Hi all! So this is my first NCIS L.A. fic, so I want to let you guys know that constructive criticism is welcome.

Second, how 'bout that finale, huh? I've re-watched it several times and it gets better and worse each time. The episode itself was awesome (especially that Densi kiss), the ending…not so much. I hate hiatus.

So this story is set after the finale. I know there's like a billion of these already, but I hope you like it nonetheless. It'll be 10 chapters, just so you know.

There will be lots of Densi, there will be some Callen and Kensi friendship moments. Purely friendship. And though it will revolve around Kensi and Deeks, the rest of the team will be present in the story.

I don't own NCIS L.A. or anything associated with it.

Enjoy!

Chapter 1

As Kensi raced up her 26th flight of stairs, it was almost easy to forget about the kiss Deeks had shut her up with not twenty minutes before. Adrenaline coursed through her veins, pumping her legs up the stairs, two steps at a time. She knew something had gone wrong the second the two Russian girls had taken Michelle up the elevator. Kensi burst out onto the unfinished 30th floor of the building, SIG Sauer held out in front of her, eyes scanning for the Russian girls or Michelle. As she crept around boxes and construction supplies, she heard the sounds of struggle: grunts of pain, metal ringing against metal, cries of protest, and then the sound of wood snapping like bone. Kensi came around a corner, saw the two Russians, and instantly fired, just missing both.

"Michelle!" she shouted, not seeing Sam's wife.

Kensi swung her head. The two Russians were quickly making their way towards the elevator, the blonde one hobbling slower than the brunette.

"Michelle, hang on!" Kensi shouted, hoping the CIA agent had heard.

Kensi darted after the girls, raising her gun. The blonde, being closer to her, and slower with injuries, was an easy target. "Bring me at least one of the Russians alive," Granger's voice echoed in her head. Kensi lowered her gun just slightly, so instead of a kill shot, she fired into the girl's calf, sending her crashing to the ground with a cry of pain. As Kensi predicted, the brunette turned briefly as her partner fell to the ground, giving Kensi the split second she needed to fire into the girl's chest. After all, they only needed one alive.

Kensi raced over and handcuffed the blonde with zip ties to a metal rod drilled into a concrete column. Unoccupied with the Russians, Kensi started scanning the area for Michelle once again.

"Michelle?" she cried out.

Over the roar of the wind through the unfinished windows, Kensi thought she heard a shout in response. Kensi turned frantically, trying to pinpoint where the sound had come from. She froze, her vision zooming in on splintered wood that had barricaded one of the windows. Kensi sprinted over to the open window and glanced down. The city spun sickeningly far below her. But that wasn't all she saw. Hanging precariously half-way down a plastic tarp that was snagged on the building, was Sam's wife.

"Michelle!" relief flooded her voice at the fact that Michelle was alive. But not for much longer if she didn't hurry. Kensi could see the strain on Michelle's face as she gripped the plastic sheeting.

Kensi spotted a ladder reaching down the side of the building, ending—almost miraculously—where the plastic tarp started. Kensi holstered her gun and swung a leg over the remainder of the wood that blocked the open space. She moved quickly down the rungs till she hit the bottom. She situated herself on the bottom rung, wrapping her legs around on of the side bars of the ladder. Momentarily keeping one hand on the ladder, Kensi reached down towards the plastic tarp, gripping it tight in one fist.

She heaved the tarp, feeling her muscles strain. Realizing she wouldn't be able to lift with just one hand, she wrapped her legs even tighter around the ladder, really wishing that she had a rope to anchor her to the building. Kensi leaned down slowly, her dark hair coming out of its bun in the wind. With both hands, Kensi pulled the sheet up, inch by agonizing inch. The second Michelle was within reach, Kensi grabbed the ladder again and grabbed Michelle's wrist with the other. The other woman wrapped her hand around Kensi's wrist in turn and Kensi pulled her up until she could grab onto the ladder herself.

Once they climbed back up the ladder, they exchanged a look. There were no words—which Kensi didn't mind—but she knew that Michelle was thanking her. Kensi let out a breath, her heart still racing, her muscles burned slightly, but it wasn't a bad burn. She started walking over to the column where she had secured the blonde, pulling out her gun just in case. As they approached, the blonde girl glared at them, pure hatred in her eyes. Kensi handed Michelle her gun, who in turn, aimed it at the girl's head. Kensi lifted a hand up to the com in her ear.

"Eric?" Kensi spoke aloud, waiting for the analyst to respond.

There was a short burst of static. "Kensi, what do you need? You're both okay, right?"

Kensi thought she detected a note of…something in Eric's voice. Fear? Anxiety? She couldn't pinpoint it so she shrugged it off for the moment being.

"We're fine. Both of us. We've got the blonde in custody. We're gonna take her back to the boatshed. Tell Callen to meet us there." Kensi responded.

"He's already there," there it was again, that slight hitch in his voice. "What about the other girl, Veronica?"

"Tell the MEs to bring a body bag."

Twenty minutes later Kensi marched into the boatshed with Michelle, Russian girl in tow. Silence was the only thing to greet them.

"Callen?" Kensi called out. Nothing. "Callen?"

She was about to call out for a third time, but then he appeared from the shadows of the hallway leading back to their interrogation rooms.

"Hey, we got…" her voice faltered and she trailed off as she took in the expression on Callen's face.

Not taking her eyes of Callen, Kensi addressed the CIA agent at her side. "Hey, Michelle, could you take her back to one of the rooms?"

"Sure," Michelle replied, looking between the two of them, but not asking any questions. As Michelle moved past Callen, Kensi approached him.

"Callen, what happened?" Kensi asked, but it came out as more of a demand. He refused to look her in the eye, his jaw clenched.

"Come on, Callen. I'm supposed to be the stubborn one, remember?" she said softer, trying to smooth the frustration out of her voice. "Something happened, what was it?"

Silence.

"Where's Janvier?" she asked, approaching the situation from a different angle. Plus she had a gut feeling that Janvier was attributed to whatever Callen was so furious about.

She waited, watching Callen's face as he contemplated answering her. Finally, he gave in.

"He's in the other interrogation room," Callen responded. "A little beat up. Possibly has a broken nose. But otherwise he's fine. For now, anyway."

Kensi blinked. "Broken nose? What…how-?"

"Her question was cut off as Michelle walked back into the main room of the boatshed. Before Kensi could finish questioning Callen, he started walking towards the exit, so she—and a confused looking Michelle—had no choice but to follow. When they walked outside, the sunlight momentarily blinding, Callen nodded to several agents standing by the building. They nodded back and headed inside, no doubt to watch over their prisoners.

"Come on, they want us in OPS, now." Callen explained as the three of them climbed into his car and sped off.

When Kensi walked into OPS—followed by Callen and Michelle—the grave looks on everyone's faces only confirmed her gut feeling that something had gone terribly wrong in the op.

"What happened?" she asked for what felt like the millioneth time that day.

When nobody spoke, Kensi looked at everyone in turn, hoping her glare would eek an answer out of someone. Eric and Nell had matching expressions of fear, worry, and maybe a little guilt. Michelle looked just as confused as she was. Callen had mostly the same expression as at the boatshed, but his eyes also searched the room, and Kensi thought that maybe he only knew half of what was going on. Kensi didn't even bother looking at Granger because she knew he wouldn't tell her anything. That left one person.

"Hetty?" Kensi asked the small woman.

Hetty's expression didn't give anything away as she folded her hands behind her back. Hetty took a deep breath and looked at her, Callen, and Michelle. The air seemed to hold still, like the calm before the storm.

"It has been fifty-seven minutes since we lost all electronic communication with Mr. Hanna and Mr. Deeks."

So that's the first chapter for you guys!

Hope you liked it! Remember to review, and constructive criticism is totally welcome! Anyway I can make it better, just tell me. And if you guys spot any stupid typos, you can tell me. I don't always catch them while proofreading. I should have the next chapter up soon, within the next week, at least.

Thanks for reading!

-DaughterOfPoseidon333