All characters and all rights at 'NCIS: Los Angeles' 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.

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Chapter 3 - The Sealed File

"I do not know, Ray. In my opinion, she is lying, but I have no evidence, just my gut feeling."

"Which one should trust, I've learned that yet." Ray smiled at her. "Then we have to come up with something to break her. Perhaps the others have an idea how to do so."

Going on with their discussion they went to the bullpen.

"Wow, does Callen have to atone anything?"

Puzzled, Ray and Joann watched at the huge bouquet of red roses and the parcel lying next to it.

"No, absolutely not. And even though, we settle such things in our midst."

Suspicious Joann went to her place and was looking for a card, but the bunch did not have one. Then she inspected the package. But it was only her name on it, nothing more.

"Hey, who is thinking of you?" Kensi cast a curious look on Joann's workplace.

"Callen, what you have done? With this large bouquet it must have been something very evil!" Deeks took the opportunity to tease Callen.

He only gave him an unfathomable look before he turned to his girlfriend. "Joann?"

"No idea, Ray and I are just back from our interrogation. There is no card at the flowers and only my name is written on the package. I even don't know how the things came here. No one knows which department of the NCIS I am working in."

"The central NCIS mail dispatch knows, Miss MacKenzie." As always, Hetty had approached inaudible. "However, this information is strictly confidential."

Still suspicious, Joann stared at the package.

"Come on, open it!"

But she shook her head down on Deeks comment. "Perhaps it is explosive or anything biological-chemical."

"Do not worry, that package was checked. Whatever it is, it's not dangerous."

Hetty's statement didn't calm Joann in the least. Nevertheless, she opened the package carefully and cautiously. Everybody watched closely and curiously. After she had seen in the box, Joann became pale.

"Jo?" Callen stood beside her, he was clearly worried.

"What is it?" Kensi came closer, being as well curious and confused about the reaction of her friend.

"Don't put us on he rack, Joann, show us, what you've got." Deeks tried to see into the box.

Joann didn't respond to anybody, stared into space with her head bowed.

Callen carefully touched her. "Jo, what's going on?"

Slowly she raised her head, their eyes met. Callen was shocked by the bottomless despair, he saw in Joann's eyes. But that expression did not last long. Joann's eyes became hard. On the spur of the moment she took the flowers and threw them in the trash, the package followed them. Callen did not know what worried him more: the despair or the hardness.

"I think I owe you an explanation. But I want Eric and Nate to hear it, too. I will go and get them."

"Not necessary." Deeks interrupted her and whistled as shrill as usual Eric did. It worked, the two of them appeared. Hetty looked at Deeks, frowning. But before she could say anything, Joann began to speak.

…

"In New York I had a relationship with a colleague from the FBI. He had climbed up the greasy pole quite a bit when we first met. Because he wasn't in charge with my department, it had been no problem for the FBI. That he was an alcoholic, I didn't realize until we had lived together for quiet a while. I had given him the choice, the alcohol or me, and he chose the alcohol. So I chose the separation. The night before the moving company should come, I packed up a few last things. He came in drunk and insulted me. I just ignored him and kept packing. His blow came somehow out of nowhere and took me completely by surprise. I immediately went to the ground, totally dazed. Then he hit me until I was unconscious. And even after that."

The silence that Joann was confronted with during her break, made her nervous. But all she could see in the faces of her team, was horror.

"I was unconscious all night, the men of the moving company have found me the next morning. It would have almost been too late."

The hardness in her voice made the others wince.

"I insisted on an accusal against him. A couple of big shots from the FBI tried to stop me. They suggested sending him to a confiscation clinic and having him take part in an anti-aggression course. He should continue to make a career. In return I was offered an early promotion and I should be able to choose, where I wanted to work. I also would be preferable for future promotion. I said no."

Joann rubbed her neck, before she spoke again.

"Then his family came up to me, a very influential, long-established family with a lot of money. From this they offered me something, also a house or apartment in the right quarter, membership in the right clubs, everything you need to ascend to the New York high society. I said no, too."

Joann lowered her eyes for a moment and sighed.

"They avoided a scandal in which the charge was reduced to a less serious offense, he pleaded guilty without trial and then received only the absolute minimum sentence, with speedy prospect of parole. However, with my stubborn I had created enemies for myself, both with the FBI and with his family.

A few colleagues have supported me at that time, but for most of them I fouled my own nest. After I was able to work again, this situation has been a problem. Some colleagues refused consistently to work with me. That made me unacceptable in the long run for my department. Though I wasn't guilty of any misconduct, there could be only a voluntary transfer. I chose Los Angeles. To avoid a situation like in New York, my file was sealed. But as you know, that was counterproductive."

"Idiots!" Deeks could not hold back any longer.

The hardness did not disappear from Joann's eyes as she nodded to Deeks. "Thanks, Marty."

"And what did this have to do with this package?" Kensi looked inquiringly at Joann.

"The things are from him."

Stunned silence spread.

"What do you mean, Joann? I think your ex is in jail.", Ray wanted to know.

"He should. Therefore I have no idea what the point is, Ray."

"What do these things mean?" Sam's voice was factual, but in his eyes Joann could see anger.

"They stand for places and things in New York that were important to me."

"Is nothing here that points to your relationship?"

"No, Sam."

"Are you sure? You have not unpacked the box."

Joann just stared at Sam.

Spontaneously Sam got up, took the box out of the trash and began to unpack it. Joann's gaze became actually icier, but she still said no word. Sam got out a packet of coffee, a can of tea, a bottle of caramel syrup, a bag with a spice mixture, a refrigerator magnet with the shape of the Empire State Building, a bookmark with the shape of a Yellow Cab, a mug with the inscription 'I love NY' and a postcard with a coach at Central Park on it. While Sam lines up the things on the table, Joann showed no reaction. That changed while seeing the postcard. Her eyes widened and she became even paler.

"Joann?" Her response was not lost on Sam. Joann did not answer. "What about the postcard, Joann?" He still remained calm and objective, tried not to put her under pressure.

Finally, she answered him. "I have just not seen it while I looked into the box."

"And what does it mean?"

"During a carriage ride in Central Park, he has persuaded me to move in together with him."

Sam nodded. "And what about the roses?"

With raised eyebrows Joann looked at him. "Have you ever given roses to a woman on occasions such as Valentine's Day or anniversaries?" This time it was Sam, who did not answer. Joann finally sighed. "I always got them, for every possible occasion, especially when he did anything bad while being drunk. That was his trademark. Meanwhile, I hate red roses."

"So, the roses and the postcard are a message. Which one?"

"I do not know, Sam, not really."

Callen has paid close attention to all this, without getting involved. He had the feeling that Sam could accomplish more than himself because he was too close to Joann. He was right. All the more he was puzzled, as Ray interfered.

"Perhaps we should find out first what about your ex." Ray did not move from Joann's views. "That my answer some questions."

Eric nodded. "Ray is right. Joann, what's his name and the one of the prison he should be in?"

She was silent, was not really ready to abandon the information.

"Joann, please." Now Callen barged in. With iciness Joann resisted Callen's gaze.

"It is not important."

"What?"

Everyone stared at Joann.

"Nothing of this is important. Only our current case is important. This,", Joann pointed to the things and the flowers, "is private and therefore not important." She stood up and threw it all back in the trash.

"It is not, unfortunately, Joann." Callen stuck to his gun. "Your ex has found out where you work. We need to clarify what else he knows, so none of your covers will be compromised now or in future. He also has sent you this package that gives me the impression of a threat." His quiet, almost gentle voice suddenly became hard. "No one threatened a member of my team."

After a short break, G kept on taking calmly. "You have the choice, Jo. Either you give Eric the information or I will do it."

With clenched teeth Joann nodded. "Robert Joseph Davenport. And I do not know in which prison he is now. When I left New York, he should be seconded somewhere."

Eric looked at her. "A New England Davenport? As the senator and the judge?"

"Yes, the son of the judge and the nephew of the senator."

"Damn!" Quite dumbfounded, Eric made his way to his computer.

Joann looked at Callen. "Is this enough?"

When he nodded, she turned around and left.

…

Hetty has followed silently and now went back to her office. She really wished that Joann had followed her advice and had told the team by events in New York long ago.

…

Sighing, Sam took the stuff back out of the trash. "I send this at the forensics. Maybe they can find something."

"Good idea. And what do we do as well?" Kensi looked around expectantly.

"We wait and see what Eric finds out, then we'll go on." Callen kept calm. "Joann will consider all this as 'private'. It is important for her to separate work and personal life because she has promised Hetty that she can do this. In addition, it was all pretty bad for her. Therefore, Joann has never spoken about it with you."

"You must be kidding, Callen?" Ray was totally confused. "We should not help Joann? Because the guy is 'private'? I won't do that for sure! Joann is my partner and if she's in trouble, I help her, even if she doesn't want me to do so! I won't let her down!"

There was no way of stopping him. The four had trouble staying serious.

"Relax, Ray, of course, we are there for her." Deeks stole Ray's thunder. "How can you assume otherwise? We are a team and we are friends. Nevertheless, we have to wait and see what Eric and the forensics will find out. Then we can think about a way to help her."

Relieved Ray nodded.