Sorry it has taken me SO long to update this. I've been very busy with the holidays, shopping, school, and work, but here it goes!

In just a short time, Kensi was having her ear bandaged by a couple of EMTs, and within an hour, the entire team was back at OSP. Hetty took one look at Kensi's tired eyes, red eyes, and bandaged ear and Deeks' exhausted, emotionally-drained expression and sent them both home immediately.

"I won't take any objections," she declared, putting her hands on her hips firmly. "You're both worn out, and you're going home to get some rest. Mr. Deeks, you will be kind enough to drive Miss. Blye, won't you?"

"Of course," Deeks agreed before Kensi could open her mouth to object. "C'mon, Kensi, let's go."

"But..." Kensi's voice trailed off, and she decided not to object as Deeks put his hand on the small of her back and steered her towards the door. Something in his gentle, longing look made her put aside her usual independence and go along with him.

Deeks was quiet the entire time he was driving Kensi to her house. She didn't even ask how he knew where she lived; instead, he took all the right turns, and she just accepted it as something she'd have to ask later. Instead, she leaned her head against the cool window pane and closed her eyes, trying to ignore the sharp ache in her earlobe.

Kensi understood that being tortured and interrogating was merely a hazard of her job; she had known that when she signed on for the job, but she hadn't been prepared for the change it would bring over her partner. Deeks was gripping the steering wheel tightly, his knuckles white, his brow was furrowed together in concern, and he didn't have any smart comments to make about anything.

"Deeks...are you okay?" Kensi asked quietly, looking over at him.

"I'm fine," he said tightly, not looking away from the road.

As Deeks pulled the vehicle up to a stop light, Kensi reached over and put her hand on his arm gently. "Marty, what's wrong? Tell me."

"I couldn't do anything to help you today," he exclaimed angrily. "I was helpless while they were hurting you! It's made me think that...maybe I'm not the right partner for you."

"Deeks, that's ridiculous!" Kensi insisted adamantly. "Today was just a really bad on the job. You being put in a tough situation doesn't mean that you're a bad partner. Besides, I think we work really well together."

"You're just saying that," Deeks said somewhat bitterly. Still, he seemed a little bit more cheerful, but only a bit.

"I am not!" Kensi declared, watching as Deeks turned onto her street. "Honestly, Deeks, I'd feel guilty, too, if something like this had happened to you and I hadn't been able to help right away."

"Would you really?" Deeks looked as if his spirits were starting to improve.

"Of course." Kensi was completely confident, and then she realized that her hand was still resting on Deeks' arm. He pulled up in front of Kensi's apartment and switched the engine off.

"Will you come in for awhile?" Kensi asked him quietly. "I'd rather not be alone tonight."

"Me either," Deeks agreed, nodding slowly. His eyes seemed to be saying something that Kensi couldn't quite read.

"C'mon."

Inside Kensi's front door, she hung up her light jacket, and Deeks put his coat on the hook beside hers. "Should we order out?" Deeks wanted to know, turning to face Kensi. To his surprise, Kensi was standing just inches from him, and their faces were closer together than they had ever been.

"I started to say something back there, remember?" she whispered. "You know, when you said that you didn't know what you'd do if something happened to me?"

"Actually, no, I had completely forgotten that you were going to say anything," Deeks told her innocently. "Say, do you have any beer?" He turned to walk into the kitchen, but Kensi caught his arm and spun him back towards her. They both reacted at the same time; Deeks slid his arms around Kensi's waist, and she looped her arms around his neck. Their lips met, and Kensi melted against her partner, molding her slim body to fit perfectly against his. Deeks kissed Kensi everywhere he possibly could—her lips, her cheeks, her nose, her eyelids. He felt as if he was pouring all of his emotions into that one single kiss, and Kensi seemed to be going the exact same thing.

When they finally broke apart, both of them were breathless.

"What was it you wanted to say?" Deeks wanted to know.

"That I really like having you as my partner," Kensi told him breathlessly. "And yes, there is beer in the fridge."