Kensi: Okay, he went to Vegas. He drove back last night.

Callen: And he didn't invite you?

Kensi: No, because I had plans.

Callen: Plans?

When Kensi's phone began to ring mere seconds after she had dropped Astrid off at her apartment, she had to wonder whether Callen was taking lessons in timing from Hetty. She bit down on the smirk tugging at the corners of her lips and pressed answer.

"Why didn't he take you?" she mimicked sassily, paraphrasing his words from earlier that morning, all those hours ago.

Callen barked out a laugh and she could imagine him shrugging his shoulders with a smirk. "You can't tell me you've had a bee in you bonnet about that?"

Kensi raised an eyebrow and realised that telephone communication most definitely did not do justice to their conversations. She and Callen could say more with a look or a gesture than with the most complicated of sentences. "Not really," she answered, finally, with a dip of the shoulder. "Just honoured that you trusted me not to get flustered". Sarcasm dripped from every syllable.

Again there was a short silence that would have seemed awkward to anyone else. "I trained you, of course I can trust you to make up a good cover story. It's my prerogative to make sure that my agents are kept on their toes..."

"Uhuh," Kensi semi-agreed, smiling, before shaking her head. "Sam's not stupid, you know. If you bait me…him…he'll…"As her words died away, she really did wish that she could see his face, that she could gauge his reaction.

It was an insinuation that she expected would stump him. As the seconds ticked by, as her suggestion sunk in, it had definitely sent her mind reeling. What would happen when Sam found out? Deeks? She paused: Hetty? She shuddered: Granger?

His voice was calm. "If and when Sam realises, he'll realise. Nothing we accidentally do or say will make all that much difference".

Kensi was bemused. "You make it sound like Sam finding out is inevitable…"

"How was Astrid?"

She wasn't entirely surprised that he ignored her last statement and changed the subject. Making hypothetical assumptions about others noticing the as-yet wholly undefined changes to their relationship was not going to get them anywhere.

Another sigh crept passed Kensi's lips. "Okay, I think". She pulled over outside her destination and turned off the engine. "I mean, who knows. I'm not sure I'm really qualified to judge…nevermind be her friend…"

"Last time I checked, they don't offer qualifications in friendship…" More softly, he added. "All you can do is try. Check in, if you want…"

Kensi nodded with a sober smile. "I do…She reminds me of me, you know, apart from the pink hair…the Asberger's…the crazy math skills…" She sunk back into her seat, closing her eyes for a moment as her mind wandered back to a period of her life that was thankfully well over. "We all need that someone, you know, to be there when you've got no-one…to help you find your way back…or forward, or wherever…"

"Yeah we do." At first his words had been directed at his own guardian, but then he realised that, slowly, a second had started to steer him through the world. Her. It was a realisation that sat deep in his throat. His voice croaked slightly as he next spoke. "So, what are your plans for now?" Callen asked as his eyes drifted back over to the Chinese menu that he had been contemplating, before deciding that everything would taste better with company.

"I have plans," Kensi replied with a grin that infused her words and sent them both back to earlier that morning.

"Plans?" Callen asked again with a raised eyebrow.

"Yeah," she responded with a smirk. "John Hughes Marathon with my Mom".