"Yes Deeks?"
The blonde detective appeared to be trying desperately to say something, yet not quite being able to get it out. An unusual even under any circumstances.
"Uhhh," he tried.
"Use your words Deeks," Sam said with mock patience.
Callen shook his head and chuckled.
"Never thought I'd live to see the day Marty Deeks couldn't speak," he mused.
"You and me both," replied Sam, still looking at Deeks.
"It's…" Deeks began, "Um.. It's about…"
"Kensi," the older partners finished in unison.
"What about her?" Callen asked, looking intrigued now.
Sam seemed to sense Deeks' anxiety as he stared at the poor detective, only causing further discomfort for the latter.
Deeks cleared his throat again, and said with some difficulty,
"Well, since Kensi's dad is, well, dead, and, er, she doesn't have any siblings to speak of and you guys have always sort of been -"
"Get on with it Deeks we don't have all day," snapped Callen, though he was still amused.
"Can I marry Kensi?" Deeks blurted out suddenly.
Callen and Sam stared at him, and then each other, and then him again.
Sam broke the silence.
"Let me get this straight, you're asking us for permission the marry Kensi?"
"Well," said Deeks nervously, "I mean you guys are like her older brothers, and she doesn't have a dad, so I just figured…"
The partners grinned identically and looked at each other.
"What - what was that?" said Deeks suspiciously, slowly returning to his normal self.
"Why don't you tell him G.?" said Sam, evidently pleased with the whole situation.
"It's be my pleasure," replied Callen.
He turned to Deeks, who looked like he might pee his pants any second. High stress shoot outs he could do, intense undercover situations were no problem, but this, this had caused him the most anxiety he had experienced in a very long time, and he did not appreciate Sam and Callen dragging it out. He had somehow always felt like he needed the approval of the two senior partners when it came to Kensi. He knew if he did wrong by her - not that he would ever dream of it - he would have to answer to them. Something he most definitely did not want to do. He hadn't wanted to do this either, but somehow, it just felt right. If he had Sam and Callen's blessing, he would have no doubts.
Callen turned to Deeks, his arms were crossed but his face had a kind expression.
"Deeks," he said "I don't need to tell you how truly incredible Kensi is or how much she deserves, because I know that you know that. I don't need to tell you that everyone in this room would die for her, because you know that too. What I do need to tell you is that Sam and I trust you above all others, including ourselves, to go to the ends of the earth for her. I don't think any man could ever give Kensi all that she deserves, but we know you will die trying. We know that you will spend your entire life doing whatever it takes to make her happy, but it's not up to us to decide if that's enough."
Deeks looked rather bewildered.
"I'm sorry," he said, his eyes darting from one to the other, "what?"
They both grinned again.
"Deeks," said Sam in perhaps the kindest tone he had ever addressed Deeks with, "you don't need our permission to marry Kensi, but you do have our blessing."
Deeks exhaled. He felt as if a weight had been lifted from his chest: they approved of him.
"She loves you more than anyone on this earth," said Sam, "and I know you feel the same."
Callen nodded.
"I can promise you there won't be another that even comes close."
"Or that will put up with you for the rest of her life," added Sam, "marry that girl."