AN: This is a drabble that I had to write (in five minutes, mind you) because I'm now FREAKING OUT OVER THIS EPISODE!

Can we just pretend. Could I do that? Could I pretend with my partner?

The possibilities are endless. His words echoed in my mind. The possibilities are endless.

Yes, I answered before I'd really thought it through. Anything for Deeks.

"My name is Fern. Hi."

His surprised smile was worth it.

"You're Fern?" he asked, an incredulous smile on his handsome face. I just nodded, waiting for him to catch up. "Well, uh, so nice to meet you Fern. I'm Max."

"Nice to meet you."

"You have any plans for tonight?" he asked me. I smiled slyly.

"I don't know. It's… complicated…" I trailed off, letting him wonder.

"Well, not from where I'm standing, it's not," he replied, with a cocky grin. I'd never admit to him, but it made my smile widen seeing him so happy.

"I have a boyfriend." Saying the words out loud surprised me, but they didn't faze Deeks.

"So does my girlfriend."

Hearing him say that word made me feel… loved.

"That's a nice suit."

"Yeah," he said, stepping closer to me.

"Hetty says it's time," Eric said, walking past us, not glancing up from his iPad.

I felt a panic welling up in my chest, and I began to understand what Deeks was feeling when he'd seen me with a gun to my neck. I didn't want to let him go.

"Don't worry, Fern," he said, sensing my anxiety. "I'll be back."

I smiled at his words, a reminder of our first case together—a reminder of how far we'd come—and I reached over and briefly squeezed his hand.

"You'd better," I whispered. "You owe me ice cream and bowling."