A/N: Final chapter! Woot! Thanks to everyone who has read and reviewed. You're the best!

Kensi felt every step Sam took like a knife but it didn't stop her from struggling against him. "Sam, we have to go back! Please!"

"We can't, Kensi," he said, his mouth set in a grim line as he charged out the door.

"He won't get out!" Kensi cried. "Please, Sam, please!"

The world exploded for the second time in twenty-four hours but this time Sam was between her and the blast. He went to his knees, cradling her injured body against his, shielding her from the flames and debris.

"No."

The word feel from her lips and she went completely limp, any strength she had left draining from her body.

This could not be happening. Not now. They'd been so close. So close to getting out of this nightmare.

"Sam!" Callen ran toward them. "What happened? Where's Deeks?"

"He went back for Hassan's wife." Sam said, turning back to look at the building that was now engulfed in flames.

"Oh my god." Callen's words were soft, horrified.

"No, please no," Kensi moaned.

"Kensi," Sam seemed at a loss for words, his voice breaking. "Kens, I am so sorry."

"He…I can't…"

Kensi couldn't breathe and it had nothing to do with her injuries.

"There!" Callen pointed.

Deeks emerged from the smoke practically carrying the woman and her child.

Callen ran to him, helping get them all further from the inferno.

Deeks collapsed next to his partner, coughing and wheezing, his face blackened by the ash.

"Oh god, Deeks," tears slid down Kensi's face as she reached for his hand.

"I'm okay," he wheezed, his eyes finding Callen's. "Kensi needs a doctor."

"Yeah, I think maybe you both do," Callen told him. "Why don't you just relax and let us handle it."

It was quiet at the hospital except for the steady beep of Kensi's heart monitor. They had taken her into emergency surgery to repair damage to her liver and spleen. That, along with the three broken ribs and severe concussion, was going to be enough to keep her in the hospital for a while.

Deeks had faired slightly better although the doctors were concerned about the amount of smoke he'd inhaled which had landed him in the bed across the room from his partner. That hadn't stopped him from slipping out of his bed and into his partner's the minute they were alone.

"So," he croaked softly, voice rough with smoke, "worst day ever?"

"I mean, you did steal my peanut butter cups," she told him, her eyes closed.

He chuckled and kissed her hair. "Well, I did apologize."

"How did Callen and Sam find us anyway?"

Deeks had heard from the other members of their team at length while the doctors worked on Kensi. "Some tricky computer work on Nell and Eric's part. Something about traffic cams and cell signals and IP addresses. I think Callen and Sam went pretty hard at one of Farhad's former contacts too."

"Oh."

She said it so quietly he thought she might have fallen asleep. There would be time to tell her about the heroic efforts of their team later. How Granger had called in every favor he had at NCIS. How Nell and Eric had stayed on the phone for hours pinging their earwigs over and over, trying to get a signal.

"Please don't do that again."

Her soft request surprised him. "What?"

"Sacrifice yourself for me. Or anyone else."

He looked down to find her eyes wide open and full of tears. "Kens…You know I'd do whatever I had to, to keep you safe."

"I know. I just…sometimes I wish we didn't have to make the choice."

"Well, next time don't get yourself so hurt," he teased, attempting to lighten the mood.

"If you hadn't taken the peanut butter cups we wouldn't have been late," she poked him in the ribs.

"Oh, you mean, these peanut butter cups?" He reached down beside the bed and pulled up a bag of Reese's that Sam and Callen had smuggled in at his request.

Kensi smiled. "Thanks, Babe."

"Am I totally forgiven?"

She kissed his cheek. "I'll think about it."