A/N: I know this story has been on such a long hiatus (almost two years), and I apologize sincerely for that. After the season 4 premiere, I lost the muse for this story, and it became incredibly difficult for me to work on it. And then other plot bunnies hopped their way in, and demanded stories be written, and before I knew it, months had flown by without me being able to get any further on this story. However, I am happy to report that I should (hopefully) be able to finish it within the next week or so. I thank all of you that have patiently awaited this story's return. I also want to thank someone (who may not read this) that recently asked me to beta a story for them. Through conversing with them, I figured out where to go with a story I was stuck with, and also had the spark for this story reignited. Thank you so much. You know who you are.

As usual, I would like to direct your attention to the first chapter for any and all disclaimers. This chapter goes through the events of "Sans Voir", and it may not be completely accurate. But, then again, Callen never actually killed Marcel Janvier, either. I'm thankful for your patience for the return of this story, and I hope you find this (rather long) chapter satisfying. :)

So Watch Me Fly

"The Prosecution rests," Wilkins announced following Deeks's latest cross.

The judge turned to Deeks as he stood. "The defense calls Special Agent G. Callen to the stand," he said.

Callen stood, and, after being sworn in, sat down on the bench.

"Please state your full name for the record," Deeks said.

"G. Callen," he replied.

"And your occupation?"

"Special Agent for the Naval Criminal Investigative Service."

"And how long have you worked for NCIS?"

"Eleven years."

"And before that?"

"I split time with the FBI and CIA."

Deeks began pacing deliberately back and forth. "You have been involved in a number of missions overseas, is that correct?"

"Yes."

"How would you classify your work as a federal agent?"

"I build cases against terrorists and other criminals."

"What type of work do you do?"

"Covert operations and surveillance."

Deeks looked over at the jury. "Would undercover work accurately describe what you do?"

Callen nodded. "Yes."

"And, as you previously stated, you do this work to catch terrorists and other criminals, correct?"

"Yes."

"How did NCIS come across the name Marcel Janvier?"

"He was a terrorist," Callen explained. "We were tasked with tracking him down and ending his organization. His codename was Chameleon, because he could appear to be anybody."

"And when did you realize that Marcel Janvier was the Chameleon?" Deeks asked.

"Not for a while into the investigation."

"Take us back to the day before the shooting. Where were you?"

"At a gun range outside Los Angeles."

"And what were you doing there?"

"Investigating a case during which we had reason to believe that one of our agents had been compromised."

"What was the name of that agent?"

"Agent Michael Renko."

"How did the case resolve?"

Callen readjusted in his seat to better address the jury. "We took down the gun shop owners. Everyone inside the range and outside was accounted for."

Deeks paused his pacing at the defense table. "And then what happened?"

"Agent Renko was shot."

Deeks picked up a file. "Defense exhibit A, Your Honor, the after-action incident report filed by Agent G. Callen regarding the shooting at the range, May 14, 2012." Deeks handed a file over to the clerk to enter into court's evidence. "Where was Agent Renko shot?" Deeks addressed Callen.

"Outside in the parking lot. On his body, in the jaw."

Deeks made his way back over to the defense table to obtain another file. "Agent Renko was transported to the hospital, correct?"

"Yes."

"Defense exhibit B, Your Honor, the medical record for Michael Renko from the hospital on May 14, 2012." Deeks handed the folder over the clerk before turning back to Callen. "Agent Renko died at the hospital, is that correct?"

"Yes," Callen answered.

Deeks began pacing again. "Did the NCIS Medical Examiner determine what Agent Renko's cause of death was?"

"Yes."

"And what was the cause of death?"

"The Medical Examiner determined that his cause of death was cardiac arrest brought on by blood loss caused by the gunshot wound."

Deeks walked over to the clerk. "Defense exhibit C, Your Honor, the autopsy report for Agent Renko, signed by Dr. Donald Mallard, Medical Examiner located at NCIS Headquarters in Washington, D.C." He turned back to Callen. :"How long did you know Agent Renko?"

"Five years."

"Were you close?"

"As close to anyone as you can be in this business," Callen pacified.

"Could you explain that further?" Deeks asked, turning away before he could see Callen's brief annoyance.

"Undercover operations make you less trusting by nature. It's hard to be close to anyone in this business, where you can have an ally one day who's trying to kill you the next."

"But you worked for the same agency, correct?"

"Yes."

"And, in fact, you two had worked several cases together, with positive results. Is that correct?"

"Yes."

"Did you trust Agent Renko?"

"Yes."

"Were you friends with Agent Renko?"

"Yes, when we kept in touch."

"How often in five years were you out of touch?"

Callen shrugged. "Several times. Agent Renko was a field operative who, while affiliated with our team, often did not work closely with us."

"What did he do instead?"

"Mostly solo missions, or he had a partner. Sometimes out of the country, sometimes in the country, sometimes in L.A."

"And you two were close when he was around, correct?" Deeks said.

"Yes," Callen replied.

Deeks stopped as he faced the jury. "What happened after Agent Renko was shot?"

"We proceeded with the investigation, looking into his shooter as well."

Deeks turned back to Callen. "And during the course of the investigation, what happened?"

"We were contacted by Marcel Janvier for a meet."

Deeks walked back to the defense table. "What happened when you met up with him?"

Callen sighed softly. "We discovered that he had abducted another agent of ours."

Deeks picked up a folder. "Defense exhibit D, Your Honor, the after-action incident report filed by Agent G. Callen regarding the meeting with Marcel Janvier, May 14, 2012." Deeks handed a file to the clerk. "The agent to whom you are referring is an Agent Lauren Hunter, is that correct?"

"Yes," Callen said.

"How long had you known Agent Hunter?" Deeks asked.

As much as Callen wanted to say to Deeks that he already knew the answers, he testified, "one year."

Deeks gave Callen a look that almost said, bear with me. "During that time, how closely did you work with Agent Hunter?"

"Very."

"Could you elaborate on that?"

"Agent Hunter assisted my team in the takedown of a Romani crime family. During the mission, our operations manager was shot. Agent Hunter filled in for her while she recovered from the wound. Following her recovery, our operations manager resumed her role, and Agent Hunter entered into another undercover mission."

"Did you keep in contact with Agent Hunter?"

"No."

"Any particular reason?"

Callen shook his head. "As I stated before, it's hard to be close with anyone in this business. Maintaining contact with an agent on assignment is tricky, because you could potentially blow their operation, which could end badly for them. Usually, they contact you if they're in trouble or if they know they safely can without blowing their cover."

"So, you had been close to Agent Hunter, correct?" Deeks asked.

"Yes," Callen answered.

"But you had fallen out of contact with her because she was undercover, correct?"

"Yes."

"Did you care for her?"

Callen breathed slowly. "Yes."

Deeks sensed Callen's annoyance, despite their prep work for this particular testimony. "And, upon meeting with Marcel Janvier, you discovered that she had been abducted, correct?"

"Yes. By him."

"And how did you determine that he was the one who abducted her?"

"Agent Hunter was found in a car at the scene, duct taped to the steering wheel. The car had been rigged to explode, and Marcel Janvier was holding the detonator."

"And what happened?"

"Marcel Janvier detonated the bomb before surrendering."

"Following his arrest, what happened?" Deeks asked as he made his way over to the table again.

"We interrogated him," Callen replied.

Deeks picked up a folder from the table. "Defense exhibit E, Your Honor, the interrogation transcript for Marcel Janvier, Special Agent G. Callen, and additional Special Agent, May 14, 2012." Deeks handed the file over to the clerk. "During the course of this interrogation, what information did you obtain?"

"That Marcel Janvier had kidnapped an NSA agent."

"And what did Marcel Janvier plan to do with the NSA agent?"

"He planned to sell him to the highest bidder if we were unable to come up with $50 million before the end of the day."

"What led to you believe that Marcel Janvier was telling you the truth about the NSA agent?"

"He had a video of Agent Hunter reading out his ransom demand. At the end of the video was a number that she had wanted us to trace."

"And did you?"

"Yes."

"And where did that lead you?"

"To a warehouse."

"And what happened at the warehouse?"

"Marcel Janvier detonated another bomb."

Deeks made his way over to the table, grabbing another file. "Defense exhibit F, Your Honor," he said. "The after-action incident report from the warehouse, filed by an undisclosed NCIS Special Agent, May 14, 2012." He handed the file to the clerk before turning back to Callen. "Was anyone injured in the blast?"

"No," Callen answered.

"Why not?"

"Because we determined that it was a trap, and warned the agents entering the warehouse in time for them to get out."

"So, you were able to save the agents that went to the warehouse."

"Yes."

"Following that, were you able to determine where the missing NSA agent was being held?"

"Yes."

Deeks grabbed another folder. "Defense exhibit G, Your Honor, the after-action report from the incident at the condo, May 14, 2012." He handed the file to the clerk. "Mr. Callen, what did you and your team discover when they entered the condo?"

"Seven dead agents."

"Was the missing NSA agent one of them?"

"No, he was not."

"So, what happened next?"

Callen shifted in his seat. "We went ahead with the meet as planned. To exchange Janvier for the NSA agent."

Deeks exhaled slowly, turning away from the jury to face Callen. "How did it make you feel, Agent Callen, knowing that the guy who had killed several fellow agents, two of which you had personal relationships with, was about to go free?"

"Upset," Callen replied. "I felt like he was going to win, like there was no justice for what he had done. That he was going to get away scot free. I felt angry. I felt hurt."

Deeks turned away again, walking over to the jury box. As he spoke, he watched the reactions of the jurors, hoping to find them in his corner. "Did Marcel Janvier say anything to you?"

"Yes."

"What did he say?"

"He said that he couldn't wait until he was free. Because he knew what he was going to do with his freedom."

"He taunted you."

"Yes."

"Reminded you that he was going free while your friends lie dead in the morgue."

"Yes."

"So, you made a decision."

"Yes."

Deeks looked at Callen. "Did you shoot Marcel Janvier?" he asked.

"Yes," Callen answered.

"Why?" Deeks walked over to the witness stand as he spoke. "In your long career in law enforcement, you had to have seen many guilty criminals go free, many of whom likely taunted you. So why did you shoot Marcel Janvier?"

"I don't know."

"No further questions."