DISCLAIMER: Characters of NCIS: LA, any recognizable dialogue, and the canon events of their storyline do not belong to me.

A/N: I recently remembered this idea for a one-shot.

Prompt:

S3 Ep15 – Crimeleon (original airdate 2/14/2012)

Team undercover at bar. Kensi and Deeks discussing the guy she had been flirting with.

Scene found here on YouTube watch?v=KCE5Poq005k

Deeks: First of all, I'd have been successful.
Kensi: In picking me up?
Deeks: [long explanation] … except for the fact that you're not my type.
Kensi: I am too your type.

A couple of days later …

Kensi walks into a small neighborhood bar – the kind of place where the locals drop in after work and everyone knows your name. They don't normally get "outsiders" at this particular watering hole – regulars only.

She sits at down at the bar. After waiting for a few minutes, the bartender finally makes his way down to her. He nods at her.

"Scotch on the rocks," she says.

He nods again.

Thankfully, the bartender has realized that she's there to think, not talk – and has left her alone. As she finishes her drink, she gets his attention to order a second.

After he finishes pouring, he tells her he'll put it on the gentleman's tab.

She gives him a confused look. "What gentleman? Who? Where is he?"

"He's around here somewhere. I'm fairly certain he hasn't left yet."

Then, a rose is delivered to her by a waitress with a note that says: "So is there any particular line that would get me in the door at this point? Or do I just keep knocking on the door all night?"

To the waitress, she asks, "Where is he?"

"He was over at the corner table, but I think he moved."

"What does he look like? Should I be running for cover or should I give him a shot?"

The waitress giggled, "Oh, I'd give him a shot if I were you. Sweet. Cute. Looks at you like…I don't know…like a man in love. You know, the I've-stopped-looking-at-other-women type of love."

"O…K … but not creepy stalker, right?"

"No, I really don't think so. But he seems to know you."

Kensi ponders the information she has been given. After scribbling on a piece of paper, she says to the waitress, "Take him this note."

The mystery man reads the note from Kensi, which says: "Since I don't know where you are or what you look like, you'll have to make the next move."

A few minutes later, just as "Unchained Melody" starts to play on the jukebox, the waitress comes back with a note: "May I have this dance?"

Kensi finishes her drink, gets off her stool, and walks cautiously over to the small dance floor. She sees a figure leaning against the far wall, but the upper half of his body is veiled in shadow. She walks to the jukebox which is against the opposite wall, glancing over at the man and wondering if that is her mystery man. When she sees him start to move, she looks back at the jukebox, suddenly reluctant about the situation. He walks directly over to her, not stopping until he is standing just behind her, his head leaning over her right shoulder.

As his right hand takes hers, he whispers, "Dance?"

Her eyes widen with recognition. She would know that voice anywhere. Why had she not recognized the handwriting of the notes? She takes a deep breath as she turns to face him.

He says, "So you wanted to know what I would do to successfully pick you up. How am I doing so far?"

"That depends."

"On what?"

"The real purpose of this little exercise."

He takes her in his arms and begins to dance, as he asks, "What are my options?"

"A) to make a point. B) to tease me about the other night. C) because you …"

Whispering into her ear, he finishes the sentence, "…really want to be here with you?"

She was hoping he wouldn't notice that her pulse has quickened, but the change in her breathing was a dead giveaway that she had reacted to his words. "Yeah, I think that about covers it."

With a smile in his voice, he asked, "Those are my only choices?"

"I guess you could make a sub-category for one of those answers if you felt it was necessary." She apprehensively waits for his response.

He holds her more firmly, but does not immediately voice his reply. As the Righteous Brothers' song is winding down, he leans back to look into her eyes, saying, "What do you think?"

"I do not pretend to understand what you are thinking or why you do the things you do."

Thoughtfully studying her, he replies, "OK. Then, what do you want my answer to be?"

In the softest whisper, she glances away and says, "I'm not sure."

He takes a step back and lifts her face using a finger under her chin, forcing her to meet his gaze. "Well, when you decide … when you're sure, let me know."

They share a silent moment before he slowly walks past her, on his way off the dance floor. As he is passing by her, she reaches out her hand and grasps his. They stand still for just a moment, but it seems like much longer.

Finally, she says, "Wait. Please."

Although she cannot see it, a smile spreads across Deeks' face.

A/N: Thanks for reading!

~Jen