"How's the ankle Kens?" Deeks glanced around the room, suddenly unable to see her and it worried him.
"Deeks." Kensi was clearly fighting to keep her voice calm. "This is the third time you've asked me that in five minutes."
"Okay, sorry."
"Leave her alone, Deeks," Callen's voice advised him through the ear piece.
"Okay." She still wasn't in sight. "Where are you?"
"I'm trying to serve drinks. But I probably look like a psycho who talks to herself now."
Deeks chuckled and looked over at Sandy whose arm was linked in his. She did not look amused.
A minute passed and Deeks continued wondering about her ankle, and how she was coping. But he knew if he asked again she'd think he was doubting her. Which he most certainly would never do.
"Okay, Sam, I'm downstairs." Callen's voice.
"Good. You see anything, G?"
"Nope. There's—hang on."
Deeks tried to remain focused on his character as he heard the scuffle Callen had evidently gotten himself into. He looked over at Sandy and noted her obvious concern.
"Need back-up, G?" Sam's voice.
No answer.
Deeks scanned the room again, looking for a visual on Kensi.
"Okay, he's down," Callen updated them. "He won't be waking up for a good half-hour. And he should be comfortable here in the cleaning closet in the mean time."
"Try to keep a low profile, G. Get in that meeting, get the info, get out."
"I know, Sam."
Deeks decided another walk around the room might be beneficial. Try and get in on the conversations. See if there was anything suspicious. He tugged Sandy's arm and motioned for her to follow.
Eventually, Kensi came into view and Deeks had to try not to smile at her as she approached. She was wearing black pants, a white shirt and a black vest. Curls falling neatly against her cheeks. And a black tray in hand, tall glasses of champagne resting neatly on top. She approached them casually with a timid smile.
"Champagne, Madam?" She asked Sandy first.
"Yes, thank-you." Sandy removed a glass from the tray and took a small sip.
"And you, sir?"
"Don't mind if I do." Deeks also took a glass. "Thank-you, darlin'."
He knew she'd roll her eyes at the term of endearment if she wasn't in character. But for now, she just smiled politely, dipped her head and moved on.
Yep, Sandy may be playing his wife today. But Kensi still got the pet names. And he knew she'd secretly enjoy it.
The sound of gun fire through Deeks' earpiece distracted him completely from his thoughts.
Callen.
A quick glance between both Sandy and Kensi confirmed they'd heard it to.
"Callen, status?" Sam sounded mildly panicked.
"I'm good. But I've got two bodies here."
"That's not good."
"I'm gonna get out of here."
A minute passed with no sound over the earpiece. Deeks tried to keep his posture and expression casual as he waited for an update from Callen.
"Okay, I'm about to re-enter the main room."
Deeks spoke in a hushed tone, facing Sandy so people would think he was having a conversation with her. "People are going to notice, Callen. The room is guarded, they'll ask where you're coming from."
"There's security personnel inside the doors your about to enter, Callen. Bad idea," Eric advised.
"Okay. New plan."
Deeks had no idea what the new plan was. But it took Callen long enough.
"Marty," Sandy quietly got his attention, tugging lightly on his sleeve.
He followed her line of sight until his eyes fell on their suspect. "Holland's back."
"If there was a deal going down, we probably missed it." Sam sounded frustrated. "G, where are you?"
"Outside."
"Outside where?"
"Uh, the main room. I'm going to need a distraction."
Sam sighed. "Why?"
"Because I'm sidling along the outside wall and I'm about to pass the window that looks into the room everyone is currently in."
Deeks glanced at Sandy, who was already looking at him. He then turned to Kensi who had stopped serving and was looking around the room, presumably for Deeks. Or maybe Callen.
"Okay, a distraction right now would be nice, thanks guys."
Deeks looked over at Sandy. Her face was blank. She was looking to him for direction and he didn't have any.
But then he did.
Kensi was standing half way across the room, looking over at him, trying to silently communicate a genius plan of hers, no doubt.
But Deeks had his own plan.
One foot in front of the other, he strode towards her, his eyes locked on hers. He wondered if she could hear the thoughts his eyes were trying to communicate to her. Thoughts like please don't kill me for this, and you have no idea how long I've been wanting to do this were at the forefront of his mind.
When he reached her, he didn't hesitate. He reached forward, knocking the tray out of her hand, sending the glasses crashing to the ground. Surprise registered in her eyes and then faded.
Deeks closed the gap between them and wrapped one arm around her waist, lifting his other hand and pushing it through her hair and around to the back of her neck. And then he kissed her. Fire spread over his lips as they met hers, and she matched the pressure of the kiss without hesitation, clutching his shirt in her hands.
He stepped in her direction, suddenly craving complete closeness with her. She matched his steps until he had her pressed against the wall.
Deeks deepened the kiss as far as he could in the knowledge that he had a whole room of people watching them. He was both surprised and pleased at her enthusiastic cooperation as she slid one hand up and around his neck, caressing his jaw with her thumb as she did so.
For a brief moment, the memory of their last kiss flashed into Deeks' mind. Their op as Justin and Melissa. She'd initiated that one and it had come as a complete surprise to him. It was over before he'd even realized what she was doing. But this time… well, she'd shown no surprise at his move to kiss her. She'd welcomed it even. Like she'd been waiting for it. Like she'd been expecting it. Craving it.
And then Callen's voice interrupted. "Alright, I'm good."
Kensi lowered her hands and Deeks reluctantly broke the kiss, breathing heavily.
She wore a small, indescribably adorable smile. Deeks leaned in again, pressing two light kisses to her lips before stepping away.
He turned to Sandy, a look of complete shock plastered across her face. She turned and stormed out of the room, a move that Deeks hoped was a part of her character.
"You out, G?" Sam's voice came through the earpiece.
"I'm good. I don't know what you guys did, but it worked."
Deeks just grinned at Kensi. No doubt Eric and Nell would fill Sam and Callen in later.
Eric's voice interrupted that thought. "Problem. Kensi, Deeks, there's a team of four security personnel headed your way."
Deeks grabbed Kensi's hand and they headed swiftly towards the exit.
"Kens, your cover's been blown. They've got your ID on their tablets," Nell informed them, voice coated with concern.
Their fast walk turned into a slow run as they exited the room and headed down the hall.
"Which way, Eric?" Deeks asked.
"There's two more security guards in the elevator. You'll need to take the stairs. To your left."
Deeks looked back at Kensi who was running about two feet behind him to his right, her left hand still enclosed in his right hand. "You good?"
"I'm good."
"Hurry it up, guys."
Deeks shoved the door open to the stair well and allowed Kensi in ahead of him. The two of them charged down the stair well as fast as Kensi could manage.
A low grunt from her warned Deeks that her ankle wasn't handling the pressure. "Kensi, slow down."
"There's no time for that, Mister Deeks." Hetty's calm voice spoke for the first time during the op. Deeks hadn't even realised she'd been watching. He and Kensi would have some definite explaining to do upon their return.
Deeks struggled to talk through his fast breaths as they continued descending the stairs. "Her ankle can't—"
"I'm fine, Deeks," she protested through gritted teeth.
Two sets of stairs later and Kensi's ankle decided to give in, sending her tumbling down the majority of the next set.
"Kens!" Deeks yelled as he charged after her. As he reached the platform where she'd landed on her side, he reached down and tucked his right arm under her legs and his left around her back. Scooping her up in one swift motion he continued to descend the stairs, thankful to know she was still conscious when she wrapped one arm around his neck. "You okay?" he panted, fighting to keep his balance and speed as he continued as fast as he could go.
"I'm good."
Deeks glanced behind, grateful to see the men chasing them weren't in view yet. Focusing hard on the stairs beneath his feet, Deeks looked for conversation to distract her from the pain she was obviously in. "Did I ever tell you that you're a really good kisser?"
Kensi laughed and rolled her eyes. "Lucky you, hey?"
Then it was Deeks' turn to laugh, even through his heavy panting. "Tell me that again when we get out of this."
"Please, tell me you guys didn't…" Callen's voice in the earpiece set a smile on both Kensi and Deeks' faces.
"They sure did," Eric responded.
Deeks took his eyes off the stairs for a brief moment to take in the bashful, yet amused look on Kensi's face. He winked at her and her smile widened in response.
So they'd failed today. They'd gotten no information. Callen had almost been shot. Kensi's cover had been blown. And now they were running for their lives.
But Deeks had to admit, today most certainly wasn't all bad.
Not bad at all.
A/N: Hello again. Hope this chapter was to your liking. Would have liked to have made it a bit longer, included some more of the banter with the team. But It's almost 1:30am here and I'm so tired. So imagine that it's there :) Blame my tiredness for any mistakes as well! Thanks again for reading. I'm thinking the next chapter may be my last, so feel free to let me know what you'd like to see happen and let me know what you think of this chapter also. Thanks for sticking with me :)