"Deeks."

"What."

"You're not breathing."

"Pretty sure I am."

Sam sighed at his temporary partner from the driver's side of the Dodge Challenger. "No. You're sucking in a big breath, holding it for a minute, and then blowing it out. Loudly. I think this is even more annoying than G's nose whistling."

"If given the opportunity you would find something annoying about all of us, Sam."

"Maybe." Sam raised an eyebrow. "Not Kensi though, she's too much like me to be annoying."

Deeks laughter echoed throughout the car. And continued for a good thirty seconds before he quieted down with a contented sigh. "Oh yeah. That is rich." Voices crackled through their earwigs again and both men froze, listening to the conversation between their partners and the men in the VIP lounge of the club they were currently parked behind.

As the conversation paused again, Deeks took a deep breath. He realized he was following the same pattern of breathing that had irritated Sam just a few minutes prior and exhaled with great emphasis. "This is taking too long."

"You're too impatient."

"It's not believable." Deeks rubbed his jaw between his thumb and fingers before glaring at the smug expression on Sam's face. "They have no chemistry," he began counting reasons on his fingers. "Callen is too old for her, she is way too hot for him. Did I mention they have no chemistry? It's like listening to cousins flirt. LA stands for Los Angeles, not Lower Alabama."

Sam's eyes grew wide and he motioned for the younger man to continue. "Go on, get it out. You're clearly upset."

"I'm worried, not upset."

"Sure."

"I am."

"Of course."

Deeks sighed and clenched his jaw. "No offense to Callen, but it should be me in there. With my partner." The sound of Kensi's voice in his ear caused him to straighten in his seat as he searched for any sign of stress in her voice. Though Sam was cool as a cucumber, he also appeared much more alert as his partner discussed the time and location for the 'exchange of goods' NCIS was attempting to acquire. After the details were seemingly hemmed out and goodbye pleasantries were said, both men relaxed in their seats again.

"Partner, huh?" Sam teased.

Deeks stared wordlessly out the window at a couple walking arm in arm towards a Range Rover parked a row over. His fingers fidgeted, nervously picking at his fingernails. The heat of Sam's stare was boring into the back of his head but he pretended not to notice. The pair remained silent until a valet strutted by and retrieved the Aston Martin that Kensi and Callen had driven to the swanky club. Sam turned the ignition in his own car and the low growl of the Challenger startled Deeks from whatever thoughts were invading his mind.

Sam pulled out of the parking space slowly. "It doesn't get easier."

"What?" Deeks asked, now staring at the long line of people desperately waiting to enter the club.

"This. Being in love with your partner. It's not going to get easier."

Deeks turned his head, narrowing his eyes. "Who said-" A large hand in his face shushed him. "Okay fine. Maybe." Of course Deeks wasn't going to elaborate on how Sam's assumption was completely true, and that the feelings were reciprocated. He and Kensi had been in a relationship for months. They had done a fairly good job of keeping it away from their work altogether to avoid any questioning from coworkers or bosses. But it wasn't like everybody didn't already know.

Placing his hand back on the steering wheel, Sam allowed a small smile to flash across his face.

"So," Deeks said. "Would you care to expound on your previous statement?"

"Don't lawyer me."

"Sorry."

"I know all of this already, okay? The denial, the hiding, the acceptance. I've been there and done that. But you are never going to be okay with her putting herself in harm's way." Sam swallowed deeply, his Adam's apple bobbing up and down. "You think it's gonna get easier as time goes on, because you think you'll become desensitized. But it only gets harder. You make a life with this person, you wake up to them every morning and wonder if it's the last time for either one of you. Then you have kids, and it changes again. You spend your whole life worrying and wondering if you're doing the right thing, if it was all worth it in the end."

Staring at Sam, Deeks took in the SEAL's strong demeanor. He remembered how Sam's fear for his wife and family had crippled him in the past and wondered if he was staring at his future self. "So was it? Or is it?"

The same smile flashed across Sam's face. "I wouldn't change a thing. Not a damn thing."

Relief washed through Deeks and his fists that he didn't even realize he was making loosened. "Thanks."

"Anytime."

"You know. For future reference, or whatever."

"Yeah. Whatever, Deeks. Whatever."