A/N: Dramamama5 challenged me to write a story regarding the aftermath of Nate's actions in Head of the Snake S7 E19. There's likely to be at least one more chapter. Here goes. I hope you like it. Please read and review. I'd love to hear from you.
Chapter 1
Nate had been undercover for a while but only Hetty knew about the mission. The rest of the team were unaware of it until they saw Nate's features on the CCTV of an armed robbery. Nate was seen with Alisa Chambers aka the Black Widow, a notorious criminal renowned for killing her male associates as soon as the job was done or when they had outlived their usefulness whichever came first. It was thought that perhaps Nate had deliberately allowed himself to be captured on CCTV in an effort to reach out to team because he needed their help desperately.
Whatever the reason, Callen and Sam tracked him down with the help of Eric and Nell. However Nate turned the tables on them. With the Black Widow at his side, kidnapped Callen and tortured him in an effort to force him to give up details of security protocols regarding the transfer of JDX, a stable, high impact, heat resistant explosive. Callen had reluctantly had to reveal the details as innocent bystanders had been threatened. Whilst it was evident to Callen that Nate was enamoured with the Black Widow and was probably having a relationship with her, Callen gave him the benefit of the doubt trusting that he was keeping to his cover whilst trying to bring down a terrorist threat. Callen managed to escape and with the help of the rest of the team, the Black Widow was killed, shot by Callen, the JDX destroyed when the van exploded and the buyers taken into custody.
Back at the Mission, Callen was in the armoury cleaning his weapons when Nate walked in. Callen stopped what he was doing and watched Nate approach. Nate stood the other side of the table looking down at his hands, with which he fidgetted.
"What the hell were you thinking?" asked Callen. He was not really angry but he was certainly confused by Nate's actions.
"I lost control" replied Nate simply.
"You're lucky to be alive" stated Callen. He took a breath and considered what to say next. "Look I get why you did it but you got too deep."
"I nearly got us both killed trying to prove myself" said Nate.
"That's just it, you don't have to prove yourself. You're already a part of this team. But this team doesn't work if we don't trust each other" explained Callen. As team leader he was responsible for the team but it was difficult when Hetty kept him out of the loop, obviously sending Nate on a solo mission without disclosing to her senior lead agent the nature of it.
"Then I guess I've got a lot to learn" said Nate sadly.
"Look we all do, that never changes" explained Callen.
Nate nodded and paused as if he was going to say something else but he did not. He turned and left, as Callen frowned and watched his retreating figure.
Sam found Hetty at her desk. She indicated for him to sit down which he did, leaning his elbows on his knees. Hetty watched him carefully waiting for him to speak. "It was messy but Nate took them down, something we've not been able to do."
"Well sometimes messy is good. It gives us the chance to appreciate clean" said Hetty.
"It was a big gamble" replied Sam.
"Is it really a gamble if you don't lose?" asked Hetty. Sam did not answer. Hetty continued. "Oh Nate's growing. One day he'll be good but in this business good gets you killed. I need him to be elite."
"Elite takes time and reps" said Sam bluntly.
"Exactly" she said. "I've done this before, Sam" she added smiling.
Sam nodded and rose to leave but had only taken a couple of steps before he was confronted by Nate. "Look I, err I owe you an apology" stammered Nate not meeting Sam's gaze.
Sam said nothing until Nate looked him in the eyes. "You don't owe me an apology, just a promise that you'll never do anything that stupid again. Even though your heart was in the right place, you endangered lives. That's not what we do." Sam paused to let his words sink in, then he added "You got lucky but sometimes lucky is better than good!" Nate was not quite sure what Sam meant and was going to ask but Sam slapped him on the back and walked away.
Nate stood where he was for a moment until he felt eyes boring into the back of his head and turned to see Hetty watching him intently. As she had done with Sam, she indicated that Nate should sit down. When he had she said "Quite a day eh?"
"That's an understatement" he replied.
"There're three major criminal organisations that are crippled and probably destroyed. However moving forward, there's a system in place for a reason. Use it! No more lone wolf or don't you remember saying that to Mr Callen" she said with a smile.
"I don't know, maybe I'm not ready for this" Nate said shaking his head.
"You've never been more ready" said Hetty confidently. "Now your real training starts."
Nate looked into her eyes and saw nothing but truth and belief in him. He nodded and got up. "I guess I'd better go and write my report" he said and he walked away.
As Hetty watched Nate go, she noticed Callen leaning against the wall by the hallway leading to the armoury as he watched Nate leave. He continued to watch Nate for a few moments more before he pushed himself off the wall and crossed the hallway towards the bullpen. Callen slumped down at his desk and opened his laptop. However he did not type anything and after a number of minutes deep in thought, Callen shut his laptop, got up and grabbed his coat. When Callen exited the bullpen he glanced over at Hetty who was watching him, her fingers steepled under her chin. A small smile twitched at his mouth at the sight.
Hetty lowered her hands and beckoned Callen over. He sighed and momentarily hesitated before deciding to do as she asked. He strode over and stood at the steps by her desk. Hetty studied her boy carefully and sensed something was bothering him. She reached into her drawer and retrieved a bottle of single malt whisky and two tumblers. She poured two good measures of the amber liquid and held up a glass towards Callen.
"Please sit down Mr Callen" Hetty said indicating the chair with a nod of her head. "I believe you deserve this after the day you've had." Callen took the proffered glass and took a sip, savouring the smooth but fiery taste of the malt whisky before sitting down heavily with a sigh. "I sense something is bothering you" said Hetty.
Callen shrugged. He knew Hetty was pleased with the result of Nate's mission even though he had gone dark. Callen, however, doubted she knew the full picture, what measures Nate had taken. As team leader it had been his job to reassure Nate. It had not been the time to reprimand him. Reports had to be written by all those involved with no detail being omitted and all actions taken during the mission and events of the day would be scrutinised by Hetty, Granger and probably Director Vance. Again as team leader Callen would have to comment on Nate's actions and therefore there should be no collusion.
"Are we going to sit here all night?" asked Hetty who was watching Callen.
Callen looked up startled by her voice. So lost in thought, he had almost forgotten she was there. "I'm sorry?" Callen asked.
"Are you going to tell me what's bothering you, my dear?" asked Hetty, softening her voice as she was concerned by his mood.
"It's Nate" stated Callen.
"What about him? It was unconventional but he did a good job, succeeding where we'd failed" said Hetty.
Callen shrugged again. "Yeah, he did well to break up the organisations but at what cost?" he asked.
"I don't understand" replied Hetty.
"He lost control" stated Callen. "He admitted that to me earlier. He got too deep."
"It's what we do. Why, you've done it yourself" countered Hetty.
"Yeah that's true. However I've been in this game a long time and, as you say it's in my blood. He was too inexperienced for this mission" said Callen.
"Are you questioning my decisions?" demanded Hetty.
"No! Perhaps. Oh I don't know Hetty" he said and Hetty was surprised by the look in her senior agent's eyes. "All I know is that Nate had no backup."
"You've all been in that situation before and with you, it's normally against my wishes" said Hetty with an attempt to raise Callen's spirits.
"I know but we're all experienced and I'm used to working alone, Nate's not. Because of that shortfall and no back up, he crossed the line" stated Hetty.
"What do you mean?" asked Hetty concerned by the accusation.
"He kidnapped me for one" said Callen.
"He needed your help and didn't know how else to get it" countered Hetty.
"Maybe" agreed Callen "but he didn't have to subject me to waterboarding." Hetty's mouth opened as a gasp escaped. She frowned and was about to speak when Callen continued. "He also disclosed personal intel about me!" His voice was laced with anger at the memory.
"Such as?" asked Hetty.
"My full name and details of my past" said Callen and seeing the look of shock on Hetty's face he continued. "I see he left that piece detail out when he spoke to you!"
Hetty paused before saying "That's unfortunate but he was probably trying to stay in character and solidify the Black Widow's belief in him."
"Unfortunate!" snapped Callen shaking his head at his mentor's choice of words. "He had absolutely no idea that she or her associates would be captured or killed. In fact in prison information about a Federal Agent would be invaluable. The only way to ensure it remained 'secret' would be for them all to be killed. Nate couldn't guarantee that."
"Indeed he couldn't" agreed Hetty. "For his own safety, Nate had to make a split second decision but I can see why you're concerned."
"What about my safety, Hetty?" raged Callen. "It took all my expertise and experience to escape and get Nate out of there."
"You can look after yourself and you did an exceptional job as denotes an agent and team leader of your calibre" said Hetty.
"Don't you dare patronise me Hetty" said Callen confused by Hetty's behaviour.
"I would never patronise you Mr Callen" replied Hetty. "I'm speaking the truth. You're the best agent I've ever had the privilege of working with." Hetty paused and sighed before continuing. "All I'm trying to say is that there were extenuating circumstances and Nate did the best he could. He apologised to Sam."
"I don't know why he apologised to Sam. It was me who nearly got killed and it was information about me that he used, Hetty. He's not ready, certainly not for solo missions" said Callen.
"I believe he is" countered Hetty.
"Why are you defending him?" demanded Callen shaking his head in disbelief. "If it was me, you'd have ripped me a new one."
"Nate's good and he's going to be every bit as good as you one day" announced Hetty.
"Not if he gets himself killed" countered Callen.
"He's still learning" said Hetty.
"That's no excuse. He was lucky" replied Callen.
"Have you never done anything wrong for the right reason?" asked Hetty in an attempt to get Callen to understand her position.
"Of course I have. It's part of the game as you well know but I've never purposely endangered my team or given them up, not without having at least a 75% chance of success" said Callen.
Hetty nodded. "I'll speak to him" she said.
"You'd better do more than that Hetty" Callen said.
"Are you threatening me Mr Callen?" Hetty asked.
Callen looked at her sideways with a smirk and a twinkle in his eyes but it was gone in an instant. "I'm just saying based on today's experience, I'm not sure I can fully trust him. He needs more experience but he's got to follow protocols."
Hetty raised her eyebrows and chuckled. Callen shrugged well aware of the irony of his words. "Alright" she said. "I see the merit in what you say. After all you were with him and were in a position to best judge his mind set and his actions. I'll speak to him again."
"Thank you Hetty" said Callen. He downed the rest of his whisky and placed the glass on the desk. He looked deep into Hetty's eyes and saw truth in what she said. Satisfied he rose, said good night and walked away.
Watching the retreating figure of Callen, Hetty sat back in her chair with her fingers steepled under chin supported by her elbows resting on the arm of her chair debating what she was going to do next. Callen had a valid point and Nate should not have disclosed his personal details. Nate had been undercover and she knew any action to survive had to be taken but he was still an operational psychologist and he had just broken the cardinal rule, the patient-doctor confidentiality.