Joelle picked up their dinner plates. 'So tell me about them' she said as she walked into the kitchen from the dining room. 'Who?' Callen asked following her with their wineglasses.
'Your family. You wanted me to meet them at Christmas. So c'mon, tell me about them' she said. Joelle pulled a carton of ice-cream out of the freezer 'You wanted dessert, right?'.
'Really?' Callen smirked.
She pointed a spoon at the carton 'Smarty-pants. I meant the ice-cream'.
'Ok, ok, I'll tell you' Callen laughed. He refilled the wineglasses while Joelle made up the dessert bowls. They took their food and wine into the lounge room to settle on the couch.
'Ah, so what do you want to know? I mean you already know Sam' Callen asked.
'But I don't know about you and Sam' Joelle said.
'Well…Sam and I have known each other for about eight or nine years. He's my best friend. We've been there for each other during some tough times.'
'Like what? I understand you can't tell me everything because of security, but what kind of tough times?' she asked.
'Umm…' Callen thought about which story he could tell without frightening her. 'There was an incident a few years ago where Sam put his job on the line to help me out. Actually, he quit his job to travel overseas to help me sort some problems.'
'You're lucky to have a friend who'll do that for you. Not everyone is as lucky as you and Sam' Joelle said.
'Yeah, I know. I'd be in a far worse place if I hadn't met Sam' Callen acknowledged.
'You're close to Michelle and Kamran too, aren't you?' Joelle asked.
'Oh yeah. I'm her honorary uncle. I think I've been to all of her birthday parties' Callen laughed. 'I've even dressed up a movie character for her parties. Sam and Michelle are a great Mum and Dad'.
Joelle nodded 'Yeah they are. So, who else is there? I remember seeing a blond man and a brunette at the ice-skating rink'.
'Deeks and Kensi, yeah' Callen said. 'Deeks is an LAPD Detective. He's been with us for about five years. One of the bravest men I've ever worked with'.
'Wow. A cop. Sound like a pretty handy person to know' Joelle smiled.
'Yeah. Except he's not going to get you out a speeding ticket' Callen said ruefully. 'Believe me I've tried'.
'Oh, you're a bit of a lead foot. I'm surprised. You're always careful when we're in the car together' she teased.
'But that's because you're in the car Joelle' Callen said with a quiet voice. He met her eyes.
Joelle smiled and leant over to give Callen a small kiss on the mouth. 'Ok, so if Detective Deeks won't get me out of a speeding ticket, what else does he do?'.
'Deeks is your stereotypical Angeleno. Sun, surf, new age stuff, and bitching about the traffic. But looks are deceiving. He takes his job seriously. He is loyal to his partner and the team' Callen said.
'And his partner is…' Joelle asked.
'Kensi. His partner is Kensi' Callen said.
'Is she the only woman in your team?'
'The only one who goes out in the field regularly' Callen said.
'The only woman in the team and working in a male dominated field. I wonder, if that's hard for her?' Joelle asked.
'People underestimate her; all they see is a pretty face. Kensi can handle herself' Callen said.
'You're proud of her'. A thought occurred to Joelle 'Did you and Kensi ever….?' her question trailed off.
'No. No way' Callen shook his head. 'I've never slept with Kensi. She's like a little sister to me. And besides I don't date people I work with regularly. You should also know that Deeks and Kensi are dating each other' Callen said.
'Ahhh, so what's that like? Is it awkward?' Joelle asked.
'Not really. Deeks and Kensi are discreet but they're not subtle either'.
'What does that mean?' Joelle asked.
'You'll have to meet them to understand' Callen laughed.
'Right, so is there anybody else besides Sam, Deeks, and Kensi?' Joelle asked.
'Eric and Nell. Eric is our Technical Analyst. The smartest man I've ever met. Nell is our Intelligence Analyst. She works alongside Eric' Callen said.
'You like them' Joelle remarked.
'Yeah. I like them' Callen smiled. 'Nell comes out in the field with us sometimes when we need a fifth a field agent. And then there is Hetty and Granger. Granger is our Assistant Director. He's a bit of closed book. He doesn't talk about himself much' Callen said.
'Huh. Sounds familiar' Joelle quipped.
'Well played. Hetty Lange is our Operations Manager' Callen said. Callen paused. He thought about what Hetty meant to him and the team.
'And….?' Joelle prompted him.
'…Hetty? She's like a mother hen. She takes care of us. She promotes our successes to our bosses and takes the heat for our failures. So we try to limit our failures' Callen paused. 'It feels like I've known her all of my life. But just when you think you know how Hetty will react to a situation, she'll surprise you by saying and doing the unexpected'.
'Hetty sounds incredible. Everybody in your family sound incredible. I'd love to meet them' Joelle said wistfully.
'You can. Sam and Michelle invite all of us around for Sunday dinner once a month. It's on next weekend. You should come Jo' Callen stopped and took her hand. 'I'd like you to come Jo'.
'I'd like that' Joelle smiled.
'So, come. Come to meet them' Callen said.
Michelle Hanna stopped Joelle in the school playground 'Joelle, are you coming to dinner this weekend?'
'Yeah. I hope that's okay. Callen invited me but I don't want to intrude' Joelle said.
'Of course not, Jo. You're not intruding. I've been hassling Sam to hassle Callen to invite for months' Michelle reassured Joelle.
'Thanks Michelle' Joelle smiled.
'It's going to be great. I'm planning a leg of lamb with roast vegetables'.
Joelle asked 'What should I bring?'.
'If you're a wine drinker, bring a bottle of wine with you. Kensi and Deeks usually bring a bottle or two, or a six pack of beer. Same with Eric and Nell'. Michelle paused 'Has Callen told you about everyone?'.
'Yes' Joelle nodded. 'He's told me about them. He has lot of pride and affection for his family'.
Michelle smiled 'Yes. He does'. She paused and continued quietly. 'The last couple of years have been tough for them. Some close friends have died. And they've all been seriously injured in the field. It's tested them. It's one of the reasons I hold these monthly dinners. In Sam and Callen's line of work, it can be difficult to maintain friendships because of the pressure of their job. It's even harder to start and build relationships. Do you understand what I mean?'.
'I think so' Joelle said. Callen's family sounded very close knit. 'What time should Callen and I be there on Sunday?'.
'Be there at 5 o'clock. I'll have the roast in the oven by then. Kensi and Deeks should be there by then. Nell and Eric usually turn up mid-afternoon'.
'Thanks Michelle. I'll see you on Sunday' Joelle waved Michelle goodbye and walked back to her classroom.