The amount of reviews and messages I'm receiving because of this story is just incredible. It may be hard for you all to believe, but this story has only just begun... we aren't even at our halfway point yet!

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-Hazel

She tosses the front door open, looking left and right upon exiting. Deciding where to go... that's the tricky part of it all. No car, no means of transportation- just a cell phone and a backpack full of clothes.

Kensi drops to the ground once she's rounded the corner, placing her bag on the pavement. She contemplates what her options are, as there aren't a lot of places to go, nor are there many people she can can call at this hour.

One person in particular stands out in her mind, though. Deeks.

She could call her father, but Kensi's unsure of how much he's aware of at the moment and doesn't want to be the bearer of horrible news. Hey dad? Your wife's leaving you. Just thought you should know.

It seems fairly obvious that the task will eventually fall to her, but Kensi doesn't want to think about that now, not yet anyways.

She retrieves the cell phone from her front jacket pocket, exhaling before scrolling through her contacts list to find his name. It's on the top of her recent calls list, meaning Kensi doesn't have to look far, and she presses the number before she can convince herself otherwise.

It rings only once.

"Kens?" Deeks asks, his voice raspy and strained. She can tell that he's just awoken, but there's a sense of urgency as he speaks and it's keenly shining through.

"I didn't, um... mean to wake you up, I just..." She sighs, feeling frustrated with herself for failing to prepare something beforehand. "I didn't know who else to call."

"What can I do?"

Kensi's forehead creases as she rubs her eyes. "I don't know."

"Your mom hasn't told you anything more?"

"I haven't asked, Deeks." She looks to the ground, aimlessly playing with the tiny pebbles beneath her feet. "I don't think I wanna hear what she has to say."

"Sounds like a good enough reason."

"Yeah."

There's a brief pause before Kensi interjects once more.

"I left."

"You left?"

"I can't do this again, Deeks. I can't start over." It feels as if her voice is about to crack, and so she's quick to try and cover up the moment of weakness. "This is never going to work."

"What does that mean?"

She swallows. "It means I'm coming home."

"How?"

That is exactly where her plan begins to derail.

"I... I'm not really sure."

"Where are you?"

She glances at her surroundings, shaking her head. "No idea. I'm at a place called the 'Midway Motel,' but that's about all I can tell you. It's in the middle of nowhere."

"I'll look it up."

"What are you...?"

Kensi hears the ruffling of covers distantly on the other end of the line, and a slight grunt as if Deeks is just pulling himself out of bed.

"I'm coming to get you. Right now."

"No, Deeks I'm not asking-"

"Neither am I."

"But-"

"I'm coming, Kensi."

His tone is so declarative and certain that she doesn't even try testing him. Honestly, why would she? Right now, nothing would make Kensi happier than seeing him, face to face.

"Okay," she says, her frailness evident in every damn syllable. "But... could you do something for me? Besides that?"

His reply comes without delay. "Anything."

She tries exhaling, but once again her lungs seem to fail at accomplishing what should be a rather simple task.

"Just... stay on the line with me? While you drive?"

Deeks' heart easily gets caught up in his throat. "Of course. I'm not going anywhere."

"Okay."

She can almost hear him smiling through the phone. "I'm on my way."

Kensi desperately wants to say something more, and the silence that proceeds seems like the perfect time for her to talk.

"I missed you."

He chuckles faintly. "It's only been 24 hours."

"Sure as hell doesn't feel like it. Seems like forever."

"Probably all the driving."

"Yeah. I still haven't slept."

"That could be part of it."

"Possibly. How was school?"

Kensi can hear the engine growl as Deeks starts the car.

"Eh. Boring. I had to sit with Josh at lunch."

"Don't you love Josh?"

"Love is a pretty strong word..."

She chuckles, and it's a freeing feeling. Only he could evoke something like that at a time like this.

"I'm sure he appreciates the company. We can get pretty chatty, you and I."

"We can. Everyone kept asking me where you were."

"What did you say?"

"I told them the truth. I said that I didn't know."

"Good. Maybe there won't be a questionnaire for me to fill out when I get back."

He laughs. "Wow."

"What?"

"Apparently, sleepy Kensi is also sassy Kensi."

"I have many reasons to be sassy right now, Deeks."

"Very true. You have total permission to be as sassy as you want, I promise I can handle it."

She snorts. "I'm sure. That's just how I am. But ya know, your roommate seemed to think that your description of me was a bit off."

"How so?"

"According to him, you said I was adorable, caring and sweet."

"You're all of those things."

"Adorable? Really?"

"In your own way, yes."

"In my own way?"

"That came out wrong."

Kensi smiles to herself before delivering a quick bout of laughter, looking to the ground.

"Yeah, I think it did."

She yawns loudly, the noise filling Deeks' ears. He can practically visualize the way her nose is scrunching up as her features expand, and how her cheeks are dimpling. It only makes him miss her more.

"You wanna take a nap or something?"

Kensi nods sleepily, but it takes a few seconds for her to realize that Deeks can't see what she's doing.

"Maybe. But-"

"I'm not hanging up, Kens. Just keep me on the line with you."

She smiles, grabbing a beanie from one of the pockets inside of her backpack. Kensi's not sure exactly what provoked her to grab that hat while they were rushing out the door, but regardless she's glad to have it in her possession.

"It's so cold here," she says, slipping it over her head.

"Wait- you're outside?"

"Yeah. Where else would I be?"

Faintly, Kensi hears the sound of one or two curse words muttered beneath his breath.

"It's like thirty degrees, Kens."

"Not in California."

"You aren't in California."

"How'd you figure that out?"

"I looked up that little motel. You're all the way over in Fernley."

"Fernley? As in Nevada?"

"Uh-huh."

"Shouldn't come as a surprise, I guess. It's freezing out here," she says, holding her one free arm tightly around her own waist in an attempt to conserve body heat.

"Isn't there somewhere you could go? A place that might be a bit warmer?"

"Aside from my room... no. So I think I'm just gonna stay put."

"What if your mom comes looking for you?"

"She was sound asleep when I left. I think we're good."

Kensi yawns again, and he smiles.

"Keep me on the line, okay?"

Pressing the speakerphone button, she rotates her body around so that her head is laying against the side of her backpack.

"Okay."

"Good. Sweet dreams, Kensalina."

Deeks doesn't let her off the line until around five hours later, when his pickup finally rolls into the parking lot. He steps out of the truck, eyes scouring the entrance for a familiar face as he jogs towards the small establishment.

Kensi was right- even his huge, puffy winter coat isn't fully protecting him from the elements. It's frigid. He rounds the corner to the left, and comes to a dead stop upon seeing her.

Both arms are curled up beneath her head, the backpack serving as a substitute pillow. The sun's barely beginning to lift from behind the clouds, casting shadows on her face. Deeks walks around in front of her, dropping down to a crouching position.

He cocks his head to one side, and the blocking of sunlight seems to wake Kensi up. She squints up at him, and much to Deeks' surprise a single silent tear streaks down her cheek.

"How did any of this happen?" She asks, hardly moving a muscle. "No matter what I try to tell myself, I... I just can't figure it out."

He shakes his head slowly, lifting one hand to wipe the salty water away from her eyes.

"I'm so sorry."

She nods weakly, closing both eyes as another couple of tears spill over. In that moment, it suddenly become readily apparent to Deeks that his tough, unbreakable, no-nonsense girlfriend has finally reached her limit.

It should be expected that anyone would begin to crumble under that kind of pressure.

He grabs the backpack, gently wrapping one arm behind her shoulders and another beneath her knees. Lifting Kensi's lightweight frame proves to be rather effortless, and she smiles as they stand.

Dropping a quick kiss to the top of her forehead, Deeks begins to make his way back towards the truck.

"Come on, Kens. Let's go home."