NCIS/NCIS: Los Angeles is not owned by me in any shape or form. I am sad.

This is set directly after season 4 episode 14, 'Kill House'.

Might do a part two? Don't know...

This came from an idea for a few lines and the rest just flowed. Enjoy!

Avenging an elite US joint special-ops team, taking down the head of the deadly Molina cartel and exposing and dealing with a threatening leak in a group of TRPs - it'd be a long day for anyone, let alone the Office of Special Projects team.

Oh, and saving their Intelligence Analyst from probable brutal torture and death. That's another thing.

Yet, despite all the danger, turmoil and exhaustion, the team still headed out for a normal post-case wind-down at one of a variety of local clubs and bars.

Normally it would be a lively discussion to choose their destination, but today everyone simply congregated on the closest bar.

Soothing deep red exposed brick coated the walls, providing the backdrop for intimate circular booths, while dark stained oak helped support the building as well as making the bar a reality, giving the whole place a rustic appearance. A few two or three seater tables along with a couple of pool tables dotted the floor but. for the most part, the thin, oblong building was clear so that revelers could spend their time unobstructed.

The whole place had a rather strong family feel about it, thus making it a great place for everyone to unwind and feel at ease. Even the fairly decent number of punters gathering for the evening didn't get in the way of everyone's enjoyment.

After a laugh together as they entered and a toast proposed to Nell for her de-magging of Inman, the team unconsciously broke off into smaller groups - exhaustion playing a factor.

Callen and Sam instinctively sat at the curved end of the bar at the back of the building, giving them a clear view of the entrance as they sipped their beers.

Kensi and Deeks had vacated the bar and made themselves scarce after Deeks chipped the bar trying to crack his beer bottle open - the bottle flying and smashing dangerously close to the bartender and the glass racks.

Hetty and Granger sat silently sipping bourbon at an isolated table in the front corner, still seemingly not wanting to speak about their ops confrontation.

That just left the two meerkats who were sitting in the most secluded booth in the rear left corner of the bar, just behind the staff door. Spending every single day together left them safe in each others company, so they instinctively stepped away from the group together.

Bar the odd quip on how contrasting their days were there wasn't much talking, with exhaustion was gaining a stronger grip on them both by the minute.

That was until Nell piped up again.

"I would say I'd copyright that move but I can't see myself being kidnapped again in the near future. Hopefully not, at least" the young woman tiredly quipped, taking a gentle sip of her whiskey.

Eric simply left out a snort of laughter as he sat motionless, eyes pointed down to his hands which were picking at the label on his beer bottle.

With no usual awkward or exaggerated response Nell grew curious and grew to wondering.

"Beale!?"

That brought him back to his senses.

The technical operator jolted slightly, straightening up and looking up to face the intelligence analyst.

Nell eyed him up as she took another sip of her drink, as if asking 'everything okay?' with just her eyes.

But there was no response.

Instead Eric just stared at her.

It took Nell a while to fully comprehend his stare because, she realised, it wasn't like that 'creepy guy eyeing you up on a Saturday night wanting to take you out the back of the club'. No. His features projected something different, a wide range of emotions:

Worried yet calm.

Frightened yet joyful.

Anxious yet relieved.

Loving?

For a man of his social ineptitude this was all beyond him and Nell knew it, so she was growing concerned.

An unnerving silence grew between them, and knowing that she had to pipe eventually the petite redhead started to question him gently:

"Hey? Talk t-"

"I almost lost you today Nell!..." blurted the structured blond.

The force in which he finally spoke seemed to startle the young woman, although his words did provide clarity to the current situation.

"But you didn't. I'm here, and I'll drink to that" she responded, Eric not taking his eyes off of her.

Upon taking a sip of her whiskey Nell thought deeper about his reply, a question crossing her mind.

"Hang on: you almost lost me?"

That made him squirm.

It's something that she could do easily and was often so amusing.

But today she felt so guilty for doing so, watching him continue to be unsettled, now turning to stare off into space and gulp down the contents of his bottle.

"yeah" was the mumbled response.

"sorry" she also mumbled, sincerely, taking her gaze off of Eric as she herself drank.

A moment of silence passed between them before Nell could see her partner go to and then choose not to speak from the edge of her field of vision.

She decided he needed some reassurance.

"I'm here, Eric"

Her words were light and calming with an underlying hint of force to drive the point home.

Her fingertips were placed upon his table-resting hand as if to help make it more believable.

Her hand was on his.

It was only after a few moments she noticed her action, but wasn't in a rush to pull away. The warmth of his hand coursed through her fingers and nailed her to her seat - her whole body relaxing in comfort while also being on fire due to the spark between them from the connection.

Nell's comfort brought Eric back and he swivelled his whole body to face her, causing the gap between them to shorten.

It was only after a few moments he came to terms with her hand upon his, his skin tingling to the touch and almost turning inside out as the spark overtook him.

Minutes were spent in harmonious rest, only broken by a drink being placed down with aplomb at the bar.

Both back to their senses, their eyes met in unison, just like the tired, warm smiles that adorned both their faces.

Brining a leg up onto the seat and curling it under her so she could turn herself sideways to properly face the male next to her, the petite redhead admired as Eric grew brave, for him, rolling over his hand so that he could draw circles atop of hers with his thumb.

Nell would be lying if she said she didn't notice her quiet intake of breath as embers danced on her skin under his touch.

The rest of the bar faded into insignificance as the pair focused themselves solely on each other.

"Talk, Eric" she muttered gently, trying her absolute best to not utterly lose herself in the moment. Too much too soon.

She hoped to help diffuse the tension and worry he felt with the use of his first name, and if she had access to his mind she would know it had succeeded.

Without looking up from his actions, Eric's words rolled off his tongue without a thought: "I almost lost you today and it hurt like hell. I want to keep you, not lose you."

With the actions of his thumb it took a couple more seconds than normal to process his words.

"You want to keep me?...!"

CRAP.

Teasing was normal. So normal in fact it was second nature. It was them and it was their quirk, day in and day out.

But now was not the time, at all, and second nature had gotten the better of her.

Nell felt herself slump at the scene in front of her - Eric tightening up, straightening up, pulling away from her.

At the last instance she managed to reconnect with his hand before her change was gone.

She fully intertwined her fingers with his, using her thumb this time to stroke the side of his hand.

The greater warmth and spark of his hand further onto hers brought a sharp intake of breath from Nell, which she tried to hide by straightening up.

"I…

...I, err, meant…

..meant, like, um…

...you, know, err…

..what I mean is that, um…

...like, I, I um…"

The teasing had gotten him floundering. Again.

She guessed her hand upon his probably wasn't helping him either.

His awkwardness did provide for some good entertainment though.

Doing her best to stifle a giggle back down with a smile, Nell just continued to gaze at the floundering blond in front of her.

Unsure that she was getting anywhere, she bit her lip in the hope of containing any sound.

Attempts to silence the laugh must have been unsuccessful, because Eric instantly became silent, his gaze darting upwards to meet his partners to question her.

Eric never got to questioning her though.

His eyes met those of Nell, a beautiful young lady sitting just next to him, her a face a half dozen inches from his.

Her slightly disheveled hair still appeared perfect. Perfectly her - perfect.

Her hazel eyes sparkled wondrously as they darted to and fro between his features. He had no idea how long he was lost inside them, but he discovered a galaxy beyond any comprehension.

Her lips. The place where his eyes fell a rested. Thin, curled into a thing of beauty, punctured by her bite. Oh how sweet the taste.

His tongue shot out to moisten his lips and his mouth fell slightly agape - actions that didn't go unnoticed.

With their hands still intertwined, and a breath of her paradisiacal surroundings, Nell gingerly moved forward.

After what felt like an eternity to her, their lips met in mutual agreement.

There was no lust or battle for dominance for the fire burning inside them both had melted their brains to mush.

Instead it was soft.

Soft and slow.

Soft, slow, and short.

Their foreheads rested together with their lips millimetres apart.

Neither one dared move.

Neither one could move, for they were both in a haze, taken aback by the perfection of their situation, the realisation of sexual tension and their own desire.

Once again it was a drink being placed on the bar a little too loudly that brought them both somewhat back to their senses.

Although neither moved.

Cupping her face with his free hand, Eric tenderly smiled into the eyes of his partner.

'My god' was just one of the thoughts racing through Nells head, but she had to control herself and her desire.

"not here" was the panted whisper, as much to herself as it was to Eric, who nodded in agreement.

Painfully they parted, and then painfully then parted hands, leading to a whimper from Nell.

Eric was quick to retake her hand, only letting go to place her coat upon her, and wrapped his connected arm around her neck.

The gaze and smile Nell gave him and she huddled close his his body when they stood would be one he wouldn't ever forget.

As they exited their booth they were greeted with the reality of the time.

The streets were pitch black and the bar had filtered down to just a number of drunk revellers. One of which was Deeks, laying down on top of a pool table, seemingly too out of his mind too move. The rest of the team had obviously called it a night.

'At least he won't remember is leaving together like this' the couple thought in tandem.

Exiting the building they both felt even more drained as they feet hit the sidewalk. It was only a short trip to a rear parking lot to the parking lot, but they were both out on one's feet.

"I'm closer" yawned Nell.

Eric just mumbled some agreement as they approached the young woman's Mini.