A/N: Kensi and Deeks have a heart-to-heart.

She stopped just inside the doorway. Apparently Deeks hadn't heard her, his head still lowered over the desk. It was so rare to see him like this, in his own world, and she took the opportunity to just watch him.

He had multiple bills spread in front of him and other documents—likely insurance claims or other forms from the hospital. It was a never-ending battle to keep up with all of it, one which Deeks insisted on shouldering from the beginning. A few weeks ago, she'd offered to help, feeling bad about him dealing with such a stressful aspect of the situation. Deeks had met that offer with barely contained annoyance.

Looking at him now, as tired and sick as he was, she suddenly realized that Deeks needed this. The same way he needed to work. He needed a purpose, some control over his life, even if it did tax his already incredibly low energy.

"I know I'm stunningly attractive, but staring at me for five minutes seems a little excessive."

Kensi jerked at Deeks' comment, not having realized he'd looked up from his work.

"Hey, what's going on?" he asked, his frown making Kensi wonder how long he'd been watching her, and what he'd seen in her expression. He gestured for her to join him, taking her hand once she was in reach to tug her onto his lap.

It was a little more intimate than she'd been expecting for this conversation, but maybe that would keep her from stalling again.

She cleared her throat, settling a hand on Deeks' chest. She forced herself to ignore the increased definition. "Babe, there's something we need to talk about," she began.

"Is it about the price of dialysis these days? Because I agree, it's outrageous," Deeks said and gestured to a bill for reference.

"I'm being serious."

"Me too. Thank god we have pretty good insurance."

"Deeks." Kensi closed her eyes and inhaled once, holding it to a count of three before exhaling slowly. "I don't know how to tell you this, but yesterday—"

"You checked the test results?" Deeks guessed, tilting his chin to meet her eyes. He raised an eyebrow, but otherwise, his face was a mask.

"I thought you didn't want to know the results," Kensi said.

"At first, I didn't. I saw the email alert when I was at dialysis and I was really angry. I mean, I didn't even want any of you to take the damn thing. But I figured I should probably know the results to prepare for my next appointment. And then when I saw them…" he shook his head and laughed ruefully.

"What?" Kensi asked, surprised that he might have a reaction other than relief. Especially since one of the reports was for her.

"I was disappointed," he admitted. "I guess as much as I don't want to match with any of you, subconsciously I assumed I would be a match. Finding out that I wasn't…well, that's just another avenue closed, right? I didn't expect the defeat."

Kensi stilled in his arms, not sure she'd heard him correctly. After so long, she couldn't believe that he might have changed his mind. If she let her thoughts go down that path, she might start to hope, and she didn't have the strength to have that hope torn apart again.

"How are you doing?" Deeks squeezed her hand, bringing her out of her musings. "I know you were counting on someone being a good match."

"I was upset and disappointed obviously. I cried. But I'm glad that we still have more opportunities." She didn't mention that Nell was with her, figuring he wouldn't appreciate the lack of privacy. "So, what are you going to do if one of the others does come back as a good match?"

Deeks stared beyond her for several seconds, playing with her fingers. She realized he seemed less willfully positive and determined than he had during all their previous discussions and wondered if she should worry. As much as it had frustrated her at times, she needed Deeks to be stubborn.

Finally, he nodded, his smile resigned as he cupped both of her hands between his newly thinner fingers. "Depending on who it is, I'll consider going forward with a transplant," he said. There was a moment of complete silence and then Kensi whispered,

"Really?"

"Yes." Before Kensi could say anything else, he inclined his head, adding, "I'm still not completely sold on the idea and there's a lot of caveats, but yes."

Kensi stared at him for several seconds in disbelief, then grabbed him by the shoulders, crushing her lips to his, tears instantly filling her eyes. "Thank you," she whispered against his mouth.