They were partners, it only came natural

PULL YOU OUT

Kensi's apartment

To say that it had been a very, very long day was a bit of an understatement. Dodging German, French, and Russian spies all while trying to find a black book, to the showdown at the bank, to Kensi being forced to stand still for hours on end all added up to exhaustion when the day was finally done.

The door to Kensi's apartment opened and they stepped inside. Kensi was taking small steps her legs hurt so it was slow going making their way around the piles of junk to her bedroom.

"Easy does it" Deeks said as he helped her sit down on her bed. They both sat for a moment not saying anything. Neither of them would admit it to the other but they both realized they were still holding hands.

"Are you hungry? Tired?" Deeks asked.

"I'm exhausted but I really want to take a bath." Kensi said. Deeks stood up and went into the bathroom connected to her bedroom. She heard the water turning on and the tub starting to fill. A few moments later the water was turned off and Deeks was wringing his hand off after testing the temperature. He walked out and held his hand out for Kensi, giving her a smile. She took his hand and stood up, slowly walking into the bathroom. She noticed the air smelled differently. It smelled like the bath salts she had stashed away. She gave him a look.

"Figured it would help you relax. Don't worry, Princess. Your secret is safe with me." He said. She stepped over to the tub and started to take her clothes off. Looking over her shoulder as she undid her jeans she realized Deeks was facing away from her. Marty Deeks, behind all his innuendos and male chauvinism, was a total gentleman. He reached out his hand back toward her to help her climb into the tub, still facing away from her. She slowly lowered down into the water, the heat feeling good on her legs and her back. She pulled the shower curtain across and just sat back, taking a deep breath of the scents of the salts in the bath.

"Just let me know if you need anything." Deeks said as he gathered up her clothes. He looked at her towel and grabbed it before leaving.

He went to her laundry room and tossed her clothes in the wash. After turning the washer on he tossed her towel in the dryer and set it for 5 minutes. He returned to her room and sat on her bed, pulling out his phone. Scrolling through random articles he found he killed some time until he heard Kensi say she was ready to get out. He grabbed her towel from the laundry and hung it up for her.

"You able to get out on your own?" Deeks asked her.

"Yea, I'm feeling better now." She said.

He left the room, hearing her step out of the bath as he grabbed some clothes for her. He brought them in as she stood there, wrapped in the towel, a big smile on her face when she realized what she did. Deeks returned the smile and set the clothes down on the counter for her. He left the bathroom, closing the door behind her so she could change.

Coming out a few minutes later she slowly made her way to the bed and laid down. Deeks sat next to her, softly rubbing her shoulder.

"You ok?" She asked him.

He nodded. "I'm good. I'm just glad to have my partner back." He said.

She rubbed her hand on his back and he noticeably winched. "Deeks? Whats wrong?" She asked him.

"It's nothing. Just a little sore." He said, trying to brush her off.

"Let me see." She said, sliding his shirt up. Deeks tried to resist her but gave in when another stab of pain hit him.

When she slid it all the way up she was greeted by several large, nasty looking bruises. The rest of the skin on his back was red and warm to the touch.

"Jesus, Deeks! Why didn't you say anything?" She asked him, her tone not angry but more upset to see him like this because of her.

"I thought I could handle it. It wasn't bad until just now." He said, sheepishly

Kensi grabbed her phone and dialed quickly.

"Kens." Deeks said, annoyingly pleading with her.

"Miss Blye, I thought I gave you direct orders to rest." Hetty's voice answered

"Sorry, Hetty. But I'm not calling because I'm going stir crazy. It's Deeks. His back is all bruised and looks like he got burned." Kensi said, snapping a quick photo to send to her.

"Mmm, my that does look painful. I will have to speak with Mr. Deeks about keeping injuries to himself. Thankfully it doesn't look like it is a major issue warranting a trip to the hospital. I will send a nurse friend of mine over to examine him and see what needs to be done. Tell Mr. Deeks that his is now on mandatory week leave as well. I'll have someone come check up on you two later this evening." Hetty replied after looking at the photo of Deeks' back.

"Thank you, Hetty." Kensi said.

"Of course, Miss Blye. The both of you get some rest. That is an order" Hetty replied then ended the call.

"Am I in trouble?" Deeks said.

"Oh you are in so much trouble." Kensi said, smiling at him sarcastically.

"Hetty is sending someone over to look at your back. Someone is going to come by later to check up on us. Both of us have a whole week off." Kensi said as she rubbed his arm.

"Think you can handle having a whole week off there, Kensalina?" Deeks said.

"I think I can, provided my partner keeps me company" Kensi said.

Deeks was about to say something when the doorbell rang. He went to stand up when Kensi grabbed his arm.

"I got this one. You just lay down so she can look at you." She said as she got up, limping toward the door.

She opened the door and was greeted by an older woman, probably in her early 50s.

"You must be Kensi. I'm Mary. Henrietta sent me." She said.

"Come on in." Kensi said as she stepped away, letting the woman in.

"He is back in the bedroom." Kensi said as she led Mary to the back.

"Deeks, this is Mary." Kensi introduced them.

"I'll make this quick and as painless as I can. Henrietta sent me the picture you took and I must say I'm surprised you kept it to yourself." She said. "Lie down and let me take a look."

Deeks moved to lie down on his stomach, his face facing away from her.

Mary felt the bruises gently, Deeks flinching and griping a pillow in pain. Kensi said down on the bed next to him and softly ran her fingers through his hair.

"It looks like you just have some minor burns so nothing to worry about. I would apply some cool cloths or icepacks to the bruises to reduce the pain. I'm also going to write you a prescription for some pain medication and some cream that will help both." Mary said filling out some paper.

"If if starts to get worse call me immediately" Mary said as she handed Kensi the paper.

"Thank you so much." Kensi said as she walked Mary out.

"My pleasure." Mary said as she stepped out the door. Just as Kensi was going to close it a familiar car pulled up. Nell climbed out and was quickly joined by Eric. Kensi couldn't help by smile seeing them.

"Hey Kensi." Nell said.

"Hey." Eric followed.

"Hey guys. Come on in." Kensi said, closing the door after them.

Nell pulled Kensi into a hug.

"How are you doing?" She asked her.

"Tired but I'm good." Kensi replied.

"How's Deeks?" Eric asked.

"In a lot of pain. I wish he would have said something" Kensi said, visibly stressed at her partner's problem.

"Anything we can do?" Nell asked.

Kensi handed them the paper.

"Friend of Hetty's got him a prescription, but I can't drive right now and neither…" She replied.

Nell took the prescription. "We'll take care of it." She said, not giving Kensi a chance to finish.

"I appreciate it." Kensi said. She fished a couple of icepacks out of her freezer. Eric and Nell followed her into the room, both whincing when they saw his back.

"Yeowch. Gonna remember the sunblock next time, Shaggy?" Nell said.

Deeks raised and arm and extended his middle finger at her.

Nell came over and patted his head.

"You know I'm just kidding." She said.

"Yea I know Velma." Deeks mumbled into the pillow.

Eric brought a towel from her bathroom over and laid it down across his back so Kensi could put the Ice packs on.

"Ho! That's cold!" Deeks said.

"Big baby." Kensi said.

"We're going to go run and get some groceries for you guys as well as get your prescription. Just relax and take a nap. We will be back in a few hours." Eric said, Nell nodding in agreement

"Thanks, you two." Deeks mumbled again.

"See you in a bit." Kensi said as Nell and Eric left, using Kensi's spare key to lock the door behind them.

Kensi crawled into bed next to him, placing her hand on his shoulder. "You ok?" She asked him.

He nodded. She leaned in and kissed his temple.

"Get some sleep. Hopefully that will make you feel better" She said as she laid her head on a pillow. She reached out and took his hand, intertwining her fingers with his as they both gave into their exhaustion and fell asleep

1 and a half hours later

The front door opened and Eric and Nell came in, Eric carrying bags of groceries and Nell leading Monty in.

"Now be quiet, Monty. They are sleeping" Nell said, petting Monty who understood. He went over and laid down next to the couch.

"I'm going to go check on them" Nell said in a low voice as Eric took the groceries to the kitchen

She came back a few moments later. "They are out cold." She smiled as Eric finished putting away the groceries. He started pulling out pots and pans to make dinner.

"Gives me enough time to make dinner for them." He said as Nell jumped into help.

"I didn't know you could cook. Are you just full of surprises?" Nell said, elbowing him.

"You don't know the half of it, Rockstar." He replied, giving her a grin. He started making the pasta they bought for dinner, Nell jumping in and helping with the prep. As they finished making the food and were cleaning up Eric started to horse around, flicking water at her as he washed the pots and pans.

"You are so going to get it, Beale!" Nell said, laughing.

When they had finished cleaning dinner was ready. "You go get them up. I'll get the food ready for them." Eric said. Nell nodded and went into Kensi's room. Slowing opening the door she made her way over to Kensi's side, trying and failing to smile at the sight of them together. She had her suspicions of the two but this just added more fuel to the fire. She reached out and gently shook Kensi's shoulder.

"Hey, Kensi." Nell whispered.

Kensi groaned a bit and opened her eyes.

"Hey. Eric made dinner." Nell said.

Kensi groaned. "Ok. I'll be out in a bit" She said.

Nell went over to the other side and knelt down, gently shaking Deeks' shoulder.

"Hey, wake up, Shaggy." Nell said.

Deeks opened his eyes and reached up to rub them.

"Eric made dinner for you two. How's your back?" She asked.

"Still hurts but not as bad" He said as Nell took the melted icepacks off and took the towel off.

"The redness seems to have gone down a bit. We got your meds from the pharmacy so that should really help." Nell said as Kensi got out of bed and helped Deeks up.

As they walked into the dining room Monty ran up excited.

"What are you doing here, buddy?" Deeks asked, genuinely happy to see him.

"We decided to pick him up from your place on the way back. If you aren't cool with him being here we can take him." Eric said as he brought over bowls of pasta for them.

"No it's fine. Thanks Eric." Kensi said.

They all ate the meal that Eric and Nell cooked. Kensi even had seconds, to no small amount of teasing from Deeks. When they finished Eric did the dishes and packed away the leftovers.

"I made plenty for you two to eat of the next few days so you don't have to cook. " Eric said.

"Thanks a bunch, man" Deeks said.

"We are going to take off. Just call us if you need anything." Nell said, giving Deeks and then Kensi a hug.

The two left leaving Deeks and Kensi alone.

"What say we call it a day?" Deeks said. Kensi slipping into his arms, gently wrapping her arms around his waist to not aggravate his back.

"Thank you" She whispered.

"For what?"

"For coming to my rescue." She said.

"I'll always be there to pull you out, Kensi." Deeks said, placing a gentle kiss on her cheek.

"No matter what." She whispered into his shoulder.

They stood for a moment in each other's embrace before letting go.

"You should take a pill. Should help you sleep." Kensi said.

Deeks rolled his eyes. He hated being on pain medication.

"Please, Deeks. For me? I hate seeing you hurt because of me." She said, letting her guard down to see how shook up she was about the whole ordeal.

"Ok, but you get the pleasure of rubbing the ointment on my back." Deeks said, grinning

She lightly tapped his arm as they walked into the bedroom. Deeks took one of the pills and then laid down on the bed so she could rub the cream on his burns. Deeks could feel the pain subside on his back as she gently applied the cream. When his back was covered she climbed into bed next to him.

"You know, in my dreams you are usually wearing much less." Deeks said, looking into her eyes.

She smiled, rolling her eyes before bringing her head close to his. "Plenty of time to make your dreams a reality." She whispered to him.

He smiled at the thought as his eyelids got heavy. She kissed him on the forehead gently and grabbed his hand.

"Sweet dreams, Deeks." She whispered

"Good night, Kens" He replied sleepily as he passed out, Kensi following quickly after him.

Rejoice, you Kensi/Deeks fans, for I magically had inspiration after watching The Absolution/Deliverance two parter.