It was 2:00 a.m. when Deeks finally pulled up to his apartment for the night. Working without a true partner for the last five months had increased everyone's workload, and no matter how hard they tried they couldn't manage to get rid of all the bad guys in the world. The paperwork was the worst; one less person to write up reports and deliver intel to the alphabet soup of agencies needing to know how and where the multitude of terrorists pouring into Los Angeles were planning to attack the country.

He was kidding himself by thinking the paperwork was the worst, though. No, the worst part was having his partner back, but not having her back. He knew immediately after they rescued her from her captors in Afghanistan that she just wasn't the same person he'd known for four years. Deeks hated that he understood why she was different. He was in no position to push her to open up to him, and respectfully backed away when she didn't answer her phone or respond to text messages for a couple of days. In the back of his mind, a fear remained that she would take as long as he did to come around; or that she wouldn't come around at all.

Unlocking his front door, Deeks walked into his apartment and the hairs on the back of his neck immediately stood up. Monty didn't greet him as usual, and the light to his bedroom had been turned off. He unholstered his weapon and cleared his apartment, starting with the living room and kitchen. Satisfied nothing had been disturbed there, he moved his attention to his bedroom. Creeping in quietly with his gun raised, he squinted in the dark to focus with the lights off. When he saw what was in his bed, he slowly lowered his weapon.

Kensi was fast asleep on the right side of his bed, with Monty curled up in the nook of her legs. Breathing a sigh of relief, he walked quietly over to his nightstand and released the magazine from his gun, placing both inside the drawer. He stripped his clothes off and dug through his drawers for an actual pair of pajama pants and a clean tee shirt to wear. Pulling back the covers, he climbed into bed as quietly as he could.

Kensi hadn't bothered to put on pajamas, or even pull her ponytail down. She was still fully clothed, save for her shoes. Sliding up next to her, he pulled the band out of her hair and let the loose curls cover the pillowcase. Much to his surprise, she actually looked peaceful, even snorting every few breaths.

Why is she here, he thought. She rustled slightly, and he hesitantly wrapped an arm around her waist and whispered, "Go back to sleep."

Kensi jumped, rolling over to face him. She blinked her bruised, puffy eyes but didn't speak. They laid in silence for a minute or two, just looking in each other's eyes until Deeks couldn't take it anymore. The longer he stared at her, the heavier his chest felt and the louder his heart pounded. Clearing his throat, he spoke softly. "So, I know you're good at picking locks but I never took you for a breaking and entering kind of-"

The soft press of her lips against his interrupted him. She pulled back as quickly as she'd fallen forward against him, but he followed her. His hands cupped her face as he kissed her back, not venturing farther than she did but allowing himself to linger a little longer. She sighed and shook her head when Deeks leaned his forehead against hers. "Why are you here, Kens?"

"I don't know," she whispered. "I couldn't sleep, so I came here because...I have good memories here. I feel safe here."

Deeks smiled sadly at her. "Monty is a great watchdog, isn't he?"

"Yeah...Monty," Kensi replied, chuckling softly.

Nestling his head into the pillow Kensi had been sleeping on, Deeks gave her a serious look. "I'm here, ya know. For whatever you need."

"I know," she said, nodding. "But I just don't know what I need right now."

"Well, when you figure it out," he prodded gently. "You'll let me know?"

She nodded, closing her eyes again. Deeks wanted to ask her to change into one of his shirts to get more comfortable, but he didn't want her to think he was implying anything other than a sincere gesture. So he wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her to his chest, rubbing circles along her back. "Hey Kens?"

"Hmm?"

"It was really good to hear your little snorting again," he whispered, trying to make her laugh. Kensi didn't respond; she was already back asleep.