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Chapter 1 - Briefing With Surprises
He looked at her and could not avert his gaze from her. This woman was not only fascinating him, she captured his attention. He had difficulties to follow the explanation of FBI operations manager Larry Cummings. Again and again he glanced over to her, while she was totally unaware of him. He pulled himself together with difficulty and focused.
It cost her a lot of strength, not to react on his recurring glances. Her situation was already difficult enough; she would not risk more complications by a flirt. She already had lost too much.
Curiously Sam kept an eye on his friend and partner. It wasn't G's manner to be diverted by a woman. But one couldn't overlook that he really fell for this FBI agent. Sam looked at her. He couldn't understand what made this woman so fascinating for his friend; she seemed to be so unsociable and inconspicuous. Sam frowned and then concentrated again.
Nate scrutinized both teams who should work together on this assignment. The FBI agents appeared to be distant and impersonal, which was supported by their cloths. Everyone was wearing dark suits and white shirts and blouses. His own team was dressed casual and sporty as always. Especially Eric's surfer look, which had caused frowns with the FBI, while on the other hand had made Hetty smirk. Thoughtfully Nate noticed Callen's fascination for the FBI agent MacKenzie. Like always Sam kept an eye on his partner. Kensi and Marty noticed Callen's strange behavior but decided to ignore it for now. Hetty seemed to be the only one who was unaware of it, which meant that it wasn't definitely so. Same as it ever was. Except for Callen. Which made Nate looked over this agent again.
"Some more questions? No? Okay, then we will divide you into team. Miss Lange, please go on."
Cummings stepped aside and cleared the way for Hetty. She gave him a very penetrating look before she went on.
"As soon as you have your partner for this assignment, Ladies and Gentlemen, you will get your cover. For the reception we will provide you with the appropriate cloths: tuxedos for the gentlemen and evening gowns for the ladies. You will have to dance in order not to be noticeable. If anybody needs support for this, please let me know in time." Hetty looked around. "Callen and MacKenzie, Hanna and Foster, Blye and Mitchell, Deeks and Barrett. Mr. Beale, you will take over the technical surveillance. Mr. Getz, you will support us from the ops. Agent Grant, you are allocated for the security."
G froze inwardly. Why just her! That could only be a very bad joke. But looking at Hetty pointed out that it would be out of the question to change partners with Sam or Deeks. So he took the file about his and Joann's cover without any expression and walked up to her.
Joann braced herself for G, when she saw him coming up to her. Why did she get him of all the agents, the only one who prompted feelings at her?
"MacKenzie." G nodded at her and then gave her part of the file to Joann.
"Callen." She pointed to the door of the meeting room. "We provided some offices, please follow me."
Her impersonal behavior made him more curious. Silently they worked through their files. About twenty minutes later Joann closed her folder and looked at G.
"Just ready?" He was really baffled. He was accustomed to that kind of speed only by his own team, whose main task was undercover assignments. "Okay, then tell me about it."
Quickly he figured out that he got a very capable partner for this assignment. She had internalized her cover completely and did not display any mistakes. Her analysis oft the whole mission and their particular task was clear and cut right to the chase of the matter and she was well up with all details of the operation. He was impressed by her profound knowledge. If all her capabilities turned out ot be so good he could depend on her during the assignment.
"Are we ready?" she asked looking at G who nodded. "Well, then I see that I get my disguise." She couldn't stop a silent sigh.
"Any problems with it?"
Joann winced a little. Damned, she had been so careful not to show any weakness! She swallowed hard. "Well, you and the other male colleagues put on a tuxedo and that's it. All of us women have to wear dresses which are so narrow that you can't hide a weapon and so long that you get entangled in when you run. If it is possible to run in those high and uncomfortable shoes. After all in such a disguise one isn't really operational."
G had to do his best effort not to laugh. He had seen Kensi several times in appropriate outfits and she didn't have any problems. He got a disturbing thought. "How many undercover assignments have you done, MacKenzie?"
Immediately Joann got back behind her mask. "Surely not so many as you but enough to know what I have to do." The temperature in the room suddenly dropped. Joann got up. "I am sure you will find out on your own." And left him alone.
Callen looked after Joann very puzzled. That wasn't the usual reaction of women around him. He got the impression that he crumbled away her distance. He had to be wrong about it.
Thoughtfully Callen left the room and looked for Hetty. He found her and Nate in an inspiring and amusing discussion about the dress code of the FBI. He listened them for a moment, smiling, and then interrupted them. "Hetty, what do you know about Joann MacKenzie?"
Hetty looked at him pondering. "Is there any reason for this question, Mr. Callen?"
G hesitated, searching for the right words. "There had been something during our meeting. She seemed to be very competent and totally overcharged at the same time. I'm sorry, Hetty, I can't describe it better."
"She surely is a capable agent; otherwise she wouldn't be part of this assignment. I won't risk my team with incompetent partners."
"I didn't want to say anything like that, but there is something…" G shrugged, very frustrated.
A warm smile appeared on Hetty's face. "Trust her, Mr. Callen. Trust her." She could nearly grasp his disappointment when she left the room.
Nate looked after Hetty and then concentrated on Callen. "What is your problem with Agent MacKenzie?"
G hesitated. "It's our strength to slip in every possible role at any time, with or without preparation. We don't have always the time to analyze a situation, but we have to be confident in our feelings and instinct. I discovered that with her when we went through our story. But then she made this comment as if she never had worked undercover. When I asked her about it she let me run against a wall, ice cold." Callen's rate of frustration increased.
Nate had to stop smirking. "Hetty has permitted the choice of the FBI agents so MacKenzie has to have all required capabilities." Nate made a break. "Or are you bothered because she didn't fall on your Callen charm? When did you get your last brush-off?" G looked at him cool and adverse but this couldn't put off Nate. "Callen, one couldn't overlook your interest, at least for everyone who knows you. Don't allow her lack of interest to be a problem for you."
"That's not the point, Nate. We should identify one or more assassins on this assignment and she has my back. I have to trust in my partner and I got the impression that might not be so."
"Well, Hetty seems to trust MacKenzie so should you."
Callen shook his head then ditched Nate and left.
In the hall he nearly bumped into Eric, who was extremely hacked off. "The technique here is from the Stone Age! I will be old and grey before I have done all the necessary adjustments. The guy claims to be a computer expert but doesn't have a clue!"
G couldn't refrain from smirking. The OSP was equipped with a lot of techniques, the newest and best that money could buy. The FBI couldn't keep up with it so do the most other agencies. Everyone of Callen's team knew that Hetty has a lot of connections and so no one ever asked where the things come from. "Tell me, can you get the file of agent MacKenzie?"
"You want me to hack the FBI?" Eric suddenly grinned from ear to ear.
"Would I ever ask you to do anything illegal?" Callen had found his grin again. Together they drove to the headquarter.