Chapter Nine
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Chapter Nine
Callen moved quickly back to the base- he had his own reservations in relation to the plan. He would never forgive himself if something happened to Kensi because of it. He thought of the junior agent as a younger sister- and whilst she was more than capable of looking after herself, but he couldn't help the feeling of protectiveness her held towards her. No right there and then he locked it in his mind that Kensi would come to no harm whatsoever- no matter what the cost.
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Kensi drove back to her cover apartment directly- she was more than aware of the sedan that was following her. She had activated the rear facing camera affixed to her rear view mirror as soon as she had left Hetty's- certain that the so called wonder twins would be able to gleam vital information from it the next morning. She stepped out of the car, locking it and headed into the block. As soon as she made it into her makeshift apartment she peered discreetly out of the window and saw the car pausing opposite, the lights obvious in the darkness. It stopped for a few moments before pulling once more away and driving off down the street. As soon as she was certain it had gone she stepped back and pulled out her cell.
"I'm home and it's clear" she stated as soon as her partner answered the phone.
"You had a tail?" Deeks asked in surprise.
"Yeah- the whole way home from Hetty's" Kensi confirmed with a sigh as she set the kettle boiling.
"You want me to come over?" he offered.
"You can't Deeks- if it is Welch it will blow your cover" Kensi reasoned. "Besides I'm fine- home safe and sound- I'm more worried about Callen, has he checked in yet?"
"Not yet- I will text you when I hear from Sam" Deeks promised before the two partners ended the call. Kensi sighed to herself- she hated it when Callen was out there all by himself, despite it being his default in life. Pouring the hot water into the cup- she cradled the steaming drink in her hands as she waited to hear an update on her team leader.
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Callen pulled the door shut as he turned towards his bed- grateful that his current cover was an NCO that at least afforded him some privacy. He stripped down to his boxers and got between the covers- he felt drained. He reached into the drawer beside the bed and pulled out his cell- firing off a text to Ops he switched off the light and closed his eyes, determined to get some sleep.
His wish was unanswered as two hours later we was still laid wide awake- his mind refusing to shut down as he thought through the possible outcomes of what would happen over the next few days. He sighed to himself, giving up on sleep he hauled himself out of bed and pulled on his running gear- deciding to at least make use of the time.
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"I will be glad when this is over" Deeks stated to the team as he closed the file and placed it back on his desk.
"You and me both" Sam agreed with a sigh- he hadn't heard anything from his partner since he had bumped into him at the navy yard, not that he had expected to. His partner never broke cover when he was under and to be honest he was glad of it- it was less risky that way.
"Hopefully by the end of the weekend this will all be over with" Kensi stated with a small smile.
"And hopefully you and Callen will both be alive and well to tell us about it" Sam muttered darkly.
"Well aren't you Mr positivity!" Deeks commented- rarely challenging the older man. "They will be just fine- because we will be there to make sure that they are"
"Yes detective Deeks you will be" Hetty interjected. "Now Mr Hanna- make sure that your plans are finalised for tomorrow. Miss Blye provide your colleagues here with a list of the venues that you are viewing tomorrow and then Miss Jones can provide detailed plans of each" she instructed. "Now chop chop there is work to do" she admonished gently.
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"Rob! Rob wait up!" Ben called after his friend as the two completed their duties for the day.
"Ben? What's the matter?" Callen queried in concern at his friend's sudden hurried appearance.
"Nothing! I just need to talk to you" he stated. "You free for a beer?" he asked.
"Sure- but just the one, big day venue hunting tomorrow" Callen stated.
"Sure- meet you at the guardhouse in thirty?" Ben asked. Callen nodded before he continued walking, wondering what the hell his friend wanted to talk to him about.
An hour later and his questioned was answered.
"You are serious? You really proposed?" he asked incredulously.
"Yeah- Trish is the best thing that ever happened to me man, and I want to spend the rest of my life with her" Ben replied, a big grin covering his face.
"I'm made up for you" Callen replied with a smile- his experience as an agent covering the concern he felt for the other man.
"So which venues are you guys looking at tomorrow?" he asked.
"Sarah has a list as long as her arm!" Callen responded. "I think tomorrow we are visiting the top three and hoping to book" he replied with a grin.
"Which are the top three?" Ben asked with a chuckle.
"The Skirball, Beach Chart House and The Grand" Callen responded with a sigh.
"Ah man- hope you've been saving up!" Ben stated with a laugh. "serious costs there".
"Sarah is hoping for discounted last minute availability" Callen reasoned. "She could haggle anywhere" he added.
"I'll be coming to you for some tips in a few months" Ben stated seriously. "I wouldn't know where to start" he added.
"I'll lend you Sarah!" Callen offered with a laugh- thinking how horrified Kensi would be at the thought of planning yet another wedding.
"Seriously man- you have got a good one there. I can't wait for you two to be married and live happily ever after" Ben stated.
"Thanks man- it means a lot. I hope you two are very happy too" Callen responded, knowing full well that his friend was doomed and wishing that it wasn't the case.
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"Have you ever looked around a wedding venue before?" Kensi asked her supervisor as he nervously looked around him.
"Kensi- why on earth would I have looked around a wedding venue before?" he responded with his sigh.
"Look you need to be more enthusiastic- we are planning the happiest day of our lives remember?" she admonished him as she got into the passenger seat beside him.
"Ben has proposed to Welch" he told her.
"What? Seriously?"
"Yep, he is besotted and she is going to break his heart" Callen replied with a sigh.
"You can't control other people Callen, we just need to focus on taking her down or proving her innocent" Kensi reasoned.
"Fine- where are we going first?" he asked as he started the ignition.
"The Grand" she stated with a grin, unable to help the little girl part of her that dreamed of a big wedding day where she would be dressed like a princess. Unable to ignore his friend's obvious excitement Callen grinned to himself as he indicated and drove away heading for their first destination that he knew would be amply protected by members of NCIS.
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Seven hours later and Callen was exhausted- he had never had an idea of how taxing planning a wedding was, and his was only a fake one.
"I liked the Chart house" Kensi stated as she parked the car back at the beach.
"It was nice" Callen responded with a smile.
"Want a hotdog and a walk on the beach?" Kensi asked- seeing that her friend was all wedding'd out for the day.
"That is the best idea you have had all day" he replied with a genuine grin. They exchanged a glance, each knowing that this could be it for the operation- it was the key opportunity for any attempt against them and they needed to make the most of it.
"My treat" she stated as she opened the door and stepped out.
"Even better" he commented as he walked around and took her hand. "Thanks Kensi" he whispered, knowing that she was supporting him- even though neither of them needed to say it.
"Anytime" she whispered as she hugged him, before guiding him over to the food cart. A few moments later- both agents armed with hot dogs they were walking along the beach enjoying the comfortable silence between them- but both monitoring their surroundings. Callen made sure that Kensi was closest to the water- determined that he would not make that mistake again.
"Guys- Price has left her home thirty minutes ago- Welch is at a takeaway joint with your boy Taylor about half a mile from your location" Eric told them over the earwig.
"Either of them are viable offenders" Callen responded softly. The two continued to walk- twenty minutes later and no closer to anything happening they turned around- finding themselves face to face with Ben Taylor and Patricia Welch.
"Hey" Kensi greeted with a smile.
"Hi Rob!" Ben said, his face breaking in a big smile as he saw his friend.
"How did the venue hunting go?" Trish asked with a small smile.
"Fantastic- I think we will book the Chart House will be the winner" Kensi responded- pulling Callen closer to her as she spoke.
"It's beautiful out there. Very scenic and peaceful" Trish responded. Callen tightened his arm around Kensi as the two couples spoke, his alert gaze looking all around as they continued the conversation. As he looked slightly off to his left- a flash of light caught his attention, and years of training came to fruition as he yelled out and in one swift movement as three cracks of gun fire filled the air and the taste of blood tainted the back of his throat- he pushed the other three people down to the ground and sent a silent prayer that he had moved quickly enough.
End Chapter Nine
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