This is my new story, the one that is replacing Sestra. I hope you guys love it...

First off, let's get something out of the way : DISCLAIMER = I OWN NOTHING

And now I present to you... To Damn Close

"I hate airports." Nell stated has she got off the plane. It had been four long weeks in Romania for the team, they had gone through more there in a month than they had in a year in LA. For the most part, they were happy to be back.

"You know, most people hate the big flying things that land at the airports, not the airports themselves." Deeks responded as he helped get his airsick into a chair that was on solid LA ground. He felt a little bad, he was sure he had contributed to the illness with his non-stop jibs about her fear of flying, but he felt the need to take advantage of the fact that he had this one over her. Plus, she was in no state to hurt him, so he was safe from to much bodily harm. What he wasn't counting on was that she would be right back to normal so soon. "Right, Princess?" The team laughed as the female agent took very accurate swing at her partners ribs.

"I do believe Miss Blye is trying to say, is that you should shut up, Mr Deeks." Hetty smiled as the detective groaned and walked away, muttering something about the bathroom and a coffee.

"Now the question is, do we wait, or do we leave Deeks to get his gun through security on his own?" Sam said, getting a mixed reaction from the team. As it turned out they had to wait because Kensi still could not stand because of her airsickness and Nell said she had to use the washroom.

So, 10 minutes later the team was filling out paperwork... Lots of paper work. Eric was complaining about how he and Nell had to do more because their jobs didn't make it a necessity to have weapons on them.

"It isn't fair. I mean really, we can't even shoot straight!" He said once he had signed his name for the 16th time. Honestly, he was counting, there had to be a rule against this, there had to be.

"All the more reason you shouldn't have a gun Eric." Callen said. Their team leader was done, relishing the fact that he had a very short name and his signature really only consisted of a quick GC anyway. He had been expecting at least a glare, or maybe a plea for Kensi to shut him up...he was counting and there had been five, but Nell commented first.

"Can you two stop? And speak for yourself Eric." The pixie-like techie pushed her papers over the counter. Then picked up her bag and walked over to wait with Callen and Sam, who had recently finished and was no listening to the conversation with interest.

"You can shoot Nell?" Her partner looked at her curiously, she was turning out to be more like Hetty then he wanted to believe...all secrets and surprises. But in response to their surprise Nell just shrugged her shoulders and gave them a look.

"I need tea. When those two are done let me know." Then she walked away, leaving the team to look at Hetty for answers. Of course the older agents face betrayed nothing, they should have expected less. By this time Kensi and Deeks had stopped their senseless argument, over how to sign their names of all things, and had joined them.

"What does everyone suddenly look like we just found out Eric could shoot straight?"

"Because we just found out that Nell knows how to shoot straight."

"Ahhhh, it's nice to be back." Whilst the rest of the team crashed down in the bullpen, Nell and Eric had run up the stairs to Ops.

I probably spend more time here than I have anywhere I have ever lived, thought Nell as she walked through the doors, well other than... She stopped her thoughts short, she had promised herself she would put all that behind her.

Her partner flopped down in his chair and immediately signed in and lit up the whole room with blinking lights and computer screens.

"What's the time Eric?" Nell asked through a yawn, she was so tired she could hardly stand but she resided to leaning against the island in the middle of the room. The team, minus Hetty, had given her hell for not having caffeine when she looked like crap. Honestly she felt the same as she looked, now, but at the time she had insisted she was fine with her non-caffeinated herbal tea. Something she regretted now, but it wasn't like she could now go get a coffee. She would never hear the end of it.

"Seven am. Work starts in two hours...you would have thought Hetty would give us some time off." The blonde tech swung his feet up onto the table leaning all the way back in his chair. "I haven't slept in...wait, 46.2 hours."

"Well Mr Beale, your going to need some more coffee then" Hetty's voice startled him, and he promptly fell out of his chair as it slid from beneath him when he lean back to far. "And get the team while your at it...we have a case."

"Damn." Eric muttered under his breath as he picked himself up off the floor.

"What was that Mr Beale?"

"Nothing Hetty." He said quickly, but as he passed his partner Eric whispered in her ear. "I told you...ninja."

Sooooooo... What do you think?

Good, terrible? Hate it, love it? Let me know what you are thinking, I am not a mind reader, although I wish I was. No, but honestly, I don't care what you think, just let me know, cause it is the only way to make this story better!

Ideas...love them to! Because right now I have only my sister's ideas (and my own of course) to go by.

I know this chapter was a short one, but they will probably get longer, I hope.

Always remember, it takes only one click to hit that blue button and let me know what you think! Reviews are love, and the more love I get the more I update!

Luvs to you always,

Yazzy