There was a certain way to handle Kensi Blye Deeks knew. Deeks had spent the early weeks of their partnership learning the boundaries and testing them, all the while taking the time to study the person who he would essentially trust his life to each time he stepped out on a job.

Kensi had always fascinated him, not simply because she was an attractive woman. There was no denying the fact that his partner was beautiful and Deeks could often push that fact aside with ease, until Hetty poured her into a dress or some other scrap of clothing that left little to the imagination.

But it was the things about Kensi that she didn't want to reveal that intrigued him the most. The way she could switch off her emotions easily, the way she could still pick herself up after getting hit by a friggin' car…Deeks shook his head when he thought of the last memory, recalling the blasé way Kensi had brushed off the accident as if it were a normal occurrence.

Well I'm sorry if I don't meet your high expectations.

Kensi's words had sat uneasily in his stomach the entire trip home. He had been tempted – extremely tempted – to turn around and apologize. Except that he didn't have anything to apologize for, save for being a friend.

Just a friend?

Deeks viciously shoved the thought away, not willing to turn the concept over in his head until he was ready to handle it.

'Hey,' Callen greeted him as he stepped into the OSP building. 'What time did you leave last night?'

'Late I guess,' Deeks answered. 'Why?'

He stopped when he saw Kensi asleep at her desk, files spread out around her. The lines around her face were relaxed and it struck Deeks that Kensi was never genuinely at ease, that most of the time she walked around with an expectation that something was going to happen. Her ponytail had come loose and her hair curled around her ear and cheek.

Deeks looked at Callen, who arched an eyebrow in response before nodding towards Kensi. Deeks shook his head violently in response, eyes widening as if he had been asked to disarm a live bomb. Callen smirked, tipped his coffee cup up in salute, before deliberately walking away from his sleeping partner. Deeks glared while quietly shuffling towards his desk, gently lowering his bag to the floor before approaching Kensi.

Okay you can do this. What is the worst thing that can happen? Well she could possibly mutilate me with a paperclip or, most likely, break my nose.

'Kensi,' Deeks whispered, so softly he could barely hear himself. Kensi slept on.

He really didn't want to wake her. She looked peaceful.

'Ms Blye,' Hetty's sharp bark broke the spell. Kensi jerked awake instinctively, spared Deeks a confused glance that quickly turned shuttered, before rubbing her knuckles against her eyes.

'Ms Blye a word please,' Hetty pressed, snapping her fingers impatiently. Kensi slid off the elastic holding her hair up and Deeks watched transfixed as her hair settled around her like a cloud. She slid by him without a word and Deeks inched closer towards Hetty's desk.

'Sorry. I got caught up doing research and I know you don't like it when-'

'I received a call from Joe White a few minutes ago. It seems that Cmdr McGarrett has been kidnapped by Wo Fat and is currently somewhere in North Korea.'

'Steve's…Hetty-'

'They have the situation under control.'

Deeks straightened at her words as Kensi put her hands on her hips.

'I want to-'

'I'm sorry Ms Blye but that isn't going to be an option. I'm not sure Director Vance will appreciate my voluntarily allowing an NCIS agent to transgress on North Korean soil, no matter how valid the cause.'

Kensi remained silent and Hetty regarded the younger woman without flinching. Deeks heard Kensi hiss out a breath.

'Thank you Kensi.'

'Will you…will you let me know if something happens to them?'

'Of course I will Ms Blye,' Hetty answered in a gentle tone, as if calming a skittish colt. 'I noticed your reading material. Have you discovered anything?'

Kensi rubbed her earlobe.

'Maybe,' was all Kensi offered and Hetty accepted the answer for what it was.

Eric's shrill whistle drew their attention and Deeks hurried to match his stride with Kensi's.

'Hey,' he offered tentatively.

'Hey,' Kensi retorted curtly, quickening her pace. Deeks caught her elbow when they were at the top, Sam giving them a curious look as he followed Callen to Ops.

'Look about last night-'

'It's fine,' Kensi told him abruptly, pulling away from his touch. Deeks let his hand fall to the side but intercepted her when Kensi made to walk away.

'I was-'

'Not now okay?' Kensi snapped out vehemently and pushed past him roughly. Deeks watched her go and rolled his eyes. Sometimes her stubbornness was really irritating.

He tried again when they were in the car, the silence settling over them stifling. There was a difference to this quiet, Deeks sensed, and he shifted in his seat as the car rolled to a stop at a light.

'Are we going to talk?'

Kensi didn't reply but Deeks noticed that her knuckles turned white.

'I don't particularly feel like talking,' Kensi finally bit out, never taking her eyes off the road. Deeks felt his temper bristle in response.

'When do you ever, exactly?' He questioned somewhat sarcastically.

She made a sharp right turn in response, glancing up into the rearview window as he rubbed the shoulder that had slammed into the door.

'I forgot your preferred method of dealing with problems is beating the crap out of something,' Deeks muttered under his breath, loud enough for Kensi to hear. He heard a sharp intake of breath and then the car jerked to a stop.

'You know what? Fine. I'm sorry Deeks that you feel jealous of Steve-'

'What?' He sputtered out.

'-but what I do in my own time is my own damn business, okay? What I'm doing right now is personal and I would appreciate it if you would find it within yourself to respect that!'

'Okay first off I am not jealous of Captain America!' Deeks thought he should point out. 'Second I get it's personal but I'm your friend Kensi and it might come as a complete shock to you, but friends help each other out when they need it.'

'Well I don't need it,' Kensi shot back.

'You know what? Seriously. Forget it. I'm done,' Deeks answered wearily, spotting Sam and Callen pull up behind Kensi's car. He opened the door and made sure not to look back as he jogged up towards the other two members of the team.

If he had he would have seen Kensi slam her fist onto the steering wheel.