A/N: Guys, I'm sorry this chapter took so long. I didn't mean for it to. Life kinda got in the way, and I didn't realize how much time had passed. You owe getting this chapter today to violetdoodlebug because without that reminder to update, who knows when I would have remembered.

This chapter was really hard for me to write, mostly because, since Deeks and Kensi never really "communicate" how am I supposed to make sure they stay in character wihile doing so? I hope I did an ok job.

Disclaimer: You know the drill. Nothing has changed over my extended absence.

Deeks took a deep breath, contemplating how he was going to explain. "Where do you want me to start?"

Something flickered across Kensi's face. "The night we came back from Afghanistan."

He noticed a slight waver in her voice, but ignored it. For now.

"Well, when I dropped you off, I had every intention of coming in. But then... Listen Kens, I did some things in Afghanistan that I'm not proud of. And I kind of scared myself by doing them. I think the scariest part of it is, I'm not sure if I can stop myself next time. And that thought terrified me. It still does actually. So when you stood there, waiting for me to come in, I started thinking. What if I had nightmares? I couldn't let you see me like that, not with you still hurting too."

Kensi's eyes softened slightly. "Deeks, I read the report, and talked to the guys. You stopped yourself. That's one thing I know about you. You can't seem to be a bad guy, no matter how hard you try. It's not in your nature."

Deeks felt hope rise in his chest, but he knew he had to continue. "I did come back. I got all the way back home, walked Monty, when I realized how stupid it was. The one person who I had been waiting to see for so long, waiting to be near was here. The one person who kept the nightmares away. The one person I loved was home, and I was being stupid, when she needed me. So I put Monty in the truck, and drove to your place."

"But you never showed up?" Kensi looked confused, and at any other time, it might have made him laugh.

"I made it all the way to your front door. But then I heard you and Nell laughing. I knew that if you came to the door and saw me, you'd probably be upset at me leaving in the first place. So I figured that I'd let you have a night of happiness with Nell, and explain later."

Kensi smiled wryly. "You had me thinking I was crazy. I could of swore I heard your truck, and Monty barking, but I didn't dare say a word to Nell."

Deeks gave her a small smile in return.

"So what about after our case with Angelo? You gave back the knife."

Deeks sighed. "Angelo just really got to me, you know? I started thinking about what I did to the cleric, and how I stopped. Then I started thinking about if I hadn't stopped. I really don't know what made me stop in the first place. I wanted to kill him. I knew by that point he wasn't giving me any information, but I really wanted to kill him. I have no idea why I stopped."

"Because you're good. You're not Max, you're not your father, you're Deeks. You're a LAPD detective who cares deeply for other people, who is the kindest man I know." Kensi took a tentative step towards him.

"Well that night, I was afraid of what loving you was turning me into. I was so protective of you, you mean so much to me, that I can't control myself. So that's why I gave the knife back. But later, after the bombing, I realized something. Loving you, isn't something I can just stop doing. I can't just flip a switch. Even if we're not together, I would still do anything for you. Anything. And I've been trying to work up the courage to tell you that."

"What about Talia?"

Deeks gave a laugh. "There's nothing with Talia. She and I worked a case together while you were in Afghanistan. That's it."

"But you were going out with her tonight."

"Ok, that was a real ass thing to do, I'll admit it. I shouldn't have said I would go with her. I'm really sorry. But I can promise you, absolutely nothing would have happened. It was just drinks with a colleague, but seeing as how you've been acting today, I should have known how you'd take it."

Kensi seemed to be thinking so he sat still for a bit. Finally, he's curiosity got the better of him, and he spoke up.

"Can I ask you a question?"

Kensi looked him straight in the eye and nodded.

"Why did you go out with Sabatino tonight? He's always trying to get a date with you...well was that a date? Cause Bell said he was giving you a ride home but you weren't back for a long time. So are you guys...well-"

He was cut off by the sound of Kensi laughing. It was her cackle, the one he'd said he never wanted to hear, but now, it sounded wonderful, and he found himself grinning. "What? I don't think it's that funny? He's single, your...single, you went out and weren't back for hours, any normal person would assume..."

Kensi tried to speak through bursts of laughter. "Sabatino...he's... engaged!"

"What?"

Kensi nodded, finally controlling her laughter. "He told me about her while we were in Afghanistan. He was going to propose as soon as we got back. He told me tonight that he did, and that they are to get married next year."

"So wait, the dinner?"

"It was just a friend thing. I needed to think, and talk to someone who wasn't a member of the team about things in my life, like you and this whole Hetty thing."

Deeks couldn't help the giant grin that spread across his face.

"So you're not at me anymore?

"Deeks, dogs get mad, people get angry."

"Fine, you're not angry with me anymore? Cause this whole 'Story of Mommy and Me' that we are going to have to tell our little ninjas one day is long enough already."

"You're a real idiot, you know that?"

"You're in love with an idiot."

"Touché."

Deeks suddenly jumped up. "Kensalina! You used it right! You used touché right!"

"Hah! I always use it right. Touché, touché, touché!"

Deeks groaned and Kensi punched him playfully on the arm. "You know something?"

"What?"

"We actually had a conversation. Verbal communication. A lot of it."

Deeks took a couple steps, until he was standing right in front of her. "You're right. This is a big moment for us. However, I prefer our usual form of communication."

Kensi murmured a quiet "Me too." before closing the distance between their lips.

They have a thing. And after years of using that label, they can move onto another label. A better label. And they'll figure everything out. They always do. Because this tale, is one hell of a love story.

A/N: Ok guys, I believe this is the last chapter of Emotions Run High. However, since I kinda dug into the whole Hetty situation in this story, I was thinking of writing a sequel. I'm not sure how long it would be, probably not too terribly long, but not too terribly short either. If there's interest in that, let me know in your review, and if you have any ideas for it, leave it there as well or PM. Thank you guys for all the interest in this story. and I hope this last chapter lived up to your expectations. This has been my most successful NCIS: Los Angeles story, and you guys are the best readers anyone could ever ask for! Until next time!

Ruth