Deeks and Kensi walked into the small, cold cinema.

"Five days until Christmas. Get your friends and family what they really want, a Hoyts gift card." A commercial was playing on the large screen at the front of the room.

They walked down the stairs to the front row to sit down and watch the movie. A sappy one, per Kensi's request. Sure they fought terrorists every day, and Kensi Blye is about as bad ass as they come, but she was certainly partial to romantic dramas. It was definitely not Deeks' wish to come see this movie, but there was nothing else on that he was interested in.

The movie dragged on for about an hour before Deeks realized what the message was. You only live once. There are no second chances, and sometimes bad things happen to good people, before they should, before you get to say things like I love you.

He was in love with Kensi. He knew that by now but he was waiting for the right time to say it. It wouldn't be easy for them to be together and work together, but he knew it was worth it. He was scared, though. There are reasons for the rules they have, and they are important ones. He didn't want to face it but he knew that in the right frame of mind, if Kensi was hurt or taken hostage or under heavy fire, he could be the reason that she gets killed. People don't make rational decisions when the person they love is in danger.

But what if he wasn't the reason? What if she did have to leave or she was badly hurt? What if he lost her? Without ever telling her he loved her. He couldn't let that happen. It was risky. It was dangerous. It certainly wasn't going to go over well with Hetty. He just had to tell her.

"Kensi," he whispered quietly into her ear in exactly the way that made her shiver just a bit.

"Deeks be quiet, you're interrupting the movie."

"But I need to tell you something." He couldn't give up on this yet.

"Tell me after the movie."

"But I-"

"Shh…" Someone behind them said.

Maybe he should wait on this. Maybe this wasn't the time. Maybe he should tell her tomorrow when there weren't so many people around. Maybe.

Eric looked at his watch then out the window as they drove through a dense grove of trees. They had no cell reception, no Wi-Fi (Nell and Eric both checked, every fifteen minutes.) They had nothing to do but wait for the torturously dull stream of useless information to come to a pause.

"And to your left you will see the stump of the first coconut tree to ever be cut down on the show Gilligan's Island, a very beloved and highly revered monument for fans of the show and movie aficionados everywhere." recited the tour guide at the front of the bus.

Nell picked up her phone to check for an Internet connection.

"Anything?" Eric inquired.

"Yep, I got something." Nell replied

"What?!" Eric practically jumped.

"A dead phone."

"Okay, we're going to stop here for about fifteen minutes, get a snack and something to drink for the long drive back." The tour guide announced.

The passengers began filtering out of the bus and into the parking lot of a gas station/ fast food restaurant completely devoid of any cars other than their's. Eric checked his phone as he walked into the sunlight. Still no reception. Maybe the owner of the restaurant could call a cab for them.

"So, where to?" Deeks walked out of the bathroom in a towel as Kensi did her hair in the mirror above the desk.

"Um, I don't know I thought we could go for a walk or- Deeks!" Kensi jumped up as she turned around to face her partner.

"Yes?" Deeks calmly questioned.

"What the hell are you doing?"

"Talking to you." He could hardly help the smile that crept up his lips.

"In a towel?"

"I'm sorry, do you want me to take it off?"

"Ye-No! I mean, put some clothes on!"

"You sure?"

"Wha- Yes! I'm sure."

"'Cause for a minute there it seemed like you weren't, so I'm just checking that you don't wanna-"

"Deeks!"

"Okay, I'm going. I just wanted to know what we were doing today. Geez."

"I'm just saying Batman is way better than Iron Man."

"All Batman is is a billionaire who's afraid of bats that made a cool suit. Iron Man, EPIC." Kensi and Deeks walked down the boardwalk while eating ice cream. They had been squabbling over which super- hero was better since Deeks won a carnival game for Kensi, and she chose an Iron Man helmet as the prize.

"All Iron Man is is a billionaire who made a cool suit. He didn't overcome any irrational fears!" Deeks argued.

"And that's all it is, an irrational fear that turned into a fetish! And Iron Man is so much more than that." Kensi retorted.

"Then what is he?"

"Um, let's see, genius, playboy, philanthropist. And what is Batman? A guy with a lot of money, who is afraid of bats."

"He's a hero, a fighter."

"Fighting for what? Entertainment? He doesn't have a purpose. Super-heroes need a purpose."

"And Tony Stark's purpose is?"

"Maybe he's fighting for Pepper."

"Maybe Bruce Wayne was fighting for his father. Maybe he needs to feel like he's making his father proud. That's fair, isn't it?" Deeks couldn't help but feel similarities between his own crime-fighting partner and the fictional character of Bruce Wayne.

"Yeah, that's fair." Kensi was quieter now. She was no super-hero, but she could understand what Batman might feel, if he were real.

"You don't have to be a super-hero to need something to fight for." They had stopped walking for a moment, Deeks staring into Kensi's eyes, which were clearly reflecting the pain of her own past.

"What about you? What are you fighting for?" Kensi faintly questioned.

You. Deeks thought.

"I don't know."

"Can I tell you something?" Kensi asked.

"Yeah." Deeks replied. Right now would be a great time to tell her-

"I, um.. I love you, Deeks."

Oops, too late.

"I lo-" Deeks started to reply, when Kensi's phone rang. Dammit!

"Hello?" Kensi looked at Deeks, apologetic, as she answered her phone.

"Hey Kens, it's Jack, I was just calling to make sure, I'll pick you up in about an hour?" Did he just call her Kens? That's what I call her, he can't call her Kens! Deeks could barely hear the phone conversation going on in front of him.

"Um, yeah, that sounds good." Kensi didn't want to go on her date with Jack anymore. She wanted to stay with Deeks, maybe let him finish his damn sentence without interruptions.

"Alright, see you soon."

"Bye." She ended the call and put the phone in her pocket, after silencing the ring tone.

"So," Kensi said.

"Maybe we should, uh, make our way back to the hotel, so you can get ready, for your date..." Deeks choked those last three words out, and it almost pained Kensi to hear them. He felt like a coward, not being able to go on, but it didn't feel like the right time.

Maybe she shouldn't have said it so soon, especially since she knew she was going on a date in an hour. How would this change their dynamic in the field? Were they going to finish this conversation some time or just go on pretending that it never happened? Did Deeks even feel the same way? What was he saying when her damn phone interrupted him?

"Yeah, we should go." She had used up just about every ounce of courage she had just to tell him she loved him in the first place, she had nothing left to fight for his reply.

A/N

Did anyone else know Kensi and Deeks are both closet comic book nerds? I love that! Also, Mythical Reality, I told you I could do something with the comic book fetish, ha!

I love to hear all reviews, or see a new favorite or alert. Thanks guys!

~A