Hey all, I'm thinking one or two chapters after this one. The actual premier is next week and I'm trying not to think about it...haha!
Let me know what you think!
With her back pressed against the wall, Kensi waited for what seemed like hours. Clenching her hands in front of her, she tried not to worry. Deeks was going to be fine and he had promised her so much with his parting wink.
Afraid of everything that could go wrong, Kensi didn't let herself relax until the nurse took her to Deeks' room and she saw him with her own two eyes. He had an IV in his arm and his black eye had darkened more so with the time that had gone by, but his wounds had been cleaned and the gauze removed from his mouth.
Hearing her enter the room, Deeks' eyes flew open and his heart rate increased until he realized it was just her. Allowing himself to relax again, Deeks let his head fall back against his pillow.
Kensi hesitated in the door. Maybe he had kissed her because of the excitement from the case or she had read too much into his looks. Maybe she should let him rest and come back later, "I can let you sleep and visit in a few hours." Trying not to hold her breath, she awkwardly shoved her fingers into her pockets and glanced away from his face.
Shaking his head slowly, Deeks cleared his throat and answered, "I want you to stay…" his voice cracked from the dryness and he tried to clear it again. That was all Kensi needed to be convinced that she had not misinterpreted the kiss or the messages his eyes had told her earlier. Stepping into the room, Kensi poured Deeks a cup of water and held the straw to his lips for him. She could sense his eyes on her as he sipped from the straw and then eased back and finished his thought with a bit more energy, "I know you would just be in the waiting room if you left to come back later."
His voice was worn and he sounded tired, but it had never sounded good to Kensi. Her emotions from the warehouse returned and tears pricked her eyes. Fumbling to put the cup down and not spill any water, Kensi tried to blink the tears away.
Deeks caught her hand, "Kens."
Just hearing him say her name caused more tears to gather and she couldn't keep them at bay any longer, they streamed down her cheeks and she squeezed his hand to reassure herself he was there. Returning the pressure on her hand, Deeks pulled her a little closer and whispered, "Hey, its okay. Everything is over now and we are okay."
Sniffling Kensi nodded her head and looked into his stormy eyes. With her other hand, she dashed the tears from her cheeks and choked out, "I'm such a mess. How am I such a mess?"
"I don't think you could ever be a mess, Princess excluding the cleanliness of your place," Deeks allowed his eyes to roam over every detail of her face. She was so beautiful. Both of her eyes seemed a shade darker from the emotion covering them. Even through the tears, she was gorgeous.
Watching him watch her, Kensi nearly whispered, "I missed your voice so much." A single tear rolled down the outside of her cheek and Deeks sat up enough to reach her with his other hand as well.
Brushing his thumb against her smooth skin, Deeks wiped her tear away and her eyes closed, "You sure you didn't enjoy the peace and quiet?"
With a smile playing on her lips, she opened her eyes again, "Surprisingly no, I was disconcerted by it. I guess I have gotten used to your incessant babbling."
As his own lips lifted to return her smile, Deeks squinted slightly realizing his pain medicine was wearing off. Ignoring the pain, he said, "I'm glad you found me, Kens."
Noticing his pain, Kensi lightly pushed him back against the pain, but he caught her wrist and made her sit on the edge of his bed. Her fingers twitched remembering her wanting from when she first found him alive, "I have a strange question."
"I probably have an equally strange answer," even though he was bone tired having Kensi sit next to him kept him wide awake with energy and hope.
"Will it hurt if I touch your face?" Kensi bit her lip waiting for his answer. She couldn't remember a time that she was ever so bold in real life.
Deeks met her nervous gaze with a crooked grin and answered, "I don't think your touch could ever hurt me."
Her belly fluttered from his words. Lightly pulling her hand from his, Kensi raised her warm fingers to his bruised face and trailed them gently across the discolored skin all around his eye. Meeting his steady gaze, Kensi saw such strength and respect shining back at her that her fingers stilled for a moment. Seeing something else in those ocean eyes of his, Kensi felt her breath catch and she traced his jaw slowly with her fingertips never breaking eye contact.
His heart sped up with her feather light touch and he kept his gaze fixed on her eyes. A touch had never felt so good as her fingers brushing his face with a gentleness he didn't know his Kensi was even capable of. Realizing that he had thought of her possessively, Deeks' heart stuttered, he wanted her to be his. As her fingers stilled on his skin, Deeks knew this moment was monumental and he allowed her to see his soul through his eyes. He could tell the moment she detected his deeper look and reveled in her tiny intake of breath.
When her fingers trailed down his jaw, he captured them with his own hand and touched his lips to her warm fingertips. He knew he could tell her what he had been feeling and knowing for months and she would reciprocate. Bringing her fingers to his lips again, he whispered against them, "I love you, Kensi."
Kensi could feel her heart racing from his words and her stomach continued to flips from his touch. Careful not to hurt him, Kensi leaned toward him and tenderly touched her lips to his and whispered against them, "I love you too, Marty." She eased back and he smiled sweetly at her as he had so many times before, but now she fully understood.
It was the smile he only meant for her, "You have no idea how badly I want to kiss you right now." His words were slow and casual.
Smiling coyly back at him, Kensi suppressed a giggle, "Well, you will just have to work on your patience until you are healed and then you have permission to kiss me."
A nurse bustled into the room, "Sorry to interrupt, but Mr. Deeks is due for more pain medicine. Your pain must be severe considering all you have been through." The pretty nurse hinted at flirting despite the proximity between Deeks and Kensi.
Eyes never leaving Kensi, Deeks drawled, "Nah, my mind has been on some other things."
Kensi snorted to cut off the laughter bubbling inside. She was very pleased his eyes were so focused on her, she liked his attention. Clearing her throat, Kensi acknowledged the nurse, "Thank you for his medicine."
After administering his next dosage, the nurse left the room with a silent nod. Deeks raised an eyebrow at her, "Back to our earlier subject, will you be kissing me back this time?"
"Oh I fully intend on kissing you back this time," Kensi spoke quietly as if it were a secret.
His eyelids began to droop against the pain medicine, "How long is this healing stuff gonna take?"
Quietly laughing, Kensi said, "Go to sleep, Deeks. I will be here when you wake up." He was sound asleep before Kensi had even moved off the edge of the bed.
Kensi leaned against the windowsill a few feet from Deeks' bedside laughing at his retelling of their jello disagreement from when he had been shot, "I sat in here for almost three days straight, I think I deserved that jello cup."
"I had been shot, Fern! I think I deserved first jello rights," Deeks carefully slurped some jello off his spoon careful not to touch any part of the inside of his mouth.
"Don't be a baby, didn't you ever learn to share," Kensi teased comfortably. A knock at the door brought both of their attention as Callen and Sam entered the room.
Deeks smiled, "I was wondering when you guys were gonna show up."
Kensi stood ramrod straight and stepped directly next to Deeks' bed positioning herself defensively between Deeks and his visitors. Sensing the tension in the room and noticing Kensi's strategic body placement, Deeks knew he was missing something. She was standing in between them like their fellow agents were some kind of threat.
Callen attempted to ease the tension, "How ya doin', Deeks?"
"Can't complain, Kensi let me keep my jello and the Doc said I can be outta here tomorrow," Deeks tried to play along.
"That's good! I see it hasn't affected your ability to speak," picking up on their typical teasing, Callen smiled.
Sam joined in, "I guess we're out of luck, G."
Nearly cutting him off, Kensi demanded, "What do you want, Sam?"
"Come on, Kensi. You said, 'if he dies' and he is okay," Sam motioned with his hand and took a step closer to her.
Folding her arms defensively over her chest, Kensi retreated a step bringing her next to Deeks' shoulder, "No thanks to you."
Deeks looked between them, "What is going on?"
Sam rubbed the back of his neck, "Kensi was a little upset I showed back up at OSP without you."
Kensi dropped a fist by her side, "No, I was disappointed you showed up without my partner…" Trying to control herself, Kensi only allowed her voice to raise slightly, "I was upset that you put him into a position to be tortured and possibly killed on the same day you questioned his character."
Frowning Deeks asked, "How did you know about that conversation, Kens?"
"Eric accidentally played it for me when I was listening to your com channel for clues," Kensi's voice shook with anger and she clenched her fist until her nails bit into her palms.
His heart warmed with Kensi's anger over him. Only his Kensi would get so angry on his behalf and he had to admit Sam's words yesterday afternoon had stung.
Sam spoke with a forced calm, "Kensi, I was wrong about Deeks. I realize that now. I came to tell him I'm sorry and thank him for what he did for my wife and myself."
Kensi's voice quieted, but anger still put an edge on her words, "How did it take you three years to recognize his character? And why did it take him nearly dying on Michelle's behalf to prove what kind of man he is?" Deeks wanted to help Kensi calm down and diffuse the situation, but he wanted to know the answers to both questions so instead of saying anything, He wrapped his hand around her clenched fist and felt her relax at his touch.
"Honestly, I don't know. I guess I've been so used to working with military that being around a laid back, floppy haired surfer like you, Deeks unsettled me. I have never seen someone so capable of taking the job in stride and staying relaxed in spite of terrible things that I thought something had to be wrong with you. But I promise you I realize now that the problem was with me. You have never been anything, but effective in the field and as Kensi said yesterday, 'you have the most upstanding character of any man I know' and I'm honored to work with you. I'm sorry for the position I put you in and thank you for saving my family," Sam finished his speech and held his breath.
Deeks nodded his head and held his hand out for a handshake, "I forgive you. No need to thank me, it's my job."
"You went above and beyond," Sam gave Deeks' hand a firm shake and looked at Kensi, "What about you? Will you forgive me?"
Swallowing a lump in her throat, Kensi was thankful for Deeks' reassuring hand squeeze, "It will take some time, but I will forgive you too."
Sam nodded and Callen muttered, "Thank God," under his breath.
Kensi added, "But if for any reason you question Deeks' character or abilities again, you will have me to answer to."
Again Sam nodded in understanding.
Breaking the tension, Callen said, "Geez, Kensi if you aren't careful, you're going to sound like his girlfriend."
Grinning slightly, Deeks said, "Funny, you should mention that…" he lifted their hands a little bit to aide in explaining, "we are dating."
Callen's mouth opened twice before any words came out, "Since when?"
"Since I almost lost my best friend and then found him alive," Kensi smiled girlishly.
Sam's eyes widened slightly in understanding, "I'm sorry you had to go through those feelings of fear, Kens."
"I'm sorry, you had to go through them too," Kensi shared a look with him before the guys hastily said their 'good-byes' and left the room.
"Have you ever seen Callen so speechless? Do you think they approve?" Deeks rubbed his thumb over the back of Kensi's hand.
She looked down at him, "I think we surprised them, but they will get used to the idea. If they don't approve, I will just kick their butts."
Deeks smiled up at her, "That's my girl….Kens, you didn't have to get mad at Sam for me."
Throwing her other hand in the air, Kensi said, "Of course, I did, Marty. Sam questioned your character hours before you saved his life and endured torture to save his wife. Of all the people we have come in contact with, he questioned your character!? After all we have been through as a team, it was stupid and unfounded and hurtful and…"
Giving her hand a squeeze, he stopped Kensi's rant, "Yeah, but why did you get so angry for me?"
Kensi froze staring into his caring eyes and then shrugged, "You are my partner and I know you. For someone especially a fellow agent to question your character is insulting and… you deserve more than that. Even though I just admitted my feelings for you, they have been there for a while and anytime someone is rude to you, it takes all my self control not to punch them in the face."
Smirking Deeks lifted his hand to her cheek and slipped his fingers into her hair, "You deserve better than me."
Her brow wrinkled, "There is no better." She lowered her face to his level and pressed a slow kiss to his temple.
With his eyes closed, Deeks spoke with a husky voice, "Thank you for believing in me, Princess."
"Thank you for giving me something, someone to believe in," Kensi whispered back.