All characters and all rights at Navy CIS LA belong to CBS and Shane Brennan Productions. The following story does not serve any commercial purposes, but was written only for the pleasure of fans. An injury of Copyright is not intended. All further persons belong to the authoress.

I am not used to write in English, so if you find any mistakes in my story please send them back to me for correction.

I also would be very glad about any review so I could become a better writer and give you more fun while reading.

Chapter 2 - A New Colleague

Deeks and Joann were the last to arrive. They were still laughing about the chaotic morning in his apartment. He was clearly not suited to overnight guests.

"I've told you that I make the coffee and we go get some bagels or doughnuts on our way. Not that you should bring them to the coffee."

"And I warned you that in the mornings sometimes there are problems with the hot water. You've awakened the whole house with your braying."

"I do not bray!"

"Oh, no? What was that all about?"

"A ladylike horrified scream!"

Deeks grinned impudently at Joann. "You and ladylike? Two worlds meet each other!" His last remark brought him an elbow into his ribs. He yelped. "Why do women always be so brutal?" This time it was Joann, who grinned cheeky.

….

Three blank faces starred at the two of them.

"A bit late, no? And didn't you wear these clothes yesterday?", Callen asked coldly.

Calmly Joan glanced at her watch. "No, the official start of work will be in five minutes. And the shirt is fresh." With a triumphant look she turned to Deeks. "Didn't I tell you, Marty, that I will bring us here in time without breaking the rules?"

"Okay, okay, I owe you the 'Death by Chocolate'-cake. But don't whine about the calories afterwards!"

Before Joann could hit him again, Hetty stepped in.

"I'm really glad that you are here. Mr. Getz will arrive any moment with Mr. Wingate." She looked sharply at her team. "I know you have reservations, but I expect you to carry it off well. Did I speak plain English?" Everyone nodded. "Good."

….

Joann wanted to put down her laptop and paused abruptly. There was a new table arrangement.

Sam indicated at a place. „You get a new table partner. You seem to get along especially well with him." He threw a cool look at Deeks.

"I thought I sit together with the new?" Joann was genuinely amazed.

"If you haven't noticed yet, no one is sitting with his partner." Kensi was also unusual distanced.

Joann inwardly sighed. These here were her friends, her family, but for now they behaved more like enemies. There would come up a lot to them.

Also from Deeks' face the laughter had disappeared. He had not thought anything let Joann stay with him last night. Finally, they were friends. It had been natural for him to leave her one of his tees. But it seemed especially Kensi and Callen had been bothered. Anyway, Sam was always upon him.

But before it could come to more confrontations, Nate came in with the new colleague.

….

Ray looked around curiously. Everything was completely different than he had imagined. Not a typical office and the colleagues were all dressed very casually. The tone was just as casual, but he had noticed certain coldness. Something seemed to have happened before he came.

….

While Callen led Ray around and gave him a brief introduction, Joann decided to tackle the current problem directly. "Nate, do you have a moment for me?"

He looked up from his file and smiled at her. "Even two when necessary."

Facilitated she replied the smile. "I'm afraid I've screwed up, although I wanted to help."

Nate nodded encouragingly. "Go ahead."

….

"That's all?"

"Yes."

"Joann, you probably know what's going on, don't you?"

"Yes, I do. At least partial. Callen and Kensi are jealous because I've stayed at Marty's. Sam is pissed because Marty and I are fooling around instead of mourning for Dom. I didn't realize, since when the three of them are so superficial. Or when G and Kensi have lost confidence in me. Or..." Joann stopped. "That's the problem, Nate. I do no longer understand them."

Nate looked at her thoughtfully. "And you've always understood them, no?" She nodded. "After all you know them even their whole life." Nate smirked.

Joann's eyes were suddenly very dark and her face made Nate cringe. "You also don't take me serious."

"But I surely do. You know very well that the new colleague troubled the three of them. He reminds them of all the real and imaginary mistakes they have made with Dom. And he makes them afraid. They are afraid to repeat their mistakes. They would just never admit."

"Yeah, I know. That's why they act stupid and Marty and I are the victims." Nate nodded. "They won't voluntarily talk to me about it." Joann looked thoughtfully into space. Then a determined look came into her face. "Then I have to force them."

….

While Joann wondered how she could bring her friends back on track, Eric's usual whistle sounded. Already, the team was back in use.

….

Ray considered attentively his new colleagues during the meeting in the ops room. He knew that Callen was his superior. So he was surprised that everyone in the team represented his or her views and opinions openly. No one was asked to say something, but there was no confusion. Eric, the computer technician, often seemed to know in advance what the other wanted to see or know. Hetty - he had problems in order to address her by her first name - stayed out completely and just watched. As Callen spoke to him, he winced slightly.

"You may express yourselves at any time for this. Without request."

"Yes, sir."

"And don't address me 'sir'. 'Callen' will be perfectly enough."

Joann looked away as fast as she could, in order not to burst into peals of laughter. Unfortunately, she looked directly into Marty's face, who even struggled against the urge to laugh. Yet it was already done and they both snorted. "Sir!" Joann got a coughing because of her laughter.

Callen looked at the two of them, and his blue eyes became ice cold. Suddenly Joann and Marty calmed down. "Sorry, Ray, but no one says 'Sir' to Callen. Well, almost none. I'm sorry, it was just a ridiculous situation." Joann looked at Ray openly.

He smiled. "I'm afraid I will probably still occur in one or the other blunders and make you all laugh."

"We should go on." Nate's interjection eased the situation somewhat, and all focused back on the case.

….

"Well, Mr. Wingate, how was your first day at work?" Silently Hetty was approached Ray.

He winced. "Very diverse and pretty different than I expected based on my training."

Hetty smiled. "Well, I'm sure you will manage it, Mr. Wingate. You work with the best of the best, and you can learn a lot of them. If you want to." As quietly Hetty returned.

….

"We need to talk." Joann was leaning against G's car and waited for him.

"Oh, yeah?"

It hurt her how icily his eyes looked at her. But that couldn't intimidate Joann. "You can choose where: here, at yours, at mine or another location that is agreeable to you. But we'll talk."

G looked at her and knew Joann would not yield. "With me."

"We'll see us there." Joann turned and walked to her car.

….

The knocking on Kensi's door did not stop. "Kensi, I know you're there. Let me in."

She could hear the determination in his voice. "No, I won't talk to you."

"Then I stay before your door. I won't go away."

Enraged Kensi threw her door wide open. "What is all the hubbub's about, Deeks? Get off!"

Deeks was a little pale in the face, but absolutely determined. "We need to talk, whether you like it or not."

"No, we won't! Step off!" And she slammed the door in his face. Kensi then leaned back against it and slid to the ground. A moment of silence, then she could hear removing steps. She lowered her head to her knees, trembling all over. Something terrible had just happened, but she was not sure what.

….

For a while, Hetty watched Sam arguing with the sandbag.

"I know you are there, Hetty."

"I am aware of that, Mr. Hanna. I just wonder what the sandbag has done to you. Or if it really helps you."

Sam looked at her unfathomable. "It is foolish to set a beginner."

"It's necessary."

Sam struck again on the sand bag. Hetty went up to him and held on to the sandbag. "It is necessary, Mr. Hanna." The two of them exchanged a look, then Hetty went back. She sighed softly. Not that she would admit it, but she also was worried. The controversy triggered by Ray could grow the team itself or destroy it.

….

Joann pondered a moment whether she should use her key, but decided against it. Not today, not in this situation. Joann vigorously knocked on the door.

G had already expected her, but was surprised, however, that Joann knocked and not used her key. This wasn't a good sign. Although she had used the key from the beginning only rarely. She seemed to have a problem with it that he didn't understand.

The two looked at each other, two pairs of blue eyes. One blank, one sprayed with suppressed rage.

"Your behavior today was absolutely impossible to me! What is this crap?"

Callen's eyes were like icicles. "You should probably think more about your behavior."

"My behavior? What have I done wrong in your eyes?" Joann could also be freezing cold, but Callen didn't respond to it.

"You have probably forgotten that I'm your boss. Your behavior today was extremely disrespectful."

Frowning, Joann looked at him. "If you didn't notice, Marty and I laughed at Ray, not at you. And I apologized to him. This may have little to do with disrespect to a superior."

"Today your whole attitude was more than...", Callen hesitated, searched for the right word. "You acted as a lovesick teenager, not as an experienced agent. You kidded around, flirting..." Again he interrupted himself. "I didn't realize how frivolous you are. Or that Marty would take it."

The anger vanished from Joann's eyes and made space for a deep sadness. "In the time we are together now, we often had disagreements, G, sometimes very turbulent. But I've always trusted you, in all things, without any doubt. And I was sure it was the same for you with me. I'm sorry I was wrong." She took his house key from her set and laid it on the mantelpiece. Then she looked at him one last time. Her eyes were full of pain. "The three of you have left yesterday and have ditched Marty and me, without any explanation, without a word. Both of us have needed someone, and we could help us. For that reason we didn't do you any accusations, but showed understanding. What a shame that you don't have as much confidence in me, your girl friend, and Marty, your friend and colleague. You are willing to trust us with your life, but nothing more. This is just sad." Then she left.

G looked at Joann and suddenly felt as if he had lost something very valuable.

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