All characters and all rights at 'NCIS: Los Angeles' belong to CBS and Shane Brennan Productions. The following story does not serve any commercial purposes, but was written only for the pleasure of fans. An injury of Copyright is not intended. All further persons belong to the authoress.

English is my second language, if you find any mistakes in my story please send them back to me for correction.

I also would be very glad to get your reviews.

Chapter 1 - First Steps

Hetty stood on the balcony and looked down at the remains of her team. Sam, Kensi and Joann were tense, testy and overtired. For three weeks they tried to accomplish the same workload with the three of them as in the past with six. An impossible task. Added to this the emotional burden that was caused by the abrupt loss of the partners. And to make the matters worse, Kensi and Joann also suffered from the fact that they had no contact with their boy friends and of course Sam also missed his best friend. Hetty sighed. In the meantime she had spurred to action some of her contacts, but the information flow was a trickle dripping. She had to have patience, but right now she had difficulty doing so. Well, something she could do for her people. Hetty reached for her cell phone.

…

Joann muttered softly to herself, sounding very grumpy. She closed the file she was working on and chucked it peppy onto the rather large pile lying on her table. Promptly the stack started to slide and skip. Frantically Joann tried to hold it. Unfortunately, she gave her desk a push. While the files spilled on her desk and onto the floor, the contents of her coffee cup poured on the documents that had not been dropped. Joann stared at the chaos.

"Oh, oh." Kensi waited for Joann's outburst, but nothing happened. Her friend did not move, did not make a sound.

Sam had also expected that Joann would swear like a drayman. The silent stare made him feel creepy. "Joann?"

Joann took a deep breath. "Everything's fine." She grabbed a couple of paper towels and tried to mop up the coffee. Then she picked up the files and piled them up again. When her desk was clean and tidy again, Joann left the bullpen, still in silence.

"I've been waiting for days for an outburst of rage of Joann. You could virtually grab her inner tension." Sam was seriously concerned. "But this silence is frightening."

"Yeah. Joann is only silent when she is pensive. An angry Joann complains, swears and strikes at the punching bag." Kensi shook her head. "That was not our Joann. And where did she go? The sand bag is upstairs."

Sam got up. "I think I know where she is." A faint smile played on his lips. "I'll give our Little One a talking-to."

This remark made Kensi smile a little. "I don't think it's a good idea to call Joann by that name now. Although I would like to see her reaction."

…

Joann was there, where Sam had assumed. For a moment he stood at the door and watched her. Calm and focused Joann fired at the target. She just let the magazine fall out, in a matter of seconds put the next one in and fired on. Finally, Sam walked into the shooting range, grabbed a pair of goggles and ear protection and waited. At this rate, it would not last long until she had shot off all the magazines.

"What, Sam?"

"I know that you promised G to behave. That doesn't mean, you are no longer allowed to complain if you pass through a mishap. To swear vilely every now and then is healthy." Sam sighed because Joann just stared at him. "Jo, when was the last time that you have done something that makes you enjoy yourself and relax? Swimming, surfing, combat training with your father, read a book? Or once again beat the sandbag?"

"For that I don't have time, Sam." Joann packed up her things and went to the armory.

Sam followed her. "Have you forgotten that we all need a compensation to our profession?"

"I'm good, Sam."

"No, Jo, you are not good. None of us is good." For the first time since the team was torn apart, Sam showed how he really felt. Suddenly he looked tired and a touch of desperation could be seen in his eyes. Then his usual blank expression was back.

But Joann did not yield. "Everything is all right with me. I am tired because of all the overtime, that's all." If she would admit how it looked inside her, she would shatter into a million pieces and never be complete again. Therefore Joann focused on cleaning her Sig-Sauer and to reload the magazines. She did not deign a look at Sam anymore.

…

Kensi struggled to suppress her yawns. In the past three weeks she had only slept a little and worked a lot. Slowly, the lack of sleep took its toll. Laboriously Kensi opened her eyes wide and for the third time started her report.

"Hello, Kensi."

Abruptly, she pulled her head up and stared quite aghast at the tall, slender man who had suddenly appeared at her desk.

"Nate!"

Kensi jumped up so abruptly that her chair fell over. Before Nate was able to say or do something, two strong arms wrapped around him. With a warm smile, he hugged her back. Then he gently pushed Kensi of himself, looked at her intently and waited.

"Did Hetty call you to give us aid?"

"She thought you could need some support."

Kensi nodded. "It doesn't look so good. More work than we can cope with." She hesitated slightly. Then she added, almost inaudibly. "We miss the guys and are really worried about them. Above all, because Hetty doesn't say anything."

Nate nodded. He had received some information from Hetty, which were causing him headaches. The team, or rather the remains of it, had not been informed concerning this matter. It was about time that Hetty talked to her people.

…

"And what was your result?"

Joann bobbed her head and looked at her opposite in amazement.

"Mike!" Joann frowned. "Hetty has summoned you."

Smiling, he shrugged his shoulders. "I have finished my case two days ago, so I can help you a bit." The smile disappeared from Renko's face. "As far as I've heard, you may need all the help that you can get."

Suspiciously Joann looked at Renko. "What have you heard?" Her tone was sharp.

Amazed at Joann's reaction, he scrutinized her. Renko had more than once worked with Joann, each time with no problems. They had always got on well. The mistrust and the sharp tone of voice did not match the good relationship that had previously existed between them. Renko could see the shadows under Joann's eyes, the tightly pressed lips, and the tense posture. For this, the vehemence with which she cleaned the barrel of the weapon. All that said Renko, what he needed to know.

"The fact that someone is trying to shellac you by destroying your team. Now you have more work than you can manage in a threesome. And that you still have heard nothing from Callen and Deeks." Renko's voice was gentle. "I'm worried, too. After all, Callen and I are friends."

The sharpness disappeared from Joann's voice, but the suspicion remained. "The grapevine seems to be working indeed. Weren't we a secret unit?"

Renko smiled slightly. "Don't worry, the grapevine is limited to the OSP." Then he became serious again. "Hetty wants us to work together for the time being. Can you live with it?"

Slowly Joann nodded. "Yes, Mike, I can." The suspicion was gone from her voice.

"Then back to the beginning: What was your result?" Renko grinned impudently at Joann.

…

"What can I do for you, Mr. Hanna?" Hetty looked up from her records.

"You could tell me, what's going on." Sam looked directly at his boss. "Three weeks ago, half of our team was scattered to the winds. Who's behind it? And when do our people come back?"

Hetty looked at Sam in silence. Then she nodded slowly. "Get together everyone, Mr. Hanna, also Mr. Getz and Mr. Renko. We will meet in the ops in five minutes."

…

"Those, who do not belong to this team, get out of here. Immediately." Energetically Hetty saw to it that they were among themselves in the ops. Thoughtfully Hetty looked at her people.

"I know that you all have hard times. And I regret to say that it's not over yet. For support I have brought Mr. Getz and Mr. Renko." Hetty sighed softly. "We are going to need all the support we can get." Hetty again made a break.

"Who is behind it, Hetty?" Sam did not give up.

"Did you hear anything about Callen and Deeks?" Only a scarcely noticeable tremor in her voice betrayed that Kensi was afraid of the answer.

"I only can tell you that both are alive." Hetty looked thoughtful her people. "My sources tell me that someone with the top is behind it, probably by the SECNAV."

"You must have gotten on the wrong side of someone, Hetty." Curiously Sam looked at his boss.

"The problem is, Mr. Hanna, that I previously could not figure out whom. Whoever he or she may be, has a lot of influence and connections."

"Enough influence to transfer G and Ray. And connections with the L.A.P.D. to order back Marty." Unemotionally Joann turned Hetty's information.

"Exactly, Miss MacKenzie. Unfortunately, there are a lot of people in the SECNAV, the fits that description. And under the circumstances I have to be extremely cautious and discreet in my research. That takes time."

"What about Eric and Nell? They can open any saved file. "Kensi smiled at her two colleagues.

"We haven't been instructed to investigate in this direction." Although Kensi had asked, Nell looked at Hetty while answering. "Maybe we are not trustworthy enough for such an assignment."

The fellows grinned. When Nell aimed at something, she could be quite sharp-tongued.

But Hetty shook her head. "You should know better, Miss Jones. Someone who is high ranking and influential enough to cause me such problems is dangerous. I've already lost three staff members and do not want to risk this with further ones."

"Nell has a point, Hetty. You should have left the decision, whether we want to help you or not, to us. Lastly, someone is not only you giving problems, but also us." Sam's face showed a mixture of disappointment and concern.

"It has always been my job to run interference for you, so you can do your work, Mr. Hanna."

"Then now is the time to run interference for you, Hetty." Sam left no doubt that he meant business.

"And that we get back our colleagues." Joann looked intently at Hetty. "I know that you took care for yourself for many years, Hetty. But the cold war is over and nowadays one works in a team." After Joann's gaze had wandered over her colleagues, she looked back at Hetty. "WE are your team. I thought you knew."

Slowly Hetty looked at one after the other. Then she nodded hesitantly. "You understand what that means? If this is going wrong, it will mean the end of your careers. Perhaps worse."

"If this is going wrong, the end of our careers will be the least problem." Renko summed up the thoughts of all in a few words.

"Then it's time for a plan." For the first time in days, Joann did not act so tense. "But first I would like to know what you know about Marty and G."

Hetty nodded approvingly. "According to my sources, Mr. Deeks is indeed on an undercover operation. So far I couldn't get more details, because the information on this operation are kept strictly confidentially by the L.A.P.D.. As to Mr. Callen, my information are much more sparse. He is also on a top-secret undercover mission, yet I could not figure out where."

"And how do you know that G is still alive?" It was Sam, who asked that question.

"Unfortunately this is no knowledge, but only an educated guess. My source was not able to learn any details, but so far the responsible operation center is kept calm. This is almost always a good sign." Hetty tried to smile reassuringly. "I was hoping to learn even more, so I have not informed you previously."

Joann's eyes flashed with anger. "Every morsel of information is better than lack of knowledge!"

Sam laid a calming hand on Joann's shoulder. But so easily she did not let her calm down. Joann shook off his hand.

"For three weeks we're worried about G and Marty and you don't say a word! I think that..."

"Enough already, Joann." Sam trounced his colleague. "Right now they are both good, only this is important. We now take care for a plan."

Enraged, Joann turned to Sam. But he went on, before she could say a word.

"This is now the time to think of your promise. G had meant such a situation and not a fallen over coffee cup."

Joann abruptly shut her mouth, her face became expressionless, and she fell back a few inches. Again she had the detached attitude of the past three weeks. Sam sighed, that has not been his intention.

Carefully Nate has followed the entire discussion. Since Hetty has been expanding his working area and he had been in use worldwide, he had spent only brief visits with his former unit. In each of these short visits, he had gained the impression that all were doing well - if that was possible in this profession - and that the group dynamics worked. But tearing apart the team, however, had changed this. In addition the worries, the lot of work and the lack of sleep, so it was only a matter of time before there would be a disaster. Nate sighed softly. It would be a lot of hard work to keep the team together without having serious problems. Certainly it would help that they now were involved in Hetty's investigations.