A/N: Densimber Day 11. This one takes places during season 8, once Kensi's in rehab and we're introduced to Sullivan. Borne from the moment when Deeks says Kensi doesn't want to do things with him.

They're driving back from Kensi's outpatient therapy, a John Denver song in the background, Kensi in the passenger seat, using two fingers to tap out texts on her phone. It's on the laborious side, but better than when she had minimal function. She chuckles at something. It's just a little huff of laughter.

It catches his attention though and makes him wonder who or what elicited such a response. Although he in no way blames her, the laughs are few and far between. Sometimes Kensi seems to appreciate his attempts to at humor, while other times she seemed irritated by it all.

His thoughts drift back to earlier in the morning when he'd walked in on her and Sullivan nearly wrestling. The way the guy had talked about him knowingly, almost mocking.

"So, what Sullivan's story?" he asks, going for casual. Kensi looks up, and when he looks her way for a second, her nose is scrunched in apparent confusion.

"Sullivan? Why do you want to know about him?"

"I don't know, you just seem to spend a lot of time with him in rehab. Yet you never really talk about him."

"What's there to talk about? We do therapy, he says stupid things, I shove carrots in his ears," Kensi rattled off and he grins. It doesn't surprise him she's found a way to turn PT and OT into a competitive activity.

"I'm sure that's an approved and well-tested therapy strategy," he jokes.

"Hey, maybe it's not conventional, but it helps pass the time." She pauses, then adds, "Even though he annoys me 90% of the time, he makes it easier somehow. I don't feel like he's pitying me or whatever. He's just Sullivan."

Deeks knows there's nothing to worry about; he trusts Kensi's fidelity to him completely. It doesn't do anything to quell the slight jealousy that rises every time he walks into the rehab unit to find them taunting one another or laughing.

Maybe it reminds him a little too much of how he and Kensi started out. Or maybe he's just that desperate for more time with her.

"Maybe I can come to one of your nest sessions," he suggests. "I always feel like I'm a step behind when you're working on something new. I can be your exercise partner."

"Oh, baby, you don't need to do that," Kensi says quickly. He tells himself the slight panic in her voice is his imagination.

"Yeah, but I want to."

"Deeks…" she sighs. "I don't want you to see me like that. Sometimes I get frustrated and it's really not pretty."

He doesn't tell her he's seen a lot of not pretty things in the last few months. Like her in bleeding out under a helicopter or stuck in a coma. Apparently Sullivan can see her at her most vulnerable though.

This isn't about him, he reminds himself. She'll look for support when shes ready.

"Do you wanna grab sushi when I get done at OPS?" he asks after a long silence. "The new place has a special on Wednesdays. We haven't had a real date night since you got released from the hospital."

"Deeks, I'd love to, but I already made plans with Nell," Kensi explains apologetically. "It's this artsy thing that's only out for a few weeks. I'm sorry."

"No, it's ok," he lies, forcing a smile. "Have a great time with Nellosaurus."