"How would you describe the way we settle fights," Kensi asked walking into the armory seeing her partner cleaning his gun.

"I apologize repeatedly even when I am not wrong…typical male response. Why," he asked never missing a beat and continued to clean his gun.

Kensi nodded her head and wrote something down before proceeding to the next question.

"What is your biggest fear?"

"Quicksand….no wait headhunters….no being buried up to my neck in an ant hill which is something headhunters would do."

"So basically anything in a Tarzan movie," she smiled. "Do you have reoccurring nightmares?"

"Just the one with Hetty."

"Oh really."

"Don't you?"

Kensi smiled and shook her head no.

"I know Eric does."

"What other job would you being doing if you weren't in law enforcement."

"Gigolo."

"Seriously?"

"School teacher."

"Really," Kensi asked sounding pleasantly surprised?

"School teacher who lives a double life as a gigolo. Why are you asking me all these questions?"

"A partner survey."

"I didn't get one," Deeks said grabbing the clipboard.

"Give it back," Kensi said quickly trying to reach for it.

"How would you describe the way I smell…..This isn't a partner survey….this is a partner partner survey. Why are you reading it?"

"It was at the laundry matt."

"And you stold it?"

"I was just reading it."

"Oh my god," Deeks said suddenly realizing what was going on.

"What?"

"Your biological clock."

"Stop it not another word," Kensi said again reaching for the clipboard.

"You know I always thought the ticking was a bomb I never realize it was your biological clock wanting to make a baby….want to make it with me….we can make some beautiful ninja assassins."

Nell walked into the armory to see the two partners bantering back and forth which was nothing new. These two always seemed to be ribbing each other about something it was amazing they were as cohesive as they were. What shocked Nell was what they were currently discussing. Babies. More specifically Kensi wanting to have a baby and Deeks wanting to be the father. She had to wonder if there was something more to this then just playful banter. She would have to talk to Kensi about it later.

After alerting the two of her presence and the situation they were currently facing they all headed down to ops but not before Deeks handed her the partners survey telling her to take it. Not thinking any of it she put it in the back of her mind to ask Eric about it later.

The team had gotten briefed on what was going on and everyone was on full alert. Not only were they after Sidorov an extremely dangerous man but he brought into play 3 nuclear weapons that were looking for buyers. Plus the added bonus of having these men going after Sam's wife made things that much more complicated. Callen knew he would have to go visit Kolcheck to see if he knew any information…they would need as much information as possible as soon as possible.

Callen and Sam took off fairly quickly. Nell hated when Callen had to see Kolcheck…nothing good ever came from it. He brought nothing but danger into Callens life and knew the right buttons to push to manipulate him into thinking he could find out information about his past if they worked together.

"Hey you ok," Kensi asked as she waited for Deeks?

"Yeah sorry I just spaced there for a minute did you need something?"

"You don't just space Nell what's going on?"

"Do you ever worry about the team even though you know they can handle themselves?"

"Anyone in particular or the team in general?"

"In general," she said trying not to blush.

"We are a strong team Nell trained by the best for anything. No matter the situation everyone on this team will pull through…you have to trust that and believe in that….if you think about the what ifs you will lose your mind. We can't be trained for everything but we are trained for situations and adapting to whatever is thrown at us."

"Yeah I guess you're right."

"It takes some getting used to though."

"What does," Nell asked curious?

"Watching someone you care about go out into a dangerous situation and not know or have any control of the outcome. I was a little kid but I remember every time my dad left and this feeling of wanting to do something to make sure he was safe but knowing there was nothing I could do."

"Did you ever get over that?"

"No, but you learn to deal with it and control it so it doesn't run your life."

"You're right…so umm earlier in the armoury….did I hear right you want a baby…with deeks?"

"I never said I wanted a baby with Deeks," Kensi said almost shouting before whispering Deeks name.

"Ok so maybe not with Deeks but do you…want a baby?"

Kensi sighed and leaned against the wall.

"I guess the thought has crossed my mind…I just don't see how it is possible with this job. I love my job and wouldn't want to give it up but sometimes I think I want a baby…a family to come home to. Then I get smacked with reality and know I can't keep a plant alive let alone a relationship and I would be an awful mother so maybe it is fate I have this job….a job where I can't have those other things because I am awful at them."

Nell felt awful. She could tell that was probably this first time Kensi verbalized any of that and was in turmoil over her desires and failures as a person.

"Kensi I have no doubt in my mind that if some child is lucky enough to have you as a mom, you would make a great mother."

"You think so," Kensi asked?

The usually confident and self assured agent was seeking comfort in an area she clearly deemed herself unworthy.

"Kensi you would make a great mother," Nell said confidently. "You're fiercely loyal and protective while also having a soft side and a caring heart. You're a great friend and sister and if you want it mother. Sam has kids and doesn't have to give up his job. When you think about your life now you are right a child doesn't fit into it but you adapt…you make changes. And maybe you don't give birth…you adopt give a child a great life he or she otherwise wouldn't have. Whatever you decide Kens we would all support you."

"Thanks Nell that means a lot."

"You should get down to the morgue and get an ID for me so we can get the intel to Callen and Sam."

Kensi smiled at her before heading off.

Later Nell walked into ops and saw Eric working on his computer but not looking particularly busy.

"How would you say we settle disagreements," Nell asked walking up behind him?

"What disagreements?"

"True."

"What is your biggest fear?"

"Artificial intelligence taking over the world."

"Agreed…..I already know about your Hetty nightmare," Nell said jotting down some notes.

"What is this?"

"A partner survey."

"Are we getting graded?"

"I don't know…how would you describe the way I smell," she read this question with some hesitancy.

"Smell?"

"Yeah that's a little weird lets skip that question. What part of my body…..," Nell asked as the realization hit her this was not a work partners survey.

"NELL," Callen's voice came on over the speaker system.

Normally one to be calm and composed Nell nearly jumped out of her sink hearing Callens voice in the ops center. She quickly flipped the call to her blue tooth and headed out of ops with her tablet.

"Callen… Kensi and Deeks were at the morgue and took this picture of the guy I am forwarding it to you. He has a Russian saving carved into his forward you will have to ask Kolcheck about it and his middle finger was chopped off and not present at the scene."

Callen made a mental note of all the information Nell was giving him however his mind couldn't get off the conversation he interrupted. He couldn't reconcile any reason Nell would need to ask Eric how he would describe how she smelled.

"How is Sam's wife?"

"Fine…they are having a marital disagreement right now."

"Sam is getting the smack down isn't he," Nell said with a smile.

"Something like that…..so about what I….

"Kensi and Deeks are in the boat shed doing a little babysitting assignment per Hetty's request. She would like you back as soon as possible. I have to go."

And with that Nell cut him off not wanting to discuss what he potentially heard in ops. She had not done anything wrong but currently she was residing in the hall with people bustling all around her….the last place in the world she wanted to have that conversation. She knew she would have to deal with it later but for now she was going to burry herself in work and make sure her team came home safely.

There was often a fine line between a successful operation and something going terribly wrong. Today they came far too close to something going terribly wrong as Sam's wife was almost shot point blank. As rough as Callen was feeling he knew his partner was 10 times worse. He almost lost his wife and then was going to get ripped by Hetty for busting out of jail. Callen had lost far too much in his life to even think about the possibility of losing anything else…not when he had just gotten something so precious to him.

"You know I was beginning to think you were avoiding me," Callen said with a smirk as he leaned against the door frame.

" I was doing no such thing," Nell said with a playfully shocked face as she opened the door.

"Well, you hung up on me, deflected all my calls to Eric and rolled out of Ops the second the mission was over before any of us got back."

"Maybe I needed some time to set some things up."

Callen leaned forward slightly looking into her apartment but not moving from the doorway yet.

"Nothing looks different."

"Maybe this isn't the room I needed to set up," she said returning his famous smirk.

"Oh yeah…which room needed some extra attention?"

"You're never going to find out standing in the doorway all night."

Finally giving into her, he walked into the apartment shutting and locking the door behind him.

"Do you want a beer," Nell asked now keeping his favorite drink on hand?

"After today I might need a keg but starting with a beer would be great."

After she grabbed the beer and some snacks she joined Callen in the living room. He took the beer from her, stole a kiss and settled back into the couch. Nell couldn't help but smile at the normalcy this moment was bringing.

"Sam has such a complex life," he stated.

"How so," she wondered where this was heading?

"He was a SEAL and spent most of his young adult life there going on missions I couldn't even imagine. Somehow during that time he met his wife whom is in the CIA and herself goes on undercover ops. Sometimes I wonder if they really fell in love with each other or with an alias. Did it just work for them because it was convenient? Both having dangerous jobs…both having an understanding of what the other was going through….how many people could they make a relationship work with if not each other."

"You don't think he loves her?"

"I have no doubt he loves her…and he loves his kids….it's just complex."

"It always is with this job….seems everyone is finding that out today."

"What do you mean," Callen asked?

Nell looked at Callen unsure if she should answer that question. Kensi didn't tell her not to tell anyone but Nell was sure she wouldn't want her blabbing to everyone.

"Can you do me a favor," Nell asked?

"Is it illegal," he asked with a smirk?

"No," she said giving him a playful push.

"Well where is the fun in that….what's your favor?"

"I need you to not be Special agent In-Charge G. Callen and just be G."

"Umm ok…I am not sure I know what you mean."

"I need you to just be a guy…not one that is responsible for a team and has a crazy dangerous job…I just want you to be a boyfriend talking to his girlfriend."

"All right I will try my best."

"I kind walked in on Kensi and Deeks bantering this morning."

"When aren't they?"

"About Kensi wanting to have a baby."

Callen spewed a small mouthful of beer across her coffee table.

"And thanks for the shower," Nell said grabbing some paper towels and wiping herself off then her table.

"I am sorry….sorry I think I heard you wrong….did you say baby and Kensi."

"Stop that…Kensi would make a great mom."

"Yeah I can just see it now little baby Blye with their own personalized knives set."

"Don't make fun and don't you dare say anything about this to anyone. Having a child is a very big deal and she is insecure about it…which is a side of her I have never seen before. She thinks she would be an awful mom and she probably is so good at this job because some higher power wants to keep her from having a baby."

"What did you tell her?"

"That she would be a great mom and whatever she decides we would all back her 100%."

"Of course we would….it was just a shock she never so much as gave a clue she ever wanted to have kids."

"Yeah she gave Deeks a partner survey from a Bridal magazine today."

"The same one I heard you giving Eric," G asked with a raised eyebrow?

'How much did you hear," she asked dropping her head hoping to hide the blush on her cheeks.

"Describe how I smell…..really?"

"I thought it was a partner survey it started out normal."

"With what questions?"

"How do we settle arguments," Nell said remembering the first question?

Callen smirked and wiggled his eyebrows looking back to the bedroom.

"G," she said blushing again. "That doesn't happen until after the arguments are already over."

"Well I already know how you smell."

"And how is that?"

"Like ninja rainbows and skittles with a touch of thunderstorm rain."

"I can honestly say I have never been described like that before."

"What was the next question?"

"What part of my body most turns you on?"

"Why don't you show me that room that needed a little extra prep time and I will answer that question for you."

Nell smiled and stood taking his hand…it had been a long day but who needed sleep anyway.