Kensi pushed the man down onto the perfectly made bed, a malicious grin on her face. Slowly, she lowered the sleeve of her red satin dress to reveal a perfectly tanned shoulder before doing the same to the other. She shimmied out of the gown and it dropped to the floor to reveal the expensive lingerie that clung to her body. The man looked up at her with a lust that she had never seen before. It was unnerving, but she mentally prepared herself for what was to come, and gracefully climbed onto the bed until she was straddling his abdomen.

"Is - is she doing what I think she's doing?" asked Deeks. It was killing him to watch it, but he couldn't keep his eyes off the screen. He was watching the love of his life in bed with another man, and he knew this wouldn't be the normal scenario where she could get herself out of it or the team would come busting in to save her. This was happening; too much was at stake.

"She has to," said Callen simply.

"Come on, we can't let her do that, there must be something we can do," cried Deeks, panic evident on his face. His dark blue eyes were wide with fear and what now looked like rage.

Callen sighed but shook his head.

"We can't interfere, if we do, we'll blow her cover. And I don't have to tell you what will happen to Kensi if we do. This isn't some low level punk she's in there with."

"But, I mean come on, doesn't this violate some sort of law?" asked Deeks desperately.

"Deeks, you know how important this case is" said Sam, "Kensi is an adult, she's agreed. She knows what she has to do and she will complete her mission."

"But this - this has to be illegal, or against some sort of protocol!"

"Since when have any of us listened to protocol?" asked Callen.

"I know, but this is different this is -

"What she has to do to keep her cover and help us end this case. You know what the consequences of us failing to stop Reznov are, Deeks," said Sam, "If she doesn't prove to him she's in all the way the whole operation will be blown and - and he'll kill her…"

Both Callen and Deeks nodded slightly in understanding. All three of the men were tense, each one of them no doubt planning how they would get their revenge on Reznov for what he was doing to Kensi. It was one thing to hear her seduction over a com while waiting outside to bust the asshole who would dare lay a hand on her, but this was different. Their hands were tied with this case, they had no choice but to stand back and wait for the events to unfold. They were huddled around the screen in the boatshed, all of them stewing in their own fury at what was unfolding before their eyes.

As Kensi unbuckled the man's belt and cast it aside, Callen turned to Deeks.

"You don't have to watch this, Sam and I -

"No," Deeks cut in firmly, "If something goes wrong, I need to be the first one to…"

The man's shirt had just come off, and Deeks knew what was about to happen next. Kensi's bra was the next thing to hit the floor. The man grabbed her hair and pulled her down, forcing her lips to his. He took her by the waist and flipped her over on her stomach. And then, as they all knew was bound to happen, a gasp escaped Kensi's lips. Deeks couldn't watch another second. He turned his head away from the screen, but he could still hear their heavy breathing in through the com in his ear.

"Deeks, you alright?" asked Sam as gently as he could.

There was no answer. Finally Callen spoke.

"She has to do it to keep her cover."

"I know, Callen!" He snapped. Callen and Sam exchanged a look.

There was more labored breathing, and each one of Kensi's pained moans bored into Deeks heart like a knife. When they started to get more intense, he got up suddenly, causing his chair to flip over and slide across the floor.

"I can't do this!" he shouted. He threw his com to the ground and sat down on the table, dragging his hands down his face while taking a deep breath.

A few minutes later, Callen put a hand on his shoulder.

"It's over," he said, though there was no relief in his tone.

Deeks nodded but did not move for a long while. There was nothing to do now but wait. When it began to grow light outside, they got a call from Hetty.

"Yeah" Callen responded into the phone, "we're on it."

He turned to face his team, and Deeks stomach turned at the sight of his face. Callen's eyes were wide with worry, or even worse, fear. This was something Deeks weren't used to seeing, and it sent shivers down his spine.

"Kensi's cover is about to be blown, we've gotta move. Now."

"What?" asked Sam, "How?"

"No time to explain, let's go!"

Deeks didn't need to be told twice. He jumped to his feet and followed the two agents out the door.

"Hey guys, I've got Hetty and Granger here," Eric's voice announced through their coms.

It was Hetty who spoke next.

"It seems there's been a leak, gentlemen. Whether Reznov has been made aware of Kensi's true identity as of yet, we can't be certain -

"Which is why we should leave her in, Henrietta," Granger cut in, "Agent Blye has been under for weeks, if we pull her out now the whole operation is blown."

"And if we don't she could be dead," said Deeks, not even attempting to hide his contempt for Granger's proposal.

"Detective Deeks, this isn't your call."

"But it is mine," asserted Hetty, "and I'm pulling her out. The life of an agent is more important than the execution of a single mission, Owen, on this matter I have always been quite clear. My intel is solid, get her out of there Mr. Callen."

"Will do."

By the time they got to the scene, backup forces were already in place. Callen, as usual, led the raid, and he was the one to find Kensi. After he had delivered her to the medics for examination, he went back in to join Sam and Deeks. Reznov surrendered, as they knew he would, Kensi had given them all the information they had needed. Deeks couldn't even pretend to act happy, despite the sight of Reznov's bloody face as he was dragged from the building.

Once outside, he found Kensi, but the sight of her made him feel sick. She was alright physically, just a few bruises, evidently Reznov liked it rough. It was just her, wearing the same red dress, only now it was tattered and burned, that made Deeks' stomach turn. He forced himself to look at her just a second longer. She was, even now, so very beautiful. But Deeks could not bring himself to meet her eyes.

Hetty instructed them to go home and get some well deserved rest, but Deeks wasn't tired. There would be no sleep for him tonight, for every time he closed his eyes he saw that screen, and what had happened on it. Without talking, Kensi and Deeks headed for the car and got in.

They were halfway home before Kensi finally broke the oppressive silence.

"Are we gonna talk about this?" she said weakly.

"There's nothing to talk about, you were keeping your cover," he responded mechanically.

"Deeks we both know that that was a whole new level -

"I know, I know your life is always on the line, and I would much rather have you… have you do that then get killed…"

The rest of the car ride was as quiet was the first half.

When they arrived home she brought herself to look at his face. She could see his pain - it ran deep, very deep. She felt helpless. He hadn't even asked her if she was alright, something he would never do.

"Please forgive me," she whispered in a broken voice.

He cleared his throat; "There's nothing to forgive, you were just doing your job."

"Then why won't you look me in the eye?"

He continued to stare straight ahead.

"There's nothing to forgive," he repeated and walked into the kitchen.

Kensi stood there, looking utterly lost. Finally, when it was clear he was not going to come back out, she headed for the shower.

She let the hot water scold her skin and rubbed herself raw until the sight of blood mixing with the water on the floor made her stop. She could feel tears stinging her eyes as the memories of Reznov's hands on her body coursed through her mind.

"Kensi, you've been in there a while, are you ok?"

She couldn't bring herself to speak.

"Kensi!" he shouted, "Kensi are you alright?"

No response.

He flung open the door, but she didn't flinch. She merely stared straight ahead as the water continued to burn her skin.

"Oh my god," he gasped at the sight of her bleeding body, true concern was etched upon his face, but she did not see it, for now it was Kensi who could not bring herself to face him.

He turned the water off and wrapped a towel around her. Gingerly, she took his hand and at his touch she stepped out of the shower.

Finally, she had the strength to speak.

"I'm sorry."

"I told you there's nothing to be sorry for," he said weakly.

"Then why will you still not look at me?" she said, hurt evident in her voice.

"Kensi-

"Deeks, look at me!"

His head snapped up in surprise, and he met her eyes for the first time since he had watched her have sex with another man.

They stood there for several minutes, then he walked firmly across the gap between them, took her face in his hands, and kissed her. For a second he was sure he could taste Reznov on her lips, but he pushed through. Then it was just Kensi - just her, and she was kissing him back.

When finally they broke apart, he continued to hold her face in his hands. He looked straight into those eyes he was so captivated by, and he spoke, firmly and strongly.

"Kensi Marie Blye, I love you more than you could ever possibly know, and nothing, I mean nothing, is going to change that. Not ever."

He took her in his arms and kissed the top of her damp head.

"Not ever."