LostForeverInHisEyes – I meant to change it before I uploaded it and as usual got distracted and forgot. Thanks for reminding me, it has since been changed. You're a hawk and I mean that as a compliment.
Violent-Fetish – You're awesome!
Thanks to EmmyMK, jeps and AngelFace_S2 for also leaving reviews.
Chapter 4 – Missing
The OPS Room fell silent as the automatic doors opened and Jet glided into view. She was like a ballerina, beautiful and delicate. The way she almost floated past him, her flowery scent lingering. Callen smiled without realising he was doing so. What he wouldn't give to have Jet look up and smile at him, to see those red lips curl upwards in happiness.
Realising he must look like an idiot, Callen took his focus from Jet and noticed the way everyone looked at her, they hid it badly. Jet ignored them. Callen knew she must be aware that their eyes followed her Jet was an experienced agent hyperaware of her surroundings.
Callen nodded in her direction. "Right now we're all here," Callen paused to look in Eric's direction, "so what have we got?" Eric tapped the handheld computer as a video appeared on the large screen, "Mostly I found the usual e-mails, photos and music. Until I stumbled on this, it looks like it was taken at a club somewhere. It seemed pretty standard, until of course I noticed something in the background around here." Eric pointed at a man in a red shirt, before he started the video. The team watched as the man in the red shirt was approached by an older man in an expensive suit. They both embraced and kissed like lovers.
Comprehension dawned on Jet, she knew this man. It was clearly Cameron Eades, media mogul and father to her friend from New York, Lucy.
She heard Deeks speak, "I am supposed to know who this is?"
Eric laughed, "Yeah, if you watch TV. You should." He zoomed in on the man's face, "This is Cameron Eades big shot businessman, with a serious rep for being a conservative family man. He was completely against the TV channel he has shares in allowing two openly gay characters kiss on screen."
Jet glanced at Callen. She debated if she should tell him that she knew the suspect, even if it was in a somewhat small way. She ignored the chatter around her. No she'd say nothing and contact Lucy and see what she could find out. There was no danger; she'd use her New York alias. Simple.
The next day when Callen arrived at work, Jet was nowhere to be seen. It not only surprised him, since she seemed to be punctual. It bothered him too, more than it should. She hadn't contacted him or Hetty to let them know she was late. Hetty didn't seem at all concerned about her disappearance. Still, Callen didn't like it. Jet was the newbie but she was still part of his team. That meant he felt responsible for her. He'd tired her mobile and got no answer, he left her a voicemail. Callen had tried her mobile five minutes later only to find that she'd turned it off. She was simply a co-worker, nothing more. The fact that he was attracted to her and wanted nothing more than to let himself get close to her, was inconsequential, he'd already thought about it. Daydreamed about it, what it would be like to have someone like Jet care about him and want him despite his being too old for her and technically her superior. He shivered involuntarily as he imagined her lips on his neck.
Callen growled and slid his mobile back into the pocket of his jeans. Sam watched him with a strange look on his face all morning. Callen thought he was covering his unease. At least it wasn't Nate, as much as Callen liked the guy he always thought it was creepy how Nate seemed like he was trying to see into his head. The psychologist was a nice guy and Callen appreciated his skill set, just not when it was aimed in his direction.
Callen was sitting on the lounge, waiting for Kensi and Deeks to finish questioning Corporal Darlinghurst's family. Sam was out getting doughnuts and he was sitting on what had become his lounge reading the file on the Corporal's murder. It was going to be a long night; they still hadn't found any way to connect Darlinghurst with the guy in the video.
The sound of stilettos clicking on the stone floor made Callen look over the top of the file, it was Jet. He dropped the file to the lounge, as Jet put down a load of shopping bags on her desk. His breath caught in his throat, as he looked her up and down. A fitted dress hugged her curves, her black hair was pinned back from her face and her lips were a sensual red. In short she was absolutely beautiful, like a goddess of the silver screen.
He experienced several emotions at once, en masse. Part of him was glad that she didn't like it when he touched her. Callen wasn't a man who deserved a woman like Jet, he had nothing to give her, nothing she would want. He sighed and Jet looked up at him from her shopping. Callen became angry, as glad he was to see her. He was mad that she was late, that she'd been out of contact.
Anything could have happened to her. That tiny thought hurt him more than he liked. The thought of someone hurting her, made him sick. He stood up, "Where have you been?" He found the words came out harsher than he'd intended.
Jet looked up at him again and smirked, "That's funny I was under the illusion this was a federal agency and not a prison."
Callen stepped towards her, her flippancy doing nothing to ease his irritation. "You've worked with other agencies before. You should know that agents must be contactable at all times." He scratched his head, "I didn't expect this rookie crap from you."
Jet shrugged nonchalantly and Callen continued softly, "you're a member of this team now whether you like it or not, that means you're my responsibility."
Jet turned away from her shopping bags and Callen saw a glimpse of something in her, "I don't want you to be responsible for me. So don't do me any favours!"
Callen faulted for a moment, he'd never met anyone so acidic. What did he have to do to get through to her? She was so frustrating, he just wanted to shake some sense into her, make her believe that he wasn't the enemy.
Hearing Callen sigh, Jet looked up directly into Callen's blue eyes. He regarded her like he was trying to read her mind. She stared back with confusion as silence descended around them. Jet didn't get it. Why did Callen care where she was? He didn't feel responsible for her did he? Was this some game Callen was playing? She scratched her hairline absently. He was probably only upset because he'd look bad if something happened to her. There was no way he'd actually care about her.
The idea of Callen caring about her took off with her imagination and a flutter of butterflies appeared in her stomach. Jet swallowed, no, no one ever cared once they knew the real her. No one. She was dirty and broken. Even if Callen did care, she could never let him too close. Jet knew she'd ruin a good person like him. It was better she was alone.
"What were you doing?" Callen asked again softly. Jet nodded her head she would have to explain eventually. Since it was case related.
"Last night when we watched the video I recognised Cameron Eades as soon as I saw his face."
Callen looked somewhat annoyed, but said nothing so Jet continued.
"I've met him before."
Callen nodded, "How do you know him?" He sat on the edge of her desk, arms folded as he listened intently.
Jet stepped backwards casually; Callen was getting too close for comfort. Standing that close to anyone else, it wouldn't matter. She was so tempted to touch him, he smelt so good and it was hard to resist. Jet allowed herself to look him over once, admiring the set of his shoulders and arms. He was handsome, there was no denying it and she hated that she wanted him. Jet had spent time with men who were practically supermodels, but she had never felt the attraction she felt for Callen around them.
She finally answered, "I met his daughter Lucy while she was at Julliard. We had dinner with her parents a few times." Callen said nothing, while Jet recalled the way Cameron had shook her hand firmly and the way he absolutely adored his daughter. Jet imagined that her own father would have had the same interest in her. She could only imagine since, her memories of him often failed her.
"I called Lucy last night. Spun a tale about how New York wasn't right for me anymore, that I thought I'd try LA. We met for lunch and some shopping." Jet looked at Callen for a brief second, and thought about what it would be like to caress away the tension in his neck and shoulders. She cleared her throat at the distraction.
"Lucy is turning 24 in a few days. Her dad is throwing her a huge party at their home tonight. I got an invitation for two, me plus a friend."
Callen was silent for moment. Jet avoided looking at the man beside her; she could feel his eyes on her and ignored the flutter of her heart. She heard him sigh softly and growled almost silently. He was going to reprimand her again, despite her good work. Jet was beginning to get angry. It wasn't like talking about the latest silver spoon gossip, critiquing outfits or fad diets was her idea of a good time. She had sushi for lunch, sushi wasn't even proper food. She couldn't take his silence anymore and turned on him angrily.
"NCIS is ridiculous! I just saved the team a load of trouble. Not that I give a shite about any of you. Like any of you could get the information we need from Cameron without him sicking all four of his lawyers on us. So don't you dare lecture me again you self-righteous prig!"
Much to her surprise and aggravation Callen laughed. He was laughing at her. Jet seethed, how dare he laugh at her like she was stupid. She stalked towards him like a predatory cat. She was going to kill him. Jet's hand shot out to punch him, she almost reached her aim too, but Callen was ready for her.
He grabbed her wrists and pulled her closer. Jet gasped in surprise softly, the action was unexpected. There was no space between them, her heart beating heavily in her chest. She looked up at Callen's blue eyes sparkling with amusement. Heat seeped onto her everywhere his body touched hers, almost like she'd been cold blooded her whole life and just discovered the sun. This was bad.
Jet stomped the heel of her shoe on his foot, Callen gasped in pain. To his credit his hands still gripped her wrists firmly and she failed to pull away.
"Don't laugh at me. I'm not an idiot."
Callen chuckled, his face inches from hers, "I don't think that." He paused his tone becoming softer more serious, "I think…I think you're intelligent and beautiful."
He loosened the grip on her wrists. Jet felt a tingle as his thumb stroked her wrist. He brought his hand up towards her cheek, his face dipped. Jet's heart went into overdrive; he was going to kiss her. To her disappointment, Callen seemed to decide against it and he let her wrist go. He stepped backwards and sat back on the lounge.
Jet watched Callen closely; he seemed to struggle with something and then appeared reflective. She wasn't sure what to do or say and was glad when Callen lifted his head from his hands and finally spoke.
"I had this foster sister Alina. I was shot and she thought I had died and wanted to avenge my death. She was…" Jet thought she heard Callen's voice break, but she wasn't sure. "She was shot and she um, she died. I lost contact with her; I didn't get the chance to know her. But I like to think she would have been something like you smart and pretty."
Jet stopped short, she didn't know what to think, let alone say. She'd been told she was pretty before, more than once. She wasn't really convinced. Maybe they actually meant it at the time, but once they knew about the things she'd done. A breath hitched in her throat, about the things he'd done. Everything that happened, she shook her head, no she wasn't beautiful. Callen was sneaky trying to win her over, gain her trust. Part of her wanted to believe him, wanted to believe the emotion in his blue eyes. She had to stop this, the fluttering in her stomach, the pounding of her heart, the urges she had to fight when she was near him.
It had to stop, so in a firm voice she said loudly, "So what!"
Callen seemed surprised, he looked up at her. He tried to hide it but Jet could see the hurt in his eyes. Jet swallowed, the warmth rising behind her eyes. She'd hurt him.
