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.

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I also would be very glad to get your reviews. So I can become a better writer and you will have more fun while reading my stories.

Chapter 1 - Earthquake

The world around the OSP was back in order. Marty and Joann had taken their service again, the jokes about his dismissal had Deeks coped manfully and otherwise the opinion prevailed, that with him and Kensi it was about time - as Kensi had announced it. As Joann had predicted, the separation between private and professional life worked well. At least they teased each other neither more nor less, such as Sam mentioned quite dry-witted. When Deeks came to apologize to Joann and G, both didn't have him on the hook for long.

"Buy me a beer occasionally.", thus the matter was settled with Callen.

Joann had hugged him in the middle of his apology and asked: "Are you happy?" Puzzled, he had just nodded. "Good."

Friendship was something special, Deeks could determine.

…

"I told you we do not have to go out whenever we want to do anything as a team. My kitchen is large enough that we are able to cook and eat here together. We surely will have a lo of fun!" Joann smiled wide at Kensi.

"Well, I hope your kitchen will survive this... I can't imagine Nate and Eric rattle the pots and pans."

"I'm still amazed that Hetty agreed. I mean we've already met here more than once, but never all together and never with Hetty. That will be interesting."

Kensi laughed. "Is this the reason why you polished everything to a shine?"

Joann became red. Kensi had caught her completely. "Well, you don't have your boss at your place every day..."

Kensi had to laugh even more. "Don't worry, I won't dime you. Tell me, where are the other."

"Kens, no one drives like you. The others lack the racing driver's gene. Accordingly they need a few more minutes."

This time Kensi became red and gave Joann a reason for the laughter.

"Don't worry, it's okay, so I can quickly change my clothes. You know, where everything is, so take you a drink in the meantime." Still grinning Joann disappeared into her bedroom.

Then the ground shook. Joann lost her balance and fell. She quickly picked herself up again. "Kensi? You all right?" The earthquake was more violent and Joann stumbled toward the kitchen. "Kensi? Answer me!" Then she got a severe blow to her back and fell to the ground. She protected her head with her arms.

Eventually, the shaking and rumbling was over. Joann realized that she was buried under one of her bookshelves. Because of the weight there also could be several, she was not so sure about it. Dust in the air made her cough violently.

"Kensi? Kensi!" Panic arose in Joann. Why didn't her friend respond? "Kensi, say something!"

Then she could hear a groan. "Shoot! Why do you have so many books, Joann? They damned hurt, if they are thrown at one!" A cough followed the outburst.

"Kensi, you're hurt?"

"No, Jo, just buried in books! What about you?"

"Me too! What do you do in the living room? I thought you were in the kitchen?"

"I didn't want to be beaten to death by your cooking pots. The books I had forgotten."

Joann tried desperately to free herself, but the weight was too heavy. She could hear Kensi moving. At least both of them were good.

…

"Jo? Kens? Where are you? Are you good?" The men came at last!

"Kensi is in the living room, somewhere in the books!"

G appeared next to Joann and she saw Sam and Marty climb over the debris toward the living room.

"Are you unharmed, Little One, are you good?" The fear in G's voice was not to be missed.

"Yeah, but I can't emerge among the books. They are too heavy!" His anxious gaze wandered over her, but because Joann could not move, she did not know what was going on. "G?"

"Keep calm, Ray and I get you out of there."

"Ray?"

"I'm here." The voice came from behind her.

It seemed to last an eternity, until the weight was easier on her back and Joann was able to breathe properly again.

"What about Kensi? Is she good?"

G had to laugh despite the situation. "She bullied Deeks and Sam around, so it seems that nothing happened to her. Can you move, Little One, very careful?"

"Do not call me 'Little One', damn it all, and yes, I can move!"

Slowly Joann crept out from under the shelf and allowed G to help her up. At that moment, a dirty and rather grumpy Kensi came from the living room, followed by a grinning Sam and a relieved Marty.

"We should better leave here before there is more coming down from the ceiling."

Callen urged all towards the door. It took a moment until Joann became clear that not only the books had caused the weight on her back. Parts of the ceiling had also contributed to it.

…

Nate assisted in some first aid injuries and Eric supported him. Hetty hung on the phone, trying to gain an overview of the situation. Nate looked at Joann and Kensi.

"Are you well, do you need help?"

Both shook their heads.

"All is well, Nate, we are good. Don't worry."

Kensi smiled at him reassuringly.

As Joann threw a glance at her apartment house, she suddenly lost her composure. The legs sagged out from under her and she sat down abruptly on the street, pale in the face.

"Joann?" Sam was at her first.

"Look at that, Sam! There I have lived... What about my neighbors?"

The roof of the apartment next door had collapsed completely, not only in parts, as in her apartment.

"Joann, nothing happened to you and Kensi. Everything else are just things that you can replace. Don't worry, okay?"

"What about my neighbors?" Joann stuck to her guns.

Sam sighed. "I try to figure it out." A few minutes later he came back. "They were not at home. The apartment was empty."

"Good. Thanks, Sam."

He put a calming hand on her shoulder.

Callen stepped up to them.

"Come, Jo, we drive to me. Here we can't do anything."

"But what about my stuff? I cannot just leave everything back here..."

Callen threw a concerned look at Sam and then leaned over to her. Joann shivered despite the warm temperatures.

"Lovey, nothing will happen to your stuff. No one will go into the house, it's much too dangerous. You come along to me, take a shower and put clean clothes on. Okay?"

"I cannot leave my things in the apartment, therein is my life…"

Nate had arrived and cast a closer look at Joann. "Callen, she has a mild shock. Bring Joann away from here, keep her warm and talk to her. If her condition doesn't improve, call me."

"All right, Doc."

Reluctantly Joann let Callen pull her up and bring her to his car. Sam accompanied them.

"We take care of everything. We cannot do much anyway."

"Deeks shall carry Kensi home. He also shall speak with the LAPD and make them clear that one of us lived here. Eric should check whether our cover is maintained."

Sam nodded. "I care about. What about her laptop?"

"I do not know if Joann has left it in the office or taken away. Ask Kensi. If it is up there, we have a problem."

"Okay, G, you take care of Joann, I worry about the rest."

Callen nodded. "Thanks, Sam."

…

Freshly showered and wrapped in a warm blanket, Joann was sitting on the couch, staring blankly into space.

"Here, Jo, drink some tea."

Confused, she looked up and saw G handed her a cup. "Thanks." She accepted the cup, but stared back out just ahead. "Finally I understand you, I think."

G sat down beside her. "What do you mean?"

"Why you do want to have no possessions. What you don't have, you can't lose."

"You have lost nothing, Jo. You and Kensi, you came out with no injuries. The rest of us were right in front of the house when the quake began and nothing has happened to us. Books, clothing, photography, nothing that counts, these are just inanimate objects. You can buy new books and clothes and make new photos. The memories, which you associate with these objects, are in your head and your heart. From there no one can take them away." G clasped Joann in his arms.

"It's more than that. I have started anew so many times, each time from scratch, the last time here in Los Angeles. I just can't anymore."

"Of course you can, Jo. And if it should ever be necessary, you can do it again." He kissed her gently. "I know nothing about the other times, but the last time you were all alone in your new beginning. No one who has helped you, no one who was there for you. This time it's different. You have me. And the team, your friends. You are not alone."

Joann clung to him. "Yes, you're right, G." She sighed softly. "It's a good feeling not to be alone."

…

A few days later, residents were given the opportunity to return briefly to their homes to collect their things. The fire department had stabilized the building makeshift. Hetty had organized a few volunteers, allowing most things from Joanne apartment to be recovered. The van with her possessions was parked in a warehouse of the NCIS.

…

Slowly Joann walked along the beach. She had a lot to think about, and here she could do it always best. An apartment on the beach or near the beach would be great. Here in Venice she would also be close to the job and could, if necessary, walk to it. G had lived here for a while before Hetty had procured him the house. So why not her?

…

Callen had no trouble finding her. When Joann had to pass severe problems, she always went to the beach, mostly to Venice Beach. Although it was always noisy and turbulent, Joann was able to find her ease of mind here.

…

"Hello, Lovey." He gave her a kiss before he sat down beside her in the sand. "What are you brooding about?"

"Where I should look for a new apartment. Venice would please me. Close to beach, close to the job, not so close to you and probably expensive."

"I wanted to make another proposal to you." G hesitated. He had thought deeply about it, but was not sure if Joann was already so far. "Move in together with me."

Blankly Joann looked at him. "I already stay with you, since the earthquake."

"I mean in the long run. You and me together in my house."

Joann froze. G had counted on her reluctance, but not to see fear in her eyes, even almost panic. He had a guess where that came from.

"I'm not like him." His voice was calm, but he could not suppress a mixture of anger and disappointment.

This time, Joann was genuinely shocked. "Of course not, G! I have never thought of that!" She firmly looked at him. "Not one second. Otherwise I would not be together with you." Joann took a deep breath. "I love you and want to be together with you. But living together? I have not thought about it. Just give me some time, okay?" She sighed. "This is almost like another earthquake. Your suggestion has quite surprised me, nothing else."

G nodded. "Well, of course you can have time to think." He stood up. "Shall I bring some food?"

"No, thank you, G. I'm not hungry."

He kissed Joann gently on her head, then he left.

…

The next day was a day at the office for Joann. She did not come in the field, had to deal with research and create additional reports for completed cases. Sam had met the same fate, so that Ray and Callen were on the way together.

"I hate that!"

Sam laughed softly to himself. "We all have to go through this, Joann, you know that. Finally, it is not the first time."

"And not the last time, I know." Joann was really annoyed. "Every time I hear this stupid sayings. You should come up with something new!"

"Well, how about: On office days avoid Joann, especially if she has a row with G!" Sam went on diving spot, because a pencil headed to him.

"I have no quarrel with G!"

Sam peered cautiously over the edge, but Joann had set her air strike.

"What is it, Jo?"

"He wants me to move in together with him permanently."

"So what? It was about time. What has happened to your apartment is woeful, but if not now, then when?"

"I like my independence and was thinking more of an apartment in Venice, somewhere on the beach or near the beach."

"You won't move in together with G, because his house is not close to the beach? And why do you lose your independence, when you shack up with him? Anyway, you spend most of your free time together. Moreover, his house is decorated so sparse that you can put all your books there without any problem."

At the last remark a faint smile appeared on Joann's face. "Sure, if I search an apartment, it must have its own library."

Sam laughed again. "Most of us read, but you beat us by miles. And still I am extremely impressed with your speed while reading. But tell me, what is the real reason why you do not want to move in together with G?"

Joann shrugged and went on to her report. Sam bit back any further question.

…

"Nate?"

He looked up from the file, in which he was reading. "Joann, what can I do for you?"

"G has asked me to move in together with him."

"These are good news. Or aren't they?"

„I do not know. It scares me, Nate."

He leaned back in his chair. "Why?"

Joann sighed and sat down opposite him. "That's why I'm here. I don't know."

Nate nodded. "How often have you moved in with someone?"

"Twice. In college and in New York with...him."

"What about in college? Was it good, did you have a nice roommate?"

"The first year went well, then it became difficult. She had a strange company, I did not like them in my room. That's why I got something cheap off-campus."

"Two attempts, two flops and you're wondering why you're afraid? Or do you fear something similar like in New York?"

Joann's horror nearly was to grab. "Of course not! G would never behave like that! None of the men of this team would do that! How can you ask?"

Nate looked at her calmly. "If you ask me for help, I ask you the questions, you can't or don't want to ask yourself."

Joann slightly slumped to the ground. "Am I that bad?"

Now Nate had to smile. "You're not bad, you just behave human. Each of us has fears, which one won't face up. Or can."

She sighed softly. "Then you can't help me."

"You are not afraid of Callen, so what are you afraid of?"

"Prior to lose my independence..." Nate looked at her. "Okay, not really. Sam has already made that clear to me."

"A wise man."

That brought a smile to Joann. "Usually, yes."

"And you're a smart woman, Joann. So what makes you afraid? If you can answer this question, you will know if you can move in together with Callen."

Joann got up. "Thank you, Nate."

…

The sound of the waves calmed her. The other ambient noise faded, however. Nevertheless, Joann heard the footsteps approaching her. Silently G sat next to her. After a while Joann began to speak, so quietly he could hardly understand her.

"I'm afraid, G. Not of you, but of the cohabitation with you. I moved in together with R.J. much too early. I was talked into it, although I did not really want. I do not know if I'm open enough to try it again. My attempts to share an apartment with someone were not very successful. I don't want to risk our relationship by moving in together with you, although I'm not ready. But I also don't want to risk it because I do not move in together with you. I'm in a quagmire."

Silently G thought about what he had heard.

"It works well so far, right? With the two of us in my house. Do you think it will change something if it is not just temporarily? Would you behave differently? Would your feelings be different?"

Thoughtfully Joann looked ahead, processing the questions that G had been asked.

"My feelings for you have nothing to do with the place where I live, only with you, but I think, my behavior would change. So far I have considered myself as your guest when I am with you." A faint smile played about Joann's lips when seeing the annoyed gaze of G. "Well, as a guest with special privileges. And with a drawer in your dresser. But just a guest. But if I move in together with you, I would like to be there at home. Not only a guest. And I'm not sure if we get this done."

G nodded, he understood Joann. "I've been thinking about for quite a while before I have asked you this question. After all, it had been a big step for me, to sign the contract for this house." A typical Callen-smile appeared on his face. "Although Hetty has held a gun to my head, so I do it." This remark raised a smile on Joann's face. "But I want you to have more than one drawer in the dresser. That's why I went shopping today."

Joann looked at him curiously. "And what did you buy?"

"Bookshelves!"

Joann began to laugh lustily. G grinned at her. "Okay, G, let's try it. But I attach a condition to it." With an expressionless face she looked at him.

"Which?"

"Let's buy a nice big double bed. In the long your mattress is much too uncomfortable for me."

Laughing, he took her in his arms and kissed her.