A/N:

To Guest: Thank you so much! The secret to keeping track of multiple stories is that I usually come across them while crossposting and realize I should probably write an update.

Cheryl: I always appreciate your thoughts and comments. The team and Kensi will definitely watch out for Deeks, even if he doesn't want them to at the moment.

Terrance: The LA team is always at its best when they come together as a family. Unfortunately, in this scenario, Deeks' position might need to change at least a little bit.

Telling their moms had been…rough to say the least. He'd expected hysterics from his mom, but after freezing in apparent shock, she'd gathered herself and declared that they were going to get through this. Since then, she'd made it her mission to cook renal friendly foods on an almost daily basis.

Deeks appreciated it. He appreciated everything that his family and friends were doing to support him…sometimes it got to be a lot though. It took considerably energy to respond positively to the latest piece of advice or research. And he was exceedingly low on energy at the moment.

Sometimes he just wanted to have a few minutes of quiet without thinking about how sick he was, or treatment, or preventative measures. He just wanted a few minutes where he could forget that everything had changed.

Today was one of those days so he'd escaped to sit out on the back patio with a fresh cup of coffee. He closed his eyes and imagined he was on the beach, favorite board all ready to go, and the biggest swells he'd ever seen.

As much as Deeks had often wished for a simpler life, at heart he was a man of action. He was used to going into work; chasing people, working out with the team, starting his Saturday mornings with surfing. His inability to do most of those activities now either due to safety concerns or increasing exhaustion and weakness only added to his frustration and despair.

His daily walks down to the beach —which he was ashamed to admit left him winded sometimes—just weren't cutting it.

"Hey, you trying to ditch me?" Kensi asked, breaking into his daydreams.

Deeks squinted through one eye as Kensi stood over him, head tilted as she eyes his shirtless stretched out form.

"Never. I just needed some vitamin D and fresh air," Deeks told her with a reassuring grin. He might be irritated by the lack of space, but he wasn't annoyed with Kensi. She'd been his rock since this all started. "When I was a kid, Mama claimed that was pretty much the cure to anything. Oh, and chicken soup."

Kensi smiled, shaking her head. "I think chicken soup must be universal. Though dad swore up and down that jalapeños and garlic would cause off any germ."

If only it were that simple.

"Hey, remember you're not supposed to have too much cream or phosphorus," she said, gesturing to the mug cradled next to his thigh.

"First cup today." He smiled a little tightly, irritated by the reminder. "I'm pretty sure the low dairy, salt, minerals, protein, and elimination of approximately half of available foods has been drilled into my head by now."

Her face fell at his bitter response and he instantly regretted it. Nice job, Deeks. "I'm sorry," he sighed, reaching to lightly squeeze her fingers. "I know you're just trying to look out for me."

"I am, but I know it feels like I'm smothering you sometimes." She squeezed back, apology accepted. "I'll try to back off a little bit."

"Hopefully not too far." He patted his lounge chair, shifting a few inches to the side. Taking his invitation, Kensi carefully curled up against his side, hand finding a home in the center of his chest.

"This is nice," she murmured with a little sigh. Her fingers smoothed over the hallow of his throat. He closed his eyes again, relishing her touch.

Even though they'd spend almost every moment together the last few months, intimacy had taken a hit. Yet another casualty of his illness, he thought wryly.

He settled his hand over her hip, tilting his head to rest against hers. Kensi slid her palms up the side of his neck, shifting so they were staring into one another's eyes. He saw yearning in her gaze and acted on his own growing desire, tipping his chin down to kiss her. It was slow and gentle.

Kensi made a soft, desperate noise, deepening the kiss as she framed his face with her palms. Deeks pulled her closer, fingers skimming beneath her shirt as they tested the bounds of LA's decency ordinance. Bracing her hands on his shoulders, Kensi straddled his hips and he stood, carrying her towards the house.

"How are you feeling? Really." Kensi asked sometime later. Her head was pillowed on his chest and again she played with his collar bone. He'd missed this so much.

Lifting his free arm, Deeks studied the splotch of bruises decorating his forearm after his latest dialysis session.

"Like a pin cushion," he answered glibly. Then more seriously, because Kensi deserved a genuine answer. "Still always tired. Though I feel a little better since I had dialysis yesterday." He paused again, hesitant to say more. "Honestly, I'm kind of frustrated. When I'm not getting my blood drained out and pumped back in me for four hours and what feels like a thousand appointments, I'm just here."

Kensi lifted her head, concern in her eyes. He smoothed the wrinkle between her eyebrows, knowing that she was just as tired as him.

"Sorry. I know it could be a lot worse."

"No, it makes sense that you're frustrated," she disagreed. "I would be too."

"Yeah, you'd have broken out of here a long time ago," Deeks teased, and she lightly tapped his chest.

"Hey! Remember who has a history of leaving his hospital bed to come be a hero." She poked him again for emphasis, then settled her chin on his sternum. It wasn't exactly comfortable, but he didn't mind enough to move. "Callen asked me to come help out today since they're kind of shorthanded. Do you want to come with me?"

"I'm on leave, remember?"

"Yeah, but no one's going to say anything if you're there. Maybe you can help with research. You know Fatima's always running around like crazy in OPS on her own."

"That's true. Ok, I'll come," Deeks agreed. He wasn't sure hanging out in the bullpen would be that much better, but at least it would break up the monotony a little. He craned his neck to kiss her again. "Thank you."

A/N: I have mentioned this several times already, but just in case you wondered, I'm not a medical professional or versed in medical knowledge.

I do know that a real person in Deeks' situation would likely be on dialysis and other treatment protocols and probably live a somewhat normal life once their condition was under control. Even with a deteriorating condition, from what I understand, organ transplants aren't considered until you're in the end stages of a disease. So, I've just progressed things quite a bit.