A/N: As usual, this idea grew from the tiniest thought and turned into this angsty little fic. Takes place post "The Livelong Day".
"Remind Mr. Deeks I want this all out of the office by tomorrow," Hetty instructed Kensi on her way out. Kensi paused in the process of packing up for the night. Everyone else had left long before her, Deeks trying to hide his disappointment through a heavy layer of jokes.
Hetty had already moved on by the time Kensi turned around, assuming that Kensi would do exactly as she said.
"Why did you do that?" she asked Hetty's retreating back. It took Hetty a moment to respond, perhaps thinking Kensi was speaking to someone else.
"I don't know what you're referring to, Ms. Blye." Hetty shrugged her minute shoulders, managing to make the shift of movement elegant.
"I'm talking about the way you just…destroyed Deeks' train."
"Oh. Well, of course I had no way of knowing what would happen. It was an innocent accident," Hetty explained. "Besides, it was just a toy."
"Which belonged to Deeks."
"I didn't realize there'd be so much upset over a frivolous object, Ms. Blye. My goodness." She gave Kensi an incredulous look, as though she were a child throwing a hissy fit.
"I don't care how silly you might think it is, Deeks obviously cared about that train set. And you took that moment of joy away from him." Kensi said. She'd hoped that Hetty would start to understand where she was coming from, but instead, she merely looked as bewildered as at the start of the conversation.
Pressing her lips together, Kensi pushed down the irritation that suddenly welled within her.
"Hetty, Deeks has struggled since he came back. Maybe I shouldn't say it, but we all know that what Sidorov did to him has changed him. All these months he's been searching for something to cling to. First with the motorcycle, then exercise. This is the first thing he's been excited about in months that isn't also risky or violate some rule. Why would you take that from him?" She heard the plaintive tone her voice had taken on, but couldn't squelch it. She hated seeing Deeks in pain, especially when it could be avoided.
"You seem to think that I'm mounting some kind of personal attack against him," Hetty commented, and her continued calm made Kensi want to shake something.
"It's kind of hard not to think that way when you confiscated Deeks' motorcycle and his walking pad," Kensi told her.
"I have—"
"Rules. Yes, I know," Kensi interrupted. "Those rules don't give you the right to take or ruin Deeks' personal property. Especially now."
Hetty pursed her lips, nodding slowly. When she looked up again, she eyed Kensi gravely. "I thank you for your concern, Ms. Blye. And should I find a replacement, I'll be sure to reimburse Deeks damaged train. Until then, I will keep the other items which are both dangerous and distracting. Until then, I suggest you examine why this bothers you so much. Have a good night."
Kensi watched her go, feeling frustrated and defeated.