[of course, this is just a story I made up an I'm gratefully using the great characters from NCIS LA]


"An ordinary Californian housewife flooring the both of us and protect us from being shot. Feels like we're some probies on a first mission! Does this all sound logical to you? Damned Sam, why? And how did she get away?"

"Perhaps she got scared? The only way to leave would have been through the kitchen and the alley behind it. And yeah, I already asked Eric if he could find any footage from the back alley. Let's check bullet holes in your car and get back to the office, there is no need to go and try to find a needle in a haystack".

XXXX

I hopped into a blue bus and had it drive me through town. Near LAX I hired a small van at Alamo that had enough room in the back for me to stay unnoticed in, or even sleep in. After that I got me some sandwiches, some bottles of water and chilled Starbucks' coffee. In the back of the van I changed the green dress for one of the set of clothes I just purchased in the mall: some black jeans and a dark, warm coat, some sneakers and a long leaved shirt. Also, I was happy to find a Halloween shop where I bought some colored contact lenses and a nice blonde wig, which might come in handy. The only thing I needed was a cell phone, some tie wraps and a duffel-bag, which I should buy soon. Unfortunately, there would be no money left for a gun or other weaponry.

Changing the clothes and counting the money that was left, I remembered the papers I took from Smith's car. And however I still was tired, I was suddenly curious about the papers I took from the car as well. Five locations were mentioned. The tom-tom in the car showed them: one at Washington Boulevard, two at Venice, two nearer to Santa Barbara. I was determined to find out if any of them would reveal a connection with the trip from Colombia to Los Angeles.

Find out, alone. The way I used to work until two years ago, when I was attached to a highly trained SAS-team.

XXXX

The moment Callen and Sam walked in the bullpen, Deeks welcomed them witty as ever: "You lucky ones! Girls in summer dresses jumping in your arms, what more can a man wish for! Somehow, it never happens to me, perhaps it is because I work with a girl as a partner. It's a guys' dream, isn't it, being run over by girls. But Sam, you're married! Should or should we not inform your wife?"

This time it was Hetty who saved them from more bantering from their colleagues. "Gentlemen, up in OPS, immediately! That goes also for you, Mr Deeks and Miss Blye. Director Vance will be on screen in two minutes". Up in OPS, Eric and Nell were waiting, both eager to show what they discovered on a traffic video camera. However, they had to wait. Once Vance had seen them all inside, they all had to listen to what he said.

"Late this morning, after investigating the explosion of a safe house, part of your team has been attacked during a drive by. This could mean that the whereabouts of your team, or perhaps only one or two agents, was breached. Callen and Sam, I want you off the streets. Until we know more, you will investigate only from inside OSP. That's it".

"But-"…

"No buts this time, agent Callen. This is what I order and I am sure Hetty will see to it that officer Deeks and agent Blye will solve this case". With the usual sign, the connection was cut off.

"Well. Now we all know where we are standing. Mr. Callen, Mr. Hanna, I trust that you will fully inform your team members so they can finish this case properly", Hetty stated before she left the team and went downstairs.

For a while it was quiet. It was Kensi who asked what happened and before Callen could explain, it was Eric who came with video footage.

"Here. You stopped your car in front of Cora's and there, nearly at the same time, this van stopped on the other side of the street".

They all watched what happened. The door of the van opening, a gun in sight, Callen who already got out of the car, then Sam from the passenger seat. And then, from out of nowhere and in a flash, a young woman, suntanned, short brown hair and wearing a green dress and sunglasses, came near the car and pushed them both down, right before the shooting started.

"Who knew you would be there", asked Deeks. "You were not driving the Challenger this time. Sam, did you notice a tail, or anything else?"

"Nope, nothing at all. You, G?" Callen shook his head. He was the driver this time and it was only the third time they used his car. Who could know it? He still felt a bit embarrassed about this whole situation. "We díd visit Simms earlier this day of course. In the Mercedes. Could he –"

Meanwhile, Eric showed another videostream, from a different angle, on the corner of Cora's.

"Wait. Eric, play it again please" Sam interupted. "I think I saw-... There. I noticed. Look at the woman. She notices the van, and look. It is as if she wants to draw a gun as well. The same way we do it. But dressed like this, no gun for sure. That is where she decides to floor us".

"Crap. Were they ever aiming at us Sam, or was she the target? Eric, Nell, is there any chance you can identify her by face recognition programs?"

"On it" Nell promptly answered. "Although we only have those two blurry pictures that hardly show any of her face, and those sunglasses covering it won't help…" she added.

"Try it anyway. Meanwhile, Eric, I want you to try and redetect her ways towards Cora's Coffee".

"If she were the victim to be, why would anybody want to kill her?"

"Could be the unfaithful husband. A life insurance policy. The jealous partner. But then, most Hollywood wives do not grab for a gun like Sam just pointed out", Deeks stated.

"Maybe they weren't trying to kill her but intending to kidnap her, until she started to shout and they saw you with guns" were Kensi's thoughts.

"Maybe she was after them". Deeks again. "Thinking out of the box, guys".

"Eric, do you have vision on how she left Cora's and where she went, like I asked?"

"Yep Sam. The only video I found are at a bus stop some yards from the alley. We only see her from behind, entering a blue bus. These busses just circle around town, I cannot find out where she left."

Another dead end it was.

"Oh Happy Day. Yeah, happy day…", Eric started to whistle the gospel song. The others looked somewhat surprised. "Look oh look. Yeah. The dress is lovely. Nobody else wearing it, easy to go now" he mumbled. "Owh yeah, lovely, lovely, girl. Click-clack-caught you"! And after hitting some buttons, he turned to the big screen: "Ladies and gentlemen, let me introduce you to… Photosynth!"

Eight pictures came up, all of the woman, mixing in crowds near Santa Monica Place an later on Broadway Street. Also, near her, nearly at the same time, on Broadway, the van. No plates, no stickers, nothing recognizable.

"Kensi, Deeks, could you take her picture and ask around in the mall, in restaurants, shops and so on, if you can find out more".

Still frustrated, Callen went to see Hetty. She certainly would agree that Sam and he should go out on the street as well, once she heard that the woman was the target and not them, so no identities or traces to be tracked to NCIS. Much to his surprise, assistant director Granger had arrived at the OSP too and overheard his questioning.

"No way Callen, no way you will act against the orders of director Vance. You heard the man. No field work for you until this case is closed. I'm sure Miss Lange has enough paperwork for you to finish. No matter what the outcome of Eric's tracing was".

"And what if Kensi and Deeks cannot close this case, and we still do not know if it was us or that woman. You cannot expect us to stay in this office sitting and waiting, can you?" Callen reacted irritated.

"Oh, I can. And be sure that I will see to it you do your job, agent Callen, and you will lead your team from inside this office. Like WE ordered".

Without showing more of his anger, Callen turned to his desk, looked into some papers and then decided that he needed to steam of some of the frustrating surprises of this day. Down in the gym, he already found Sam, beating the punching bag. He put on some gloves and found one of the boxing columns to be his enemy. Half an hour later and after a refreshing shower, he did manage to finish some paperwork, while Sam joined Nell upstairs to go through all kinds of helpful computer programs, which did not really help them any further today. Kensi and Deeks returned empty-handed around five. It was time to call it a day, they decided.

"You could come over to my place for dinner. You know much Michelle loves to pamper you, and the kids love to play games with uncle Greg".

"No, thanks Sam. I'll go for a run on the beach and grab a pizza or something on my way back. Nice of you to ask, though."

Each of them went their own way, back home.

XXXX

Still a bit annoyed that he, as a teamleader, had to accept the orders of both director and assistant director, Callen drove home. On Washington Boulevard, he noticed the policecar behind him and the 'stop' sign that was shown. Knowing he had been driving too fast, he stopped the car and saw an officer coming towards him.

"Sir, could you come out of the car and take your driver's license and papers and come to our car?" Callen sighed. Another ticket. He hoped Hetty would not hear of this one. He handed the papers and followed the officer. The colleague in the car checked his papers and held them towards Callen once done. The moment he reached for his driver's license, he felt a needle prick in his shoulder. Turning around, mad as he was, he felt dizzy already and nearly immediate, he passed out.


Hope you like the story; it just popped up, and I know how it will end already ;-)