(Two Weeks Later)
(NCIS: OSP Headquarters)
(Callen's P.O.V.)
"Aw! That's so sweet!" I heard Kensi say.
Deeks, Sam, Emily, Kensi, and I were in the bull pen doing paper work.
However, Kensi and Emily were talking about the most recent date Emily and Jake went on.
Which was last night.
I tried to block it out.
But with each word I heard, the pressure on my pen would increase.
"He's truly a gentleman." I heard Deeks say.
"Should Emily be worried?" I heard Sam ask teasingly.
"I'm just stating a fact." I heard Deeks say. "Jake is a really good guy. He's great for her."
Not being able to take it anymore, I dropped my pen on my desk, stood up, and walked out of the bull pen.
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I punched the punching bag as hard as I could.
When I left the bull pen, I went straight to the gym and began to punch the punching bag.
"Here's the file you asked me for." Nell said, holding a folder out to me.
Nell and I were the only ones in the bull pen.
Everyone else had gone home.
"Thanks, Nell." I said, taking it from her.
"Are you going to tell me why you asked me to look up Agent Rivers, or….?" Nell began.
I just looked at her.
"Right." She said. "None of my business….I won't say anything about this."
"Thank you." I said.
Nell gave me a nod, then, she turned around and left the bull pen.
Once she was gone, I opened the folder, and began to read its contents.
I kept punching the punching bag.
I had found nothing bad about Jake.
Unfortunately, Deeks was right.
Jake is a good guy.
I found myself punching the punching bag even harder.
"The last time I saw you attack that punching bag like that, was when you officially retired Jason Tedrow." I heard a voice say loud enough so that their words weren't drown out by the noise that was coming from the punching bag.
I stopped punching the punching bag, and stared at it.
I didn't have to look to know that Hetty had joined me, and was probably watching me for a good minute or two before she spoke.
"Do you want to talk about what's bothering you?" I heard Hetty ask.
Instead of answering, I began to punch the punching bag again.
"I know you had Miss Jones look up Mr. Rivers, Mr. Callen." I heard Hetty say.
I stopped hitting the punching bag, and looked at her.
"I just wanted to make sure he was a good guy." I said defensively.
"And if he wasn't?" Hetty asked.
I shrugged and looked away from her.
"I admire that you're looking out for her, Mr. Callen." I heard Hetty say.
"She's apart of the team, Hetty." I said, looking at her. "And I always look after my team."
"I see." She said. "So, she is not the reason why you're going to end up paying for another punching bag?"
"No." I lied.
Hetty studied me.
But I kept my mask in place.
After about a minute Hetty nodded.
"Carry on, Mr. Callen." She said.
Then, Hetty turned around and walked away.
And I went back to hitting the punching bag.
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"Another beer, please." I said to the bar tender.
He gave me a nod.
After work, the team and I went out to the bar.
And, unfortunately, Emily invited Jake to come with us.
And now, I had left the table go get another beer.
"Make that two." I heard voice say behind me.
I looked beside me just in time to see Jake stand next to me.
"You're quite quiet tonight, Callen." Jake commented, as the bar tender sat down two beers in front of us.
"It's just been one of those days." I said, forcing a smile on my face.
"I know what you mean." He said. "….Listen, I hope you're ok with Emily and I."
"Why wouldn't I be?" I asked.
"I don't know." He said. "It just seems like you don't like me very much."
He's not wrong there…
"You're a good guy, Jake." I said. "But, if you hurt Emily in anyway, you're going to wish you only had Sam and Deeks to worry about."
Jake stared at me and I stared right back at him.
"You have feelings for her, don't you?" Jake asked.
"I'm just looking out for her." I said.
Then, I grabbed my beer, and headed back toward the table.