Hello everyone! This is a new story I'm working on. My sister visited me in college and I got a free weekend: this is the result!

This is a sequel to Bloodline. All those incredible reviews were acting like cans of Red Bull to my plot bunny which kept nudging me. This takes place about eight months after Bloodline.Those who haven't read Bloodline, I recommend reading that first.

A/N: I haven't found any fanfic for the Sigma series which is an incredible set of books by James Rollins. So the only names I've used are Sigma and Painter Crowe.
All characters of NCIS:LA belong to Shane Brennan and CBS.

I hope you enjoy this new one.

-Sam

Prologue

The Escalade made no noise as it slid into the driveway. A moment later a woman exited, pulling her coat tighter against the biting wind. Opening the back seat door, she pulled out a cardboard box, juggling it with another, and shut the door with her hip. She crossed over to the covered porch, eyeing the Mercedes parked right in front of the closed garage door.

The lights were off; typical of him. Balancing both the boxes in the crook of her left arm, she lifted the right and knocked twice. Her calmness melted away into worry when it swung away slightly under the force. Slowly she placed the boxes by the door and pulled out her SIG, turning off the safety. On a whim, she pulled out her phone and sent a text, paranoia be damned.

"Callen? You in here? Did you forget to shut the front door or something? I brought some of the paperwork you asked," Kensi kept talking, as she silently walked inside, gun aimed high. There were no curtains on windows; in the dim light, she saw nothing out of the ordinary. Callen's few belongings seemed to have not been disturbed. Only a book sat on a low table just by the plushy couch, on it s face. She peered at the title, making a face when she realized it was Cyrillic.

He was as bad as Hetty.

A pitter patter of claws made her swing around, only to relax when a black and grey tabby cat came into view. It was Callen's newest pet. It came straight up to her and rubbed against her leg, purring lightly. She bent down to rub the back.

That was the only reason she saw it. A booted foot, to be exact. Straightening slowly she moved down further. Slowly she swung into view. She let out a breath, not realizing she'd been holding it.

It wasn't Callen. It was some guy barely in his early twenties, with a shock of dark hair and caramel skin. He was clearly dead, eyes staring up, three visible GSWs. She pulled out her phone, thumbing 9-1-1.

As she relayed her findings, her eyes searched for anything that would ID him.

She never saw the shadow just behind her. Double muffled shots rang out; none missed their newest target.

NCIS Agent Kensi Blye fell to the floor, her phone still clutched in her hand.

Washington D.C.

"Damn! Its freezing," the tall man grumbled as he followed a crowd of people exiting the Capitol Hill courtrooms. The woman laughed, tucking her shoulder length dark copper hair under a knit cap, letting the curls spill out.

"It's January, Boss" she quipped.

"Days like these make me want to retire to the Bahamas for the rest of my life," Painter Crowe grumbled.

"Yeah right," Kate replied, looking at the three inch snow on the ground. It was still snowing, tiny flakes melting as they hit the ground. "Like they'd let you resign."

He chuckled, and replied, "Better get going. I don't want to experience Sarah's wrath for being late again. Pregnant women are scarier," he added as an afterthought.

Kate slid into the driver's seat of her silver Audi; Painter paused to chuck his bag in the backseat before buckling in. She peeled away from the parking spot. It was only a short drive to the tavern. But the traffic was worse in the area.

Twenty minutes later, she pulled up in front of the brownstone building with 'Benny's Tavern' spelled out in glowing neon lights. The rest of the team was already there. The extra people were Bishop's wife, Michelle, who worked as a doctor in Georgetown hospital in the cardiology department. Beside Michelle, wearing a thick pink muffler sat Painter's fiancée, Sarah Hills, a brilliant analyst in Sigma.

Sean Winchester got up, and kissed his girlfriend. Tucking Kate against his side he sat down. Bishop whistled, earning a head slap from Michelle. "Grow up Danny," she said, smiling at the new couple.

The waitress brought a fresh round of beers for the team, except for Sarah who was nursing a glass of soda and tonic. Painter lifted his beer mug. "A toast. To family, to love, to the craziest yet best team. Bravery and sacrifice, hope and commitment. To us."

"To us," they all echoed, clinking glasses.

Kate was taking in the decorated place; New Year had been a week ago. Unfortunately half the team had been in South Africa, including Kate, attending a UN convention. Sean and Bishop had spent almost a month in Tel Aviv, working undercover with a few Marines.

This was the first time they had congregated.

Kate's cell phone rang, and she excused herself and got up. In was so loud inside she didn't bother answering until she was outside. She realized it was her unencrypted Blackberry. The caller ID said Pacific Beach Hospital, Los Angeles. Slightly worried she hit he answer button.

"Black-"

"Kate, it's me, Det. Deeks. I work with Callen." Deeks voice came out upset and worried.

"Of course I remember you Deeks. What is it? Is Callen okay? You're calling from a hospital."

There was a silence, before Deeks lowered his voice and said, "Earlier this evening, Kensi went to give Callen some paperwork. He had a few busted ribs from our last case; mild bruising, but Hetty sent him to recuperate for a couple of days. Anyway, Kensi texted me that Callen's place had been open; no sign of forced entry though. When she didn't call me back, I called back. She-she'd been shot. Callen is missing, and they found a dead guy at his place. No ID on him yet."

Kate felt cold, it had nothing to do with the snow still falling, sticking to her hair.

"Is Kensi okay?"

"Still in surgery. Both shots to the back. Her thick overcoat somehow reduced the GSW damage."

"Hang in there, Marty. Are you sure Callen's missing? Has he been kidnapped?"

"His car was still in the driveway. And there was no sign of struggle. FBI took over; they won't let NCIS investigate their own. But I snuck into the LAPD precinct and checked the nearest traffic cam. Till now, there's no evidence Callen's been kidnapped or otherwise."

"What's Hetty saying? Sam?"

"Hetty is worried. Sam's in Ethiopia, working undercover with the DEA for the last few weeks. We can't contact him."

Kate contemplated for a minute. "I'll put some feelers out. I know a few people in the west coast. Keep me updated on Kensi and any news on Callen."

"Will do. Thanks Kate."

She disconnected the call, watching the twin blinking lights atop the Washington Monument.

She had a feeling this was far from over.

Where the hell did you get yourself into this time, Gray?

Please review! I'd love to know what you think!

Also I'm looking for a beta. If anyone's interested, please PM me. Thanks