I DO NOT OWN THE RIGHTS TO THE NCIS OR NCIS:LA CHARACTERS, ONLY MY OWN.

Gibbs called UPS again to ensure the package had been delivered, seeing for the fifth time that it had, he wondered if he should call. Surely she'd opened it and probably spent the entire night and a good part of the morning playing. Or whatever it was she did when she got packages from him. He was positive, judging by the pictures she'd sent in the past; that she used as much of the wood as she could. It made him feel good to think that she smiled when she opened every box. Even though it was a small gesture, it was still something he wanted to do for her. Especially when she first left and their life was in such chaos.

He looked at the clock on the wall and noted that it was almost noon on the West Coast. Gibbs locked the front door and headed upstairs to his room. She should at least be taking a break and he truly was eager to hear how the concert went. Like every time he called, he pulled open the top drawer of his dresser and pulled out the prepaid phone she sent him as soon as life settled down and just needed to hear a friendly, familiar voice. After flipping the phone open and pressing the power button, he sat on the foot of the bed while the phone acquired signal. Once the symbol appeared on the screen he dialed her number.

Lori fiddled in the workshop into the wee hours of the morning. Occasionally she's step out for a fresh breath of air after sanding the daylights out of the Ebony she was preparing for the violin body. She finally went to bed at six in the morning and woke around eleven. Needing coffee, but too tired to make it; she showered, dressed and headed for a Café Chloe near the Gaslamp in San Diego. Being that she was a regular at the café, the clerk knew exactly what she wanted when she walked in. Lori and the clerk chatted as her coffee was made before she walked out to the outdoor seating area to enjoy the early afternoon sun.

He listened to the call ring, couldn't wait to hear her voice. Finally after the forth ring, she answered. "Have I ever told you how much I love your care packages?" Gibbs immediately smiled.

"I knew you'd like that one, are you going to be able to use any of it?" He asked still smiling.

"Of course, I already started sanding and planing it. It's some of the most beautiful Ebony I've ever seen. I could never thank you enough." She sounded so happy.

"You're very welcome. So tell me please, how did the concert go last night?"

"The kids all did a superb job. Of course there were a few hiccups, but they picked up and continued. They should all be so proud of themselves. One girl in particular had the entire audience laugh at her."

"You're kidding, how could they have been so rude?" He huffed.

"Don't worry, the surprise I told you about showed us and she berated the entire auditorium. If she hadn't, I'm sure her father would've ripped everyone limb from limb. I'm telling you, I've seen some big, intimidating guys in my time, but her father is by far the winner. Andi even cowers away from him and you know how she is."

"Does he worry you, have you told anyone about him?" He asked worrying for their safety.

"Believe me, he's no threat. He's honestly a big teddy bear, just looks mean. I've had them over several times for lessons. He's the sweetest guy."

"What have I told you about having people over? Especially…" He started to lecture her.

"He's harmless. I'm sure my old friends would've said something if he weren't. They are still around, remember. I can't believe Leon has assigned them to me this long, it's been a year already."

Gibbs knew all too well how long it had been. It took him weeks to get used to the quiet in the house and they were only in his company for a week. His heart ached when he'd arrive home to an empty house. No dogs, no kids and no Lori. For a while, he contemplated getting a dog. That was until he pulled a wad of dog fur out of the furniture or stepped in a hidden pile of dung. He'd curse and rant, sending Lori a text message telling her he'd found another one of the dog's poop spots. Lori would call him back laughing. As angry as he would be at the start of the conversation, he'd be laughing along with her when they hung up.

Lori's heart ached more often than not. While she loved what she was doing now, she missed the East Coast and Gibbs. Not that she'd ever truly admit her real feelings for him. In her eyes, the near ten year age difference between her and her ex-husband was almost too much and the twenty some odd years between she and Gibbs was definitely too much. Instead of outright telling him she loved him, she jokingly said it, usually when he lamented about something. Lori would always come back with something like, "Well you and Kevin are the only men I love." Or "You'll always have my heart." Even when this whole nightmare was over, Lori felt she could never be anything other than a good friend to Gibbs.

"So where are the kids, I don't hear them in the background."

"They are spending the next four days with my friend. And don't worry, she has a very large staff of bodyguards and I even called the San Diego office to let them know." She told him.

"Good girl." Gibbs sighed, relieved that she didn't just send them without protection.

"You taught me well."

He'd been watching this woman for six months now, while she didn't look exactly like the woman his boss wanted him to take care of, she looked enough like her to keep him on her tail. He was just waiting for her to falter and give herself away. She did that last night. He laughed as he sat in the audience snapping pictures of her kids and couldn't believe his luck. When he contacted his boss, they were pleased and ordered him to take the family out immediately. He wanted to take care of them all at once. Since she showed up at the coffee shop alone, he was content to wait. He dreamed of ways to do them in. Running them down was quick and easy, but if one of them survived he'd have to stick around to finish the job. Not to mention it was far too messy and with technology what it was these days he'd be found in no time. No, he needed something more elaborate. He loved the feel of a knife slicing across a person's throat and laughed at the gurgling sound they made as they took their last breath.

A cold, sadistic smiled crossed his chubby face. In an attempt to hide his amusement, he place his hand over his mouth and realized he should've shaved that morning. His mind raced towards the morbid and obscene things he could do to the woman and her daughters when his jeans grew uncomfortably tight. Yes, he'd greatly enjoy having his way with the girls as the mother watched on. That's when he saw them, picked up the camera and snapped a few more pictures. Panic set in as they walked towards the café. When they stopped and actually talked to her, he quickly dropped the camera in the passenger seat and turned the key in the ignition. He was gone and on his way to the house before they knew he was even there.

Callen and Sam were out picking up the last minute items Michelle needed for the barbeque she'd planned as a celebration of their daughter's successful performance the night before. Hetty had rewarded their efforts on their last case with a couple days off, so they strolled the Gaslamp to waste time. Since Kensi, Deeks, Nell and Eric had found other reasons not to attend, Michelle recorded the entire concert and was set on torturing them with it that night. Sam had been up for hours already and felt like he was dragging. Smelling the strong brew from the Café, he turned to Callen and offered to buy him a cup of coffee.

"I don't know why you're going to make me watch it again, I was there and yes the kids were phenomenal, I don't see the need to watch it again." Callen whined.

"You're our fearless leader, lead by example G." Sam laughed as he walked towards the large brown canopy that covered the outdoor seating.

Lori heard his voice and looked around. "Speak of the devil and he shall appear. Can I call you back, that father and Uncle of the little girl from last night just walked into the coffee shop I'm at." She asked Gibbs.

Taken aback by her request. "Um, sure I'll talk to you later. Good luck, is the Uncle single?" He said feeling pangs of jealously at the thought of her with another man.

"Ha, not funny. You know you're the only one I love." She laughed and cringed at the Freudian slip as she hung up.

Sam stepped in the café and right back out again when he noticed Lori. "There she is, the woman of the hour." He said walking over, giving her a warm hug.

"Good morning Sam, Uncle Callen." She laughed hoping the joke wiped the sour expression from Callen's face. "How are you two this morning?"

"Good, we were just about to grab a cup of coffee, Michelle's had me running all over hell and half of San Diego to get the rest of the stuff for this barbeque she's planned tonight. Are you sure you won't join us?"

Lori thought about it, with the kids gone, she really could go and enjoy an evening and adult conversation. "I don't know, let me see how much work I get done on the violin I started last night."

Sam smiled and cocked his head as he crossed his arms over his chest, suddenly interested in hearing all about the violin she was fashioning. He asked everything from what kind of wood she was using to what color she was planning on staining it. Callen rolled his eyes and eventually walked away out of boredom. Lori noticed his inattentiveness and filed it away for later use. She kind of watched him walk away and noticed his jeans fit him rather well. The thought crossed her mind to ask Sam if he was single, but she remembered where her heart was. Fifteen minutes later, Sam's phone rang. He looked at the caller ID and looked over his shoulder realizing Callen had walked away. He bid Lori farewell as he answered the call.

"Hey G, where'd you go?" He asked, walking to the sidewalk to find Callen walking towards him.

"I got bored listening to you and the music teacher drone on and on about wood, it's like listening to Gibbs. You can only do that for so long before you want to gauge your eyes out with a chisel." He said and disconnected the call when he walked up next to him.

"I'm gonna tell him you said that." Sam said with a devious smile.

"No, let's just get you a cup of coffee and get the rest of this stuff for Michelle. An ice cold beer will calling my name very soon." Callen said and patted Sam on the back.

Lori watched the exchange and smiled as they went back and forth. For a moment, she began analyzing the men and their friendship. Quickly she had to remind herself that she wasn't a Psychologist anymore. She was a music teacher and builder of fine musical instruments. The smile that was on her face melted away. She grabbed her empty paper cup and tossed it in the garbage can outside the brown wrought iron fencing. As she walked, she thought more about the invitation to the barbeque. With her mood soured and self-pity setting in, she decided to just go home and work on the violin.

"She's lonely." Sam said watching Lori walk away from the coffee shop.

"No, you're not going to set me up with another one of your teacher friends." Callen snapped before Sam could say anymore.

"I'm not suggesting you ask her out or anything, I'm merely suggesting you befriend her. Lord knows you could use a few more. I'm kind of getting tired of staring at your face every weekend. I do like to sit on my couch and read the paper from time to time." Sam joked.

"I really hate you sometimes." Callen moaned.

Lori walked a block and a half down the street and stopped to look listlessly in a shop window. Seeing nothing that begged to be in her possession, she moved on to the next shop as she headed home. Michelle called Sam to find out where they were, being that they'd left over two hours ago and only needed to pick-up a few things. When Sam told her that they'd seen Lori; she insisted since Lori didn't live too far away; they should drop in and persuade her to come for the barbeque. Sam agreed with a smile as Callen cringed and complained about the cold beer that he'd have to wait even longer for now.

Lori walked up to the house and let herself in, talking to the dogs as she usually did. Oblivious to the man sitting in the car down the street who held a camera to his face with a long telephoto lens. She appeared to never paid attention to her surrounding, otherwise he would've been seen several times. Once she was in the house, Lori headed upstairs to change. Just as she pulled her shirt over her head, the doorbell rang.

"Dammit." She whispered and quickly looked out the window to find Sam's Challenger parked at the base of the driveway. Quickly she put her shirt back on and ran downstairs before the dogs ruined the door again. "Hey, you come over to look at that violin I was telling you about?"

"Actually we're here to persuade you to come over for dinner, Michelle's orders." Sam laughed.

Lori stepped back and let them in while ordering Zeus and Athena to sit. To Callen's amazement, both walked to her side and did as they were told. She introduced the dogs and allowed them one at a time to sniff Callen, Sam had been to the house several times during Hailey's lessons, so they already knew and recognized him. Once the dogs we calm, Lori asked Sam if he wanted to see the instrument. Knowing how badly Callen wanted to get to the house and have that beer, he accepted with an ear to ear grin as he looked back at Callen.

The men followed her through the house to the back yard. She pulled a set of keys from her pocket and unlocked the deadbolt and padlock. Sam questioned why and Lori told him about a fire she's had a year ago where she'd lost everything in her shop. Sam looked back at Callen as he searched his memory for reports of a fire in the area. Callen shook his head. For an hour, Sam and Callen listened as Lori talked about the various instruments she was working on. Finally after what seemed like an eternity, the three walked out of the house and Lori climbed into the back seat of the Challenger.