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Prompt #50: Partners - They'd been stuck together with scotch tape and prayers, but for better or worse, they were glad they had each other.

Words: 1,257

At first, nobody could really understand what Hetty had been thinking, sticking a LAPD detective like Marty Deeks with an agent like Kensi Blye. After all, he was a cop and she had just lost her rookie partner. But since we're talking about the Henrietta Lange, everybody figured that she had an idea what she was doing.

As everyone expected, Deeks wasn't accepted easily. He and Kensi grated on each other's nerves, as expected - they were complete, polar opposites. His liaising was shoddy, her patience was practically nonexistant. She threatened him, he teased her. Back and forth it went.

For a time, several agents expected them to self-implode. They'd been thrown in with each other with Hetty's words and tied together with a mess of frayed string. Add to that their repelling personalities, and the strings were pulled taut to their last strands.

But something happened.

Nobody really could place it, but they could swear it happened after the team brought Deeks back into the fold after his deep cover. He and Kensi had come into the Mission the next day - obviously he caught a ride - but they were being somewhat cordial to each other. More like Kensi was watching her words for an unintentional snap.

From there, their bickering was less vicious but no less playful. It became the flirting banter one would expect from a young couple in love. Something they contested vehemently, him with a cocky grin and her with an outraged expression.

Then Kensi was kidnapped by the Russians. Deeks was driven, and everyone knew it. His smiles practically disappeared for those couple of hours, and they didn't return until he returned from the stadium with Kensi.

The next change occurred when Deeks was shot. That rocked everyone, showing just how vulnerable their newest addition was. Kensi was edgy and anxious, chewing her lip in worry. That is, she was just before she took off for the hospital.

Another, smaller change was noticed during the whole King operation. Kensi had to seduce King, and Deeks was visibly annoyed by this. As they wrapped up the case later, her with a bruised jaw and him with a busted hand, those who listened in were aware of the slightly warmer tones in their voices.

But a significant change happened when Deeks's friend Ray was in trouble. That's when people saw the partners starting to act...a little awkward, to put it bluntly. Kensi came away with a new nickname, Wikipedia, and Deeks was heard denying the existance of a "thing". Whatever that meant.

But what about the actual participents in the partnership? How did they see their progress?

Kensi had thought, at first, that Deeks was a shaggy hack undercover with no sense of seriousness or respect. She'd just lost her first partner Dom, so obviously she was resisting the change. Especially when the change entailed getting saddled with a cocky LAPD cop with a gift for getting under her skin.

Deeks had thought she was a beautiful, intimidating, and uptight woman who obviously didn't like him. But he was used to people not liking him - comes with the job - so he tried endearing himself by taking every opportunity to tease and prod a smile out of her. Most times, however, it backfired.

They worked for a short time, until his undercover assignment fell into place. Then he went away. She worked until the word came through that he disappeared undercover. That case was hard for Kensi, worrying about his safety and how he was doing.

Then he came back, somber and more broken by the death of his partner Jess Traynor at the hands of his crooked boss. They were placed together again, and slowly, they learned that, contrary to popular belief, they could actually work together quite well. Case after case, they had each other's backs. They saved each other's lives.

It was good. Not a "thing" but a good partnership.

But when people began questioning the true depth of their "partnership" that's when they got touchy on the subject. Not just because it was uncomfortable, but because it dredged up certain hidden feelings. Feelings that weren't strictly platonic. Feelings that, both felt, weren't shared beyond their customary flirty banter and the occassional you-feeling-okay that passed between them.

Then, suddenly, it all came to a head.

Five years later...

"Do you know what today is?" Kensi asked, sipping her coffee at the kitchen counter.

Deeks took his time thinking of the answer. "Gimme a minute...ummm, Tuesday?"

She snickered. "Yeah, but what about the date?"

Again he thought hard. Then a big smile exploded over his face. "Oh, it's today! Right!"

Kensi smiled at him warmly. "Yeah, it's today, smartass. Do you remember what today actually is?"

"How could I forget today?" That grin he shot her, a grin she'd become accustomed to that cheered her up and made her feel special. "We first met today."

"You and I were undercover then, so I don't count that." Her smile was soft, a smile he'd learned to protect and treasure as they worked together. "No, today marks the first day we became partners."

"Technically we only worked that one case with the socialite, then I went away."

"But you came back," Kensi pointed out.

Deeks nodded. "That's true."

"You always come back." She really looked at him now. "You've never left me behind. Not once."

His eyebrows knit over his clear blue eyes. "Why would I ever do that, Kensi? You're my partner. I'd never leave you behind."

Kensi smiled and looked into her coffee cup. "That means a lot to me, Deeks. Really."

The blonde male rubbed his nose and smiled awkwardly. Taking advantage of her distraction, Deeks moved closer until he was practically intruding on her personal space. "Hey," he murmured.

She slowly looked up at him. Two-toned eyes met blue. "Deeks?"

He leaned down until their faces were barely inches apart. "Do you trust me?"

Five years ago she wouldn't have been able to answer him. Four years ago, he'd be lucky if she said maybe. Three years ago would have gotten him a mostly. Two years ago, he might've coasted on a shrug. Last year? Possible silent nod.

Now she looked him straight in the eye and said, "Absolutely. You?"

One corner of his mouth turned upwards in a cocky grin. "Back at ya, Wikipedia," he said softly.

She leaned forward a little, teasing him by keeping her lips just barely touching his. "You know, Marty," she murmured, "you owe Ray a call, I think."

"Later."

Later turned out to mean much, much later.

Even though they'd been shoved together by the whim of a higher power (read: Hetty) and a desperate Hail Mary, there is nobody else they'd rather work with. After all, they trusted each other.

Partners they were. Partners they'd stay.

Forever.

And that concludes Kensi and Deeks: Fifty Things!

Oh, I'm tearing up... T^T

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Thank you all so much again!

DCS