My apologies for the lack of updates- my life has been insane this past week. Anyways, I hope you all enjoy this new chapter, and please review as always! :)

- Hazel

"You wanna get out of here?"

"I mean... it's raining. We could catch a cold. Leaving school early is probably in our best interest."

He nods, winking. "For our health."

Kensi smirks, reaching for his hand.

"Exactly. It's for our health."

Deeks pulls Kensi along, sprinting towards the parking lot. Surprisingly enough, his car is parked in the very front of the building. Kensi hops inside, slamming her door shut and waiting for him to do the same before she asks a very obvious question.

"Deeks! Are you trying to get yourself expelled?"

He flips his key into the ignition, throwing the car into reverse.

"What are you talking about?"

"That-" She points forward to where the car was previously idling. "-is a teacher's parking spot."

"She wasn't here today. I'm merely borrowing it in her absence."

Kensi snorts, shaking her head. "You're crazy."

Deeks shrugs. "Maybe."

She smiles out the window as they drive away, leaning her chin on her hand and wondering when it'll be the right time to start asking questions.

"He lived, by the way."

Kensi cranes her neck around, a sense of relief flooding her features. Not because his dad's alive- she wouldn't mind if the guy was dead.

She's only relaxed as a result of the Deeks' calm demeanor while he says the simple statement, and the fact that Kensi doesn't have to start grilling him about what she's missed in his absence.

"Well, are you...?"

"What? Glad that he's alive?"

Kensi nods and Deeks shrugs, one hand on the steering wheel.

"I don't know... I mean, I wouldn't mind if he was dead. He can't ruin my life from the grave."

"He can't ruin your life from prison, either."

Deeks doesn't seem convinced. "You would be surprised. He already tried to kill me once."

"Look, Deeks- you're safe now. Just believe it, okay?"

He exhales, nodding.

"So... how's your mom doing?"

Deeks is anticipating the question, and scratches the back of his neck as he tries to find an answer.

"I don't know."

She narrows her eyes, staring at him incredulously. "You don't know? How do you not know?"

He cowers back slightly. "I, um... haven't really been home much. I just stopped in to see if my dad lived, that's it."

The statement sounds so blatant and nonchalant- almost to an alarming extent.

"Where have you been staying, then?"

"Either in my car or with Ray."

"The guy who gave you the gun?"

"Yeah."

Kensi hates that he snuck away from her, only to go and see someone else. Deeks senses this, and immediately tries to cover his tracks.

"Look, Kensi... I just needed some space for a few days. I couldn't go back to my house, not yet anyways. And when it comes to Ray... he's the closest thing I have to a brother. He gets it, too."

"Is his-"

"Yeah," Deeks states dryly. "His dad was abusive too."

She pauses for a moment, taking in the information as it's given to her.

"Was abusive?"

"He went to prison three years back. After he graduated, Ray got his own place."

Kensi nods, looking down to her lap. "Well... if you ever need somewhere to stay, then my 'couch' offer still stands."

After everything that's happened between them up until this point, Deeks really shouldn't be surprised by the offer.

But this boy isn't exactly used to 'compassion'.

"Are you sure?"

"Yup."

"I'm not sure how fond your mom is of me."

"What gave you that impression?"

Deeks just shrugs. "I dunno. I come to your house in the middle of the night, throw rocks at your window, makeout with you in the middle of the front lawn... Oh, and I own a gun. Not exactly a mother's first choice for her daughter."

"You trying to scare me off?"

"No."

"Good. Because you were unsuccessful."

He's not convinced.

"I'm serious though, Kens. Your mom's not gonna like me."

"She already likes you. She let you sleep on the couch once, remember?"

Deeks drives the car onto some sort of a desolate country backroad to avoid traffic, scanning his surroundings and letting a quiet "yeah, okay," escape his lips as they change lanes.

"Deeeeks?" Kensi asks, her tone almost accusatory as she glances around.

Deeks raises his eyebrows, still driving along. "Hmmm?"

"Where are we going, exactly?"

He smiles. "No idea."

She jets out her lower lip, staring at the ceiling of his car. "But...?"

The sound of her voice slowly dwindles away as his grin widens, and the cheekiness of his expression isn't lost on her.

"But what? You up for an adventure, Blye?"

Kensi snorts, but returns her gaze to meet his with a newfound sincerity.

"Really?"

He shrugs. "Why not?"

"Just..." She shakes her head, all hesitation leaving her voice. "Okay. Fine. Let's do it."

"Do what?" Deeks asks. He's hoping for just a bit more enthusiasm than that.

Kensi chuckles, pointing one finger towards the open road in front of them.

"Drive."

He follows her orders without protest, doing exactly as Kensi just told him too.

Deeks is simply driving.

There is no destination set in stone, no place to be- just the open road and a couple of teenagers who are dying to escape the confines of their town.

About two hours in, Kensi props her legs up on the dashboard, folding both hands behind her head.

"This is nice."

He snorts, but is still unable to disagree. "Yeah."

"What was that about?"

"Huh?"

"You laughed."

"Oh, nothing. It's just nice because I'm the one doing all of the driving."

Kensi leans her head against the side window so her eyes are meeting his.

"I thought you loooooved to drive."

"I do. But we're not going anywhere."

"Isn't that the plan?"

"Yeah, and it still is. But I haven't eaten lunch, Fern. Your boy is starving."

She ignores his use of the phrase 'you're boy,' deciding she'll tuck it away for another time.

"I haven't eaten either!" Kensi exclaims, eyes wide as she wraps an arm around her midsection. "I didn't want to bug you about getting food, that's all!"

"Then what the hell are we doing?!"

She laughs at his loudly voiced question, smiling and throwing both hands up in the air.

"I don't know! You're the one who's driving!"

"We need to find food, Fern!"

"That's a good idea, but you need to stop calling me Fern!"

"Why are you yelling?!"

"I'm not sure, but I think you started it!"

"You started it!"

"I don't think I did!"

"Whatever!"

He's silent for a beat before busting over laughing, trying to keep his eyes focused on the road ahead.

"Deeks!" One of Kensi's hands grabs at the steering wheel, straightening it out. "You're going to run us off the road!"

"Then don't make me laugh!"

"We should probably stop yelling at each other," Kensi says, finally lowering her voice as she leans back into the seat.

"Yeah, that was exhausting."

"I think you're just hungry."

"Probably."

Deeks' eyes dart around frantically. The ocean is to his right, grass and dirt to his left.

"Where the hell are we, anyways?"

Kensi's eyes widen, a tiny giggle escaping her lips.

"I have no clue."

There aren't any cars, nor is there a single traffic sign saying anything regarding their destination- only the speed limit. 75 mph.

"I don't think we're in LA anymore."

He snorts. "Ya don't say?"

"Don't be a smartass. Look-" She points out at the water. "We're still near the ocean, that could mean something."

"Sorry Kens, but the entire western coastline of California is near the ocean."

She shakes her head, narrowing both eyes. "I'm gonna kill you."

"I sure hope not. We're out in the middle of nowhere. That's kind of a freaky thing to say."

"I'm kind of a 'freaky' gal."

Deeks bites his bottom lip, desperately trying to stifle a laugh. Kensi sees his face and immediately throws a quick jab to his arm.

"Geez! You put it out there, not me!"

"I hate you."

She leans back in the seat, folding both arms. There's a slight smile pulling up at the corners of her mouth though, and Deeks easily catches it.

"Has anyone ever told you how cute you are when you're homicidally angry?"

"Deeks-"

"Shhh. See this?" He waves one hand in a circular motion around her face. "You're stunning."

Kensi rolls her eyes, hoping that Deeks won't catch the grin that is completely overpowering her sense of annoyance.

He notices, of course.

"Good. So you do see it."

Once again Deeks refocuses his attention back on the road, one hand resting leisurely on the top of the steering wheel.

"Deeks!"

The screeching sound causes him to swerve. By the frantic tone in her voice, Deeks genuinely believes that he's run over something. Or someone.

"What's wrong?!"

Her pointer finger is aimed at a blurry, distant object on the beach.

"Is that a taco truck? Please tell me that's a taco truck."

Kensi looks over to Deeks, who's squinting as he follows her line of sight.

"It is a taco truck!"

He raises one hand up in the air, giving her a high five.

"This is awesome. We aren't gonna die."

"I was never gonna let you die, Kensalina."

"Kensalina?!"

"Yeah." He grins, pulling off the road and down onto the empty beach. "You freak out when I call you Fern, so I need another nickname."

"Kensalina is longer than my actual name."

"Nicknames don't necessarily have to be shorter."

"That's usually the point of having one."

"Not in my mind."

She sighs. "At least it's better than Fern."

Deeks laughs as he throws the car into park, whipping off his seatbelt.

"Don't fret, my dear. You'll always be Fern."