Tequila & Lime

*WARNING*: This is an "M" rated story for course language and sexual content.

Chapter 1 - Dinner & A Shot of Tequila

The dimmed lights and not so current late night music was a sign that it had been a long day. Usually when the team arrived at Sunset Bar & Grill, families were finishing their meals, the bartender was stocking up for the night ahead and the chatter of people took them from their aliases in the criminal underworld to that of Naval Criminal Investigative Service Agents. When Callen, Sam, Kensi and Deeks entered the often-visited place, the total number of patrons rose to ten. A couple occupied a small table near the bar and four men sat in a booth at the back of the establishment.

"Good evening Sam, usual tonight?" Katie the server asked, as he was the first of the group she saw.

"Good evening Katie and yes please," he answered.

The team followed a few steps behind as she led them to their table. It was the perfect location for everyone. No cool air blowing on Kensi's neck, no direct smell from the kitchen for Sam's non-meat eating days and Deeks could view the television at the bar when sports were being shown.

Callen was easy going and didn't care where he sat; however, those easygoing thoughts were challenged two months ago when a new server, Katie Mitchell, was hired. Her long, dark blonde hair, dark, ocean blue eyes and personality as sweet as a peach captivated him from the moment she asked him if she could get him anything else after taking his dinner and drink order.

Menus were redundant for the frequent visitors, so after Katie took their orders, glances amongst them turned to a couple doing shots at the table across from them. Must have been Tequila because after each shot they shared a lime using only their mouths.

Sam made a mental note to try that one night with his wife after his daughter was in bed. Kensi was intrigued with the concept, and wondered how drunk she would have to be to allow Deeks to do that with her. Deeks stole a quick look at Kensi's lips and wondered how drunk, Kensi would have to be to allow him to do that with her. Callen thought the process needed some salt.

Katie returned with their dinners, steadily handling the circular tray, bending with ease as she placed it on a side table.

"Surprise, Callen ordered ribs tonight", Katie quipped, as she placed the large plate in front of him.

Callen smiled as he placed his napkin inside the top of his shirt and briefly admired the mouth-watering cuisine before him. "Looks good," he replied after his eyes wandered to Katie's face. Her cheeks blushed slightly as she realized that he was looking at her when he said that.

"Let me know if you need anything else." Katie grabbed the tray and walked to the bar to get their drinks.

As soon as Katie was out of sight, all eyes turned to Callen. He knew what they were thinking. The flirting between him and Katie had been going on since she started working there. They all wanted to know when he was going to ask her out. Whenever questioned, he would make up a reason why he couldn't – his job, his past, his present, she's too young, she was only being friendly because he was a good tipper. Blah. Blah. Blah.

Ravenous, they re-focused on their meals, sustaining small talk until the last plate was cleared. After Katie returned with their drinks, Kensi excused herself to the washroom; Sam went outside to call his wife, while Callen and Deeks checked messages on their phones.

When Sam sat down he was feeling antsy – which he often did after missing yet another time to be there for his daughter Rachel, in an everyday capacity. Sam's heart had sunk as his wife recounted the winning goal his little girl had scored. Had he called earlier, his daughter would have been the one to tell him.

"Some days I wonder if this job is really worth the sacrifices", Sam said to no one in particular. "I missed another soccer game". His hand tightly gripped the glass he held in his right hand.

"My dad missed my swim meets all the time, but I still loved him and I knew he loved me." Kensi flashed a small smile towards Sam but it didn't lessen his guilt.

"You knew your dad was a Marine," Sam retorted then finished his beer.

Deek's joined the conversation, "My dad showed up for everything, and then beat the crap out me when we got home because I made him miss out on going to the bar with his drinking buddies." He finished his beer rapidly then slammed the bottle on the table startling Kensi. "Sorry", he whispered. She brushed his hand with her knuckles, silently accepting his apology.

Sam glanced around at his friends knowing the topic of conversation at hand wasn't one that should be continued at this point in time so he decided to lighten the mood, "Who's in for shots?"

Kensi, Deeks and Callen looked at each other, nodded in agreement and when Kensi saw Katie, she motioned for her to come over to the table, "We'd liked a bottle of Tequila."

"Lemons or limes?" Katie asked as she gathered up some of the empty glasses.

"Limes," Callen answered.

Katie returned in a few minutes with the Tequila, a bowl of limes and shot glasses. Placing the tray at her side, she again looked directly at Callen and asked if there was anything else that she could get for them.

As everyone shook their heads, she glanced at Callen and tilted her head slightly, "If you don't like the salt directly in your mouth, a few grains on the neck or arm is just as effective". She turned and left the table leaving the group staring (again) at Callen.

"What?" Callen asked as he looked around the table at his friends pretending he didn't know what had just happened. "She was flirting; it helps her get a good tip". Denial accompanied G. Callen whenever the topic of Katie Mitchell came up.

Sam shook his head and smiled at his dear friend, "G, she ... oh never mind!"

Kensi took the first drink after shaking some salt on the tip of her tongue. "Damn!" She grabbed a lime and sucked it fiercely with a contorted face.

"Your turn boys," Kensi smirked as she tauntingly licked her lips in Deeks' face.

In unison, the shots of Tequila went down for Callen, Deeks and Sam and as each of them slammed their shot glasses on the table Katie appeared as they each stuffed a lime in their mouth.

"That looks almost torturous. You have to make tequila shots fun. It minimizes the torture," Katie advised.

"And how do you propose we do that?" Callen inquired as he cocked his head to the side with a provocative smile.

Katie held Callen's suggestive stare, "I'll be back in a minute to show you."

Callen nodded in acknowledgement (although she could have said just about anything and he would have agreed) and watched as Katie walked away.

His thoughts drifted to what he knew about Katie Mitchell. Her real name was Kathryn but she preferred Katie. He liked it. He liked everything he knew about her. Her hair was often tied back or pinned up. Tonight it was loosely pulled back with a few strands falling down her right cheek and sparkling, dark blue eyes that had his heart beating rapidly a few moments ago as they bore into his. A black mid-thigh length, form fitting skirt that allowed him to see her tanned legs -he often wondered if they were as soft as they looked. Waitressing helped pay for University where she was studying to become a youth social worker. It also helped fund her trip to Kenya where she helped build and set up a school for children who would otherwise never learn to read and write. Smart, kind-hearted and beautiful. Callen couldn't help but smile. The team again stared at him while he tried to pretend that he was just being polite and she was being friendly. Before his friends could start in on him again about how being in a relationship would be good for him, Katie returned.

"My shift is over. I'm all yours," she stated, looking directly at Callen."

Everyone, everything, disappeared as Callen scooted over when Katie gestured for him to do so. She took the glass in front of him, poured a shot and held it out, "I'm driving, so you're up."

He took the glass from her and as if he wasn't captivated enough with her hip touching his, she dipped two fingers in his water glass, dabbed it on her neck, shook a few grains of salt on the same fingers and patted her neck with them. He was rendered speechless as her slender fingers placed a piece of lime between her teeth.

It was just past midnight and although yesterday had been a long day, Callen's mind and body were very much awake. He took the shot glass, leaned towards her, and keeping his eyes open, counted to five as his tongue swirled around the salty patch of skin. Not quite ready to take the shot, he pressed his lips firmly on her neck and took a few sucks before gently grazing her skin with his teeth.

When he reached ten, he pulled back, tipped the liquid into his mouth; anticipation building for what was next. His intention was to pull the lime from her teeth with his, but to his surprise, she had sucked the lime into her mouth, as it was nowhere to be seen after he had slammed the glass to the table audibly voicing his thoughts with "Damn!"

All coherent thoughts were wiped from his mind as Katie linked her hand around his neck and pulled his mouth to hers. She slid the lime into his mouth, feeling his salty lips touch hers. The next few moments were spent with their tongues mingling amongst the lime wedge. When his eyes opened, the volume of the music had lowered and Katie was a few inches from his face and four pairs of eyes were fixated on him.

He pulled the lime from his mouth and placed it in the shot glass. If, he were to do that again with Katie, it sure as hell wouldn't be in a public place.

"Now that Callen is how you make Tequila shots fun." Katie stood, said goodnight, went to the bar to say goodnight to the bartender, grabbed her purse and walked out into the night.

Callen was transfixed for a moment in time. He heard Sam and Deeks' voices saying his name and something like "What - waiting for." With his mind still numbed of thoughts on what had just transpired, he noticed the bill Katie had placed on the table. Alternating his eyes between the door and his wallet that he pulled from the back pocket of his jeans, he tossed two twenty-dollar bills and a ten on the table then stood up.

"G, what are you going to do?" Sam called out to his best friend.

Callen snapped out of his reverie after Sam repeated his question and turned back to face him, "What I should have done two months ago." Callen told his friends he would see them at work in the morning and then walked quickly to the door.

"I didn't think you would ever ask me out," Katie said as she drove to a coffee shop a short distance from the restaurant.

Callen chuckled, "After tonight, how could I not?"

Katie pulled into a parking spot in front of a quaint place that she often frequented. "I often come here after work - best hot chocolate in town."

Callen followed her along the stoned pathway that led to the front door of an old house that had been turned into a coffee shop. A floor to ceiling window overlooked a garden but at twelve-thirty in the morning, the view was left to his imagination.

After Katie ordered two hot chocolates with whipped cream and paid for the beverages, Callen led her to a table by the window.

"Nice place," he said after taking a sip and instantly tasting the heavily creamed topping. "Mmmm, this is good."

Katie nodded in agreement, as she sipped from her cup. She placed her mug on the table and pondered a moment what she wanted to ask him. It was something she noticed the first time she had waited on their table and although it was probably none of her business, it kept gnawing at her every time she heard it. "Why does Sam call you 'G'?"

Callen pushed his mug away and wiped his mouth with a napkin, "It's the first letter of my first name."

"Are you going to share that name with me?"

"I would if I could. Long story, but for now, all I have is G. Callen."

"Do I ask why it's a long story or just go with Callen?"

"Just go with Callen."

"Callen it is," Katie said. She spooned out the remaining whipped cream then pushed her mug aside.

She looked tired but then given the time he probably did as well. "So what would you like to do?" he asked, leaning back in his chair.

"Now?"

He shook his head, "For our date."

"I like roller blading. Do you rollerblade?"

"Sometimes."

"Good, how about Friday around six?"

"Sounds good. Do you want me to pick you up?" he asked.

"Sure. What's your number? I'll text you my address."

Katie pulled out her phone and entered Callen's number into her contacts and before she put it back in her purse, she texted him her number before she drove him home.

2:08 am

Callen lay on his new makeshift bed, a fairly comfortable self-inflating air mattress. He had finally gotten rid of his long-time bedroll, although the decision to actually put it curbside lasted six days.

Too many memories and too much of him on that roll to let it go without resistance but it was his progressively aching back that made the decision for him. He would always have the memories the bedroll gave him, but if he wanted to keep up with Sam and the team, his health had to be priority.

When looking at actual beds one day Callen contemplated again why he didn't need or want a bed and as it had many times before, it came down to him not yet able to commit to making his house a home. A close second was he hadn't ever had anyone to share a bed with – well, not as G. Callen. He closed his eyes, pulled the also new blanket over his shoulders, rolled on his side and snuggled his head further into his new feathered pillow before he drifted of to sleep with thoughts of Kathryn Mitchell taking him there.