A/N: For Densimber Day 7 prompt: Kensi or Deeks are injured under adverse conditions. The other one has to take care of them and tend their wounds until help comes.

Kensi ducked behind a dilapidated barn, wincing as a spray if bullets ripped through already crumbling wood. A second later, Deeks darted around the side, staying low as he slammed himself against the wall.

"You good?" he asked, emitting little clouds of frozen breath with every word. The tip of his nose was red and so were his fingers.

"Fine," she told him, automatically scanning him for signs of bullet wounds. "What about you?"

"Fantastic." He turned his head abruptly, grimacing as another round of bullets came dangerously close. When there was a break, he popped a new cartridge into his gun, peering around the edge of the barn. "You know, other than the fact that we're stuck in the middle of a random field and we're being shot at. Again."

Kensi resisted the urge to roll her eyes and asked,

"Is Garrett dead?"

"Uh-huh. So Tregan's the one shooting at us. I didn't see Miller.

Kensi nodded, checking her own gun. She had a couple more cartridges and her knife if it came down to it, but she hoped it didn't. They'd been tracking three escaped drug traffickers for the last day and half through Iowa farmland. About five miles ago they'd been forced to abandon the SUV and continue on foot.

She shivered, wishing she'd worn a thicker coat. Not that she currently owned one or would have thought to bring it with to Iowa. An early freak snowstorm had rolled through the day before, leaving behind 8 inches of snow and 30 degree temps.

Her fingers were stiff and clumsy from the cold and the knees of her jeans soaked through with mud and melting snow. To add to it, a steady wind swept across the open field.

"I don't have much ammunition left," she said, holding up the two cartridges. Deeks poked his head around the bard again, fired off a couple shots, and nodded.

"I have about two and a half." He switched the clip out for a full one, pocketing the partially used one. "You cover me and I'll run?" he offered with a crooked grin.

"Deeks, this barn is the only cover for at least 300 yards."

"There's lots of trees." He pointed behind them and she followed his finger, glancing dubiously at a few rows of sparse tree. Further off there were denser woods, but she doubted they'd make it there safely without getting shot.

"Yeah, and they're barely wide enough to hide me," she pointed out.

"Well, we can't stay here," Deeks said. He fired off another shot at their opponents and added with another smirk, "My butt is freezing. And we both know how much you love my butt. It would break your heart if it fell off."

"You're overestimating it's charm," she lied. She very much wanted every part of him to remain intact and bullet free. But they didn't have much choice right now and it would only be a matter of time before Tregan got tired of waiting and moved closer. Plus, they still didn't know where Miller was.

"We gotta move, Kens."

"I know." She pulled in a shallow breath, wincing as it burned her nostrils. "On the count of three, you run fast and aim for the biggest tree to the right."

"Got it." Deeks moved behind her while she stood and silently counted off three on her fingers. As she ducked from behind the farm and fired several shots, Deeks took off. Kensi took cover again just as Tregan returned fire.

Deeks took him out with a single shot. As the man crumpled to the ground, she raced over to Deeks, who was barely hidden behind a short oak tree.

"Kensi, behind you!" he shouted when she was just a few feet away. She started to turn, but before she could, he'd knocked her to the ground just as another bulled whizzed past them. All the air rushed from her lungs as she hit the impacted snow.

She heard him shout something else, an expletive she thought. Pulling in a breath of cold air that made her wheeze, she stumbled to her feet. Deeks was struggling on the ground with Miller, who had one armed wrapped around a Deeks' neck from behind.

Deeks slammed his elbow into Miller's face, jerking away as the other man roared in pain. It didn't stop him though; he threw himself at Deeks with another rage filled shout. Kensi saw a flash of a knife in Miller's hand and she raised her gun, firing three shots into his chest.

"Deeks, baby, are you ok?" she asked, running to his side. He was bent over on hands and knees, sucking in deep breaths of air. He nodded, slowly pushing himself upright.

"Yeah, I'm great," he managed. Kensi wrapped him in a tight hug and leaned up to kiss him. His lips were cold, a little rough and chapped, but she didn't care. "We should call Eric," he whispered after a couple minutes.

Kensi didn't really feel like letting go, but she was pretty cold and there were three dead men to account for. She grabbed her phone and walked over to the barn, hoping it would provide some shelter from the relentless wind.

She tried calling Eric twice, but the signal cut out both times. Sighing, she turned back to Deeks who was standing in the same place she'd left him.

"Hey, do-?" She cut herself short, staring at Deeks' midsection in horror. "Deeks, you're bleeding." He glanced down, seeming completely surprised to see the blood soaking into the right leg of his jeans. He pulled his shirt and coat up, revealing a long cut running diagonally across his abdomen.

"Huh, I didn't even feel it," he muttered a little faintly.

A/N: More Deeks whump! I know, what am I thinking damaging Deeks' beautiful skin? I must be crazy.