A short insight into the time when the partnership of Sam and Callen was formed.
I don't own any of the recognizable characters, they all belong to Shane Brennan.
This is my first real attempt to write a fanfiction story. I would like to thank Elizabeth for her advice.
''So you don't like jazz,'' stated Sam as he fiddled with the radio.
''Not particularly,'' said Callen after a while.
They were on a stake-out somewhere in LA. Their first case, the Tuhon-case in Mexico, was a very tough one. In fact this was the first moment they actually had time to talk to each other.
''And what music do you like?'' asked Sam his new partner casually.
''Nothing specific or so horrible as jazz. I don't listen to music very often.'' Sam snorted, another half-lie. So far Callen hadn't answered any of Sam's questions, not a single one.
Unlike him, Sam was ready to answer Callen's questions truthfully, but Callen seemed to be completely uninterested in his new partner. He only asked Sam one question, ''You were a SEAL, right?''
''I am. Once a SEAL, always a SEAL,'' said Sam seriously.
... ... ... ... ... ...
The stake-out was finished for the day. ''I can take you to work tomorrow,'' suggested Sam carefully.
''No, thanks,'' was Callen's brisk answer.
''But it's not a problem, Callen. It's actually a reasonable and environment-friendly option. If you just tell me where I can pick you up...''
''If you want to be environment-friendly, you can take the bus. I'll drive by myself.''
Callen was extremely happy the stake-out ended because he was annoyed with all Sam's questions. His new partner was very persistent and Callen needed to be on alert while Sam Hanna was around. He couldn't afford to believe him, not after so many unpleasant childhood experiences and betrayals he had suffered thorough his life and career.
Callen didn't expect any good to come from Sam. He was sure his new partner, according to the repeated pattern, would betray him eventually. The closer he gets, the bigger the betrayal and disappointment would be. To prevent this from affecting him much, Callen's modus operandi was simple: Don't tell anything to anyone. Keep the secrets in your head. That's the only safe place.
... ... ... ... ... ...
The next day the new partners were doing paperwork. The Tuhon-case had to officially disappear. Sam watched Callen closely. He could feel and almost touch Callen's mistrust. Sam was good at teamwork. He just wasn't accustomed to handling ticking bombs on a daily basis. And his current partner was a ticking bomb. For SEALs were the team, cooperation and trust everything; it was necessary for survival, so Sam decided for a direct approach.
''Where do you live, Callen?'' He still hadn't figured out how he should call his partner. Callen? G Callen? G C?
''Here and there, I move a lot,'' came a typical nothing-revealing answer.
''And you can't be just a little more specific because...''
''There's no need to send me birthday cards.''
''As if I knew when's your birthday,'' Sam muttered.
Callen immediately turned back to his computer and continued writing a report. Sam couldn't stand this coldness. He decided to give Callen one last chance to say something which would be at least half-true. He knew only a few facts about Callen he could use. Macy just mentioned he transferred from the CIA...
''So you worked for the CIA...''
Silence.
''Any other agency? Maybe FBI, NSA? Don't tell me you are a military brat.''
''Wow, so many three letters and you put them together correctly. I'm impressed.'' Sam bolted from the chair.
... ... ... ... ... ...
''Macy, I can't work with him,'' Sam nearly shouted at his superior.
Lara Macy didn't have to clarify who the 'he' was. ''Calm down, Sam. Why? Give me a reason.''
''You can't be serious! A reason? I can make a list of reasons! Let's see. First, he's terrible to deal with. Second, he doesn't trust me. Third, he's too young to be the lead agent. Fourth, he wants to work alone. Fifth, he's practically homeless. Sixth, he's paranoid from the spy games,'' Sam spilled out at one breath.
In this moment Callen walked past the closed door of Macy's office. Sam was so loud that the closed door was no obstacle and Callen could clearly hear everything. He had been certain that his colleagues criticized him, complained about him to their bosses. He had given up to make a good impression long time ago. What surprised him though was the genuine concern he recognized in Sam's voice. Still Callen didn't want to hear Macy's answer. It really didn't matter what they thought about him. In a year or two he moves to another agency again...
''You are right and yet he's still an asset,'' replied Lara Macy calmly to Sam's outburst. ''He's an exceptional agent. Undercover missions, covert operations... CIA, DEA, FBI. Russia, Eastern Europe, Middle East... Everything else is classified.''
''Yeah, I get it, he's a legend. But it's impossible to get along with him. He gets suspicious even if I only buy him a cup of coffee. I bet he thinks I want to poison him, seriously. Look, I can't believe that I'm saying it but wouldn't it be better for him to work alone?''
''But we don't work alone here in NCIS,'' said Henrietta Lange from somewhere behind Sam.
''The little ninja is here again,''' thought Sam.
''I understand your concern, Mr Hanna. It goes against your training,'' Hetty continued.
''I know people very well and you will make a good team, believe me. I personally picked both of you and I rarely make mistakes. Now back to our Mr Callen. Think of him as of a project, Mr Hanna.''
''So this is really helpful,'' thought Sam sceptically.
Sam joined NCIS only recently, but he had learned that you don't disagree with Henrietta Lange, the gray eminence of NCIS.
''Mr Callen is a person with unique approach to the world,'' she added thoughtfully.
Hetty had to convince her boy – as she called Callen only in her thoughts - that truth and trust exist in the world and he doesn't need to be alone. And Sam, the strong, honest SEAL with a big heart was her chance.
Sam still didn't know why had Hetty paired them up. Macy saw in Callen an asset and thus wanted him to form a professional relationship with him. But Hetty, he sensed, really did care about Callen.
Sam decided to return back to the bullpen. He couldn't change Hetty's decision and now he almost didn't want to either. He was intrigued and decided to put up with Callen a little longer.
''Climb the walls around Mr Callen. Remove them carefully brick by brick,'' said Hetty to him, cryptic as always.
... ... ... ... ... ...
''Are you married,'' Callen pointed to Sam's finger, where were visible marks of the missing ring.
''Yes, I'm. We were married in April. Michelle worked for the CIA, too.''
''Sam doesn't waste time,'' Callen thought, ''he has already told me so many lies. He looked like a SEAL, this may be true. But married? No way. However, he came up quickly even with a wedding date, nice touch...''
Callen couldn't understand why would someone tell personal information, or any information, to a complete stranger, so that he was absolutely sure Sam was lying to him all the time.
He on the other hand was certainly more subtle, technically he wasn't lying, but he wasn't telling the truth either. There were half-lies, omissions, empty words, creative ways of twisting the truth - he had been in the spy business for a very long time after all...
But suddenly Callen was tired of the game. Why ask the questions, why bother to answer them when you know that nothing is true. He and Sam just had to work together, be two guys who go from a case to another case.
... ... ... ... ... ...
''You are a pretty good liar, I have to admit it,'' Callen stated simply.
Sam was caught unprepared, he jumped from the chair and repeated Callen's words in shock. ''Me... a good … liar.''
''I'm a really good one too, so we don't have to pretend anymore,'' Callen continued looking to the ground.
Then, he looked at Sam and in this moment he saw it. Even the best liar can't fake the hurt in his eyes.
Sam was hurt because he accused him of being a liar. His partner was indeed saying the truth, he wasn't lying to him.
... ... ... ... ... ...
''You are really married?'' Callen asked confused.
''Is it so incomprehensible? I'm a girl's dream, responsible, practical, fit. Michelle's pregnant.'' Sam said relieved. This was the first normal conversation they had.
''Here's the proof,'' he showed a photo from an ultrasound to Callen.
They both worked in silence on the pile of documents when Callen said: ''You can call me G.''
''Ok, G. And what does that stand for?''
''They never told me.''
It was a strange answer but Sam wisely decided not to push harder. He hoped that one day Callen reveals who the 'they' is.
At the and of the day he was rewarded for his patience. ''If you still want to be environment-friendly, there's a coffee stand in Venice, we can meet there. You drive.''
Sam simply nodded. He was very succesful today. Two bricks removed. Callen had a name, yeah sort of, and was willing to carpool with him.