[9]
Training
A/N: Thank you so much for the reviews guys, I love hearing what you think! :)
I hated training, there was nothing good about it. Not the fact that it wasn't as bad as I thought it was going to be, and not the fact that Sam was doing self-defense and tactics with us. No, it was the fact that Callen was blabbering on about interrogation and Deeks and I had spent the morning locked in a room with him, separately as he tried to break us, getting basic information out. I got angry, mostly at him and then had been booted out of the room after he told me I probably just killed half the country after yelling that my favorite colour was blue and that he should shut the fuck up and leave me alone.
Obviously I needed to work on that.
The new week had brought on an apology from Callen which I had accepted with a frown as I felt like he was mocking me, it also brought on a new desk into the bull-pen, a desk that was between mine and Sam's so there was no avoiding G. Callen, no matter how much I tired.
But try I did, if he came into a room where I was talking with someone I would leave. I had taken to eating outside in the lot if it was nice, just so I didn't have to sit in the desk next to him longer then necessary. If we were out, I'd rush to my car and sit in the drivers seat not giving Sam and him the option of his, and smirking when Callen had to sit in the back of my Jeep.
I'd be the first person to admit I was being immature, I wasn't giving him much of a chance and I'd probably continue to act the way I was until someone put me straight. With the exception of Eric who had gone as far as restraining me in his arms when Callen walked into the room, not many people had. Kensi didn't seem to care much in the matter, and I think she understood what I was feeling like. That or she just figured I'd snap out of it quickly. Sam, he tired to get me to talk to Callen, saying we'd be like the three musketeers in no time but I still was sore about the fact I was going to have to share my partner from now on.
I'd go with Kensi and Deeks if it were allowed but it wasn't.
Deeks though, he seemed more amused then anything by the whole thing, he encouraged me to behave though, saying he knew what it was like to share a partner. I wasn't sure what he was talking about, because he definitely didn't have to share Kensi with anyone.
"You're avoidance techniques don't need any work, at least that's another thing we can skip." Callen says sitting down beside me on the table in the boathouse. I had been looking over some case files in here alone for the last 20 minutes, I figured someone would find me eventually. Just didn't think it would be him. I make a noise in the back of my throat to indicate I heard but continue to read, fully aware that he was sitting beside me on the table.
"You don't like me much do you?" he questions finally. I snap my folder shut before looking over at him. I had been a bitch to him all week and that wasn't going to stop now just because he finally started to say something about it.
"What gave you that idea? The avoiding or constant sarcasm?"
"I'm not here to step on your toes, I've heard a lot of good things about you."
"Well I've heard next to nothing about you, and you know what, I don't want to know anything. You left. You left and I came in, you expect me to trust you when you could just pack up and leave again? You expect me to listen to you just because people tell me you know better? Because people tell me how amazing you are? Believe me Eric's tried and I haven't cooked dinner for him in two days because he's been bugging me about you so much."
"You and Eric ar-"
"No," I say firmly, "You don't get to ask me personal questions. Leave me alone, I'll come to you when I want to. Until then, just don't bug me. I'm a thirty two year old woman, you can't force me to like someone, I'm not five." I finish with a glare before hopping off the table, storming out of the room with my file in hand.
When I get back to the bull-pen I slam it down on my desk before turning to my three co-workers who looked like they were in the middle of a conversation.
"Listen up! The next person who tells me to talk to Callen, get to know Callen, or go out for a drink with Callen is getting beheaded. I'm being as polite as I can for the time being and soon I'm going to re-direct anger on you three, so leave it alone." I stress the last three words looking between each of them. They nod looking slightly shocked, but I shrug it off going to look for Nate. I didn't care about his psycho babble, I needed another outlook on this.
"You're jealous."
"Excuse me?" I question, throwing my hands up I make to stand from the chair only to have Nate push me back down fixing me with a scarily stern look.
"You acted the same way when Deeks came, and he was your former partner. You reject change Claire, but on top of that you are fiercely protective of all of them. You know that when Callen left it hurt them and that's why you're refusing to let him in yourself."
"Is that your professional opinion?" I snap, crossing my arms, feeling my anger flare. The feelings didn't make sense anymore, but I did continue to run with them. Everything about Callen made me angry and not in a good way like everything about Deeks annoyed me.
"Okay, want me to give it to you straight?" he asks, sitting down behind his desk, I nod once stiffly, if anyone could sort out my own feelings it was Nate, not me.
"You feel threatened and that is completely normal. You were kidnapped and you came back and everything had changed. You're hurt because Sam has accepted him back so easily, and you probably don't like the idea of things changing so suddenly. I know the both of you though and if you let him in, give him a chance you two could be good friends, but you have to give him a chance and stop cutting him off."
I slump down in my chair, knowing that I had been scolded for what was the third time in a week. It made sense though, Hetty, Eric and Nate both knew me the best and how to knock me back a few steps, and get my head on semi straight.
"Claire?" Nate says after a few moments. I groan, defeated.
"Yes, Satan?"
"Satanic delusions…"
"Don't you dare write that on my file, Nate!" I yell, fiercely. Springing from my chair and almost diving across the desk making him laugh.
"Is there a reason you're leaning against my vehicle, or are you trying to seduce me with your freakish looks and bad posture?"
"Oh" Deeks moans, "You know just how to get me going. So seductive, more, really. You bitter hag."
I laugh, throwing my bag into the back seat watching as Deeks climbs into the passenger seat, buckling himself in. I knew I should have put the doors back on, couldn't lock him out with no doors.
"Can, I help you?" I ask my eyebrows raising into my hairline.
Deeks shrugs, "I'm hungry, you're always hungry. I need a ride home, I say we…"
I see Callen and Sam exit the building with Eric at that moment, and I feel my annoyance flare up slightly, but stuff it down as Eric hops in the back seat, waving good-bye to them.
"Night, Claire. Deeks." Sam says passing my Jeep with an almost pleading look. I feel my lip curl slightly before replying.
"Good night, Sam. Agent Callen"
Before I could register the shocked look on the older mens faces I turn my keys in the ignition before backing out quickly and heading towards home making the two men in my vehicle gasp and grab onto seats and handles around them.
"Holy shit! Claire, if being nice to him is going to make you kill us, I take it back. Be as mean as you want!"
"I just wanted to go to dinner, I didn't know we were entering a high speed chase."
I roll my eyes hitting the gas before turning to Deeks, "I have Chili cooking in the slow cooker, more then enough to go around. You can be dropped off at home now, or join us for dinner." I tell him glancing back at Eric who just shrugs, not minding the idea.
Deeks just leans back in the front seat, pulling his sun glasses down, "I'd never turn down your Chili, wifey."
I smirk, "Casa de Carroll it is."
Eric clears his throat.
"It's not Casa de Beale-Carroll until you pay half the rent, or we have to cash in on that marriage pact!" I tell him for the millionth time.
God, these boys drove me nuts.
"You did good today," Callen compliments as I take a long drink out of my water bottle, as I swallow I try to think of a sarcastic retort but change my mind promptly when I see Nate stick his head in the door giving me a warning look.
Right, I was suppose to try and get along with him. With that in mind I fix him with a look, catching him off guard before blurting out the first thing that comes to mind.
"Eric and I are best friends. Like, best friends for seven years. We do everything together, well not everything but we more or less live together. We're not dating or anything, if that's what you were going to ask me the other day."
Callen's lips tug up at the corners, and his eye brows raise as I continue.
"Deeks was my old partner from LAPD, and when he followed me here I was annoyed, but it made me feel better that someone familiar was nearby. We still do some undercover work for them sometimes, well we won't be anymore after this. I swear I don't always get kidnapped."
Callen almost smiles at this before shaking his head and turning away. He looks amused, and if not a little relieved but I clamp my mouth shut choosing to say no more for today.
"You know I was rather impressed that day we came for you, you'd been gone for a day and a half. Had you shoulder dislocated and still managed to act like it was no big deal. You also took down the suspect with a gun pointed at your head, we'll have to work on something about that because you shouldn't be hitting guys where it hurts when you have a gun rammed against your head." He tells me picking up his own work out gear, and water bottle.
I nod, that had been rather stupid but I hadn't been thinking clearly at the time. I hardly remember the gun on my head even though I had a slight burn there still from the hot barrel.
"He told Eric to buy me six cheeseburger," I spit out, following him out of the gym. I seem a little shocked myself that I started speaking again but swallow my pride and fix a smile on my face. "Deeks, he told Eric about the cheeseburgers, when I woke up Eric had them."
Callen laughs, and I blush a bit feeling like I had given in. Like at any moment he was going to smack me and stomp away to get back at me for being so immature before. "I have a feeling Deeks would have bought you a McDonalds if you asked for it."
This makes my cheeks flame and I push my way into the the womens change room shooting him a glare. "Shut up, Agent Callen."
He didn't know me like that. Didn't know enough about me to comment on Deeks and my…relationship, friendship, partnership, what ever it was.
I don't think he took me seriously though as I hear him laughing still as I throw my shirt off and onto the bench. Stupid, ass.
