A/N: A small whump/comfort drabble for "A Fait Accompli". Written shortly after the episode aired.
"Easy," Deeks hissed as Kensi unraveled the bandage wrapped around his torso.
"I'm sorry, baby," She winced, moving as carefully as she could. "Deeks," she breathed, running her fingertips over his skin, gaping at the mottled bruises coloring his right side. "This looks awful."
"Yeah, it's ah, doesn't feel too great either." She gently palpated an area that looked slightly swollen and he shouted, pressing his hand against protectively against the spot as he shifted away.
"I'm sorry," she chanted again. "I won't do that again. Just tell me where it hurts the most."
"It's ok, I just wasn't ready," Deeks said, breathing slowly through his nose, eyes clamped shut. After a minute, he moved back to the end of the bed and raised his arm again. Kensi reluctantly pressed her fingers to his skin, moving more gingerly. It worried her that it was still so painful.
"When did this happen?"
"A couple days ago." He grimaced, but didn't make another sound. "We were doing an endurance hike and one of the other candidates slipped. Fortunately, I broke his fall."
"Oh my god," Kensi said, horrified. "Babe, you could have been killed. What did the doctor say? Did even x-ray you?" If they hadn't, Kensi was prepared to fly right back down to the academy and raise hell. Deeks didn't say anything right away and she tilted her head, realizing he looked sheepish.
"Deeks…"
"I didn't exactly go to the doctor," he said reluctantly. "The instructor had a medic check me out but I said I was fine and nobody questioned me."
"Deeks! You could have had internal injuries. Why would you do that?," she said, resisting the urge to shake him.
"I didn't want to get kicked out for medical reasons when I was so close." His face fell a little and he shrugged. "I know it wasn't smart, but I couldn't imagine telling all you guys that I didn't make it because of a broken rib." Most of Kensi's anger evaporated. Sighing, she brushed his hair back from his face.
"It was still incredibly stupid, but I understand why you did it." She leaned down to kiss him. "Just so you know, we wouldn't have blamed or judged you if you had to leave because of this. And I would have done everything in my power to make sure you got to go back and finish."
Deeks' eyes filled with tears again and he wrapped his arms around her, hugging her tightly.
"I love you so much," he murmured, sounding strained.
"Me too." She pushed him back, sniffing a bit as she grabbed a fresh roll of tape. "And just to be clear, we are going straight to the doctor tomorrow morning."