Double Take
Disclaimer: NCISLA characters belong to Shane Brennan. All original characters and this story are mine.
Chapter 4
Los Angeles — one week onKensi and Kevin had an amazing first week together. They went to the beach, cafes, restaurants, sailed out on a yacht they hired, and then he surprised her with a trip to Disneyland. Kensi faulted at the gates to the fantasy wonderland people travelled to from around the world.
"What's wrong, Rach?" he asked her.
Trying not to disappoint Kevin, she tried to explain her fear of men dressed up in costumes.
"What if they're all woman in those costumes?" He had asked her. Once again he had made her laugh.
"Okay! You win." She turned to him and kissed him firmly on his lips.
He led her through the gates and made her go on all the rides with him. How much he'd changed her, she thought. If anyone on her team knew where she was right now, she would never hear the end of it. But that was just it, wasn't it? She wasn't there with her team. She was there with him. And she loved every minute of their time at Disneyland. I'll never see this place in the same way ever again, she thought. And she was glad.
They ended their first week together back at Club Z to celebrate. All had been well, until she saw Deeks sitting at the bar watching them. She was peeved he was there, but he had every right to be there too. Then she thought to herself, I'm not Kensi, I am Rachel McMann, and therefore, Rachel does not know Deeks. So she chose to ignore him and was glad she did, because Kevin never noticed Deeks.
They were almost about to go, when a bald man with a patch over one eye came up to them and started talking to them.
"Well, well, well. Look who we have here all cosy and lovey dovey. G Callen and Kensi Blye. Kensi couldn't believe her bad luck—-Trent Cort, of all people.
Kevin looked confused at Cort. "I'm sorry, but you have the wrong people, we are not who you say we are. Now if you would excuse us, we were just leaving." Kevin never ceased being a gentleman, even when faced with an obstacle such as Trent Cort.
Cort laughed at Kevin. "Oh, Callen, you are good. This Texas accent, and your new look doesn't fool me. Especially when you are with Kensi here."
Kensi tried to look as confused as Kevin. She moved closer to Kevin as if she was asking for him to protect her.
"Oh, come on now, Kensi. You know I'm not going to hurt you. And we all know you are well equip to protect yourself."
She pretended to be terrified of him, and Kevin placed his arm around her to move. But Cort stood in their way.
Next thing they knew Deeks had walked up to Cort and grabbed his right arm and twisted it behind his back. "I think it is time you left, sir." Deeks using his bouncer moves as if he worked there.
"Oh look it's surfer boy come in to help."
Kevin looked relieved that the shaggy blond bouncer had rescued them from the one eyed creep. "Sorry for that, Rach. Are you okay?"
Kensi nodded.
"Let's get out of here." He grabbed her hand and led her outside to catch a taxi to their hotel.
Meanwhile Deeks led Cort outside by the back door and pushed him hard against the brick wall. "You idiot, Cort. What the hell were you playing at? You of all people know how important it is to keep your mouth shut when you see someone undercover."
Cort looked at the Detective. "They did not look like they were undercover, Detective Deeks. They looked like lovers, and if I am not mistaken, your heart has been broken by the beautiful Agent Blye."
Deeks breathed deeply, trying to keep his anger in check. Rage was boiling inside of him, but he did not want to waste his energies on this wayward CIA agent. "Go home, Cort. Wherever that is."
He turned and left him and went back to his apartment. He was annoyed for being seen there tonight. Kensi had looked peeved at him when she had spotted him at the bar. But he had every right to go there too. It was hard to see her with Kevin, but he realised he made her happy. He was about to leave when he saw Trent Cort walk over to Kevin and Kensi, and instantly knew a problem was going to arise. Pleased he had helped them escape Cort, he went into the bathroom to shower.
When he got out, he noticed a text from Kensi.
"Thanks partner for rescuing us. I owe you one. R"
Rachel, he thought. She loved playing this alias more than any before, that he could tell.
Kensi shivered from the cool night air, and Kevin being the gentleman he was, placed his jacket over her shoulders. They hopped into a taxi and drove a few blocks to their hotel. They were silent during the ride and up the lift, till they entered the room. She stood still by the door, waiting for Kevin to ask her who Kensi was. Or more importantly, who she really was. But he didn't. Instead he poured himself a brandy and sat on the sofa. She joined him and could see something was on him mind.
"Kevin, are you okay?"
He shook his head. "I'm not sure. That guy calling me that name, it threw me."
She looked at him and placed her hand on his shoulder. "What do you mean?"
At that moment, Kensi's cell rang. "Sorry Kevin, I've got to get this."
He nodded so she stood and walked to the other side of the room, with her back to him.
"Hi Abby."
"Oh, Kensi," Abby whispered into the phone. "You've found someone in G. Callen's family alright. Not too close like a parent or sibling, but more like a half brother or cousin match. This is so exciting."
Kensi had a pretty good feeling there would be a match. But to hear Abby tell her, suddenly made her go weak, at the thought of her and Nell finding someone in Callen's family.
"Yes, it is." She could hardly speak. Her mouth had suddenly gone dry, and her voice sounded so unlike hers.
"Hey, Kensi, is everything okay?"
"Yeah Abs, thanks for doing this for me. I'll get back to you soon."
"Okay! Bye Kensi." Abby could not understand Kensi's reaction to the news she had given her. Isn't that what they were all wanting, to help Callen find some family?" She shook her head in confusion. I'm sure there is a good reason for it, I'll just have to learn to be more patient, she told herself.
"Thanks. Bye, Abby." Kensi remained in her spot, unable to move. Her shoulders started to shake and suddenly she wanted to cry and run out of the hotel suite.
Kevin watched Rachel's body language during the call, and wondered what was going on. Then he noticed her shaking, so he quietly stood and walked over, wrapping his arms around her. "Hey, Rach. What's the matter?"
Kensi flinched as she felt Kevin's arms wrap around her. He was so kind and thoughtful, and all she had been was deceitful. But she had fallen for him, big time, and suddenly found herself emotional and scared, that if she told him the truth, he would leave her. And she did not want to lose him for her own sake, and now even more for Callen's.
Turning to face him, Kensi snuggled in close to Kevin. "Please hold me," she asked him. And he did as she asked. Another of Kevin's qualities, she thought.
Once Kensi had composed herself, she stepped away from him and took his hand in hers and led him back onto the couch. They sat close together, facing each other, when she spoke. "Kevin, do you trust me?"
"Yes, Rachel, I do. What's the matter? Who is this Abby who just called you?"
"I think I better start from the beginning, when we met last Friday night in Club Z."
"Okay." Kevin sat back resting on the back of the sofa to listen.
"What I am about to tell you, Kevin, you must promise not to tell anyone any of it, unless I give you permission. Okay?"
"Okay!" Kevin was puzzled over the sudden change in Rachel.
"My friend Lisa and I actually work together. When we have girls' night, Lisa creates an alias for us. It's because of what we do for a living. Our jobs are dangerous, and it's necessary to keep our real identities a secret."
Kevin raised his eyebrows, wondering what Rachel was telling him. "So you're not really Rachel McMann from Long Island, and your friend is not really Lisa."
"That's right. My real name is Kensi Blye."
Kevin looked sharply into her eyes. "The name that man called you tonight in the bar. He called you by your real name." He shook his head in disbelief. "But he called me G. Callen. I don't understand any of this."
"Please, Kevin, I need to tell you all of this."
He nodded and remained quiet.
"Last Friday night, when you walked over to Nell and I - yes Lisa's real name is Nell. We were both speechless as you looked like someone we know really well. But we knew you couldn't be him because of your hair; for starters. Then there was your accent, and your personality was very different."
"What, I have a double?" Kevin was shocked. "This name I was called tonight—-G Callen. Is this who is my double?"
"Yes. You see, Nell has a thing for Callen, and seeing you be more interested in me than her, made her realise how much she had a thing for him. So she flew out to Hawaii to surprise him on his holiday."
"George Callen Manning." Kevin suddenly said louder than he intended.
"What did you say?" Kensi asked in shock.
"I'm sorry, that came out louder than I intended." Kevin stood and moved away from the couch, trying to process everything. He turned to face Kensi. "Can you tell me what you do for a living, Kensi?"
Now he was using her real name, she noted. "I'm a Federal Agent for NCIS."
"What is NCIS?" He asked her confused, as he had never heard of it before.
"Navy Criminal Investigation Service. We hunt down terrorists, and solve crimes committed by or to anyone in the Navy."
"Wow! It sounds serious. So you're like the CIA's little brother?"
"Yeah, kind of. We're just more civilised."
"So this guy with the patch over his eye, is he from NCIS?"
"No, CIA. And he's a bad apple who no one likes. Especially not Callen, whose worked with him in the past. They really hate each other."
"I think I like this G. Callen already." He smiled.
"You have the same smile, you know, and the same eyes."
"Do you have a thing for him also?" He asked her concerned.
Kensi shook her head. "No, Kevin. He's more like a big brother to me, and a really good friend."
"So why were you looking so intently at my chest on the night we met?" It had made him curious then, and still did as to why she had done so.
"Because Callen has scars from five bullet holes on his chest. And you, Kevin, do not."
"What? Five bullet holes. Oh my goodness. What happened?"
"Someone who he had worked with overseas wanted him dead, so he ordered a hit on him. But thankfully his partner was there and saved his life. It took three months for him to recover, but he's tough and got over it."
Kevin was amazed at the story Kensi had told him about this G. Callen. "Did you ever find the guy who tried to kill him?"
"Yeah, we did. Callen killed him."
"This is so much to process. So I have a double who is a Federal Agent and kills bad guys?"
"Yeah." Was all she could say.
"And you, Kensi. Do you also kill bad guys?" He looked deep into her soul with his ocean blue eyes.
"Yes, Kevin. I do."
Kevin took a deep breath, still trying to process it all. "So who was the shaggy bodyguard who came to our rescue tonight?"
"My partner, Detective Marty Deeks. But I had no idea he would be there, as we're all on holidays."
"Your partner is a Detective? I don't understand. He's not a Federal Agent?"
"He's our LAPD Liason Officer, and would make an amazing Federal Agent when he decides to become one."
"Oh. So the two of you are very close then?"
"Kevin, you have to understand, we put our lives into each other's hands every day, in our jobs. We have to trust each other to do our job and stay alive."
"It's okay, Kenz. I get it. Is it okay I call you that?" His brows raised waiting for her response, and hoped she would say yes.
"Yes, Kevin, you can." She shook her head and laughed.
"What's so funny?"
"Kenz is Callen's pet name for me, he's the only one whose gotten away with calling me that, until now." She smiled her most beautiful smile.
"Man you are beautiful, Kenz."
She blushed briefly. "Thanks." She composed herself again and suddenly remembered something Kevin said earlier.
"Why did you say George Callen Manning earlier?"
"Let's sit again, Kenz. Now it's my turn."
Kensi nodded and followed him back down onto the sofa. It was getting really late, but neither noticed.
"Before I went off to college, I was rummaging through old things in our attic and came across a loose board, so I took a closer look and found a secret compartment. In there was a metal box with paperwork inside it. Things like birth and deaths certificates and other documents in some foreign language, I could not understand them. But I found a death certificate from Romania with the name Clara Sophia Callen on it. This was first time I came across the Callen name. Then there was a birth certificate for a Amy Sophia Manning and folded inside it a death certificate for a Hannah Lawson. There were details of the location of her grave, here in LA, actually. I thought it was strange that I hadn't heard of an Amy Manning in our family, she was six years older than me, by her birth date. I didn't know why the birth certificate of this girl and the death certificate of the other girl were folded together.
"I do," Kensi butted in. "It's another story, so I'll tell you soon, I promise."
He nodded and continued. "Then I found a third death certificate for a Sophia Alexandra Callen. This person had died as an older person, but the first was still a fairly young adult and the second a child." Kevin looked at Kensi. "So much death, I found myself with tears running down my cheeks by this time. But I continued to open another document and it was a birth certificate of a boy this time. Two years older than me, with the name of George Callen Manning. It was the first time I saw the names Callen and Manning together. I wondered who he was, and who all of these people were. But something tells me you know, don't you?"
Kensi nodded. "I do, but I don't know the full story, like how these documents were in your attic and how Callen and Manning names are connected. But maybe your father can help us?"
"Yes, maybe he is the key to all this." Kevin thought back to his childhood, to the time when he was little and remembered seeing his father crying, and his mother not caring that he was sad. Being so young he couldn't understand any of it, so he never asked. But now looking back, he wondered if this Clara woman was why he was crying.
"Amy Manning, we know of her as being Amy Callen. It's the name she went into the orphanage with. When she was eleven, she drowned, but her friend Hannah Lawson was hiding from some bad men who had killed her father; so she took on Amy's name. We only found this out a few years ago, when we came across the real Hannah Lawson using the name, Amy Callen. Amy was Callen's sister, Clara was their mother. I presume this Sophia Callen was Clara's mother, who married Callen's grandfather; George Callen."
"So what you are saying, is this friend and colleague of yours, my double is George Callen Manning?"
"Yes." She breathed it out ever so softly.
"How does this Abby come into all of this?"
"Abby works for NCIS in Washington D.C. She's a Forensic Scientist, who has confirmed a DNA match on a glass you drank from to Callen's DNA. She said you could be cousins or half brothers."
Kevin went to stand, but Kensi stopped him by holding onto his arm. "Kevin, please. This has nothing to do with us."
"Are you sure, Kenz? Cause I'm really hoping that's it doesn't but with everything I've gone through personally recently, I don't know if I can deal with this. With us, if..."
Kensi pulled Kevin closer to her and kissed him firmly on his lips. "I am positively sure that what has happened between us over the past week has nothing to do with it. I have fallen for you, Kevin, for being you. Not because you look like Callen or for you being his cousin or half brother. And it's surprised me just how well we fit—-how you make me smile and feel so alive. You get me, and I don't want to lose you." She looked deep into his eyes. "I've been deeply hurt before too, so I am also emotionally scarred and thought this would never happen to me. Then you walked into my life, and I'm like, wow; miracles do happen."
Kensi's words made Kevin's heart beat rapidly. They had been what he was hoping to hear. He kissed her and lifted her up and carried her over to the bed, where they made passionate love before falling asleep in each other's arms.
"Let's go to Hawaii," Kevin suggested, and Kensi agreed.