Season 7, Episode 8 - The Long Goodbye, Version 1

The bed shifted and roused him from sleep. Monty hadn't stirred from his doggy bed by the bedroom door so he knew the body climbing into bed with him was Kensi before her distinctive intoxicating scent hit him. He stirred as her body moulded against his back as she practically lay on top of him.

"What time is it?" He asked in a voice croaky from sleep. Kensi's hand ran up and down his back, her lips dropping random soft kisses across his bare shoulders. He was a stomach sleeper most of the time, but always when he was alone.

"Just after midnight." She whispered in his ear before nipping his earlobe gently.

"How was girls night?" Deeks asked and finally turned his head toward her and opened his eyes.

"It was fine. Hamburgers and beers at the Inn." She replied casually, her focus on the expanse of his naked back, her hand running up and down its length. She could feel the muscles move when he propped himself up on his arms to see her more clearly.

"Wait. Ye Rustic Inn?" Deeks asked and Kensi smiled as she nodded once, awaiting the reaction she knew was coming. "Oh man. You went there without me?" He whined and she couldn't help but laugh lightly as she dropped an apologetic kiss on his shoulder for going to one of his favourite places without him.

"Where did you go with Callen?"

"No where, he ditched me at work." Deeks dropped his head back to the pillow and Kensi's hand stopped its gentle movements on his back.

"What? Why? What happened? He's still giving you a hard time?" She asked incredulously.

"Actually, It was better today. We got along. Even joked."

"But he still ditched you?" Kensi raised an eyebrow. She was beyond unhappy about this latest development. Teasing Deeks was an activity they all revelled in, but it was only fun when Deeks was playing too. Something Callen often ignored; his 'teasing' crossing the line into more dangerous territory.

"Baby steps." Deeks muttered. "What about you and Talia? How'd you guys get along tonight?"

Kensi allowed the subject change, knowing how Deeks felt about his long running issues with their solitary leader. It was definitely a sore point, one she wasn't going to push tonight. "Better. She's much easier to be around when she's not pawing at you."

"She just does that to get a rise out of you."

"I don't like it." Kensi clenched her jaw slightly in anger. She could play nice with Talia, even be friendly with her, but whenever Talia put her hands on Deeks it made Kensi want to bleed the DEA agent out...slowly.

"I don't either. Makes me incredibly uncomfortable."

"It does?" Kensi was surprised. She'd always thought he enjoyed the attention from the pretty DEA agent.

"Yes! I don't want anyone but you touching me. And you know how I feel about personal space at the best of times, she violates it all the time." Deeks answered passionately and Kensi could see he really was bothered by Talia's behaviour. His ardour wasn't for her benefit, this was clearly something that had been on his mind.

"Why have you never said anything?"

"And cop the epic ribbing I'd get from Sam and Callen? No thanks! I'd rather deal with Talia for a day then deal with a lifetime of crap about it from Sam and Callen."

"I'll talk to her about it. Tell her to cut it out." Kensi was determined that Talia had messed with her man for the last time.

"Nah, don't bother. She seems to have switched her attentions to Callen anyway. Let him deal with it." It was another obvious subject change, but again she'd let it happen. After all, it was a subject she was curious about too.

"Ok, that was weird right? How he reacted to it? I wonder if there's trouble between him and Joelle." Kensi hoped that Callen and Joelle weren't having trouble, he was calmer and quite frankly, easier to be around, since meeting Jo.

"Hmmm, I don't know. It's not like he talks to me about it."

"He could have tonight if he hadn't ditched you." Kensi said bitterly. Deeks might be able to let it all go. But she couldn't. Sometimes he was just too forgiving.

"I really don't mind baby. It's far better than having a door slammed in my face."

"Well, he's still got a long way to go. You've been with us for over 5 years, he shouldn't be hazing you like you're the new guy anymore." The more she thought about it, the angrier she got. Just how far did Deeks have to go to prove himself to Callen? He'd put himself through hell many times for each other them, and yet for Callen it still wasn't enough. As she fumed, Kensi noticed Deeks smiling at her. "What?"

"I love you." Deeks spoke softly as he reached out to take her hand in his.

"I love you too."

"Come here." He pulled her towards him and captured her lips in a deep kiss. Her ire at Callen's flippant treatment of him meant more to him then he could ever say. It had been far too long since he'd had someone in his life to stand up for him, to stand beside him. His partner, his love, not only had his back in the field against terrorists and general bad guys but in life and all things. And that knowledge filled him with a warmth he'd almost forgotten.

So, you probably saw the "version 1" at the title. I had two different ideas for this fic and couldn't decide which one to write so decided to write both. Hopefully the second will be up soon.

Also, I noticed that a few people asked me about the fic dealing with the "Blame it on Rio" disaster that I mentioned a couple of chapters ago. It was by a wonderful writer JerichoSteele. She wrote two versions. They're called "When Doves Cry" and "When Doves Cry Out". I loved them both, but "When Doves Cry Out" is my fave of the two. Check them out. But be warned, they're angsty.

hope to hear from you all.