"And then you pulled that line about being the victim's roommate. For the record, I totally knew there was something sketchy about you as soon as we met. And don't even get me started on the way had your hair parted." Kensi paused, eyes flicking upward at Deeks, perhaps hoping that he would wake out of sheer need to defend his past hairstyles.

He remained disconcertingly still though, aside from the too steady rise and fall of his chest. Kensi quickly looked down again at the side of the bed where her hand covered his. She could curl his fingers around hers, but they remained limp, and chilled.

His beard had grown out to longer than usual in the last couple days. Some nurse had tried to tame his hair, but his curls still turned up in little tufts around his head. At least that was normal enough. His slightly ashen skin was not.

It scared how much had changed in just a few days.

Kensi cleared her throat, and started talking again. Just like she'd been for the last three days. If she did, she might start thinking about the fact that Deeks hadn't regained consciousness as the doctors expected.

Oh, they kept saying his body needed time to heal from the trauma, the blood loss, but she could hear their concern couched in empty reassurances. She knew it wasn't good. Knew every day he stayed in this state, the less positive the outcome.

"If I remember right, I never did finish that story about my college roommate. You know, the one where we liked the same guy," Kensi continued brightly. "You begged me to tell you for weeks, and now you're going to miss it if you don't wake up." Her throat closed suddenly with emotion.

"C'mon baby, please open your eyes," she begged, unable to continue the act. "The truth is, the day I walked into that gym and met you changed my life forever. Even though I didn't realize it then, you were exactly what I needed. You are my rock, the person who can make me laugh no matter what, and god, even when you drive me crazy, there's no one I'd rather love than you. I need you, Deeks. I need you to wake up for me because I can't do any of this alone."

She cupped his cheek, hand trembling against his skin. His beard was soft, remaining her of a thousand other times she'd touched him in the same way. All those times, he'd responded with a kiss, or to pull her close. Even in sleep, he'd smile or nuzzle her hand.

Kensi watched his face expectantly, and slid her fingers up into his, gently massaging his scalp. His right eyelid twitched.

"Deeks," she whispered excitedly, moving to cradle his head. "Baby, can you hear me?" She moved to grasp his hand, squeezing tightly while smoothing her hand from temple to the very back of his skull. All the while, Kensi watched for another twitch.

His face remained slack, hand still loose in hers. Against her will, a sob worked its way up Kensi's throat, tears spilling over eyelids.

Bending over him, Kensi pressed her lips to Deeks', tears dripping onto his cheeks.

"I love you." She wiped the moisture from his skin with her thumbs, resting her forehead to his, and quietly sobbed.