OK, a quick update as I finalised this chapter last night, only to wake up this morning to see the press release for S05E14 where Sam tries to set Callen up on a blind date. There is also a character called 'Elise' listed. Is the blind date with Elise or will she be the jealous neighbour? Anyway as I don't like to write about what I think is going to happen (it means everything stays in canon), I'm a bit stuffed with this story now and I will have to finish it before any trailers and sneak peeks are released. So - any coincidence between this story and S05E14 is purely because I am so in tune with the show ;) And if there are no coincidences; well my imagination means it's been fun!

So please continue to read and enjoy, there are probably only a few more chapters to come, and provided I can write them quickly, they will be posted quickly.


Callen decided he'd best go home before the operation that night. He pulled up outside his house, in full sight of anyone who may be watching. He opened the trunk and took out his bag with somewhat of an effort. Sighing heavily and rubbing his shoulder, he reached the lid of the trunk and slammed it shut. He slowly turned and walked laboriously to the front door where he carefully placed his bag on the floor so he could unlock and open the door.

Across the street, Elise had heard the sound of a car arriving and doors shutting. She casually wandered in to her living room and glanced out of the front window. An instinctive smile tugged at her lips as she caught sight of her enigmatic neighbour and she unconsciously tucked a loose strand of blond wavy hair behind her ear. She knew he had not been home for several nights and now he looked absolutely shattered. Elise resisted the urge to grab the freshly made chilli from her kitchen and rush across the road to make sure he had a hot meal. She was sure he did not take proper care of himself. In fact she knew this. After all how could he when he had no furniture and was all alone?

She gave one last wistful look at the house opposite and sighed. She knew her love was so far unrequited; but she was sure he wasn't homosexual! Oh he was always perfectly polite but he did radiate an air of...distance. He had lived there for just over three years but she had never taken any notice until her husband had left. And then one morning when she had been struggling with her garbage, resplendent in her old joggers, hair scraped back and no make-up, he had offered to help. Elise had immediately noticed his striking blue eyes; they were clear and honest and when he had smiled at her, the smile had genuinely reached his eyes and she had been smitten. He had introduced himself only as Greg. Frustratingly, over the last few months her naturally sweet nature had failed to secure any other personal information about him. She had tried everything from forcing herself to be brave, to delivering cookies to his door.

And so Elise had been ecstatic to have intercepted Greg's post a few days ago. Greg Ross was his name but she had been shocked when she had peeked through his windows to find one chair and little else. She began to wonder what type of a person lived like that. Reviewing her blog, she realised that he actually kept odd hours, did not socialise within the community and never had female company – or any company – with the exception of a rather large and scary looking African-American. And then there were the times he came home with cuts, bruises and black eyes. Elise's imagination had run away with her and she seized on the possibility he could be a real life spy or maybe even a fugitive; how exciting! Hmm, she thought abstractly as she returned to the kitchen; no, there was no way Greg could be a criminal; he was most definitely a spy, working for the US Government to make America safe for her.

Meanwhile Callen had been fully aware he was being observed by Elise, just as he intended. He had to make sure she knew he was home and feeling a little tired and fragile. It meant she would have even less reason to doubt that the Russian man who would break into her house later could be the same man she was obsessed with. Next was a trip back to the Mission, where he would grab a shower, de-scent himself from being him, and find a set of black clothes ready for the next stage of the operation. Callen swiftly ducked out the back of his house, yet again jumping fences until, several roads later, he found Sam waiting in the Challenger.

At precisely 2am, Callen and Deeks pulled up in a non-descriptive black Ford Crown Victoria. Sam was already in position several cars behind them, just in case back up was required. It had been non-negotiable with Sam; if he wasn't to play a direct part in the night's operation, then he would be there for back up. Kensi was watching from Ops with Nell and Eric, ready to pull on an LAPD uniform or a plain FBI suit if and when required.

"You ready for this?" Callen was making a final check on his hand gun and mentally making sure everything was in place and everyone – especially Deeks - was ready.

"Sure am. Are you?" Deeks asked pointedly as he pulled a black balaclava over his head and face. All that was visible were his eyes and mouth.

Callen nodded and he too put on his balaclava and rolled it down over his nose and chin. With coloured contact lenses in, a pair of unfamiliar brown eyes now looked at Deeks.

"Let's do this," Callen spoke to Deeks and the rest of the team, as the two quietly exited the car and swiftly ran to Elise's front door. No further communication was necessary as Callen deftly picked the lock and within seconds, both agents were inside.

Having checked earlier, Nell had confirmed the lay-out of Elise's house was the same as Callen's and so Callen led the way to the bedrooms. The door to the smaller bedroom was wide open and Deeks quickly confirmed the room was unoccupied. The master bedroom door was closed. Callen signalled to Deeks using his fingers as he opened the door wide to allow Deeks to move inside. Elise woke with a start but before she could open her mouth to scream, Deeks had already placed a gloved hand over her mouth. Callen walked in slowly and deliberately. Raising his gun, he pointed it at her face. Elise's eyes grew wide in fear and her face paled in anticipation of what was to come; two men breaking into a woman's bedroom could only mean one thing before she was shot.

Callen understood the look in Elise's eyes and hated himself for what he was doing. Another part of his soul would be lost after tonight, he thought as he mentally shook himself out of self-pity and in to self protection mode. "Tell her we've read her blog under the name of 'Little Miss Wallflower', and we will not hurt her if she co-operates," Callen ordered Deeks in Russian.

"Little Miss Wallflower, if you co-operate with us you will not be hurt." Deeks said to Elise. "If I let go of you, you will not scream?" Elise nodded her head and Deeks slowly let go and moved in to her line of sight before continuing. "We've read your blog...and we want information from you."

"Wh...what do you want?" Elise stammered as she kept her eyes trained on the barrel of the gun. She automatically reached for her sheets and pulled them up around her neck. How could she trust the word of two men who had her at gun point in her own bed?

"Tell me everything about your neighbour?" Callen asked in Russian.

"Tell me everything about your neighbour," Deeks repeated before adding "the one you write about with the striking blue eyes?"

Callen refrained from raising his eyebrows in exasperation. He might have known Deeks would put his own spin on words and have some fun at his expense.

"His name is Greg Ross, he moved in three years ago, he lives alone, doesn't have any friends and keeps to himself." Elise rushed out her words in fear. The quicker she told them, the quicker her death would be from the scary foreigner...or the quicker her freedom, if the American could be trusted.

Callen could hear Sam laughing quietly in his earwig before saying, "It can't be true love with Elise; she gave you up way too quickly. She would never have been faithful; sounds like you've had a lucky escape."

"We are looking for a Russian sleeper agent who has betrayed Mother Russia. You said your neighbour was a spy. Why do you think that?" Callen said; the gun still trained at a spot between Elise's eyes.

Deeks repeated Callen word for word in English. Elise's eyes widened again in surprise, as she thought whether Greg could really be a Russian spy. No, she thought as she shook her head, but then maybe...

"Greg is American, born and bred. I can tell..." she stuttered slightly as she realised how bolshie she sounded and swallowed before continuing. "I don't know anything about him, no-one does. No-one knew his name until four months ago. He keeps odd hours and sometimes is away for days. I've seen in his house. He has no furniture, like he could leave at anytime."

"See G," Sam's voice again came through the earwigs to Callen and Deeks. "You're not normal, even your stalker thinks you're strange; seems like she's the one who's had a lucky escape."

Elise and Deeks both looked at Callen, who was struggling not to answer Sam back. He was already thinking that he obviously hadn't been acting as normal as he had thought.

"Ww..why aren't you translating?" Elise asked, not wanting a communication breakdown to be the cause of her death.

"He understands English, but doesn't like speaking it," was the pre-prepared response from Deeks. "Do you have any photos of Greg Ross?"

"Y-y-yes," Elise stammered. "I have some on my cell."

Callen held out his gloved hand and Elise scrambled to her bedside table to unlock her smart phone and find the photos before handing it to Callen. Callen scrolled through the pictures of himself. She had hundreds of photos, some with pretty frames, some Instagrammed, and some rather artistic collages.

"Any more?" Callen asked in heavily accented English.

"Yes, I have more on my laptop," Elise pointed to her laptop which lay on the floor beside her bed.

Callen gestured to Deeks to get the laptop. He moved around the other side of the bed and picked up the equipment and stood beside Callen.

"Is that it?" Callen asked bluntly.

"Um, I also have a poster on my door," Elise added, pointing to the door which Callen now stood in front of.

Deeks turned towards the open door and pushed it shut. Good to her word, there was a poster of Callen staring back at them.

"Hey, this is great quality," Deeks said in appreciation, "you must have a great camera and some natural talent. I can see what you mean about his striking blue eyes. Does this guy know what you're doing?"

Deeks knew teenagers became obsessed with actors and pop stars, but for a thirty-something to be so obsessed with her strange neighbour? No wonder Callen's spidey-senses had started tingling. Deeks studied Elise; she had naturally blonde wavy hair that was partially covering her face and her own eyes were a stunning vibrant blue. Her skin was like porcelain and flawless. Deeks wondered why Callen hadn't let his own hair down and enjoyed her company for a bit, after all this was a wasted opportunity. If only she'd been his stalker...

"I have a powerful camera," Elise said by way of an explanation, lowering her head as she added, "And no, he doesn't know." She brightened up as she continued, "But I've been trying to pluck up the courage to ask him over for dinner. We've talked a few times and I can feel we're beginning to connect. You know I think he would say yes!"

Sam's laughter again came through Deeks' and Callen's earwigs, "You sure know how to pick 'em G. She is clearly delusional, thinking she can win over a sociopath. What do you reckon? We can call this operation off so you can get to know her better. She might be a great cook; finally get you to eat healthy."

"Maybe you're right," Deeks leaned forward and whispered to Elise, making sure his words were just loud enough for Callen to hear. "Maybe all he needs is someone to look after him, furnish his house, healthy home-cooked meals." He took a step back and raised his voice to a more conversational level. "You know there's nothing to be ashamed of with all this, I get it all the time from women."

Callen tilted his head to one side, stared at Deeks and said a few harsh words to him in Russian. Deeks decided they were clearly swear words which he shouldn't even attempt to translate – or make up.

Callen returned his attention to Elise. "This is my agent," Callen spat out in accented English. "Which house is he in? I must pay him a visit."

"What are you going to do?" She asked, her voice trembling.

"I am going to reclaim my agent," Callen spoke slowly and deliberately, still in English, leaving no doubt in Elise's mind that she had sealed the fate of the object of her desire.

A tear trickled down her face as she looked from the Russian to the American. "Please?" she begged. "Please don't hurt him. He's a good man..." her voice faltered as she suddenly recalled the times she had seen Greg beaten and bruised. Maybe he wasn't. Maybe he really was a dangerous Russian spy; a psychopath like the American man had said.

Both Callen and Deeks sensed the sudden doubt in Elise's words and Callen seized the opportunity to frighten Elise one last time. He spoke again with a heavy accent as he took a step closer to Elise, gun still trained between her eyes. "My agent is a sociopath and a trained assassin. His lack of social skills confirms to me that he is my man."

"A sociopath?" Elise questioned in fear. "Is that like a psychopath?"

"Hmm a sociopath is dangerous in an anti-social way, like cult leaders, but all sleeper agents are trained killers and some are psychopaths," Deeks admitted as he educated Elise.

"You think he's a cult leader and a psychopath?" Elise asked in amazement, her eyes wide as she contemplated her lucky escape. Deeks suppressed a smile and resisted the urge to lead her on.

Callen switched back to Russian and spoke quickly to Deeks, happily interrupting what was once again developing in to an assassination of his character – this time between Deeks and his stalker. He waved his gun, gesturing towards his house across the street before training his piercing brown eyes on Elise.

"Your camera?" Callen asked her.

"On the kitchen table," Elise replied, her eyes darting from one man to the other as she realised her ordeal was drawing to a close.

Callen nodded once at Deeks, the signal for his 'American Muscle' to make his closing speech.

"We found you by scanning the internet for key words linked to terrorism and espionage, just like the US Government does. You breathe a word of this and we will be back." Deeks said, before adding forcefully. "Do not call the cops. Do not put this on the internet. Do not tell anyone. If you do, we will know and we will come back." Deeks saw the look of terror come over Elise and a wave of guilt washed over him. The poor girl would need therapy and he hoped to God they would not need a repeat visit.

"I promise," Elise whispered as the men backed out of her bedroom and disappeared in to the dark hallway beyond. After several minutes she peeked through her curtains and saw the taller man bend down to the lock of Greg's house. Seconds later the two men entered and the front door closed. She lay back in her bed and reached for her second, work cell phone, which was hidden under her pillow. Cradling it, she wondered what to do, who to call. She grasped it to her chest as she stared at the ceiling.