Kensi woke suddenly as her phone vibrated harshly on the bedside table. She was instantly alert despite the unseemly hour, and her eyes instinctively scanned the room with hawk like focus before she reached over and picked up the phone.

'This is Kensi' she spoke as she climbed from the bed, pulling a pair of jeans from the pile on the floor and then hunting in her cupboard for a clean top. 'I'm on my way' she replied to the voice on the end of the line and then hung up, slipping the phone into the pocket of her jeans before she pulled them on. Moments later she was out of the door, stopping only the fish her car keys out of the bread bin. How they had ended up in there, she wasn't sure. As she slipped into her car her phone buzzed once more and she laughed aloud as she read the message from Deeks, asking to car pool. He always did this, and she knew she could wheedle a few promises from him as compensation.

She did not think much as she drove. She was not unused to these late night cases, although they were slightly unusual. She almost preferred them, as their urgency tended to make for a more exciting and satisfying case. Deeks was waiting for her on the pavement, dressed as usual in his baggy jeans and a sweater, with his hair sporting the 'styled by pillow' look. She barely stopped the car as he pulled himself into the passenger seat. 'Morning Kens' he smiled at her. She ignored his chirpiness and kept her eyes on the road. 'Any chance of a breakfast burrito to get this morning started?'

'Any chance of a quiet drive to work to get the morning started? She replied, grinning. 'Eric sounded pretty stressed on the phone, I don't think it would be fair to enjoy breakfast whilst he is alone with Hetty.' Deeks raised his eyebrows at this last comment, but before he could respond in sort Kensi said 'Don't even go there.'

'Go where' he replied cheekily, 'I wasn't thinking anything, what were you thinking? Wait, were you thinking that Eric and Hetty... ew, no !' Kensi gave Deeks a warning glare which Deeks followed up with a wounded puppy whine but stopped his talking.

Several minutes later they pulled up at the mission. They were the first of the team to arrive, but seconds later Callen appeared. 'Is Sam not here then?'

'It's not like you can miss him is it?' Deeks remarked. At just that moment Sam's sleek black car rounded the corner and slipped into his spot. Sam quickly joined them around the entrance.

'What are we all waiting for?'

'You actually.' said G, as he pulled open the ornate doors to the Mission. The team stepped in together, and found their office to already be a hive of activity, with Hetty at the centre, the Queen Bee responsible for the place's smooth running.

'Ah, there you are, I am glad you made good time.' Hetty immediately beckoned them over and led them upstairs. 'We have a matter of utmost security, according to Langley. I don't think it is quite all they claim it to be, but who are we to question the great FBI?' Her voice was tinged with sarcasm and the team grinned at each other, used to Hetty's ways. Eric chose this moment to swivel round in his chair and begin to explain.

'So, at about 11 o'clock last night the police received several calls about gunfire from a house in Venice. It turned out the house belonged to an FBI operations officer. He was found dead at the scene, but this is the bit where we come in; he was married to a Naval development specialist. Her name is Nancy Reiner, and she has not been seen since the shooting. We have to assume that she has been kidnapped.' The team exchanged looks with each other. Nobody noticed Kensi blanche.

'How bad is this exactly? What was she working on that makes her so important?' asked G.

'Nancy Reiner worked on the N22 Submarine.' Eric grimaced.

At this point Deeks butted in. 'Isn't that nuclear?'

'And armed, seriously armed. It's also capable of remote control, meaning a hijacking is the most likely plan for the kidnappers.'

Kensi hadn't really been listening; she already knew about the Sub, but now she raised her voice. 'Do we have any leads yet?' her voice shook as she spoke and Deeks looked at her confused, but she ignored him.

'We managed to pull CCTV from the neighbour's house, and whilst we don't actually see her being taken, there is a car that enters the house and leaves about 10 minutes later. I am currently searching for said car.' As Eric spoke he pulled up the footage to show the inconspicuous silver SUV. He also pulled up a picture of Nancy, and Kensi swore. This time everyone looked at her.

'I know her.' She whispered. 'They have a child, Molly. She's around 7.'

'Our records show that Molly lives with her grandparents. She will be in Iowa.'

'She doesn't.' Kensi insisted, 'It's complicated. They moved her there for safety because of Dan's job, but it only says so on paper. In reality she is still with them. I bet they never thought it would be Nancy's work that caused all this.' Nobody spoke for a moment, and then Kensi said 'Deeks and I will take the house. Eric, please call when you find the car.'