Author's Note: Okay, so I just wanted to let you guys know that this chapter is basically another one of those 'I'm setting you up for what's to come later on' deals. I promise, as I always do, that the next chapter is going to be one of the most action-packed in this series. So, stay tuned, and don't forget to review/comment at the end. Enjoy

Partners

Chapter 8

On the other side of the country Hetty Lange sits in her office. Eric has informed the operations manager of Kensi's situation, and as usual Hetty has a plan. As of right now though she is currently waiting for her loyal team leader to arrive, and assist her with a very delicate matter. The sound of someone entering the mission reaches the tiny woman's ear, and she knows that Callen has finally made it.

It takes only seconds for the team leader to reach Hetty's office. He sees no sign of freshly brewed tea anywhere on or near her desk—so in his mind he automatically knows this is serious. "I got your message." Callen tells her. "Something happen to Kensi?" Slight worry dots his voice.

"The CIA knew she was coming. Kareem Hafeez has been moved to a secondary location—one we can't seem to find." Hetty explains. "As you know, Mr. Callen, time is of the essence right now, and it would seem as though we are greatly in need of assistance."

"What can I do?" Callen asks.

"I understand you have some history with some of our D.C. counterparts." Hetty says, with a suggestive look towards the senior field agent.

Callen nods as he fishes his cell phone out of his back pocket. "I see where this is going." He tells her. "He does owe me a favor or two." Callen adds, as he scrolls through his cell phone's contact list.

"Remember Mr. Callen…discretion is key to the success of our plan."

"Oh, don't worry. He'll be discreet." Callen says as he finally selects the number he's been looking for, and hits the send button. He listens as it rings once…twice…and then finally a gruff voice comes through just after the third ring.

"Gibbs." Comes the voice on the other end.

"Gibbs—G. Callen. Listen, you know that favor you owe me?" Callen says, as he glances over at Hetty.


The bullpen at NCIS headquarters in Washington D.C. is unusually quite, as all eyes are currently on the silver-haired team leader sitting behind his desk. The phone conversation he's been engaged in for the last several minutes has apparently peaked the interests of his team.

"Who do you think he's talking to?" Tony DiNozzo whispers across the way to his partner—the former Mossad officer turned NCIS Special Agent.

"Shush." Ziva David shoots back quietly. She has been listening very closely trying to hear both sides of the conversation, and she has managed to pick up a few things in the process.

"He doesn't look too happy...maybe its one of his ex-wives." Tony muses aloud, quietly of course.

"If you would seal your trap for one minute—maybe I could hear something useful." Ziva snaps at her partner with an exasperated tone. The special agent with the Italian name (his last name) has always been a source of irritation for the dark-haired beauty, and why she puts up with him remains a mystery even after so many years as partners.

"Ooh, hit a nerve there." Tony remarks, with a smirk.

Ziva rolls her eyes, but turns back to listening to Gibbs' phone conversation.

"Look you two," Special Agent Timothy McGee interjects from the opposite end of the bullpen. "If the boss thinks its something we need to know, then I'm sure he'll tell us."

Tony huffs at the team's resident computer geek. "Where's the fun in that, McParty-Pooper." He remarks, making a childish face at McGee.

McGee only shakes his head at the Senior Field Agent, not wishing to respond. He knows that to do so would only encourage the behavior.

"Oh, wait, maybe it's the other Gibbs—the older Gibbs." He says, flashing a triumphant smile at both of his colleagues. "I bet I'm right. Yeah, I'm probably right." He says, gesturing boastfully towards himself.

"Gibbs' father?" Ziva says, suddenly distracted once again by Tony's ramblings.

"Bet you're wrong." McGee says, challengingly.

"Oh, how so?" Tony asks, curious as to what flaw the younger agent could possible find in his theory.

"Jackson Gibbs would never call his desk phone. He'd call Gibbs' cell." McGee states pointedly.

Tony opens his mouth to retort, but the sudden, unexpected sound of Gibbs hanging up his desk phone puts a quick end to that.

"He's right, DiNozzo." Gibbs says without looking up.

McGee flashes a triumphant 'I told you so' grin at the elder agent, and gives a slight bob of his head at the same time. Tony's only reply is to stick his tongue out at the younger man.

Tony clears throat a few seconds later, finally turning his attention back to Gibbs. "So, uh, anyone important?" he asks, hopefully, leaning forward in his desk chair.

"Callen." Gibbs replies, as he retrieves his badge and shield from within the top, left-hand drawer of his desk. He stands up next, and clips his Sig Sauer to his belt. Then he pockets his badge.

Tony leans forward even more. The name Gibbs spoke suddenly brings back memories of the time he and the silver-haired ex-marine had spent on assignment in L.A. just a couple of years back. "Callen?" he says, repeating the name. "Something happen?" he asks next.

"Ziva, take McGee and go to my place." Gibbs instructs the former Mossad officer. "Stay put until I get there." he adds.

"Who's Callen?" Ziva asks, curiously. But then she catches Gibbs' stare, and decides to drop the subject for the moment.

"Yes sir." Ziva replies with a nod as she then begins to gather her go-pack, as well as her own shield and side-arm.

"Callen's one of us." Tony explains. "L.A. office—'Special Projects' division. We met him when Gibbs and I went to L.A. 2 years ago." He adds.

"Oh." Is all that Ziva says after that.

"He must need our help—I mean, if he's calling Gibbs, it's not a social call." McGee reasons aloud.

"McGee, you got a laptop?" the silver-haired man asks, looking across the way at the tech specialist of his team, effectively ending the little mini-conversation going on between his team.

"Yeah, sure do Boss." McGee replies, reaching back under his desk to collect the carrying case that houses his laptop computer.

"Good. Bring it with you."

"Got it." McGee responds, as he finishes gathering up the rest of his things.

Gibbs rounds the corner of his desk, and begins to head in the direction of the elevator. "DiNozzo-" Gibbs starts.

Tony begins to gather up his shield, side-arm, and go-pack on Gibbs' word. "Yeah?" he says, looking up at the silver-haired man.

Gibbs throws Tony one of those 'Well, what are you waiting for?' looks as he walks by the younger man's desk. "Let's go." He says very plainly.

"Right, on your Six, Boss." Tony replies, as he breaks into a quick trot in order to catch up with his boss. "So, um, where exactly are we going?" he asks, as he and Gibbs reach the elevator together.

Gibbs slaps the down switch on the wall. "I'll explain in the car." He tells the younger man.


The jeep rattles along, bouncing up and down at certain points, with its four occupants in tow down a long, semi-crowded street. It's the kind of place where the local street urchins set up their small tent-covered shops, and spend the day peddling their wares to whoever happens by.

Steve is at the wheel with Danny in the passenger's seat beside him. Joe and Kensi are seated in the only two other seats remaining in the back of the rig. Desert sand is constantly being kicked up all around them, and they often find themselves having to cover their faces for brief periods of time so as not to inhale the dry dust.

"I've got a friend here…met him back during Operation: Desert Storm. He's agreed to supply us with the gear we'll need for this little mission of ours." Joe is explaining to the group (and Kensi especially).

"Good." Kensi replies.

"Yeah, speakin' of that-This, uh, this plan of yours—its interesting." Danny remarks, turning in his seat to look back at Kensi. "I mean, it strikes me as being a little unnecessarily dangerous to be honest. But hey, I guess I should be used to that kind of thing." The former NYPD Detective throws a dirty look over at his partner.

Joe stifles a chuckle that briefly threatens to escape from within. "Do you ever just relax?" the older man asks the blond-haired man.

"Yeah, as a matter of fact I do. When I'm home—sleeping." Danny responds, in his usual witty manner.

It makes Steve McGarrett smile a little bit.

"You're not scared are you, Danny?" McGarrett asks, looking over the top of his shades at his partner.

Danny turns back to face McGarrett. "Me? Scared? No, no. Not a chance. I…am fearless."

Now McGarrett lets out a small chuckle at his partner. "Okay. So you're terrified?" he says, knowingly.

"Yes. Yes I am." Danny replies, more to himself than anyone else. "Completely terrified."

McGarrett lets out a quiet laugh.

Joe leans forward then, and taps Steve on the shoulder. He can see that their next turn is just a few yards ahead of where they are now.

"Sir?"

"Take the next right." Joe tells the ex-Navy Seal. "It's not much further." He adds. Steve only nods. A couple of minutes later Steve slows the jeep a bit, and then begins to guide it carefully around the turn and onto the next street.

"Look, I know it's not a perfect plan, but it's all we've got." Kensi says, rather quietly. "It has to work." She adds, more insistently.

"Don't worry. It will." Joe says reassuringly, patting the female federal agent gently on the knee.

Steve nods in agreement, though never taking his eyes away from the road before him. "Yeah, Joe's right." He tells her. "We'll get your partner back. Count on it."

Joe nods at Kensi after that. "Believe me when I say this…Steve doesn't know how to fail."

Kensi nods back in understanding. "Thanks."

"Kaleed's place is just at the end of this street. Last one on the left, Steve." Joe says, pointing over the ex-Navy Seal's shoulder in the direction of his friend's place.


Gibbs, Tony, and Kensi carefully make their way down the steps into Gibbs' basement. McGee and Ziva are already setup, and waiting for the trio. Tony was read in on the situation on the way to pick up Kensi at the coffee shop, so now he's on the same page with Gibbs.

"I still can't believe you guys are actually willing to help us." Kensi remarks quietly as she follows Gibbs and Tony.

"Yeah, that's the thing about Gibbs. He's really not much for following the rules." Tony explains as they finally step off the very last step onto the cold, cement floor.

McGee and Ziva greet the trio upon seeing them. "He's not lying." Ziva chimes in.

"Is anyone else wondering why we're down here?" McGee asks, looking around.

"Nope." Gibbs replies, as he shrugs out of his overcoat. He lays the garment across the far end of his workbench, and then turns to face his team.

"Oh good, then it's just us." McGee remarks, looking over at Ziva.

"The short version is that my partner is being held captive by a man named Colonel Rahman somewhere in Iraq, and the only person who knows how to find him is currently under CIA protection." Kensi explains.

"Hmm, sounds like we need a plan." Ziva muses aloud.

TBC…