bomb

Kensi finally reached the base that she had a meeting at. She had found out the day before that KC was there, and immediately made sure she could see her best friend. KC still wasn't sure what she thought of the country, but at least she was out of the LA area with something to do, a feeling of being useful. She liked being part of the action again, keeping busy. Kensi walked into a tent where people were eating and spotted KC straight away. She hurried over, her smile getting wider the closer she got.

The smile looked normal, but her eyes didn't. "Hey, honey." She hugged her best friend.

"God, have I missed you so much!" Kensi looked at her friend, noticing something off. "Are you okay KC?"

"Yeah, I'm fine. Here." She handed her friend the package she'd promised Deeks she'd bring.

"What's this?" Kensi took the package but didn't open it.

"From your boyfriend." The last was a subtle tease.

"You mean Deeks? Is he here too?" Kensi sounded hopeful, though she tried to hide it.

"No, he's still in LA. He asked me to bring it to you if I could." She'd planned on making sure that the care package got to Kensi if she had to track her down on her day off.

"Thank you. Now, I thought you weren't working at the moment?"

"I'm not. I'm eating lunch," she indicated the plate she'd barely touched.

"You know what I mean. You can't hide things from me, we're best friends."

"I was working, just at Camp Pendleton." She'd been at Pendleton for a few months longer than she'd been with her ex.

"So what's the matter?"

"You know, Deeks is really freaked out since Granger left you over here."

"He should join the club. I thought Granger was meant to be protecting me?"

"Ask Hetty. She'd be about the only one who knows what's going on, besides Granger."

"Great. Doesn't matter, maybe I can sneak home somehow."

"I wouldn't try it unless you like being AWOL. Deeks had a fit to come over, but Granger wouldn't let him."

"I want to go home. I don't know how you do this. I miss my friends and I miss home."

"Our lives are different, Kens."

"Don't you miss me when you're away?" pouted Kensi.

"I always miss you." She smiled again for her. "And if I were in your position, I'd probably want to go home too."

"You don't want to go home? Why?"

"Because I don't have a home, Kens." She finally said.

"Yes you do." Kensi was confused. "Of course you do. With me."

"And you're over here."

"But I want to go home, and when I do, you're coming with me."

"No, Kens. I'm not." She paused. "You can call me, email, write letters; we'll talk all the time. You'll never know I'm over here."

"But I can't visit you then. I'll know you're here cause I won't be able to see you. Why won't you come?"

"You'll get busy at work; Deeks will keep you busy...You'll be okay, Kens."

Kensi stood up, tears pooling in her eyes. She couldn't believe what her best friend was saying to her.

"Kensi." She looked up and, while she wasn't crying, her eyes were full of pain. "Sit. Please."

Kensi sat, knowing she wouldn't leave her friend, no matter what happened.

"Callen and I aren't together anymore."

"WHAT?!"

"Kensi..." She looked around to see how many were watching them now.

"Sorry. What happened?"

"It was time to break up or make a commitment. We chose the right one for us."

"I'm so sorry." Kensi stood to move around the table for a hug, but felt something on her leg. She looked down and froze.

"What? What is it?"

"I think I tripped something," said Kensi worriedly.

She saw the bomb underneath the table, between the two. "Everyone out, NOW!" KC said in her best Marine voice.

"What do I do KC?" asked Kensi once everyone was gone.

"Can you get out without moving your bench?"

Kensi shook her head.

KC tried her best to make her side equal what Kensi's did with her friend there. "Try to get up."

"What about you?"

"I'll move when you're safe."

"I'm not leaving you."

"You won't, honey. I'll be right behind you."

"Promise?" But Kensi stood slowly anyway until she felt something change.

The world went dark for both women. When Kensi opened her eyes next, it was dark outside. She tried to make out her surroundings but couldn't. Her head was pounding, and memories were flooding into her head. She turned as much as she could and saw that KC was next to her, but she couldn't tell if she was alive or not.

---

Hetty came to the gym to find Sam, Callen, and Deeks working out. Callen looked up and instantly worried. "Hetty, are you okay?"

"There was a bomb, at a Marine base in Afghanistan. Kensi was there."

Deeks stopped what he was doing, the colour draining from his face. "Is she okay Hetty?" he asked in fear.

"She's in the hospital nearby. She was there visiting a friend."

Deeks stood. "I want to go now. I need to be there for my partner."

Callen was pale, having a bad feeling. "Hetty...Who was she visiting?" He had heard, through an argument with Deeks, that KC had gone overseas.

"Kadence Lambert." What was left of the color in Callen's face ran out.

"Was...was she hurt?" Callen felt unable to breathe.

Deeks stared at Callen but didn't say anything. He cared about KC as much as Kensi did, and he wanted to protect her.

Hetty nodded, looking at Sam, not sure what was going on.

"Hetty, I want to go. Please?" asked Deeks again.

"We're both going," Callen told Hetty, not waiting for permission.

Sam looked up. "Hetty, let him go. I can do his share of the work."

"Callen can stay here with me." Sam hated KC and was glad that she was out of the picture.

"Screw you, Sam. I'm going." He dared him to argue again.

Sam kept quiet, thinking of a way to keep Callen away from KC. Deeks' eyes were filling with tears the longer he thought about Kensi being hurt.

"C'mon, Deeks. Let's go." Callen started to walk out.

Deeks followed blindly, knowing that Callen would take him to Kensi now that he wanted to see KC.

---

After what seemed like forever, they finally arrived at the hospital. "I'm looking for Kadence Lambert and Kensi Blye."

The doctor looked up. "May I ask who you are?"

Deeks answered for them. "I'm Marty Deeks, this is G Callen. Kensi and KC are our friends."

Callen shot Deeks a grateful look.

"Come with me." The doctor led them towards Kensi's room first. "The two women were closest to the bomb, so they sustained the most damage. Ms. Blye has burns, cuts and bruises, and a head injury, but she is awake. Major Lambert is still in surgery at the moment."

"Surgery? For what?" asked Callen.

The doctor was standing by a whiteboard and drew a diagram. "From what the witnesses say, the two were here and the bomb was here. Evidently at some point, Ms. Blye stood up, so she was thrown by the bomb, but Major Lambert was, theoretically, sitting almost on top of it."

Callen went white, and Deeks took hold of him to keep him upright.

"So she got the worst of it then?" asked Deeks.

"I'd say both young ladies have had a bad day today." The doctor said gravely.

Deeks nodded. "Can we see Kensi?"

The doctor nodded. "That might help. She's somewhat...upset." The doctor was putting it very mildly.

"Does she know about KC?" asked Callen.

"She knows her friend is hurt, but not the condition."

"Don't tell her yet. KC and Kensi are best friends. You think she's upset now, wait until she hears that her friend is in surgery." Deeks explained as they walked.

Deeks was upset himself as he walked into the room but tried not to show it. "Hey, baby." He whispered, not caring what Callen thought.

"Deeks," whispered Kensi. "Callen. KC got hurt." Her tears cascaded down her cheeks. "I couldn't save her."Callen sat on the bed next to her. "It's not your fault Kens."

"I tried to save her..."

"She's alive, honey. They'll let you see her soon, but you've gotta rest." He kissed her forehead.