Chapter 3

Duplicity


A/N awesome, all those comments on the previous two chapters. Wasn't completely satisfied with the small pieces I wrote, being distracted due to personal things. But I kept to my word – it is a three-chapter short story only with perhaps a rather open end. Please enjoy it and let me know what you think of it.


o)o)o)o)o)o)o)o)o)o)o)

Los Angeles || NCIS boatshed

The two of them arrived at the boatshed where Lynne Mulder was waiting, together with Deeks and Kensi. "We've got this, guys," Sam said, addressing the two junior members of the active team.

"Uh-huh," Deeks shook his head. "No way, Sam-the-Man. We're in this together. We're going talking this through together too. And with that, I mean, all of us: you, we, us. And miss Mulder, of course."

"Guys… grow up, will'ya?" Callen said to his friends and team members. "Let's just go through this right now". He turned to the woman in the boatshed. Someone he'd met before, though in different circumstances.
Callen and Lynne Mulder had shared a few sessions of physical therapy during the time they were in the hospital, and again during their sick leaves. It felt okay to discuss their jobs, okay to have a cup of coffee together. No matter it was all about the case, and this was going to be just a quick set up, it felt okay. She was a trained agent, someone who would know how to work in the field.
He didn't even ever feel guilty towards Anna — their relationship could not really stand a chance. She was too unpredictable. He never knew her true reasoning.
Lynne however appeared to be a stable person.

After he explained everything, he just knew it was going to work out just fine. He'd planned all this so very carefully. Being with Lynne Mulder in his temporary apartment would simply be a means to get to him.
Carter Blake's men had made a mistake. One of which the man himself wasn't even aware of: both of them were still alive.
Right now Lynne was more than willing to betray the new ATF agent Chris Brennan. She'd be double-crossing him. Well, that was the scenario they'd worked out.

o)o)o)o)o)o)o)o)o)o)o)

Los Angeles || Cotner Avenue

Being back as Chris Brennan in the temporary apartment after the nearly three months away was odd. The carpet in the living-room was renovated and so was the lock on the door. The keys had been sent to his postbox.

He looked around. The place was so not him. But for the time being... he needed to act as if it was his. Just until the call would come.
He didn't have to wait very long.
Lynne Mulder called ATF with the land-line in her own place, all according to plan. Immediately after that, she made a phone call to Chris Brennan and he invited her over. She arrived thirty minutes after she called, and Callen fully understood it wasn't an easy visit for her.

He let her in, without speaking, just with this simple and honest smile. She bit the inside of her lower lip, a sign that showed she was nervous indeed.

The place was so different from his own. From many places, he agreed. Not like Sam's place, nor like Kensi's. Again, without words, he invited her to the small living room and the dark red couch in it. Once she sat down, Callen asked "You made the call?"

"Like we discussed," she nodded.

He gently touched her hand just to make sure he had all of her attention, and he wanted to remind her once again "You know this may not be a nice game we're going to play, Lynne."

Her eyes, a greenish grey, locked on his gaze and they matched the seriousness in Callen's clear blues. She just nodded as a response.

"This is what we do, right?" he then said.

Again, she nodded and so Callen continued "Whatever I say, shout, yell or whisper, just ignore it. It's never meant to be personal. Remember, it's just a job. Do not intervene... anything. It's hard to tell how the game is played."

"Your team, your people… the ones I've met only earlier, they are around, right?"

He sent her another encouraging smile. "They are and they hear every word we speak right now. So do the people we trust at your agency."

For a brief second he read a question in her eyes but then she understood. "You mean Andrew?"

This time, it was Callen who nodded.

"All we need is—my betrayal then?" They discussed it before, it was just another confirmation.

Again, he nodded.

o)o)o)o)o)o)o)o)o)o)o)

They went for a late and short walk, in clear sight and with Nell and Deeks a few steps within reach. Had a shower at his place, though not a shared one. Had a pizza delivered which they ate together.
Nothing happened. No suspicious cars in the streets. No incoming phone-calls. Just nothing.

The main room was bright and although Callen wasn't explicitly fond of the color scheme, he admitted that it made the day look brighter than it really was.

She sent him a shy smile "You look happy in here," she said. "And again, thanks for giving me the opportunity to thank you for saving my life, Chris."

He smiled at her, something he knew the audio wouldn't pick up. Despite the fact she was far from really recovered, she looked alright for the eye.
Of course the two of them hardly knew each other and definitely never met before this ATF case which Callen started as Chris Brennan. But during his recovery, Callen read her file and recognized the confidence in the cases she'd handled so far.

She accepted a glass of wine while he capped a bottle of beer and they drank it, talking a bit about nothing important really. Work-related, their careers and about the latest on politics. Still nothing.

"You think anything will be going on at all?" Lynne asked. "I'm pretty worn out, actually."

"Which doesn't really surprise me," Callen smiled. "Not after what you've gone through."

It was out of his comfort zone, and hers, he figured, what was to come next. He remembered playing the same kind of couple once in the past. Last time and many times before, it was with Kensi. With a woman he hardly knew, it was going to be different.

He took his shoes off, his socks and pulled off his jeans and jacket, and lay down on one side of his temporary bed. She simply turned off the light and probably did the same, feeling uncomfortable as well, he figured.

Nightmares weren't strange to Callen and he understood too well that this was what she suffered from. He never shared how he found her and what it did to him, let alone what she must've experienced. But he read reports and files and combined it with his own memories.
She told him before that she was exhausted and he understood she needed her rest. Her muffled screams and his hushing sounds coming from the exact same location might have everybody else wonder what they were doing, but he didn't care. For now, this was not about work. It was about feeling another human being.

Most people who went to bed at about the same time they did would be sound asleep by now and he wondered about how his team-members were doing by now. It had sounded okay when Mosley had explained this end-game for one of the ATF's highest in paygrade, but right now Callen wondered if the plan would work out the way they expected at all.

o)o)o)o)o)o)o)o)o)o)o)

Los Angeles || NCIS office, Ops room

Even now, while they were all waiting, watching and listening, Eric had all systems work just as hard as they had done in the previous weeks.

Only now, when no-one really controlled his search and because it was a joint operation, he tried what he had wanted to do minutes before Callen had returned from jail. He entered some simple search tags.
He was all alone and it had been a long day already. Sipping from the steaming hot coffee which he wasn't allowed to drink up here, Eric Beale yawned. He read a bit until he felt quite embarrassed with the sounds he heard coming from Callen's place. He need not listen to what he figured he heard, and wondered how on earth Callen did the things he did. He turned down the volume, heaved another deep sigh and started to compare dates, names and facts once again.

o)o)o)o)o)o)o)o)o)o)o)

Los Angeles || Cotner Avenue, apartment nextdoor

Bickering with Deeks all day had worn Sam out. It was different from being with his regular partner and he got cranky during the past few hours.

A joint taskforce was never his thing.
ATF had a different kind of procedure they followed and so did LAPD. He hummed. Put them all together it was kind of a cartel. Different ways of operating, different enemies who all had different ways of approaching businesses, civilians or organizations. Enemies who formed cartels.
Then suddenly he wondered if somehow Carter did exactly that too - forming a cartel with another cartel, not only with his own ATF people but with the ones they supposed to fight.

"That is exactly what Callen thinks too. What he trusts that will be proven eventually. If not today, perhaps tomorrow. But soon," Deeks had mentioned.
That was before he and Nell followed Callen and the female ATF agent, and once Deeks returned the mood between them in this crappy apartment near Callen's place changed rapidly.

Thoughts about how people could pull an act instead of showing real feelings and Callen's abilities to be who-ever he needed to be were discussed. Then, in their place, the muffled cries and moaning sounds were heard too and Deeks had his ammo for sharing even different ideas.
Things Sam never wanted to hear.

o)o)o)o)o)o)o)o)o)o)o)

Los Angeles || Cotner Avenue, 4 hours later

They came without a warning, just when everyone was least expected it and in the middle of the night.
Maybe he dozed off as well, Callen thought. Just until he heard the sounds and he woke up, just before Lynne Mulder did too. They realized this was the moment they all were waiting for and he asked her once again, he asked, softly and swiftly "You ready?"

She breathed in deeply and replied in a hushed voice "I think I am… I am."
Some missions were a choice. He knew it, she knew it and they both made the choice before, willingly.

It was a complete raid. Which came unexpectedly, for them and for the others who were tired, waiting for replacement.

"Brennan!" A uniformed male agent entered the bedroom and Lynne pulled up the sheets in a way to hide, as if afraid to show what it was to show.
Again, the agent spoke. "Chris Brennan, you are under arrest. You have the right to remain silent, and anything you say can and will be used against you."

"No way. Tell me, what's the accusation? Can I call my lawyer?" He countered. Callen counted four men, two LAPD officers and two men dressed in a rather dull suit. Could be FBI, but he supposed they were ATF and all he hoped was that the camera's picked up the faces and that the dim light still would make it possible to find the ID's they needed.
Again, he asked "What am I accused of?"

"Treason. You're the one who is accusing one of the deputy assistant directors of fraude and worse."

Callen shook his head. "I'd like to see your ID's first, before I do anything at all."

The ATF agents both flashed their credentials and he wasn't able to read any names in the same seconds.

Then it was Lynne Mulder who butted in and acted the way they both had agreed upon,
"You..." She swallowed before she continued, "We know it was you who came with the rumors about Blake. And it was you who tried to kill me."

He sent an ice cold glare at her and his voice was just as cold when he said "So you decided to invite me in here in your bed to spend the night with you. Or were you ordered to do so by Carter? You obviously are close to him. You share your sheets with the guy as well?"
He let his gaze go over her hardly dressed, slim and muscle-toned figure in a way that suggested he meant every word he spoke and the hint of his insinuation was meant to hurt her.

He'd told her it was all about the job.
Nevertheless he deserved Lynne Mulder's slap in his face and the disgust he read in her eyes.

Callen continued "Tell me, you know these monkeys? Because they sure look as some of so called agents at the agency."
He did recognize their faces but it was a wild guess. Nothing to work with. No proof against Blake Carter at all. Nothing yet.

She just put on her jeans and a button down shirt over the blue tank top she'd worn in bed and while she tied her shoe-laces she said "Blake wants to meet with you, Brennan."
The way she smiled at him was full of confidence and arrogance and it surprised him how quick she responded and acted. "I suggest you'd better get dressed too. It may look better on camera during your interrogation."

He frowned. "No way., you bitch. If Brennan wants to talk, let him get in here. Not going with those gorilla's. You wanna go, go."

Both of them were aware of the over-watch spray in their shirts and underwear and the camera's next to the door.

She caught his gaze and he read only a question - let's do this together. No matter he told her several times it wasn't going to be easy, Lynne wasn't sure how this man was playing the game. She observed how he set his jaw, but in fact his face and his stance were overall unreadable.

"Larry," she addressed one of the men she definitely met before. She couldn't share anything with the man she should address as Chris Brennan, nor with anyone else. Still, Lynne was aware several others listened to all that what was said. "Larry, give me your gun."

'No intervening,' Callen had told her. Screw that. If they needed proof, if they needed to end the pathetic and worse, the sick things Blake Carter and his associates did with people and money, they needed to get close to Carter and get him to talk.

The man she called Larry simply smiled her way and shook his head. "Agent Mulder, we'll handle this. We've got this. LAPD is here to step in, if necessary."

Together. No matter that Callen trusted his coworkers had their back, he also knew that he and Lynne Mulder had to stay together while playing this game. None of Blake Carters people trusted him as Chris Brennan, and although Lynne Mulder was to play the one who betrayed him and was planning to escort him while they were going to see Carter, Callen figured some of Carter's people distrusted her as well. After all, she'd been the victim who was supposed to die in this very same place and true, there had been no witnesses and so it was hard to be sure of the contrary.

In only a matter of seconds he let different scenarios go through his mind. He chose the one in which he tried to fight his way out, even though it was useless in the end. All that happened was that, again, Lynne Mulder slapped him in the face and he was led away with another few bruises and in handcuffs. Just some federal agents who arrested a civilian.

o)o)o)o)o)o)o)o)o)o)o)

Los Angeles || local police station's interrogation room, 4 hours later

"Who did you talk to?"

He just smirked at the man's question. This was why he and Lynne Mulder should stick together. He glanced at her in a nearly unnoticeable way. "Daniels," he answered, "Richard Daniels."
With the slightest tilt of his head he simply knew, expertly, how the other part of his company in this room was irritated by what appeared to be an arrogant behavior.

Indeed he received an ice-cold glare from the man who appeared to be the leader of the two. "Daniels is dead."

"He is," Callen confirmed. "But then, I had nothing to do with that."

This time, both men smiled at each other and again, the man Lynne had called 'Larry' and who was the smallest of them, also the youngest, he assumed, raised one brow and replied with a question mark "You didn't?"

On that, they shared some glanced as in a none-posed questions. Then, Larry addressed Lynne "Mulder, you're with us."
Callen read the same anxiety in her eyes as he felt, however, she simply followed.

Only some minutes later, the door opened again. This time, the man called Larry entered as the first person. Behind him, Callen recognized Blake Carter himself. Then there was somebody unknown to him, the same partner of the Larry guy and Lynne Mulder.

o)o)o)o)o)o)o)o)o)o)o)

Los Angeles || Ops room || NCIS head quarters

For the umptieth time Eric saw what he did not really understand. Mosley told them before that she had created the alias, the identity of Chris Brennan. A former CIA agent. But then, Eric Beale saw how Brennan's so-called co-worker William Barnes worked for ATF right now as well. With Blake Carter.

He shook his head.

No way.

Eric Beale did what he had to do. He called Shay Mosley.

o)o)o)o)o)o)o)o)o)o)o)

Los Angeles, minutes later

-"We need to interfere, agent Hanna," Shay Mosley said, addressing the senior agent through his earpiece.
All the others were listening as well, she knew, and soon several questions would be posed to which she needed to respond as well.

He wondered how on earth she was able to stay this calm when they all knew by now that Blake Carter was the best at what he did. After, the man understood how everything worked: both law enforcement agencies and cartels. Unwritten rules, protocols, tricks and filing reports.
"But then it means this mission still aint over and Blake Carter is still in the game. Tell me, when does it stop and how?" Sam wanted to know.

-"Carter is a clever guy, Hanna. Whereas you were afraid for your partner's welfare when he was in jail, my fear right now is that this William Barnes, who's a rogue CIA agent found out already."
She heard his annoyance which could easily turn into anger and so she added
-"And yes, this is too coincidental and yes, I should have checked with agent Callen befóre we started this whole charade, you're right."

"Right. So you tell us the operation is breached. How do you need us to intervene, boss?" Deeks said. He'd taken a seat in the passenger seat of Sam's Challenger, a seat which was usually taken by Callen. They'd parked the vehicle near the place Eric indicated simply because he'd followed the track of the over-watch spray on the clothes.

Her response came quickly as ever.
-"Detective Deeks, I assume you and Hanna can come up with a plan. May I remind you that agents Blye and Hidoko are right around the corner? Plan, think out of the box if it helps and make sure you are doing the right thing. If possible, get Blake Carter out alive. It would be best if none of the ATF people around know about our action."

Eric then was on the line as well. I've got some names guys. Names and faces of the people who were at Callen's place. I mean, Chris Brennan's place when he and special agent Lynne Mulder were in bed. Together."

"Your input is priceless Beale. Nevertheless. Names and faces. Can you send them over to our phones?"

"Already there, Deeks," Eric said. "Larry Wallish and Sullivan Johnson. Tied to Blake Carter's missions for the past three years."

o)o)o)o)o)o)o)o)o)o)o)

Los Angeles || local police station's interrogation room

A sly smile was on Blake Carter's face when he watched how Callen sat in one of the chairs in the room.
"Too relaxed, mister Brennan. You're far too relaxed. Tell me, are you wired?"

Callen just huffed as a reply and so Carter turned to Larry "You checked?"

The younger man took off his jacket and hung it over one of the other vacant chair. Then he calmly shook his head and said "Not yet. We could do that now, right?" Larry nodded at his partner and ordered "Uncuff him."

"Wait."
Callen was surprised by the short warning which came from the third man. There was something familiar now he studied the man, yet he could not remember right here and right now from which situation.

"What?" Carter said.

"You can't trust him. Not being uncuffed, I mean. He won't be wired, I guess. You'd better check for earpieces. Small camera's, perhaps. He's always had a special interest in items like that."

Carter's order was short once again. "Check."

They were rough, and he knew that these men knew they had nothing to lose. "Who'd you talk to, Brennan?"

"Already told them. Your man Daniels."

"You realize that there's a major mistake in your backstopping, don't you now, agent Brennan?" Blake Carter said. "Or wait, we could call you 'Ghost', since it was your nickname at the CIA. William in here mentioned it."

Again Callen let his gaze go over the fourth man and pondered the words Carter just spoke.
"You get up on your feet, special agent Callen." Then "You, Wallish, uncuff the man.

The man sure knew where to hit him best and despite the fact he'd been cleared for fieldwork again, he heard and felt the new crack in his hardly healed clavicle.

"You should've recognized your former partner. As I said — a major mistake. What works for me is that Williams knows all about you. Perfect duplicity, I's say. Now, who else knows, except your team at NCIS and except for an ATG worker of mine, who conveniently died?"

He shook his head, meanwhile scolding at his own ignorance. He'd never been this sloppy and always had trusted Nell to take care of his backstopping. This had been Mosley's however, this time, Deeks told him before, yet he never checked it again.

Even without his hands cuffed he didn't stand a chance to overwhelm four armed men. Sure, if they'd been just some ordinary goons, and if he were with Sam, perhaps he'd give it a try.
Not now.
All he could do is to try and win time. Callen was willing to take risks, but preferably calculated risks. Not with another agent around who was in it with him. Never risking someone else's life. Not now. Maybe he could think of some kind of plan B.

"They know indeed."

A low curse came from Williams. "Damn. Got to search him for electronic devices anyway. There must be some way so they can listen what we do and say."

Callen just smirked. Four strong hands kept him upright while they managed to get him out of his jacket. Not the gentle way and he was bothered by the way his left shoulder and arm were manipulated.

"Mulder?! What did he tell you?"

Callen did not like the way she was dragged into this discussion. Not at all.

"He... we haven't really talked about this. I—well, I just let you know how and where to find him. That's it." It didn't sound convincing and Lynne Mulder realized it the moment she'd spoken. That's why she added "Daniels contacted the assistant director of NCIS, a woman. She's around at our ATF headquarters, I think. So yes, they suspect you're not playing the regular play. Maybe we should all stay... under the radar for some time."

Carter studied her for some seconds and although she felt nerves kicking in, she never looked away.

"Perhaps you're right," Blake Carter admitted. He glared at Callen, switched his gaze to Williams who just shook his head "Nothing. Like I said, not wired. Can't find anything else either."
Williams let his gaze go over the former CIA agent and knew Callen would always be the one who CIA admired. He had a certain something which too many agents lacked, including himself.

All were silent for some long seconds when Carter made a decision. "You're right, Mulder. It's time we stay low. So let's get out of here. Leave this guy in here."

"What are you suggesting, boss?" Larry asked.

"Let's say reports tell this ATF agent we know as Chris Brennan attacked agent Mulder, again. He tries to escape, they fight. And that is why agent Mulder in here shoots him in self-defense."

The gasp came from Lynne Mulder, though she didn't speak. Neither did Callen. For some milliseconds he lost grip of his cool and it was exactly that what Lynne Mulder caught. Still, Callen's mind raced to find a positive way out. So far he couldn't think of any.

Carter addressed the two men who were in here first. "You two, start your reports. We'll try and make sure everything is on screen as solid prove. Have to work on the audio later on, though."

o)o)o)o)o)o)o)o)o)o)o)

Los Angeles || local police station

He entered the small LAPD community police station and flashed one of his most charming smiles at the desk officer, whose name badge said his name was Terrence Ward.

"I'm here for a..." Deeks took a random paper file map which had been in Kensi's go-bag forever, so it seemed. Never mind it was empty, this was the best option they came up with to get nearer to Callen and Lynne Mulder. Deeks continued without looking the other man in the eyes, "Chris Brennan. Arrested some hours ago and demanding to see his attorney. That'll be me, Martin Deeks, by the way, mister Ward. Tell me, do you have a place for Brennan and me to have a, well, a more private conversation?"

He sure hoped they were in time. So far, nobody left or entered this building which they carefully observed all the time, which meant Callen and Mulder were still inside.

Deeks' telephone lines were open and Sam and Kensi were only seconds away.

"Please do follow me, mister Deeks," the young officer said. He never even checked any credentials as he was well aware that there was a jailed, the only one right now, in fact, called Brennan inside.

The doors were open and some minutes later Deeks heard how another door opened as well.

"Carter doesn't trust her either. Right?"

"Doesn't mean a thing. He'll make sure she's found being guilty of killing a federal agent. Same may go for Williams. He knows too much."

"Not in here, I suppose?"

"Not sure. Come up with a good plan and Carter will listen."

All those remarks were recorded through his telephone, still, it never carried real evidence during a federal hearing.

-"Guys, I could get some assistance in here," Deeks said aloud. He meant it for his team members outside this office, yet the two men who just walked by overheard him too. He grimaced when he realized it wasn't the wisest, however, he could give it a try.
"Can any of you help me with disabling the video system in this room? Since I certainly intend to have a complete private conversation in here.

Both men shook their heads and after an obligate nod from Deeks' side, it was the young and innocent looking desk officer was helpful as ever. Vids out in Deeks' room and look at this, from the other interrogation room the systems were taped.
Not that Deeks could watch what happened, but he was ready and about to interfere, although Sam had just told him to wait.

"I'll leave two guys for you," Deeks said. "They're innocently working on reports of a situation that is about to happen. One small, dark haired male person. Button-down shirt in pale yellow, jeans, sneakers, 'bout 40 years old or so. Another, male too, looking innocent. Early fifty I'd say, brown polo shirt, an expensive one I suppose, with that guy on a horse and a, well, you know? Black or dark brown jeans as well and loafers".
He started jabbering and he knew it.
"Never mind. I eavesdropped and whatever they were discussing... Blake Carter is literally ordering a homicide and well, we can't let this happen guys. So, you get your asses in here within a minute . Butts," he corrected himself, realizing he meant Kensi and Hidoko too.

That's when he got on his feet and got his gun from its holster.

o)o)o)o)o)o)o)o)o)o)o)

minutes before

Blake Carter put his gun on the table and his voice was soft yet menacing. "May I remind you, agent Callen, that you were about to escape?"

Callen shook his head while at the same time Williams wacked him on his forehead with the butt of his gun. It took him some seconds to more or less recover.

"Take the gun, agent Mulder, and shoot him," said Carter.

Her eyes widened and she shook her head. "No," she whispered.

Callen exchanged looks with her and it amazed her to see him more confident already and there was some authority in his gaze as well. Callen wanted to convince her that she hád to do what they wanted her to do. Without using words. Because he now realized that the only other option was that Williams and Carter decided to kill her first, then him.
At least now she might have a chance to survive. Besides, if she had a lousy shot, he'd survive anyway, and with a gun she could eliminate Williams as well.

Callen wiped away the blood from his face. With Williams' gun still drawn and ready to be used against either of them, Callen imagined she was hesitating. What if he really attacked and took the weapon from her?

No time to think.
It was far too cramped for a real fight.

Her hands were shaking but only barely and she looked him straight into the eyes. Right until her "I'm sorry."

Because that was when he bit his lower lip, swallowed away the bile that rose and shut his eyes.

Waiting for the inevitable.

o)o)o)o)o)o)o)o)o)o)o)

He was about to open the door when the shot cracked. It sounded louder than Deeks expected and he scolded himself. If he'd talked faster or explained less, he would've been in time and prevented this.

At least he shot the man with the gun. And at least, Lynne Mulder was good at what she did as she prevented Blake Carter from getting away. Her shot made it impossible to run off for the man they all were after.

"Deeks... need an ambulance."

"You bet we do. Got that, Eric? We both hit target, the Mulder-agent and I. Dunno what our team mates did."

True, there were no other shots fired except for the one he fired and the ones from Lynne Mulder.

"Damn Callen, they sure knew how to hit you," Deeks remarked.

Callen barely heard the softly spoken "Callen? I… I'm so sorry" from Lynne Mulder. She was near his side, still carrying the gun that wasn't hers. "How bad is it?"
He shook his head and let his right hand go over his left side. It came back, covered with blood. "I'm hit."

This time, she closed her eyes for only a small amount of time. When she opened them again, there were tears where Callen never expected them. "You did what you had to do."

Deeks stood and watched his team leader. "Wait. This is day what, two, after you were cleared for field work? You're telling me that you managed to get shot, again? What are you, too sloppy for the job you're doing?"
He more or less chuckled on his own words. "Damn, Callen. How bad?"

Callen was halfway to a shrug but groaned when his shoulder hurt like it did some two weeks ago.

"He'll need an ambulance, agent Deeks."

"Detective." Deeks now turned his attention to Sam and Hidoko. "You'd better get those twos away in an ambulance, guys." He motioned towards Williams and Carter. I'll see if I can arrange LAPD guards near their hospital rooms."

Carter managed to send Callen a sly smile. "Perhaps you'll need some company while you're hospitalized, special agent G. Callen. I can arrange… well, people who don't really talk."

Lynne Mulder looked the man straight into the eyes. "Is that a threat, Carter?"

"Why, of course not. I am absolutely sure that your man knows exactly what I meant."

This time, Lynne Mulder shook her head. "He's not 'my' man, nor 'our' man. In fact, he is just someone I worked with. And I am absolutely sure that for the time being, you will not be able to arrange anything or anyone at all".

Sam sent an appreciative smile at her, then made the medics take Carter away from the room, followed by Hidoko.

There was a slow clap from Deeks who'd really liked the way her response came. "Great speech, Mulderette."

Callen just closed his eyes and smiled slowly and briefly. "Mulderette…". His voice was less clear than usually "Great shot too. I just want to thank you for going with me through these rough times. I'm sorry, really, for all this — mess."

Her smile was just as brief and sad as well. "Guess you will need some safekeeping while you're in hospital."

In the old days, Callen knew for sure Sam would offer him a stay in his place. But nowadays? The small boat he owned was hardly large enough for the big guy himself.
It surprised them all to hear Sam say "And after that. A safe place to stay, I mean."

Callen tiredly just agreed.

o)o)o)o)o)o)o)o)o)o)o)

Los Angeles || Dalwood Avenue, 5 days later

Nightmares weren't strange to Callen and he understood too well that this was what Lynne Mulder suffered from as well. He understood she needed her rest.
Callen moved his hurting body to the other side of the king size bed in this safe house. His hushing sounds and caressing her hair only made her calm down but it woke her in her sleep as well.

"We need some sleep, you know," Callen whispered in a voice so low in in case it was picked up by any trackers. He simply pulled her closer and she hummed in the most satisfying way he could think of.

For now, they both were safe.


Thanks for reading!