AH, MY LITTLE DUCKLINGS. I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING TO SAY. YES, I STOLE THE DUCKLINGS LINE FROM "HOUSE". GLAD YOU'RE ENJOYING IT. YOU KNOW WHAT TO DO: REVIEW, PLEASE!

Sam and Callen were talking to Talbot. They knew from the second the three walked through the door that something was wrong between the partners. So, they left Kensi and Deeks to work it out.

"Kensi…" Deeks started.

"Don't." Kensi said curtly, not looking up from her paperwork.

"We need to talk about this at some point." Deeks insisted.

"I don't want to talk to you." Kensi said, getting up noisily to make her point. Deeks didn't bother following her. Kensi found herself in Hetty's office. The older woman looked up knowingly.

"Problems with Mr. Deeks?" Hetty asked, but she already knew the answer.

"I just needed to get away from him." Kensi said after a moment.

"He didn't mean to upset you." Hetty said, getting up to stand next to Kensi.

"He didn't upset me." Kensi said, trying to put some humor into it. Hetty didn't buy it.

"Mr. Deeks didn't mean to, but he said something that did." Hetty said, giving Kensi a glare that usually only Callen got.

"He just doesn't get it. Very few things hurt me. Jack- he does." Kensi explained.

"You aren't invincible, Ms. Blye. Mr. Deeks, however, thinks you are, and forgets that you are human and things effect you. Sometimes, showing the less strong side of yourself is beneficial. It isn't the weak side, just not the side that has the walls up 24/7. Today, the case struck a wrong chord, and Mr. Deeks made a mistake. The mistake was inevitable, Ms. Blye. We all have our demons, but because your ex-fiancé had PTSD, this job is more likely to dig up memories for you, as marines often have PTSD. You have to be ready to admit to your partner the one thing that you know hurts you. Mr. Deeks realizes the mistake he made, and wants to make it right." Hetty lectured. Kensi didn't know the woman had that much air in her.

"I know, but-"

"Go talk to him." Hetty insisted, and Kensi obeyed. She trudged to the bullpen, and Deeks didn't look up.

"Deeks…" Kensi said, not quite sure what to say. Deeks resisted the urge to say I thought you didn't wanna talk. Instead, he said:

"Yeah, Kensi?"

"I-I'm sorry about 5 minutes ago." She stuttered out. God, she was horrible at apologies.

"I'm sorry about an hour ago." Deeks said smoothly, forcing himself to stop talking. Taking Hetty's advice, Kensi said:

"It's just… Jack really hurt me and I- it's hard to hold myself together." Why was it so hard for her to admit to weakness? The one time she remotely looks forward to telling someone she's hurting, she can't actually say it. This frustrated her to no end, but Deeks didn't need to hear her rant.

"You're allowed a moment of weakness, you know." Deeks said, smiling at his parnter's stubbornness.

"I hate being weak." Kensi said, sticking her tongue out in disgust. Deeks laughed.

"We all know you're tough and can handle yourself. We don't expect you to right now, Kensi. And just because you cried, it doesn't' make you weak. And just so you know, it was only one tear." Deeks explained.

"I know." Kensi said, smiling.

WOW, THIS WAS A PRETTY LONG CHAPTER FOR THIS STORY. SO, WHAT DO YOU GUYS THINK? J