For Aprylnn and anon, who requested "space pirates."

Deeks shakes his head. "No, no, no. Not on my ship."

Kensi ignores him, holstering her gun. "He doesn't mean it."

"Like hell I don't."

"He doesn't," Kensi assures the young woman, stepping forward to help her to her feet.

Deeks grunts but holsters his weapon as well. He saves his "I do too" for his own mind. He already knows how this goes down and it's not the way he'd like it to.

"You can ride with us for as long as you need."

"You can ride with us until the next planet," Deeks corrects.

Kensi gives him a look. "The next planet that's suitable."

"The next planet that's inhabitable."

She does that pursing thing with her lips that only happens when she's really pissed. "We have plenty of food, plenty of space and one spare bed."

Deeks opens his mouth to respond and then closes it. He frowns. That's not right. "I count two spare beds."

"One of those is for you."

"Me?" He throws his hands in the air. "You can't kick a captain out of his own damn bed!"

"I can kick a captain anywhere I please if he's going to be a heartless blowhard."

He lets a stream of air out of his mouth and his bangs fly up. "Fine, we'll take on another stray. She's probably an improvement from the last one, anyway."

"Eric is very helpful."

He grunts again. Helpful, sure, but he's skittish as hell. Deeks feels like he's living with a lizard.

"What's your name?" Kensi asks the young woman.

"Nell."

Kensi smiles. Great. That damn smile. Now he's definitely going to have to find a way back into his bed tonight and there's going to be a lot of grovelling, he just knows it.

"Okay, Nell," Kensi says, wrapping an arm around her waist, "we'll have Rose take a look at your leg. Can you walk?"

Nell nods uncertainly. "Yes, I think so."

Deeks hears a faint humming and looks up to see another speeder on the horizon.

Fuck.

"How about running?" Kensi asks, eyes landing on the approaching scout. "Can you run?"

"Um, well," Nell wobbles a little, "maybe -"

"I'm not sticking around to find out." Deeks steps forward and scoops Nell into his arms. She squeaks.

Kensi toggles her earpiece. "Get ready, Callen. We're coming in hot."

"For a change."

"Hey!" Deeks defends. "There was that one time last month."

"The one where you didn't actually leave the ship?"

Maybe Nell won't be sassy. That'll be a breath of fresh air. "Just pick us up, already."

He can practically hear Callen's smile. "On our way."