A/N: A new story about Eric. I don't NCISLA or the characters. I only own my OC's. Hope you like it.


"Good morning Mr. Beale," Hetty said as she walked into OPS. "I would like you to meet Melissa Bryan. You two will be working together. She is our new tech operator."

"Hi, Eric," Melissa said.

Eric was a bit stunned by the words Hetty just said and Melissa was the last person he was expecting to walk through the door. "Hi Melissa."

"You two know each other?" Hetty said.

"We were in the same class at MIT together," Melissa said.

"Yes, unfortunately."

"Ah come on you're still angry with me. It's been 8 years since you broke up with me."

"Only because you cheated on me!"

"I did not cheat on you! You shouldn't believe what those bastards told you."

"Alright you two, calm down before I separate you two. Can you two but the past behind you and work together?" Hetty said.

"I don't have a problem with it. It's he who has the problem," Melissa said.

"I don't have a problem. We'll be fine Hetty," Eric said.

"Good. Now could you show Ms. Bryan around OPS and show here how everything works?"

"Sure," Eric said but he really wasn't looking forward to working together with Melissa.

Eric showed her around OPS and talked her through the system. A little later Nell came walking in.

"Good morning Eric," Nell said.

"Good morning Nell. This is Melissa Bryan, she's our new tech operator."

"Nice to meet you Nell," Melissa said as she held out her hand.

"Nice to meet you too Melissa," Nell said and she shook her hand.

A little later they had a new case. Eric whistled they agents up and after being introduced to Melissa they got to work.

Nell noticed there was some tension between Eric and Melissa as they were working up in OPS. They managed to get the case wrapped up pretty fast. Melissa was already done for the day and she logged off.

"See you tomorrow guys," Melissa said and she walked downstairs.

"See ya," Nell said.

"So how was your first day here?" Kensi asked as Melissa came down the stairs.

"It was fine, just getting the hang of things. But I think I'm really gonna like working here. Everybody seems very friendly," Melissa said.

"Well, we're pretty much a family here. Would you like to grab a drink? My threat."

"Uhm sure, but not too long though, I've got something to do tonight."

"Sure that's fine," Kensi said and she grabbed her bag and they went to get something to drink.

..

"Alright Eric, what's going on between you and Melissa?" Nell asked.

"What do you mean? Nothing's going on between me and Melissa," Eric said.

"Oh come on Eric, I saw that there was something, you two knew each other already right?"

"Yeah, I knew her. We went to MIT together. And let's just say we ended up not being the best of friends."

"Really? What happened between you two?"

"I'm not interested in talking about that now," Eric said and he went back to his work.

That night Melissa lay in her bed thinking about her first day of work. She liked it there except she didn't expect Eric to be working there. She hadn't seen him since he broke up with her just after they finished MIT. It still hurt her that he really thought she had cheated on him. She would never do that, she loved him and she thought he loved her. But after he dumped her she wasn't so sure about it and when she saw him today she could still see the hurt in his eyes. He still believed she had cheated on him, no matter what she had said made him change his mind. She decided to get some sleep to be ready for a new day of work.

Eric lay in his bed thinking that night too. Of all the people in the world, Melissa had to walk into his life again and to top it off he had to work with her. He was so hurt when he found out she had cheated on him and she kept denying it, even know. Which made him wonder if she was right? Maybe she didn't really cheat on him. But what would that change now? He was over her. At least he thought so, seeing her again today brought back feelings he hadn't felt in a long time. Despite all the anger he still had feelings for her. She was the first girl he really fell in love with and the first girl he slept with. He needed to put his feelings aside and just concentrate on his work instead of her.

…..

The next morning Melissa was at work just after 8.30am.

"Ms. Bryan, may I have a word with you?" Hetty said as Melissa walked into the office.

"Sure Hetty, what's up?" Melissa said as she walked into Hetty's office.

"How do you like it here so far? Are you getting settled it?"

"It's nice so far. Nell and Eric have showed me around the system pretty well, I'm getting the hang of it already."

"That's very good. I'm hoping this thing between you and Eric won't come between you two here at work."

"Don't worry Hetty, it won't. Whatever issues we still have with each other we'll save that for when we're out of the office."

"Alright good."

Melissa went upstairs and started working. A little later Eric whistled the others up.

"What do we have Eric?" Callen said as they walked into OPS.

"Gunnery sergeant Scott Peters was found death at his apartment earlier this morning," Eric said as he put a picture up on the screen.

They briefed them on the rest of the case and went to work. Eric started looking into his digital footprint and Nell and Melissa would look into his history.

Melissa decided to go work downstairs in the gadget room so she wouldn't be in Eric's way. She tried to stay out of his way as much as possible. She wanted as little to do with him as possible. She knew she had to work with him on some cases but if it wasn't necessary she would stay out of his way. A little later Nell came down the stairs.

"Have you found something?" Nell asked.

"Not really anything that could explain him getting killed," Melissa answered. "How about you?"

"Nothing either."

"Did Eric find something?"

"He's still looking."

"Alright. I'll keep looking, maybe I find something."

"Why don't you come up to OPS with us?"

"I prefer it here, less crowded."

"Has this something to do with you and Eric?"

"No, of course not. I just don't wanna get in your way."

"You won't, there's plenty of room upstairs."

"Maybe later, I've got everything open here now."

"Alright. Call us if you find something."

"Will do."

Melissa felt bad she had to lie, but she didn't want to involve Nell in her and Eric's problems.

A little later Melissa went upstairs to OPS. The agents were out checking a lead.

"I think I've found something," Melissa said as she walked into OPS.

"What's that?" Nell asked.

"I found something odd in his history. First I didn't think much of it but later I found something more on it. 6 months ago he went off the grid for a while. He'd been away for a month until they found him and he spend a month in the brig when he came back. During the month he'd been away I believe he spend some time in Mexico. I found some emails and phone calls originating in Mexico, most specifically in drug cartel territory."

"You think he's involved with a drug cartel?" Nell asked.

"Could be. Why else would he have gone off the grid and to Mexico?"

"It's worth checking out," Eric replied.

The three of them went back to work again. A little later they found out why Peters was killed and they informed the agents who went after his killer and the case was closed.

"I'll see you guys tomorrow," Eric said as he walked out of OPS.

"See you tomorrow," Nell and Melissa replied.

"I'm off to," Melissa said.

"Wait, do you maybe wanna get something to drink?"

"Sure, that sounds nice. Just not too long. I've got stuff to do."

"Sure, no problem."

Nell and Melissa went to a local bar and ordered a round of drinks, without alcohol since they both had to drive home.

"So where are you from?" Nell asked.

"I was born in Miami, but when I was 5 we moved to LA. I lived here until I went off to MIT. I stayed in Massachusetts for a few more years after I finished MIT before moving back to LA a year ago."

"Ah that's nice. So how exactly did you and Eric meet?"

"We've been in the same class since junior year at MIT."

"What happened between you and Eric? You seem to have some kind of history."

"I'd rather not talk about it."

"That's what Eric said too."

"Maybe later. I should be getting home, it's late," Melissa said as she looked at her watch. "Thanks for the drink. I'll see you Monday."

"See you Monday," Nell said a little confused as Melissa suddenly left. Something was definitely going on between Eric and Melissa she just didn't know what.

Melissa woke up early that morning when her son jumped up on her bed.

"Mommy, mommy, wake up," Finley said as he tried to wake his mother up.

Slowly Melissa woke up and she looked at the clock. It was only 8am.

"Hey Fin, you're up early," Melissa said still half asleep.

"Come one mommy, wake up. I want to go to the beach."

Melissa sighed. She'd promised to take him surfing today.

"Alright. We'll go shortly. But first breakfast and you have to get dressed."

Melissa didn't have to tell him twice. Finley jumped off her bed and ran into his room to get dressed. 30 minutes later they were on their way to the beach. Together they peddled out into the ocean. Finley could swim pretty well already but Melissa didn't let him go out alone in the ocean. So together they peddled on the same board into the ocean.

"You're ready?" Melissa asked.

"Yep mom."

"Alright." Melissa looked backwards and saw that the wave was coming. "Alright, now paddle." Together they peddled out in front of the wave. "Stand up."

Together they stood up and surfed through the wave. Finley was a natural at it. They enjoyed a nice day at the beach. At around 5 they went back home. When they walked up to the car they bumped into Nell.

"Hey Melissa," Nell said as she saw Melissa.

"Hey Nell," Melissa replied, shocked to see her there.

"And who's this?"

"This is Finley."

"Hi Finley, nice to meet you," Nell said as she shook Finley's hand. There was something familiar about him but she couldn't quite place it.

"Nell works with me," Melissa said.

"You're a computer geek too?" Finley said and both Nell and Melissa had to chuckle.

"Yes I'm sort of a computer geek too."

"We should get going. I'll see you Monday," Melissa said as she and Finley got into the car.

"See you Monday."

Nell watched as they drove off. She wondered why Finley looked so familiar. She was sure she hadn't met him before. And what was Melissa doing with a small boy. Could it be her son? He did look a little bit like her, same blonde hair and green eyes. Nell shook it off and went home as well.

…..

That Monday Melissa went back to work. She wondered if Nell was going to ask her some questions about Finley.

"Good morning," Melissa said when she walked into OPS bright and early. Nell was already there.

"Good morning," Nell replied.

"Eric not here yet?"

"Nope he's not here yet."

"Ah okay. How was your weekend?"

"Fine. Yours?"

"Fine too."

"Can I ask you something?"

Melissa wondered what it was about, she thought it was probably about Finley. "Sure."

"Who was that little boy I saw you with Saturday? Is he your son?"

Melissa sighed. She really didn't want to discuss her personal life at work, but she didn't want to lie to Nell either. "Yes he's my son."

"I didn't know you had a son."

"Nobody here does, except Hetty."

"I thought he looked a little bit like you. How old is he?"

"He's almost 9."

"How nice. What about his father?"

Melissa thought for a second. She didn't want to tell Nell the truth about his father. "He doesn't even know he exists."

"Really? You've never told him?"

"Nope, he left before I had a chance to tell him I was pregnant."

"What a jerk. You never saw him after that?"

"Nope never. I don't even know where he is."

"What about Finley? Does he ever ask about his father?"

"Sometimes. I told him what happened in the big picture."

"And he doesn't want to get to know his father?"

"Who doesn't want to get to know his father?" Eric said as he walked in and overheard the conversation.

"Nobody," Melissa quickly said. Nell looked at her, it wasn't her place to tell.

"Then who were you talking about?"

"Just a TV show Nell and I both watch."

"Ah okay," Eric replied and he went to work.

Melissa was happy he didn't ask any further questions. She had no desire to share her personal life with everyone here, except a little bit with Nell. She and Nell had become friends in the 2 months Melissa had already worked here. Nell had promised not to tell anyone about her son.

"Mommy, can I ask you something?" Finley said as they were having dinner.

"Sure sweetie, what is it?"

"It's about my father."

Melissa put her fork down. "What about your father?"

"Why did he leave?"

"I told you Finley."

"Not really mom. Every time I bring him up you're always very vague. Why won't you tell me?"

Melissa knew that someday this day would come. Until now she had managed to get away with only telling him the half-truth.

"What do you wanna know?"

"Why did you split up?"

"We had a big fight and he just left and never came back."

"Was the fight about me?"

"No sweetie," Melissa answered as she stroked his cheek. "Not about you."

"Then why don't I know my father?"

"You're father left before you were born. I didn't even know I was pregnant with you when your father left me. I found out a little after he left."

"Does he know about me?"

"I never had the chance to tell him."

"So he doesn't know about me?"

"No, I'm sorry."

"What?! Why not?!"

"Finley, keep your voice down."

"NO! YOU LIED TO ME! You told me he did know!" Finley ran to his room.

"Finley get back here!"

"NO, I HATE YOU!" Finley yelled and slammed the door of his room close.

Melissa stood there in the hall way thinking about what just happened. He never had reacted like this before when he asked about his father. Melissa tried to protect him by not telling him the complete truth but that had backfired back at her.

"Finley can you please come out?" Melissa spoke to the closed door.

"NO! Go away!"

"Finley honey, please open the door."

"So you can lie to me again?! No. Go away! I hate you!"

It hurt her that her son spoke those words to her. She decided to let him cool off for a moment. She walked back to the kitchen and cleaned up after dinner. Had she really made the right decision by not telling her son about her father? What would happen if she did tell him the truth? His father didn't even know he existed. She did know who his father was and where he was at this moment. But with him not even knowing about Finley she thought it would be best not to tell him about his father. But now this happened. Should she tell her son the truth about his father and who he is? She really hoped she hadn't destroyed her relationship with her son. He was her everything. Suddenly she felt the tears in her eyes and she couldn't stop them from flowing. She sat down on the chair and cried her eyes out.

"Mommy? What's wrong?" Melissa heard a voice say and she looked up to see her son standing there.

Melissa walked up to him and gave him a hug. "I'm so sorry Finley. I'm sorry that I didn't tell you the truth. I promise from now on I'll tell you the truth, even about your father."

"Promise?"

Melissa stopped hugging him and looking him in the eye and brushed his blond hair out of his face. "I promise." Melissa gave him a kiss.

"Can I ask you about my father then?"

"Sure." Together they sat down on the couch. Melissa wiped the tears from her eyes. "What do you want to know?"

"What was dad like?"

"Your dad was a very sweet man. We loved each other very much. I met your dad when I was at school."

"So dad is a computer geek too?"

Melissa couldn't help but laugh a little. "Yes he is. We got together in the first year. We both graduated with flying colors, a day after our graduation we got into a big fight and your dad just left and never came back."

"What did you fight about?"

"Well your dad accused me of some things that I supposedly had done."

"But you didn't do them?"

"No, of course not. I loved your father. I would never do anything to hurt him."

"Then why didn't you tell him that?"

"I did, but your father didn't believe me."

"Why not?"

"He thought I was lying."

"But you were telling the truth."

"Yes I was. But your father didn't want to believe me so he left."

"Why didn't you go after him or tried to find him?"

"At first I didn't want to because I was mad at him, but when I found out I was pregnant with you I tried to find him. I wanted us to be a family."

"Why can't we be one now?"

"I don't know sweetie. I don't know how your father would react when I would tell him about you."

"You can at least try right mommy? Do you know where he is?"

"Yes I know where he is."

"Come on then mommy, let's go find him." Finley tried to pull her up from the couch.

"Whoa whoa, not so fast."

"Why not? You said you knew where he was, so let's go see him."

"We can't just go see him."

"Why not?"

"Because he doesn't know about you."

"That's why we have to see him."

Melissa sighed. She didn't know what to do. Her son wanted to see his father and she wanted him to get to know his father. But what if his father didn't want anything to do with him.

"I tell you what. Tomorrow mommy will go see your father and I'll tell him about you okay."

"Okay. I love you mommy," Finley said as he flew into her arms.

"I love you too sweetie," Melissa replied as she gave him a soft kiss on his head. "I promise that I'll tell your dad okay."

"Okay."

"Okay. Then now it's time for bath and bed."

"Do I have to?"

"Yes, you have school tomorrow."

"Alright," Finley said as he dragged his feet towards the bath room.

Melissa tucked him in.

"Mommy, do you have a picture of daddy?"

"Uhm… yeah I think I have one somewhere."

"Can I see?"

"Sure."

Melissa went to her room and grabbed a box out of her closet. She pulled out a picture of them together out of the box and went back to Finley.

"Here you go."

"Is that my dad?"

"Yes he is."

Finley looked at the picture. It was an older picture. His mom looked younger in this picture. He looked at his father. He had the same blonde hair as his father and also his eyes. Finley put the picture next to his bed.

"Can I keep it mom?"

"Sure you can. Goodnight now." Melissa gave him a goodnight kiss.

"Goodnight mommy."

That night Melissa lay in her bed wondering about what happened today. She promised her son she would tell his father, but how on earth would she do that. She could hardly just knock at his door and say 'How was your day? By the way you have a son.' How would he react when she would tell him? Would he want to get to know his son? Would he want to be a family with them? Deep down she still loved him after everything that had happened between them. He was the father of her little boy. She tried to get some sleep.

The next day she brought Finley to school.

"You will tell daddy today right?"

"Yes I will. If I can reach him. Don't know if he's home today. But I promise I will tell him. If not today then tomorrow."

"Okay."

"Have fun at school," Melissa said as she gave him a hug.

"Bye mommy."

Melissa waved after him and went to work. During work her mind was busier with planning how to tell him then with her actual work. Luckily it was a slow day.

"Something on your mind?" Eric asked.

"Huh…" Melissa snapped out of her thoughts. "Oh no not really."

"Your mind seemed to be somewhere else."

"Oh I was just thinking about something I have to do after work."

"Ah okay. Just don't let Hetty see you do that."

"Got it."

Around 2pm Melissa got a phone call. The caller ID said it was Finley's school. She walked out into the hallway and answered the phone.

"Melissa Bryan," Melissa said as she answered the phone.

"Ms. Bryan. This is Principal Newman. I'm calling about your son Finley."

"Is he alright?" Melissa asked worried.

"He is fine. But he got himself into some trouble. He was picking a fight with other kids."

"I'll be right there."

Melissa hung up the phone and went back to OPS to grab her stuff.

"Everything okay?" Nell asked.

"I've gotta go."

"Everything okay?"

"Don't worry everything is fine. Just got to go get someone."

Melissa left and Eric and Nell looked at each other wondering what was going on.

15 minutes later Melissa was at school and walked into the principal's office.

"Hello Ms. Bryan, thank you for coming so soon."

"What happened?"

"He started a fight with a kid at the playground today."

"Finley, what did I tell you about that?"

"But mom…."

"No buts Finley. Fighting is bad."

"But mom they were calling me names."

"You shouldn't pick a fight because of that. You should've gone to the teacher if kids are bothering you."

"Ms. Bryan, we don't tolerate fighting here at school."

"I understand."

"So I'm sorry, but I'm gonna have to expel Finley for today and tomorrow."

"Fair enough."

"Thank you for coming so soon. And Finley no more fighting."

"I promise Ms. Newman."

"Alright. I'll see you the day after tomorrow."

Melissa walked out to her car with Finley.

"I'm sorry mommy. But the kids were bothering me."

"I don't care. That's no reason to start fighting. You should've told the teacher about it instead of fighting. I want no more of this do you here me."

"Yes mommy."

"Good."

Melissa drove back to the office. She wasn't done with work yet, but she had no other place to bring Finley. She would try to keep him out of the others way. She didn't want the others to see him or be bothered by him. Melissa walked into the office with Finley. The agents, who were sitting at their desks, looked at her with weird eyes.

"Who is that?" Deeks asked.

"I don't know. Maybe her son," Kensi replied.

"I didn't know Melissa had a son," Callen spoke.

"Neither did I," Sam stated.

"Ms. Bryan, what is the meaning of this?" Hetty asked as she walked into her office.

"I'm sorry Hetty. But he got expelled and I didn't have anywhere else to bring him. I promise he will be no bother to anyone."

"Alright, just this once. And if he gets in someone's way I want him out of here."

"Understood." Melissa walked to Hetty's back office and put him behind the desk. "You stay here and do your homework. I'll be upstairs if you really need me. But don't bother me unless you have to okay."

"Okay mommy." Melissa wanted to walk out. "I'm sorry mom."

"Just do your homework. We'll talk more about it when we get home."

Melissa walked back upstairs. Eric and Nell were working behind their computers.

"Everything okay?" Nell asked when Melissa walked in.

"Yes, everything is fine. Anything new here?"

"Nope not really."

Melissa went back to work.

A little later Finley was done with his homework and he decided to take a look around. He sneaked out when Hetty wasn't looking and he walked upstairs via the back stairs. He wondered upstairs and came across the OPS center. He stood in front of it and the doors slid open and he walked inside.

"Wow, cool."

Eric and Melissa both looked up as they heard the voice. Nell was downstairs in the burning room.

"Finley, what are you doing here?" Melissa asked.

"I was done with my homework so I decided to take a look around."

"I told you do stay there."

"I got bored. This place is awesome."

"Melissa, who's this?" Eric asked as she stepped forward.

"Dad?" Finley said as he saw Eric.