One week later...

I was getting better. Ish. I wasn't as scared as I was before, but I wasn't fully healthy yet. It was time to put on my big girl pants, and act like everything was had been one week since the kiss in the rain, since the thunderstorm, since I started coming up from drowning in sadness and fear.

I had passed my physical and mental, for now. Nate isn't really convinced, but he knows me well enough to know that the field was a good place.

I pulled on a pink shirt and some jeans. Just like the old days. I pulled on some jeans, ate some sugary cereal over the sink, and got into my car. I haven't driven it in so long. Deeks dropped it off at my house a few days ago. I didn't see him, but he called to tell me that I'd been sleeping so peacefully on my bed, and that he just dropped it off in my driveway.

I sighed, and turned on the ignition. I drove a different route, like always, and wondered what Deeks was doing now, while listening to the blaring techno music that I play all the time.

I was afraid what they were going to think. Was I the weak, beaten, afraid Kensi Blye like they found me? Or was I the brave Badass Blye they'd come to know? The one who hated hospitals, the one who had a junk food addiction but still looked pretty fit? I pulled up to OSP, and grabbed my coffee from the cup holder. I took a deep breath, and opened the door.

I could hear them saying, "Kensi" or something like that.

"Sounds like she's back to me." said Callen.

"She is." said Sam. "Eyyyy."

"Kensi!" said Callen. They all seemed pretty excited to see me.

"Hey." I said. I was okay. I tried not to let it show so much.

" Oh, I got you a coffee." said my partner. It's like he was also trying to hide the stuff we did together these past few days. "A double espresso with almond milk and two packets of… you already got… a cup."

"I do. Thanks." I said. Another bland reply.

"How are you?" asked Callen.

"Good." I said. How do I stop with these bland replies?"

"Yeah?" asked Sam. He wasn't so convinced.

"Really good." I said, trying to step up my game, but not too much.

"You look good. I mean… that you seem good by the way that you look." said Deeks awkwardly. I smiled a tiny bit.

"It's because I am good." I replied.

"Good." said Callen.

"Good." said Deeks. Why all the goods?

"Good." said Sam. Again?

"Kensi, looking goooood!" I heard the voice of a familar friend. Eric. "Back just in time. We've got a case, guys."

"Welcome back." said Callen, as he went past me.

"Thanks." I said. Happy Kensi was running out.

"Welcome back." said Sam. He went upstairs with the boys. I sighed. How long was I able to hide this? How long until they'd know something was up?

I dropped off my bag and went upstairs. The doors of Ops opened, and I looked around. If they hadn't found me, I'd never see this place again. Everyone was looking at me. Awkward.

"Kens." said Nell, as she typed on the computer and made eye contact with me.

"Hey, Nell." I replied.

"Here's your welcome home prize," said Eric, motioning to the big screen. "Let's tell her what she's won." Why can't people just drop the damn conversation?! They started talking about some guy who was attacked. Former Marines?

"Let's go, partner." said Deeks, as he stood next to me.

"Actually," said Nell. "Hetty wants to speak to you both." Deeks and I looked at each other. There was no way she could've found out. Not unless she had someone spying on me.

"Okay." I said. Once the briefing was done, I made my way down to Hetty's desk with Deeks following me.

"You wanted to see us, Hetty?" I asked.

"Yes, but first, I'd like to join everyone here in welcoming you home." said Hetty. She probably knew.

Shit. This was either the end of our partnership, or another beginning.

so I forgot what Hetty said to Kensi and Deeks when she told Kensi to stay back a bit. If anyone knows, please tell me in reviews or PM me.