Alright guys, I know this is long over due and I am very sorry. I won't bore you with all the excuses as to why I haven't been around. I'll just let you read! Enjoy!

The second Deeks stepped from the room, Kensi wished he wouldn't. The room had lost all its warmth and light. Kensi was suddenly cold and her fingers grasped at the sheets absently. The smell that was so him was already dissipating. Kensi took a few deep breaths through her nose, trying to pull that fragrance in and keep it with her forever. Suddenly Callen snapped her from her thoughts.

"You gave everyone a scare," he said putting a hand on her shoulder. "It was a good thing those thugs didn't know how to work a camera. You gave us some really useful info."

"Yeah," Kensi responded, knowing full well she hadn't given them anything helpful.

She was beginning to feel awkward. She wanted Deeks' hand back in hers. She wanted an anchor. Nell seemed to sense this because she slid her hand under Kensi's. It wasn't as comforting as the large, calloused hand she really wanted, but it was better than nothing.

"Do you remember anything?" Nell asked quietly.

Kensi thought for a moment.

"Its all pretty fuzzy. I think one of the guys slammed my head against the wall and I passed out."

"Right you are," said the doctor as he entered the room.

He folded a chart back and took Deeks' spot next to her.

"You have a rather serious concussion my dear."

He tapped the back of her head making her flinch.

"Didn't know you had that did you?" the doctor asked as Kensi gently felt the shaved patch where seven fresh stitches were. Kensi was surprised, then annoyed. She very much liked her hair. She wondered when anyone had time to do that.

"We need to give you a cat scan," the doctor informed her.

"Right now?" Kensi asked.

"As soon as possible," the doctor answered. "You may have a skull fracture and need surgery."

Kensi gulped.

"Do it now," Hetty said calmly.

Kensi glanced at her then nodded.

"Well then let's go," said the doctor with a smile at Kensi, then to the others, "You all feel free to stay here. This shouldn't take more than a few minutes."

It did in fact only take ten minutes. She got back even before Deeks did. Not by much however. Deeks came back into the room just as the doctor pulled a chair up to Kensi preparing to tell her some news. He saw the worry in her eyes and was at her side in an instant.

"You have a small fracture in the back of your head, but it is nothing to worry about," he said with a smile.

Kensi and Deeks let out a collective sigh they didn't even know the other was holding and the doctor got up to leave.

"Oh wait doc?" Deeks said standing quickly.

The doctor turned.

"My sister," Deeks began, but one downward look from the doctor made him stop.

He crossed the room and laid a wrinkled hand on Deeks' shoulder.

"I don't know how long that girl has. Make your peace now son."

Deeks swallowed, the familiar sting of tears in his eyes, then turned back in Kensi's direction. Kensi was surprised to see the uncharacteristic emotion in his usually bright eyes.

"I want to see her," Kensi said suddenly.

Everyone gave her a strange look and she realized she had spoken rather loudly.

"Can I see her?" she asked in a lower volume.

Deeks glanced back at the doctor for a moment. Everyone seemed to be waiting for his seal of approval.

"You are still very weak my dear," the doctor answered walking back to her side.

"She's weaker," Kensi blurted now glaring at the doctor.

Deeks jumped between them.

"I'll help her in there Doc. She'll be alright."

The doctor studied Deeks then Kensi then Hetty caught his eye. She nodded once. Only once.

"Alright," the doctor said with a sigh, then turned to Deeks. "But both ladies need their rest, so give it a time limit, Mr. Deeks."

Deeks nodded and helped Kensi sit up. She winced slightly as the needle pulled at her arm, but she waved the nurse away who tried to help her. Instead the nurse prepared her portable IV pole as Deek's offered his arm to Kensi. She met his blue eyes and set her jaw. She took his arm, but quickly realized she couldn't pull herself up. The doctor had been correct. She was indeed very weak. Deeks noticed and extended both hands. Kensi put her hands on the inside of his lower arms and felt his big hands tighten around her elbows. She found his eyes again. Though his face was tight with worry, those eyes remained soft and gentle. Kensi took a deep breath and felt him begin to lift her. When she was standing unsteadily on her two feet, she took her IV pole in one hand and leaned heavily into her partner on the other side.

The others stayed behind quietly as Deeks and Kensi made their way from the room. It took them a few minutes to navigate the halls with Kensi taking each step carefully. Deeks said nothing as he took each step with her, watching her with eagle eyes, ready to offer a hand, or catch her if it came to that. It didn't, but her right hand never left his, and his left hand stayed around her waist. Her labored breathing didn't go unnoticed by him. Finally they rounded the last corner and were almost knocked over by Tony and Ziva.

"Hey watch it – oh it's just the people we wanted to see!" said Tony happily.

"Is Jamie alright?" Deeks asked quickly.

"She's fine for now," Tony said ominously. "But she asked if I could get you two."

"She – " Kensi faltered and grasped Deeks' shoulder. "She wanted to see me?"

Tony nodded.

"Thanks," Deeks said wanting to get his strangely distraught partner alone.

He led Kensi away from the DC agents and made it to his sister's room, but he was pulled to a stop. He turned to Kensi who was pale. That wasn't saying much considering she was already pale, but she seemed worse now.

"Kens? You ok?" he asked placing a gentle hand on her shoulder.

When she didn't answer, he moved his hand up to her neck. When there was still no response, he pulled his other hand from her waist and placed it on the other side of her neck, the fingers of his right hand just brushing the fingers of his left. He turned her face to him, but her eyes stayed downturned. Deeks' brows lifted in such a 'Deeks' fashion that Kensi had to smile a bit. Deeks' face softened considerably and the cute wrinkle above his eyes went away. His thumb began moving slowly behind Kensi's ear. It was a small, seemingly insignificant movement to anyone walking by, but Kensi and Deeks knew differently. The two had been partners so long and mental lovers so much longer than that, that they could communicate with something as simple as a touch or look.

Kensi gulped, feeling a sudden heat rise in her chest. It wasn't a good kind of heat. It was accompanied by a lump that planted itself squarely in her throat. Deeks saw the tears ready to fall.

"Why does she want to see me?" Kensi asked before he could think of a way to comfort her.

"Why not?" Deeks asked, taking one hand from her neck and placing it back on her waist to steady her. "You two became friends right?"

Kensi nodded slightly. Deeks suddenly knew what was wrong.

"Now listen here partner," he said sternly. "This was not your fault."

"But I – "

"No," Deeks interrupted.

Kensi blinked, surprised.

"If this is anyone's fault, its mine," he sighed. "We don't know who took you, but they obviously wanted me and – " he paused long enough to move a curl from her eyes. "And they know the easiest way to get to me is through you."

Kensi frowned, but she knew he was right. They were each other's Achilles heel. Deeks' eyes left her face for half a second to flit to the door to their right. Kensi smiled stiffly and patted his shoulder.

"Let's go see her."

Deeks grinned but the smiled didn't reach his eyes. He helped her through the door where it was his turn to pause. Jamie looked like she was sleeping except for her rapid breathing. Kensi felt his fingers tighten involuntarily around her hand and she squeezed back. He gulped and helped Kensi to a chair by Jamie's bed. She opened her eyes and smiled weakly when she saw the visitors.

"Hey sis," Deeks said leaning over her and pressing a kiss to her forehead. Jamie let her eyes slide closed as she inhaled.

Kensi knew the scent she was inhaling, and she was suddenly jealous. At first she wasn't sure why, but it soon began to dawn on her. Deeks' full lips were pressed against another woman's forehead. It was ridiculous of course, to be jealous. Jamie was Deeks' family, but it was the same feeling she got when he was undercover and attached at the lips with that woman in the boathouse. Kensi sighed and leaned forward as Deeks leaned back. He brushed a strand of hair from his sister's face. It was slick with sweat. Jamie looked next to her and met Kensi's eyes.

"Hey Princess," Jamie said with a cheeky grin that reminded Kensi of no one but Deeks.

"Princess?" Kensi asked glancing at Deeks who shrugged and let out a small chuckle.

Then it was Jamie's turn to shrug.

"You just look like a princess."

Deeks barked a laugh.

"Am I that far off?" Jamie asked.

Deeks nodded.

"She is tougher than I am."

"Like that's hard," Kensi scoffed.

Jamie let out a strangled shout of laughter and Deeks rolled his eyes good naturedly.

"So how are you?" Deeks asked Jamie.

"How do I look?" she asked sharply.

"Like hell," Kensi answered.

Jamie grinned.

"That's about right princess."

Kensi wasn't exactly fond of the nickname, but seeing as Jamie was literally on her death bed, she let it slide. Deeks was too worried about her to notice Kensi's discomfort.

"Listen Marty, I'm dying. The last thing I want to talk about for the next two days is my impending doom."

"You're not going to die. The doctors have something," Deeks insisted.

Jamie rolled her eyes and Kensi leaned her elbows on the bed next to Jamie. She turned her blue eyes on Kensi.

"You tell him. He seems to listen to you."

Kensi glanced at Deeks then back at Jamie. Kensi didn't want to believe Jamie was going to die any more than Deeks did, but it seemed inevitable.

"Maybe there is something the doctors can do. We don't really know," Kensi tried then sighed and sat back. "I don't know what is going to happen."

Jamie seemed to grow more pale. Kensi was lost. She didn't want Jamie to die, but what could she do? She still had some of that poison running through –

Her train of thought stopped and she sat straight up, knocking Deeks off the arm of the chair. She had an idea. She jumped up, adrenaline moving her forward on what was shaky limbs before. She bolted out into the hall leaving Deeks and Jamie to stare after her for a moment until Deeks came back to his senses and charged after her. She was halfway down the hall before she started feeling weak. She grabbed the railing on the wall for support, but didn't stop moving forward. She could hear Deeks calling her name, but she rounded a corner and ran straight into the solid chest of Sam.

"Damn, Kensi?" Sam said surprised.

He grabbed her by the shoulders as she bounced off him.

"What's happening?" he was worried but Kensi pulled her shoulders away and ignored the question.

"I have to find the doctor," she said pushing around Sam and continuing down the hall.

In the two seconds it took Sam to decided to chase her down and carry her back to bed, Deeks had run around the corner and run into his back.

"What is she doing?" Sam asked.

"I don't know," Deeks said chasing after her.

Sam followed and just as they reached her, Eric came out of a door right into her path. It was a lucky coincidence because before she reached him, she tripped and fell forward. Eric got his hands under her arms just in time. He pulled her up as Sam and Deeks reached them. Deeks turned Kensi to face him. She was still fighting to get away when she grabbed a handful of his shirt. Her eyes were wide. For a moment Deeks actually thought she had gone insane.

"Deeks, find me the doctor. Now."

"Kens what's wrong? Are you in pain?"

"No Deeks," Kensi growled. "I think I can save Jamie."

Then it was Deeks' turn to have huge eyes. Without another word to her he turned and ran back down the hall.

"Get her back to her room!" Deeks shouted to Sam and Eric.

"There is something wrong with that boy," Sam said shaking his head as Deeks slid around the corner.

No sooner had they gotten Kensi back to her room and the nurses gotten the IV back in her arm did Deeks come charging around the corner into the room followed a few steps behind by the doctor. His face was red and his glasses were askew.

"Mr. Deeks said you needed to see me right away?" he panted.

"My blood is the key to saving Jamie," Kensi said quickly. "She had too much of that poison in her blood, but I only had a little so I'm immune now. It's just like the vaccine for the flu right? They put a little of the flu in you to immunize you. Am I wrong?" she asked.

The doctor took in the information for a moment then nodded.

"You are right."

"So do it," Kensi said sitting up. "Take some blood and make a vaccine for Jamie."

The doctor looked from her face to Deeks' to Sam's, Callen's and Hetty's then back to Kensi.

"We can certainly try," he said with an old smile.

Kensi sighed and laid back and let the nurse take her blood. The staff left the room and Deeks was immediately next to her.

"You are brilliant."

He took her face between his hands and kissed her forehead. She was so surprised she didn't do anything at first. When he pulled away he looked into her eyes and smiled. For a split second Kensi was sure he was going to kiss her right on the lips, but he darted back out of the room.

Kensi swallowed hard. She hadn't been prepared for that. The kiss on the forehead she could handle fine. It was the feelings that flooded her belly when she thought he was going to kiss her she wasn't prepared for. She didn't even notice as Hetty herded the team out to give her time to think. Hetty seemed to understand what their last case had done to Kensi's state of mind. They were pretending to be married after all. Kensi had worn a ring that was supposed to symbolize her eternal love for the man that had just left the room. She had slept in the same bed as him. She had said goodnight to him at the end of the day. She had spent her days with him playing house and after the first day, she couldn't separate the case from her feelings. She couldn't separate Kensi from Melissa. She couldn't separate Kensi's feelings about Deeks from Melissa's feelings about Justin. Of course it was just a case, and it was just undercover work and Deeks didn't really love her and she didn't really love him. Or did she?

Hello all! Yay ok well I know this was a pretty short chapter, but it seemed like an apropriate time to stop :) PLEASE REVIEW! I will love you forever! Thanks again!