Chapter 10 - Two Red Balloons

A/N: A big thank-you to Gina Callen for giving me the inspiration for this chapter!

The drive to San Diego went quickly as soon as Katie and Taryn left the insane traffic of Los Angeles. They talked about various things and were both looking forward to their training but even more, getting to back to work. The backlog of cases was mounting which was a good thing if you can call it that. It kept them employed and doing what they loved but on the darker side it meant that another child was in need of their help.

After arriving at their hotel and checking into their (separate) rooms, Katie called Callen, talked for a few minutes, and then she headed off for a late dinner with her new boss. Taryn was twenty-six, married and lived a few miles from Katie. As manager, Taryn felt strongly about team work and even though she couldn't 'force' the employees working for her to be friends, it was expected they be civil to each other and remember that they are all there for the same reason: help kids through what, for some of them, will be the most traumatic time of their lives. When Taryn had been given the final two names for the assistant manager position, Katie's file stood out for one reason: her volunteer work had stretched back to when she was twelve years old.

The first week went well with the training that took them from role-playing workshops to a 'field trip' to a local Women's Shelter. They would take the kids of mother's staying there out for some fun time while the mom had counselling or just took some time to gather her thoughts and get help on where to go next. Although Katie had seen many situations over the years from mild too extreme, none could compare to the ones where the neglect and abuse had run rampant for far too long before it was reported. Keeping from getting overly emotionally involved was a challenge for Katie at times, but in the end she prevailed.

She couldn't help but think about Callen on the drive back to the hotel. His childhood had been tumultuous and yet he had turned out quite well. She knew some details about what he endured in foster care but they were sketchy and despite his life turning around for the best, she couldn't help but wonder what things he hadn't told her. Knowing everything about him wasn't required but a little more substance would most likely keep helping her understand what makes him the man he is. He had talked about his male mentor but she had often wondered what positive female influences he had growing up. Callen hadn't volunteered anything about it and given that his mom had died when he was quite young; Katie felt it best to leave the subject untouched...for now.

It didn't take long for her mind to wander to more pleasant thoughts about the man she dreaded saying goodbye to seven days ago. How fortunate was she to have such a remarkable man in her life? "Very fortunate" she thought as Taryn pulled into the reserved parking space at their hotel.

"I'm heading to my room for a hot shower and then bed," Taryn stated as they walked through the lobby.

Katie agreed, said goodnight and proceeded to her room. Upon entry she smelled a fragrance that was not from anything she had brought with her. Once the light she turned on illuminated the room she was startled to see a bouquet of flowers on the table by the window. The room had been made up so she thought housekeeping had left them as a courtesy for guests. As she approached them, she noticed a card sticking out.

Miss you

She recognized the handwriting immediately. The mix of yellow and red roses should have been an instant giveaway as to whom the sender was, but being extremely tired, it had been an oversight on her part. Katie pulled her phone from her bag and sent a text.

They're beautiful - Miss you too

The text seemed impersonal but had she called him, the sound of his voice would have had their conversation continuing way past her bedtime and she needed a good night's sleep to be ready for the even more intense second week of training. And it having been a long time since they made love, she was certain the conversation would have turned into phone sex of some sort and she hadn't the energy to participate. Perhaps her dreams would take care of that.

The following week was tiring but also extremely rewarding for Katie and Taryn, giving them new techniques to use when dealing with specific situations where traditional methods didn't prevail. A half-day session on Friday at the hotel wrapped up their training and by one o'clock they were on their way back to Los Angeles where a retirement party was being held for the long time manager Taryn was replacing. It was expected that all staff attend. Eager to get home, it was agreed a mandatory but short appearance would be made by Katie who learned that the retiring employee loved the color red, which explained the color theme. The two women stayed well past the agreed upon time but it was worth it to hear the heartfelt speech given by their predecessor.

The eagerness for Katie to get home, was instantly replaced with turmoil and the surfacing of a suppressed memory when someone popped the two read balloons that had been tied to the table the cake was on. Her body froze into a numbness that contradicted her increased heart rate and warp-speed thoughts that travelled back to that day in Kenya when…

Oh my god! The shirt. The shorts. The two red balloons on the door across from our room…

She squeezed her eyes shut. Feet still grounded, she took a deep breath and upon exhaling, opened them only to realize it was him. She tried not to blink, as the images would then again become vivid. Shaking her head didn't make them go away.

The man I shared a bed with…was the one standing over the body

The pit of her stomach ached as she ran to the bathroom, the people around her a blur, the words from Taryn's mouth incoherent. After emptying the contents of her stomach and splashing cold water on her face, the nausea remained.

Friday Afternoon, OSP

"Can't Deeks and Kensi go?" Callen was as surprised with the pleading tone of his voice as Hetty was.

"No Mr. Callen, they can't. Are you going to continue to question my decision or are you going to catch up with your partner so you can get to your destination on time?

G. Callen was assertive and stubborn, not stupid. He turned on his heels and called out for his partner, who stopped near the doorway as his partner approached. The shake of Sam's head was enough for Callen to offer a forced smile as they left the building.

The Challenger rolled along the highway, the partners making small talk until Sam altered the mood.

"Being away from loved ones is always tough G. It never gets easier no matter how long you've been on the job."

Callen glanced over at his partner who was driving the Challenger to the site of their current investigation. "It was that obvious, eh?"

"Hopefully it won't take long. Maybe the pitiful look on your face and puppy dog sadness in your eyes will have the bad guys surrendering right away."

"You should have been a comedian, you're that funny."

Still a few miles out from their destination, Callen sent Katie a text to inform her of his inability to see her that evening or the next several days. Although making long, sweet passionate love to her was at the top of his things to do with her list, the exploring of other interests was also on that list. As he tucked his phone back into his jacket pocket it really hit him that this was the first time in his life that he had a loved one (outside of work) in his life. "She's the reason I look forward to going home at the end of the day." Callen stared out the window, not focusing on anything in particular, "First time I've ever had that feeling."

"Absence does make the heart grow fonder G." Sam caught the rolling of Callen's eyes after a quick glance towards his partner. "You ever listen to country music, the classics, Johnny Cash, Charley Pride?" Callen instinctively reached for the power button on the dashboard just in case Sam had a CD ready to illustrate whatever point he was going to make. "My dad used to play Charley Pride songs all the time. His favourite was Kiss An Angel Good Morning." Callen had heard of the singer but not the song. "Whenever that song came on he would tell me to listen to the lyrics very carefully." Callen removed his hand from the button, sat back and listened to what his, often very wise, partner had to say. After his partner sang a few lines, Callen heard the message loud and clear.

You've got to kiss an angel good morning

And let her know you think about her when you're gone

Kiss an angel good morning and love her like the devil when you get back home*

Callen remembered when Kamaria gave Katie the Swahili name dhahabu malaika. He smiled at the fact that he wasn't the only one who thought she reminded him of an angel. He had been very much looking forward to seeing her that night. But work once again took care of that not happening. As soon as this assignment was over he would be speaking to Hetty about that aspect of his job. It was no longer a need in his life to get away from the real G. Callen. He was liking who he was and what he had to offer Katie. Their relationship was great. It was blossoming and he wanted to keep it that way. Being away at random times for weeks or even months at a time would eventually take a toll on it. It was a given, no matter how many times Katie reassured him (and herself) that she was able to handle it.

Planning further ahead than twenty-four hours was something new to him - and he liked it! Stability wasn't something life had ever offered him, well, except for the paycheque he garnered every two weeks. Shifting his eyes towards Sam he knew without doubt he wanted the look he saw in the dark eyes whenever his wife and kids were mentioned. The look that conveyed love, pride, happiness and most of all, purpose. Purpose in his life that went beyond the walls of the NCIS Office of Special Projects.

As Sam pulled into the staff parking lot at Oakville Prison, Callen glanced at his phone one last time before putting it in the glove box.

"Get in, get out, and get home." Those were the words he uttered as Sam led him to the entrance where G. Callen would be transformed into a White Supremacist named Steven Walinski, who also happened to be skilled at (successfully) robbing banks. It was also where he would have Kathryn Mitchell leave his mind and replace her with not only another woman, his literal partner in crime, Kensi Blye but the thoughts and beliefs that made him want to vomit and run really fast in the other direction. Little did he know that enduring time with people who still lived with their heads in the sand (and armed with automatic weapons) would pale in comparison to what awaited G. Callen when he returned to his life in Los Angeles.

*Song Lyrics written by Ben Peters, recorded by Charley Pride