A/N: Thanks as always for your lovely comments and thoughts, including my guest reviewers, Guest, Cheryl, and Terrence.

The latest building was still smoldering, firefighters still battling a few smaller outbreaks, and a thick layer of smoke hanging in the air when Kensi arrived. By now it was the wee hours of the morning. It took a while to locate Deeks in the dark and with the increased activity.

Finally, she found him, as she should have known, right in the center of all the activity. This time, he wore his full uniform from jacket to helmet. Normally she would have ignored the hastily erected barriers surrounding the scene, but she was reluctant to distract Deeks.

After several minutes, Deeks shouted to one of the men and started towards one of the fire trucks. Then he caught sight of Kensi lingering by barriers, correcting his path in her direction. Just based on his walk, Kensi could tell he was exhausted. He still walked with sureness, but there was a slight hunch to his shoulders.

"Kensi," he greeted her, offering her a tired smile beneath his hat and a layer of grime. "I didn't expect to see you so soon."

"Hey, I can't let you have all the fun." She nodded to the building, and asked, "How is it?"

"Well, we're still making sure the last of the fires are completely out. There's a lot more damage than the last two."

"Do you think it's the same perpetrator?"

"I mean it seems likely, but like I said, there's a lot more damage to the structure this time. It's going to be a while before it's safe for anyone to go in and investigate," he explained. He tugged his helmet off with an exhausted grimace, shoving a handful of sweaty hair off his forehead.

"That's going to be—oh my god Deeks, you're bleeding!"

A dark uneven line of half-dried blood extended from his temple to his neck. In the dark, she'd mistaken it for soot.

Frowning, Deeks swiped the back of his hand over his forehead, leaving a smear of fresh blood across his skin.

"Huh, didn't even feel it," he muttered. "Must have happened when part of the ceiling fell in. There was some flying debris."

"That sounds pretty serious. Maybe you should get check out," Kensi suggested, alarmed that he hadn't noticed at all.

"I'll be fine," he insisted. "One of the guys will patch me up when we're done here. It isn't the first time I've gotten a little banged up."

Well, that was incredibly hot. And frustrating, not in the least because it sounded like something she would say.

"C'mon Agent Blye, when you're in the middle of a fight, or disarming a bomb, do you really spare a second thought for a minor injury?"

Kensi pursed her lips, not wanting to give in, but they both knew he was right.

"Fine. I wouldn't."

"I think the word you're looking for is 'touché'," he said smugly.

"Ok, don't push your luck," Kensi told him, even as she shifted closer so they were sharing less than a few inches of space. She fingered the front of his jacket.

Deeks smiled ruefully. "This is so not. how I imagined tonight ending," he sighed.

"Oh really? And what exactly did you imagine?" Kensi asked with an arched eyebrow. His grin widened, and he dipped his head, giving the allusion that they were all alone.

"A night you'd never forget." His voice dropped an octave, becoming throatier, and Kensi's stomach clenched pleasantly in response.

"That's a pretty big claim. I hope you can back it up." She lowered her own voice, tugging lightly at his jacket.

"Never had any complaints before," he said, eyes bright in the night sky. He looked over his shoulder, flashing Kensi a look of regret. "I have to get back."

"Yeah, of course. I'll call you later."

"I'll be counting on that, Agent Blye." With a wink, Deeks crammed his helmet back over his flattened curl, and ducked under a strip of caution tape.

A/N: This fic is 99% Kensi and Deeks flirting. You're welcome.