All in the Name of Family
Disclaimer: NCISLA characters belong to Shane Brennan. All original characters and this story are mine.
Chapter 7
It was a hell of a day for Leroy Jethro Gibbs, but eventually he and his team, along side Callen's team, arrived back to the Navy Yard. As he exited the elevator, he was surprised to see Callen at his desk alone. He steadied his footsteps, knowing something had gone pear shaped with Ava while he had been gone.
"Hey!" He studied the younger agent whom he had been friends with for twenty years. He noticed the bruising on Callen's knuckles. "You going to explain yourself?" He raised his brow, as he waited for an answer. He was a patient man and Callen knew only too well just how long he could stand there and wait for him to answer.
"Granger," Callen answered briefly.
Puzzled, Gibbs leaned on his desk and waited for more information.
Callen looked around to see if they were alone.
"They're all down in the garage sorting the weapons out." Gibbs spoke of their teams.
Callen rubbed his hands over his tired face. His eyes were red from the lack of sleep he'd had since Gibbs' first phone call. "He told me something and I reacted." He sighed as he knew Gibbs would want more.
"Well it must have been some big thing for you to lose your temper like that. I haven't seen you lose it since..."
"Janvier," Callen intercepted. "When he burned Sam, I almost lost it with him."
"I understand with all that you've been through with him, and I know what a prick Granger can be. But for you to lose it..."
"He's my father," Callen admitted.
"Say what?" Gibbs looked up the stairs to see if anyone was watching them. He needed to make sure Callen and he were alone. Now was not the time for Callen to find a reason to close up on him.
"We were arguing when Ava walked in and she figured it out. She told Granger to tell me. Not that I believed him, with the name I was given..."
"Don't tell me, it was an alias." Gibbs could see the strain Callen was under already with Ava and their kids being in danger, let alone this to deal with as well. Gibbs placed his hand on Callen's shoulder to soothe him.
Callen nodded. "But not Amy's, although he loved her as if she was his." He looked over at the only man he felt close enough to have a father/son relationship with. "Ava noticed his reaction when he saw Bronte. He said she's just like what Amy, my sister was like. Which is how he worked out that Tom and Bronte were my kids."
Gibbs pulled Callen in for a hug. It had been a long time since he'd had to give him a hug. The last time was when his life fell apart and he pulled away from Ava to protect her and their kids. "Tom is so much like you, Callen. It wouldn't have taken much for anyone to work out who he was."
Callen broke away. "That's the problem isn't it? They will never be safe as long as they are near me or Janvier remains alive. We have to hide them far away from here. From both of us. Maybe to another country..."
"No, Daddy! You aren't sending us away again." Callen turned and saw his beautiful sixteen year old daughter, Bronte, standing behind him with tears down her face.
"Hey, Bron." Callen pulled her into him and hugged her. "You know how much you mean to me and your grandpa. We're trying to figure out what's best to keep you all safe."
"Keep us with you." It was more of a request than a demand, with her soft toned voice. She was never one for being loud or harsh with anyone. "Please!"
Her appeal pulled at him from the inside out. He carried so much guilt over never being there for her and Tom during their growing up years, and now Tom was already a man and she a young woman. "You know I would if I could. But as long as this Frenchman is out there..."
"Find him and kill him, Daddy."
Tears threatened to spill as he bit on his lower lip to hold it together for his daughter. He looked with anguish in his eyes at Gibbs, hoping he would help him out.
Gibbs knew this was becoming too much for the younger man beside him. He understood too well what it felt like to lose those who mattered the most to him. Beside Ava and her kids, he had lost what was most precious to him —- Shannon and Kelly. They were all he had left. They were all that made what he did each day matter. "Your Dad's right, Bron. Until this man is captured or killed, both you and your brother in particular are in danger."
Bronte grabbed her grandpa and pulled him into her and Callen. She needed strength to endure what her dad and grandpa had told her. That they would have to be hidden for their safety. But this time it would be worse. No grandma or grandpa around, nor would she be able to visit her dad in L.A. New school, new identity, new city, which meant never seeing her friends again. Not even being able to text, phone or chat with them online. She had seen a movie about a family going into the witness protection program. It looked too scary. She couldn't believe that within twenty-four hours, her life had been turned up side down forever.
"We'll do our best, Bron. I promise you we will." Callen was determined to finish Janvier. One way or another he would be caught or killed, so he could have his family safe again.
Gibbs took his daughter and grandchildren home, while Callen, Granger, Deeks, Kensi, McGee and DiNozzo took it in turns on who was on watch around his home. They were all tired and needed rest. They went on a three hourly rota, of two watching the perimeter, while the others slept nearby.
Callen and Granger took the first shift, and positioned themselves, Callen in the backyard and Granger out front in a car. Every rustle of leaves had Callen on high alert. He looked up and saw Ava moving about in the bedroom above him. He shook his head. He needed to focus. He couldn't let Janvier win and hurt them. He worked hard to keep his attention on any threat than the mother of his two children.
Night turned into day, nothing had happened. Callen woke to find himself on Gibbs' sofa with the smell of coffee brewing. He sat up and walked into the kitchen, where Gibbs stood preparing coffee and breakfast.
"You sleep okay?" Gibbs asked him as he added bacon to the pan. He hadn't had so many guests staying in his house for a long time. Ava and her kids never came to stay due to the need of keeping them a secret. But he had to admit, he liked having them with him.
"Got a few hours." Callen yawned as he took a sip from the mug Gibbs had handed to him. "Thanks, just what I need."
"It's been a quiet night. Let's hope that's a good sign." Gibbs cracked some eggs into the pan after he had removed the bacon onto a plate. Toast popped from the toaster, where Callen added some more. Both men lived like bachelors, with just the bare minimum. But at least Gibbs had furniture, unlike Callen's house. "You need more furniture in your house, Callen."
Callen raised his brow and paused midway from taking a further sip of his coffee, wondering where this comment had come from. "Why's that?"
"You heard Bronte last night. And you can't deny your feelings for Av. I see that look you give her." Gibbs chuckled softly as he served breakfast up on the table. If it wasn't for the danger his daughter and grandchildren were in, he'd be teasing Ava as well. He had observed how she looked hopeful to Callen. "So you never said what the G stood for last night." Gibbs sat down opposite Callen, helping himself to the cooked breakfast of bacon, eggs and toast.
"Granger." Callen replied quietly. He still struggled with the shock of him being Granger's son.
"What's your first name?" Gibbs prodded further. He was intrigued Callen hadn't told him the night before. After all of these years of not knowing his first name, he was surprised he hadn't told him. "You did ask him didn't you?"
"Callen George Granger." Gibbs looked up as Ava entered the room, catching their conversation, although their voices were quiet. "G never told you?" Ava gave a look of surprise on her face as she realised Callen hadn't told anyone, not even her father. "We'll have to change Tom birth certificate from Thomas Jethro Callen to Thomas Jethro Callen Granger, and Bronte's to Bronte Lucinda Granger."
"They would be safer without the Callen name," Callen responded. "It would be safer. Thomas Jethro Granger would be better...safer for him. But if we cannot find Janvier, then you'll all have new names anyway." He added the last bit in, testing the waters, knowing it hadn't gone down well with Bronte the night before.
"Bronte told me last night what you said to her, G. I know where you're coming from, but it's not going to happen." Ava sat beside her father and sipped the coffee in front of her. She took in the aroma and savoured the freshly brewed beverage. "I can always count on good coffee from you, Dad."
"You need to eat too, Av." Gibbs advised his daughter. "You hardly ate anything yesterday."
"What! You think after all I've been through that I would feel like eating?" She sipped again, but took no initiative to eat any food.
Callen threw a piece of toast onto a plate, buttered it and added bacon and egg. "Here. Eat."
Ava looked between her father and Callen. "You two are too much alike, you know. How about a normal conversation around here. Let's start with, what would you like to eat, Ava? Can I tempt you into some bacon and egg on toast perhaps?"
Gibbs chuckled as he saw the old Ava return.
"You find me amusing now?" Ava glared at her father.
"Yes!" Both men smirked at her.
"You're like two boys when you get together." She tucked into the food Callen had given her and realised just how hungry she really was. She had to admit she really enjoyed the attention both men gave her. It made her feel normal after the hell she had been through. She understood what they were trying to do, bring some form of normality to her morning.
Callen smiled over at Gibbs. It felt like the old days, when he and Ava were still together.
The quiet breakfast both men were accustomed to was short lived as four children bustled down the stairs. McGee and DiNozzo entered through the front door, with Abby on their heels. A huge grin appeared on Abby's face as she watched Gibbs and his family eat breakfast together. "I have to capture this on film." Abby pulled a rather bulky camera from her bag and called for their attention. "Everyone look at me and say caf-pow." Her unique request got giggles from them all as she snapped her shot of them all. "This is so cool."
"Come and join us, Abs." Gibbs smiled as he watched members of his team intermingle with his family. He wondered why he had kept them a secret from his team. He trusted them all with his life on a daily basis. But he and Callen had agreed. Only Sam had been told. But that was after he had been shot five times and almost died. Ava had flown over with Tom and Bronte in tow to visit him in hospital. Callen had been concerned when he found them there when he woke up, but Gibbs had assured him that Hetty nor anyone else knew about them. He was thankful that he had been there and he was able to sneak them into his room. But Sam had refused to leave his bedside.
A knock on the door disturbed their breakfast, when Owen Granger appeared. "We need to move them back to the Navy Yard now."
Worried faces replaced their happy ones, at Granger's command.
Gibbs walked closer to the third in command and inquired quietly what was going on. "What's going on, Owen?" He studied the man before him to see any resemblance to Callen. Other than the air of stubbornness, he struggled to see any resemblance. Owen eyes were brown, not the bright blue of Callen's.
"Janvier has been spotted in the vicinity." The mention of the man behind this danger tensed Gibbs immediately.
"Callen. Take Tom and Bronte with you. I'll take Ava, Jesse and Kelly." They moved swiftly and within twenty minutes all were safe back at the Navy Yard. The news that Janvier was lurking around had everyone on edge, particularly Callen. He returned to agent mode and refused to make eye to eye contact with Ava.
Gibbs walked in on Granger and Callen arguing with each other. "There is no other option, Callen." Gibbs looked from father to son and watched the same stubbornness collide. But his amusement vanished as he realised what the argument was about.
"You're not going to take them away. We will protect them from Janvier," Callen argued.
"We have no choice, Callen. We need to move them into protective custody now." Callen wasn't ready to say goodbye to them. He had just reunited with them the day before.
"It's too soon. They need us right now." Callen noticed Gibbs arrival into the office they were in. "They're grieving and scared," Callen added. He hoped now that Gibbs was there that Granger would stand down his commands of this case. "Director Vance has given us the authority to protect them and chase down anyone associated with Janvier or Sidorov to bring them down. You have no right..."
"I have every right, Callen. You're under my jurisdiction..."
"But my team aren't," Gibbs interjected. "And in case you have forgotten, this case is ours." He was not impressed Granger had taken over organising moving Ava and her kids without consulting with Callen or himself first. No matter who he was. Third in command or Callen's father.
"Too late. It's all been organised," Owen countered. The tension in the room heated up to almost boiling point. He could see Callen was struggling not to punch him again. But he had to protect them. Two of them were his grandchildren. He needed to ensure the next generation of Grangers lived. "Leon has signed it off."
Callen stormed out of the room, angry with Granger once again. Why did that man continue to aggravate him?
"Dad!" Callen turned and saw men in suits trying to escort Ava and his children downstairs.
He rushed over to stop them. "Leave them alone," Callen demanded.
"Sorry, Agent Callen, but we have orders to move them now." One of the FBI agents replied.
Desperation spread across his face. "No! They're staying here." He wrapped his arms around Tom and Bronte. He could see Ava struggled with Jesse and Kelly, who were upset over it all, too. "Haven't they been through enough? Leave them be."
Gibbs heard the commotion and was annoyed at what he saw. "Leave them alone, Davidson." Gibbs ordered the FBI agent. "You touch my family again and you will regret it." He hated to threaten a Federal Agent, but he felt pushed into a corner.
"Orders from Director Vance and Assistant Director Granger," Davidson stood his ground.
Owen Granger held back as he saw the despair in his son and family's eyes. He hated to do this to them, but it was the only way.
Gibbs and Callen hugged Ava and their children. Parting so suddenly was too painful for all of them.
"We'll bring you home as soon as we can," Gibbs tried to soothe his distraught daughter.
Callen's heart ached as they walked with them into the elevator and down to the garage. He delayed letting go of Tom and Bronte.
Bronte clung onto him with all her might. "Daddy!"
Tears poured down their faces. This is not how Callen and Gibbs envisioned keeping them safe. It was heartbreaking to watch Ava and her children climb into the black SUV. Callen quickly entered the elevator to go up a level, to exit out front to watch them leave. He made it to the window of the first floor, when a flash of light and a loud bang rang out. The building shook as the black SUV exploded out front.
Callen ran as fast as he could with Gibbs on his heel. Debris from the vehicle were strewn all over the place. Gibbs pulled him back as a second explosion erupted, sending more debris their way. They hid behind a tree as mangled black metal flew past them.
"Ava," Callen shouted. He fell to his knees in disbelief as he watched a ball of fire engulf the black SUV he had seen his family leave in.
Gibbs held himself still beside Callen, shocked. Disbelief of what they had just witness spread across their faces.
Kensi, Deeks, McGee and DiNozzo ran out to them, shocked over what had transpired. Kensi ran over to Callen but he refused her to comfort him. How could he be comforted? All that mattered was gone. His body rocked with grief as he remained staring at the burning SUV.
"Boss." McGee quietly tried to gain Gibbs' attention. Ducky and Abby ran out after feeling the explosion, but paused as they saw the devastation. But what worried Ducky and Abby the most was the looks of despair on both Callen and Gibbs' faces. Both men rocked to the core with their loss.
Something caught Callen's attention in the distance. Kensi creased her brow as she noticed a change in her team leader's expression. Anger replaced the grief. As she turned to look in the same direction, Callen started running.
Gibbs watched Callen go and realised why he ran. He chased after him and reached him as Callen pounced on Marcel Janvier who had watched the whole event unfold from behind a tree.
Callen had been pushed over the edge. He punched Janvier in the jaw, abdomen and eye.
Gibbs grabbed Janvier and yanked him onto his feet. He pulled his weapon from his lower back and held it to the Psychopath's temple. "You will pay for this." Gibbs' voice was harsh with anger.
Callen punched Janvier a fourth time while Gibbs held him at gun point.
"Check Mate!" Janvier tried hard to give Callen a wry grin. He was satisfied his plan had gone according to plan. He had threatened Callen to kill those he cared about. He was thrilled when his contact had come through with the details that Callen had a son and a daughter. He assured Callen that he would seduce him into killing him. "Now finish what you started," he spat blood out onto the ground.
"You bastard. You killed my family. I will slowly torture you before I kill you," Callen cursed. All self control and sanity gone. He had nothing left to live for. "I have nothing left that you can take from me."
"Then I have won." Janvier smiled at his assailant. "You were a worthy opponent, Agent G. Callen. The most fun I have had since I told the Comescus about your mother."
Callen's hand tightened around Janvier's neck. Gibbs showed no indication he was going to stop Callen either. Their teams watch on in horror as they saw two Federal Agents, their friends, be pushed over the edge by Callen's nemesis. "You got her killed? Why?" Callen pressed.
"She killed my mother and my sister," Janvier admitted. "You see, Agent G. Callen, you and I go further back than when you shot me in the jaw. I remember you building sandcastles on the beach, while your mother laid dead in her chair."
Anger raged through him. "I was five years old, you bastard." He kneed Janvier in the abdomen. "You destroyed my life."
Janvier coughed up blood and laughed as he saw the rage pulse through Callen's body. "It seems I have."
Gibbs' knocked Janvier out with the butt of his gun. He crumbled to the ground. He'd had enough hearing Janvier taunt Callen. All he had cared for, gone, thanks to this bastard. He kicked him in the ribs, expelling some of his own anger out at him.
Their teams ran over to stop them from doing any further damage to the man who had killed so many already. Callen tried to refuse their help, but Gibbs realised they needed it. He pulled Callen away from Janvier and hugged him. For himself and Callen. They needed each other right then. He understood how the grief and revenge ate at you after losing Shannon and Kelly. He thought he could never go through that again. But there he was, all that he had left, his daughter and grandchildren. He hung onto Callen, as they were all that they each had left.