Hunting Season

Disclaimer: NCISLA characters belong to Shane Brennan. All original characters and this story are mine.

Chapter 2

San Francisco

Marcel Janvier gave a wry grin as he flipped through the images that he had been given by envelope. He rubbed the throbbing pain to the side of his mouth, as the memory of the one who had given him the scar and constant pain, came to the forefront of his mind. "So he thinks he can outsmart me at this game of chess?" Janvier snarled. "I have waited too long for this moment." He shook his head as he looked over the images of Callen with Ava and their children, taken three months earlier. "Dead are they? And yet I am to believe that you are dead also? If your loved ones are still alive in a new city with new identities, then so must you be." He had watched from a distance at the NCIS team rushing off to locations, fighting the enemy and solving cases without their team leader. He saw the hunched shoulders of Sam Hanna as he went about his daily life, alone. He had followed him everywhere, but to no avail. Two whole months and not once had he seen Sam lead him to his partner. He had watched them bury Agent G. Callen so he knew where his supposed body was, but until he saw proof of his faithful opponent's dead body, he did not believe it. "I know you are hiding somewhere, Agent G. Callen and I will find you. Lure you out of your hiding place and seduce you to kill me." He continued to scorn, to no one in particular.

"Père. There you are." Adeline hugged her father, as she placed groceries in the pantry and refrigerator. "I hope you are hungry, Père. I have enough for a feast."

Janvier watched his daughter busy herself in the kitchen, washing vegetables and chopping them ready for cooking. She had grown into a beautiful young woman. He had missed the past couple of years seeing her grow up, yet she had come to visit him so easily. But what she didn't know, was that he was using her to lure a trap for another seventeen year old girl, Alexis Walker. Details had come through of the new identities of G. Callen's family, once the discovery of them actually being alive, reached him. Anger and betrayal had flushed through his veins on the news that he had been played. And although he had vented his anger on killing a woman that he had only met the night before, he managed to calm himself down and plan his next tactical move. Adeline had come to him willingly, unaware of her part in his next move.

"You spoil me, my sweet daughter." He gave her a genuine smile of happiness and love for her, bringing him out of his dark thoughts, if only for a moment. "Are you ready for your first day at an American College?"

"Oui Père." Adeline couldn't believe her luck of being accepted into UCSF. However, she was not sure why her father had suggested that she chose Marine Biology, nor why he suggested she only use part of her first name and her mother's family name on her enrolment. But she did as he had asked, seeing he was the one paying for it. She had managed to get used to being Adel de Forest easily enough, seeing she had begun her life with her mother's family name.

Fox Lake, Illinois

Patrick smiled at his achievements, as they became more fluid and stronger, after each visit to rehab. His walking was improving, and now he had the approval to go for long walks with Molly, his dog. Such a simple pleasure to walk his new best friend around the neighbourhood, after his two hours of intense weight training and resistance workout. His father matched his pace, pleased with the results. He had paid for his rehabilitation himself, telling his son that he had money untouched for many years. Pleasure was visible in his eyes over his son's development. Like any parent would with a toddler, who had achieved something new. His speech was now flawless, as he talked along their walk, if only Sam could see him now. He was a different man. Not just because of his alias, but because of his experience of living with his father, far away from danger. He breathed in deeply the fresh, crisp air, filling his lungs with it, to heal him from the inside out. For the first time in a real long time, he slept seven hours every night without fail. Nightmares disappeared and he only thought about the good things he had left behind, not the bad. It was part of his healing process. James had him visit a psychologist once a week besides his daily rehabilitation, to heal the whole man. And it was working. His trust issues had been resolved and their relationship was blossoming, as if it was spring. He really was a happy man.

Although, he focused on all of these good things and was making headways towards his goal of getting better, he still missed Ava, their children and his team. Every now and then, James saw the sadness in his son's eyes. The cerulean eyes, which he had inherited from Clara's father, George, became hazy every so often. James wondered how the team was going, in their search for Janvier, and prayed he would hear soon from Hetty, that it was time to come home. Although Hetty would have to get Eric to search for them in their new aliases, as they had vanished without a trace. But he hoped, not for his sake, but his son's. He was savouring the time alone with this son, without the distraction of the job or anyone else. They became two different people, as if their past life didn't exist. Like he was given a clean slate to start all over with his son.

"I wonder how they're going?" Patrick blurted out, while he threw a ball for Molly to chase. He turned and faced his father. "Have you heard anything?" He studied him for a moment, to assess if he knew anything.

James shook his head. "We've been out of contact since Hetty rang my cell, back at Stanford. We're running blind on this one, son. It was too dangerous to bring it with us. No one knows where we are or how to contact us." He was being honest with him and Patrick appreciated it.

"How will be know when we can return?" His eagerness to see Ava, their kids and his team hadn't gone unnoticed.

"You still love her, don't you?" James had avoided the subject of Ava for the past two months, however, now that they were out in the open, he felt it safe for them to chat about their other life.

Patrick nodded and licked his lips. He missed her so much. "We were just getting ourselves on track again, when this all happened. Bronte's high school graduation was a really happy day." Tears welled up in his eyes, as he remembered happier days. "I missed Tom's graduation because of Janvier. It wasn't safe. It still isn't."

"It will be. Eric and Nell will find him, they've got the best technology out there looking for him." James tried to appease him. "Perhaps talking about them isn't a good idea," he stated, concerned over the shadow that hung over his son.

Patrick shook his head. "No, I need to tell you about them. So when we go back, you know who they are."

James stopped in his step, surprised that his son would want him to be part of their lives, after they returned. "You sure you want me in your life when we return?"

Patrick pondered over the past two months that he'd spent with his father. "Yes." His answer was a little more than a whisper, but it held the honesty from inside of him. "Yes I do, Dad." He told him a second time, more firmly.

James turned his head from side to side, hoping to hide the emotions that threatened to bubble to the surface and flood the gates of his brown eyes.

"Dad, it's okay. We'll be okay. We can find a grounding to continue our relationship away from here, I know we can." He stepped closer and hugged him. How much he had come over the past two months, in so many ways. But now, he hugged his father, as if they had been in each other's lives all the time.

James choked on a sob that burst through, as he clung to his son's jacket. He was unfamiliar to the feelings that surged through him. He thought he'd closed up that part of him up forever. After Clara died and he lost his children, he had nothing. He'd become tough on the outside, unlovable, irritating those around him. But slowly, Patrick had peeled the layers of his walls around him. Each achievement from his rehabilitation brought them down. Together, they shared each step, no matter how small they were, and had been bonded together, forever.

Half Moon Bay

Excitement for the opening of Vanilla Pod Bakery and Cafè, emerged from the Walker house into Main Street. Balloons and streamers decorated the interior of the brand new building, on the same site where the old one once stood. The damage had been so severe, they decided a fresh start was easier, than to deal with the debris of the old one. Dan Walker worked tirelessly alongside his grandchildren and their new found friends in town, in the rebuild. Friends gathered for the opening of the new store, happy for them to trade once again.

Ava became teary when she cut the ribbon that hung over the front door. It was moments like these, when she missed Callen more than ever. She found herself at a loss since her arrival home. G should be here. But he couldn't be, so instead she had visited Matt's grave, tendered to the weeds that had grown around the plaque and placed fresh flowers in the vase. How far her life had sped since Matt had died. He was an honourable man, and her pregnancy to Callen was something she struggled to explain to her husband. Although he was long dead, she felt the need to tell him just the same. How his death had brought them back together.

"Speech!" Friends and family cried out to Natalie Walker, as she turned to face them.

Dan and her children stood beside her, as well as Sandra, her right hand woman. "Thank you," she told them, with tears in her eyes. "You've all become very dear to us, your friendship means more to us than you realise. We couldn't have done this, without your help. First round of coffees are on the house."

Cheers rung out as they piled inside, ready to serve their friends and other customers, who were eager to bring her their money, to help her get her business back on track, after two months of no income.

Ryan and Lexi waved their goodbyes as they bolted to the car, eager to start their new year at UCSF. Ryan had gotten over the shock of his girlfriend Gracie being pregnant and bravely held her hand, when they told her parents the news. They had been shocked, but they understood how the situation had occurred, with all that Ryan and his family had been through. They were far more supportive than either he or Gracie had expected, especially with their offer to look after the baby while they continued with their studies. Their kindness was met with tears by Gracie, and Ryan thanked them for their support.

Lexi was excited about her first day, but it all came tumbling down after one biology class, when she was asked to pair up with a French girl. Although she appeared sweet, she had no idea about their tasks set by their professor, nor was she very good with her English. By the time Lexi met up with Ryan for a lift home, she was in a foul mood.

Ryan looked over at his sister with concern. "What's wrong, sis?" They had always been close, always confiding in each other over the years, especially over their father and his lack of being there for them. It had united them together in a strong bond that would be hard to sever by anyone.

"I wish I had never learnt French," she huffed as she clipped in her seat belt. She kept her head facing away from her brother, feeling foolish over her behaviour.

"You've loved French and the other languages dad and grandpa taught us over the years. You're a natural. You could have studied languages at college instead of Marine Biology and been a star pupil. You've always been far better than I ever was." Ryan spoke with warmth to his sister, revealing how much he loved her, no matter if he thought her behaviour was unnecessary. "What happened?" He kept his eyes on the road, but turned to face her every now and then.

"I was partnered up with a French girl, who knows nothing about biology. I feel like I am babysitting her. All because I topped my class in high school in French. Our Professor thought I would be the best partner for her." Lexi was full of expression, using her hands as she spoke.

"That's strange," Ryan replied, pondering over why a girl with no knowledge about biology would be studying marine biology at college. "I wonder how she got accepted into the course without studying biology before now?" He mulled over his sister's words.

"But that's not all," Lexi went on. "She's latched onto me for every lecture I had afterwards, even at lunch. She doesn't know anyone, so she hangs around me. Her English is minimal, so the only way I can have a real conversation with her, is in her language. One would have thought I had moved to France to study, not her come to the States." Lexi shook her head over her predicament. "Plus, after that Frenchman trying to kill us and our dad, and him being behind Matt dying, I just can't be nice to her. It's put me on edge with every French person I meet."

Ryan pulled over, as something occurred to him. He pulled out his cell and dialled a number.

Los Angeles

Eric was frantic as he worked alone in Ops. Nell was out in the field with Sam on a stakeout, while Kensi and Deeks talked with their latest victim's unit at Pendleton. A call came through and he was rushed as he answered it, thinking it was just one of the team.

"Hey Eric, it's Ryan." Eric froze, Ryan never called him. Ops was for emergency only, yet the twenty year old appeared calm.

"Hi Ryan, how's it going up there?" Eric put all his focus on his call, knowing it had to be important.

"The Frenchman who wants us and dad dead, does he have any family?" Ryan wasn't sure why he had called Eric to ask him the question, but it was something in his gut that told him to, anyway.

"Yes he does. A Daughter." Eric pulled the file up of Marcel Janvier's daughter. "She's," Eric frowned as she looked at the details, "same age as Lexi. Adeline Janvier, but she spent most of her time with her mother's family name of de Forest. Why do you ask?"

Ryan had his cell on speaker phone and all colour left Lexi's face. Ryan looked at her and he could see the name was familiar. "Eric, we have a problem."

"What's that?" Eric looked at the photo they had found of Janvier's daughter, although it was a few years old now. She was fourteen when the photo was taken of her.

"Janvier has found us. His daughter is at UCSF with Lexi. He must be close." Ryan placed his hand on his sister's, hoping to calm her down. She looked ill, like she was going to throw up.

"I'll call the team. Make sure you're not being followed. Go straight home and tell your grandpa." Concern for Callen's family was detectable in the Technical Operator's voice. He disconnected the call and called Hetty immediately, before sending text messages to the team to return to Ops asap.

"Mr Beale, what is it?" Hetty's voice boomed as she entered the quiet operations room.

Eric swung his seat around to face her. Placed on the large screen was the old photo of Janvier's daughter, Adeline. "She's enrolled in UCSF in Marine Biology alongside Lexi Walker. Janvier knows that they are alive, Hetty."

Henrietta Lange looked at the image of the Frenchman's daughter, to see if there was any visible evidence that she was truly his daughter. Eric threw another image of her that he'd found in the UCSF's database. "This is her now."

"How did she enter the country without our knowledge?" Hetty's voice remained firm, but the volume had reduced to a lighter tone.

"I'm tracing all databases on arrivals into the country from France, over the past two months. So far I haven't found," he turned as a beep came from his computer, "one month ago, she arrived in San Francisco. Damn!" He berated himself for not catching her arrival at the time. It would have saved them a whole month in finding Janvier.

Hetty studied the photos of the girl. "She's changed a lot over the past four years, Mr Beale. There is no way you could have caught her arrival. She's used an alias, Adel de Forest, her mother's name, not her father's. And she's shortened her first name. It says that she's from Paris, but her father's details were left off her personal details." Hetty placed her hand on Eric's shoulder. "Do not blame yourself for not finding this. We've all been under a lot of pressure over the past two months, in search for Janiver. None of us expected for him to bring in his own daughter to get close to one of the Walkers. This is the first sign that Janvier is in the country still, and now we know that he's been given proof of Ava and her children being very much alive. It's time we ended Janvier. When the team arrive, call me. I have some calls to make."

Eric nodded and returned to his computer, in his search for Marcel Janiver in the vicinity of San Francisco. This was their first break, and he had Ryan and Lexi to thank for inheriting their father's intuition about people.