Read A/N from first chapter. Don't own anything.
Chapter 2
The doorbell rang several times, setting off the dog that lay snoozing in the parlour.
"Yeah. I'm coming," Kate Blackwood called out as she crossed the living room and went to get the door. "Down boy," she added to the Siberian husky as he barked. Glancing through the peephole, she opened the door, letting her partner in.
Sean Winchester, an ex-Secret Service agent, took off his baseball cap and combed the mass of brown hair back into place. At forty-two he stood at a strapping six-four, and six years senior to his partner. His emerald green eyes took in the small suitcase standing near the couch and asked, "You're taking a vacation?"
"You make it sound like I'm about to dive off into the Potomac in my Audi."
"I'm serious."
"Yes. I have two months worth of vacation and now is any a good time," she said, crossing him and heading towards the fridge. "JD?" she called.
"Thanks," he said as she handed him a beer and pushed the suitcase off the way.
"So where are you going?" he said, scratching Rex behind his ears. The nearly 70 pound dog rolled onto its back, tongue lolling out.
"Someplace sunny," she replied, walking back towards the study/library.
"Middle East?" he asked, following her. She half turned glaring at him.
"No."
"Then where?"
She stopped, tucking a small cardboard box into the crook of her arm. "You're not gonna let this go, are you?" she asked, sighing.
"No."
"I'm leaving for L.A. this evening."
He stopped in mid-swig. He looked closely at her, eyes narrowing.
"And this sudden desire to visit Los Angeles is because?" he prompted.
"You're the one who's always nagging me for not taking a vacation," she said, huffing out a laugh. He didn't buy it. He put down the bottle and said, "Come on, Katie-bug, what's going on?"
She bit her lip, looking far from the ruthless and cold blooded operative that people knew her to be. Her dark gray eyes flicked between his knees and chest before she let out a long exhale and said, "Dad had another mild attack this morning. They had to take him to the hospital."
Sean closed in the distance and wrapped his arms around her. Cradling her head against his chest, he dropped a quick kiss to her hair. Sean Winchester was the only living soul who knew all the pieces of the puzzle of her personal mission.
"I'm sorry. Is he okay? Who's with him?" She patted his side.
Pulling back she said, "Ellen's there. She said- he was mumbling about Gray. What if he never- I don't want him to go out without knowing his son is alive, Sean. That man may have done some things that even he can't forgive himself for, but he at least doesn't deserves this."
"How are you gonna contact him?"
"I already did. He's in L.A. I sent him an email and phone number. It's gonna take even the smartest computer days to decrypt the location. By that time I'll be L.A. He's not going to trust me. So the only option I'll have to lay all my cards out on the table."
Sean scratched his stubble making a rasping noise.
"He's NCIS. He'll have the technology to identify you within a moment."
"Only what's in the outer page. I doubt even NCIS can get the password to my files. And besides who says I'm going as Kate Blackwood? At least not till I have to."
Sean grinned at that. Even Rex gave a bark of approval. He glanced at the husky, a sudden idea taking shape.
"Looks like its vacation time for Rex and me as well." Kate shook her head.
"I'm not letting you go alone. Might as well cash in my holidays."
"You need to change you're sulking places," Sam said, as he settled on the sand. "Since when do you prefer beaches than parks?"
Callen shot a glance at his partner. He sat with his knees drawn up, arms wrapped around them. "I'm not sulking."
"Of course not. You're staring out at the ocean like you're about to die any second," Sam shrugged. His attempt at humor was returned with an eye roll.
"Eric's running a trace. Whoever this is, we'll find him."
Callen remained silent. He dropped his knees back on the ground and said, "This guy, whoever he is, has genuine proof. No paper proving it, no shoddy grainy pictures. What if-"
"What if what you're looking for isn't what you want to know," Sam finished for him. Callen nodded slowly.
"Only one way to find out," Sam said.
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