Everything at a Cost

By Shaz1

Disclaimer- none of the recognised characters belong to me- as much as I wish that they did! Please don't sure I am penniless anyway!

Thank you so much for your wonderful response to my previous stories, it really does mean a lot to know that you have enjoyed my work. Please keep reading and reviewing and I will keep writing!

This follows on from my previous story The Lonely Track- so is around about season four in the timeline.

Everything at a Cost

The waves eased gently against the pale sand as the beach was illuminated by the moonlight. The young couple wandering along the edge of the shore were lost in each other's eyes as they enjoyed the solitude. Their fingers were entwined as they walked barefoot across the damp sand, their lives had only just begun together and they were so in love it physically pained them to be apart. They were so lost in each other that neither of them saw the dark figure walking beside them, neither of them heard the third set of feet tapping against the water and neither of them heard as the safety catch was released from the handgun directly behind them. A few moments later and the tranquillity of the moonlit beach was spoilt by a loud bang that rocked the world of everybody on the beach- never to return to normal.

LA-LA-LA-LA-LA-LA-LA

Henrietta Lange sighed as she flicked through the file sent to her from the director's office. She was already more than familiar with the contents within it. Her team leader had always been a worry for her- so alone in life and apparently determined to remain that way. The director had always approved of Callen and the tactics he deployed- he had recently deployed him independently of the team to tackle a terrorist cell in Washington, and luckily the experienced agent had returned to LA relatively unscathed- otherwise Hetty would have been having words with her boss. She had been sure that something more had gone on with her agent whilst he had been away, and she had been almost certain that it had involved a woman- yet nothing in the file suggested such a thing. Finally she had access to all of the end of mission report and although it didn't touch on anything specific, she was more than able to read between the lines and was almost certain that there had been something between her team leader and a certain receptionist- whether her agent knew it or not.

Before he had gone on his mission he had been quiet and almost withdrawn, he had still been smarting from his confrontation with the Chameleon- tired and beaten she hadn't wanted him to fly off to Washington to work without the support of his team, she had wanted him to have a break to regroup and come back refreshed. Somehow his little stint at Washington had appeared to do the job anyway and he genuinely did look better for the trip away. She was just glad to have her team back together and in one piece- especially now they had a case to work.

LA-LA-LA-LA-LA-LA-LA

Callen stretched off carefully as he returned home from his run. He shed his running shoes and he headed to the shower stripping off as he moved. He allowed the hot spray to wash over him before stepping out and towelling himself dry. It was good to be back to normal, things had settled down at work and he was back on an even keel. He tried not to think about Janvier, tried not to even consider where the other man was in Iran or what punishment he had faced for his sins. Callen was no fool- he was a seasoned federal agent and he knew the atrocities that went on in the World yet somehow Janvier had still come as a surprise to him. He sighed as he pulled his jeans on, shaking his head to clear all thoughts of the evil man that had hated him so much. He was back at work with his team and everyone had settled back into their niches nicely.

LA-LA-LA-LA-LA-LA-LA

Sam whistled as he drove through the already busy streets of Los Angeles en route to pick his partner up from the local coffee shop. He wondered how long the younger man would keep him waiting this time- for someone that has no possessions and never took long to get ready, yet always managed to be late for pick up. He shook his head as he drove- as much as he despaired about his partner he knew he wouldn't change him for the world. He indicated to the left and parked up near the coffee shop watching out for his partner and immediately spotting him walking towards the challenger clutching two steaming cups as he moved. He stepped into the car and handed Sam the second cup.

"Morning Sam" he greeted with a grin.

"Morning G- you look different, you sleep?" he questioned as he pulled out of the parking space.

"I always sleep Sam- you misjudge me" Callen responded with a huff, only the sparkle in his eye betraying his words.

"Hmm, I bet there's a new case waiting for us this morning- I have a feeling" Sam stated as he drove.

"Good- it's better to be busy" Callen responded as he sipped at his coffee. Sam grinned, glad that his partner seemed to be back in form.

LA-LA-LA-LA-LA-LA-LA

"I can say it if I want to" Kensi stated as she slung her bag on her desk.

"It doesn't make sense Kensi" Deeks argued as he sat down at his desk in frustration.

"Makes perfect sense Deeks" She stated with a smile, baiting her partner was one of her all-time favourite activities and he was so easy that it meant very little effort on her part.

"No it doesn't! It's completely the wrong context Kensellina" he argued, instantly registering that he may have gone too far when as quick as a flash his partner was on her feet and in front of him- fist clenched and heading full pelt for his bicep. "Ouch!" he cried out as she struck her target.

"We have already discussed pet names Deeks" she hissed at him, smirking at the obvious display of pain on his face. He rubbed his now sore arm delicately and looked up as the two senior agents entered the room.

"Morning" he greeted, his face showing none of the pain he felt from his arm.

"Good morning guys" Callen greeted them brightly as he put his go bag down on his desk and placed his now empty coffee cup into the thrash can at his feet. Any further conversation was cut short by a whistle piercing the air. All four team members looked up and saw Eric, they needed no further prompting before they were heading up stairs ready to be briefed on whatever mission they were faced with now.

LA-LA-LA-LA-LA-LA-LA

"This is Gareth Walsh- a marine from Pendleton. Returned from his latest tour two days ago and was out on a date with his new fiancé when he was shot dead on the beach at Venice last night" Eric explained as soon as the team stepped into ops.

"What does this have to do with us? Sounds like a random attack" Callen commented, his arms folded across his chest as he leant against the desk behind him.

"It would be if it wasn't for the fact that three other marines have been killed in almost identical circumstances in the last four weeks" Hetty interrupted. "Still think it's a coincidence Mr Callen?" she asked with a raised eyebrow. Callen smirked at the pose of his boss before turning his attention back to his team.

"Sam and I will go and speak with the fiancé- you two check in with the family" he directed the team before nodding at Hetty and heading out of the room without a glance. Nell and Eric exchanged a glance- pleased to have the team back together and all in one piece.

"What are you two looking at?" Hetty questioned her intelligence team. "You should be digging into the background of the murdered marines" she instructed before heading out herself- knowing that none of her team members would be able to see the small smile on her face.

LA-LA-LA-LA-LA-LA-LA

Callen looked around him through his sun glasses as his partner drove them through the LA streets.

"You know it would have been quicker on the freeway" he commented much to his partner's frustration.

"You could have driven you know" Sam responded, more than used to his partner's efforts at baiting him.

"We both know that's not true Sam- you like being in control too much" he responded unwrapping a tootsie pop and popping it straight into his mouth.

"Control? You are seriously talking to me about control?" Sam bit, knowing that he was playing straight into his partner's hands, but unable to stop himself.

"Hey it's okay Mr navy Seal- I don't mind you driving" the younger man countered, his blue eyes sparkling behind his sun glasses.

"Seriously G- feel free to drive whenever you want to"

"Okay- pull over and I'll drive"

"You want me to pull over?"

"Yeah I feel like driving- pull over and I'll take over" Callen stated again his voice deadpan yet holding a hint of mischief.

"You want to drive the challenger?" Sam questioned, knowing he was being backed into a corner.

"Well you said to let you know when I wanted to drive"

"Yeah- but it's the challenger G"

"It's okay, if you want to stay in control Sam that's fine"

"It's not about control G"

"Pull over and we'll swap then"

"Why don't you drive on the way back?" Sam suggested, unsure how he could possibly win the discussion without allowing his often reckless partner to drive his prized car.

"Fine- I'll drive us back" Callen agreed with a grin, knowing that his partner hated even the thought of him being behind the wheel of the challenger.

"We're nearly here anyway" Sam stated, hearing the sulky tone in his own voice but unable to hide it. Callen looked out of the window to disguise the grin that had overtaken his face. He finally felt relaxed and back in the stride of being Special Agent G Callen and it felt good. Sam looked across at his partner and caught sight of the reflection in the window of a smiling team leader- and despite his frustration he couldn't help but feel pleased to have his partner back with him. The younger man had been through hell over the course of the last few months, and it was good to see him back in form.

"You ready to be the sympathetic one?" Callen questioned dragging him out of his thoughts.

"I guess one of us has to be" Sam replied as he turned into the side street that housed the family of the latest marine that had been murdered. Without further word the two senior agents were out of the car, and with professional masks firmly in place, absorbed by the case

End Chapter One

Please review!