I am so sorry for the delay in getting these next chapters up. Life happens, but things have settled down and my hope is that I can finish this story before the end of this month. Thanks to all the readers for your incredible patience, and comments are always appreciated!
Chapter 7
On their drive back to OSP several days later, Callen was quiet, and Sam knew that their recent visit with the captain's widow was weighing on him. It weighed on both of them. The evidence indicated that the captain had, in fact, committed suicide, and they had had the difficult task of sharing their findings with her. She had, as expected, had difficulty accepting their conclusion, but after they had presented everything Kensi and Deeks had discovered from the captain's colleagues on base, what they themselves had found as a result of their own investigation of his "business acquaintances," and the findings of the coroner, the only reasonable conclusion was suicide. After several moments of silence, she expressed some relief that there would be no trial, and that she and her daughter would be able to say their goodbyes and begin anew—as best they could. At least she had family she could turn to. Family made a difference.
"Should I drop you off at home, G?" Sam asked as he maneuvered into 101 freeway traffic.
"Why?"
"Aren't you and Anna coming together?"
"Coming together to what?" Callen asked as he looked at Sam, puzzled.
Sam rolled his eyes and let out an exasperated sigh, "To your baby shower, G."
"Is that tonight?"
"No. I'm just kidding."
Callen relaxed as he turned away, "Good."
Sam waited a moment or two before he spoke with undisguised irritation, "G, I'm not kidding. The baby shower for yours and Anna's baby IS tonight." Callen continued to stare straight ahead. "Do you want me to drop you off at home?"
"No, Anna said she'd come straight from work."
"Maybe you should you call her," Sam suggested. When Callen looked at Sam again with another quizzical expression, he continued, "To remind her?"
"I'm sure she has it in her calendar. She puts everything in her calendar."
"At least one of you keeps track of important events."
"I haven't been late to work in over a year," Callen responded with a shrug and Sam had to nod slightly in acknowledgment.
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When they arrived at OSP about an hour later, they were met with an interior that had been remarkably transformed into a combination baby shower and casino night. Everyone was present and accounted for: Eric dealing blackjack, Nell spinning the roulette wheel, and Deeks manning the poker table. Kensi greeted them as they reached the end of the entrance tunnel.
"Good evening, gents, and welcome to the Callen-Arkady Baby Shower Casino," she said in her most alluring voice followed by a wink.
Sam smiled broadly while Callen's expression was one of stunned amazement. As they began to move past Kensi, she gently placed her hand on Sam's arm. "Sorry, sir, there's a $5 cover charge for everyone except the prospective parents."
It was Callen's turn to smile as he watched Sam take out his wallet and hand Kensi a slightly rumpled five dollar bill which she gracefully slid into a garter around her thigh. "Thank you, Mr. Hanna."
"Are there cash prizes for the winners?" Sam asked.
"Sorry. Only bragging rights and some Starbucks and Trader Joe's gift cards," Kensi replied with an exagerrated pout.
Sam shrugged, "That's okay. I can use either of those."
"You think you'll be a winner tonight, big guy?" Callen asked with a grin.
As Sam headed for the blackjack table, he said over his shoulder, "G, I'm a winner every night."
"Good evening, Mr. Callen," Hetty said in a quiet voice as she appeared suddenly and looked up at her senior agent. He hadn't even heard her. Kensi, now that Callen had arrived, took her leave and made her way over to the poker table.
"Hello, Hetty." He looked at the action in front of him and then back to Hetty, "I've never been to a baby shower before, but this isn't what I expected." He paused. "Is this what they're always like?"
Hetty laughed. "To be honest, I've never been to a baby shower either, Mr. Callen, but I doubt very much that this is typical. However, Mr. Hanna, Mr. Deeks, Ms. Blye and the others—including Mr. Kolcheck—were determined to have a very special baby shower for you and Anna. And I think they've succeeded."
"They have." And then he suddenly realized what Hetty had said and asked with disbelief, "Arkady helped?" Before Hetty could answer, Arkady walked up and placed a hand on Callen's shoulder.
"Of course, I did, my old friend. Once my Anna told me that I was going to be a grandpapa, I wanted to do something to show my happiness, and when Henrietta told me about the baby shower, …" his voice trailed off and he raised his eyebrows. Callen waited because he was sure the Russian wasn't finished. He was right. "Although I may have never helped plan a baby shower, I know how to have a good time."
"That you do, Arkady," Callen agreed with a smirk and then his smirk turned to a smile of genuine warmth. "I appreciate it, Arkady."
At this honest expression of appreciation, Arkady grasped Callen with both hands and encircled him in a great bear hug. "I have never been a grandpapa before, but I promise to be the best grandpapa ever."
"I'm sure you will be, Arkady," Callen said as he extricated himself and Hetty looked on in amusement.
"Of course I will be," and he hesitated, "but you can never tell my associates that I was involved in planning a baby shower." He glanced from Callen to Hetty and back again. "I have a reputation to uphold."
"My lips are sealed," Callen assured him and when Arkady looked at Hetty, she made the motion of zipping her lips. He smiled broadly, obviously pleased that his secret as a baby shower planner was safe.
And then Arkady looked past Callen. "And where is my Anna?"
"Not to worry, Arkady. Anna said she'd be here as soon as she finished work tonight." While Callen was still speaking, his cell rang, and when he glanced at the caller ID, he looked back at Arkady. "And here she is." Satisfied that his Anna was on her way, Arkady felt free to enjoy himself and strode over to the blackjack table to join Sam and compete for bragging rights. Hetty, meanwhile, turned and made her way quietly to the armory where she could get some work done in peace and quiet while her agents and support staff partied into the night.
"Are you still at work?"
Outside the ATF building, Anna was approaching her car in the deepening twilight. She carried a satchel and although her baby bump was visible, most people wouldn't guess that she was already 7 months along. "I'm leaving now. It was a long day."
"Here, too."
"Has the shower started?" she asked as she set her satchel down beside her and fastened her seat belt.
Callen hesitated, "I'm not sure I'd call it a shower exactly."
There was silence for a few moments on the other end. "What would you call it?"
"I think you'll have to see it for yourself."
"Okay," she laughed slightly as she pushed the start button and her Prius kicked into life. "I'm going to make a stop on my way, but I should be there in about 30-40 minutes."
"Drive safe," Callen said and he heard her send him a kiss through the phone before the call ended. He put his phone away and turned to join his friends who were here with him, celebrating the coming birth of his child. As he looked at the scene in front of him, Callen never could have imagined that when he began at NCIS over 10 years ago, everyone on his team—and a few who weren't—would become his family.
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