Prompt: Can you write something about Deeks having a girlfriend and she feels threatened by Kensi.

A/N: I'm not sure if I've written anything where Deeks actually has a girlfriend. It's been interesting.


"Hey, Deeks, we're going for drinks tonight, you wanna come?" Kensi asked, hovering in front of his desk. There was a time when Kensi would have just informed him of the plans and an invitation wouldn't be necessary. But that was before his spare time was occupied by "Linda".

Truthfully, Kensi liked Deeks' girlfriend; she was just still getting used to the idea. When Deeks first mentioned her in passing, they'd all assumed Linda was a fling or one of his stripper friends. None of them besides Sam were very successful when it came to the relationship department after all. They never expected it would last, or that Deeks would go for a tiny blonde who cut hair for a living.

The realization that Deeks had found someone, someone who wasn't her, struck her with unexpected despair followed by jealousy. She'd come to expect that Deeks spent most of his time with her, even though she had no official hold on him. Finding out that she couldn't expect him to run over any night for takeout or wake up early to spar because he might be otherwise occupied was jarring. Deeks had become a constant in her life that she took for granted up till that point, and now there was a barrier between them.

Things weren't bad between them now…just different. Mostly, Kensi tried to be the best partner and friend she could.

"Yeah, I think so," Deeks answered. There was just the slightest hesitation that wouldn't have been there 3 months ago.

"And Linda's welcome to come too, of course," she added, earning a smile of appreciation.

"Great, I'll let her know. She might have to work late tonight, though. One of the other hair stylists called off sick, so Linda's been picking up some of her clients."

"Ok, well, hope we see you there."


"So, Linda, where did you and Deeks meet?" Sam asked, loosely wrapping his palms around his beer. "I don't think you've ever mentioned it."

Callen and Sam sat on the opposite side of the large round table they'd claimed at one of their current bars in rotation while Kensi was sandwiched between Callen and Deeks.

Initially, Deeks had been leery of introducing the team to Linda. Especially after the volley of jokes that came his way when he first mentioned her existence (No, she's not a stripper. Not that it would be a problem. And no, I never arrested her). Despite their teasing, they'd nothing but kind though, and made every effort to include her.

Which, admittedly, could be a little overwhelming, he realized, noting Linda's slightly strained smile. He squeezed her hand under the table, taking over the conversation.

"We had seats next to each other when I went to see Fiddler on the Roof," he explained, giving Kensi a warning look as she snorted.

"Hey, I didn't say anything. I'm just always…impressed by your very manly hobbies," she insisted, holding her hands up innocently.

"Um, anyway, we started talking during the intermission, got some drinks afterwards, and then made plans to see another play," Linda finished with a little shrug.

"Match made in heaven," Callen commented, raising his beer in a mock toast. Linda frowned in his direction, but didn't say anything, merely taking a sip of her martini.

"What about you and Marty?" she asked, glancing between him and Kensi. "How long have you been partners?"

For the time being, they'd let Linda believe they were all with LAPD for the sake of confidentiality. Deeks didn't love keeping the truth from her, but figured that he could eventually tell her when the time came.

"Just about 2 years," Kensi answered. "And he's been driving me crazy ever since."

"Uh-huh. You wake me up at 6AM on Saturdays to work out," Deeks pointed out.

"It's good practice." She stuck here tongue out at him, snatching a French fry from his plate.

"Not when you stop for donuts on the way to my apartment."

"Hey." Kensi protested, smacking his arm sharply. "That's supposed to be a secret between partners.

"Kensalina, every bakery in a 20-mile radius knows you," he teased, dodging another smack.

"That is such an exaggeration."

"Ok, guys, take it down a notch," Sam interrupted, drawing Deeks' attention from Kensi. With one eyebrow raised, Sam gave them a vaguely exasperated, but ultimately unsurprised look.

"Now you get to see what we live with every day," Callen added, directing his comment to Linda.

Belatedly, Deeks realized he'd almost forgotten about her for a minute. He turned back to her, slightly ashamed when he saw she was clutching her glass in one hand, the fingers of her other hand pressed to her temple.

"Are you ok?" he asked in an undertone. She shook her head once.

"Actually, I kind of have a headache." She shot the table an apologetic look. "I hate to skip out, but do you mind if we leave early?"

"No, of course not."

"Hope you feel better," Sam offered while Kensi stood and gave Linda a quick hug.

"It was nice seeing you again," Kensi said.

"You too."

They left quickly and remained silent until they were in Deeks' car.

"So, you and Kensi seem close," she said, her tone leading.

"Well, it's kind of a hazard of working with the same person day in and day out," Deeks answered, downplaying it. "She's passionate about what we do."

"She's intimidating." When Deeks just gave her a confused look, she rolled her eyes. "She's always talking about the criminals she's beaten up or how easily she can shoot someone in the heart."

Deeks winced. "Ok, I admit sometimes we get carried away with that stuff. But she's worked hard for these skills."

Linda pressed her lips together, folding her arms atop each other.

"And then there's the way she talks to you and jokes with you. She knows you so well," she paused. "The way she looks at you. And touches you and you don't even notice."

Looking out the window, Deeks shoved his fingers through his hair, feeling a wave of shame and something else he didn't want to examine right now roll through him.

"I told you it's because we're partners. It means nothing to Kensi."

"I know what you said," she replied, a snap to her voice now. She sighed deeply. "I don't think that "just partners" forget about everyone else in the room the way you two did. How is anyone supposed to compete with that?"

Deeks hates the anguish in her voice. He wanted to deny what she was saying, but he couldn't. It was all true. His stomach sank.

"I'm sorry," he finally managed. "I never meant to make you feel like that."

"I know," Linda sighed again. "And that's the problem." She gave him a sad look. "I think you have to decide what you really want."

If only Deeks could convince himself that it was Linda, and not his partner.


A/N: I'm setting this one sometime in season 3, and running with the idea that Deeks hasn't quite realized/come to terms with his feelings for Kensi. Or at the very least has convinced himself that they don't exist.