A/N: So, in my little LA world, Deeks spends the full three months, or however long it's supposed to take. This little drabble/ficlet features Kensi and Sam, but mentions Deeks.
"Was that Deeks?" Sam asked as Kensi finished a text and slipped her phone back into her pocket, her body angled towards the Challenger's passenger window.
"Yeah, he starts law today," she said, imagining him dominating any discussions. Now three weeks into his training, he'd started to relax a little and from the sound of it, was really showing off some of his true skills. Sometimes she wished she could go watch on the sidelines, to see him in his element.
Sam snorted, his grin wide enough that his dimples showed.
"The instructor better watch out or next thing Deeks will be teaching the class." Kensi smiled a little at the subtle compliment. "Tell him I said "hi" and don't go overboard with the smartass comments."
Kensi texted Deeks Sam's comments, smiling when he sent back a picture of him from the waist up in a dress shirt and tie, his jaggedly cut hair brushed behind his ears. He stared into the camera, his arched eyebrow the only sign that he wasn't completely serious.
"He said he'll be on his best behavior." Kensi tilted the phone in Sam's direction and he peered at the picture for a minute, shaking his head.
"Damn, you were right. Deeks just doesn't look right with short hair," he said. "But you're not allowed to tell him that. He'd never get another haircut again."
Kensi smirked a little, focusing on the house they were watching. It was still, without sign of suspicious activity, just as it had been for the last three hours.
"You miss him."
"Hm?" She turned to face Sam again and found him watching her with a thoughtful expression.
"You miss Deeks," he repeated.
"Of course I do. We probably won't see each other in person for at least the next couple months," Kensi said reasonably. Sam's upper lip quirked up sardonically.
"Yeah, but usually it's not so noticeable." When Kensi frowned, added, "You're checking your phone more than usual, you sigh all the time for no reason, and when you think no one's looking, you get this worry line between your eyes."
Kensi automatically went to smooth out the spot he mentioned before she caught herself.
"You know, sometimes having friends who are also investigators is really annoying." He continued to stare, completely unperturbed, and she rolled her eyes. "I'm fine, Sam."
"Nobody's ever "fine" when they're separated from the person they love most," he said with a soft smile. "And it's ok to admit it. So, what's got you so on edge?"
Sighing, Kensi debated avoiding the subject, but Sam usually gave good advice. Plus, he could be annoyingly persistent when he wanted to be.
"I didn't realize it would be this hard to be away from him." She stared down at her thumb, mindlessly running it along the curve of a nail. "I'm so used to talking things through at the end of the day," she clarified. "Even though we talk on the phone, it's not the same. I can't fix his problems, or protect him, or even hug him."
Realizing her tone had grown incredibly bitter, Kensi pressed her lips together, staring out the windshield. When Deeks had called those first few days, upset and struggling, it had taken all her will not to drop everything and drive to FLETC.
"Maybe it's enough that you do make that call every day. Deeks knows you can't be with him right now and I think he understands it. I'm sure he looks forward to hearing your voice."
Kensi considered his words for a few minutes, another question that had been nagging at her since Deeks was cleared for FLETC ran through her mind again.
"Sam," she started, pausing and then pushing through. "Do you think Deeks wants this?"
"To be an agent?" When Kensi nodded, he shrugged again. "I don't think I've ever seen anybody try so hard to get into the academy, so I'd say yes. Or is there something I don't know about?"
Hoping she wasn't betraying Deeks' trust or privacy, she confided,
"Deeks spent years talking about getting out of NCIS and law enforcement altogether. He wanted us to be safe…now he's done a complete 180 and I'm worried that he's only doing it for me. So he can be my partner and we can afford that stupid house."
"You really think he'd do that?"
"He's planning to sell the bar to make sure we can afford the house and…other things." Kensi swallowed harshly. "I don't want him to be miserable and right now I kind of think he is."
"Kens, look at me," Sam told her firmly, waiting until she met his gaze. "Deeks would do anything for you, including stay with NCIS to protect you. Maybe he won't love it, but I bet he'll feel a lot better knowing he can be by your side."
"So once again he's just doing it for me," Kensi confirmed wryly.
"He's doing it for both of you. And for himself." When Kensi started to object, he raised a finger. "Even if he doesn't decide stay as an agent long term, this will open up more opportunities for him in the future. He's already got a lot of experience and good credentials, FLETC training will just add to that."
"Sometimes I don't know how to support him." It was an admission she'd been holding back, but it was the truth. "It just feels like I say the wrong things all the time. With FLETC, LAPD…," she paused and shrugged sadly, "everything."
"I'm sure you're fine," Sam said gently. "And like I said, as long as you keep communicating and caring for each other, it'll be alright. You'll get through this storm together."
"I hope you're right," Kensi whispered. They were quiet a couple more minutes and then Sam repeated,
"You two will be just fine."