Chapter 4

(Sam and Nell's POV)

Sam made his way down to the lobby and out to his Challenger. He looked up and down the street on the off chance he'd see his partner but Callen didn't seem to be there. In a way it angered Sam because he would have bet his life that G would be there watching over Dolly.

As he sat in the driver's seat doing a slow burn he remembered the last few times G had ridden with him. The banter between him and G was always funny and pointed and for G there always seemed to be a reason for it. Sam came to realize that he missed having those silly, if not irritating, but meaningful, conversations with his partner. Sam had really needed Callen in the last few months. His separation from Michelle and only visiting Kamron after work hurt and he hadn't seen Aiden in months. Aiden wanted his father to be more accepting of what his mother had done, what she had to do but Sam would have nothing to do with that. He left his house and stayed at Callen's house for a month before getting his own place. Now he knew what G meant by moving all the time; you never have anything of your own and for Sam that meant his family, not personal belongings. For Callen that meant no personal ties and Sam needed those ties. Michelle selling them all out to the CIA was betrayal beyond what he could accept of her. Why would she do that to everyone at NCIS and especially to Sabatino? Now G says it wasn't her choice. Well if she'd come to him first there wouldn't have had to be any choice at all and they'd all still be together. Someday soon G would explain this comment. He came back to the here and now and watched Nell as she approached the car. He thought about the young woman and realized he'd lucked out having her as a partner. She'd come a long way in the past year.

Nell slid in next to him. "It's Callen. I showed her a picture of him and she agreed it was him. It sort of shocked her to see him looking so young. I'm also under the impression that something happened between the two of them. Something special happened." Nell knew that Sam was upset about Callen but how she should handle him right now was the question. What would Callen do?

Sam just nodded. "As for something happening between them, yeah, but G wouldn't do that to get her to help him, there must be more to this than using Dolly. I've been on ops with him that he wouldn't do it. He always railed against it because of how he was raised. His foster parents used him for their advantage so, no, she means something to him and I hope that by coming back here with her he didn't put her in danger." Sam became more agitated. He slammed his hands on the steering wheel so hard that Nell jumped. "How did we miss this? I know that G is good at being a ghost but over a year's worth? Why would he do this to us?" An idea seemed to pop into his head. "Did he have help?" Sam paused a moment. "I think Arkady Kolchek will be getting a visit from me soon. He would have helped G if he asked for it. We should also have Eric keep an eye on her place. If she means something to him he'll be back to look out for her."

Nell watched the people walking past the apartment building and knew that Sam's idea agreed with hers. "That's exactly what he'd do. He'd put himself in harm's way for her. Yeah, we need to keep an eye on her."

Sam grunted in agreement both to what his partner would do and why he'd do it. Unfortunately she'd be used as bait but they'd be here to protect her. He laughed out loud as he pulled into traffic. "When we get him back he's going to pay for the last year and for bringing in a civilian."

Nell chuckled as well. She understood Sam's point of view. The mourning for Callen had been painful for her but for Sam it took on a different aspect. He not only lost a partner but his brother.

All of this brought up memories of when Callen and she had spent many evenings discussing books of foreign policy, politics of the United States and many European nations. When Callen met Joelle all of that had come to an abrupt end. Eric filled in where he could but his interests were very different, they were fun, but different. Oh, she'd never been in love with Callen but by the same token, she resented Joelle for taking her friend and mentor from her. Now this was happening and while part of her is ecstatic that he lived, the other is angry at him for all the pain he'd caused them by doing whatever it was that he thought he needed to do.

The ride back to the mission was silent. Both partners were locked in their minds thinking about how to broach the subject at work. They both knew that it would bring about pain and some very hard feelings.

When they arrived Kensi and Deeks sat at their desks working on cold cases throwing their idea of conversation, i.e. innuendo, back and forth.

Deeks looked up from his casework. He wore a crease across his brow but that disappeared and his megawatt smile appeared. "Where were you two this morning?" He threw a chuckle across to Kensi.

Sam sat down at his desk while Nell took what used to be Callen's desk. He sighed and looked down at his huge hands. Telling these two what they'd found this morning would rock their world. "Nell, would you go get Hetty. I only want to say this once."

Deeks and Kensi looked at each other with eyes wide that spoke of many questions. Sam never answered them like that. He always said what needed to be said.

Hetty came into the bullpen followed by Admiral Chedwiggen. He'd taken the shotgun place that Granger held before he'd left. "I hope you don't mind the Admiral being let in on whatever you have?" When no one spoke she continued. "What's going on Mr. Hanna?"

Sam knew of no ideal way to tell them so he just said it. "Callen is alive."

Hetty's face went white and she almost fainted.

The Admiral took her elbow and guided her to Sam's chair which he'd exited for her. Deeks stood next to Kensi and Sam saw his hand take hers. Everyone stood there shocked, disbelieving.

Hetty was the first to speak. "How did you discover this Mr. Hanna?"

Sam blew out his breath. "A young woman called my NCIS cell this morning, asking for me. She said Gary Wisnoski had told her to call me. Nell and I have just returned from seeing her. She ID'ed him from a photo."

Hetty looked like she'd just seen a ghost. "Do we know what he's been doing or even why he'd do this?"

Sam gave a grunt. "He sent a message, 'Forgive Michelle, it wasn't her choice.' I have a feeling it has to do with Sabatino and our moles. I need Kensi and Deeks to go watch over Miss Dolly Gales. Callen used her to get to me but Nell and I feel there is more to it than that. Nell and I think that he's going back there to protect her and there may be more emotions at play between the two of them." He motioned to Deeks and Kensi.

Hetty nodded again. "If we protect her we'll get him back." She nodded again. "So be it. Who do you think he's going after?"

Sam shrugged. "I'm guessing it's Sabatino. He's the only one we haven't caught yet. There may be a bigger fish as well. Time will tell."

Eric came bounding down the stairs. "I've got him at Club LA. Street cams are still running and I haven't gotten into the security cameras at Dolly's apartment complex yet. I need my wife to help."

Sam nodded and Nell went up to OPS with Eric. He turned and gave Kensi and Deeks Dolly's address, told them to keep her safe and be on the lookout for Callen.

Kensi and Deeks grabbed their go bags and hit the road.

Sam walked past his boss and touched her shoulder. In that one touch he realized what this news had done to her.

She grabbed his hand. "Find him Mr. Hanna, find him."

He watched as the Admiral took Hetty back to her office. He'd probably make some tea for his friend and confidante. Sam had never seen Hetty so shaken.

Eric came to the top of the stairs. "I'm in on traffic cams. We found him at Venice Beach. It looks like he intentionally parked Dolly's car right in front of the camera. He knew we'd be looking for him."

Sam bounded up the stairs. He needed to see his partner for himself. When he arrived in OPS he noticed Nell sitting at what used to be her desk going through security video from Dolly's. He saw Dolly leaving for the evening just before nine like she said.

Eric motioned to his screen. There stood Callen waiting for Dolly to come around the car and much to his surprise G looked up at the traffic cam and smirked. Sam just laughed out loud.

Part of Callen's charm was his audacity. It takes a lot of daring do to do what they do. Here he showed just what an excellent operator he is.

Sam looked at his partner and all he could think was how to get him back…alive and that he'd have a lot of 'splaining to do when they did.

He turned his gaze back to Eric. "Do me a favor Eric, run a background check on our young lady Miss Dolly Gales from Arizona."

Nell turned to give him a glaring look.

Sam felt her eyes and in some ways they were more deadly than G's. "We're just checking on her. Remember you can't trust anyone. We've learned that lesson."

Nell saw the hurt in his eyes and she knew he meant Michelle. She nodded as he turned and left OPS.