The chopper quickly lifted up as the truck came closer and a few seconds later the truck crashed against the stone wall next to the road. The pilot put the chopper down on the floor and the agents got out guns raised.
"Federal agents! Come out with your hands up!" Callen said.
They saw the driver side door open slowly and the man aimed a gun at them. Callen didn't hesitate for a second and he shot him.
"The passenger is dead," Kensi said.
Callen and Sam walked over to the back and Sam opened the door while Callen covered him. Nobody was in there, but the weapons were.
"Hetty, the weapons are secure," Callen said.
"Very good, Mr. Callen," Hetty said.
A little later someone from Pendleton came to pick up the weapons and the bodies were picked up and the team went back to LA.
Once back in LA they returned their gear and went back to the bullpen.
"You okay G?" Sam said.
"Yeah I'm fine Sam," Callen said.
"You sure, cus you don't look like it?"
"I'm fine. My ribs and wrist still feel a little sore but I'm fine."
"Alright."
They finished up their reports and went home.
"You okay G?" Lori asked once they were home.
"Yeah I'm fine," Callen said.
"Your ribs or wrist aren't hurting?"
"A little, but it's okay. It's not that bad."
"You sure?" Lori asked as she sat next to him on the couch.
"Yeah I'm fine Lori. Don't worry," Callen said and he gave her a kiss.
They had dinner together and after dinner they sat together in a nice bubble bath. Lori sat with her back against Callen's chest and Callen had his arms around her and his hands were lying on her stomach and Lori had placed her hands on top of his.
"This is nice, just sitting here with you in the tub," Callen said.
"Yeah it is nice," Lori said as she leaned back and let her head rest on Callen's shoulder. "I'm glad to be here with you. I don't think I've could have done this without you."
"I'm glad to be here with you too. And I'm really glad to be a part of your life and that of our unborn babies. I'm really happy about becoming a dad."
"I'm glad to hear that. Cus I'm really happy about becoming a mom. A bit scared but very happy. And I'm happy I can share this with you."
"I'm happy that I can share this with you too. And I'm also scared but we're gonna be fine, the 4 of us. I'm sure we can handle twins."
Lori pulled Callen's face towards her and kissed him and she looked into his eyes. She saw his eyes were filled with up love, love for her and their babies. She looked back at him with the same look of love in her eyes and Callen kissed her again.
They stayed in the bath tub until the water began to get cold and Callen got out and he helped Lori get out. They changed into their PJ's and sat down to watch TV before going to bed.
…
Lori was already in bed when Callen joined her. She wasn't asleep yet. Callen took in the sight before him as she lay in their bad, resting on her pregnancy pillow. Lori felt the bed dip as Callen got onto the bed and he crawled next to her, wrapping his arm around her from behind and giving a light kiss on her shoulders.
"G, not tonight. I'm tired, I just wanna sleep," Lori said.
"I can just cuddle up with you, can't I?" Callen said.
"Not tonight G," Lori said but Callen didn't move away from her body. "Not tonight G!" Lori blew up in his face and pushed his arm away.
"Alright Lori, goodnight," Callen said and he gave her one last kiss on her shoulder.
"Goodnight," Lori said and she drifted off to sleep.
Callen lay on his back, his hand resting behind his head. Sometimes Lori was so hard to read, he thought. Sometimes she would want to be in his arms and other times she pushed him away as he wanted to cuddle or kiss. It was hard sometimes to find out what she wanted, did she want to cuddle with him or not? Did she want him to kiss her or not? He decided he would let her come to him when she wanted to cuddle or kiss and not press the matter, how much he wanted to cuddle and kiss with her, letting her know how much he loved her, that he was there for her if she needing anything. He just wanted to be with her, to cuddle with her, touch or kiss her stomach where their two little babies were growing inside. He figured Lori acted this way because of the hormones cursing through her body. Tonight was not a night she wanted to cuddle.
The next morning…
Callen was making breakfast in the kitchen when Lori walked in.
"Good morning G," Lori said.
"Good morning Lori," Callen said.
Lori walked up to him and gave him a kiss on his cheek. "I'm sorry about last night. I didn't mean to blow up at you like that."
"It's okay honey. I understand. But sometimes I just feel like cuddling with you at night, lying close to you, to our babies, hugging the three of you."
"Why would you? I mean look at me, I look like a big fat cow."
"No no no, you don't like a big fat cow," Callen said as he cupped her face with his hands. "You look absolutely beautiful."
"You really think so?"
"Yes I do, you're the most beautiful woman I've ever seen. And every day you look more and more beautiful. It just pains me that you don't think you're beautiful."
"I do love our babies inside of me, but every time I look in the mirror I see this huge fat cow staring back at me."
"That's not how I see you when I look at you."
"Really?"
"Yeah really. I see this beautiful woman who is carrying our little babies inside of her and that makes me love her just more."
Lori felt her eyes getting a little watery. She stepped closer to Callen and laid her head on his chest. Callen wrapped his arms around her and placed a soft kiss on her head.
"I love you honey," Lori said.
"I love you too sweetie," Callen said.
They stood there for a little while hugging each other before having breakfast. After breakfast Lori had another doctor's appointment before work. She was now 28 weeks pregnant. Callen went with her.
"So how have you been feeling?" The doctor asked.
"Okay. A little bit tired lately and also my feet and my back hurt after I've been standing too long and sometimes a bit nauseous, but not that bad," Lori said.
"I'm glad to hear. Well let's go see what the babies are up to shall we," the doctor said and he placed the device on Lori's stomach.
"Look G, it looks like they are playing with each other," Lori said as she saw their babies on the screen.
"Yeah it looks like they are. That's very sweet. They must like each other already," Callen said.
The doctor put the sound on and they could hear the babies' heartbeats.
"Wow, they are so fast," Callen said.
"They are perfectly normal," the doctor said.
"Is everything alright with them?" Lori asked.
"Yes everything is fine. They are growing nice and big and they look perfectly healthy."
The doctor gave them a picture of the ultrasound and Lori made another appointment and Callen and Lori went to the office.
Lori sat behind her desk and placed the picture up on her desk. Her desk was next to Kensi's desk so Kensi saw the picture.
"You had another ultrasound?" Kensi asked.
"Yeah just this morning," Lori said.
"Can I see it?"
"Sure," Lori said and she handed Kensi the photo.
"That's really cute. They have grown. Everything okay so far?"
"Yeah everything is fine."
"Good to hear. You two must be excited about becoming parents."
"Yeah we are very happy about it. But also a bit nervous of what's it gonna be like with two little babies."
"But we can handle it, together," Callen said.
"Yes we can."
Just after that Eric whistled them up and they got started on the new case.
…
Lori and Callen were at home that Saturday afternoon; Callen was in the kitchen getting something to drink when there was a knock on the door.
"I'll get it," Lori said as she walked to the door and opened it. "Mom? What are you doing here?"
"Hi sweetie, I was just in town for some business stuff and I thought I'd stop by," Susan said as she hugged her daughter. "I hope it's alright."
"Yeah it's fine, come on in."
"Thanks. Wow you look great."
"No, I look fat."
"No, you look absolutely gorgeous. You're also glowing I can see it."
"See, that's what I have been saying too," Callen said as he walked back in the room.
"Hey Greg," Susan said as she gave him a hug too.
"Hi Susan, it's nice to see you."
"I hope I'm not interrupting anything by stopping by unannounced."
"No, it's fine. You're always welcome here."
"I didn't know you were in town," Lori said.
"I was here just 2 days on business. I'm flying back to Seattle later today. How have you been?" Susan said.
"I'm good. Little tired sometimes, but it's not that bad."
"And how are my little grandkids doing?" Susan said as she stroked Lori's stomach.
"They are doing fine. Just had an ultrasound a couple days ago and everything was fine."
"I'm glad to hear that."
"Would you like something to drink Susan?" Callen asked.
"Some water would be fine."
"So how's everybody back in Seattle?" Lori asked.
"They are all fine."
"How's dad?"
"He's fine. He's excited about becoming a grandpa. We all miss you back home."
"I know mom. I miss you too. But my home is here now in LA with Greg. I like it here better than in Seattle or in Portland. That was too dull for me. LA is exciting."
"Here you go Susan," Callen said as he placed the glass on the table.
"Thank you Greg."
"I'm sorry Lori but I have to go to office, they called that they needed me."
"That's fine."
"Alright, I'll see you later," Callen said and he gave Lori a kiss. "Nice seeing you again Susan."
"Nice seeing you too Greg," Susan said. "I understand that this is your home now. I just hope we can be part of your life, of the babies' lives."
"Of course your part of that mom, I want you to. I know we don't live right next door. But you can down to visit anytime you want and we'll try to come to Seattle when we have time. And we can always call, send e-mails and stuff. I'll be sure to send you some pictures of your grandkids."
"I'd like that. How's everything between you and Greg?"
"Everything is fine mom. When he came to Seattle we talked it out and it's all good now. I'm very happy right now. It's better to wait to get married until the babies are here. He's really sweet to me. He takes good care of me. It was stupid of me to run away. I don't know what I was thinking."
"Sweetie, you're pregnant. Sometimes you can't think straight with all these hormones, I know I would drive your father crazy sometimes. You were scared. But I'm glad everything worked out. You two really belong together. I can see that you both love each other very much."
"Yeah sometimes these hormones are really messing with me. Sometimes I just can't help it, I'll start crying or I blow up at somebody for no reason. Sometimes even towards Greg. It sucks sometimes."
"Lori, he loves you. He doesn't mind. He knows it's just hormones. I'm sure of that. He wouldn't have come after you if he didn't love you and if he couldn't handle you being pregnant."
"Yeah I know mom. I just feel bad sometimes for blowing up at him when he hasn't really done anything wrong."
"I know sweetie," Susan said as she pulled Lori in for a hug. "It's not always easy being pregnant. But just think of the little miracle you'll have or in your case two little miracles."
"Yeah I know. And trust me they are all worth it. Sometimes I just wished that they were already here so my body can go back to normal."
"Just about 3 months to go sweetie. And when they are finally here you feel nothing but love I'm sure."
"Thanks mom."
"You're welcome sweetie. But I've gotta go now. Got a plane to catch."
"That's alright. It was nice that you stopped by."
"My pleasure. I love you sweetie," Susan said and she gave Lori a hug.
"I love you too mom."
"Take care. And if there's anything you can always call."
"I will mom. Have a save flight."
About an hour later Callen got home.
"Hey Lori," Callen said as he walked into the house.
"Hey G, you're back soon," Lori said.
"Yeah, director Vance just needed to brief us on something, nothing urgent," Callen said and he gave Lori a kiss.
"Alright, that's fine."
"Where's your mom?"
"She want back home again, had a plane to catch."
"Okay. It was nice of her to stop by."
"Yeah it was. I'm glad that my parents like you and that you like them."
"Of course, they are very nice people."
"G," Lori said as she snuggled into Callen's chest once he sat beside her on the couch.
"Yeah Lori?" Callen said as he was stroking her back up and down.
"It's just… I'm sorry for blowing up at you sometimes. I just can't help it sometimes. It's those crazy hormones. I don't mean anything by it. I want you to know that. I just hope you're not mad at me for doing that sometimes."
"Of course I'm not mad at you for that. I know it's just the hormones talking."
"I just don't want you to think that I'm mad at you or that I don't like you, cus I do. I love you and I love the way you take care of me," Lori said as she sat up so she was face to face with him.
"I know sweetie. And I don't think that at all," Callen said and he placed his hand on her cheek and kissed her. "I love you too and I don't mind taking care of you and our little babies that you're carrying. And if that means that you might blow up at me sometimes cus of the hormones I can deal with that."
"You are really very sweet to me, sometimes sweeter that I deserve perhaps."
"What?! What makes you so that? You deserve it Lori. Why wouldn't you?"
"Because of everything that I did lately, pushing you away, running away and postponing the wedding."
"Oh sweetie," Callen said as he wrapped his arms around her and pulled her towards him. "It's alright Lori. I'm not mad about that, well maybe I was a little when I found out you were gone. But everything is fine now. You're here, we're together and everything is fine between us Lori. Don't worry about that. I know that you were scared, but it's alright now. We're in this together and don't worry about having to postpone the wedding. I think it's better this way."
Callen could hear Lori starting to sob against his shirt. He pulled her a little closer and placed a kiss on the top of her head. "Shhh, it's alright baby. It's okay. I love you and no matter what you do I could never stop loving you. And don't worry, you deserve me being this sweet to you, I know that you do. You are the most amazing woman I have ever met and with you carrying my little babies, that just makes me love you even more."
"Thank you G, for everything," Lori said as she snuggled against his chest even more.
"You're welcome."
They lay like that for a little while, before Callen noticed Lori was getting a little bit uncomfortable. She was flexing her feet a lot.
"You okay Lori?" Callen asked.
"Yeah, I just have this cramp in my feet," Lori said.
"Come on, let me take care of that," Callen said as he grabbed her feet and placed them on top of his lap and he started rubbing her feet and Lori lay down on he couch. "Is this better?"
"Yeah that feels good."
Callen kept rubbing her feet and he could hear little moans coming out of Lori's mouth. He took that as a sign that she liked what he was doing.
….
"What have we got Eric?" Callen said as they walked into OPS.
"Two men who have ties to Al Qaeda are spotted here in LA. Sac-Nav picked up some chatter about them selling some stuff on the American market," Eric said.
"What are they selling?" Sam asked.
"Illegal military grade weapons."
"Any idea where they are or who they are selling it to?" Callen asked.
"No, nothing so far yet. Other then the spotting at LAX they have not been seen anywhere. They took a cab but I lost it in the airport traffic. Got kaleidoscope looking for cab."
"Alright, see what you can dig up on these two."
"Will do," Nell said.
"Wait. Kaleidoscope just got a hit on the cab. It's parked at a dinner on Pico, so I doubt that they will still be in there," Eric said.
"Alright, we'll talk to the driver, maybe he'll know where he took them," Callen said and he and Sam left.
Callen and Sam arrived at the dinner and saw the cab driver walking up to his car.
"Excuse me sir," Sam said and the man turned around. "We're federal agents. Would it be okay if we ask you a couple of questions?"
The cab driver panicked as he heard the words federal agents and he made a run for it.
"Federal agents! Freeze!" Callen yelled as he ran after them.
He ran onto the streets. Callen and Sam followed him trying to avoid the cars driving on the street. A few seconds later there was a loud crash as a car couldn't avoid him and he hit him.