Kensi darted down an alley, feet pounding the pavement and breathing hard. She had been running for a while, not her useful way of doing things but she had managed to snatch a memory card from a suspect and had been chased in the opposite direction of the car. And, of course, there was no easy way to get to here with the car. So, running it was. Thankfully, she was fast so the guy wasn't even close to catching up with her but that didn't mean that she should get complacent. Definitely not. Taking a risk, she quickly glanced over her shoulder. The suspect hadn't seen her turn down here, he was actually facing the opposite direction so he couldn't see her at all. That gave her a little bit of breathing room.

She moved further down the alley so he would definitely not see her from the street so she could regroup. She stopped next to a dumpster, good protection against any bullets that may come her way. Inhaling deeply to steady her heartbeat her nose had no choice but to catch the lovely aroma of decomposing fish and various body fluids that she really didn't want to think too much of.

Kensi hoped that Deeks had either got back to the car or was hiding. Three of the guys had gone after him - thinking that he had grabbed the memory card. Was it wrong to hope that if he was hiding that it was somewhere more unpleasant than here? As long as he was safe, of course. They had unfortunately both been made (separately) while losing as informants. Unfortunately, Mexican weapon smugglers took offense to feds and cops intruding on their operations. Doubly so when you made off with proof of said operations. Who would have thought?

A rush of heavy footsteps thundered past the alley - Kensi quickly ducked down but they didn't even stop. Great, the guy had rounded up some lackeys. Probably all stupid thugs but she didn't exactly like her chances when it was five or six against one. Nope. She would stay right here and hopefully sneak away before they even realised, they lost her.

Deciding that she really ought to do that sooner rather than later - it was definitely not a good idea to stay in such a confined space - she slowly edged towards the opposite end of the alley. Sidestepping a steaming pile of something (no, she wasn't going to think too much about it), Kensi peered around her exit only to jump backwards in shock.

"Argh!"

She had come face to face with an overweight, balding guy who hadn't buttoned his last three buttons on his shirt. She instinctively took a step back, which unfortunately wasn't out of range for his horrible breath, and apologised. She was sure she had frightened him more than he had surprised her.

He grinned lecherously at her, a look that never failed to make her skin crawl, and casually placed himself across her exit. Fantastic. Of course, this couldn't go well for her. It was going to be one of those days.

Are you lost, princess?" He asked in the most stereotypically oily voice ever.

Kensi restrained herself from shuddering. Did men actually think that sounded good? Attractive? Sexy? Because it definitely didn't. It made her want to run as fast as possible in the opposite direction. That seemed to bolster his ego as he decided that the best course of action was to grin wider and reach for her arm. No. That wasn't going to happen.

What was going to happen, however, was that she was going to take this as a sign that she should knock him into the wall and glare at him. He had a satisfyingly terrified look on his face. Good. Unfortunately, before she could threaten him and his manhood, she heard footsteps returning to the entrance of the alley along with very loud swearing in Spanish.

"No," she said to the disgusting man, lunging forwards so she was out of the alley, "I'm pretty sure the best run-away route is this way. I suggest that you also move in this direction."

As much as she didn't like him, that didn't mean she wanted him to be a casualty (mostly). And because they were focused on her just him getting away from the alley should keep him safe. Thankfully he wasn't that stupid and actually ran out of the way. Well, run was a strong word.

Anyway, she didn't need to worry about him, she needed to worry about herself.

"I appreciate the concern, though!" She called after him as she took off running just as the group burst out of the alley.

You know, Kensi would like one case, one case, where she didn't have to run like a mad person. At least she wasn't in heels this time. And she was the one being chased, that was a change. Not a change she liked but still.

Also, where did these guys get all their energy? They weren't exactly the fittest people but they were still going after her not looking like they were going to give up any time soon. Which was just great.

'Screeeeech'

A car pulled up in front of her. Her car. Which Deeks was driving.

"Need a lift, Princess?" He asked her with a cheeky grin.

"Yeah, I'd like one," she said, diving into the passenger seat. "Drive!"

They weren't quick enough to avoid the weapons dealers from drawing their guns and firing at them. Fortunately, they had poor aim and were too far away to do any damage. They managed to get away fairly easily.

"Give you a bit of a run-around?" Deeks asked as she buckled herself in, still panting heavily.

He, on the other hand, was not. He looked perfectly fresh for a man who should have also been running about. Kensi narrowed her eyes at him.

"I hid and I think the guys after me gave up and them went after you."

That would explain the increase in people that were on her tail.

"Hmpf."

"You didn't drop it after all that, did you?"

Of course, that made her pat herself down in a panic which just increased when she couldn't find it. Then she realised that it was still in her hand.

"Don't even joke about that."