thanks for the reviews, everyone! I can't just tell about Stephanie's past, you'll just have to read and find out :) here's the new chapter. I'm trying to make Steph an usual human, but it's difficult, so if I make her too strong, or too smart, just tell me :)
p.s.: no offence to twilight :)
Chapter 5
Callen parked his Aston Martin and looked around the street. It was quite. He realized it was still a new neighborhood. He took his phone from the passenger seat. Finding the right name he pressed the dialing button and waited.
"Are you here?" he heard Stephanie's voice on the other line.
"Yes, right in front of your house, " he answered.
"Ok, coming," was her short answer and the next thing he heard was a short beeping. Smirking, he has put his phone away, looking at the house. Finally, the door opened and a blonde young woman got out of the house.
Stephanie arranged her gun under her shirt and started walking to the car. She opted for dark skinny jeans, some black boots and an orange t-shirt. It was a hot day, so she took no jacket. It was her first official day at NCIS and Callen has suggested to pick her up. She checked again for her phone in the pocket and her gun. Now she was good to go.
Getting into Callen's car, she saw him smirking.
"Good morning to you, too," he joked, obviously mocking her for the phone conversation earlier.
"Is this coffee?" she ignored his tone, looking at 2 plastic cups.
"Yes. I stopped at the coffee shop and…" he never had a chance to finish. Stephanie grabbed a cup and made 2 big gulps.
"You're my hero, " she said.
Callen started laughing. "Not a morning person, are you?" he mocked her again.
"Start driving, will you?" she said, grumpy.
Callen rolled his eyes. "Ooh" he heard Stephanie's muffled moan.
"What's wrong?" he asked, looking at her. She started laughing, almost choking on her coffee.
"Nothing," she answered. "It's just that I love coffee and… well, you don't know me and my reaction to coffee, " followed her explanation.
"You really are a weird person, you know that?"
"Good morning, my fellow colleagues!"
Kensi hasn't taken her eyes from the paper she was reading. She knew very well this voice and knew only one person that could be in such a good mood in the morning.
"Deeks, don't push it, " she said.
"What, no morning kiss?" he asked, amused.
Kensi wanted to answer him something really "sweet", seeing as she was still mad at him from an incident the day before. But she never had the chance.
"And you complain about my driving?!" she heard an annoyed woman's voice.
"I drive just fine!"
Kensi closed the paper and looked around. The new member of their team and Callen were entering the center, arguing. The brunette watched them attentively and held a laugh. 'This is going to be good' she thought.
"That's …" she heard Deeks' mumble and remembered that he hasn't seen her yet, because when Stephanie, Callen and Sam were back, Deeks was on some mission for LAPD. But she was in town for a week already. They got to know each other before working as a team.
Usually, Kensi wasn't the most sociable person – she trusted really hard and was always expecting disappointments. And she never played well with other woman. But Stephanie was different – maybe it was because of her quick response to them, when she made a major job for Callen and Sam… or maybe it was something else. She didn't know. The fact is – she liked Stephanie.
"Like hell you do, " was Stephanie's answer to Callen.
"Hey! Play nice with me, I'm the Agent in charge here… so your recommendations depend on me, " he smirked at her.
"Haha, really scary," fired back Stephanie.
Kensi and Deeks felt like they were watching a match.
"I liked you so much better when you were grumpy and without coffee, " he mumbled.
"Never joke about coffee with me, Callen, " she laughed, then stopped. "Wait…what recommendations?" she asked, startled.
This time, it was Callen's time to laugh. "You'll see," he said deviously.
Stephanie frowned at him and then looked around. "Kensi!" she noticed the other woman. Kensi had a big smile on her face.
"Nice to see you here, Steph," answered the brunette.
"What? Already friends? Who are you and what have you done with my partner?" âDeeks was his usual self. "Well, I am…" he started, but Stephanie stopped him.
"Marty Deeks. Yes, I know. Nice to finally meet you," she smiled at him.
"So, you ladies have already talked about me?" Deeks joked.
"Question: what the hell was Callen talking about?" asked Stephanie, ignoring Deeks.
Deeks had the same smile Callen had on his face. Kensi rolled her eyes.
"That's Sam's idea, usually. Testing you. Probably …"
"Kensi, if you say another word, I'll make you watch Twilight 20 times in a row," interrupted her Callen.
Kensi shuddered like from a bad dream. "Ok, I'm shutting up now."
"Oh, c'mon!" winced Stephanie. She looked at Kensi with pleading eyes, but Kensi just shrugged.
"Where is Sam, anyway?" asked Callen. Usually, the big man was the first there.
"He's already in the gym, sleepy heads," came Kensi's answer.
"Great," was Callen's answer. He looked at Stephanie and winked.
She exhaled loudly. What the hell they were planning?
"C'mon, miss Reynolds. We got some training to do," said Callen and made a gesture with his hand, telling Stephanie to follow him.
Stephanie was lost. She thought she passed all the tests, but apparently, it wasn't even close.
"I'm in deep, aren't I?" she whispered to Kensi.
The brunette laughed. "You'll be fine, " she whispered back.
Stephanie exhaled loudly. Again. She was feeling anxious. She needed to pass the test that the guys prepared for her. She knew she was the newbie, but she hoped all the testing was long gone, seeing the danger she went through for saving them. Apparently, not.
She followed Callen to the gym. In the corner of her eye she saw how Deeks and Kensi followed them too.
'He's gonna put up a show. Oh, shit, what have I dragged myself into?' she thought.
Stephanie entered the gym and looked around. She already knew the operational building, but it was still a little bit weird for her. There, at the cardio machine, was Sam. He was already covered in sweat, which meant he was there for a long time.
"There you are, " spoke Sam, when he saw everyone entering the gym. "Is she ready?" he asked Callen.
"We'll see just about now," answered Callen.
"Ok, guys… what the hell?"
Stephanie didn't understand a thing. She looked at Deeks and Kensi. The blonde guy just smirked at her, but Kensi smiled at her, apologetically.
"We just need to know how are you in the field," explained Callen, which made Stephanie turn to him.
"You saw me in the field!" she exclaimed.
"Yes, well…it's a different test, " he smirked.
She didn't have the time or possibility to answer, cause she felt something behind her. The time she was turned with her face to Callen, Sam came close enough to her and tried to attack her from behind. She couldn't do anything other than jump aside.
"What the hell, Sam?" she yelled.
And then it had hit her. "Oh, so you want a match? That's what this is all about?"
She looked at them in disbelief. Callen and Deeks were smirking at her. Kensi just said: "It will be easier if you just do this, believe me."
Stephanie rolled her eyes. "Oh, what the hell…It's not like I have a choice."
Even though she was trying not to lose it, she was afraid. Sam is a really big guy. And he was a NAVY. But she needed to prove them she was good.
She bended to take off her boots and stepped on the mates. Standing into the standard boxing position, she looked at Sam. He smiled to her. They started their match.
"C'mon, I'm betting on Stephanie," commented Deeks, seeing as she was dodging Sam's punches with ease. "She's good," he added, in a lower voice.
"Only dodging, Stephanie, only dodging… how long are you going to last?" Sam was trying to intimidate her.
Stephanie was trying to stay calm and composed. She had one chance if she wanted the victory. She needed to find Sam's weak point, because if she will attack him randomly, she won't succeed. She was watching his hands, head, moves and his feet. And only after some minutes of dodging and jumping from him, she saw that he was always keeping his left foot behind his right. It could have been just his technique, but she remembered he was injured in Italy in his left foot. So she took a chance.
Stephanie made a trick move to the right, making Sam moving in the same direction and then, faster than she expected to, she revolved aroundhim and hit him, not too hard, in the back of his left knee. Sam hissed in discomfort and fell on his knees. She took the opportunity and captured his hands, although she knew it was useless – he was much stronger than her and could have free himself in a second.
But she was pleased when he started to laugh. "You're good, very good, Steph… but don't forget..."
She never saw it coming. Callen was behind her and grabbed her by the neck.
"… the bad guys are never alone..." he stated.
"This is…not…fair..." she choked.
Meantime, Sam freed himself from her and stood up. Now he was 2 feet away from her, and Callen was holding her. She never thought Callen was so strong. He wasn't looking like Sam and she was surprised.
It wasn't a joke. She needed to save at least her dignity and she needed to do something fast.
"Hey, really, not fair!" yelled Kensi from her place.
"Yeah? Sue me!" joked Callen, still holding Stephanie.
"C'mon girl, you can do something!" encouraged her Deeks.
Without thinking too much, Stephanie tried her hardest to free herself at least a little bit. The fact that Callen was distracted helped her. She was able to move her head. The next thing they heard, was Callen's yell.
"She bit me!"
Deeks and Kensi started laughing.
"Well, it was the only way. That was for playing unfair, " she said to him.
She heard Deeks whistle, Kensi's 'yay-yay!' and Sam's laugh. Hell, she didn't win the fight, but at least she made some damage.
"I guess she passed the test," joked Sam, looking at Callen's frown.
"I can't believe you just bite me!"
"I thought I told you to make Stephanie feel comfortable in our center, not beat her up,"
All of them turned, as they heard Hetty's calm voice. "Do you need something for that hand, mister Callen?" she asked.
Everyone started laughing.