"Ms. Carter, are you okay?" Hetty asked.
"I'm fine. I just need to sit down," Lori said as she sat down in the chair, her breathing slightly panicked.
"Okay, just take deep slow breaths."
"They are gonna be alright, right. I mean they have to be."
"I'm sure they will be just fine. Any luck with bringing the picture back up Mr. Beale?"
"No, not yet," Eric said and just as he said that the phone rang and Eric answered it. "Hello….. It's Callen."
Lori sat up as she heard his name and Eric had put him on speaker.
"Mr. Callen, is everything alright?" Hetty asked.
"Yes Hetty everything is fine. Why wouldn't it be? You were watching the op with us right?" Callen said.
Lori relaxed a bit as she heard Callen's voice. He was alright.
"We were until the feed cut out, we didn't have any video or audio connection to you guys."
"Hmm, that's weird. Maybe they used so sort of blocker. We're fine Hetty. Bolton is safe and his kidnappers are dead. We're just gonna drop him off at the hospital and then we'll be back at the office."
"Very well Mr. Callen," Hetty said and she hung up.
"See Lori, he's fine," Nell said and she noticed that her breathing returned to normal.
"Are you sure you're okay Ms. Carter? Do we need to get you checked over?"
"No, I'm fine. I feel a bit better, besides I have a doctor's appointment in the morning. I'm just gonna lie down for a bit," Lori said and she walked out of OPS to the bullpen and lay down on the sofa.
By the time the team came back into the office Lori was asleep.
"Very well done everyone," Hetty said once the team walked in. "Mr. Callen, a moment please."
Hetty walked to her office followed by Callen.
"What's up Hetty?" Callen said as he sat down.
"It's about Lori. Maybe it's better for her if she stayed home from now on."
"Why would you say that? Did something happen?" Callen asked slightly worried.
"She was watching the op with us from OPS and when the feed cut out she got worried something happened to you and she got some sort of panic attack."
"What?!" Callen said as he got up from his chair. "Where is she? Is everything alright?"
"She's asleep on the sofa, she's resting," Hetty said but before she got her last words out Callen was already making his way to the sofa.
"Lori, sweetheart," Callen said as he sat down on the sofa and ran his hand over her face. Lori started to wake up.
"G?" Lori asked still half asleep.
"Yeah, it's me. I'm here."
Lori sat up and threw her arms around him.
"I'm glad you're alright. When the feed cut out I got worried something had happened to you."
"Yeah, Hetty told me what happened. Are you sure you're okay? That the babies are okay?" Callen said as his hand ran over her stomach.
"I'm fine G. I just got a little too worked up. I just need to get some rest."
"Alright, come on, I'm taking you home," Callen said and he helped Lori up and they drove home.
Callen told her not to do anything for the rest of the day except rest. So Lori lay down on the couch for the rest of the evening before going to bed, followed by Callen.
"Are you sure everything is alright?" Callen asked as he laid his head on her stomach.
"I'm fine honey and I have a doctor's appointment tomorrow anyway so I'm gonna be checked over then," Lori said as she ran her hand through his hair.
"But what if something is already wrong with you or the babies?" Callen said lifting his head.
"We're fine sweetie. If something was wrong I would notice it. And besides they wouldn't do this," Lori said as she grabbed Callen's hand and put it on her stomach.
Callen felt something against his hand through her stomach.
"Was that a kick?"
"Yeah it was," Lori said and Callen captured her lips with his while keeping his hand on her stomach. "So you see G, we're doing fine. It was probably just the same as last time."
"I'm sorry Lori."
"Sorry about what G?"
"About this, somehow I feel responsible for what happened earlier. Cus if it wasn't for me you wouldn't have had this panic attack or the previous on."
"Oh G," Lori said and she pulled Callen close to her and Callen rested his head on her shoulder. "It's not your fault baby, these things happen."
"Hetty told me it might be better if you stayed home from now on."
"I'll be fine G. I won't worry any less when I'm sitting at home. I'll promise to stay out of OPS when the op is on the big screen."
"I just don't want anything to happen to either one of you."
"I know sweetie, but we'll be fine. I promise."
Callen sat up and gathered Lori in his arms.
"I love you Lori."
"I love you too G."
Callen slid down the bed with Lori in his arms and he held her close to him and Lori snuggled into his chest and they drifted off to sleep.
The next morning Callen took Lori to her doctor's appointment. He was pleased to hear that everything was alright with all 3 of them. The doctor did tell Lori to take it easy the rest of her pregnancy and to try and put as less stress as possible on her body.
"See I told you everything was okay," Lori said as they walked out of the office.
"I know, I'm just glad to hear it from the doctor as well," Callen said. "You're gonna take it easy from now on right?"
"Yes I will G, don't worry."
Callen and Lori went to work. When they arrived at work Lori walked into Hetty's office.
"Good morning Hetty."
"Good morning Ms. Carter," Hetty said. "How are you feeling today?'
"I'm feeling better. Went to the doctor this morning and everything was fine."
"I'm glad to hear that."
"He did say I needed to take it easy the rest of the pregnancy so I wondered if it's possible to work another day less, only 3 days a week."
"Of course you can Ms. Carter. Anything to make sure you and the babies are okay."
"Thank you Hetty," Lori said and she walked back to the bullpen.
…..
"Morning G," Lori said as she walked into the living room.
"Morning Lori. Sleep well?"
"Yeah I slept fine. You?"
"I slept fine too."
"Glad to hear."
"Want me to make you some breakfast?"
"Thanks that would be lovely."
"What do you want?" Callen said as he got up and walked to the kitchen.
"Could you make me a warm waffle?"
"Sure, what do you want on top of it?"
"Uhm, just put some ice cream, powder sugar, whipped cream, chocolate sauce and some bananas on top."
"That all, or anything else?"
"Also some strawberries please."
"Okay," Callen said grossed out by the thought of eating that.
A few minutes later Callen walked out of the kitchen with the waffle.
"Here you go."
"Thank you sweetie."
"Are you seriously gonna enjoy eating that?"
"Yeah, it tastes good. Would you like a bite?"
"No thank you, I already ate."
"Okay, more for me."
"Enjoy," Callen said and he got up. "I'm just gonna put some laundry on."
"Alright, that shirt of mine in the bedroom can also go in the washer."
"Alright."
About 10 minutes later Callen came back into the living room.
"Already finished with your breakfast?" Callen said.
"Yeah I was hungry. I'm eating for three you know."
"I know," Callen said as he sat next to her and kissed her stomach. "Would it be okay if Sam came over to watch the basketball game tonight? He asked if I wanted to come over to his place but I said I'd prefer to stay at home. Do you mind if he came over?"
"No, that's fine."
"Alright. I'm just going to the store to get some more beer and chips. Do you need anything?"
"Just bring me some chips too and some melon. Oh and don't forget the dip for the chips."
"You got it. I'll be right back," Callen said and he gave Lori a kiss.
That evening Sam came by to watch the game.
"Hey Lori," Sam said as he walked into the house.
"Hey Sam," Lori said.
"How are you feeling today?"
"I'm feeling fine, just a little bit tired. Well I leave you two to watch the game," Lori said as she got up.
"You don't have to go Lori, you can watch the game with us if you like," Callen said.
"Nah, I'm good. Besides there's a good chick flick on tonight, I'm just gonna watch that."
"Alright, that's fine. I'll be right out here if you need me."
"Okay," Lori said and she went to the kitchen to get some chips and dips and something to drink and went to the bedroom.
"How are you two doing?" Sam asked once Lori was gone.
"We're doing fine. Everything is fine here. We're both pretty excited to meet our little babies. I can tell Lori wants the babies to be here soon. Sometimes she doesn't like being this pregnant," Callen said.
"Yeah I can understand. Michelle had that too near the end. If she could have pulled our daughter out on her own she would have done so."
Lori was watching her movie and she could hear the two men enjoying the basketball game and shouting at the TV sometimes when the ref made a bad call. When the game had ended Sam left and Callen walked into the bedroom. Lori was still watching her movie.
"Hey G, how was the game?" Lori said.
"Fine. Lakers beat the Kings so that's good. How's the movie?" Callen said as he got into the bed.
"It's nice. I've watched it a couple times before, but it's still good."
"Which movie is this?"
"A Cinderella story."
"Really? Cinderella? What's up with girls and Cinderella?
"It's nice. Every little girl dreams about being Cinderella. I know I did."
"Really? What did you dream that your prince would be like?"
"Hmm, handsome, sweet, caring, able to sweep me off my feet, good kisser. But that's just in my dreams. I have to do with what I have here," Lori said and gave Callen a playful smile.
"Oh really? Well that's just too bad for you. You'll just have to do with me," Callen said playfully and he pulled her down onto the bed and kissed her.
"Well you're not so bad."
"I'm glad to hear that," Callen said and he kissed her again.
They spend a couple minutes kissing. By the time they stopped the movie had already ended.
"Damn, I missed the ending."
"Well you've seen it a couple of times, haven't you?"
"Yeah I have, I just always like the ending. But I can think of and ending of my own before going to sleep," Lori said and she pulled Callen back to her and kissed him again.
They spend a couple minutes kissing like that before they went to sleep.
…
"Good morning everyone," Callen said as he and Lori walked into the bullpen.
"Good morning," Deeks, Kensi and Sam said.
"How was everyone's weekend?" Lori asked.
"Fine. Spent some time with my mom, shopping, getting a manicure, that sort of stuff," Kensi said.
"Nice. How about you Deeks?"
"Went surfing this weekend and hate a date," Deeks said.
"Oh really? With who? Again with yourself?" Kensi said.
"Haha no, you wish. One girl I met while surfing."
"Well glad you had a good time," Lori said.
"How was your weekend?" Kensi said.
"It was fine. Sam came over to watch the game on Saturday and Sunday G and I just relaxed at home."
"How are feeling now after what happened last week?"
"Better, I asked Hetty for one more day off, so I'm only working 3 days a week now."
"That's fine. You and the babies are more important at the moment."
"Yes they are."
A couple minutes later Eric whistled.
"Got a new case," Eric said and he walked back up to OPS followed by the agents.
"What are we looking at Eric?" Callen asked as they walked into OPS.
"PO Jackie Harper died earlier this morning during a mission in Iraq."
"Why involve us? Soldiers die sometimes during a mission," Lori said.
"That's true, but her family requested a thorough investigation. The circumstances in which she died were suspicious," Nell said.
"What were the circumstances?" Callen asked.
"Not exactly sure, the report the family got and the one we have access to, is very weird, it doesn't add up," Nell said as she put the report on screen.
"Why not?" Sam asked.
"Well there are a lot of pieces missing and the story doesn't seem to fit."
"How doesn't it fit?" Callen asked.
"Well, it says here she was on a mission in Iraq, but there is no data on that mission anywhere and the family only gotten vague answers and they aren't allowed to see her remains, so they requested a thorough investigation by NCIS."
"Why us?" Kensi said.
"Because Ms. Blye," Hetty said as she walked into OPS. "Her dead is anything but normal. If the navy is going through so much to cover it up it requires us investigating it."
"Alright, Kensi, Deeks, you go to the morgue, see if you can find the body. Lori you look through the autopsy report and the report about her dead, maybe we can find something in there. Eric, Nell you see what you can find out about the mission, about who was on it, who knew about it, who they were tracking. I know there isn't much information, but try to find as much as you can," Callen said and everybody went to work.
"What are you gonna do?" Lori asked.
"Sam and I are gonna speak to the family."
"Mrs. Harper?" Sam said as a woman opened the door.
"Yes, who are you?" Mrs. Harper said.
"Agents Callen and Hanna, NCIS," Callen said and they showed their badges. "We're here to talk about the death of your daughter."
"Come on in," Mrs. Harper said and Callen and Sam followed her to the living room. "I'm glad someone is investigating her death."
"Why did you request a thorough investigation?"
"The navy won't tell me anything about her death. Everything they tell me is totally vague and they won't let me see her body."
"What have they told you?" Sam asked.
"They told me that they walked into an ambush and she got caught in the crossfire. They told me it happened in Iraq, but she didn't tell me anything about going to Iraq. She told me that she was in Afghanistan."
"So you think they are lying to you to cover something up?" Callen asked.
"Yes I do. Why else wouldn't they keep me from seeing my daughter's body?"
"We'll see what we can find out. We'll let you know when we have something. If you think of anything else, please call us," Callen said and he handed her his card.
"Thank you. Please find out what happened to my daughter."
15 minutes later Callen and Sam were back at the office.
"Hey Lori, did you find something?" Callen said.
"Not much, everything in here is pretty vague and not really detailed. They say she died from multiple GSW's, but it doesn't say where on the body or what kind of bullets it were. And they only said she died in the crossfire, nothing more," Lori said.
"Let's hope Kensi and Deeks had better luck," Callen said and just as he said that Kensi and Deeks came into the bullpen. "How did you guys do at the morgue?"
"Not good. They wouldn't let us see the body, even though we're NCIS," Kensi said.
"You're kidding? Now what?" Sam said.
"Mr. Callen and Mr. Hanna will go back to the morgue, with a warrant. And if they still not want to let you see the body you tell them to call me," Hetty said and Callen and Sam left. "Ms. Blye, Mr. Deeks, you two head to the navy office and see what you can find out about this case. I've set you up with a cover. You'll be there to inspect the safety in the computer room."
Deeks and Kensi went to get dressed and they left.
Sam and Callen arrived at the morgue and they showed their badges.
"Look you're people were already here this morning. I'm gonna tell you the same thing I told them. No, you can't see her," the man said.
"We've got a warrant. And if you still so no, then you can call Hetty and explain it to her," Callen said.
"Alright," the man said realizing there was no way out anymore.
Callen and Sam inspected the body and they saw she took 3 shots in the chest, one going straight through her hart. But Callen noticed something on her abdomen.
"Sam, take a look at this," Callen said.
"Looks, like she had a surgery there," Sam said.
"Yeah it does, but in her medical records there's nothing about having that kind of surgery."
"What happened on her abdomen?" Sam asked once they were back at the front desk.
"She had her appendix removed," the man said.
"Why isn't there anything about that in her medical file?" Callen said and the man froze for a second. "Look you might as well tell us, we know you're covering up something."
"It's not my place to tell. You have to talk to someone high up in the navy," the man said and with that Callen and Sam went back to the office.
"They are definitely covering something up," Callen said as he walked into Hetty's office. "We need to speak to someone high ranked in the navy. Nobody else is talking."
"I'll see what I can do," Hetty said and she went to make some calls and Callen walked back to the bullpen.
"Hey Lori."
"Hey G, any luck?"
"Yeah, Hetty is making some calls now. How are you doing?"
"I'm good. Just taking it easy today, babies are pretty calm today."
"Good to hear," Callen said as he rubbed her stomach.
A little later Kensi and Deeks came walking into the bullpen.
"Eric and Nell now have access to their servers so they're checking what they can find," Kensi said.
"Good work Kens," Callen said.
It took a while before they had a new lead. Eric and Nell came down the stairs with some new Intel.
"I think we may have something," Eric said.
"What have you got Eric?" Callen asked.
"We looked at the servers and we found the real file about PO Harper's death," Eric said as he put a file up on screen. "She did not die in the crossfire. Someone in the navy covered up her death, because of what they were doing. She wasn't in Iraq. She was near the border to Mexico and it says her that they had a falling out about the business they were into and that's why they shot her."
"She was shot by her own people?" Lori asked.
"It looks that way yeah. We don't know exactly what happened, that's not mentioned. But we do know that what they said didn't happen either," Nell said.
"Do you have a name for the one who approved this mission?" Callen said.
"Yes, it was her captain, Captain Scott Parker. He works at the navy office here."
"Alright, good work. We'll go speak to him," Callen said and he and Sam left.
"We're here to speak to Captain Parker," Sam said as they arrived at the navy office.
"Do you have an appointment?" the receptionist asked.
"No, and we don't need one," Callen said and he showed his badge.
"Oh okay. He's in the office down the hall to the right."
"Captain Parker, NCIS, we're here to ask you some questions about the death of PO Harper," Callen said as they walked into his office and showed their badges.
"What are you doing here? You need to leave! This is a private office," Parker said.
"Not until you tell us what really happened to Harper," Sam said.
"There's no way out now, we know that you tried to cover up her dead," Callen said. "What was she doing in Mexico?"
"Alright, she was in Mexico for a secret mission. No one could know we were there, so we said that she was somewhere else."
"That still doesn't explain why you covered up her dead or why she has a scar on her abdomen when there's no mention of a surgery in her medical record."
Parker walked around his desk, getting closer to the exit.
"Look…," Parker started but then he ran out of the room as fast as possible.
Callen and Sam were hot on his heels.
"Federal agents! Stop!" Sam yelled.
Callen continued to run after him while Sam took a short cut to try at cut him off. He caught up with Parker and pushed him down on the floor.
"Now you're gonna talk to us," Sam said and he took him to the boatshed.
They interrogated him and it was revealed that they used to mission to transport drugs. Harper found out what they were doing and she threatened to turn them in so they shot her and they made a cut in her abdomen to make it look like she was transporting drugs inside her body. He gave them the names of the others that were involved and they were all arrested and received a dishonorable discharge.
Kensi and Deeks went to tell her mother what happened, that her daughter tried to stop them from doing the wrong thing for someone in the navy.
"Good work everyone," Hetty said once everyone was back in the office. "Ms. Harper's body has been released to the family and she will have an honorable navy burial."
"I'm glad to hear that," Sam said.
"Goodnight everyone," Hetty said and everyone went home.
…
Lori got up to go to the bathroom and when she came back she felt that she was getting dizzy. She grabbed onto the wall to steady herself. Then she felt a sharp pain in her stomach and she fell to the floor.
Kensi was sitting at her desk in the bullpen and heard something falling on the ground. She looked up from her laptop and saw Lori lying there on the ground.
"Oh my god," Kensi said as she got up from her chair. "Callen, Lori is down on the floor."
"What?!" Callen said and he jumped up from his chair and followed Kensi to Lori. "Lori, honey." Callen saw that she was unconscious. "Sam, get my keys. I'm taking her to the hospital."
Callen picked her up and carried her to his car followed by Sam.
"I'll drive you, G," Sam said and he opened the backseat door.
"Thanks," Callen said and he put Lori in the backseat and got in himself with her head resting on his lap. "Come on honey, stay with me."
Sam drove as fast as he could to the hospital. They arrived at the hospital in record time and Callen carried Lori out of the car. A nurse that was standing outside saw him coming her way and she quickly went inside to grab a gurney. Callen placed Lori on the gurney and she was taken to the trauma room.
"How far along is she?" The doctor asked.
"34 weeks," Callen said.
"Any problems before with the pregnancy?"
"She had a couple of panic attacks that caused cramps but never like this. Please help her."
"Sir, we're gonna everything we can to help her and her babies. She's in good hands here."
Callen watched as the medical staff started to work on Lori, hooking her up to a lot of different machines.
"Call upstairs, tell OB and the OR we're coming up," the doctor said.
"What's going on?" Callen asked panicked.
"The babies are in distress, we have to perform an emergency C-section."
"What?! What's going on?"
"Stay calm sir, we're gonna do everything we can to make sure all 3 of them are okay."
"Stay calm?! She's only 34 weeks, it's too early."
"I understand sir, but if we don't do something soon we could lose all three of them."