The response to chapter 15 was absolutely unreal! I can't say thank you enough:) I'm loving your reviews as well, they are so fun to read!

- Hazel

Every second of the drive is awful. Horrible. Completely and utterly unbearable.

She wants to shout at her mother. Tell the woman that she's ruining her life, Deeks' life, her father's life- everything Kensi holds dear. But rather than yelling she remains silent, hoping the lack of words will speak for her.

"Kensi?"

No reply.

"Kens?" Julia asks again, her voice softer and slightly more sincere.

She's trying, but the attempts are in vain.

"I'm gonna sleep," Kensi states simply, closing her eyes. There's no possible way that she's actually going to get any rest right now, but assumes that her mother might take it as a hint to leave her alone.

Julia doesn't say anything more, and instead just keeps on driving forward. Kensi has absolutely no idea where they're going, as her mom has failed to fill her in on any of the details.

She just hugs both knees up to her chest, tears prickling at her eyes as they continue on towards an undisclosed location.

With both eyebrows thoroughly furrowed, Deeks stumbles back in through his front door, sinking down into the couch.

His mouth is hanging slightly ajar, both eyes wide as the facts hit him like a ton of bricks.

Kensi's just come over to give him her final goodbye. It was completely unexpected- not something he was hoping that the next couple of weeks would hold.

Deeks' original plan was to meet Kensi's father, and maybe even win back over her mother. He'd charm her with his smile and try not to seem at all imposing. With the help of Donald and Kensi, they'd force Julia into liking him.

One day, Deeks would feel comfortable enough that he'd be able to pop in and say hello without so much as a call beforehand.

Knowing he doesn't have any real family, they'd invite Deeks over for Christmas. Kensi would mindlessly grab his hand at dinner, but quickly pull it away as her father's eyes narrowed in on the public display of affection.

Blushing, she'd just sit quietly and listen as her parents asked him all sorts of questions about his plans for the future. They'd want to know where he's hoping to attend college, and what he plans on studying.

After the third or fourth round of interrogation, Kensi would kick her dad under the table, trying to be discreet. Deeks would easily pick up on her unease, shooting a quick and reassuring grin in her direction. He wouldn't mind the attention, not at all.

Having people around who care enough to actually ask questions would be a nice change.

For once, he'd feel important.

Kensi keeps her eyes closed for the full duration of their five hour drive. She can feel the sun trying to penetrate through her shut eyelids, but doesn't give in to urge until the car comes to a complete stop and she can hear the engine shut off.

She knows that her mom is probably startled when she throws the door open, not even asking where they are or what's going on. But Kensi's certain that no sort of a direct answer will come her way, so it seems pointless to speak.

Stepping outside, she looks up to find a motel sitting in front of her. The location is clearly a pit stop, and it's obvious to her that they're in the middle of nowhere.

"You're still not speaking to me?"

Julia suddenly appears beside her, pulling the trunk open. The pretentiousness with which she speaks and carries herself is off putting as well as infuriating, as if the woman believes Kensi's just 'overreacting.'

"Nope," she replies simply, grabbing her bag from the backseat.

Kensi throws it over one shoulder, strolling into the small lobby and immediately sinking into one of the chairs lined up against the wall. She grabs a magazine, flipping through the pages but not actually looking at any of them.

Her mind is reeling. Where are we? Why are we stopping here? Where are we going?

She knows that it's around midday, but that's about it. Asking questions would be a sign of defeat though, so Kensi doesn't really mind the confusion.

As long as she still has her pride, it means that at least one thing has remained intact.

Ray comes trudging down the stairs at around seven, ready to grab a cup of coffee and bowl of cereal before work- but he gets a bit more than he bargained for.

Deeks is sitting on the couch, and has relocating himself so that his back is pressed up against one of the armrests. He looks sleep deprived, emotionless, and just a little heartbroken.

Ray can tell something's wrong from the minute he seems him.

"Hey dude. You... alright?" He asks, head cocked to one side.

Deeks doesn't say a single word, and instead just nods slowly, his forehead creased. The small movement isn't one that qualifies as an answer, though. He's not saying that he's okay.

No, he's not saying anything at all.

"Dude," Ray repeats, taking a seat in one of the chairs across from the couch. "What's going on?"

Another beat of silence passes before Deeks is able to find the words he's searching for.

"She left."

Ray narrows his eyes, trying to decipher the puzzle that's been placed in front of him.

"Who left? Kensi?"

He nods, his line of sight fixated forward. "Julia's leaving her dad. They packed up and left in the middle of the night."

"But... I thought Kensi loved her dad-"

"She does." His eyes finally break away from the wall, focusing in on Ray. "He's everything to her."

"Then why-"

"No idea."

Ray sighs. "So is she really-"

"Gone," Deeks states, moving his gaze away from Ray. "Just gone."

It's 1:00 AM.

The day has passed with only a few short words spoken between the two of them.

Now it's the middle of the night, and Kensi's absolutely exhausted but is still finding sleep to be something completely unatainable. Instead, she's been staring at the ceiling for the past four hours, contemplating what her options are. All her mind can focus on is the glaringly obvious fact that she needs to go.

This can't be her life- having little or no control over the scenarios she's put in or the people she's living with. Starting over isn't all it's cracked up to be.

Kensi's done it enough times- she knows.

Usually it just leads to a sense of precariousness and inconstancy, but this is typical when your normal routine of daily life gets thrown out the window. Old friends become distant memories, and over time they fade away completely.

Nobody ever stays, and nothing is ever permanent.

Eventually, all you're left with is a thoroughly battered heart and a closed-off exterior. In order to stay tough, you also have to stay private. Elusive. Hard to break.

Except somehow, after yet another move that she'd assumed would be just as awful as the last, a seventeen year old boy had come into the picture. With a gleaming smile and an overwhelmingly large amount of patience, he'd managed to work his way past the walls she'd put in place- the ones that had been built up long before they ever crossed paths.

The proverbial walls weren't really 'walls' at all, but rather impenetrable stone barriers that had always proven to be successful in keeping people away.

Deeks had changed it all, though. In a matter of months, he'd changed her.

She'd become more open, gone out with friends, tried new things and spoken her mind when it was warranted. They'd learned what it was like to be someone's best friend and confidant, while at the same time their greatest challenge. At the end of the day, she'd loved him for it.

And she still does.

Kensi inhales sharply at the mess of emotions that are running through her mind, tossing the covers off of her legs before sliding noiselessly out of bed.

Gingerly, she tiptoes towards the door, grabbing her bag and taking one last peek at Julia. The idea of leaving her doesn't hurt as much as it should, she knows that. But the one thing keeping Kensi from breaking down at the sight of her is the knowledge of who she's going home to.

They're people that love her, and people that care more than her mother ever will.

So with cloudy vision, a backpack and a palpitating heart, Kensi sees her chance to escape and takes it.