I still don't own anything on this show. The fact that I don't and still devote so much of my time to is it just a little bit sad.

"Finally," Deeks mutters, picking up the ringing satellite phone that has been staring him in the face since he'd come home from work. After Assistant Director Granger had appeared suddenly, and subsequently disappeared just as suddenly, Deeks had been even more anxious than usual about talking to Kensi. "Hey."

"Hey yourself. You answered rather quickly. You weren't staring at the phone again, were you?" Kensi teases, sipping her warm morning coffee at her outdoor bench.

"No."

"Liar."

Deeks pauses momentarily. "I, uh, I've been worried. And don't roll your eyes, I can see you doing it all the way over in Afghanistan."

"I didn't roll my eyes."

"Liar."

Kensi chuckles. "Don't worry about me, Deeks. I think I'm doing pretty well over here."

"Yeah, that's what Granger said," Deeks says bitterly. "And I'm sorry, but I'm going to worry when Assistant Director Grinch, who is supposed to have your back over there, magically shows up back here. Without you."

"Deeks," she says gently. "Are you doing okay?"

No, he thinks. "I'm fine. Maybe it's just these new clothes Nell made me buy. I feel really restricted right now."

"I, um, what?"

"Nell. She made me go shopping with her after I split my pants at work one day last week. She went way overboard, but I went along with it. But all the jeans I bought, they're really…fitted."

Kensi stifles a laugh. "I'm going to ignore the fact that you split your pants at work. So, are you wearing hipster jeans?"

"No," he responds pointedly. "They're just snug. You know, cause I need the extra room."

"Whatever Deeks."

"Don't act like you don't know," he teases. "You're thinking about it right now, aren't you?" Kensi doesn't respond. "You are!"

"Shut up Deeks."

"So what are you wearing?"

"Nothing," she says coyly.

"Okay, maybe I shouldn't have asked. If you start talking dirty to me these jeans are going to become pretty painful."

Kensi groans, shaking her head. "So," she says, changing the subject. "Nell took you shopping? First the Shaggy and Velma jokes, then the birthday party, now this. You two are becoming pretty close."

Deeks stretches out on his couch, dropping his free hand to the floor to rub Monty's head. "I'm not the only one that misses you, you know. Misery loves company, I guess."

"Oh. I guess I never thought about that."

"Yeah well. I mean, I'm not saying I'm miserable or anything. I have things to do. Non-Kensi things," he says, backtracking.

"Okay."

"Kensi?"

"What?"

Deeks sighs loud enough for her to hear. "What are you really doing over there?" he asks, worry in his voice. "It's been like, two and half months now. Granger can come and go as he pleases, but you're not even supposed to talk to anybody? He actually asked me if I was in communication with you."

Kensi furrows her brows, looking around to see if anybody is in earshot. "What did you say?"

"I said not really. And that we weren't just partners."

"You said what?!"

"No, no, I said that you're my friend. And that I look out for you." He ruffled his hair nervously. "Kens, I can't shake this feeling that something's just not right."

Sighing, Kensi drops her head on the table. "I wish I could tell you what's going on, I just…can't. And I wish I could say that everything is going to be fine and I'll be back in LA soon, but I don't know that. I just don't know."

"Yeah," he says, trying not to sound bitter. "That's okay, I'm getting kinda used to being in the dark about everything now. You'll come back when you come back."

"Deeks…"

"I'm good, Kensi."

"Okay," she says, standing up and stretching her legs. "It's that time again."

"I know," he responds sadly. "Remember. Be safe. Come home."

"I will. Bye Deeks." Kensi hangs up her phone and shoves it into the lower pocket of her pants, walking back to her base camp trailer. When she enters, Granger and Officer Sabatino are standing in the kitchen. Sabatino offers her an overly friendly smile, which she ignores.

Granger gives her his usual surly stare. "Personal phone call?"

She smiles at him, walking towards her computer. "Not really."