Drabble of the Week: In Turn

“What the hell.” Pausing in front of him, hands on her hips, breath heavy, scent of gunpowder still strong in the air after the firefight in the suburbs, she was a sight to behold; beautiful and terrifying.

(He’d expect nothing less.)

“Kens, I can ex-“

“Don’t try to explain,” she held up a hand and passed Bates a glare as he passed by them with a snicker, always one to enjoy seeing a certain detective in peril.

“You should have called.”

“Well my phone experienced some technical difficulties, couldn’t really get a signal under Bates’ boot.” Stepping closer, he cocked his head, attempting to calculate just how much of this lecture was anger and how much was fear, because God, in her place his emotions would be just as charged. “I’m sorry.”

Shifting on the lawn, heavy boots sinking into the grass, Kensi’s eyes briefly darted away. “You should have taken me to your meeting with Whiting.”

“Yeah…” Squinting and whining slightly, Deeks shook his head. “That definitely would not have gone well.”

“That depends on which side you’re looking at.”

“If it means anything,” he paused, taking a few careful steps closer, allowing his tone to lower, words just for them. “I wished you were there too.”

He thought he caught the sight of her lower lip wobbling for just a second before she pressed herself into his arms, a rare and overly public show of affection for her, but judging from the feel of her heart beating so close to his, she’d needed it more than he did.

“I’m sorry,” he murmured again, face delving into her hair.

“I had no idea what was going on, Deeks. One second I’m trying not to show how worried I am over you never texting me back and the next Eric has you on the screen.”

“I promise I’ll never make a run for it again without you.”

Tapping his chest lightly, she laughed. “I’m serious, Deeks.”

“Me too, I don’t want to scare you, I just want to be with you.”

“Well,” pulling back, she scraped a thumb beneath her eyes, wiping away a few stray tears his shirt didn’t soak up. “That makes it my turn to scare you.”

“Let’s just take a break from fear for awhile.”

“Deal,” she nodded, reverting back to all business Kensi. “But you’re making dinner tonight.”

“That I can handle,” releasing his hold on her and pressing a short kiss to her hairline, his eyes snapped shut, savoring this moment before the next.