Prompt:- Deeks picks Monty up from Kensi's after a week of Monty-sitting.
Kensi twitched the curtain back for what was probably the hundredth time at the sound of the engine, mismatched eyes peering out into the darkness of her street. But the headlights just kept on going, disappearing from view after only a few seconds. She kept her vigil a moment longer, idly stroking a finger across her neck. Then, convinced it wasn't him, she returned to her couch, collapsing down onto it.
Turning to her companion, she beamed brightly. "Don't you worry," she said, voice chipper. "Daddy'll be home any second now."
Monty had the good grace to look up from the dog-bed she had pushed into the far corner of her living room. He did not have the good grace to look like he cared. It was almost as if the shaggy haired mutt didn't care that his owner would finally be returning from a weeks-long LAPD undercover assignment to collect him. Or if he did, he didn't seem to care as much as Kensi did.
It wasn't that she didn't like the dog; she did. Monty was a lot like Deeks in a lot of aspects. His hair was a mess, trying to get him to do anything was a chore, and he was always distracted by a pretty face. Thankfully, neither of them ever tried to hump Kensi's leg, though with her partner she might…
She coughed, stopping that thought.
And Monty was brave, loyal, and fun to be around. Also like Deeks.
Maybe it was the dog's age that meant he hadn't missed Deeks as much? Yeah, surely that was the case. He was certainly old enough to be losing his memory, maybe he thought he'd always been Kensi's? A week was, what, like a few months in dog years?
But that just begged the question of why Monty didn't miss Deeks more. Months away from him, she expected the dog to be pining every night. Heck, she'd been without her partner and – she would never admit this to anyone – but Kensi missed him deeply. He was just such a part of her life, a comforting rock, something that could always be relied on. Hour after hour, day after day, week after week, there was Deeks. He brought her coffee every day, supplied her with secret stashes of sugar while publically chiding her for it, made her laugh and had her back while they were out in the field. He'd been her partner longer than anyone had before, and would not be going anywhere any time soon if Hetty had her way. And the Operations Manager would, these little side escapades notwithstanding.
So maybe the problem wasn't that Monty didn't seem to miss Deeks. Maybe the dog did miss Deeks terribly. Maybe the problem was just that Kensi missed him more. He was like… he was like an arm, that's how used to him she was. And it physically hurt her to be away from him. He might bug the heck out her only all the time, but he was funny, and nice, and she could rely on him, and he had a great smile and…
Whoa girl, she admonished herself. They say absence makes the heart grow fonder, but now you're just taking the mickey.
Thankfully, at that moment came a knock at her door. In an instant, Monty was up, padding across the room, his tail wagging like it was going out of style, a faint whine uttering from his jaws. Kensi smiled; so the dog had missed Deeks, he just was saving all his excitement for when his owner returned. Not getting all excited like Kensi had.
Yes, I said excited, get over it.
Not that she was going to rush. She waited for him to knock again, before rising and crossing to where Monty was sat on his haunches, eyes locked determinedly on the door handle. Kensi pulled her lips into her mouth briefly, feeling her heart thudding in her chest, before she schooled her face to calm. Then she opened the door.
It was a lot harder to maintain her dignity when she saw him, framed by the doorway, his golden hair seeming to glow, his blue eyes sparkling, his lopsided grin firmly in place. Monty, thankfully, had no need to show such restraint, and throw himself at his master, barking and yipping delightedly.
"Oh, hey buddy," cried Deeks, equally as pleased to see his furry companion, dropping down onto his heels to capture the mutt in an embrace. The dog continued to wag his tail, slobbering his wet tongue all over her partner's face, while Deeks made appreciative greeting noises. Finally, he looked up, catching sight of Kensi and his whole face seemed to light up like a pinball machine. "Hey to you, too," he said.
"I forgot you were back today," she told him.
He grinned, showing he didn't believe her for a second. He stood, letting his hand stroke against the top of Monty's head. "You know you missed me," he told her.
"Not really," she said, turning and heading back into the living room. Deeks followed her. "It doesn't feel like you've been gone five minutes, let alone a week."
"If you admit you missed me, I'll give you your present."
She paused in the middle of picking up Monty's dog-bed. "Present?" she said, not fully able to hide to interest in her voice.
"Knew that'd get your attention," he said, grinning. "But you know what you have to do."
"I missed you," she said, voice sounding like she was reciting something she was saying only under duress. "Now where's my present?"
He opened his arms wide. "It's me, I'm your present!"
She stared at him, face an emotionless mask. "Nice try, Deeks," she said after a moment. "Now give me my present before I throw you and your dog out of my apartment."
"Alright," he said, complying and pulling a small red box from his back pocket. She took it, peering at him with suspicion. "It's just… I saw it while I was under, and thought of you, so…" He shrugged.
Kensi opened the box. Her eyebrow arched as she saw the contents; it was a cheap and tacky badge, with 'Words Best Partner' written on it. Despite herself, she laughed. It may well have been both the worst, and the best, gift she'd ever received in her life. Deeks grinned back at her.
"Thank you, Deeks," she told him.
She held his eyes a moment longer, feeling sparks and charges flash through the air between them. After a moment, Deeks coughed, almost nervously.
"So, uh, you have, uhm… you have any trouble with Monty while I was away?"
She shook her head. "No, he was the perfect house guest. A hell of a lot better behaved than you ever are."
He looked affronted. "Oh you know what, you missed me really!"
"I did," she replied, before she could stop herself. She clamped her mouth shut anyway, despite it being too late.
Deeks smiled. "So, anyway, I need to get home, unpack, and all that." She nodded. "Thanks for looking after Monty," he said, scratching the back of his hair nervously.
"Hey, I'm not doing it again," she said. "So you had better make sure you don't get sent on any more LAPD assignments."
He smiled again. "Okay," he said.
She nodded, knowing that he understood her meaning. "Okay," she echoed.
"So I better be…"
"Yeah, yeah," she said, passing him Monty's bed. She walked the pair to the door. Deeks paused a moment on the threshold.
"See you tomorrow?" he said.
"Sure," she said, smiling. "Unless you wanna grab a beer once you're unpacked?"
Deeks grinned. "Oh my God," he said, wrinkling his nose up with delight. "You really did miss me!"
"Get out," she demanded, fighting the laugh from her voice. "Get out of my house right now before I shoot you!"
Deeks laughed too, scampering out of range before she could belt him on the shoulder. He and Monty made their way down the pathway. "Thanks partner," he cheerfully called to her. "See you in a couple of hours!"
Kensi closed the door, smiling to herself. Yeah. It was good to have him back. All was right with the world again.