Reddish
"Callen," he whispered. "I need your help." The request came as a surprise.
Reddish – part 1
Disclaimer: The original characters of this storyline are NCIS LA's and thus belong to CBS and Shane Brennan. Personally, I am very glad they're around already and that we're allowed to 'use them' for fanfiction purposes only!
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The week had gone by with two major cases that were dealt with. With the right clues, with some help of the local FBI and without any injuries.
And to celebrate that all of them were still alive and kicking, Deeks had suggested that the team could and should have a night's out. Only part of the team agreed upon that, and because of that Deeks, Kensi and Nell chose to go out for a beach barbecue at Malibu.
Sam joined his family, planning to enjoy the performance of Kamran in the school choir.
Granger had left hours ago.
Once his co-workers all seemed to have left the building, Callen got up to pour himself a cup of fresh coffee. He put it on his desk, tilted his head back and slowly squeezed his neck. Then he stretched his tired limbs and sat down again, eager to finish the reports which were related to both cases.
One hour and twenty minutes later, he heaved a big sigh when he finally took his CAC from the laptop and put it on his desk. After that, he cleared the web-browser history and was about to press the keys to turn it off.
An all too familiar shuffle sounded behind him. It was followed by an also familiar 'hum' as Hetty said "Well, Mr. Callen. Since next week will be a fresh one, I suggest you'd catch up on the paper work."
Callen turned to the older operations manager and slowly shook his head. He pointed toward the pile of files which he just put on the left side of his desk. "Done with those, Hetty. Don't you think it's time to head home?"
There was the slowest shake of her head. "I thought you would have caught up with áll that paper work. By now, young man, you're two weeks behind in checking the expense accounts of YOUR team, which means I am two weeks behind in ALL of our paperwork, which means director Vance will have no choice but to go and cut our budgets, which means your team—"
He put up his hands as if defeated. "I get what you mean, Hetty. For once I'd hoped you'd be a bit kinder to your favorite agent."
A twinkle in the ocean blue eyes appeared with one of his smirks which Henrietta Lange loved to see. It definitely was a sign that the troubled young boy she once managed to get and keep on the right track, had learned to relax now he found his family – a team which was created around him very carefully.
No matter how she felt he deserved some time off, she did need him to finish with the files indeed.
"I'd say you have no plans for tonight, since you let the others leave," Hetty mentioned as she used the small steps to take her coat from the hook on the wooden beam. She shrugged into it less lady-like than Callen had seen from her.
Then the tiny woman he was so fond of turned to the agent in charge and said "There's no rush, Mr. Callen. Monday morning is just fine."
Then she walked to the large wooden door, opened it and smiled when she heard "Good night Hetty."
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NCIS headquarters || May 15, 2015 || 20 minutes later, 7.12 PM
He really hated numbers. Still, Callen worked concentrated and without any distraction. There were only two small files left, which, he figured, would take him only five more minutes.
Again, he let his hands go over his tired eyes and immediately after, through his hair which was slightly longer than he used to wear it. Still not 'fluffy', like Deeks once had called it.
His thoughts were interrupted by the sound of flip-flops and alerted and in a rush, he looked up.
"Jeez Callen! How come you're still in here?" Eric stopped on the third last step, a shocked expression on his face. "I mean…" He secretly looked around and once he was sure Hetty had left the building, he continued "I mean, I thought I was the only one who was ordered to run some errands for her."
Callen raised his brows. "Errands?"
Eric shrugged his right shoulder and pursed his lips slightly. "You know. Cases close. Then either Nell or I close the electronic files too. We have to do it right, so it can be used as evidence once a culprit's case comes to court. This time, I got to do the dirty job," he explained.
Callen nodded. "I get it." He then leaned back and motioned to the screen of his laptop "Same thing in here. She practically forced me to finish all these files."
His clear blue eyes scanned the younger tech "Great gesture you didn't push the others to wait for you."
A short blush appeared on Eric's face. "Well… I did have other plans for tonight, so actually, I didn't really mind."
"Plans?" he prodded.
"Plans," Eric stated with a rather shy smile. He took his phone and showed Callen a picture. "Catlyn. She was a fellow student in Massachusetts."
Callen glanced at his younger coworker, who sounded more confident now. "Pretty," he stated as he noticed the red-haired young woman. "She lives in town, works in here, or what?"
"Well," Eric started. Then he shrugged again. "She never finished MIT. And fact is, we met in the Irish pub last weekend. And she noticed me. I mean, it was like a 'wow' to me, since she dated bad guys only in the past." He chuckled softly. "Now, how bad can that be?"
Callen grinned with those words of Eric. "Sounds not bad at all. Great catch, I'd call it. How—"
Eric interrupted, more or less irritated. "Don't ask. Nell. I know what you're thinking – it would never work out with Nell."
"Heck, Eric, I wasn't asking. Besides, you and Nell are both grownups and I never saw you as, well, as a couple." Callen said. "I was about to say how and where do you meet girls like that? Maybe I should go out with you."
The immediate and short answer was "Molly Malone's". Again, Eric reddened. "Really, Callen? You'd really wanna go out with me?"
"Positively. But not tonight, since the two of you made plans already. So, go, because if you plan to have a night out you should go prepared," Callen said. He watched as Eric straightened his back and left the building.
Then, he leaned back in his chair. Five more minutes, he figured.
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Fridaynight || May 15, 2015 || 9.14 PM
One more beer, then he'd head to the place he called home. This definitely wasn't the right place to be tonight and for once, Callen wished he'd joined his coworkers. He was about to take a sip of the cool beverage, when his phone vibrated.
Not the best place to take it. On the other hand, there weren't a lot of people who knew his number. So he took his Phone. He put his glass aside as he saw the name going with the number that appeared in the small screen. "Eric?"
The reply could hardly be heard. "Callen," he whispered. "I need your help."
The request came as a surprise and Callen had to count to three to nót laugh the question away. "What's up?" he asked.
"Catlyn's buddies. They're on their way."
Callen practically heard his coworker swallow away as many worries as he could.
Then, Eric started to talk rapidly. "The servers at the office, Callen. You got to turn them off. Take them away. They're on their way. You got to be first. They—"
He cut him off, instantly on his feet now he realized help which was needed and the trouble Eric meant. "Got it Eric. Call the others."
Callen didn't wait for the reply. He reached in his pocket and pulled out a fiver which he handed the waitress. Then, he hurried out, got to his car and drove back as fast as possible to where he came from.
Meanwhile, it bothered him – what had happened that Eric gave away the location of the office of special projects? And who would be looking for it and why?
Thank you for reading. As ever, your reviews are very welcome.
