A/N: Thank y'all for the nice reviews. This is short, but I think it's very Kensified. It's kinda late, but Happy New Year!
Disclaimer: I do not own NCIS: Los Angeles or any of its characters and contents.
Part 8: Back to Being Kensi
Monty moves eagerly beside him, actually being in the way as he balances the bags. He has done some grocery shopping, but has also, like he said he would, fetched some things from his place. The mutt in front of him jogs peacefully from the car to the front-yard of Kensi's place. Effortlessly, he shakes his scruffy fur before sitting down, waiting for Deeks to come push the button for the elevator.
"Lazy mutt," Deeks scolds affectionately, scratching the retired dog behind his ear. He is rewarded with a playful pout from his roommate.
He isn't sure how Kensi will respond to him bringing Monty. Hopefully, she won't mind. Besides, he meant it when he once stated that Monty was trained as a service dog. Just not that kind of service dog be it, but if Deeks is lucky, he might be able to cheer Kensi up. The dog has always been source of mocking from her side, but deeply inside, Deeks is certain – or he hopes so – that his partner has a soft spot for the mutt.
"I'm home!" he yells out jokingly, stumbling across the mutt who hurries in, nearly scooping him off balance. He grunts and breaks the fall by reaching for the kitchen counter. He can hear someone scoff and barely contain a laugh.
"Walk much, Deeks?" Kensi asks playfully, sitting the middle of the room in fresh clothes. The army-green color of the top suits her, and she has brushed her hair as well. Seems her independency is returning. Monty wags his tail at the sight of Kensi, but is reluctant to go near the wheelchair.
"Just stretching," he covers, putting the groceries down as he tries not to fall. "And you should be thankful that I didn't get brain damage the way you throw," he adds, referring to his departure this morning.
"Was there in the first place," she states quickly, looking into the bags. "Besides, I was just practicing my aim," Kensi defends herself rationally, barely containing a smirk.
"Never needed practicing," Deeks murmurs under his breath, feigning pain.
"If you get brain damage from a sponge then there's not a lot left, Deeks," the brunette remarks as she stretches her hand to pet Monty. The dog loyally sits down beside her, sniffing the wheelchair while he looks very cozy with the treatment he's getting.
"You'll never know, Fern," he throws back, already sensing how he is losing this bantering.
He unloads the bag, adding some of his own stuff to the pile next to the duffel bag. Without looking over his shoulder for Kensi (knowing she's there, probably smirking her cute ass off), he starts talking.
"You know, Dr. Cho recommended that you moved some of the stuff from your upper cupboards to the lower ones. Y'know, to make them more accessible," Deeks says, stressing the word 'accessible'.
Kensi snorts, but her expression softens. She places her hands in her lap even though she hates being still. "Okay," she dismisses. Somehow she makes the gesture defiant though Deeks isn't sure how she does it. The flare behind her eyes is one he recognizes and one that ignites the spark that is Kensi Blye, ladies and gentlemen.
Plus, he'd rather deal with a defiant Kensi than an outright furious one any given day. However, it is these moments – the small comments he makes that seem to unravel Kensi – he lives for. He is like a third grader, doing anything to get a reaction out of a fellow third grader. Hell, he doubts if Kensi would even notice him if they weren't partners against crime. She is the sorta girl who looks great in whatever, wheelchair perhaps excluded.
"You wanna have me do it?" Deeks hesitantly asks, fearing the worst.
She arches her brow. "This is one of those times where you just have two options.." She nods courtly, then turns the wheelchair 180 degrees, trailing off.
Deeks takes that as a "yes". Monty has already abandoned ship to walk off with Kensi. Deeks would be hurt if his partner hadn't needed the companionship. And Monty has always been known to have a soft spot for the ladies. Despite his less-than-perfect pedigree, he has many times been called cute and handsome. Quietly, Deeks begins to move her stuff around. It's gonna kill Kensi if he doesn't, because then even grabbing a glass of water will be a challenge. Normally, he'd be all in for challenging her (though he knows she has a tendency of underestimating him), but defeat makes her grumpy. And asking him to grab something every time she needs it will be like servitude, Kensi won't adjust well.
With a smirk he sees the empty doughnut bag in the trash as he throws old tea bags out. He has never figured her for a tea kinda person, but he won't tell, unless she gets really cranky. Or brags humbly.
Teaser for next chapter: Deeks goes back to work, leaving Kensi all alone, and him to answer Sam, Callen and Hetty's questions.