Screw Rule 12: Chapter One
Callen's P.O.V
Callen had noticed the little analyst, he thought she was cute and he knew it was against the rules to be in a relationship someone that they work with and to be honest he didn't know how Nell felt about him and he couldn't be sure what he felt for her.
He arrived at work before everyone else except for maybe Hetty and was surprised to see Nell putting something on his desk
"Hey Nell" Callen said making her jump with fright
"Oh hi Agent Callen I was just going to leave this on your desk for you" Nell replied handing him an envelope "Happy Birthday" Nell quickly hurried off back up to the ops centre before Callen even had a chance to respond.
He sat down at his desk and opened the envelope it was a nice and simple birthday card he opened it:
Dear Callen
A birthday is just the first day of another 365-day journey around the sun.
Enjoy the trip!
Hope you have a great birthday and the day doesn't hold to much
drama for you
Best wishes and lots of love
Nell
He looked at it smiling but then heard Kensi and Deeks walking in arguing about something as per usual so he quickly put the card and the envelope in his desk draw.
"Morning Callen" Kensi said cutting across whatever ever Deeks was saying to her
"Hey Kens, Deeks" Callen replied as Sam also walked in with a present wrapped in bright pink paper
"What's that" Deeks asked Sam
"Present for G from Lily and Zach" Sam said handing it to him "Happy Birthday G, I said you would prefer a different colour wrapping paper but Lily had her mind made up"
"Oh Happy Birthday Callen" Kensi said giving him a kiss on the cheek
"Yeah Happy Birthday Callen, you want me to kiss you too" Deeks said
"Ah no Deeks it's fine" Callen laughed
"Well open it G it's something for your mantle" Sam said so Callen did. It was a picture fame that had been decorated by Sam's kids with Uncle G, Zach & Lily written at the top on the fame and the photo was a picture of him with Sam's daughter Lily curled into Callen's side asleep and Son Zach curled up on his lap asleep Callen too was asleep. Photo was from the weekend before when Callen had babysat.
"Thanks" he said smiling
"Awww you are so cute when you're asleep Callen" Kensi said looking over Callen's shoulder at the picture
They spent to day playing catch up on their paper work Callen couldn't help but smile every time he looked up the photo it made him smile. Deeks, Kensi, Eric and Sam went I out for lunch Callen didn't go with them he noticed Nell didn't go with them either he sat in his chair taking his focus away from his paper work to rest his eyes from the bright white of the paper.
"That's a cute picture" Nell said from behind him and it made Callen jump "Whoa did I just make very special Agent Callen jump" Nell giggled
"You did" Callen said smiling
"Did you want to come and get some lunch there is a nice diner just down the road they make a mean burger" Nell asked
"You know what that sounds like a great idea" Callen said getting up
He and Nell walked down to the diner and had lunch together they talked and laughed when they finished they made the slow walk back to ops when they got back Kensi, Deeks and Sam weren't back yet but Eric was as they saw him walking up the stairs back into the ops centre, Nell farewelled Callen and followed Eric. Callen went back to his desk and started back on his paperwork with fresh eyes. He saw movement out the corner of his eye and he looked up he noticed Hetty standing in front of his desk looking at the picture
"Ever thought of settling down Mr Callen" Hetty asked
"With this job, it's almost impossible I wouldn't be able to stand the constant lying" Callen replied
"Unless you were with someone who knew the truth"
"Rule 12, never date a co worker and rule one for me never date cops"
"Sometimes rules can be broken" Hetty said putting the photo down and walking away, Callen sat back in his chair and spotted Nell on the phone outside of the ops centre she smiled waved when she saw he was watching her he waved back.
Did Hetty know that he possibly had feelings for Nell, if he was going to settle down with someone Nell would be perfect not only is she a beautiful person that had a great personality and she was incredibly smart she knew the big bad secret, in truth she help to forge his alias and cover stories Callen thought.
Sam, Kensi and Deeks entered the room and the thought that Callen had was pushed to the side as he fell straight back into do his paperwork, he saw out the corner of his eye that Nell and Eric were coming down the stairs and then the sound of everyone singing 'Happy Birthday' reached his ears it made him smile.
"We feel a little bit guilty because most of us have plans today so we decided to celebrate with you at work and then we'll go out for a drink on the weekend" Kensi said placing the cake on his desk
"Go on blow out the candles and make a wish" Sam said "for something good you know because you'll need it" Sam saying that made everyone including Callen laugh.
They spent the afternoon lazing around doing paperwork, around 4 Callen got up and decided to take a walk and he found himself wondering into the gym where he found Nell shooting hoops
"Nice shot" Callen said watching her as she got the ball through the hoop she jumped "did I just make the very special intelligence analyst jump" Callen laughed
"Yes, but I am allowed to be easily scared after all you are the fully qualified Agent who isn't supposed to be scare of anything not me" Nell replied "what did you wish for"
"I didn't think I was supposed to say isn't that the rule"
"Rules can be broken"
"You don't strike me as the kind of person that would break the rules"
"Ah Callen I could hack into almost anything and that's illegal"
"Yeah but it's also your job so really that doesn't count" Callen said stepping closer to her
"Okay that is true but still it is breaking the rules of sorts, but breaking the rules gives you a thrill you can't really get anywhere else especially in this line of work where you have to lie to everyone about who you are, where you work don't get me wrong I love my job sometimes the lies get to me" Nell said getting drawn into his crystal clear blue eyes
"You don't have to lie to me" Callen replied looking Nell directly in the eyes and then snatched the ball out of Nell's hands and threw the ball and the hoop and it directly went in.
"That's cheating Agent Callen" Nell said laughing
"No it's not it's a great part of my game strategy" Callen said laughing
"Hey Callen, Nell help me" Eric said walking in "I have a date tonight, glasses or no glasses" He said taking his glasses off and on again
"Don't you need them to see" Callen asked
"No not really I mean I could wear contact lenses" Eric replied
"Wear your glasses it's more you with them on" Nell said giving Eric contemplative
"Callen you're the swinging vote" Eric replied. Callen looked at the male analyst
"I agree with Nell, you look more you with your glasses" Callen answered
"Okay thanks" Eric said "you can go back to your game" Eric said before hurrying off
"We were playing" Callen said
"Apparently" Nell said laughing at Eric exit
"Speaking of dates are you busy tonight" Callen asked Nell she turned to look at him
"We aren't supposed to date co-workers it's against the rules" Nell replied with a knowing smirk
"Some rules are worth breaking" Callen said before taking another shot at the hoop and the basketball went in
"I'm in" Nell said
"Good I'll pick you up at 7" Callen said smiling at her while letting the ball bounce away.