Requiem for the boy

Chapter 21

Deeks woke early, sitting in the bed, watching Kensi asleep.

They hadn't slept together,(Although one day maybe, he hoped.) But they had talked late into the night and she had fallen asleep, fully clothed on his bed. He leaned over and moved a lock of hair that had fallen over her face and smiled as she turned over and blinked looking at him. "Morning."She smiled.

He leant over and kissed her, "Good morning, I have to get up and get some packing done, before Dave gets up." He said and climbed out of bed.

"Do you feel better about it all now?" Kensi asked as she sat up.

"About going on?…or us?" Deeks asked as he put his case on the bed and opened it.

"Both I guess." Kensi responded.

Deeks smiled, "I feel….calm…you know, more centered than I have in a long time, it's like the morning after a storm, where everything is washed clean, you know there is some clearing up to do, but it's nowhere near as bad as the storm the night before…D'ya know?"

Kensi nodded, "I get it…"

Deeks sat on the bed and cupped her face in his hand. "For so long, I've been afraid to be me, I've always felt responsible for other people's mistakes, but I have admitted mine, I know my weaknesses and I'm not alone anymore, I know my strengths." He said looking deep into her eyes hoping that she realized when he was talking about his strengths he was, in fact, talking about her.

"So, what happens next?" she asked.

Deeks put the last of his stuff into his bag and zipped it closed. "Dave and I will leave for the center today. I get off the last of these meds, a few more sessions with Bryan and then Hasta la Vista baby!" he grinned.

Kensi rolled her eyes.

"You know what you're going to do afterwards?" She asked, they hadn't talked about if he would go back to LAPD or join NCIS or something else.

Deeks shrugged, "I don't know…I'm not really worried about it, if I can't go back, that's ok. I understand if Hetty doesn't trust me back on the team, "

"She said you could go back and that she wanted to work with you again," Kensi gently prodded.

Deeks smiled, "I know what she said, but I know I will have to pass the psych evals, if I can't do that I can see a surf shack in my future,"

"You'll be fine, I need my partners watching my back."

Deeks sighed with a smile, "Kenzalina, no matter what I am doing, I will ALWAYS watch your back."

She raised an eyebrow at him, her face a slight smirk, "You know that is incredibly….."

"Brave, Sweet, Heroic…" He offered.

"CREEPY!" She finished with a small laugh.

He laughed with her, she, as usual was right. The door knocked and he looked up as Dave came in with his hand over his eyes.

"You guy's naked?" He called out smirking.

"Nope all dressed." Deeks affirmed as Dave lowered his hand.

"Darn." Dave said smirking under his breath and ducking as Kensi chucked a cushion at him.

"OK so you all packed?" He asked.

Deeks nodded, "We gotta go now?" he asked a small waver in his voice.

Dave smiled, "I think I'd be lynched if we left right now." He told Deeks. He grabbed Deeks' case and headed for the door, "I think you need breakfast first."