Double Take
By BH72
Disclaimer: I only own the original characters. Shane Brennan has the pleasure of owning all NCIS Los Angeles Characters.
More Nallen in this chapter, and the return of the team to work. Thanks for the reviews.
Chapter 8
Los Angeles
Callen woke early in his bed before the sun was up. He looked next to him and watched the woman he loved sleep peacefully. It was the end of their holidays, and time to return to work; solving crimes and arresting the bad guys. Or killing them if their life depended on it. Callen reflected on the four weeks he had just experienced. To say they were full of surprises would be an understatement. His holidays had started out just with him, alone, like he was used to, but were filled ever so quickly with friends, a lover, more friends and finally, family. If Callen had planned to find his family over the past four weeks, he knew he would have failed. Well it had in the past, so why would this time been any different? But his luck had changed, and it was his friends and work colleagues (one of whom was now his lover) who had changed all of that and brought his brother and father to him. He smirked that trademark smirk of his just thinking about it. And although he now could smile and think fondly of the time he spent with Nell, Kensi, Kevin, John and other family members he met down in Dallas; it had also been a tiring time emotionally. He was glad it had happened when they were all on vacation, so now he could return to work refreshed and focused on his job at hand.
Callen, Nell and Kensi had flown back to LA the night before, making the most of their time in Dallas. Kensi wanted to spend every moment she could with Kevin; which included meeting and getting to know his kids, and she had hit it off with them really well. Which surprised her, as she didn't think she would be good with kids; unlike her partner. Thinking about her partner, Kensi admitted she trusted him with her life, but sometimes wished he was more serious sometimes. Like Kevin, she mused. And with that reflection, she realised why she had been drawn to Kevin instantly.
Flashback to Dallas
Callen was overwrought with emotions as he got to know his brother and his family more; his father and his wife Beth, and all the extended family down in Dallas. To go from being alone most of your life, to being surrounded by numerous relations all of a sudden was a lot for the seasoned agent to take in; but he was good at adapting, as his job required it. Callen found he suddenly liked all the attention and having family around. He couldn't get over the warm reception he received from Beth either, who he could see was very apologetic for her part in Callen's unfortunate life on his own. He decided before leaving Hawaii not to give Beth any grief when he met her, after all, he understood why she reacted that way, although he never liked it. He couldn't reverse the clock and change his past, so why get angry over it? But really, he felt it was his father who really was at fault for deserting his children, and he couldn't really blame Beth for that. And of course, the Comescues, who killed his mother in front of him on the beach.
He had been glad to have had Nell by his side, although she was petite in stature, she made up for it in heart and strength. Plus having Kensi there was a bonus, another friend on his side. He was amused at watching Kensi with his brother. Kevin looked so much like him, yet his personality was very different, and could see he complimented Kensi, and was the kind of man she needed: more mature man than her partner. Callen had always seen Kensi like a little sister, ensuring she was safe and happy. He did after all spoil her with donuts on most work days. And so she dating his brother didn't bother him at all. In fact, if he had to admit it to anyone, he would have to say he was glad she was with Kevin.
Then there was the family reunion. Walking into that room filled with family had really hit Callen to his core. He had finally found them, and they all welcomed him into their fold like he had always belonged. Out of all of the people there though, there was a cousin who caught his eye, Charlotte. She was a brunette, unlike all of their other blond relatives, and she was beautiful. Her eyes sparkled and she smiled like there was never a care in the world. She was married to a man named Jackson, with three children: Beckett, Louise and Max.
"Call me Charlie, George, I feel like an old woman if you call me Charlotte. Like I lived back in the 18th century." She had winked as she spoke and hugged him like they had grown up as best friends. He got on well with Jackson and it was while talking with him outside on the balcony later, that he found out another interesting tale. Charlotte was Hetty's daughter. It blew him away at first, but he managed to hide the surprise on his face.
"Charlie has no idea who her father is and hasn't seen her mother in a long time either." Jackson had told him. "I don't know if you are aware." He continued. "John and Stella had a falling out a long time ago, and she refuses to have anything to do with him ever since. Charlie has tried to mend the rift, but hasn't achieved it yet." Jackson sighed. "It worries me, you know, George. Charlie misses her mother, and keeps hoping for a miracle. But it has had an effect on her that her mother has walked away from them all that she feels very deeply."
Callen nodded. "I'm the reason they had a falling out." He breathed out quietly to Jackson. "I've only just found out myself, from Kevin."
Callen realised that Charlie and he were similar in many ways. Both had grown up not knowing who their fathers were, and now she lived near his father and he near her mother. He shook his head at the irony of the situation.
Back to the present: Los Angeles
Callen showered and began to brew coffee and cook breakfast for him and Nell. When he had nearly finished, he noticed a figure leaning in the doorway to the kitchen still half asleep.
"Morning, sleepyhead." Callen smiled at Nell.
"How can it be morning already?" Nell mumbled out. "It's too cruel on anyone's first day back at work to have to get up so early." Nell stumbled across the room and sat down beside Callen at the table.
"Nell." She looked up at him. "It's eight o'clock in the morning . It's not early."
"What! That's the time already?" Suddenly she felt too stressed to be tired any longer.
"Relax, Nell." Callen tried to soothe her. "First morning back, you won't be expected to be in too early. Enjoy your coffee and food. Then I will drive you into work." He smiled at her and she returned the smile.
"You don't mind driving me into work?" Nell was surprised at this, as she had thought Callen would want to keep their relationship quiet.
"I'm looking forward to driving in with you, actually." He had a twinkle in his eye when he said it. She blushed.
It hadn't taken Nell too long to get ready and before long, she and Callen were enjoying chatting on their drive into work. G's phone had rung three times, but she noticed he ignored it. "Are you not getting that, G?" She asked him.
"No."
"But what if it's Sam?" She angled her head sideways assessing Callen's facial expressions.
Callen had stopped at some lights and turned to look at Nell. "Sam's been ignoring my calls for three weeks, and now he calls me? Oh, no! I'm not answering. Plus, I'm too busy driving."
Nell raised her eyebrows in question to Callen's answer, intrigued to how this game of cat and mouse was going to play out once they arrived into the mission.
Callen pulled into the disused water treatment plant and parked his car. But before Nell could get out of the car, Callen pulled her close to him and passionately kissed her on the lips. His right hand moved across her jaw and down to her left breast. She moaned in response, before fighting to break free. She worried someone would see them. But Callen, she noticed, didn't care.
"To last me till lunchtime." He told her. "I hope." He smirked and she again blushed. This was going to be harder than either of them realised.
With that, Callen released Nell and together they walked inside. Nell walked up the stairs to the OPS centre, while Callen walked into the bull pen.
"Hey, Kenz, sleep okay?" Callen looked over at his team member, noticing the tired look on her face.
"How can you look so bright after the late night we had last night?" Kensi whispered as she looked back at her team leader in amazement of his brightness on their first day back at work.
"You know me, Kenz, I never sleep much anyway." He responded, although, since he had hooked up with Nell, Callen noticed how much more he slept through the night.
"Do you want to spar with me, Kenz? I feel out of shape with our holiday and all, I need to get back my edge."
Kensi nodded. "Definitely, me too."
So the two agents walked out to the locker rooms, changed and met in the gym to get back into shape in hand to hand fighting.
Sam arrived soon after at the same time as Deeks so they walked inside the Mission together. "Hey Deeks, how was your holiday?"
"Hi Sam, it started out interesting and then just the usual surfing up the coast. And you?"
"Yeah, real good thanks. Although I am worried about Callen." Deeks turned his head towards the ex-navy seal with his eyebrows raised in question. "When I turned my phone on this morning, I found ten missed calls. Callen never calls me on holiday. Never."
Deeks nodded, and thought about Kensi and Nell meeting Callen's double Kevin, and knew instantly why their team leader had called him. "So you've not spoken to Callen then in four weeks?"
Sam shook his head. "No. And now he's not answering my calls. I called him three times this morning to see if he wanted me to pick him up for breakfast."
They had just arrived into the bull pen. "Well his bag is here, so he must be here somewhere." Deeks pointed out.
"Yeah, I did see his car outside, but not parked in his usual spot. Something's up." Sam was puzzled.
They looked over towards Hetty's office and saw an unfamiliar woman sitting on the other side to Hetty. "Whose the new woman?" Deeks asked, hoping to distract Sam worrying about Callen. Deeks knew he would have heard from Kensi if there was anything to worry about Callen, and seeing he hadn't he didn't think there was a need for Sam to worry. Although he was at an advantage knowing about Kevin.
"Don't know." Was Sam's reply.
At that moment, Hetty walked over with her. "Gentlemen, welcome back to work. I hope you've had a relaxing holiday, as we have a new case to get our teeth into today. Let me introduce you to NCIS Special Agent Charlotte Manning from our Dallas office. Charlotte, this is Special Agent Sam Hanna and our LAPD Liason Officer, Detective Marty Deeks."
"Hi." Charlotte shook both of their hands. "Pleased to meet you." She smiled. Deeks was instantly smitten.
"Hi." Sam and Deeks both replied.
"Where are the rest of your team?" Hetty asked them.
"No idea, Hetty, we've just arrived ourselves. But their bags are here." Sam answered.
Charlotte looked towards the gym and could hear some talking and zapping, so she started to head towards the gym, with Hetty, Sam and Deeks following her.
Callen and Kensi had shocknives their first choice in weapon when they started, however, Kensi was having a hard time wanting to hurt Callen.
"Come on, Kenz, attack me. What's wrong with you?" She gave him a look of shock at herself.
"I can't." She shook her head. "My body just doesn't want to attack you."
"You mean your heart." Callen whispered and smirked. "I'm not lover boy, you know, so come on, give me all you've got."
Kensi tried hard to attack Callen, but she was finding it difficult due to one handsome man named Kevin. He and Callen looking so alike was Kensi's problem.
Callen could see the difficulty, so he decided to get her angry with him and mock her. "You hit like a girl, Kenz." Kensi scowled her brow together. "No, take that back, like a princess."
She needed no more provocation, peeved at Callen's mocking, she went for it; knife in the chest. "Ha!" She said in jubilation.
"What you think one easy attack on me will change my mind?" With that, Callen pushed Kensi over flat in the mat and attacked her to her gut with the knife.
Kensi fought hard and kicked her legs to knock Callen over, she jumped up hard to attack again, but found Callen ready and waiting for her move and met her face to face with each of their knives.
They heard clapping and when they looked up, they were greeted with their small but fierce Operations Manager, Henrietta Lang, Sam, Deeks and another familiar face. One they had not expected to see there at the mission. She leant against the wall with a smirk on her face, amused by their sparring.
Kensi and Callen straightaway got to their feet.
"Charlie, what a surprise." Callen spoke first.
"So you're the allusive G Callen I've heard about all these years. I should have known you were no bouncer at a club." Charlie turned to Kensi. "Hey Kensi, you two always fight like that?" She shook her head still amused.
"Hi Charlie. No, we're normally a lot more serious." Kensi smiled at Charlie and turned to Callen who was also sporting a grin.
Hetty looked surprised when she saw Callen and Kensi knew Charlotte. She looked from her two agents, to her guest and wondered when had they met. It worried her a little, with the knowledge she had hidden from her favourite agent for so long; but they all seem to get on well, so she placed a small smile on her face and spoke. "Mr Callen, Miss Blye, welcome back after your holidays. I see you have already met NCIS Special Agent Charlotte Manning." She wanted details, but did not believe either of them were going to give them to her in front of Sam and Deeks. "Can I see the three of you in my office as soon as the two of you have changed?"
Callen and Kensi nodded and headed for the showers, whilst Hetty and Charlotte returned to her office.
Sam was frustrated at his partner. He had tried calling him three times that morning, but Callen had refused to answer. So he followed him to the showers. Deeks knew he needed to escape Sam's wrath, so he left for the bullpen. Deeks also had a feeling that this Agent Charlotte Manning was related to Kevin, and therefore Callen. So he opened his laptop up and pretended to be busy while he observed Hetty's office.
Callen stripped and started running the shower. He had just hopped in, when he heard his over protective partner speak.
"So how was your holiday, G? I've been trying to ring you this morning, but you wouldn't pick up. We always go for breakfast on our first morning back." He was hurt, but also knew that it was probably his own fault due to the fact he had his work phone turned off for four weeks, and when he turned it on this morning, he noticed ten calls from Callen.
Callen turned the shower off, and wrapped a towel around his waist. He stepped out of the shower and faced his partner. "Morning Sam. It was good, thanks. How was yours?" He was trying to be light, but knew Sam wanted answers.
"Yeah, good, G. Um, sorry I didn't call you back." Sam looked into Callen's ocean blue eyes. "I only turned my phone back on this morning. Is everything okay?"
Callen nodded, and walked over to his locker. "Yeah, all good." He replied, but Sam was not buying it.
"G." Sam had joined him again. "Ten calls, and you say everything is fine?" Callen could see Sam was worried.
"Relax Sam. You worry like as if you're my mother again."
"We'll you know you really do need one."
Callen looked back at his partner. Callen smiled and hugged the big guy. "Thanks, Sam, it's good to know you care."
Sam frowned and suddenly became very curious over his partner's behaviour. "You seem different, G. Have you met someone?"
Callen lips curled briefly at the thought of Nell Jones. But as quickly as it arrived on his lips, he hid it away. Unfortunately for Callen, Sam noticed.
"Uh huh! I knew it. Who is she, and when do I get to meet her?" Sam thought back to Callen and Kensi's reaction to Agent Charlotte Manning. Did something happen between Callen and Kensi over the holidays? No, he decided, although he was amused by their sparring just before. Also he knew Callen had flown to Hawaii and Kensi had stayed in LA. Maybe this new agent from Dallas might provide the answer?
Callen was amused by Sam's reaction. So he decided to play some more. "What makes you think you need to meet her, Sam?" He had watched Sam's mind ticking over trying to think who it might be.
"So G, how do you know Agent Charlotte Manning?"
"Now Sam, if you had answered my calls, you might have not needed to ask me that question."
"Aha! So it's Agent Manning."
Callen laughed. "You are too funny, big guy. Look we'll have our chat later, okay. Hetty will be peeved if I don't go now." Callen left the bewildered Sam behind as he walked to Hetty's office. He noticed Kensi had beaten him to it, and she smiled at him, knowing that he couldn't tease her about how long she took to get ready; for at least a month, anyway.
"So glad you could join us, Mr Callen." Hetty turned to Charlotte and smiled before she addressed her two agents. "Agent Manning is here on loan from the Dallas office of NCIS to help solve a case which has started down there, and has now moved to LA. Agent Manning has been trying to capture we believe to be a group of about four men who have kidnapped and later killed five daughters of marines. They are around the age of late teens to early twenties. We need to catch these men before they kill again. The reason I am having this chat with the three of you right now, is that I need to know is there anything I need to know that might affect this operation?"
"What's the operation, Hetty? Can't we know what it is?" Callen was concerned as to why only the three of them were brought together on this chat in Hetty's office. "And why have you only asked for the three of us in here? Shouldn't we all be up in ops to discuss this?"
Hetty knew he was right, but she needed to know more about how he and Kensi had known Charlotte. "Due to the fact that you and Miss Blye already know Agent Manning here, I need to know the details in case it has any bearing on you going undercover together, Mr Callen."
Callen looked at Charlie and back at Hetty. "Why do you never call my by my first name, Hetty?" He decided if she wanted answers, then so did he.
Hetty raised her eyebrows at her favourite agent. "We've already been through this Mr Callen, G is not a name, only a letter."
"But you know my first name, don't you, Hetty? Or should I call you by your real name?" He had whispered this last bit, and Charlie laughed at the gall Callen had with Hetty. She knew what her mother was like, she had heard how many grown men had crumbled under a stare from her, let alone her fighting skills.
Hetty sat back in her chair and took a deep breath. She looked at her daughter, then to her nephew. He knows. But when did this happen, and how?
"Hetty?" Callen was not going to let her get away from answering his question.
Hetty looked at Kensi and Charlotte and they quickly stood and left her office. This was not something to be done as public display. It was times like this she wished she had a closed office. "Please, Mr Callen, please sit back down." Callen had stood to move closer to her. But he didn't listen. Instead he walked around her desk and bent down and hugged her.
Hetty was shocked over this display from him. But more so from his next words. "I always knew I had a little guardian angel looking out for me, and I just want to thank her for everything she has done." With that, Callen moved a step back and looked at a shocked Hetty.
"You know? How?" She shook her head, in disbelief that he knew. It also explained how he knew Charlotte. "But how much do you know, George?"
Callen smiled. He was happy now that she had used his real name. "Everything. And that is a story in itself. Perhaps if you had answered your brother's call, you would have the answer you seek."
"So this all happened over your holidays?" Callen nodded. "But you flew to Hawaii."
"I did indeed. In fact by telling you all when I was leaving, helped to be found by those who were seeking me." Callen smirked at the memory if Nell's surprise knock at Detective Kelly's door and the meeting up with Kensi, Kevin and then his father."
"But Charlotte hasn't left Dallas in four months?"
"That's right. I spent last week in Dallas, where I met Charlie."
Right at that moment their discussion was interrupted with Nell bounding down the steps excited to see Charlie. "Oh my goodness, Charlie, what are you doing here?"
"Miss Jones too?" Hetty asked Callen.
Callen's lips curved ever so slightly as he watched Nell bound down the steps into Charlie's embrace. Hetty noticed he was distracted and the curving of his lips and put the pieces together. Callen and Nell are together. But how does Kensi fit into all of this?
Sam looked up from his laptop, feeling like he was totally left out on whatever was going on around here. It was only their first day back, but felt like everyone had been together somehow. Well, except for Hetty, he noticed she too was out of the loop. Sam looked over at his partner and watched Callen's eyes follow Nell down the stairs towards Charlie. He knew it was rare for Callen's lips to curl up like that. It's Nell. He concluded. Callen is in love with Nell.
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