kens comes back/ kc shot

Kensi curled herself on the couch, sad and feeling like crying. She knew Deeks was there, that he was helping, but she was still scared. Deeks knew what Kensi had gone through earlier in the year now, only what she'd finally tried for him wasn't working. Nothing he tried was and he couldn't protect her, couldn't take care of her. He felt so helpless. Kensi started sobbing and she knew she couldn't do anything alone now. She crawled across the couch to where Deeks was sitting. "Don't leave," she whispered tearfully.

"I'm not going anywhere, sweetheart."

"Promise."

"I promise." He held her, his hand stroking her hair.

"Thank you."

KC used her key to let herself inside the house. She started to call out, but didn't want to wake her friend if she was asleep. Kensi wiped her eyes as she rested on Deeks. They heard noise from the kitchen.

"What was that?" Kensi asked in fear.

"It was just me, hon. I'm sorry." KC said, walking into the room. Her face looked strained and Deeks made note to ask later.

"KC?"

"Yeah. Am I interrupting?"

"Of course not," Deeks told her. "Welcome home."

"Thanks, Deeks," she sad softly.

Kensi scrambled up, her arms out to KC. Deeks made room for her to sit beside Kensi.

"I missed you."

"I missed you too, honey," she said, resting her head against Kensi's.

"Stay?"

"Of course. I'm here."

"For how long?"

"Awhile."

She tried to smile. It was more of a grimace.

"What's wrong, honey?"

"Kens?" Deeks asked, worried.

Kensi shook her head as tears rolled down her cheeks.

"Kens, please tell us what's wrong." Deeks said, worried.

"I can't." She wanted to tell KC but was scared that Deeks would be upset.

"Deeks, can you get us some Chinese or some burgers or something?" She wasn't really hungry, but thought maybe Kensi would talk out of his hearing.

"I promised Kensi I wouldn't leave her."

"It's okay. I should eat something."

"If you're sure..." He hesitated, but it seemed to be what she wanted and KC was here with her. He finally left.

"Thank you."

"For what, honey?" KC asked, worried.

"I need to tell you something."

"What's that?"

"Jack was there."

"Yeah. I know."

"How?"

"Does it matter?"

"No."

"I'm sorry you're hurting."

"I want to tell Deeks."

"Why would you do that?"

"Cause I don't want to keep secrets from him."

KC ran her hand through her long hair. "The reason why I never said anything is because I know how good you've got it with Deeks, how happy he makes you. Don't screw that up, Kens. He's just not worth it."

"What if he finds out?"

"Kens...Are you still in love with him?"

"No. I was confused but not anymore."

"Did anything happen between the two of you?"

"No."

"Then what's to find out?"

"I don't know."

"Tell Deeks if you want to, but if you do, make sure Deeks knows it's over. That nothing happened and that you still love him. I don't know if I'd add the part about being confused and I'd gloss over the fact that Hetty sent you after him."

"Hetty did what?" She hadn't known that.

"Never mind. It doesn't matter."

"Yes it does."

"She was protecting him."

"She knew I wouldn't shoot him."

She nodded. "Just like she would have done if it had been me instead of him."

"But she could have told me."

"You'll have to take that up with Hetty. I shouldn't have mentioned it to start with."

"I will."

"Do you need me to do anything? Get anything for you?"

"No. Just promise to not tell Deeks anything until I talk to him?"

"I won't say anything to Deeks either way. I don't think it's any of his business."

"Thank you."

She stood, her body stiff.

"Are you okay?"

"Promise you won't freak out?"

"Okay..."

"I got shot."

"When? By who?"

"Not long ago, actually."

"By who?"

"What are you gonna do, Kens? Go back over and beat everyone up?" She smiled softly.

"Yes."

"You're sweet."

"Besties help each other."

"Why don't we help each other heal then?"

"Okay." She smiled.

She got the soft drinks out as Deeks brought the food.

"Deeks, after we eat, there's something I need to tell you."

"You can tell me anything, Kens."

"I hope you still say that after."

"I'll always say that." He helped KC set everything out and sat on one side of Kensi, KC on the other.

Kensi ate slowly, her mouth still sore.

"Oh, Kens, I brought you some soup. Let me get you a spoon." Deeks stood, going to the kitchen for the utensil, bringing it back so she could eat better.

"Thank you." She took the spoon from him.

He sat back down. "So if you two are okay, I thought maybe I'd go back to work tomorrow. Just for a little while. I can come home if you need me."

"Okay," said Kensi.

He was torn between relief to get out for a little while and disappointment that she didn't seem to need him any longer. "Okay."

"You'll come back though?"

"Of course."

"Hey, if it works out better for you, I can stay during the day and you can stay at night," KC volunteered.

Kensi's face lit up at that.

"If it's good for Kens, it's good for me, but what would you do at night?"

"I'll figure something out. I'll be okay."

"Callen?"

Deeks tried not to spew the soda he'd been drinking out. "What?"

"Callen and I are friends, Kens. That's all. I know you want me to find someone here so I'm around more, but it won't be him." KC said gently.

"Callen misses her. I'm sure he'd love to see you KC."

"'I'm sure he's busy with Joelle." Deeks said and then regretted it when he saw Kensi and KC's faces.

"Who's Joelle?"

"Callen's girlfriend. Sam fixed them up while you were gone." He said almost apologetically.

"I'll kill him!"

"Kensi. Listen to me. Callen and I are not together. We're not going to be together. He has a right to date whoever he wants."

"But... you make a good couple."

"He told me in no uncertain terms several years ago that I was too young for him. We're finally friends again. Leave it alone."

"Fine."

"How'd this get about Callen and me anyway?"

"I made the mistake of asking if you'd be okay on your own at night," Deeks teased Kensi slightly.

"I'll be fine. In fact, we can start tonight if you want. I know that Kens wanted to talk to you..."

Kensi nodded, but her face showed that she was scared.

"We'll figure something out. You just got home. You'll stay with us tonight."

Deeks told her and she nodded. Kensi sighed in relief.

"Honey, we won't ever do anything you're not comfortable with. You just need to tell us, okay?" KC told her.

She nodded.

"Why don't you two watch movies? I'll clean up."

Kensi nodded slowly.

Deeks got up and started cleaning up. "What do you want to watch, honey?" KC asked her.

"Whatever you want."

"I don't really want. We don't have to if you don't want to. He's just trying to help keep our minds occupied."

"I need to talk to him."

"Deeks." KC called and he stuck his head in. "Let me do that. You talk to Kens." She managed to stand, walking towards the kitchen before he could argue.

He sat down beside Kensi. "She's limping again."

"She got shot."

"Damn." He looked worried and what he was thinking but would never say was that one of these times she might not make it back home to heal.

"I have to tell you something, I don't know if you already know this, but I have to tell you."

"What is it, honey?"

"Jack was over there."

"Kens, I'm sorry." He said, meaning it.

"You don't understand, he was there. That was how this happened. That was why Hetty sent me there."

He wasn't sure what she wanted him to say.

"Are you mad?"

"No, darlin'. I'm not mad." He kissed her hair.

"Promise? I wanted to tell you when we were over there, but I just wanted you to hold me and tell me everything was okay."

"Can I still do that?"

"Please."

He settled where he could hold her, resting his head against hers.

"I'm sorry I didn't tell you earlier."

"It's okay, Kens. You've got to deal with things in the order that works for you."

"Thank you for understanding."