DISCLAIMER: You know the drill… they ain't mine… not one single character from NCIS LA, NCIS, or Leverage. I am not happy about it, but it is what it is… I guess we have to live with it.
AUTHOR'S NOTE: OOOOOOOOHHHHHHH BOY! Now we are getting into it! I love these characters! Nope, Callen isn't going to make it easy on them. I'm not sure if it's because he wants to get back at them so much or if it's because he doesn't quite know how to "come home"… the journey has only just begun… I reckon we will just have to wait and see… ENJOY! Please, please, please, leave a review when you are done… I relish the moments when I get the word that I have a review waiting for me. The excitement, the trepidation… oh my!
Gibbs noticed the man begin to bristle… an uncanny resemblance to Callen's behavior, "Hetty, Sam, stand down." He ordered.
Sam shot Gibbs a look but with one nod, Sam motioned for the others to step back.
"Relax Spencer", Callen ordered as he entered the room freshly showered and dressed for the day.
"Callen!" the young woman squealed excitedly with an exuberance that took them all by surprise.
"Parker" he returned with a smirk as he accepted her hug with a brief reminder of where she was and to keep her sticky fingers to herself.
She flashed him a big innocent smile that made him chuckle.
Turning his attention to the other two, "Hardison" he then accepted the extended hand of his friend Eliot Spencer. "How are you doing, Spencer" he asked, paying no mind to the questioning looks.
Pulling Callen into a brotherly hug, "Staying busy", he lowered his voice for the second part, "We need to talk…Now."
"Mr. Callen? Hetty asked.
He turned to face Hetty, he owed her some form of explanation. Strangers weren't permitted to know, let alone enter the 'Office of Special Projects'.
"Hetty Lange… Eliot Spencer. We have known each other for a long time. These are his associates. Now if you'll excuse us?" Callen explained.
"Mr. Callen, I'm happy to meet your friends but you know the rules."
"Hetty, you should know by now, they wouldn't be here if I didn't vet them first."
Callen turned toward Eric, "If a case comes up, call me. I will be back shortly."
"Sure, Callen."
Hardison's eyes widened. As they walked away, he spoke in awe, "That… that was him. He was the one?"
Callen had to chuckle at the way Hardison was awestruck over Beale. Eric would have loved to know there was someone who was so impressed by him. It saddened him that he couldn't introduce them… at least not yet. If they figured out who they were, Hetty would be all over it.
"So, Eliot… Hardison and Parker?" Callen asked in a questioning tone.
"What, once he knew I was coming, there was no stopping him and where he goes, Parker goes."
"Well, once Hetty finds out… and she will… no doubt, she has Eric and Nell all over it as we speak."
"That's the least of our problems, buddy." Eliot stated gruffly.
"What? Why? Did Hardison find something?" Callen asked, the previous conversation now forgotten.
"You could say that."
"So?" Callen pushed.
"Hardison!" Eliot called out to his friend.
"Yeah? Oh, right… Well, I did a check into Blackguard like you asked. Not at all easy, by the way. They are aptly named. However, I did a little back door shuffle and was able to get a look at the predecessor to the Blackguard of today. You guys do some serious business, by the way. Anyway, there was some sketchy stuff going on back in the day. Now, I was only able to get a mere glimpse before I was locked out and their security system reset itself. However, I stumbled across a file called, 'The Lost Children'. It was a list of children's names."
"For what purpose?" Callen asked, not liking where this was going.
"That's the thing… I don't know… yet. But just before I was kicked out, I caught two names." Hardison swallowed.
"What two names?", Callen asked lowly.
"G Callen and Eliot Spencer." Hardison stated quietly.
Callen didn't say anything at first. He looked up at Eliot who waited expectantly, "Well, it makes sense they'd have our names. We worked for them before." Callen reasoned.
Hardison shook his head, "No, this list was different. It was from the 70's and 80's"
Callen and Eliot shared a look, "Keep looking…there has to be more." Callen stated.
"I've been trying but I haven't been able to secure an in… their security keeps rewriting itself after knocking me out…" Hardison explained.
"That's not the only problem", Eliot added.
"What are you talking about?"
"Callen, we've gained a tail ever since we started delving into this. I told you they wouldn't be happy."
"So, you drew them here!" Callen asked, alarmed.
"Wha… NO!" Eliot growled, "Give me SOME credit here. They're out there… looking."
"Didn't you use a secured server?"
"Of course. I encrypted everything but I've seen this security protocol before." Hardison explained, "Steranko Security Systems."
"Steranko is the most advanced security system around," Hardison shuddered at the memory of their experience with the system. "Parker was nearly killed by it. It was only the combined efforts of our team that prevented it."
"That's why we came in person. Hardison is going to need help. Plus, I couldn't leave them alone and vulnerable. They aren't trained for our lifestyle, Callen." Eliot explained.
"Okay, what about Sophie and Nate? Where are they?" he asked.
"Away…"
Callen didn't push. Eliot knew his people, "Okay then. Well, I have to go back or they will be all over me about this." Callen stated. "I will no doubt have some fires to put out as is. Look there are a few places in the mission that aren't used. I go there to clear my head sometimes. I'm sure Hetty knows about them but we may get lucky. Hardison, stay off the computer. Eric and Nell will find you as soon as you do, got it?"
Callen showed them where to wait in the shadows of the old building before retreating to come back in the main entrance to avoid further questions.
The bullpen sat empty, as did Hetty's desk. Callen called up to Ops in search of the team.
"They went to lunch and Hetty had a meeting", Eric explained.
"and Gibbs?"
"Director Vance called him back. He said to tell you he'd be back this weekend."
"Thanks, Eric."
Callen hung up the phone and looked around him. He tried to imagine a time when they were all on the same page. When the air wasn't filled with tension and anger… when he wanted to be there. Now though, he just felt exhausted. He walked over and sat down on 'his' couch, laying his gun next to him and running his hands over his face before resting his head back with a sigh.
Eliot watched his friend from above. It was more than clear that things hadn't improved in the least. What was coming down the pike would either make or break the fragile truce they had created.
NCIS LA === NCIS LA === NCIS LA === NCIS LA === NCIS LA === NCIS LA === NCIS LA
Callen had fallen into a less than restful sleep when the team returned from their lunch. Kensi and Deeks were once again arguing.
"Do you two ever NOT argue?" Sam chuckled as he tossed his keys onto his desk unaware, they weren't alone.
"Whoa there, Callen!" Deeks called out with his hands up in front of him as both Sam and Kensi looked up.
"G, put the gun down." Sam growled.
Callen holstered his gun as the adrenalin of a moment before began to drain away, "Sorry."
"Everything okay?" Kensi asked.
"I'm fine… you just caught me off guard."
"You… off guard. Seriously G? Where's your friends?" Sam asked.
"Why?" Callen answered question for question, folding his arms across his chest.
"Where do you know them from?" Deeks tried this time.
"None of your business," Callen replied evenly.
"That Parker? She really seemed excited to see you." Kensi stated with a smile.
"She's funny like that."
"Well the one guy, what was his name… Spencer? That guy was intense." Deeks added nonchalantly as he settled into his desk.
"He's not big on people nosing into his business. We're a lot alike in that regard" Callen warned.
"G, Come on. What's going on? Who are these people and why did they just show up here?"
Callen looked to Sam, "I'm going to say this one time… if and when it ever becomes your business, I will let you know.
