his embrace.

Kensi listened to his breathing even out, and him drift off to sleep. She waited a few moments, until she thought he was well asleep before she once again broke the silence.

"I'm in love with you too." Kensi told him quietly, and closed her eyes with a smile.

Then she felt his lips turn up and tug into a grin, and his arms tightened carefully around her. "I heard that." He whispered.

"Of course you did." She laughed lightly.

"If I wasn't, I'll close my eyes again and you can try again." Deeks teased.

"Deeks?" Kensi said.
"Yes, Princess?" He asked.

"Shut up and go to sleep." She ordered.
"So you can confess your undying love for me?" Deeks grinned, his tone slightly smug.

Kensi huffed, trying to think of a comeback as she buried her face in his neck. "You confessed first." She finally replied.

"I beat you to it." He shot back.

Kensi shook her head but couldn't fight the smile and the way her heart soared at his love for her and her love for him.

She pressed a kiss to his bare skin and sighed contently.

:] i like fluff. can't you tell? i hope you liked it, it means a lot to me that you guys enjoy reading this as much as i enjoy writing it for you.

P.S. hiatus season is almost over :D prepare yourself, new seasons are coming! Agents of SHIELD, Once Upon a Time, NCISLA, ARROW 3 (and Blood of Olympus is in stores Oct. 8th if any of you read Percy Jackson like moi :D i'm pretty pumped for that too) i'm so excited for all these premieres. pretty sure you guys are too.

stay lovely my friends

xox