A/N: This is set in season 2, when Kensi and Deeks were still very much in the process of figuring out how work together. Densimber Day 23.

"Hey, Deeks, I've been waiting out here for two minutes," Kensi said into her phone, not believing that Deeks had let her call go to voicemail. After getting a text to come into work early, she'd driven over to pick him up. By now, he knew better than to keep her waiting.

He hadn't responded to her multiple texts, but she figured that he was busy entertaining one of his many, many lady friends. Kensi made a face at the thought, even though Deeks couldn't see it.

Just when she was preparing to get out and drag him out, the front door swung open, and he emerged, shuffling down the sidewalk.

"Hey, thanks for picking me up," he said, as he climbed into the passenger seat.

"No problem." Kensi frowned as she took in his appearance.

He could be scruffy, usually a little disheveled, but he rarely looked this rough. Exhaustion lined his eyes, he lacked his normal agility as he forced his legs into the footwell, and his face looked washed out. On top of that, his hair was slightly matted, like he hadn't even attempted to comb it.

Sighing, Deeks dropped his head back, eyes closing almost immediately as she started the SUV and pulled onto the street.

Kensi used the opportunity to examine him more fully. There was a dark bruise visible beneath his beard that she was 100% certain hadn't been there when he left work yesterday. What the hell had he gotten up to last night?

"Rough night?" she guessed.

"You could say that," Deeks muttered. He sounded two seconds away from falling asleep.

"So was it a stripper this time or a yoga bunny?" She didn't try to hide her derision.

"Neither one." Scrubbing his hands over his face, Deeks blinked several times, and sat up. If anything, he looked worse. Especially since he'd managed to fluff his hair into strange little tufts. "I spent all night undercover for LAPD."

"I didn't know you were approved for an operation," she said, no longer amused. Deeks was supposed to be their liaison. She briefly wondered when she'd stopped thinking of Deeks as a temporary annoyance and claimed ownership. Brushing that thought away, she focused on Deeks' answer.

"I wasn't. This was a last-minute thing. My boss needed me to close a deal, and I happened to be available," he explained.

"I'm pretty sure LAPD is supposed to run any work they want you for past Hetty. There's no point in having a liaison if he's gone all the time."

"Your concern is touching," Deeks drawled. He shifted his legs restlessly, failing to conceal a grimace. He held himself stiffly too.

"How dangerous was this job?" she asked more gently.

"I can't really talk about it yet, but let's just say there's a lot less cocaine on the streets today than there were 12 hours ago."

"You took down a drug ring in one night? Please tell me you had some kind of backup."

"That kind of defeats the purpose of going undercover like I do," Deeks said, not picking up on her outrage. He shrugged and yawned. It was telling that he didn't boast about his superior skills. "Besides, there wasn't really time. I had to be there half an hour after I got the call."

He rubbed his thumbs over his closed eyes, squinting against the sun streaming through window.

"Do you need to get checked out or anything? We can stop by an urgent care," Kensi offered when they stopped at a light. There was definitely a cut hidden by his bangs.

Deeks shook his head, sliding lower in his seat. "Nah. The takedown just went a little haywire at the end." He gestured to his cheek. "I promise the other guys look way worse."

Ah, there was the Deeks she knew. That reassured her a little. If Deeks could joke, he wasn't in that bad of shape.

When she looked over a minute later, he leaned against the window, completely out. Eyeing the time, she made a snap decision, and pulled into the next parking lot.

Five minutes later found her walking back to the SUV balancing two cups of coffee, a paper bag, and a water. Deeks didn't stir at all when she climbed back in, or as she quickly consumed an apple fritter.

Glancing over at Deeks again, she smiled despite herself. He looked kind of adorable when he was sleeping. Especially with the little curl of hair falling in his eyes. She felt oddly tempted to brush it out of the way. Before she could act on the strange impulse, Kensi nudged Deeks' shoulder several times until her jerked away.

He inhaled deeply, eyes wild for a few seconds as he reoriented himself.

"Ugh, how long was I asleep?" he groaned.

"Just a few minutes. Here." Kensi pushed the full coffee in his direction, and he took it hesitantly.

"You got me coffee?" Prying off the lid, he sniffed it, his brows raising. "Just the way I like it."

"Even I wouldn't torture a man who looks as bad as you do," she said, uncomfortable with how appreciative sounded. He had that rare puppy dog look that she was sure got most women to do any number of things he wanted.

Deeks chuckled breathily, taking a long sip, and settling back with a sigh.

"Thanks."

"It's what partners do," Kensi said, staring straight ahead. Definitely no other reason.

A/N: While writing this, I thought of the way Castle always brings Beckett coffee. And when he doesn't, it's an indication that something is wrong between them.