After a while, and here it is! The third installment in the "able" series (Undeniable, Inseparable and now Irreplaceable). I shifted gears to from NCIS to NCIS LA. Enjoy!

Kensi Marie Blye had never felt this incompetent before. Her tomboyish upbringing with her Marine father had made sure of that. She could track a person or vehicle with ease, survive seemingly impossible conditions, and take on anyone, no matter how large or tough, in hand-to-hand combat. Her role as a NCIS special agent meant that she had encountered some of the most extreme and horrific events known to humans, and she had managed to take all of them in stride. Her reputation as a no-nonsense and tough-as-nails special agent who measured up to and beyond the male agents had been well-earned.

So how was it that a simple tube of rubber could leave her sweating, exhausted and in terrible pain?

"Come one then Kensi, five more pulls and you're all done for the day. You're doing great there, girl." Kensi's physical therapist, a no-nonsense woman by the name of Adara Tamar locked her hazel eyes onto Kensi's mismatched ones and grinned, pushing a greying stand of black hair back behind her ear. Kensi gripped the one of the plastic handles of the exercise tubing with her left hand, the other handle grasped firmly in Adara's strong hands. With a grunt, she pulled the handle to her chest, biting her tongue to hold back a shriek of pain as her knife-damaged muscles flared, fire racing up her sensitive nerves.

She gave the jagged scar running from her wrist to elbow a scathing glare- a result of a combat knife wielded by a crazed criminal. Eight months ago Kensi and her three teammates had been requested to transport a criminal-Nikolai- that had been in the L.A. team's custody to Washington D.C. Nikolai's brother, Nazar, had kidnapped triplets of two married D.C. agents and had demanded the release of his younger brother for their safe return. During the rescue, Nazar had been ready to stab one of the infants when Kensi, driven by some unknown yet powerful instinct, had rushed him to save the baby. Instinct, however, offered no protection against a physical weapon, and within the span of seconds she had been stabbed three times- twice in the shoulder and once down the length of her left arm. The babies had been saved, however, and Kensi knew deep within her that she would have done the same thing over again without hesitation if ever a child was involved.

"Kensi? Kensi? Where are you at girl?"

Kensi was jolted out of her revere by Adara's hand gently shaking her shoulder. The physical therapist's intense eyes bored into Kensi's dual-colored ones, concern written all over the older woman's face. She gave Kensi's shoulder a rub.

"Are you okay Kensi?" When Kensi looked away, embarrassed to be caught drifting off, Adara rested her lined hand on the agent's cheek. "You went back to that day, huh?" Adara's voice had lost its usual rough edge and had taken on a softer, more motherly tone. Kensi managed a small smile and quickly grabbed the plastic handle once more. She really wasn't in the mood for talking about it.

"I'm fine Adara. Really. Four more pulls, right?" Adara opened her mouth as if to say something, but let out an almost inaudible sigh before anchoring the handle on her end and motioning Kensi to continue. Her hazel eyes, however, continued to look troubled.

…..

Kensi carefully adjusted the shoulder strap of her gym bag and tried not to move her incredibly sore left arm too much. As she walked out of the physical therapy office, she was startled by the honking of a car horn, an abrupt sound that made her jump. Embarrassed and irritated, she looked up to see a large silver SRX rumbling up to her. The car slowed to a halt and the tinted window slid down smoothly to reveal the scraggly face of her NCIS partner and friend.

Marty Deeks could go to a surfing competition and he would fit right in. With his long, shaggy locks, scruffy stubble and sky-blue eyes, Deeks looked like he belonged on the cover of Sports Illustrated with a surfboard. He certainly did not look like a LAPD detective-turned-NCIS-liaison, but that's exactly what he was. Detective Marty Deeks had survived a rough childhood and an even rougher adulthood, but he was the best damn cop Kensi had ever known, and he was an even better partner.

Not that she'd ever tell him that.

She gave the grinning detective a glare. "Why are you driving my car Deeks?" she asked, keeping her voice at a low snarl. Infuriatingly, Deek's grin only widened.

"Well princess, since I just happen to have a spare set of keys and your arm is usually pretty sore after PT, I thought you might like to be treated to some valet service by your dashing partner…" his voice faded as Kensi yanked the driver's side door open and pointed to the sidewalk.

"Out."

"But…"

"OUT. Or I'll put my foot so far up your…"

"Aaaand I'm getting out now." Deeks stepped out and was quickly pushed aside. A flash of movement in the back seat caught Kensi's eye, and she whipped around in alarm, only to have her face thoroughly washed by the long, wet tongue of a very familiar canine.

"Monty!" Kensi yelped as the scruffy mutt continued to lick every inch of her face. She pushed the over-friendly mutt away and grabbed the proffered tissue from Deeks, who had just climbed into the passenger seat. "You brought your mutt into my car?! His damn hair gets everywhere!" Kensi grunted.

"His name Monty, as you just said not fifteen seconds ago, and I thought he might cheer you up. I mean, aren't dogs supposed to be good for lowering your blood pressure? I mean, clearly you've been under stress… uh, not that it shows or anything, because you're just as amazing as ever… well, as amazing as to other guys who aren't your partner and can't…"

"Deeks."

"Yeah?"

"Shut. UP."

"What? I was just pointing out the science- OW! Crazy ninja assassin- OW!" Deeks winced and rubbed his shoulder where Kensi had punched it twice. "Shutting up now."

Kensi allowed herself a small smirk before peeling away from the PT center, tires squealing.

…..

It was a little after 2 o' clock when Kensi and Deeks walked through the large double doors of the Mission and the massive form of the former Navy SEAL Sam Hana lumbered by. He gave Kensi his characteristic half-smile when he saw her, but when he caught sight of Monty trotting happily by Deek's side, the grin faded.

"What's that mutt doin' here?" he growled. Despite all the Monty had done in the past for the team, Sam had never truly warmed to the dog. Deek's only response was to roll his eyes at the big man.

"This mutt, as you so tastefully call him, has saved your life more than once. Show some respect will you? He is a hero after all." Sam snorted at this, but Deeks merely lifted his chin. "Scoff all you like, mi compadre, but Monty has show dog quality, and you know it." He then passed the burly man, head in the air, a look that made Kensi and Sam chuckle.

"Show dog my ass." Sam chortled. He watched Deeks until he disappeared, and then turned to Kensi, his face unusually gentle. "How's the arm Kens?" Kensi flexed her arm, trying to keep her face emotionless as possible despite the agonizing jolt of pain that raced up the injured limb.

"It's… sore," she managed, "but it's a hell of a lot better. It'll be back in no time." Kensi smiled up at Sam, praying that her face didn't betray her pain. From the look he gave back to her, she was unsuccessful, and inwardly she winced. Sam said nothing, however, merely clapping Kensi on the shoulder with a beefy hand.

Eric's shrill whistle cut sharply through the air, causing both Kensi and Sam to whip their heads around. The blonde-haired tech adjusted his glasses and made a sweeping gesture towards the Ops Center.

"Duty calls!" Eric bellowed in a grand manner. Kensi and Sam both rolled their eyes before joining up with a still-surely-looking Deeks and jogging up the stairs. As they went up the stairs, Kensi noticed that someone was missing and turned to Sam.

"Where's G?"

Somehow Sam managed a shrug while still climbing. "Dunno. Haven't seen him since this morning after you left."

Kensi soon found her answer as they entered the Ops Center. G Callen's blue eyes were fixed on the large screen in front of him and his mouth was set in a thin, hard line. Kensi turned to see what he was looking at, and the image on the huge screen made her stop dead.

The image on the screen was a freeze-frame from a prison security camera, showing a man frozen in prison jumpsuit frozen in the act of slitting a guard's throat. It wasn't, however the act, but the man's face that made Kensi's blood run cold.

"Nikolai" she breathed. The Russian mercenary, the brother of the man who stabbed her was in the act of escaping from prison. The rat-like man's face was turned full-on to the camera and, as if completely unconcerned with the violent act he was committing, he was sneering. The video began to play (Kensi supposed Eric or Nell had started it), and the guard collapsed as Nikolai raised the bloody knife to the camera, and moved his lips slowly and deliberately, making Kensi shiver. A warm weight pressed against her back and she turned abruptly to see Deeks. He wrapped an arm around her, lending silent strength. His face, however, was stormy with rage.

"What did he say?" he growled, his blue eyes hard.

Kensi drew a shuddering breath, quelling the uneasy feeling in her gut. "He said 'the next sheath for this knife will be your heart. I'm coming for you Kensi Blye.'"

What do you think? I'm still trying to get used to writing for NCIS LA and not NCIS, but it's fun.

Please review!

Yeah, sure, you becha!