Title: Season Six Snippets

Chapter 27: What Do You Love, Kensi?

Disclaimer: I do not own NCIS LA or the characters.

Summary: This snippet is a tag to the deleted scene from the last episode of season six where Kensi lets it slip that she loves Deeks.

Rating: T

What Do You Love, Kensi?

"What did you find?" Deeks asks nodding to the brown paper bag in Kensi's hands as she reclaims her uncomfortable airport seat next to him.

"Just a little something to get us through the trip home," she replies with a conspiratorial smile as she slips a bottle of vodka out of the bag to show him.

"Is this Hetty approved?" Deeks asks hopeful.

"Hetty bought one too," Kensi laughs. "We're off the clock."

"Ahh, that's the stuff," Deeks sighs with contentment after sampling the vodka once they are in the air over Russia. "I love that you thought to buy this," he adds as he watches her mix a bit of the spirit with her orange juice and sip it. Suddenly it occurs to him that it might be fun to try and get her to say those three little words again. He's positive they are the most wonderful words anyone has ever said to him, and he can't wait to hear her say them again. "What do you love, Kensi?" he prompts.

"I love that you gave me your cookies," she responds knowing what he wants her to say, but she won't be goaded into it. She takes a bite of her cookie, then turns her attention to the reports they are trying to complete.

After trying to sleep for a bit and failing, Kensi asks, "Can I borrow your tablet?" She knows Deeks always overpacks for work trips and probably has all of his devices with him. Plus there is a book he was going to share to her device, but she figures now she can just read it on his.

"Sure," he replies. He pauses the game he is playing on his phone and bends down to grab the tablet out of his bag. "I love sharing with you. What do you love, Kensalina."

She purses her lips together in a small smile and shakes her head at him as she takes possession of the tablet. She loves him, of course she does, but the words had just slipped out. That's not how she wanted to tell him. She wanted it to be perfect and it wasn't, so the next time she says it, she wants it to be the right time and the right place.

Deeks wakes up from a nap to find the report he had been working on is complete. "I love when the paperwork fairy comes," he comments happily. "What do you love, Kens?"

Kensi gives an annoyed and unhappy sigh. Deeks knows she is done with this game. He also knows just by looking at her that she is cold, that she is tired but hasn't slept, and that she just wants to be home. Of course, she would never admit any of this.

"Come here," he urges, reaching out an arm to pull her close. As he tucks the blanket more tightly around her and she burrows into him, Deeks knows exactly how to get her to say the three little words to him.

"I love you," he tells her, then places a kiss on the top of her head. He doesn't tell her so that she'll say it back. He tells her because he wants her to know that he loves her generosity, her thoughtfulness, her kindness, her boldness, her toughness, and everything else that makes her who she is. He tells her because even with dark shadows under her eyes and a messy ponytail, she is the most beautiful woman he's ever laid eyes on. He tells her because with every fiber of his being, he knows it's true.

"I love you too," she replies even though they are in possibly the most unromantic setting and it hasn't been the perfect day. She feels loved and returns that love wholeheartedly. She wants him to know it wasn't a slip, and that she meant it.

She lifts her head from his chest and he leans down to seal their admission of love with a kiss.

"Deeks," Kensi breathily halts their interaction when they get a bit carried away.

"You said we're off the clock," he reasons as he continues to nibble her bottom lip.

"Still, everyone is around," she counters, though as his lips move to her neck, she's not sure she cares that everyone is around.

"One more," Deeks negotiates.

"Tell me again and you can have two more," she offers ghosting her lips over his cheek.

"I love you." He smiles at the comfort and ease that settle within him as he says these words that he's held back out of fear that he'd say them too soon. It elates him that now she's asking to hear them. He brings his hands to her cheeks and they share one of the kisses she promised him.

"I love you," she says softly. She presses her lips to his with the lightheartedness of reaching this new step in their relationship. She is giddy with love for her shaggy haired man with a huge heart. She is even happier to figure out that she no longer fears this love.

Thank you to everyone who has read this series. This is the final chapter. I am hoping to do something similar for season seven. Work and family life are keeping me very busy, so it may be summer before I get to season seven.