Season 7, Episode 8 - The Long Goodbye, Version 2

The lights were on when Kensi pulled the Audi into Deeks's driveway, so she knew he was still awake. Monty greeted her at the front door with a wagging tail and a cold nose nudging at her legs. She patted his head affectionately and smiled when she saw her boyfriend sitting in the arm chair in the front room smiling at her happily.

"Hey baby." She moved toward him and he lowered his legs from the ottoman so she could drape herself across his lap. The tv played in the background, she didn't know what was airing, as she leaned in to kiss him deeply.

"Well hello to you too." Deeks drawled and Kensi was reminded of a long ago debate over the existence of that sexy drawl. "How was your girl's night?"

Kensi draped one arm around his shoulders, her hand moving to play with the hair at the nape of his neck. The other fiddled with the collar of his shirt, the pads of her fingers brushing the warm skin underneath.

"It was nice but it's good to be home." Kensi sighed as she dropped her head on Deeks's shoulder.

"Did you talk about the PSB? Come up with a solution?"

"Yes and no." Kensi answered exasperated. She couldn't believe that for a man so smart, Deeks seemed completely incapable of understanding that she didn't need a solution to the PSB, she just needed to vent. She needed to be able to bitch to her boyfriend about the woman who pissed her off daily. She didn't need saving.

"Baby, you know why I want to help you don't you?" Deeks's voice was small, quiet.

"I have a few ideas, but tell me anyway."

Deeks nudged Kensi so she'd sit up and look at him. What he had to say was important. More important than the damn PSB. It was an issue in their relationship that needed to be resolved.

"I love you. I want to make your life easier. I want to make you happy. When something is bothering you, I want to help you fix it. It's not because I think you need me to solve your problems, it's because I want to help you solve them." Deeks said softly, hoping that their history of bad communication was just that, history, and this moment would be another stepping stone in achieving that goal.

"You are a very sweet man." Kensi smiled running her hand down the side of his face. She had thought that Deeks had some Neanderthal need to solve the 'little woman's' problems like a big strong man. But it should have occurred to her that he really did just want to help. He wasn't like any other man she'd ever met. And that was a wonderful thing.

"I have my moments." He smiled that beautiful smile that made her heart skip and never failed to bring a smile to her own face.

"Yes you do. I love you too by the way. And for the record, it goes both ways. When something is bothering you, when you have a problem, I want to help. You're not alone anymore either baby, you can count on me."

The IA investigation came to mind immediately, and if Kensi were being honest, it never really left. She had no idea what they were hoping to find on Deeks, but had no doubt that eventually it would all come to light. Whatever it was, she knew that Deeks wasn't guilty of anything. She knows what kind of man he is, knows what he is capable of, and knows that the only thing that could ever make her beautiful boyfriend cross a line was a threat to someone else. He was a lover, a champion for the weak, he was not the bad guy. So no matter what fight may be ahead of them, Kensi knew without a shadow of a doubt that she would be by Deeks's side every step of the way. She just hoped he knew that.

Deeks leaned in with a soft smile and kissed her gently but deeply. With a smile of her own upon her lips, Kensi lost herself in the kiss and the moment. Internal Affairs could wait, tonight was about Kensi and Deeks.

i hope you all like this alternative version for The Long Goodbye. There won't be any for Defectors as obviously the most important Densi moment in that episode was the arrest, so I'll be focusing on Internal Affairs instead. I've got a couple of ideas for that one, so it'll be more than one chapter for that episode.

Thank you to everyone who is reading, reviewing and favouriting this fic. I appreciate it and love hearing from you all. Hope to hear from you again.