I do not own NCIS:LA or any of it's characters, but Reagan is mine.
At this point I can't remember whether it has been two weeks or three since I posted the last chapter. I'm trying to keep it to two weeks but I cannot make any promises.
Once again I'm am ever greatful for the love, reviews and story & author alerts you are all still doing. THANK YOU!
No soundtrack change this chapter but after you read if you have a suggestion of what I should have listened to please send me a message and let me know! I'm always looking for new music to listen to!
And lastly please, please, please, keep reviewing! Honestly it's the best way for me to know you like what you're reading! MuchLove!
::Chapter 11::
On the drive over to LAPD Reagan finally let herself begin to think about the explosion and then it hit her. Her car, her vintage Volkswagen Rabbit convertible, with the black leather interior, and cherry red paint job. The car she had dreamed about ever since she watched that stupid movie, "Can't Buy Me Love" with her mom when she was 9. Okay so the car in the movie was white, but she had always wanted it in red. Gone. Blasted into pieces and burnt beyond recognition like a sacrifice to the Greek fire god. Who was that again?
"Hephaestus," she snapped her fingers.
"Who?" Callen glanced at her as he drove.
She didn't look bad considering what had happened last night. She had some scratches on her cheek, but the bruises that had begun to blossom last night never really appeared and just looked like shadows today.
"The Greek god of fire."
"And?"
"Oh, I was just thinking about my car."
"Did you have it long?"
"No, but I've dreamed about it forever," she sighed.
"At least you weren't in it."
"Yeah, cause that thought just brightened my day! Although I don't think I was meant to be in it. Or even close to it for that matter."
"Why do you believe that?"
"I have to hit the remote twice to open the doors."
"Go on?"
"I had the locks tweaked 'cause I'm a little concerned with safety. I had the locks fixed so when I hit the remote once the driver's door opened but the lights won't blink. The second opens the rest of the doors, it's louder because three doors are unlocking and the lights blink to let you know all the doors are open.
"The explosion happened after I hit the button the second time, so it couldn't have been set to detonate by unlocking the doors or it would have gone off with the first hit. It had to have been a remote detonation, and since I'm still alive they didn't want me in the car. I think they were waiting somewhere for me to trigger the locks so they could make it look like it was meant to kill me."
"Have you been thinking about this for a while?"
Reagan turned to look at him, "The whole time I was being examined by the paramedics and then again in the shower this morning."
"It was the most logical explanation to me," she said as they pulled into a spot in front of LAPD.
Within moments of them walking in, Reagan and Callen were taken into an interrogation room. Sitting they glanced at each other wondering why the drama. When the officer walked in Reagan frowned trying to remember him from the night before.
"Agent Callen nice to see you again, Agent Faraday, it's nice to meet you. I'm Officer Robert Wickham, officer in charge of this case," he said shaking both of their hands.
"Thank you both for coming in so early today. How are you feeling Agent Faraday?"
"A little battered, but better than last night. I don't remember you at the scene last night."
"You and I didn't get a chance to meet last night. Agent Callen and the others whisked you away rather quickly."
"Well you know, can't piss off my Fairy Godmother or she might turn me into a pumpkin! And she can be pretty scary."
Officer Wickham looked to Callen who stared back at him giving him nothing.
"Okay Agent Faraday, um, I need to ask you questions about last night. Normally we don't let witness leave without giving a…"
"Please ask your questions Officer Wickham and I will answer them to the best of my ability." Reagan cut him off.
"Yes, okay, then. What time did you arrive at the The White Sands Restaurant?"
Reagan closed her eyes and began searching her memories of last night.
"We arrived at the restaurant at 6:24pm, 6 minutes early. We entered the bar area at 6:38 and remained there until 7:10 when they sat us at our table"
She opened her eyes and saw Officer Wickham staring at her open mouthed. Knowing what was wrong but hating being looked at like that she refused to help him out. Crossing her arms she sat back feeling pissy.
"Close your mouth Officer Wickham. You look like you're catching flies," she snapped and looked away.
Callen glanced at her slightly surprised, but said nothing. He didn't want to step on toes and accidentally piss her off the way Wickham apparently had.
"Are you sure about those times Agent Faraday?" he asked tentatively.
"Positive."
"Do you remember what time you left the restaurant?"
Reagan, still with her arms crossed, raised an eyebrow, "Eleven thirty-six, and yes I'm sure about that."
"Did you notice anyone in the parking lot when you left?"
"You mean besides the eight of us?"
"Well yes. Anyone besides the eight of you," he faltered.
"A couple had left about 5 minutes before we did. They entered the restaurant after we did at about 6:57. He was a while male in his mid-thirties, about 5'9", maybe 200-210lbs, brown hair, green eyes, a scar through his left eyebrow. He had on a pair of navy linen pants, a white tee shirt, and a pair of Tom's slip-ons. She was a white female, in her late twenties, about 5'4", maybe 110-115lbs, brown hair with blonde highlights, hazel eyes, a little bit too much makeup. She had on a patterned tunic top over a pair of white capri's, most likely Chloe. And wore a cute pair of strappy Manolo's
"Their car left the parking lot at 11:45 and they turned left as they exited."
Even though Callen knew she could recall all of this information and had seen her do it before, he was still in awe of the detail she could remember.
"Agent Faraday can you explain how you remember all of this detail so perfectly? Because if you're lying to or making this up I can arrest you for obstruction of justice. I'm sure I don't need to tell you this case is not a joke."
"I'm well aware of that Officer Wickham. It was after all, my car that was blown up," was all she said.
Callen sighed and sat forward, knowing it was time to step in, "What Agent Faraday meant to say was that she has perfect recall of any event she encounters during the day. It's called hyperthymensia – total recall of all autobiographical information."
"I said exactly what I mean to say Callen," she growled at him.
Callen looked from Reagan to Wickham, "Will you excuse us for a minute Officer? I need to speak to my agent in private."
Rising, Wickham heartily agreed and couldn't leave fast enough.
Alone Callen leaned his elbows on the table, steepling his hands, all the while watching a very pissed off Reagan. She refused to look at him, but he was a patient man and simply waited. And within a few minutes it paid off.
"What?" she cried frustrated.
"Retract the claws and stop spitting at the man."
"I was not-"
"Reagan…" he said warningly in a voice that told her he was now her team leader and not her friend.
She snapped her mouth shut, crossed her arms and glared at the table like a petulant teenager.
"Do you care to tell me what the hell crawled up your ass or should I just call Hetty."
That had her head snapping up and her mouth opening in surprise. Normally Callen didn't use the "Hetty" threat, he preferred to take care of things himself, but he was not above it. Knowing this Reagan realized just how obnoxious she was being. He watched as she visibly deflated and knew he had won.
"So?"
With a sigh she brushed a strand of hair from her cheek and her finger tips rested on the scratches for a second.
"I hate being stared at like I'm a freak."
"Well then maybe you should have lain off the major detail and just stuck with the things a normal person would have remembered."
"Yeah, normal."
He winced when she repeated that, "That's not what I meant and you know it! I just meant someone without your gift."
"I know, but you're right, someone normal," she sounded sullen.
"Reagan…" he warned.
"Let's just finish this. And I promise to be on my best behavior," she held up her right hand like a pledge.
"Fine," he rose and found Officer Wickham waiting outside.
"We're ready to go on?" Wickham asked sitting across from Reagan again.
Reagan nodded.
"Okay, you said you exited the restaurant at 11:30-"
"Eleven thirty-six."
"At 11:36 and the only people in the lot besides the 8 of you were that couple."
"Yes."
"What other cars were in the lot besides yours and the other agents?"
"There were seven other cars in the lot and one parked outside on the street."
"Can you remember what types of cars… of course you can," he said contritely when she raised her eyebrow.
Reagan rattled off the makes, models and approximate years of the seven cars in the lot.
"And what about the eighth car?"
Reagan closed her eyes and searched for the car in her memories. It was a lot like watching a movie in 8 xs fast forward and then finding what you're looking for and stopping short. Kind of feels a little like whiplash.
"Dark blue Lincoln Town car, 2009, windows were tinted dark, I couldn't see any faces, but…" she stopped.
Callen and Wickham waited, unsure of why she stopped. After a few minutes they looked at each other concerned.
"Agent Far-"
"Shah!" she snapped.
'The license plates! They were covered!" she gasped finally.
Opening her eyes she shook her head as if to clear it, "They covered the license plates. Whoever it was in that car, planted and detonated the bomb. I'd stake my life on it."
"Do you know anyone who would target you?" Wickham asked truly concerned.
Reagan shook her head, "No, I left my other job on good terms. I have no enemies," and no friends either, she thought.
"Everyone has enemies Agent Faraday, especially in our line of work."
"None alive that could find me Officer Wickham."
Wickham stared at her for a moment and looked into her face, void of emotion, and wondered what kind of sociopathic tendencies one needed to become a NCIS agent. They were all a little off.
"Is there anything else you can remember Agent Faraday?"
Reagan sat quietly for a moment, and then shook her head.
"No, not that I can remember right now."
"Well if you remember any new information please let us know."
She nodded as the three of them rose.
"Thank you for your help Agent Faraday, Agent Callen. We appreciate your cooperation."
"Happy to help," Callen said as the shook hands.
Reagan shook Wickham's hand but did not exchange pleasantries. She hated being treated like a freak because of her abilities, but Wickham just rubbed her the wrong way, and that made it ten times worse.
They left in silence and remained that way until they were well away from LAPD.
"Well that-"
"Don't you dare pat me on the head for behaving myself!"
"I was going to say 'Well that was stressful'. But feel free to jump down my throat!"
"Sorry," she mumbled looking out the window.
"You did a good job back there. Are all your memories so clear?"
Reagan turned to Callen and waited for the other shoe to drop. When he remained silent she answered.
"No. It was calm so the memories are easy to sort through. But when it's chaotic, the memories are all jumbled together, and it takes me a while to separate them. It's harder to see tiny details when it's chaotic."
"Interesting."
"You say that like a scientist looking to use me for some experiment where I end up lobotomized."
"No, I said that like someone who has never come in contact with this medical condition before and is curious about it.
"You need to calm down. No one is out to get you."
"Tell that to my car," she mumbled her retort.
"Okay rephrase, I'm not out to get you."
The minute it left his mouth he knew it was the wrong thing to say. But it got her to smile.
Reagan smirked and glanced sideways at him, "Really? Now that is disappointing!"
"You know what I mean!"
"No, please, go on! Tell me how you're not after me!"
"You know, you have to be the most exasperating woman I have ever met!"
"Even worse than Kensi?" Reagan blurted out.
"God yes! One minute you've got a bug up your ass acting like a petulant teenager, and the next your flirting and throwing innuendos around like hand grenades!"
"I'm a woman; it's my God given right to change my mind!"
Callen gave a short laugh, "You're something alright!"
Reagan stuck her tongue out at him but remained silent. They drove to the hotel Reagan was staying at and when Callen pulled up to valet Reagan looked at him.
"I never told you I was staying here."
"I called Hetty, she told me."
"How did… Never mind."
Callen laughed, "Yeah it's just easier not to ask."
Walking in, they both looked around getting a panoramic of the lobby. Stepping onto the elevator, Reagan turned her back to where she knew the camera was and moved closer to Callen.
"Do you think we will ever walk into a place and not know where each camera and exit is within the first few seconds?" she whispered in his ear.
"I don't think so," he assured her.
Stepping off on her floor she led him to her room.
"Have you found a place yet?"
Reagan shook her head and gave him a distracted no as she opened the door and let them in.
"So you've been staying here?"
She shrugged, "Been moving from one hotel to another. I just haven't found anything I'm comfortable in yet, but moving from hotel to hotel is becoming a hassle. I was headed out this weekend to keep looking. Kensi was going to come with me today to look at a couple new places, but that's not going to happen now. Why do you ask?"
"Just curious, that's all. You know if you want to stay on at my place you're welcome to."
Reagan turned to look at him and weighed the offer. Okay, they've known each other for a few months now, and she knew he was a gentleman when it came to women, but she wondered if there was more to his offer.
"Why are you offering?" she blurted out.
Callen smiled, "Because I remember what it was like moving all of the time before Hetty found my place for me. It's not like I'm trying to get you in my bed."
"Oh, really! So you think that you'll just keep appearing next to me in bed in the morning without any kind of effort?" she winked at him playfully.
"See there you go again throwing those grenades again!"
Reagan laughed, "Well in any case I appreciate the offer and want you to be sure about it. I mean it's sweet and all but I'm not even close to finding a place."
"It's not as if you're moving in for good."
"Well in that case sure! I would appreciate staying at a place that I could actually feel comfortable in."
"Well then grab everything. We can drive to my place, and grab something to eat. You can settle in and we'll see how we deal with each other."
"Sounds like a plan," Reagan agreed, "I'll go get my stuff together."
Heading into the bathroom to collect her things she thought about staying with him. She had felt safe enough in the hotel rooms until last night, but she was not ready to settle down in a permanent place until she found something she was completely comfortable in. She knew it was going to take a while. The offer from Callen had come as a complete surprise to her and so had her acceptance of it.
There had been others, different men from all over the world who had tried to get close to Reagan. Hell even Renko had tried to get close to Reagan, but she pushed them all away. Oh, she took her pleasure where she found it and in many cases it was sweet and simple, but she had never let anyone get close. God there were so many reasons for that, but the main reason was for protection, and not only hers. Her life was one of intrigue, and peril. One where she wasn't sure what the next day would bring; what country she would wake up in; it certainly wasn't a life for close relationships. Especially ones that were build on deception.
So Reagan chose to remain alone. It suited her better, she told herself. She didn't have to try and fit into someone's idea of a perfect relationship. She didn't have to make consolations for another person. She did what she wanted, when she wanted, no questions asked. She was so engrossed in her thoughts that she never heard him come to stand in the bathroom doorway.
"Change your mind?" he smiled at her leaning against the door jamb with his arms crossed over his chest.
She smiled back and his heart thumped hard in his chest. How the hell did she do this to him every time he looked at her?
"Not unless you did. And I can understand if you did. I mean who wants the newbie crashing at their place?"
"What? Anyone of us would have offered if we had known. You just kept the whole thing to yourself. I'm sure Kensi offered."
Reagan nodded, "She did, but I didn't take her up on it. I couldn't impose on her. I told her I'd be more comfortable moving around for now. She respected that and I went to a new hotel. And now here I am," she held her arms out and spun around like a little girl, the smile on her face genuine, and truly happy for once."
"Well then come on roomie. Let's go home."
She didn't move for a moment as what Callen said sunk in. It wasn't really her home, but just the words brought back memories of living with her parents. That had been the last time she had called someplace home.
"Hey, you still here?" Callen touched her arm.
She focused back on him and smiled again, "Yeah, yeah, I'm here. Let's go!"
Callen glanced around noticing that all she really had to do, besides pack the few things that were in the bathroom, was zip up a couple of suitcases. Doing that they were back in the car after checking out and headed to Callen's.
"I'm going to the gym. I need some time to work some things out in my head. I'll send you a text when I'm on my way back," she told him from the door way of the kitchen.
Back she has said, not home. It shouldn't have bothered him; he shouldn't have even picked up on it. After all she offered to text him and didn't have to. But he had and for some reason it did. She had settled her things in the bedroom, and then proceeded to make him an amazing dinner of linguini carbonara (not something he usually at his place). She had gone and gotten all of the ingredients, after exposing him as the quintessential bachelor with only beer and water in the fridge, dragging him around the food store. Sure he complained but he had secretly enjoyed the normalcy of the evening. Reagan standing in his kitchen, barefoot, making dinner for the two of them, it was kind of idyllic, the kind of normal that would never happen outside of this fairytale bubble they found themselves in for a few hours. And now that bubble was popped.
"Take my car and be careful. You sure you're okay?"
She nodded glancing at him quickly and then down at the backpack she was zipping up, "I'm fine."
He watched her leave and stood in the doorway contemplating the enigma that was Reagan Faraday. On the surface she seemed easy going, fun, silly even, but underneath there was a darkness that he was just beginning to glimpse. A world of shadows that hid the truth and just what that truth was he had no idea. He was sure she was a danger to none of them or Hetty and her 'ninja' skills would have discovered something.
He knew that she was close to Special Agent Jethro Gibbs even though she had pretended not to know who he was, but according to Gibbs (yes he had contacted his old friend), the lie was to protect him not her. When asked, Gibbs had refused to give him any information, saying he had promised her secrecy and that Reagan would tell him if he needed to know.
Having to accept that answer, he made the decision to let Reagan tell him in her own time, and if Hetty and Gibbs vouched for her than that was good enough for him. But that didn't lessen his worry for Reagan. Since the explosion the other day he had begun to see a change in her that had him on edge. He couldn't put his finger on exactly what it was, but he knew something was up.
When Reagan reached the Mission she let herself in and headed straight to the large gym room. Strapping on her gloved she attacked the heavy bag, putting all her anger and anxiety into each punch.
And as she released her pent up wrath on the bag her mind began to spin.
"The bomb had been detonated by remote. Whoever it was that detonated it had to be close in order to make sure they were both in the car," an agent said to her 'Uncle'.
Reagan, who had been standing with him almost attacked the man, "You mean that bastard watched as my parents burned to death! He was on this property and watched my parents die!"
Jethro grabbed her and pulled her close, trying to calm an already hysterical Reagan. The agent was reprimanded and sent away, but the words were already pounding in her brain.
It was too similar to be a coincidence. The connections to close for her not to believe it was a message. It had been easy not to think about it last night and most of today with everything that had gone on, but once she had gotten back to the quiet of Callen's house the thoughts and memories had begun to swirl around her head with the gale force winds of a Category 5 tornado.
As her adrenaline began to pound and her heart began to race her punches became harder and faster, but her anger was not abating. It was all still there as fresh and piercing as the day it happened. Sweat dripped down her face as her fists pounded into the bag. Wiping it away carelessly she didn't realize some had gotten onto her glove. As she threw the next punch her hand slipped off of the bag, propelling her to the mat. She cried out as she fell and rolled to her back once she was on the floor. With her knees bent and her fists covering her eyes she laid there, trying to still her racing heart and mind.
She had been thinking a lot about her 'uncle' lately. She guessed it had been since Callen had mentioned him all those weeks ago. She now felt back about lying to him, but at the time all she thought about was protecting Gibbs. When the government had made the decision to ship her off to Italy, Gibbs had fought for custody. After his wife and daughter had been killed, he had found comfort with the Faraday's, even though watching Reagan grow up had been bittersweet and reminded him every day of what he had lost. But she had become a surrogate daughter to him and when Jace and Lauren had been killed he had become the only family she knew.
"But I want to stay with you Uncle Jethro! They can't make me go to Italy. I'll run, I swear I will! Every time they send me over there I'll come right back! You can't do this! My parents…"
"Your parent's will was drawn up before Agent Gibb's wife was killed and they never updated it. The court cannot put you in the custody of a single man.
"Therefore the court has taken the liberty to contact your aunt and uncle in Italy and they are willing to take you in. You will be leaving tonight. You will be provided with an alias and everything you need…"
"But I don't even know my aunt! I've never met her before in my life! You're basically sending me to live with complete strangers. How is that better than letting me stay with the 'uncle' who I grew up with?"
"Miss Faraday, the decision has been made and you will abide by the courts ruling. You will board the plane tonight and leave everything from your old life behind you, including any contact you may have had with Agent Gibbs."
"Now wait a second, Reagan is my best friend's daughter!" Gibbs roared, "She is like a daughter to me! You can't…"
"Agent Gibbs this decision was as much for your safety as it is for Miss Faraday's. Whoever it was that killed her parents is still out there and we don't know if he is targeting Miss Faraday next. It is best that we fake her death to get her off the radar and protect the both of you."
Reagan looked at her uncle and could see the defeat in his face. No, she thought, no, keep fighting! But even she knew that the logic was not debatable.
Gibbs looked from the JAG lawyer to Reagan and took her in his arms in a tight hug.
"Uncle Jethro," she cried into his shoulder, the tears she thought she had cried completely out, starting anew.
"Go Baby Girl. Don't fight them. Send me the clues in secret and I'll find you. You know how. I promise I'll find you," he whispered.
He held her face in his hands and looked at her, studying every feature as if to memorize her forever. When the two guards moved in to collect her she clung to Gibbs; her face streaked with tears like a five year old. He untangled her arms and squeezed her hands one last time before they walked her out of the room.
He had kept his promise and at least once a year he would meet her. Her aunt, not being very interested in what Reagan did or didn't do, never questioned her short notice vacations, thinking they were simply covert operations she was being sent on. They met all over and never in the same place twice. She disclosed everything to him about her parents and what she did for the government. Some of it he knew from her father and some was new, but none of it shocked him.
He had been the one constant in her life and what kept her grounded when the job became too much. The last time she had seen him was two years ago. He had joined NCIS in 1998, the year her parents died, and 7 years after his wife's and daughter's deaths. Even then he had made time to visit her, but the past two years Reagan had been on assignment on the other side of the world, and he had been dealing with difficult cases and the government, having become suspicious, was having him watched.
"Are you planning on camping down there Miss Faraday or can I give you a hand?" the gravelly voice had her moving her hands and looking up.
Hetty stood above her with her hand out stretched. Reagan reached for Hetty's hand and was surprised by the strength in that hand.
"I think the bag is sufficiently chastised. Care to divulge who you think deserves that kind of beating?"
"Don't know," she answered as she removed her gloves.
"You don't know, or you don't care to tell?"
Reagan cracked a little smile, "I really don't know. I've never seen their face. But apparently they are trying to finish what they started with my parents."
"You think this was the same as your parent's murders?"
Reagan nodded.
"Why then do you believe you are still alive?"
"I haven't figured that part out yet, but the MO matches almost exactly to my parent's murder. The only difference I've found is that I'm still alive and my parents aren't."
Hetty said nothing as she contemplated what Reagan had said, but Reagan mistook it for something else.
"You don't think that's what it was?"
Hetty looked up at her as if surprised she wasn't alone, "Quite the contrary Miss Faraday, it seems to me that it is quite possibly the only conclusion one could come to if one is privy to all of the details.
"Do you think it's time to contact the CIA?"
"NO! All they will do is bring me back in. I'll lose whatever footing I have of finding these bastards. And…"
Hetty watched Reagan look around her at the Mission.
"And you'll lose this… them."
Reagan's eyes snapped back to Hetty, "I wasn't…"
"Oh come now Miss Faraday, you can try to lie to me, but don't lie to yourself. They've all gotten under your skin."
Reagan would never admit it. Not to herself and certainly not to Hetty, but it really was a moot point; Hetty could see the truth in her eyes. And she knew that for Reagan this was the first time in a long time that she had something to lose.
Oh she knew about Jethro, but that relationship was founded in granite and nothing would shake it. Reagan never worried about that. These new tenuous bonds she had founded were not built on the same material and to be honest when the truth came out and all was said and done, Hetty knew that Reagan only saw one outcome. The loss of everything she had come to care about.
"Okay then no CIA. But you aren't going to have the luxury of keeping secrets from the team if these things keep happening."
"I know. I'm just not ready yet."
"And when you are?"
"I may just be time to go."
"You can't keep running forever Reagan."
"I know but if the time comes I'll run to keep them safe."
Hetty nodded, "You should get back to Mr. Callen's place and try and get some sleep."
Reagan's eyes widened at that, "How…"
"I make sure I keep an eye on my agents. Two generally, as much as I can spare them."
Reagan closed her mouth and nodded. She whispered good night and headed out of the guy.
"Oh and Miss Faraday, sometimes it's okay to trust someone else. Hearts are very resilient things. For some reason they will repair themselves over and over, no matter how many times they get broken."
Reagan stared at Hetty for a moment, gave her a small smile and another nod, and let herself out of the room.
Arriving back at Callen's house, she let herself in and locked the front door. The light in the living room was on but Callen was nowhere to be seen. Reagan walked through the silent house looking for him until she found him asleep in his room. She watched quietly as he tossed and turned, wanting to go to him, lay a hand on his arm and calm his nightmares. But still unsure of their boundaries she slowly shut the door.
After a hot shower Reagan stretched out on the couch in one of Callen's old tee shirts and a pair of La Perla lace panties and closed her eyes wrapping her arms around herself. Sleep came quickly and so did the nightmares.
The scream woke Callen from his demons. It was a woman's scream from somewhere close by. Trying to shake off his nightmares and jump out of bed at the same time, he ran from his room. He found her in the living room thrashing and screaming on his couch. He had no idea when she had gotten home but it couldn't have been too long before since her hair was still damp from a shower.
He approached her, making the same kind of soothing noises you would a frightened, crying child. When he got close enough, he pulled her into his arms softly calling her name. She woke with a start and he had to grab her hand before a fist connected with his nose.
"Reagan!"
"Callen? Oh God, I was having a nightmare."
"Yeah I kind of figured that. You scared the shit out of me."
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry."
She sat up and put a hand over her eyes, "I'll go, just let me collect my things. It's probably better anyway."
Callen stopped her by scooping her up, "The only place you're going is to bed. We sleep better together."
"You can't even base a hypothesis on one trial," Reagan gave a tired laugh.
"Then let's go another," he laid her gently on the bed.
"No sex, just sleeping."
He crawled in next to her, "Come here."
She snuggled into his side and was asleep before he even closed his eyes. He smiled into the dark, that act in itself told him that even if she didn't want to admit it or perhaps didn't know herself, she trusted him. Closing his eyes he tried to think of a time when he had felt so relaxed, and realized he couldn't. With a shrug he turned wrapping his arms around her. There's a first time for everything.
The next morning found Reagan pounding on the heavy bag again as Sam and Deeks watched on from their respective workouts. As they watched her they exchanged glances and shrugs. When she finally growled at the bag and took a swing toppling it over (which is a feat in itself for most men but pretty hard to do for a woman), Sam decided to say something. Their relationship had flourished to become something of a big brother, little sister thing, and their bond was different than the others because of the Navy Seal connection, but Reagan had even been able to crawl under Sam's thick skin and carve out a little place of her own. With Deeks on the other hand it was like twins vying for mommy's attention. They were either at each other's throats or getting in trouble together for doing something childish.
"Is there a problem?" Sam called as Reagan moved to right the bag.
Glancing at him out of the corner of her eye she just mumbled a no.
"Looks like you've got some anger issues. Wanna pick on someone you own size?" he tried again.
Reagan eyed him and then shrugged, "I could take you."
Callen and Kensi, coming from a meeting with Hetty, walked in on the three of them.
"You seriously think you could take me?" Sam challenged the girl who was using the punching bag like a rag doll.
Reagan looked up at him, sizing him up. Then she nodded and stared him down, "I could take you."
Sam laughed.
"You find that funny?" Reagan challenged, moving away from the bag.
She stepped up to Sam, her face looking up at the bigger man with fire in her eyes. Sam tried not to laugh. She probably could take him. She was strong and quick, no matter what she looked like. She had taken Kensi and Kensi was able to best him on the occasion. But he liked to rile her up. He liked to see the fire in her eyes and watch her get all pissy to prove herself. He'd never tell her it was funny to him, but he thought she like the banter too. She had yet to throw a punch at him, but that didn't mean she wouldn't if he pushed her too far. He just had to remember that no matter what she had to prove, she was still like his little sister, and if you pushed a little sister too far they could come back and bit you in the ass later on.
Deeks turned at the steel in her voice.
"Uh oh, sounds like someone's got her panties in a bunch," Deeks said comically and Kensi smiled.
Reagan didn't and turned on him, "You know nothing about my panties Deeks, or if I even wear them!" she glared at him.
The rest of them started ribbing Deeks as Reagan squared her shoulders and turned back to Sam.
"She's just pissy because she needs to eat something," Deeks tried again.
Reagan's head whipped around to look at him. Her glare turned to a scowl and she advanced in him. Kensi backed away with her hands up and stood next to Callen.
"I'm not pissy!"
"Bullshit, don't even try to deny it... It's like watching a hooker pretend she's out for a walk when cops drive by."
"You want to go Deeks? You think your snarky little comments are gonna make you seem cute and funny? Well let me tell you Shaggy, I don't need your crap. If you want to go at it keep them coming cause I have no problem going back at you!" she took her finger and pushed it against his forehead.
"I think you should back off this one," Sam tried to warn him.
"Mroooow!" he hissed and clawed the air not listening.
"Hey there kitty kat, put those claws away. How 'bout I get you one of Kensi's Twinkie's she stashes in her desk."
Kensi made a noise of protest.
Reagan took a step back and a vicious smiled spread across her full lips, "You know what, mister no fat soy latte, I don't need a Twinkie. But what you need is for someone to put you in your place."
Deeks laughed and turned to Kensi, "Kensi does that every day!"
Taking his eyes off of Reagan was his tactical error. He never saw her step in and because of that she was able to land a punch right in the gut.
"Well, then maybe she should take a different approach," Reagan snarled her eyes like blue flames.
He doubled over and barely moved in time as he saw her knee rise to meet his nose. She caught his cheek before he was able to move completely out of the way. She threw a punch as he rose and he caught it just before she came in contact with his chin. He spun her around and held her tight to his chest and raised her off the ground.
"Hey there Baby Girl, calm your little ass down!" Deeks cried as she fought like a cat to get free.
"Stop calling me names or I'll scratch your eyes out! Damn you Deeks let me go and fight like a man!"
Sam, Callen, and Kensi looked on in shock. It seemed that Reagan had forgotten all of her training and that Deeks was following right along with her. Somehow Reagan gained her footing for a moment and that was all it took for her to slam her head back into Deeks' cheek bone and was dropped to the floor. She turned and landed a punch to the side of his head. Deeks came up and landed a punch to Reagan's stomach. She sucked for air but kept on fighting. It certainly wasn't the fighting of two trained agents but of siblings squabbling over some argument.
And then the voice of reason arrived. As Hetty turned the corner she watched Reagan run at Deeks and throw her over his shoulder like a sack of flour.
"Mr. Deeks what is the meaning of this! Put Miss Faraday down now!"
Everyone turned to Hetty. Callen, Sam, and Kensi had the sense to look sheepish about watching the thoroughly amusing display. Deeks put Reagan down and steadied her as he put a hand to his lip where she had managed to land a punch before he had thrown her over his shoulder.
"Explain yourself Mr. Deeks, and do it quickly. This kind of behavior is unacceptable from an agent."
"I, um, we… I was, uh… She started it!" he tried to think of something to say.
A very un-agent like squeal came out of Reagan, "I did not!"
She threw another punch at him but Sam caught her and moved her out of arms reach of Deeks, "You stuck your pointy nose where it didn't belong!"
"You were the one who came after me first!"
"You were provoking me!"
"I was teasing you!"
They were nose to nose glaring at each other.
"Oh enough you two, enough, I don't care who started it. This is not the way my agents act, like squabbling siblings. I have half a mind to suspend the two of you. I suggest you either make nice or agree to disagree, and get back to work." Hetty sighed and turned to leave.
"Now I have to stop them from fighting like a bunch of hooligans," she muttered as she walked away.
Reagan and Deeks looked at each other and a smile cracked his face. Reagan dropped her head but her cheeks rose as a smile broke over her face.
"Come on Kitty Kat, let's go get you something to eat," Deeks wrapped an arm around her neck.
Reagan gave him a shot to the side, but smiled and walked with him, her arm around his waist. Kensi smiled at them as she followed them out of the room, happy that her two 'children' were getting along. Especially since Reagan was the closest thing she had to a best friend in forever and Deeks was her partner (or so she told herself).
Callen and Sam stood quietly watching them leave. They both caught Reagan's glance back and Sam notice Callen's nod.
"Do you think it's worth it?" Sam asked softly.
Callen stayed silent for a minute watching Reagan leave, "I think she's worth it," he finally said.
"What about the baggage she's bringing?"
"She's got a lot less than I do," Callen finally looked at him.
Sam shrugged, "Maybe, maybe not. Baggage is baggage, you happen to carry it around in duffle bags; she carries it around in Louis Vuttion. Different package, same crap."
It was Callen's turned to shrug.
"So what makes her different?"
After a pause Callen answered, "When I'm with her I can sleep."
A look of surprise passed quickly over Sam's face. Callen hadn't been able to sleep for more than 20 to 30 minutes a clip since he was targeted and gunned down three years ago.
"And what does she have to say about the sleeping arrangements?"
Callen laughed, "She informed me from day one that if she didn't trust me with her life, she wouldn't trust me with her heart; and that to her friendship came before sex. Then she proceeded to get out of bed and walk to the shower in nothing but a sexy pair of panties."
"So she lets you sleep next to her because it helps you, but sex is off the table until further notice."
"I guess you could say that," Callen nodded.
"Do you think she knows the effect she has on people?" Sam asked as they began to follow the others.
"You know, I really don't think she has a clue. I mean she knows she's attractive like most women do, and she has fun flirting, but I don't think she grasps the full gut wrenching, heart pounding-ness of it."
Sam laughed, "Yeah that's about the whole of it. It's the women that don't know that are the most dangerous. They're the ones who do things unintentionally to drive men insane."
"That's the truth," Callen agreed.
Thank you all for coming along on this journey! I appreciate each and every one of you for sticking with me. And I promise things are going to get a little crazy and a lot steamy from now on! Please review and keep reading! You're words are the food a writer lived on! Much Love!