A/N: The highly requested third chapter of Paramnesia. In our last chapter, Deeks was called into work and Kensi, still believing they are married, insists on coming with.
Deeks blew out a long breath as he and Kensi walked up to OPS together. He'd been hoping to catch Sam and Callen on their own to explain Kensi's current "condition". Unfortunately everyone was already upstairs.
Kensi had been slightly less affectionate in the car so he was hoping it was a sign her memory was starting straighten itself out.
"Kensi, what are you doing here?" Callen asked as they walked through the sliding doors. Nell immediately rushed over to give her a quick hug.
"Yeah, shouldn't you be in bed with an ice pack and a dozen doughnuts?" Sam added.
"Guys, it was just a little bump on the head. There's no reason for me to stay home and go stir crazy," Kensi said, sounding reassuringly like herself. "My head barely even hurts anymore."
"She had the doughnuts to go," Deeks revealed, smirking at her. "And she didn't even share."
"You would take doughnuts from an injured woman?"
"Hold on a second, you told me you were perfectly fine." Kensi shrugged unapologetically.
"That's 'cause I knew you'd try to make me stay home," she said, knocking his shoulder with hers. "And force more chicken soup on me."
"Hey, I am an excellent cook. Unlike someone I know, at least I didn't try and pass off Walmart cookies as my own," he added.
"You two have obviously been spending way too much time together again," Sam commented with a roll of his eyes, Deeks found himself grinning down at her and hastily straightened up. He was getting way too comfortable with this less inhibited version of Kensi.
"Um, I'm really glad you're ok, Kensi, but is anybody even a little bit interested in hearing about the case?" Eric asked, pointing to the big screen.
"Go ahead, Eric."
"Last night someone broke into the home of Marine Colonel Aaron Summers and attempted to steal his laptop which contains sensitive information. Colonel Summers walked in on the intruder, one Danny Werner, and successfully subdued him. Werner is currently in the hospital."
"Although Werner didn't have a chance to gain access to the laptop, the Colonel is very concerned about finding out how Werner was able to breach His elaborate security system," Nell continued.
"Ok," Callen said, nodding to Deeks. "Since you're solo today, go to the hospital and find out what you can from David Werner. We'll take the Colonel's house."
"And since you're here, Kensi, Hetty said she wants a detailed report of the accident," Nell said, turning to Kensi.
"Well, that's going to be pretty short because I still don't remember anything," she sighed. Turning to Deeks, she grabbed his hand and added, "Be careful out there, baby." Before he could say respond in any way, she leaned in, brushed her lips against his, and patted his his chest before she left the room.
The silence that followed her exit was nearly painful.
"Okaaay, what was that?" Nell asked, turning wide eyes on Deeks. He chuckled awkwardly, still feeling the pressure, however brief it had been, of Kensi's lips.
"I can explain that." He gestured vaguely to his lips and then the door.
"Really?" Sam said in a tone filled with disbelief. "I'd love to hear it."
"Kensi is still experiencing some symptoms from her head injury," Deeks told them reasonably.
"You said she had some mild surrounding the car crash amnesia," Callen reminded him, sounding skeptical. "You didn't say she'd lost her mind."
"I feel like I should be offended by that." Deeks paused and drew in a short breath. "Along with the amnesia, Kensi is also under the impression that we are, uh, married. Apparently it's called paramnesia, or false memories."
"And how did she come to that conclusion?"
"I have absolutely no idea. The nurse told me she was waking up and when I came in, she was acting a little strange and called me her husband. According to her doctor, it should resolve on its own in a few days," Deeks continued, realizing how ridiculous it sounded. Especially since Kensi was acting perfectly normal in every other way.
"Deeks, you can't let her believe this for that long," Nell said. "Imagine how upset she'll be when she finally does remember."
"What do you want me to do? Her doctor said we should try to let it happen naturally," Deeks said, starting to feel a little frustrated. It wasn't like he'd planted the idea in Kensi's head.
"So you're prepared to pretend be her husband for the next however many days it takes her to realize what's going on?" Deeks shrugged, not feeling confidant in his ability at all.
"I think I can handle it."
"Oh yeah, you handled it really well," Sam said sarcastically. "That explains the kissing and the "be careful, baby"."
"It hasn't gone any further than that," Deeks insisted firmly. For his own physical safety, he would definitely not be mentioning this morning's cuddle session.
"It better not." Deeks felt his anger flare a little at Sam's comment and crossed his arms, mirroring his position.
"Sam, do you honestly think I would take advantage of Kensi like that?" There was a tense moment as Sam stared him down and then he reluctantly nodded.
"No, I know you wouldn't," Sam admitted. "I'm just worried about the possible fall out once Kensi realizes the truth."
"I won't let it get to that point," Deeks said, not sure who he was reassuring at this point.
"Hey Nell," Kensi said a couple hours later. She was supposed to be "helping" with research, but all she'd managed to do so far was build the world's longest paperclip chain. Unfortunately, it gave her uninterrupted time to think about her and Marty.
She had a few flashes on them together, weirdly enough in another house, but most of what she "remembered" was pure guess work.
Based on those snippets, she'd assumed their romantic relationship was as strong as their professional one. Now she wasn't so sure.
"No, I don't have any more paperclips," Nell answered without looking away from her computer.
"That's not what I was going to ask. Actually, it's kind of personal. Really personal." She was glad that Eric had left to grab some coffee. This would be awkward enough with just Nell.
Nell finally turned around, her brows narrowed.
"The kind of personal where I'm going to want to wash my ears out when you're done?" Kensi made a face at that, shaking her head.
"Ew, no. It's about Marty," she said, noticing Nell's face shift suddenly.
"What about Deeks?" she asked slowly, almost cautiously.
"Is he-are we happy? I mean together. Are we happy with our marriage?"
"I don't think that's something I can answer for you Kensi." Kensi made a frustrated sound and slammed her hand against the desk, making Nell jump slightly.
"Nell, Marty barely touches me. Every time I try to kiss him or hold his hand, he pulls away," she said, glancing at Nell to gauge her reaction. It wasn't promising and her stomach clenched painfully. "Nell, I can't remember anything about us as a couple, please tell me what's going on."
"So you don't remember anything?" Nell repeated.
"I mean, every so often I get these little flashes of memories, but they're super fragmented...and I don't even know if they're real or if I'm making them up." She felt tears springing to her eyes for the first time since waking up in the hospital and pressed her lips together trying to keep them back. "What do I do?"
Nell leaned forward and squeezed her hand, her expression sympathetic.
"Kensi, I think this is something you need to talk to Deeks about." Kensi started to protest, but Nell held up a hand, cutting her off, and added, "Before you do that I want you to answer a question for me. How do you feel about Deeks?"
Kensi almost laughed at the ridiculousness of the question.
"I trust him. More than anyone," she said simply. "When I'm with him I feel safe and loved." Maybe she should have felt vulnerable or self-conscious being so open with Nell, but she didn't. It was the truth.
Nell made a face, inclining her head.
"Ok, uh, not exactly what I was expecting. Follow up question. Do you feel...married to Deeks?" It was a strange way to phrase it and Kensi almost said "yes" without thinking. Instead she held back her reply, tilting her head as she really considered the question.
"I don't know," Kensi whispered numbly. Nell squeezed her hand again, pulling her in for a brief hug.
"Then I think you know what you need to ask Deeks," she said.
A/N: I am well aware that no reasonable doctor would likely give this advice for dealing with amnesia. This is just for fun.