They sit next to each other, at a dinner table. She eats slowly, more interested in watching the players at the table. Their anxiety levels are high, and their guns are aimed low. She gives Sam a subtle look as their target walks towards them. He stops in front of them, and flashes them a devilish smile.
"Mister, and Misses Brennan," he greets them, with a thick accent, "Come with me."
Without a second thought the tuck their guns away. They push their chairs out, and rise. Same plays the part. His hand slips into Kensi's. They follow their target into another room. Sam is dressed in a slick black suit with a neon green button down. Kensi is wearing a dress in the same shade of green. Their target leads them to a service elevator in the hotel. They say nothing as the doors close. The elevator begins to move. The targets presses the emergency stop button. Sam, and Kensi stand behind him. He turns around and looks at them, through his aviator shades.
"The two of you really look the part of husband and wife. I have had a chance to go over your resumes. They are impressive, and I think that you will be a good fit for my organization."
Sam speaks up, "Is there a question in there, somewhere?"
He nods, "It seems to me like your marriage is one of convenience. You are together, because you are a threat to each other if you're apart. I need some proof."
Kensi furrows her brow. Their target looks to Sam, "I need proof that you love your wife."
"What kind of proof?"
The target smirks, "Just think of it as a test. If you pass you're in. You must understand that I am untrusting of newcomers. It is just my way of ensuring that you are who you say you are."
"Of course," Sam nods in agreement.
The target turns around and flips the emergency stop off.
"Where are we going?" Kensi questions.
"The twelfth floor."
"I thought that floor was under construction," Sam comments.
"It will offer more privacy," the target explains.
She climbs out of the shower, and reaches for a towel. She wraps one towel around her wet hair. She uses the other to wrap around her body. No matter how long she's gone, she always appreciates getting home to her own shower, and her own bed. She appreciates being home at all, after her last mission. She wipes the mirror off. She glances at her reflection in the mirror. In her eyes there is a hollowness that wasn't as prominent before. There is a pair of dark circles under her eyes. She looks as if she has been gone three years, instead of just over three months. She reaches down to adjust her towel. Her fingers hesitate on her chest, over her heart. She looks down at the abnormality on her skin. She traces the outline with her fingers. The edges are raised. She swallows hard trying not to flash back to the day she received her this new scar.
She shakes her head, it's not a scar, it's a brand. No, literally, she reminds herself. As she touches the area on her chest she it's almost as if she can feel the hot metal pressing into her skin again. Like a cow she's been branded. The thought brings the memory of smelling seared flesh, to her mind.
She tries not tot let her mind wander too far, but she can't help it. Over three months in a foreign country, with a successful mission. Unfortunately it didn't come without scars, or memories she'll never be able to forget. The memories of the operation plague her. Her mind fills with thoughts of regrets, and actions that she can't take back.
He sits on the couch, in a silent house. The house is too quiet, after months, and months of stimulation, and attention to every detail. He stares at the coffee table. He leans forward, and reaches for his phone. As he picks up the phone he realizes that it isn't his usual phone. He remembers it is his burn phone, the one he has been using for the mission, and forgotten to return to Hetty to be destroyed. In fact he can't recall, off the top of his head where his phone is. He unlocks the screen of the phone, and scrolls through the contacts. He looks at one in complete disappointment. It reads; Wife. But it isn't his wife. It's Kensi's phone number. Or, rather Kasey's number.
He feels guilty when he thinks about all the wrong turns their operation took. He feels a sense of disappointment for the ways that he let her down. He knows that she will be happy to get back to her partner. He recalls her behavior from earlier in the day. He quickly realizes it isn't congruent with what he expected. She is angrier than he thought she would be. She didn't react to her partner the way he thought that she would. He wonders if there is something she isn't telling him. He dials her number.
She opens the bathroom door. She heads into the bedroom, towards the ringing phone. She is happy to return to her life, and her own phone. She reaches for the phone. She lifts it off the nightstand.
"Kensi," she answers.
"It's me," he responds.
"Do you need something?" she asks, coldly.
"I was just checking to make sure you made it home, safely."
"Yeah," she confirms.
"Good."
"Sam, why are you really calling?"
"I think that we should talk. I know there are things we both need to get off our chests."
"No."
"Kens..." he tries to reason with her.
"I'm fine Sam," she lies.
"I still want to talk."
"Not now," she insists.
"Fine, I'll see you at work, tomorrow."
"I won't be there."
"What do you mean, you won't be there? You live for the job. What's going on?"
"Nothing is going on. I just took a few days off. I have things that I need to take care of."
"What things?"
"Errands, and shit," she responds with an attitude.
"Fine, whatever."
She hangs up the phone.
He looks at their target it utter disbelief. He looks at Kensi, who has a gun pointed to her head. He shakes his head.
"You want me to do what?" Sam questions.
"Brand her. I want you to put my organization's seal into her skin, forever," he answers, handing Sam a hot branding iron.
"You want me to brand my wife, as yours?"
"She is your wife, but you are both my property. I don't want you to forget that."
"So let her brand me."
"I want you to look at your wife, and know that I own you both."
"What happens if I don't?" Sam questions.
"I will do it, and I won't have any mercy."
Sam looks at Kensi. Her eyes plead with him to get them out of this situation. They both know they can't blow their cover this early in the game.
Their target continues, "If you can't do it, just remember her freshly branded skin will be superb when they find her dead body in the trunk of a car, at the bottom of a ravine."